Stopover in Europe on our way to Africa for Safari?

If I knew what was going to happen in the future, I'd be a very, very, rich person.

The way airlines are operating now, the concept of buying tickets way in the future is out the window. They will be thrilled to have your business. Especially on international flights.

I wonder why I can book multi leg travel at almost the same price as return? Of course Canadian airline prices are typically more on all angles, but $500 more..each?
Regardless, each stopover city is a bustling tourist hive in the summer.
I live by the budget. Amsterdam is known to be expensive lodgings but a short train ride from the airport. Have you looked at lodging options before deciding? These are the typical routes, but you know there will be at least one flight change, if not more, the longer ahead you book. I used to always book well in advance but these days it is common for sales about 4 months out and flight schedules may be more stable by then.

No crystal ball here, but if it were me, I’d focus on the airline’s change policies. Will the airline let you rebook your flight via a different city if needed?

We have done the stopover itinerary in Amsterdam twice before continuing on to East Africa. It definitely is a good idea to break up the trip and be able to start to acclimate to the time difference and get some rest during your trek to Africa.

One time we stayed out at the airport for the convenience---lovely hotel, great breakfast and comfortable room. We took the metro into town to walk and sight see and that was easily accomplished. Another time we stayed in town. Depending on the amount of days you decide for your layover in Amsterdam will likely determine where you stay. For a short duration I'd recommend staying out at the airport for the convenience.

If you book flights make sure they're easily refundable. The virus is generally more contained there as long as you stay away from the crowded areas of Nairobi. For me if I had to quarantine I'd would choose to go another time.

Which tour company are you booked with? Good luck with your planning. There is nothing like being in Africa. Once you get the sands of Africa in your shoes you'll never get them out.

Boy, with potential future spikes in the curve, or policies in or against particular countries, or a workable vaccine, the future is certainly unknown at this point. I hope your safari goes without any hitches, and your interim visit is excellent!

So where are you thinking of stopping off in Europe, with your Amsterdam or Paris gateway?

Our safari is with Good Earth Tours and we start in Nairobi and end in Arusha, Tanzania. It is 8 nights, private tour for four at high end lodgings, cost $4400 pp.

Because we originally booked our flights for this year with Air France, we have a voucher to use for our flights, so using Air France, KLM and Delta is the plan. I have been to Netherlands, but my wife has not, we have been to Paris several times.

Good Earth tells us that COVID is only an issue in Nairobi, but we only have one night there (no touring the city) before leaving early the next morning. Tanzania doesn't seem to have much of a COVID problem (apparently it has no large cities).

I am thinking that we may book a short stop over in Amsterdam on our way to Africa (one or two nights) then a week on our way back to the USA.

Sounds like a good opportunity to break up the travel, both directions, and for both of you to see some of the Netherlands, especially on the way home!

Unless you wanted to venture into F tree mcelmury, beyond Paris . . . Lyon, Normandy . . .

Tanzania has had remarkably few reported cases of COVID-19--just over 500--but it does have at least one very large city: Dar es Salaam has a population of over 4.3 million.

Certainly on safari, you will be in quite your own bubble. It's the extensive amount of flight time (whether you split it up or not) that is the biggest risk.
Also, even in Nairobi, I doubt you will be in malls or close packed places particularly if every minute is organized by the tour company. They tend to discourage wandering outside their enclave or control at the best of times, so that bubble will start early.
If I could, I would go back annually.
Have a wonderful time.

When I flew from Seattle to Rwanda a few years ago. I did do a layover in Amsterdam both ways. There was no additional charge on the airfare.

For me, it broke up two 9 hour flights and was particularly helpful on the way there when I was dealing with time zone changes.

Just another point of view, I think the idea of breaking up a long trip with stopovers in each direction can be fraught.

I'd focus on the idea of your safari in Kenya/Tanzania and not on trying to squeeze in a touch of Europe too.

Or, if you really want to, then take note that you're adding extra time zones (and jet lag) into your itinerary that may impact the enjoyment of your stopover. Also, that a short stopover doesn't really give you the time to do anything much and you may wish you had longer there, had spent longer where you came from, or wish you were already on your way home or wherever you actually want to be.

Unless your stopover is going to be a couple of weeks ...in which case, fill your boots!

Another way to think about it is that the $500 pp is a nice contribution to your next separate, focused trip to EU at another time.

This is based on my own experiences of flying NZ to EU a reasonable number of times. I'd much rather do 24 hours in one go and get to my destination, than 2 or more 10-14 hour flights with a longer stopover between.

While the stopovers are tempting (and the options plentiful), I find I want to spend my holiday in the place that I am actually trying to get to, not in some place that happens to be on the way. Jet lag has always been more manageable too at the final destination (based on my experience). Feeling jet lagged in Hawaii after arriving before you left (crossing IDL), and knowing in 36 hours you've planned to get on another flight and do it again isn't as much fun as hoped - even if it's Hawaii!

