Having retired a few years ago, I have been traveling while I still can. Wanted to go to Africa on Safari, but where to begin?
After googling and getting quotes of $20,000, then $30,000 for one week, from the well know brokers, that’s ridiculous!
I found a website, Safari Bookings, great site comparing all the tour operators.
In the top five was “Lion King Adventures”, after reviewing all of their tour offerings, I requested a quote on a custom package, it came back under $8,000 Really! Everything I want for less than half the well know advertisers.
The whole booking process went smoothly, with plenty of emails covering all of the details.
The transfer driver picked us up at the airport as promised.
The first night hotel was 5 star with breakfast served overlooking the beautiful grounds.
Our guide Oswald (Ozzie) was waiting at the door first thing in the morning.
He gave us an introduction on what would happened over the next week.
The SUV (Bogo) we would be using, a new Toyota Land Cruiser, customized with a refrigerator filled with ice cold water bottles, we used a whole case. Dual fuel tanks and dual spare tires. Power strip for charging my cameras. Plenty of seating for six and a center aisle for standing and looking out the pop up top, full 360 viewing for tracking moving animals. While on safari you spend all day (8-10 hrs.) in the SUV transferring between parks and crawling over rough dirt roads looking for the next animal sighting. Ozzie always greeted us warmly each morning, always answered my many questions, always offered helping assistance, It was a joy to be in his care. You want your guide to be personable.
He always drove safely, we were passed by other drivers going too fast for conditions, and then to find them broke down in the middle of the road later. We passed many blown tires, broken suspensions and a truck with both front tires hanging at opposite angles, sheared off tie rods.
Safari means going into the vast remote wilderness, looking for animals in their home environment.
Thus, there is no power lines, no cell towers, no pavement, no street signs, no gps, no maps.
The ONLY modern thing out there is gravel on the main roads, the majority of roads are just dirt tracks wandering through the hundreds of miles of vastness . Ozzie never got lost, never consultant a map, never asked for directions.
He was stopped many times to help out new lost guides with concerned guests in the back looking nervous.
The only way to get into the parks are with a local licensed guide driving a 4-wheel drive. They all have 2way radios.
When someone finds a rare sighting, the word gets out and soon a dozen trucks show up joggling for the best viewing, then moving out of the way for the next to get a great view. NO tour busses belching fumes, no stupid tourist driving rental cars. Just dedicated professional guides filled with answers on the details of every animal.
Every day included a hot picnic lunch on a table cloth no less.
Ozzie had a picnic basket with two stainless steel canisters, real pottery plates and real metal cutlery.
The food was freshly prepared by the hotel each night, included rice/pasta, chicken and/or beef, vegetables.
While other safari guides provided a box lunch, cold sandwich, chips, and a juice box.
Do I regret going with Lion King, NO.
Would I do it again, YES.
Would I cut corners to save a few dollars, NO
Don’t over pay a huge sales commission to the well-known resale brokers.
Quality costs a little more, so don’t be cheap, just go with the best! Lion...
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