Afrika

[Rod Hagen]

Hi Kids. For a whole bunch of reasons Thailand is probably off. We're looking at SafarIng instead. If you had to choose b/w South Africa/Botswana and Kenya/Tanzania which would you and why? We're also looking for some kick ass hotels, any recommendations?

THANK YOU

[Casteran]

Why nix Thailand? I am going in July and have no intention of changing my plans. If you chose Africa - my recommendation is based on when you are going? If you travel soon until Sept then Kenya/Tanzania as the weather will be better, game viewing will be OK. SA/Botswana are much further south and they are entering fall/winter season. Game viewing however is much better in these areas,,, I found K/T to be very "touristy" and where every one goes on safari. If you want a little gay life thrown in then definitely South Africa as it is nearly nonexistent in other countries.

[Rod Hagen]

Casteran,

 

Thanks. Seriously, there are all sorts of reasons, not SARS, that Thailand is off. As a friend told me, Thailand will always be there. When I can do Thailand the way I want to, we'll go. Enjoy your July trip.

 

If SA we're thinking January, if Kenya then whenever you think best :-)

 

I was set to swap Thai for Game Viewing in SA, which as a bonus has two cities I wouldn't mind visiting, Table Mountain, some really nice looking Game Park Hotels (I'm a Lux Hotel queen). Not really interested in Gay Life. However, I bumped into an extremely well traveled friend while I was browsing a Southern Africa LP guide at Starbucks, and he said we should go to Kenya instead. For him game Viewing feels more authentic there since it's not confined to National Parks, like Krueger, which to him feels like visiting a zoo; or a better analogy, which we both agreed on, is that to him it felt like visiting a VERY LARGE paddock. Too Bush Gardens, Florida.

 

Do you agree, or are the "Safaris" in South Africa adequately "wild"? Thank you.

[topcat]

In January the weather in South Africa will be very good. It's a big country tho' and it does vary!

Cape Town is magical - I'm there at this moment, and it's my 8th visit in 4years - and has all you can wish for: beaches, mountains, great food & wine, accessible wilderness, gay life etc. There is also high crime as there is much poverty alongside very first world facilities.

There are very luxurious hotels in the city - I like the Cape Grace at the Waterfront, and The Bay in Camps Bay. A very beautiful lodge to the north of Cape Town (about 5hours hard driving) is Bushmanskloof - it has Stone Age rock art and animals.

There are many game parks other than Kruger - some are in malaria-free zones. Not having to take powerful drugs against malaria is a big plus for me; you may not care.

There is a huge number of websites to check out; you cannot do enough research to make it a great trip. The first couple of times I used a gay tour-firm to guide me around: Africa Outing.

[TinyBubbles]

Rod, Hope you dont mind me putting my 2 cents in on this subject. Having done both a Kenya/Tanzania safari (May 96) and a Botswana safari (April 2003) I would highy recommend Botwana over Kenya for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I enjoyed both trips, you'll see plenty of game where ever you decide to go. But, Kenya is very touristy and while you are out on game drives you will see many other game drive vehicles. In Botswana you probably wont see another vehicle on any of your game drives. Its a much more remote experience. Also, the game drive vehicles themselves are different. In Kenya they use vans with pop up roofs which you pop up when you wanna stand and take pictures. In Botswana the vehicles are open air Land Rovers, much better for viewing and photo taking. Also, in Kenya the primary source of lodging is Game Lodges, where in Botswana, with the exception of Chobe National Park, the primary source of lodging is tented camps. The tented camps are awesome, you'll have game come thru the camps at night, we had lions, elephants and baboons in camp every night. I'd highly recomend 2 camps I stayed at, Vumbura and Chitabe. If you do decide to go to Kenya the Mount Kenya Safari Club is a must see on your adjenda..REALLY nice lodge......If you start your Botswana safari in Jo' burg SA, I'd highly recomend the Grace Hotel in Jo'burg. Very nice hotel, good location and close to some hot gay sex venues...Good luck, Africa is an AMAZING experience...

[+ Hoover42]

Rod, I just noticed an article on South Africa in the CNN Travel section. You can check it out at:

 

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TRAVEL/DESTINATIONS/05/04/south.africa.safari.ap/index.html

[Rod Hagen]

Wow! Thanks for the help everyone! Lots of great information here. I thought Kenya sounded Touristy. Looks like South Africa/Botswana wins.

[Casteran]

RE: Africa

 

Rod -

SA/Botswana really is the best choice IMHO. I just got a better sense of "Africa" in that area. Traveled with ex-boyfriend extensively some 15 yrs ago visiting is family, this was during Apartheid. Visiting a white family during the period was a unique experience - OK no one slam me - it was unique I did not say it was great. My first day I was reprimanded by the mother of my ex for saying thank you to the maid - oooppss dumb European - sorry.

Traveled via group with Park East - great company to book via, http://www.parkeast.com, they have prearranged groups (no more than 10 usually) or they will book independent for you - name your price and they will outfit your trip.

Durban is often overlooked when visiting SA, beautiful beaches, great surfing (I don't but the boys are hot). CapeTown - I recommend Commodore Hotel, a visit to Swaziland is a must (visa required) recommend Foresters Arms, and in Botswana the game camp Vumbura Camp.

Have fun