Hi need help planning a 2 week trip to South Africa June 2018. We are two adults, one active senior, and 4 kids ages 17, 17, 15 and 13. We would like to explore Cape Town then spend a week on safari (see the big 5 plus giraffes) and visit victoria falls. I am open to any and all suggestions! Budget is midrange. Ok spending $4k each for the safari/falls portion of the trip.
Thanks in advance, as there is an overwhelming amount of options and I want this trip to be great!
I'm going on a tour with Imprint Tours in the spring that covers the places you mention. It's called Southern Safaris. Google Imprint Tours and take a look - it should give you some ideas for your itinerary.
Given your group size and budget, I think you could work with a safari consultant to design a private trip that would be tailored exactly to your wishes. My husband and I are going on a safari in Tanzania in February 2018 with The Africa Adventure Company out of Fort Lauderdale but there are many other companies out there who offer all levels of service and accommodations.
I'd second the recommendation to contact an Africa specialist. I arranged my trip through Bert Duplessis at Fish Eagle Safaris and was very happy with their service and the trip.
http://www.fisheaglesafaris.com/about-us/
We had a great experience with Susie Prangley from Arfican Avenue. susie@africanavenue.co.za +270137512148. She arranged a trip for my husband, daughter (age 6 at the time) and came in UNDER our proprsed budget and it was absolutely amazing - so much fancier than my husband and I thought it would be. We loved her so much we have set another trip through her with my parents and sister too that we are taking this november. We had other tour companies laugh at our budget and say we couldn't get away with what we thought was a lot of money and Susie just made it work. Full disclosure she is my freshman year in college next door neighbor's sister-in-law - that is how I originally connected with her.
Believe it or not, Vic Falls is skippable. We were there in 2016 and there was lots of water over the falls. The problem is you cannot see the whole falls (there are nine viewing points) from land.
They do have helicopter tours, but we were told they are a rip-off.
The best part about our trip to Victoria Falls was the day trip we took to Botswana for a land/river safari. It was a highlight of our trip to Africa!
I tend to disagree that Vic falls is skippable. It is an amazing place - though the flow of water will depend on the time you are there. You should do some research and if you are going there figure out if you are going to see the falls from both sides - the Zambian side has a fairly short walk to the bottom of the falls which gives you a whole different perspective.
All of the activities around the falls are pricey.
