Anonymous
01/14/2026 20:24
Subject: Re:East Africa or South Africa Safari+ more, Help Us Decide
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:
How is the South Africa safari experience? I saw some videos, and it looks like there are fences and stuff, so it seems like the Reston Zoo.
My South African experience was nothing like a zoo. We went to one of the Sabi Sands lodges so it was an expensive, exclusive experience, but a thousand percent worth it. I've been all over the world to all sorts of countries and it was far and away my favorite travel experience ever. The most mesmerizing thing I've ever experienced. It really could not be farther from a zoo experience. I never once saw a fence.
Are the videos you're seeing the type of trips where people drive their own rental cars through Kruger??
We saw the fence while tracking a cheetah at Singita but it’s because we were dead set on seeing the cheetah and cubs. The guide would have kept us away from the fence if the cheetah didn’t end up near it.
Sabi Sands was historically farm land until the 1920s when it became hunting grounds and then later evolved to the wildlife conservation model (a lot of people don’t know this) so you can still see some evidence of that and there’s some private estates scattered around too that go back to the “OG” families. Again the guides try to avoid all this but if you’re dead set on a rare sighting and tracking you might stumble on it.
Anonymous
01/14/2026 20:04
Subject: Re:East Africa or South Africa Safari+ more, Help Us Decide
Anonymous wrote:
How is the South Africa safari experience? I saw some videos, and it looks like there are fences and stuff, so it seems like the Reston Zoo.
My South African experience was nothing like a zoo. We went to one of the Sabi Sands lodges so it was an expensive, exclusive experience, but a thousand percent worth it. I've been all over the world to all sorts of countries and it was far and away my favorite travel experience ever. The most mesmerizing thing I've ever experienced. It really could not be farther from a zoo experience. I never once saw a fence.
Are the videos you're seeing the type of trips where people drive their own rental cars through Kruger??
Anonymous
01/14/2026 19:28
Subject: East Africa or South Africa Safari+ more, Help Us Decide
I have done both areas-and they are both amazing. Like said above, research the seasonal differences. We have found that moving to too many places with a couple nights in several lodges/camps is hard-so much time spent shlepping around. In SA, Capetown, Kruger, and one other wildlife area would make for a great trip. A big difference in experience will be how many people in your vehicle. If you can swing it, get a private car. But also look for lodges and camps with 6 people per car (in a 9 seater) so that everyone gets a window seat. They will be a little more expensive.
Anonymous
01/14/2026 17:04
Subject: East Africa or South Africa Safari+ more, Help Us Decide
OP, can you be more specific about what you plan to spend on this trip excluding flights, length of trip, etc?
Without knowing that, it’s hard to answer your question. That’s why you’re getting a range of responses that run the gamut from “spend $30K per person to fly first class on Emirates” to “self drive and camp in a tent.”
Without knowing that, it’s hard to answer your question. That’s why you’re getting a range of responses that run the gamut from “spend $30K per person to fly first class on Emirates” to “self drive and camp in a tent.”
Anonymous
01/14/2026 16:47
Subject: Re:East Africa or South Africa Safari+ more, Help Us Decide
One thing that made a huge difference for me was a personal driver. What you are talking about, when you talk about going on safari, is hours in the car driving around looking at animals. When you have your own personal car, you can go when you want to go and stop when you want to stop. I've done it both way and I can assure you, it is worth paying to have the car to yourself. To avoid crowds, go early in the morning while all the others are still sleeping.
Anonymous
01/14/2026 16:44
Subject: Re:East Africa or South Africa Safari+ more, Help Us Decide
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You are asking the difference between apples and oranges.
First, what time of year are you planning to go? The Mara is beautiful in the summer (Highly recommend Little Governor's Camp - very worth staying there rather than Big Governor's). In the rainy season, at least in Tsavo, it was impossible to see anything - too much foliage. If you go to Kenya, you can do Nairobi, which is fun and interesting, stay in the Giraffe Hotel. Then if you want a beach, go to Lamu or fly to Zanzibar. In the Mara, you must take a small airplane to get there - and be aware that they are not the safest way to travel.
