Looking for some honest opinions.

Husband and I are going on a delayed honeymoon safari trip to the Masai Mara in September, and I’m trying to decide whether we need to buy a camera or not.

We definitely both take lots of photos on our phones when we’re away and would plan to do so on this trip especially, but neither of us are in any way into photography or would have any knowledge of how to use a higher-end camera. We don’t currently own any camera.

It’s hard to justify spending the money to get one that we’d almost certainly not use again (unless we do another safari, which is probably not on the cards any time soon), and we’re not exactly awash with cash after paying for the wedding and this honeymoon, but seeing how much discussion there is on this sub around photography is making me worried we’d regret not having one.

Has anyone done a safari with just their phone camera and regretted it??

Renting doesn’t seem to be an option where we are unfortunately

Planning our first safari in Kenya in late November or early December. Cognizant that it’s short rain season.
I can’t decide what destination to pair with Masai Mara. I was strongly considering Amboseli because of logistics, cost, travel duration and of course elephants viewing. I have done enough research, watched videos, read blogs but still unsure.

But I am wondering if Amboseli offers anything different from Masai Mara? Should we consider
Samburu? Is it worth the time, effort, and money
?

For now our itinerary is -
2 nights Amboseli
4 nights Masai Mara

Operator - yet to decide between spirit of Kenya and Amazing memories.

Any advice ?

Considering our next safari and looking at maximising our chances of seeing leopards, wild dogs and cheetahs. But I’m realistic about sightings and happy for a great overall experience. Keen others thoughts on these options:

South Luangwa, Kafue and Lower Zambezi, or
Hwange and Mana Pools, or
Linyanti/Selinda or somewhere like Mokolwane?

I'm trying to determine where in Kenya (or even Tanzania) we should go for a 4 night safari in the third week in May 2027. This will be our 5th or 6th time on safari and will be climbing Mt. Meru before this, so will be flying out of JRO after the climb, most likely to NBO, then on to a bush flight from there. I realize this is towards the end of long rains, but we were hoping to be able to do either a multi-day walking safari or at least some half-day walks. It seems that we would have to stay in a conservancy instead of a national park if we want to do any walks.

Are there any particular areas that we should be looking at that may give us a better chance of avoiding weather issues? Will walking safaris still be offered in May? I know Zimbabwe or South Africa would probably be a better option for us, but looking at flight schedules, we would spend quite a bit of time in layovers and travel time versus staying in Tanzania or Kenya. I should add that we've done the Serengeti and Ngorongoro together, so hoping to go somewhere new. I've been to the Mara (but my wife hasn't), so that could be an option as well.

Quick info:

2027 February (no exact dates yet)

4-6 people

Tanzania private group photo safari (Mostly Tarangire and Serengeti, but flexible)

Hi,

Sorry for the formatting, this was written on a phone.

It is me again, I had a post not so long ago asking about possibilities for a solo traveller to join a private group safari. First I want to thank everyone for recommendations and reaching out.

I reached out to some operators and I got a quote that I quite like, for a 11-day Tanzania trip which revolves around wildlife photography. Nothing is fixed yet, we just made an itinerary based on my plans, but once the group would form both me and the operator are open to tweaking it a bit here and there. They also told me that they would try to match us with a guide who has prior experience with people who had photography as their main scope and we'd also plan our game drives and transport between different locations so we could utilize as much of the good light conditions as we can. The parks feature a lot of different kind of species for sure, so there will be something to find for everyone.

As for me I am completely okay with sleeping in a tent and such, but we agreed that if someone shows interest then I will connect the parties so they can discuss optional upgrades for themselves and get info on the changes in price this would cause. They seem to be really flexible. Also their reviews seem to be really great.

The group size would be 4-6 people, I would be okay launching it once the group consists of at least 4 people with the two remaining spots staying available. I want to mention that I am looking for people that are somewhat flexible so everyone can have a chance to see/photograph what they like, I am not planning on acting as a leader of the group, however I am really happy to be responsible for gathering the group together, after that everyone can share their ideas with the others and the tour operator to see what is achievable.

If someone is interested please let me know, I'll try to reach out to everyone who shows interest in the comments/in private/under the last post.