I have a similar outlook to Kiwi. I tend to go to Tanzania when the weather in North America is not at its best, so arriving in warm sunny Tanzania and lazing in a pool for a couple of days beats the cold dreary Amsterdam layovers...but as this is July, that is less of an issue. I suffer through the overnight flight and doze the Europe to Africa flight and then deal with jet lag for a couple of days knowing I won't be on another plane for a long time. However, I did enjoy my 3 days in Turkey coming back, and did find the adjustment to home easier.

On our trip, from Vancouver to Nairobi we spent one night in near Frankfurt to break up the flight. Probably two nights would have been better. We stayed at a Holiday Inn Express near the airport because it had a shuttle. Nice little village and nice walking trails along a river and to a lake. We did not care about which airport we flew into (ie Paris, Amsterdam etc). Basically which airport gave the best connections.

Easy trip to and from the airport.

It is a long flight to Nairobi.

Enjoy your safari.

Im putting together a group for a 13 day Tanzania safari for jan 21 , 2022
The group will be coming from Vancouver and im considering the same thing . going to do a 2-4 day layover in Europe in a city that i haven't visited before on the way into Africa.
just to break up the flight and of course to explore a new town . most likely will do the same for the trip back as well

I have been on safari several times and have found that the best option is to arrive at least 2 days early to acclimatise to the heat, humidity and time zone change. Safaris mean up at 5am and night time game drives, so you need to be ready! We made the error first time around of arriving in the afternoon and starting the next day at 5am. It took us a few days to recover and we felt like zombies.

Your clothes will be suitable for safari, not walking around a European city, so unless you want to lug round unnecessary clothes, head straight there.

COVID-wise, who knows? I am putting our odds on a foreign holiday in May/June 2021 at 50:50, but it’s just a guess.

Kiwi,
My wife and I have done the back to back long flights as well as opting for a layover between.

For example in 2013 ( we were in our mid 60s) we flew from Jacksonville, Fla to Atlanta( 1 hour flight), to LA(5 hour flight), then to Sydney on a 14 hour flight, then to Perth (5 hour flight). It was brutal, we never wanted to do that again.

In 2015 we flew from Jacksonville, Fla, to Atlanta, to CDG Paris (had a layover of 1.5 days) then flew direct to Singapore. That was much better. We did return to the USA flying from Dubai, to Paris then back to the USA, but that was not as bad as the flights to Perth.

In 2018, we did fly direct from Brunswick, Georgia to Atlanta, LA, Sydney and to Melbourne, Australia. We had a 9 hour layover in LA, but spent that time in the new Delta Sky Lounge in comfortable cushioned seats. I had a bit of a nap.

Now that we are in our early to mid-70s, those long trip with back to back long flights are just a but much.

On Amsterdam, I visited that fair city in 1982 for a few days and loved it. Would like to go back and my wife has not been there.

geovagriffith, its so far out, who can guess But I would use the time till then to research flights through one or two places of interest, maybe one EU and one non-EU and maybe Istanbul too. Then when you are 2 or 3 mo out buy tickets that best meet your criteria. If things still look dicey, buy trip insurance as well. Otherwise spend the time planning.

My one trip to Africa, South Africa for the World Cup some years ago, I layer over London on the way there and Paris on the way back. Was an excellent idea.

I'm all for breaking up flights with rest in a lovely bed. I do this even for flights to Europe from Boston, as I've probably said ad nauseam. I vote for at least one night stay over. I also vote for all the day flights you can possibly find. I have managed to avoid overnight flights for years and it has resolved any travel fatigue that comes with overnight flights. My health is much better on vacation as well (think colds). I vote for at least a couple of nights in Amsterdam area, in your case.

I fly the day flight to Heathrow, stay overnight at the Sofitel at the airport, and then fly out at a reasonable hour the next day to my destination...talking Europe here, but I would do it for Africa and Western Asia as well. I do not have any fatigue, have fun, and, while adjusting to local time, have little difficulty. At one point with the thought of heading to Australia/New Zealand, we placed numerous overnights along the way, but even then my desire was not sufficient to endure that. LOL

I fly British Airways so their rules are likely different from Air France etal, but I've never had to pay more money for my London break. I order online as multi city flights...if that helps you with that pesky $500.00 charge.

James E.,

I have a voucher from Air France that I can only use with Air France, KLM or Delta. Effectively, this limits us to either Amsterdam or CDG Paris as a stopover. I wanted to do London, but the fares are even higher and they involve another stop.

I did see that lower fares using Turkish Airlines or Qatar Airways, but, I have the voucher. Also, I have been to Istanbul and don't have much an interest in going to Qatar. I lived in Saudi Arabia for five years and have visited the UAE and Oman as well.

Understood, but the layover is an excellent idea, think you are smart to look into it; expands the trip and breaks up the long trip.