In South Africa, you fly into Jo'Burg, do a safari (but not much else to do!) and then you can fly to Cape town, go to the beach, see the penguins and the sharks, drink wine, etc etc
How is the South Africa safari experience? I saw some videos, and it looks like there are fences and stuff, so it seems like the Reston Zoo.
Have you seen the videos from Maasai Mara with 100 people at one river crossing and animals unable to climb up the bank because of the vehicles and people blocking them? Animals died due to this. Kenya needs to increase prices ASAP like Botswana to get ahead of this.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/942586164718493/
Anonymous
01/14/2026 16:38
Subject: East Africa or South Africa Safari+ more, Help Us Decide
Just back from Tanzania and Zanibar. Amazing trip. Three different locations in TZ for safari. Two lodges and one tent camp. All "luxury" with excellent guides and located in the parks/conservation areas . Ngorongo Crater, and Serengeti. You will not see a fence. In fact you you can see plains as far as the eye can see.
15 year old not bored at all. Lodges have wifi.
15 year old not bored at all. Lodges have wifi.
Anonymous
01/14/2026 16:31
Subject: Re:East Africa or South Africa Safari+ more, Help Us Decide
Anonymous wrote:You are asking the difference between apples and oranges.
First, what time of year are you planning to go? The Mara is beautiful in the summer (Highly recommend Little Governor's Camp - very worth staying there rather than Big Governor's). In the rainy season, at least in Tsavo, it was impossible to see anything - too much foliage. If you go to Kenya, you can do Nairobi, which is fun and interesting, stay in the Giraffe Hotel. Then if you want a beach, go to Lamu or fly to Zanzibar. In the Mara, you must take a small airplane to get there - and be aware that they are not the safest way to travel.
In South Africa, you fly into Jo'Burg, do a safari (but not much else to do!) and then you can fly to Cape town, go to the beach, see the penguins and the sharks, drink wine, etc etc
August
Anonymous
01/14/2026 16:31
Subject: Re:East Africa or South Africa Safari+ more, Help Us Decide
Anonymous wrote:You are asking the difference between apples and oranges.
First, what time of year are you planning to go? The Mara is beautiful in the summer (Highly recommend Little Governor's Camp - very worth staying there rather than Big Governor's). In the rainy season, at least in Tsavo, it was impossible to see anything - too much foliage. If you go to Kenya, you can do Nairobi, which is fun and interesting, stay in the Giraffe Hotel. Then if you want a beach, go to Lamu or fly to Zanzibar. In the Mara, you must take a small airplane to get there - and be aware that they are not the safest way to travel.
In South Africa, you fly into Jo'Burg, do a safari (but not much else to do!) and then you can fly to Cape town, go to the beach, see the penguins and the sharks, drink wine, etc etc
How is the South Africa safari experience? I saw some videos, and it looks like there are fences and stuff, so it seems like the Reston Zoo.
Anonymous
01/14/2026 16:26
Subject: Re:East Africa or South Africa Safari+ more, Help Us Decide
You are asking the difference between apples and oranges.
First, what time of year are you planning to go? The Mara is beautiful in the summer (Highly recommend Little Governor's Camp - very worth staying there rather than Big Governor's). In the rainy season, at least in Tsavo, it was impossible to see anything - too much foliage. If you go to Kenya, you can do Nairobi, which is fun and interesting, stay in the Giraffe Hotel. Then if you want a beach, go to Lamu or fly to Zanzibar. In the Mara, you must take a small airplane to get there - and be aware that they are not the safest way to travel.
