20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Lake Nakuru National Park by glynis2
Lake Nakuru is beautiful. I visited during March when there isn't as much wildlife as other times of the year, but there was still plenty of game viewing such as rhino's, lions, buffalos, baboons, pink flamingos, different types of antelopes, etc. The park is smaller than the other reserves I visited, but there were a lot more trees which gave it a more "woodsy" feel than the other reserves I visited which were more open plains.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Uganda, The ultimate "off the beaten track" destiantion in Africa!
Uganda is often linked with gorillas and chimpanzees. The apes are the countries main attraction and adds something extra compared to other more traditional safari destinations. However, Uganda has so much more to offer with some great game parks, unique boat safari's in 3 different national parks, huge forest areas, waterfalls, matoke (bananas) everywhere, mountains with snow, stunning lakes, volcanoes and the friendliest people in the world! On top of that you can venture off the beaten track by going to unspoiled game parks like Kidepo Valley NP. What about visiting unspoiled tribes in the east of the country (karamajong) or hike the Rwenzori Mountains. For real travelers Uganda is a MUST!
Review about South Africa by Ken A.
Perfect for a first safari. All of the wildlife I was hoping to see, and more, with accessible and luxurious accommodations.
Spectacular Game Viewing and Experience
Not enough superlatives to describe the experience. The wildlife was varied, active and spectacular. Great viewing of many types of animals (lions, buffalo, elephants, hippos, rhino, giraffes, etc.) but the stars were the many leopards. Having stayed at the Rattrays lodge, there were only 4 guest per vehicle. Never more than 2 vehicles at a sighting. Impossible to imagine a more knowledgeable or friendly guide and of great assistance in positioning me to get the best photographic lighting. Service could not have been more attentive. Accommodations were world class. Food was quite good, with dinners eaten outdoors in a communal setting. A special experience.
SE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Lekker
This was a great adventure in the wild... We saw everything you could ask for, all from birds, hippos, lions, leopards and wild dogs and of course amazing scenery!!
Next time I am going back to Southern Africa for safari i will definitely go with Wild Planet Safaris again. The staff has very good knowledge about every animal and the surroundings where we were and was very friendly and helpfull. You feel that these people live to be in the wild.
The food everynight was always very good and tasty.. We had elephant sausage and other good tasting steaks from animals we could see in the parks..
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
A beautiful country which offers visitors a wide variety of bush experiences.
Most people who travel to South Africa have two key destinations on their itinerary: Cape Town, and Kruger National Park. While both are fantastic holiday options, there is so much more to the country than that, and if you’re contemplating a visit to South Africa, you really should consider travelling to other areas too. South Africa offers such varied bush experiences and while many of the parks pale in comparison to the size of Kruger, when it comes to gorgeous landscapes and game-viewing opportunities, they certainly give Kruger a run for its money.
The province of KwaZulu-Natal, for example, has outstanding parks in its northern regions. Up here, in the land that once was ruled over by Shaka Zulu, it is classic rhino country and there are a number of parks, such as Hluhluwe-Imfolozi and Phinda, where you’re likely to see the Big Five. Many parks up here also offer the chance to go on walking safaris – guaranteed to give you a totally different perspective of life in the bush.
The landscape varies vastly across the country, and if you’re a keen photographer, parks like Golden Gate, Camdeboo, Pilanesburg, Karoo and the Kgalagadi will be an absolute delight. In these parks, the sheer scale of vast open spaces will almost dwarf the wildlife, and shooting during the golden hours will be an absolute treat.
It is very easy to self-drive in South Africa – in fact, it’s recommended. The quality of the roads is good, especially between the major cities, and taking a road trip through this country will reveal some of its quirks and hidden corners. If you are going to do the classic Kruger/Cape Town holiday, consider taking a week or so to drive between the two, and stop off at parks like Golden Gate, Addo Elephant Park, Mountain Zebra National Park. You’ll be so glad you did.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Where you’re guaranteed to have the classic African safari experience
It’s very easy to fall completely in love with Kenya: it is here that you’ll get to experience the classic African safari, and where, often, you can feel like you and your travel companions are the only people in the world. Of course, the more popular parks like Masai Mara (which offers some of the best game-viewing in the world) and Amboseli (where you’ll get classic postcard views of Kilimanjaro) have well-travelled roads, but go further off the beaten track to parks like Tsavo West and into the heart of Laikepia Plateau, and often you’ll not see another vehicle for days.
