20-35 years of age
Book an organised safari in advance!
We drove down from Kenya (Masai Mara to Arusha via Nairobi in one day - I don't recommend it) and tried to have a look around Tanzania on our own. It didn't work. Immigration kindly informed us that our very expensive visas were only valid for six days, so we booked into a post hotel in Arusha, had a curry for tea, and frantically searched the town for a four day safari to Ngorongoro leaving immediately. Fortunately, Arusha is full of tour operators, so we found one. Unfortunately, it consisted of a mental Michael Schumacher wannabe driving a decrepid Land Cruiser with a cook whose main contribution was to eat all the meat before the tourists got it. The drive to and from the crater was hairy. As such, I would recommend anybody going to do the sensible thing and book a good tour with a reputable company.
The Serengeti and Ngorongoro are amazing parks. The best Leopard action I've ever had, and loads of other excellent animal and bird encounters. The campsites are pretty good aswell. Prices are very high, as they are elsewhere in East Africa, compared with similar parks in southern Africa.
Due to our visa predicament, we didn't have time to see anymore of Tanzania. I'd love to go back though, and go to Zanzibar and the Selous.
US
20-35 years of age
It was amazing, just like being in the Lion King movie!
Our trip to Chobe was amazing, the boat ride down the river was so pretty and interesting, and then the feeling of being in the bush as soon as we landed and met our guides. It was so fabulous being in our trucks with the animals so up close and personal! The service at the campsite was phenomenal and our tents so nice and comfy. Could hardly tell you were in the wilderness once you got into bed :) And the food service was great! The whole experience made me feel like royalty the way we were treated. Definitely worth the money and time!
20-35 years of age
Review about Namib-Naukluft National Park by John Carthy
Stunning park with great scenary and good wildlife (although not as good for wildlife as other Namibian parks). You would need to be mental to miss this place if you're going to Namibia.
20-35 years of age
Review about Etosha National Park by John Carthy
Great park. The newly refurbished rooms are expensive compared to South Africa, but lovely. I'll pay anything for an outdoor shower. Wildlife is great, although a bit sparse due to the terrain in the park. I wouldn't want to spend weeks here, like I could in Kruger, but it is still well worth it's reputation.
20-35 years of age
Review about Waterberg Plateau Park by John Carthy
I love this place. It's a great place to combine some light beasting with a few days around the pool. Relax on a sunlounger with a cold Hansa whilst banded mongooses fight over the pools of water left behind by the lawn sprinkler. Don't have too many Hansas though - open your room curtains before dawn and you'll probably have tiny Damara Dik Diks playing on your patio. Ace. The plateau itself isn't great for beasts, but definitely make the effort if you're staying over. The safari truck we were in killed more nightjars than it avoided, and we saw a an eland. That was it.
Review about Serengeti National Park by John Carthy
If you want to go to Ngorongoro, you have to go through the Serengeti. Which is no bad thing. Great leopards amongst many other excellent beasts. Well worth a visit.
Review about Ngorongoro Crater by John Carthy
Amazing park with fantastic wildlife, easily reached from the pleasant town of Arusha. This means it is packed with safari vehicles. But then anywhere good is going to be busy nowadays, isn't it? Goes hand in hand with the Serengeti - you can't go to one without visiting the other. Rivals the Mara and Kruger as one of the greatest parks in Africa.
20-35 years of age
Review about Serengeti National Park by John Carthy
If you want to go to Ngorongoro, you have to go through the Serengeti. Which is no bad thing. Great leopards amongst many other excellent beasts. Well worth a visit.
20-35 years of age
Review about Ngorongoro Crater by John Carthy
Amazing park with fantastic wildlife, easily reached from the pleasant town of Arusha. This means it is packed with safari vehicles. But then anywhere good is going to be busy nowadays, isn't it? Goes hand in hand with the Serengeti - you can't go to one without visiting the other. Rivals the Mara and Kruger as one of the greatest parks in Africa.
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35-50 years of age
Review about South Africa by aerogeist
South Africa has a wonderful variety of wildlife that would be difficult to find anywhere else. The park I visited was clean (in the sense of being free of litter and polution), and had wide open views. For the most part you didn't see any fences, and felt like you were out in the wild. Also, for those from the northern hemisphere, South Africa can be a nice flip of climates, and has beautiful clear skys for observing stars you would never see at home.