Hey everyone,
If you are planning a trip to Kenya right now and feel like you are getting scammed by the park fees your tour operator is quoting you, you aren't alone.
Let's address the elephant in the room: The Maasai Mara entry fee is now a massive $200 USD per non-resident adult, per day during the July–December peak season. Even worse, if you stay outside the park gates to save money on accommodation, that $200 is only a 12-hour ticket (6 AM to 6 PM).
For a couple spending three days in the Mara, that is $1,200 just to enter the gate, before you've even paid for a bed, a guide, or a meal.
If this is blowing your budget, don't panic. You don't have to cancel your trip. The Mara is managed by the local county, but Kenya's national parks are managed by KWS (Kenya Wildlife Service), which are significantly cheaper.
Here is how you can still have an epic safari by pivoting to KWS parks:

Amboseli National Park ($90 USD/day): If you want iconic Africa, this is it. It has the best views of Mount Kilimanjaro and the largest, most visible elephant herds in the country. Because it's smaller and flatter, game viewing is incredibly easy.
Tsavo East & West ($80 USD/day): This is Kenya’s largest national park and a hidden gem for budget travelers. It is famously home to the "red elephants" (they dust themselves in the red soil). It's much less crowded than the Mara, and the lodges here tend to be cheaper because it's further off the standard tourist circuit.
Lake Nakuru National Park ($90 USD/day): If you want to see rhinos, skip the Mara and come here. It is a fenced sanctuary with a very high density of both black and white rhinos, plus tree-climbing lions.

If you absolutely must see the Maasai Mara, don't spend a week there. Do a 2-night "group joining" safari (sharing a van with other travelers) in the Mara to hunt for big cats, then spend the remaining 4 or 5 days of your trip down in Amboseli or Naivasha where your daily burn rate drops by more than half.

(Disclaimer: I run a local tour operation here in Nairobi.)

Anyone have experience with either of these companies? They are the top two on my list for a Tanzania safari I’m planning for 2027.

For those who have been before, what are some deciding factors when deciding on a tour operator? I’ve spoken to 15+ operators and I feel like all have similar pricing and have good reviews. What does a tour operator do that makes you say “I want to book with them” over other places? What can help me make a decision? I’m totally stumped on who to go with.

Hello,
I’ll be visiting Rwanda + Uganda (optional Kenya or Tanzania) with my girlfriend this August for 12-14 days (we are both 22 yo).

We are basically students, who are looking for the most budget options for safari experience in East African countries.

For now, I found that Amboseli and Tsavo East are good affordable options for us in Kenya, but we land in Rwanda and want to take bus from there to the next destination.

What countries, safaris would you recommend for us? We usually prefer less crowded areas, even if we have to skip some “must see” so any unpopular safaris and spots would be appreciated.

I think that Gorilla permit is too expensive for us, so we probably skip this part :(

I'm planning a honeymoon trip to Tanzania. I've gotten a couple quote from Tour operators and have noticed that their Jeeps are pop-ups rather than the fully exposed sides. From my research, the fully exposed ones are not allowed to do transport between camps/city to parks etc.

I really do want to have the fully open side of the jeeps during my game drives. How do people usually address this? Do they pay for a tour operator to bring them from airport to camp 1 to camp 2, and at each camp, pay for a separate game drive?

What I did like about the Tour Operator quotes is that it's all fully private (the transfers, the game drive).

When comparing lodges to mobile camps for a trip to the Serengeti, it's important to note that some fixed lodges are strategically located along key wildlife corridors rather than just in scenic areas.

For instance, Serengeti Explorer is situated on a hilltop in south-central Serengeti, specifically on the Nyaburo Hills. This location is directly along the migration route as the animals move south toward the calving plains, particularly from March to June, a prime time to witness this remarkable movement.

However, Serengeti Explorer is a larger property with over seventy rooms and suites, giving it a resort-like feel rather than the intimacy of a smaller camp. This is a significant tradeoff if you prefer a more personal experience. If anyone is trying to decide between lodges and mobile camp options.

Planning a 12-night East Africa trip in November 2027 and working with a safari advisor.

I’m booking several components on points (5 nights Masai Mara, Zanzibar beach stay, and initial Nairobi overnight), so the quotes below cover only the intermediate camp accommodation plus all internal flights, transfers, park/conservancy fees (not for hotel booked on points) , and fuel surcharges for the entire trip. The Masai Mara and Zanzibar stays are completely excluded from these prices.

Overall itinerary structure:

∙ Night 1: Arrive Nairobi (booked on points)

∙ Night 2-6: 5 nights Masai Mara (booked on points, NOT included in price)

∙ Night 7-9: 3 nights intermediate camp (included in price)

∙ Night 10-12: Zanzibar beach stay (booked on points, NOT included in price)

∙ Fly home (not included in price)

Option 1: Mid-range camp in Ol Pejeta Conservancy — $4,400/person ($8,800 total).

Option 2: Mid-range camp in Loisaba Conservancy — $5,125/person ($10,500 total).

Option 3: Mid-range camp in Lewa Conservancy — $5,700/person ($11,400 total).

Does this pricing seem reasonable given that it excludes the Mara and Zanzibar stays? Is the intermediate camp even worth adding, or would you skip it and spend more time in the Mara or Zanzibar instead??? Or call it good after 5 nights in the Mara and go back to Nairobi ?

