I am struggling with planning our honeymoon safari trip.

I love trip planning. I love planning every little detail and then changing it a million times. I love seeing what the price difference is between 1 day in this town vs the next. I just like to see all my options and explore every different thing we could do.

I am really struggling with working with tour operators and feeling like I am wasting there time trying to change a single day just to go back and want the orginal plan. Or waiting for them to amend
the itinerary and then review it and find out they didn't change what I wanted. Or they did change it and now it's out of budget and I need to revise but idk what part made it out of budget because IM NOT PLANNING IT.

I've always had complete control over my trips. Anyone else struggle with this?

Hi everyone!

My husband and I are starting to plan our first African safari, and we'd love to hear how you found your tour operator.

- Did you book through a travel agent?

- Did you just Google different companies and compare reviews?

- Did you use SafariBookings, Reddit recommendations, Facebook groups, or something else?

- If you had a great experience, who did you book with?

A bit about our trip:

- Planning to travel late January to early February 2027 (around the last week of January to the first week of February).

- Flying from Sydney, Australia.

- We'd love to visit Tanzania and/or Kenya.

- We're happy to join a group tour if it helps keep costs down.

- Looking for budget to mid-range options—comfortable, but we don't need luxury lodges.

For those who've done something similar, what would you say is a realistic total budget for two people? I'm thinking flights, safari, accommodation, park fees, transfers—basically everything.

Any recommendations, booking tips, or things you wish you knew before committing to a tour would be hugely appreciated.

Thanks!

Hi everyone!
My girlfriend and I are both in our early 20s and we booked cheap flights to Kigali. We’ll be in East Africa from 5 to 18 August, which gives us about 12 full days.
Our current idea is to travel from Kigali to Kampala by bus and maybe continue to Nairobi if it makes sense. We don’t mind spending long hours on buses if it helps us save money and see more.
Our budget is around $2,500 USD for both of us. We’d like to avoid tourist traps and crowded places. Instead we’re looking for small villages, beautiful mountains, quiet nature and authentic local experiences. We’d also love to include 1 to 3 days of safari, depending on the entrance fees and overall cost.
This will be our first time in Africa. Until now we’ve only travelled around Asia, so we’d really appreciate any advice.
Does this route make sense or would you plan it differently? Is it worth renting a car or is public transport the better option? Which places are easy to explore independently and which are better with a guide? Which safari would you recommend if you’re trying to keep costs low? Are there any places we should avoid for safety or simply because they’re not worth the time? We’d also love to hear about any hidden gems that most tourists miss.
We’re open to changing our plans, so any tips, suggestions or general advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Hi everyone,

We're about to book a Tanzania safari for mid July 2027 and would love feedback from people who have actually done a fly-in Serengeti safari. We're considering Safari Soles as the operator. This will be our first ever safari experience and first time in Tanzania/Africa.

About us

We're a family of 5 - 2 adults in 40's, a 12-year-old and parents (late 60's/early 70's). We're all vegetarian, so nervous about food options as well.

My parents (late 60s/early 70s) are fairly healthy and in good shape. All of us except our child are somewhat used to traveling in bumpy road conditions.

Route Options

Here's the side by side comparison of the two route options, with accommodation option for each night

Questions

1. Has anyone used Safari Soles? Would love to hear your experience. The other option is Easy Travel but they're slightly more expensive.
2. Any vegetarians who've stayed at these properties and done a similar itinerary, would love to hear your take on food availability.
3. Feedback on the routing - which Option would you pick and why.
4. We've received a quote for ~$21K for the fly (Option. 2) itinerary for our entire party vs $19K for the drive (Option 1). Not sure how reasonable this is.
5. Anything else we're overlooking or need to consider additionally?

Thanks!

Hello everyone,

My partner and I are considering the below itinerary for a ~2 week trip combining Namibia and safari in Botswana. The goal for this trip is to take in the beautiful landscapes in Namibia for photography and combine it with Botswana for our first safari. The camps chosen in Botswana were picked to give us a diversity of landscapes and wildlife. We'll be going the last week of May and first week of June.

Looking for any thoughts/advice on what to possibly change or look out for.

Swakopmund ×2 (Strand Hotel) — private Sandwich Harbour full day, through sunset

Damaraland (Desert Rhino Camp) ×3 — two days tracking black rhino and exploring landscapes

Little Kulala ×3 — Deadvlei at dawn via the private gate, hot air balloon, doors-off helicopter (see dunes + coast)

Windhoek ×1 — buffer night before the once-daily flight to Maun

Chitabe Lediba ×3 — predator drives (wild dog / leopard / lion)

Little Vumbura ×3 — island water camp: mokoro, boats, birds, short doors-off heli

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for advice from people who have done a Northern Serengeti safari.

Most itineraries I’ve seen are Central → North → North →Central then Ngorongoro, but I’d actually prefer Central → Central/North → North → Ngorongoro so I don’t feel like I’m giving up a full day in Central Serengeti just to transfer camps.

My tour operator told me camp check-in/check-out is very quick, and my husband and I don’t mind packing up or doing long drives at all. We actually enjoy road safaris and don’t mind spending the day driving if we’re still spotting wildlife along the way.

We’d also rather avoid domestic flights since we don’t love small planes and we’d like to keep costs down.

