US
20-35 years of age
A cultural meltingpot of the world's history in an amazingly eclectic country.
My time in South Africa was spent in Johannesburg and Cape Town. Johannesburg is a big city with lots of neat markets and was a perfect starting point for the trips I've done in southern Africa.
Cape Town is amazing! The culture and history are overflowing in every part of the city. There is just so much iconic history in Cape Town that I would recommend taking one of the city tour buses - it was a great way to take it all in and learn a lot. The preservation of old buildings and the demolished areas of District 6 portray a city comfortable with its past and interest in educating the masses.
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, nestled amongst the mountains represent a stunning collection of botanical knowledge. The gardens have rolling green lawns with Fynbos, proteas, and cycads everywhere. Proteas have the most amazing flowers and I would recommend going at time when the majority are in bloom - well worth the wait to see their brilliance.
Table Mountain is a must. It is an iconic natural feature and provides stunning views of the city.
From night clubs and posh bars to amazing food and incredible scenery. Cape Town has been the highlight of my trips to South Africa and I highly recommend it for everyone.
IT
35-50 years of age
Namibia: self drive tour
Visiting Namibia was a dream for me and my family for a lot of years and when last summer we decided to spend our holiday there we were all excited. I personally take care to plan our tour: my budget and my job allow me to stay unfortunately only for 17 days including transfer from Italy on the second half of August. I decided anyway to have a clockwise round of Namibia and I really recommend travelers to take the tour in this order because landscapes and wildlife became day after day more interesting.
Our was a self-driving tour: I booked on-line flights and we asked a local tour operator to rent a 4x4 pick-up and to book all lodges. We had no guide with us. Strong car is recommended because during our 7000km about 5000km were on unmade roads and there is always the risk to have a puncture on the way.
All lodges are very similar to each other in the services provided: breakfast, dinner and some excursions. The people of the lodge are usually very kind and are pleased to help you: one day we had a serious problem with our car that had an hole in the secondary fuel tank. We asked the car rental company to change the car and the lodge staff took care of everything!
Normally in the lodge the food is mainly based on meat of Oryx or Springbok and we really appreciate it.
In august the weather seems to be quite nice but with no clouds on the sky (a pity from the photography point of view): the temperature are affordable everywhere (the max temperature of 31° C was of course in Soussvlei/Deadvlei).
The east side of Nambia, from Windhoek to Fishriver, is not very interesting (with the exception of the Kokerboom forest and the Giant Playgrond): no animal or great landscape are facing you.
The thing will change in the south and west part of Namibia, where scenery and landscapes are the main subject (you can spot some wild horses, oryxes or springboks anyway): the Fishriver Canyon and the ghost town of Kolmanskop really require a visit.
After leaving Aus take the scenery route D707 instead of the main national road: you will face many great landscapes that are very different one to each other for colors and wildlife. Really recommended.
Then there are the awesome red dunes of Soussvlei and the Deadvlei: you have to be there early in the morning in order to enter when the gates open to see the dunes when the sun rise up providing an amazing orange color.
From Soussvlei to Swakopmund I really suggest to drive through the Moon Landscape, hopefully during the sunset: I never saw an incredible place like this one. The name is self explanatory. If you go there take some time to see the old plant Welwitschia Mirabilis.
In Swakopmund or in Walvis Bay there are a lot of activity to do: from boat trip to see seals or sea birds, runs with buggy on the dunes or flight trips (really recommended: Namibia from the above is dramatically different and amazing).
If you rest in the Twyfelfontein Lodge, take the chance to see the Himba village that is far one hour from the lodge (you cannot go by yourself, but you have to book the excursion at the lodge): here the Himba people are still living in the original way.
I had no time to visit the north part of Namibia, so I cannot provide any indication.
On the last days of our tour it was planned to visit the gorgeous Etosha National Park to see finally all the animals altogether in one place. It is possible to stay seat on a chair near the water pools waiting the animal or to have some self or guided safaris (you have to do it if you want to spot some lions). I suggest to have both and in particular to spent more time on the Okaukejo pool. Here it is possible to see: elephants, zebras, giraffes, rhinos, onyxes, springboks, etc.
As final suggestion I highly suggest the visit to the Cheetah Conservation Fund located 44km east from Otjiwarongo.
