r/safaris

Hi All,

I’ve got a safari set up for South Africa. That portion is taken care of. My question is where should I go for the beach half of “bush to beach”? I’ve been to Zanzibar previously and loved it but am wondering if it’s worth trying Mauritius or the Seychelles, or somewhere else entirely. Looking for a beach island with good diving and snorkeling. A golf course wouldn’t hurt either but I’m mainly concerned with the water.

Thanks!

Looks like all seven people on board have died

Hi everyone! I’m planning a trip to Serengeti and Zanzibar at the end of May next year and had chanced upon Ndutu green explorers as an option. Does anyone have first hand experience with them?

They seem to be a small growing company. Does anyone have any experiences with such small companies and is there any thing we should take note/be aware of? Thanks!

First time booking a trip to East Africa and didn't realize how tricky booking flights would be. Looking for advice on which route makes the most sense.

We're flying out of Chicago to Kilimanjaro (JRO) and stuck between two main options:

• Option A: Fastest option, but has a 1-hour layover at Paris (CDG). I'm super nervous 60 minutes isn't enough time to connect at CDG, and if we miss it, we're stuck waiting a day or more for the next Air France flight to JRO.
• Option B: Longer layover (which would be nice to break up the long flight), but gets us into JRO at either 9:00 PM or 2:30 AM.

We have access to the Uhura Lounge at JRO and a private driver picking us up to take us to our hotel ~30 mins away. We also have a full day at the hotel to rest and recover before starting our safari, so a late night wouldn't ruin day one.

A few questions for anyone who has done this route:

1. Is a 1-hour layover at CDG a total non-starter, or is it doable?
2. Should I be worried about arriving at JRO in the middle of the night (9pm or 2:30am)? Is one much worse than the other if we already have transport lined up?

Me and my wife are going to Tanzania and Zanzibar for our honeymoon in October. 8-9 days total. Neither of us has been on safari before.

What we’re after:

We want to see animals properly, but we’re not trying to cover the whole circuit. We’d rather do fewer days well than have a packed itinerary. We also want to avoid long travel days, sitting in a car for six or seven hours isn’t how we want to spend our honeymoon. And we want a decent stretch at the end in Zanzibar to actually relax.

We’re visiting Serval Wildlife near Arusha. That’s the one we’re most excited about.

For the rest, these are the options on the table:

Tarangire
Ngorongoro Crater
Serengeti
Arusha National Park

Our operator has suggested:

Either one day in the Serengeti plus one day in Tarangire, or two days in Tarangire.

So the question is: what’s the best combination for people like us? How many days, which parks, and in what order?

Happy to be told our operator’s suggestions are wrong, or that we should be doing something completely different.

Thanks in advance.

Does anybody have first hand experience at these spots? There’s a decent bump in cost, and just wondering what that brings to the table. I see there are plunge pools in each tent and the overall design seems nicer at Little Kulala. Just wondering what else I should keep in mind as I’m deciding between the two. Thank you!

Hello! Looking at flight options for safari next year.

Was wondering if easier/more reliable to book a private car to take me from Arusha to Nairobi airport?

I understand it’s a 5-6 hour drive including border crossing. Although it’s only a 45 min flight, would have all the associated airport drama including worrying about Kenya Air reliability. Between security, immigration, baggage claim it would be hours as well.

Thoughts?

Hey all,

My wife and I were considering a safari, but due to personal circumstances, rather than doing it next year, all carefully planned and such, we got to wondering - could we do it last minute? We'd be going from the UK. We were thinking Tanzania and ending in Zanzibar for a quick bit, but could consider other options of course. And neither of us have safari'd before.

Obviously we know that a lot of stuff goes out the window on last minute ones, like decent lodge availability, and even good guide availability, as well as prices of things like flights being more expensive.

But with the fact that some people might drop out and not be able to make room on an organised package, we wonder if that might be do-able? We wouldn't really have time to do sufficient vetting of smaller places, I'd imagine, so may have to be on a slightly pricier and less varied one though like Trailfinders, Kuoni, Intrepid, etc.

Anyone had any experience with last minute safaris organised by a third party? Do they tend to do 'drop out' deals? I'm going to start calling them ASAP but just wanted to see if anyone had made any guides or good threads, or otherwise know which ones may be better, if this is even possible, etc. Ideal situation would be where there's a fully planned safari ready to go for a couple, they drop out, and we 'drop in' but that is a bit of a pipe dream, I get it!

We'd be looking at September or October this year. And like I say, if it's with someone who's too small, we may get a better experience but I'd also be worried we'd have to skip too many vetting steps, and I would rather we don't get scammed or left strander haha, so willing to pay for a bit of 'peace of mind' there potentially (within reason - we're not made of money and want to do it as cheaply as we reasonably and safely can - but recognise that if we're doing it, we don't want to cheap out too hard and ruin something we should have just paid 20-50% (or whatever) more for.

Thanks all.

Hi, We’re a family of 6 (2 adults, 2 tweens/teens, 2 seniors) planning a trip to Tanzania. Our Tanzania safari portion is fairly locked with a tour operator.

When: mid July 2027 Tanzania itinerary: 1N Arusha > 2N Tarangire > 1N Ngorogoro > 2N Central Serengeti > 2N Northern Serengeti > Fly back to Arusha.

We will have 5 more days we can spend in Africa, and since we’re spending so much time and $ flying in there from US, want to maximize our time there and try to see something different than adding more time to our safari.

What are some recommendations other than Zanzibar? We were thinking Victoria falls but not sure if that’s reasonable.

Thanks!

I've worked around Kenya safari planning and operations, and one thing I've noticed is that people often spend a lot of time comparing prices and not enough time comparing what they're actually getting for that price.