My fiancée and I are thinking about doing Tanzania for our 1 year anniversary next year and I’m trying to figure out the best itinerary. And to be quite honest we haven’t even been able to narrow down what’s most important to us.

Our budget is around $8,000 for both of us. Right now I’m thinking a 5-7 day safari in the Serengeti, then spending a few days somewhere with good snorkeling and beaches. I’d really love to see whale sharks too if that’s realistic.

I’m looking at going in late September or early October since I’ve read that’s a decent time for both safari and whale sharks.

For anyone who’s been:

Is $8k enough for a nice trip for two or will it be a waste of money at that price point?

Would you pick Mafia Island or Zanzibar?

Is 5 days in the Serengeti enough or would you do more?

Any safari companies or lodges you’d definitely recommend or avoid?

This will probably be a once-in-a-lifetime trip for us, trying to do something out of our comfort zone before we start having kids. Just trying to figure out what gives us the best experience and if this is even feasible.

Thanks!

Hi,

I was wondering if there is a dedicated platform or group where solo travellers can find like-minded people to book a custom safari together to make it more economical. I would go there to do wildlife photography so I'd definitely prefer a private tour that is 10-12 days in 2-3 parks in either Kenya or Tanzania rather than a budget shared safari, as those feel really rushed. However private tours for one person do not seem to worth it, some costs could be easily distributed.

If someone is interested here then some info: I would look for some people who would prefer a more slow paced trip, as for me I do not really mind budget accommodation and getting rid of luxurious add-ons, I would be visiting for the animals and spending as much time out in good light conditions as possible. I'd probably visit in February 2027, but nothing is fixed yet. I am also open to join private groups that would try to save on some costs this way.

Also, if someone knows of tour operators who can help setting up a semi-customized safari in these countries, which are kind of like budget shared drives with the possibility of selectively upgrading in the game drives department then this would be welcome as well, so far I only found options where the plan I quickly described is considered to be only feasible in a private setting with the costs indicating that as well.

i'm planning to go for calving season in Tanzania. this is my rough itinerary and i'm not short on time and can extend the holiday if need be.

day 1 to 3 - arrive in Nairobi and go to amboseli. reason for going is just to see elephant herds since i read it's dry season. didn't plan anything else in Kenya as i figured it would be repetitive to Tanzania

day 4 - 11 - go to Tanzania, specially ntudu, ngorongoro crater and probably a short visit to maasai tribe. should i include central serengeti? skipping tarangire since it's rainy season, unless it's worth going.

day 12 - 16 - fly to victoria falls. is it worth doing hwange and chobe national park during rainy season or skip? i want to see elephant herds and if i'm able to see it here, it'll make sense to skip amboseli instead.

My wife and I did a seven day mobile safari last year from Maun to Victoria Falls. It was an awesome experience, and we'd recommend it to anyone, but we found the planning process to be difficult since there is not a ton of information online about Botswana budget safaris. So, in this post I'll discuss what we learned and our recommendations.

First, we highly recommend doing a mobile safari (where you sleep in temporary camps rather than a lodge or a permanent tented cap), for the following reasons:

1. It's typically the cheapest option, as you can see on Safaribookings.com and other tour listed sites.
2. These mobile safaris are more like glamping than traditional camping. We slept in very comfortable cots rather than sleeping on the ground. They set up an "en suite bathroom" attached to the tent (a little area behind your tent with canvas walls, a deep hole with a portable toilet seat, and a bucket shower). While it's not luxurious, it's far more comfortable than most camping experiences. We slept very well each night and felt very rested. The food that staff cooked for us was great too.
3. You camp right in the middle of the park. There are no walls or fences separating you from the animals. It's an amazing experience. You can hear the elephants and lions while falling sleep, and then wake up to the sounds of birds and hippos. Because you're right in the middle of the park, you get some time on morning and evening game drives when there are very few other vehicles around.

Next, we have a few specific recommendations for people interested in this kind of trip:

1. Our last safari activity was a boat safari on the Chobe river near Kasane. The views here are incredible (tons of elephants, crocodiles, and buffalo in a beautiful river), so we would definitely recommend including this in any itinerary.
2. On our drive through Chobe National Park, we drove through an area called the Mababe Depression. It was an incredible landscape with many animals and very few other safari cars around. Although there are campsites in the area, very few mobile safari itineraries include a stop there. If we did this trip again, we would have spent one of our nights in Mababe Depression and the next in Savuti, rather than spending two nights in Savuti as most itineraries do.
3. We booked with a company called Moonstroll Vantage Expeditions because they had good reviews on Safaribookings.com and were affordable. While it was a great experience, I would consider a different company since Moonstroll did not seem completely organized (for example, they put us in a safari truck that did not have a working radio, which is almost certainly a safety issue). We would go with a different tour company next time.
4. Our trip included a mokoro tour (a sort of canoe). This was enjoyable, but we wouldn't consider it a must-do. The standard motor boat safari was far more impressive. So if you find a good itinerary without a mokoro tour, I would go ahead and book it.
5. This might be an unpopular opinion, but we were a bit underwhelmed by Victoria Falls. It was a pain to get to (getting into Zimbabwe requires more planning for visa and currency reasons), and the area is very touristy. It wasn't bad, but we would have preferred to just spend another day in Kasane doing another game drive / river safari rather than going through the hassle of getting to Vic Falls. Maybe the Zambia side of Victoria Falls would have been a better fit for us, as I hear it is a bit less touristy.

