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u/enjoysbeerandplants

r/travel r/AfricaTravel r/safaris
Tour Suggestions for South Africa, Eswatini, and Lesotho (Nomad Africa??)
▲ 3 r/safaris

Tour Suggestions for South Africa, Eswatini, and Lesotho (Nomad Africa??)

Hello All! Last year I did two tours with G Adventures in Africa. One was a 12 day tour in Tanzania that combined safari in Lake Manyara, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro crater with several days chilling on Zanzibar. The other was 8 days starting in Windhoek, driving across Botswana, and finishing in Victoria falls. I also spent an additional 3 days on Zanzibar in between tours, and another 2 nights in Victoria Falls at the end. I freaking loved it! Now I would like to go back and see South Africa and hopefully tick a few more animals off my to see list that I missed out on last time. Originally, I was going to do another G Adventures tour that combined 8 days in and around Kruger, plus another 11 days driving the Garden Route. However, apparently G will be discontinuing that route before I plan on going. So, here I am trying to find a plan B that is comparable to my experiences with G Adventures. I have also recently discovered in my constantly flipping through itineraries and companies that Eswatini and Lesotho are also options to see, so would like to now include those too.

Anyway, this is my general criteria:

- I am planning on going around September 2027, though if people have more experience with the area and best times of year, I'm open to changing the months. Nothing is written in stone yet.

- I'd like a tour that is mostly accommodated. I'm ok camping here and there where it makes sense (did 4 nights in Tanzania and 1 night in Okavango Delta on my last trip), but would prefer a mattress and bathroom more often than not. Nothing super fancy.

- I'd like a smaller group, so no huge buses

- I'd prefer to eat meals prepared in restaurants, or hotels, or lodges. Not collaborative camp meals.

- As for length of trip, I'm pretty open. I'm thinking 3-4 weeks total.

- I definitely would like to see Kruger, Eswatini, Lesotho, and the Garden Route. Lots of animal spotting opportunities is a must. Would also prefer safaris are done in a proper 4x4 vehicle vs the regular travel vehicle.

- Also note, I am a 40-something woman and may be taking this tour alone. Once I've figured out what I'm doing, I'll shout out to my travel buddies to see if anyone wants to join (had a couple friends join me for the Tanzania portion last year), but assume it will be just me.

- It can't break the bank. I'm comfortable with G Adventures 'classic' style tour pricing, so for this length of time for a tour, from what I've seen, I'm comfortable with around $6000 +/- for just the tour, not including the flights and extras.

If you've read this far, I'm almost done. So far, the best itinerary I've seen is a 19 day tour from Johannesburg to Cape Town through Nomad Africa Tours and Safaris (called the Discover South Africa Tour). I'd likely arrive a day early to get a jump on the jet lag, and then stay a few extra days in Cape Town since the tour itself doesn't seem to do much there. Does anyone here have any experience with this company? Or does anyone have personal experience with anyone else they would recommend for this type of itinerary?

Thanks to anyone who can provide insight, especially anyone who might have experience with this company.

Including a pic I took of a lioness in Serengeti last year.

Edit: the $6000 I mentioned would be Canadian $

u/enjoysbeerandplants — 5 days ago
▲ 2 r/travel

South Africa Tour Suggestions (Nomad Africa??)

Hello all. Last year I went on safari in Tanzania, spent time on Zanzibar, went on safari in Botswana, and saw Victoria falls (both the Zimbabwe and Zambia sides). I had an absolutely amazing time, and would really like to see South Africa next year. I'm hoping to spot some of the animals I didn't see last time, and lots more of the same I've already seen since they were amazing.

Last year I went on two G Adventures tours (I have now been on 4 altogether), plus a few days here and there outside the tours, and would have been booking their tour that includes 8 days around Kruger and area plus 11 days on the Garden Route, but they will no longer be doing the Garden Route when I am planning to go (September 2027), so I am looking into alternative companies. I have also now discovered that some companies also include Eswatini and Lesotho, so I'd very much like to do a tour that includes these.

I like G Adventures because they really focus on giving back to local communities and always have local guides who are born and raised in the areas. I am also open to occasional camping where it makes sense, but would like to be in hotels or lodges as well. I also would like a good focus on local cuisine.

I have seen an itinerary through Nomad Africa that is 19 days starting in Johannesburg and finishing in Cape Town and including both Eswatini and Lesotho, and I am wondering if anyone has any experience with this company or has any other suggestions? I'm open to longer tours as well. The more I can see, the better. I prefer having small groups, and would really like to be in proper safari vehicles for safari days rather than some tours that just use their overland vehicle for safaris.

Thanks to anyone who can provide good insight on this.

reddit.com
u/enjoysbeerandplants — 8 days ago
▲ 3 r/AfricaTravel

South Africa Safari Tour Suggestions (Nomad Africa??)

Hello all. Last year I went on safari in Tanzania, spent time on Zanzibar, went on safari in Botswana, and saw Victoria falls (both the Zimbabwe and Zambia sides). I had an absolutely amazing time, and would really like to see South Africa next year. I'm hoping to spot some of the animals I didn't see last time, and lots more of the same I've already seen since they were amazing.

Last year I went on two G Adventures tours (I have now been on 4 altogether), plus a few days here and there outside the tours, and would have been booking their tour that includes 8 days around Kruger and area plus 11 days on the Garden Route, but they will no longer be doing the Garden Route when I am planning to go (September 2027), so I am looking into alternative companies. I have also now discovered that some companies also include Eswatini and Lesotho, so I'd very much like to do a tour that includes these.

I like G Adventures because they really focus on giving back to local communities and always have local guides who are born and raised in the areas. I am also open to occasional camping where it makes sense, but would like to be in hotels or lodges as well. I also would like a good focus on local cuisine.

I have seen an itinerary through Nomad Africa that is 19 days starting in Johannesburg and finishing in Cape Town and including both Eswatini and Lesotho, and I am wondering if anyone has any experience with this company or has any other suggestions? I'm open to longer tours as well. The more I can see, the better. I prefer having small groups, and would really like to be in proper safari vehicles for safari days rather than some tours that just use their overland vehicle for safaris.

Thanks to anyone who can provide good insight on this.

reddit.com
u/enjoysbeerandplants — 8 days ago