As a conclusion I can say that for Italian people this is an expensive tour but it really worth it: it is very difficult to see such gorgeous and awesome landscapes plenty of animals like in Namibia.
20-35 years of age
Many animals to look out for all in one country!
Stayed here in June/July 2011 during the dry season however due to unnatural weather patterns, we encountered some rain here and there which sometimes affected our itinerary.
I stayed in mid range types of accommodation ranging from bush lodges to tented (luxury) camps. They were a great way to live 'with' the environment and was a great experience.
We used a Ugandan safari company called Kazinga Tours for our stay in Uganda. The vehicle was perfect for the four of us for safari drives and normal travelling. Plenty of room in the van for our luggages and personal space. Highly recommend Hamid if he is available for your trip. He is a 'senior guide' with knowledgable guiding and experience under his belt.
There are plenty of animals to see in Uganda. Many bird species, lions, leopards, elephants, giffafes, zebras, warthogs, antelops, buffalos, gorillas, chimps and many many more!
We also got to experience the Nile River by rafting category 5 rapids. We went with the company, Nile River Explorers.
Would recommend going later in the dry season as the change from wet to dry is still not stable. Maybe around Aug/Sept onwards.
20-35 years of age
Review about Kazinga Tours by JustineHS
Good tour guide provided and vehicle was adequate for our needs. The itinerary had a few issues with some plans being taken off as we did not have enough time. I suggest you carefully prepare your medical documentation if visiting Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary. We had planned to do this however the tour operator had not given us FULL adequate information which lead to us missing out!
CA
35-50 years of age
Review about Etosha National Park by Paul B Jones
Etosha is wonderful, we had amazing encounters with lions and elephants and a host of other animals. The bird-watching is great too. It is flat and dry though, so the beauty is on the austere side. And the accommodations are too comfortable!
CA
35-50 years of age
Review about Namib-Naukluft National Park by Paul B Jones
I really loved this park. Its otherworldly desert landscape had a real wilderness feel. We found some great birds (Gray's Lark) and, on a night drive, neat smaller mammals (Bat-eared Fox, Cape Fox, African Wild Cat). And it seemed like there was NO ONE else around for 50,000 sq.k.
CA
35-50 years of age
Review about Mahango Game Reserve by Paul B Jones
We had great looks here at Roan and Sable Antelopes, rare and beautiful mammals. We also saw many birds including the stunning Carmine Bee-eater. The landscape is beautiful in a subdued way - no big lake or rugged mountains.
US
20-35 years of age
Review about Tarangire National Park by duybeck
I spent 3 hours on safari in Tanzania, and saw a pair of cheetahs (and recorded their sweet cry to one another), lions, ostrich mating dance, a gazelle 20 feet up in a tree (killed and dragged up there by a leopard!) and a lion kill!!!
US
20-35 years of age
Male lions, Rhino's, Hyenas Galore!
The drive to the crater is beautiful. Once inside, its not a scenic, but the wildlife is plenteous! I've been on a few safaris', and have never had male & female lions (hyenas, etc) walk up to our safari vehicles as they do in Ngorongoro. We could practically pet the lions! They look soo peaceful! If we hadn't seen a kill the day earlier, the lions' beautiful expressions and calm demeanor would have lulled us into a sense of naitivity!
Summer months are good - as the animals have to return to the parks and conservation areas for water (because the rainy season has ended). Weather is also stellar.
Picking a good tour operator is important. Ngorongoro crater is pretty open, so its easier to see safari vehicles conglomerate together. But if you're in the other parks, an experienced safari driver is highly recommended. Within 3 hours of one park, by God's grace (and we attribute this to prayer!), we say 2 sets of lions eating zebra, wiildebeast, and saw a lionness kill another wildebeast! We met a group that evening that didn't see any lions! We highly recommend Kilidove Tours. His team is not only highly knowledgeable (and they teach you their wisdom!), the owner grew up as an orphan and supports 4 - 5 orphans in their schooling! So you're not only getting the best tour company, but supporting a great organization. Its important, and you'll see this, that the operator understands the animals habits and how to maximize your photography experience.
50-65 years of age
Review about Lake Nakuru National Park by Sallyrango
High chance of seeing lions up close,good for baboons, thousands of pelicans and flamingos, quite crowded as near Nairobi