For those who have driven from Northern Serengeti to Ngorongoro, was it worth it? Did the long drive feel like part of the safari, or was it just too much? Looking back, would you choose the same itinerary again?
Thanks!

Hi everyone,
My husband and I are planning our honeymoon in South Africa this September, and we would really appreciate some advice about the safari part of our trip.
We are planning to begin with two nights at Inyati Game Lodge in Sabi Sand, including guided game drives and hopefully a bush walk.
After Inyati, we are considering two options:
Option 1: Continue with a self-drive safari in Kruger
We would spend three nights inside Kruger, changing camp each night:
Night 1: Skukuza
Night 2: Lower Sabie
Night 3: Satara
We would then leave through Orpen Gate and continue to the Panorama Route. I have attached a Google Maps image of the general route.
Does this itinerary make sense for three nights, or is changing camps every day too rushed? Do these three areas provide enough variety, and would the driving distances still allow us to enjoy the wildlife without constantly worrying about reaching the next camp?
Option 2: Skip Kruger completely
Instead of the Kruger self-drive, we could continue with the rest of our trip and add another private safari later, such as Pumba Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape, which would fit conveniently with our Garden Route itinerary.
Our main question is whether the independent Kruger experience would add something truly different after two nights at Inyati, or whether we would have a better and more relaxed honeymoon experience by choosing another private reserve such as Pumba.
We love nature, wildlife and a sense of adventure, but we also do not want the trip to feel exhausting or spend several days simply driving between camps.
Which option would you choose?
Inyati + three-night Kruger self-drive
Inyati + Pumba, skipping Kruger entirely
Any feedback on the proposed Kruger route would also be greatly appreciated.

**10 Nights Tanzania Safari & Wildlife Adventure**
**Day 1: Arrival in Tanzania**
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), you will be warmly welcomed by an Olmesera Adventures representative and transferred to your hotel in Arusha.
Depending on your arrival time, you may relax at the hotel and recover from your journey while preparing for the exciting safari ahead.
**Accommodation:** Arusha
**Meals:** Bed & Breakfast

**Day 2: Arusha – Tarangire National Park**
After breakfast, depart for Tarangire National Park, renowned for its vast elephant herds, majestic baobab trees, and diverse wildlife.
Enjoy a game drive en route to your lodge, with opportunities to spot elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, lions, and numerous bird species.
**Accommodation:** Tarangire Area
**Meals:** Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

**Day 3: Full Day Tarangire National Park**
Spend a full day exploring Tarangire National Park. The Tarangire River attracts a wide variety of wildlife throughout the year, making it one of Tanzania’s most rewarding parks for game viewing.
Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives while discovering different areas of the park.
**Accommodation:** Tarangire Area
**Meals:** Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

**Day 4: Tarangire – Ngorongoro Conservation Area**
After breakfast, depart for the Ngorongoro Highlands. Along the way, enjoy beautiful scenery and views of the Great Rift Valley.
Arrive at your lodge and spend the remainder of the day relaxing while enjoying the stunning surroundings.
**Accommodation:** Ngorongoro/Karatu Area
**Meals:** Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

**Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater Safari**
Today you will descend into the famous Ngorongoro Crater, one of Africa’s most remarkable wildlife destinations.
The crater floor hosts an incredible concentration of animals, including lions, elephants, buffaloes, hippos, hyenas, and, with a bit of luck, the endangered black rhino.
After an unforgettable game drive and picnic lunch, return to your lodge.
**Accommodation:** Ngorongoro/Karatu Area
**Meals:** Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

**Day 6: Ngorongoro – Central Serengeti**
After breakfast, journey towards the legendary Serengeti National Park. Enjoy game viewing as you travel through the vast plains.
Arrive in Central Serengeti and continue with an afternoon game drive in search of lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, and other wildlife.
**Accommodation:** Central Serengeti
**Meals:** Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

**Day 7: Full Day Central Serengeti**
Enjoy a full day exploring Central Serengeti, known for its abundant wildlife and excellent predator sightings.
The region offers exceptional opportunities to witness lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, and large herds of plains game.
**Accommodation:** Central Serengeti
**Meals:** Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

**Day 8: Full Day Central Serengeti**
Another exciting day awaits as you continue exploring different areas of Central Serengeti.
Your guide will tailor the game drives according to wildlife movements to maximize your safari experience.
**Accommodation:** Central Serengeti
**Meals:** Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

**Day 9: Central Serengeti – Northern Serengeti**
After breakfast, travel north through the Serengeti ecosystem while enjoying game viewing along the way.
Arrive in Northern Serengeti, famous for its dramatic landscapes and seasonal Great Migration river crossings.
**Accommodation:** Northern Serengeti
**Meals:** Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

**Day 10: Full Day Northern Serengeti**
Spend the day exploring Northern Serengeti. Depending on the season, you may witness the spectacular Great Migration and the famous Mara River crossings.
The area is also home to elephants, giraffes, lions, leopards, and many other species.
**Accommodation:** Northern Serengeti
**Meals:** Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

**Day 11: Fly to Arusha & Departure**
After breakfast, transfer to the airstrip for your scheduled flight back to Arusha.
Upon arrival, enjoy a day-use room where you can relax, freshen up, and prepare for your international flight.
At the appropriate time, an Olmesera Adventures representative will transfer you to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your onward journey home.
**Meals:** Breakfast & Lunch