The most common way to get around in Kenya, if you’re on safari, is by light airplane – and your flights will usually be arranged by the lodges and camps you stay at. Only a handful of visitors seem to travel independently by road; it’s often very slow going between the parks because of the sheer distances, and the poor quality of some of the roads can turn what should be a two-hour journey into at least double that. Information on camping can be hard to come by and you’ll need to be self-sufficient as there are often no amenities in many of the parks’ campsites. Having said that, little compares to the joy and sense of freedom that comes with exploring and setting up camp in some of the wildest parts of Kenya’s remotest parks.
What Kenya is less known for is its beaches – surprising, because they really are beautiful. Long, sandy stretches and pretty blue bays watched over by both baobabs and palm trees make for truly memorable holidays, and it’s well worth taking a few days after your safari to unwind further along the Indian Ocean.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Home to some of South Africa’s biggest tuskers
Tembe is known for its elephant population, and in this park you’re likely to see some of the biggest tuskers in South Africa. At the park’s reception area, be sure to pick up information on the well-known bulls of the area – there is a poster that shows their photographs and includes details of the length of their tusks, and their weight – as this will add interest and value to your game-viewing.
There are a few hides in the park, and you’re almost guaranteed of seeing elephants if you’re patient. Mahlasela hide is particularly good for game, and it’s not unusual to see elephants and lions here. It’s well worth packing a few snacks and drinks and arriving at the hide mid-afternoon, so that you can be sure not to miss anything during the water hole’s busiest time of day.
If you visit Tembe during the week, you’re likely to feel as though you have the entire park to yourself and you could spend an entire afternoon at a hide without seeing anyone else. Over long weekends, Tembe can be fairly busy as it’s a favourite destination for 4x4 clubs. You need to have a 4x4 vehicle to drive the roads of this park.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
A bush experience on the borders of a bustling city
What makes this park so special is that it’s situated right on Nairobi’s city limits (in fact, the city is growing around the park) – and within a 20-minute drive from the airport, you can be watching rhinos graze contentedly or lions dozing under bushes.
The park is home to Kenya Wildlife Service’s headquarters; as a result the game is very well protected and Nairobi National Park has become something of sanctuary to rhinos, and there is a population of around 60. The park is mostly open grasslands, and you’re almost guaranteed of seeing hartebeest, zebra and giraffe. There is a healthy population of lions too, and one evening we watched a pride of about 15 – including many cubs – laze about as the sun set.
There are now two lodges within the park: The Emakoko, a very comfortable lodge set in small valley, with suites that look out through fever trees, and Nairobi Tented Camp, which is set in a beautiful forested ravine. If you’re travelling to Kenya for a safari experience, it’s well worth booking into one of these lodges, as you’ll not waste any time getting into bush mode.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Great game viewing in a very accessible park
Straddling the highway between Nairobi and Mombasa, Tsavo East and West together form the biggest park in Kenya. At over 20,000 square kilometres, the Tsavos cover four percent of the country’s land, and together are larger than Israel.
Tsavo East is the busier of the two parks in terms of visitor numbers, and is especially popular with day visitors who’re staying in Mombasa or along the coast. Voi Gate is the best place to enter, and the areas around here offer fantastic game viewing. There is a plain around Aruba Dam that is teeming with wildlife; when I was there, I saw a herd of elephants, buffalo, zebra, impala and a troop of baboons – at the same time – as well as a very shy jackal.
Tsavo East is neatly divided into north and south by the Galana River. Two-thirds of the park lies north of the Galana, but this area is essentially off-limits to visitors. South of the Galana, however, there is plenty of wildlife and most animals seem to be used to vehicles, so you have some fantastic opportunities to get good wildlife photographs.