We are thinking about doing an African safari this year, and have been researching firms who organise them. A quick Google search reveals loads of different companies who will do this kind of thing, but it's difficult to know who is reliable and has the best track record.

Does anyone have any recommendations for companies who they may have used in the past?

Friends of mine went to Londolozi and said that it was fantastic (londolozi.com) - they stayed in a tree camp and said that it was extremely well run, comfortable, with well organised tours, etc.

no advice on tours...but general advice learnt by my mother the 'hard' way - don't touch the electric fences!

Last month I went on safari to Botswana and went to 2 different locations. It was organised by a South African-based company called Southern Africa travel.

The first place was www.evlodge.com and everyone was friendly there. It was quite easy to get to and is near Kasane airport and also close to Victoria Falls.

The second place in the Okovango Delta was run by www.desertdelta.com. Very nice place, staff were very friendly and helpful (especially when one of the party was sick on the last day, they could not help enough). We took small planes to get there as it's seriously in the middle of nowhere but that's why you see so much great wildlife.

I think it depends on budget, what you want to see and who you want to do it with. We were never with more than 6 other people for all our drives and most of the time we were with 1 other person which was great as you can specify what you'd like to see and you can develop a relationship with the guide and understand life in Botswana.

If you have any detailed questions, just PM me and I can give lots more info and advice.

Wow, thanks for all the quick replies! (I'll bear in mind the electric fence one, I got into a fight with one once in the UK which wasn't exactly pleasant, and that was only to keep cows in order!)

Hey Ed,

I know a guy who runs boutique tailored Safaris in East and Southern Africa...he is a friend, so I am bias, but if you have a budget that allows for a tailorred unique experience as opposed to a mass-market safari with a million other giraffe seeking tourists, then he is your man.

Hayden is a wildlife tv presenter, who now also has this Safari Business...

Does Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda (his current favourite), South Africa, Namibia and more I think...

http://www.haydenturner.com/safari-p...io/safaris.php

There are so many travel agents and private rangers oragnizing the tours in Southern Africa that it would be difficult to mention all of them. Don't get me started on the topic... I, for one, can recommend this site: http://www.africantravel.com and have high esteem of http://mpumalanga.lodgeguide.co.za/M...ain-lodge.html
who organized for us safari in Kruger National Park and also took us around splendind places in Mpumalanga where you could see pristine forests and savannah of flat crown trees viewed from stoep and beautiful high- and low-velds. They also oragnized guided tour trips to Mozambique and Swaziland braais and fishing adventures. These were the days...

If you have a group of people you could hire private rangers who will show you unique places where hardly anyone ventures, thus making it more interesting. Would you care putting your hand inside crocodiles jaw

I used to work for 2 years for an overland safari company called Truck Africa which travelled through 12 African countries from Uganda right down to South Africa & Mozambique. I have taken passengers to most of the major National Parks (Masai Mara, Etosha, Okavango Delta, Kruger, Luangwa etc) Out of all of them I would personally recommend visiting the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti in Tanzania for the most rewarding safari & cultural experience. However depending on your circumstances (your budget, who you are going to be travelling with, the time you have, whether you want luxury or to have a more down to earth experience) would impact on who/where is the best for you.
We used to sub-contract a local company in Arusha with wonderful guides to take the passengers into the Serengeti & Crater, this was a camping expedition, but where all the meals were cooked and washing etc done for you. It really is an amazing experience to fall asleep hearing all the different animal noises however if this sounds like your worst nightmare, then there are a range of alternative accommodation, up to the real luxury lodges!!! If you would like any more specific advice then please feel free to PM me. Hope you have a wonderful time whatever you decide.

I did this one with the rents a few years back...
http://www.travelbutlers.com/safari/...cape/lalibela/

Most amazing experience of my life. You stay in treetents and animals walk below you during the night.
Food is amazing (we did 3 days)

Then in the vening before the last time you go out to observe animals they ask you what you like to drink before you go.

Once out the guide pops out a cooler an you can sit back and watch the eliphants walk by with a bacardi coke in hands.

Once again....amazing

How much did these elephants had to drink before they started staggering?

Indeed, everytime in the game reserve we pitch up our tents, start a braai and open bottle of brandy and coke (or bacardi). It is unforgettable experience. How I miss these days, only Alps can convince me not to go back

haha funny now that i reread it I could have worded it a bit different. In any case I miss SA , but I was only there for 4 weeks so im sure I didnt see all the things....plus we stayed in a gated community...

First time in Africa?
Kenya or Namibia

Elitist, with elitist money?
Botswana

Want to combine with Vic Falls?
Zambia

Or climb Kili?
Tanzania

Or see the gorillas and chimps, but not so much big game?
Uganda

Would recommend avoiding SA this year, because everything is booked out for the world cup. A lot of lodges in Botswana are also fully booked for the same reason, and flights there transit by Jo'Burg, so the booking problem remains.

i absolutely loved http://www.tilodi.com/ in South Africa, about 2hrs away from Joburg! It's small, but great! They can host up to about 35 guests, the rangers are absolutely enthusiastic about their work and happy to share time and knowledge. It was so divine!

How much did these elephants had to drink before they started staggering?

Have you ever seen the documentary "Beautiful People" The elephants get drunk because they eat ripe marula fruit. They really do stagger.

When I had a pet pig in Botswana, I called the vet because it was making a weird noise. You've guessed, it was drunk and hicoughing, because I used to feed it on the hops that the brewery gave me. After theyd finished making beer.

Is that really so or the myth? Anyway, we sheer mortals are destinied to only one kind of the fruit in form of:

Well, perhaps it was trickery in the film. I certainly remember seeing these drunk looking animals, and so do the reviewers of the film on Amazon...

http://www.amazon.com/Animals-Are-Be...owViewpoints=1

Some of the reviewers cast doubts on the authenticity of the "drunks" though....
Without any doubt film maker Jamie Uys (The gods have gone crazy) Uys is a genius

As for my pig, he was drunk without a doubt, though it took a vet to tell me!
After that, I was advised to feed him the hop mash for two days, then give him a rest on the third. Everything was fine after that.

Ah, Amarula, all the great things you've done for us, from livening up a coffee the morning after a night of braai's and Castle Lager.....to the Marula fruits that drives elephants into a mad drunken rage and destroy villages.

The times we had...

...you're not quite awake are you?

....of course not, I wouldn't even be at work if I didn't feel like all my Swiss colleagues thought I was slacking off because I didn't check into work at 8a.m.

It's almost Tea Time...15 minutes left

P.S. Don't believe the report, IT'S ALL LIES, Elephants get drunk too!!

Ah, Amarula, all the great things you've done for us, from livening up a coffee the morning after a night of braai's and Castle Lager.....to the Marula fruits that drives elephants into a mad drunken rage and destroy villages.

The times we had...

Aquanexus, you made me laugh bigtime. Not only that, but you brought back many many happy memories.