SAFARI HOLIDAYS
Kenya’s Masai Mara game reserve still tops the popularity stakes for first-time safari goers, while Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia are recommended for the second-time game enthusiast.
Somak managing director Stuart Britton said: “We recommend Kenya as a good place to start, because it has well established circuits and within those circuits you’ve got everything from mid-range to five-star accommodation. It means people who aren’t that bothered about high quality accommodation can reduce the price of their holiday.
“Kenya satisfies the image that most people have of Africa, the open plains, the Savannahs, and lots of game. We can almost guarantee that people will see the big cats – lions and cheetahs – which are top of most people’s lists,” he added.
Prices with Somak start at around £789 per person for four nights in the Masai Mara followed by three nights by the beach in Mombasa, including flights and accommodation.
Travel 2 believes that the only real option for first-timers is a fully escorted tour. Product manager for South Africa Dagmar Weber said: “We would recommend a guided safari for first-timers as they are full of information, facts and figures and history which means you will get a lot more out of the experience.”
She added: “The main South African centres such as the Timbavati Game Reserve, Thornybush and Malamala Reserve are popular with first-timers.”
For first-timers who may be apprehensive about the experience, Hayes and Jarvis recommends a short two or three-day taster safari in Kenya.
Product manager for Africa Julia Denny said: “Many clients like the idea of going on safari but they’re not sure they will enjoy it. Due to this, we do short two and three-night safaris in Kenya to give people a taster of what it’s like.”
Prices start at about £169 for two nights at Ziwani in the Tsavo game reserve. The price includes full-board accommodation and four game drives. The safari is offered as an add-on to a £476 five-night beach stay in Mombasa, which includes half-board accommodation and flights from the UK.
“Tsavo is the largest game park in Kenya, the nearest to Mombasa and no internal flights are involved,” said Denny.
Kuoni product manager for Africa Ellis Jones also recommends Kenya. “If people are looking for just a general view, Kenya is a very good start. Particularly as first-time safari goers don’t want to travel enormous distances. In Kenya you can see all the game with less travelling time,” he said.
For those who have ticked off Kenya, the operator has launched a dedicated Tanzania brochure for 2000 due to an increase of interest in this undiscovered part of Africa.
For second-time visitors, Cox and Kings offers tailor-made holidays to Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia for those seeking a more adventurous and isolated experience. Product manager Greg Young said: “We find first-timers want to see the Big Five animals, the lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo. Second-time safari goers are much more specific about what they want to see.”
He added: “Because of this, we think the only real option is to go tailor-made. Sometimes clients want something completely different, for instance we have safaris on horseback which make it a whole new experience.”
Meanwhile, Abercrombie and Kent planning manager Jayne Smith has found that Zambia and southern Tanzania are hugely popular among second timers.
“Zambia and southern Tanzania are more off-the-beaten track, more remote and ideal for people who have been once and understand what Africa is all about.
“It is for clients who want to see animals they can’t see elsewhere in Africa, for example Thornicroft’s Giraffe in Zambia,” said Smith.