So for anyone planning their first Kenya safari, here are a few things I'd seriously consider before paying a deposit:

1. Don't choose an itinerary just because it visits more parks.

Doing Maasai Mara → Nakuru → Amboseli → Tsavo → back to Nairobi in a short trip might look impressive on paper, but you can spend a surprising amount of your holiday sitting in a vehicle.

I'd rather have someone spend 3–4 good nights in fewer places than rush through five destinations.

2. Ask who your actual guide/driver will be.

The vehicle matters, but the guide can make an enormous difference to the experience.

Ask about their experience in the specific areas you're visiting, how long they've been guiding, and whether they're actually your driver-guide throughout the safari.

3. Be careful with "Big Five guaranteed" type promises.

Wildlife is wild.

A good operator can know the areas, understand animal behaviour and give you the best possible opportunities, but nobody can honestly guarantee that you'll see a particular animal on a particular day.

The same goes for the Mara river crossings during migration season.

4. Don't automatically assume August = guaranteed river crossing.

August is an excellent time for the Great Migration, but the actual crossing depends on the herds, weather, river conditions and wildlife behaviour.

I'd rather have an operator set realistic expectations than promise you a crossing just to secure the booking.

5. Ask exactly what's included in the price.

This is a big one.

When comparing two safari quotes, check whether both include:

• Park/conservation fees
• Private or shared vehicle
• Airport transfers
• Accommodation
• Meals
• Game drives
• Internal flights, if applicable
• Activities
• Guide/driver
• Any additional conservation or community fees

A cheaper quote isn't necessarily cheaper once you start adding everything up.

6. Accommodation location matters.

Two camps can both be described as "in the Mara" but give you very different experiences depending on where they're located.

Ask about the actual location, access gates, driving times and whether you're inside the reserve or in a conservancy.

7. For families or groups, tell the operator about mobility issues BEFORE they recommend a camp.

"Wheelchair accessible" isn't the only consideration.

Someone who walks fine but gets tired easily may still need:

• Short distances between tent and dining
• Minimal stairs
• Flat/firm walking surfaces
• Easy vehicle access
• Ground-floor accommodation

These details can make a huge difference to the experience.

8. Don't overlook the human side of the safari.

Kenya isn't only about wildlife.

If you're interested in Maasai culture, local communities, conservation or food, tell your operator.

A well-planned safari can include those experiences without turning them into a rushed tourist stop.

9. Don't be afraid to ask for a completely custom itinerary.

Especially for private groups.

Your safari doesn't have to fit into a standard "7-day Kenya safari" package.

You can adjust the number of nights, accommodation level, activities, destinations and pace around the people actually travelling.

10. Finally, ask what happens if something goes wrong.

Flights get delayed. Vehicles occasionally have problems. Plans change.

One of the advantages of using a good local operator is having someone on the ground who can actually solve problems when they happen.

I'm curious what everyone else thinks:

What is one thing you wish you had known before booking your first safari in Kenya or Tanzania?

And for those who've travelled multiple times — what do you now consider a non-negotiable when choosing an operator?

For transparency: I work in safari operations in Kenya, so I'm obviously coming at this from the operator side. I'm genuinely interested in hearing what travellers think we sometimes get wrong or overlook.

Hi,

I am going on a safari from 13 october and will be having a 6 day safari (serengeti, nongorongoro) and 6 days on zanzibar.

How will el-nino possibly affect the safari. Will the short rain period be more extreme? Is mid-late october still relativly dry?

This is our (3 sisters) first time visiting Kenya and certainly any vacation of this type. We understand to pack light. We would appreciate guidance from the ladies out there on what to wear while in MM as well as traveling in and out of the region in October. Feel free to be specific about shoes, tops, pants, hats, PJs. Think comfortable and efficient, yet low key stylish. We plan to take the guided game drives of course, but would also like to visit some villages to learn about the culture. Also, if anybody has been to the JW, what is the vibe like for dinners? TIA!

Hello - we’re going on about a 10 day trip to South Africa and was wondering if we could get advice on packing list (both for men and women). We are going to Kruger for safari for 3 nights and to Cape Town for the remainder!

Please give us all the specifics! Clothes, accessories, first aid, etc. Thank you so much!

Hi everyone! My husband and I are heading on our first African adventure this October and I’d love some advice from anyone who has done a similar trip! We’ll be flying into Nairobi, heading to the Maasai Mara for safari, then returning to Nairobi before flying on to the Seychelles for some beach time.

A few questions for those who have traveled this route:
Nairobi Airport: What has your experience been flying internationally through Nairobi (NBO)? Is it relatively easy to navigate? Anything we should be prepared for with immigration, security, connections, or luggage?
Jewelry on safari: I was thinking of bringing inexpensive/cheap jewelry instead of my nicer pieces. Is that a good idea, or would you recommend leaving jewelry behind altogether?
Safari luggage: Any packing tips or things you were really glad you brought? Anything you packed but never used?Bugs: How bad are mosquitoes in the Maasai Mara in October? Any particular repellent or clothing you recommend?
Tipping: This is one I’m especially curious about! Who did you tip throughout the trip - safari guide, driver, camp staff, porters, airport transfer drivers, hotel staff, restaurants, etc.—and how much did you typically tip each person/per day?
USD vs. local currency: For tipping in Kenya, is it better to bring US dollars or Kenyan shillings? And in the Seychelles, did you tip in USD, euros, or Seychellois rupees?
Kenya → Seychelles: Has anyone flown from Nairobi to the Seychelles? How was the airport/departure process and flight?
Seychelles: Anything you wish you had known before going, especially after coming straight from safari?
First safari: Any general tips for a first-time safari that you wish someone had told you beforehand?