In South Africa, you fly into Jo'Burg, do a safari (but not much else to do!) and then you can fly to Cape town, go to the beach, see the penguins and the sharks, drink wine, etc etc
First, what time of year are you planning to go? The Mara is beautiful in the summer (Highly recommend Little Governor's Camp - very worth staying there rather than Big Governor's). In the rainy season, at least in Tsavo, it was impossible to see anything - too much foliage. If you go to Kenya, you can do Nairobi, which is fun and interesting, stay in the Giraffe Hotel. Then if you want a beach, go to Lamu or fly to Zanzibar. In the Mara, you must take a small airplane to get there - and be aware that they are not the safest way to travel.
In South Africa, you fly into Jo'Burg, do a safari (but not much else to do!) and then you can fly to Cape town, go to the beach, see the penguins and the sharks, drink wine, etc etc
Anonymous
01/14/2026 14:31
Subject: East Africa or South Africa Safari+ more, Help Us Decide
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:PP - Adding the Delta direct flight is pretty amazing from Atlanta to JNB or CPT. We’ve seen a lot of celebrities on it. We usually pay the $4K to fly premium select (basically domestic first class equivalent) vs Delta One because Delta One goes for $10-15K RT (BIG premium for nonstop).
We’ll be taking the q suites for our upcoming safari - curious if it’s worth it or not, heard mixed things about sleep quality and kinda trashy clientele being super loud and partying given the points redemption for Qatar is amazing. Also not excited for the long connection.
NP. Wow, I can’t believe you would do this in premium economy, and on Delta no less! Sounds like a good way to start and finish off a baseline luxury trip on the wrong foot. Even business is rough for us these days. When we go on safari, we usually take Emirates first class IAD to DXB, and then on to JNB or NBO. I think you need a new travel agent PP, preferably one who specializes in true luxury travel. Either that or more money I guess. OP, if you need better advice for a true luxury safari (and one that doesn’t get people killed apparently, lol) then just ask. There are a few of us with actual top shelf safari experience on this board.
What are your favorite luxury lodges / safaris?
Anonymous
01/14/2026 14:16
Subject: East Africa or South Africa Safari+ more, Help Us Decide
I did both tented and traditional lodges in SA. Nothing felt remotely like a zoo. Cape Town is an amazing city with tons to do. Internet varied from place to place, but we tried to stay offline to take it all in.
Anonymous
01/14/2026 14:12
Subject: East Africa or South Africa Safari+ more, Help Us Decide
Anonymous wrote:Make sure it is refunable
Donny boy is about to make some new rules
What changes those and how would they impact US citizens? Or are you just bloviating?
Anonymous
01/14/2026 14:06
Subject: East Africa or South Africa Safari+ more, Help Us Decide
If you go to a SA national park, they are big. So yes it will feel like real wilderness. No need to worry about it feeling like a zoo. The internet/infrastructure/service there is excellent so that would be my choice.
Anonymous
01/14/2026 14:03
Subject: East Africa or South Africa Safari+ more, Help Us Decide
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:PP - Adding the Delta direct flight is pretty amazing from Atlanta to JNB or CPT. We’ve seen a lot of celebrities on it. We usually pay the $4K to fly premium select (basically domestic first class equivalent) vs Delta One because Delta One goes for $10-15K RT (BIG premium for nonstop).
We’ll be taking the q suites for our upcoming safari - curious if it’s worth it or not, heard mixed things about sleep quality and kinda trashy clientele being super loud and partying given the points redemption for Qatar is amazing. Also not excited for the long connection.
NP. Wow, I can’t believe you would do this in premium economy, and on Delta no less! Sounds like a good way to start and finish off a baseline luxury trip on the wrong foot. Even business is rough for us these days. When we go on safari, we usually take Emirates first class IAD to DXB, and then on to JNB or NBO. I think you need a new travel agent PP, preferably one who specializes in true luxury travel. Either that or more money I guess. OP, if you need better advice for a true luxury safari (and one that doesn’t get people killed apparently, lol) then just ask. There are a few of us with actual top shelf safari experience on this board.
+1