Hey everyone,

I still need to get my passport and all that jazz, but I'm researching companies for an African safari trip in early March 2027. But I'm not too sure about which company to go with. I'm a solo traveling but prices seem reasonable on there. I'm looking for something under about $7k(not including the flight there). Just looking to see if anyone has used them before since not seeing too much about it via the search on this sub. Image for context

Hello,

We are going on our first trip for our honeymoon and are looking at two main itinerary options.

I would love to see the baby animals, which is why we are going in February. But I would also love to see Elephants, Giraffes, Hippos, and small animals that are unique to Tanzania.

Which parks do you think work better for a 8 day trip

1.Tarangire, Ndutu, and the Crater

1. Ndutu, Central Serengeti, and the Crater

I've heard that Tarangire might be to wild/green to really see the animals at this time year but I am worried that doing the Central Serengeti after Ndutu will be too similar.

I know itinerary questions are asked often on this sub, and I have learned a great deal from other posts. Nonetheless I would love input on my itinerary (big 50th birthday trip), noting while we were originally planning a 7 day safari the most affordable flights have us spending 9 full days in Tanzania (though one will be after a 2am arrival, so will be a bit of a bust). For this reason I am now considering adding some additional time to one of the parks, or shortening park time and adding Zanzibar. I am unsure whether Zanzibar is worth the extra cost and flight, given November weather and the short time frame. The estimates we are getting right now for a 7 day safari (without Zanzibar) are roughly 2k/person.

I would love any input on the 3 itinerary options below, and the following specific questions:
-have you done a trip like this with your teens, and was a 7 or 8 day safari too much for them?
-Is a 2 night (or 3 if that’s possible) trip to Zanzibar worth it, or will we just be stuck in a resort in a touristy area (not our preference). Do you have specific recommendations for where to stay in Zanzibar?
- If a Zanzibar add-on is worthwhile, is there a benefit to booking with the same operator, or should we just book it ourselves?

Thank you in advance for your help!

Option 1:

• 2 full rest days Arusha (this sounds like too much unless we plan excursions)
• 1 day and night Tarangire
• Drive to Central Serengeti, 3 nights
• Ngorogoro crater, 2 nights (crater rim)
• Drive from crater to Arusha for a return to the US the next day

Option 2:

• 1 rest day Arusha 
• 2 days and night Tarangire (try to see Hadzabe Bushmen near Lake Eyasi on second day)
• Drive to Central Serengeti, 3 nights
• Ngorogoro crater, 2 nights (crater rim)
• Drive from crater to Arusha for a return to the US the next day

Option 3 (insane?):

• No rest day Arusha - drive straight to Central Serengeti on day of arrival (tiring but can sleep in jeep)
• Central Serengeti 3 nights
• 1 days and night Tarangire 
• Ngorogoro crater, 2 nights (crater rim)
• Drive from crater to Kili airport; fly to Zanzibar
• 2 nights Zanzibar (or 3 nights Zanzibar if we reduce to 2 in Central Serengeti); spend the last night near the airport

I have been recently looking into safari trips in Tanzania and I believe the cost of these, even for a few nights, is overpriced: above 1000 EUR per person averaged over different agencies providing the service. When looking at the GDP per capita of the country, I am paying their yearly wage for a trip that lasts a few nights. Wouldn't it make more sense for the (true) price to have one zero less and be be closer to 100 EUR?

My fiancé & I are highly considering Tanzania Safari + Zanzibar for our honeymoon.
I’m wondering if anyone who has went can share how they booked it / what company’s they booked through. I feel like I’m going to need a travel agent but have never worked with one before & am worried about being scammed or staying somewhere unsafe (whether booking myself or with an agent who’s not familiar with the area).

And any other comments on what you liked / didn’t like, if it’s worth it, things to know beforehand etc.

This all is still a little confusing to me, but for a safari in May, I think we’re staying in 3 lodges (tarangire treetops, craters edge, and onenature niyaruswiga). Booking through a local operator (safari soles).

My question is do I stick with their guide or use the lodges guides? Basically this question kinda relates to guide quality and open air vs pop top jeeps