Imprint Tour to Africa - Should I go?

I went to South Africa and Botswana back in 2003 and it was amazing. We didn't go on an organized tour, but rather arranged an itinerary through a company that specializes in Southern Africa. Bert DuPlessis at http://www.fisheaglesafaris.com worked with us on an Itinerary and it was great. We spent 4 days in Cape Town (I wish we had spent more) and then visited 3 safari camps in Botswana (5 nights in the Okavango Delta, 3 nights in Chobe, and 4 nights in Mashatu). He arranged all the transfers between locations so everything was well coordinated. In Cape Town we took one small group tour to the Cape Peninsula, one private tour to Hermanus, and had two days on our own.

If you are hesitant about a group tour, you might consider working with a specialist agent like we did.

Go - Africa is truly amazing.

Went 4 years ago and spent 6 weeks traveling around with the family. Took a 3 week overland trip with Nomad Africa and had a blast. One of the best trips ever.

Going back this summer - this time to Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Kenya.

Do not be afraid - the wildlife is amazing. Victoria falls is a must see - try and see it from both sides (Zambian and Zimbabwe).

If you want to avoid pricey safaris, also look into some of the Overlanding companies - a little bit rougher, a lot cheaper, but you get to see the country.

Let me know if you have other questions.

I started out going to Europe. Initially went on self-planned adventures then, as I wanted to keep traveling (more and longer) than my friends, I began to combine tours with solo-self-travel. When branching out into an area where I feel it would be easier just to take a tour, I do so and limit my "extra" time there. That has enabled me to see lots of places I would not have wanted to go to without a tour. So now, I am pretty much a tour, solo travel and self-planner veteran. All types of travel have advantages and disadvantages and there is no "right" way to travel. If you are hesitant about traveling to Africa, I was hesitant when I started outside of Europe, but quickly got used to the "wider world." I think a tour is fine and a good way to "dip your toe" into other areas. If you are hesitant but opt to take a tour you will likely learn: a) do I like tours? and b) is this a place I would like to plan to visit on my own? As an aside, although I have branched out considerably with visiting other continents, I am taking a tour of S. Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe this summer. This will be my second time in Africa, the first was in the Northern part of the continent and I had a blast, but a very different experience than viewing animals and Victoria Falls. Hope you enjoy whatever decision you make.

I think I would definitely sign on with Imprint Tours. Mostly because I think the owner, Reid Cohen, is a past/current long time tour guide for Rick Steves. I think you will find the tours very similar to the type of tour you find with Europe Through the Back Door. If it was my decision to make, I would definitely say "Go". His prices are certainly reasonable for what you'll be receiving in return and I am sure it will be run (as you say....) "very similar to Rick Steves Tours" and have a similar if not exactly the same philosophy of travel. Go...and please report back. I haven't been on an Imprint Tour-yet- but have recently started looking closely at what is offered.

A good friend of mine just spent two weeks in Tanzania and and Zambia on her own with a guide she has gotten to know over three separate trips. She goes every other year and is obsessed! She has never felt in danger or threatened by anything she has experienced and is going back again in 2019. Unfortunately I can't comment on Imprint but many people go to Africa and have no problems at all. It's definitely on my list!

You will love Africa. Go now while you can. You won't regret it.

Thanks so much for the feedback and encouragement. I am pretty much determined to go although I am going to check out Laura's suggestion. That sounded interesting.

There is just one potential snag. My husband is having second thoughts. He heard about a tour to Israel that a local church is sponsoring and he thinks we should look into that. I agreed - I've always wanted to see the Holy Land. But yikes! If Africa was making me a little nervous, you can imagine how I feel about Israel! I don't have any specific fears about Africa; it just seems exotic. But Israel... My fears are very specific - I worry about terrorism. Plus having to listen to my family beg me not to go!

It does seems like 2018 is going to be the year we branch out from Europe. : )

Carroll, the busiest Israel forum seems to be the one on TripAdvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g293977-i1733-Israel.html

If you look there, you'll see that many ask questions about safety before they go - and then feel completely safe once there. That was my experience too. And I traveled alone; if you're on a tour, they will be monitoring for any possible safety issues.

As you say, the biggest problem is convincing the people not going on the trip that you aren't going to be blown up daily. But, as you know, terrorism can happen anywhere, so staying away from Israel isn't going to "protect" you on that score.

I haven't been to Africa, so I can't comment on that. But if you want to go to Israel, go - and have a great time!

This is exactly what I needed to hear. Thanks, Harold!

I would like to reiterate that Israel is one of the safest places you can go! My husband and I went in late 2015 with a tour group and had no concerns at all. Any problems you hear about on the news are not tourist focused and generally are not in places you will travel. While I would have no concerns traveling there independently, if you are with a group the tour guide will hear about any problems long before you hear about them and will redirect if necessary. The scariest part for me was when our extra long tour bus was descending on some hair pin mountain roads in the Golan Heights area and I had to close my eyes. But our driver was great and those type of roads always make me nervous! We loved our trip and highly recommend going if you get the opportunity.

Carroll......

Husband and I went to South Africa in 2015....I planned it with help of a SA specialist I found on another site because I too was overwhelmed with the vast amounts of knowledge and logistics to learn. We did not do 3 countries but targeted Johannesburg as a must as well as Kruger National Park and Cape Town.

With the help of Dave ( my specialist) we were able to put together an independent itinerary that allowed us to choose our lodging in all of our destinations as well as as any specific tours of interest in both Johannesburg and Cape Town. Our primary intent was for seeing the animals and because we used a specialist on the ground in SA, we were able to take advantage of deals and discounts he had knowledge of - enabling us to stay in beautiful lodging in private reserves which bordered Kruger....there is no fencing....the animals roam where they wish. Game Rangers are your guides while on safari and they spend 3-4 hours in the am and 3-4 hours in pm with you in a Land Rover with perhaps 2-4 other guests on a game drive. All meals and drinks are included. Another plus we had was we paid Dave directly in South African Rand and NOT US dollars and so saved a fair amount of money which allowed us to splurge for either more luxury or interesting tours in the cities.

Dave arranged all transfers between lodges and airports and we chose our own international and domestic flights.

I could go and on but I can not wait to return to South Africa and I would encourage you to not be afraid and just do it!

OAN......I can also go on and on about travel in Israel as we have been there 5 times in the 1990's albeit not as tourists but as mental health professionals. Our travels there were primarily to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank and this was during the 1st Intifada. We were able to meet with, speak with, interact with both Palestinians and Israelis in an effort to understand the cultures.

As other have said.....the news is always worse over here (US) and a different experience once you are in country. I also would not hesitate to visit Israel and you should go if that is on your wishlist...do not be afraid.

I'd be happy to answer any questions should you have any.

Carroll,

The more "exotic" trips you do the less afraid you will be. We have traveled independently and on tours. There are pros and cons to both. We have used Odysseys Unlimited for a tour to Peru and Tanzania and Zanzibar and will be taking our third tour with them to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia in August. They are high end but you get what you pay for. Remember that none of us get out of life alive. Go for it! You won't regret it.

Thanks again for the feedback. I am still waiting for the details on the Holy Land tour, but I'm leaning towards Africa. I also see Imprint Tours is leading another tour of Africa next year (East Africa) so now I have another tour to consider.