I go with Landi and Tabs. I even fell in love with the colours of the mountains and the earth. Strange as that may seem.

Very well put landi - but let's not forget about the smaller things in Africa..... the insects and arachnids!

They are fascinating - and good sightings of these have made many a game drive or walk interesting and exhilarating when there was a lack of larger animals and birds to be seen!

'Fishing' for scorpions and spiders and watching a dung beetle rolling his ball, among many other equally interesting things, has made my day on many occasions.

Paul

Everyone who has posted has given very good advice - I think budget is the determining factor. East Africa (Tanzania & Kenya) is also a good option, though you can get caught up with a useless guide in a traffic jam of safari vehicles all chasing the best photo opportunity (i.e. hoping for the biggest gratuity).

All I wish to add to this discussion is that you should NOT go on safari with the expectation that you will see the BIG 5 (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo) or that you will see anything like the chase and kill you may have seen on National Geographic - you will be disappointed. If you go with the attitude that every animal, bird and tree that you see is a bonus (something you are not likely to see at home), who will find the experience deeply fulfilling and you will become an Africa junkie and make every effort to come back as many times as possible.

Landi

I have only been to Africa once and that was with Tabs to Namibia - it is a wonderfull country and the Etosha National Park is really great with several places to stay and lots of viewings.
I can not say about anywhere else as I have never been to them but from Tabs accounts there are lots of wonderfull places to go.
Have a fantastic time (ps dont go to SA at this time of year - it rains a lot )

My 3 favourite countries are Botswana, South Africa and Zambia.
So I would recommend them as safari destinations.
Botswana has the best wildlife in my opinion. Moreover, the scenery in the Okavango Delta and the Central Kalahari is stunning!
South Africa has some wonderful National Parks, beautiful scenery, good wines and the most interesting city in Africa (in my opinion): Cape Town. Apart from the typical African wildlife you can also see whales, sharks and penguins.
Zambia is great if you want to get away from the crowds. I was there in September, and we often were the only people staying at a camp. But the wildlife is shyer than in Botswana and South Africa, so maybe it's not a destination for a "first-timer".

Self-drive is fun, and it's easy to do in South Africa. I would not recommend it for certain places in Botswana and Zambia though - except if you have experience in driving a 4x4 and either a GPS or an excellent sense of direction.

I heard that Hwange is still OK but there is so much poaching in smaller parks like Chizarira, that there is hardly any wildlife left. :cry:

Hi Paul

A lot depends upon where in Africa you want to go on Safari, how long you plan to stay and your budget.
You can of course book a trip through a travel agent but I think those of us here who have been will probably agree that it is much more fun (and cheaper) to do self-drive, if you have the confidence to do it.

There are some great deals to be had for flights on the internet and you can choose where to stay. Internal flights in South Africa are quite reasonable now too; I fly return from Johannesburg - Capetown for under £100.

Kruger Park, which has already been mentioned, is very affordable for acommodation with good service. There is a daily conservation charge of, I think, around £12pp in addition and you need to take your own food and drinks or buy them in the shops in the park. There are restaurants and snack bars in most (but not all) camps in Kruger.

I am sure that Penny/SA and others can advise you on the best camps to stay at for a newcomer - I prefer the bushcamps but they do not usually have shops or restaurants.

The camps and reserves in Sabi Sands can be expensive (I don't know the prices for Nkorho though) but, as Katja says, the sightings are usually very good and it is worth staying for 2 or 3 nights just for the luxury!
You can then drive into Kruger from Sabi Sands (or vice-versa) very easily.

The other place that I would recommend, from experience, to go is Namibia. Etosha National Park is stunning but the sightings are not so prolific as in the Kruger/SS area.
Again, it is self-catering but, like the main camps in Kruger, there are restaurants and snack bars in most camps.

Whatever you decide, you will have the holiday of a lifetime!

p.s. I am moving this thread to 'The Campfire'

Thanks for the correct link Penny will look at that when i come to booking my holiday!!

Least said - soonest mended re Zimbabwe. I fear that the reports we have received have been somewhat mixed and anyway until the situation improves I think best leave Hwange out of the equation.