Emily & Patricks Anniversary Safari 2024 – Ideas

Sundowner at Ol Donyo Lodge / Courtesy of Great Plains Conservation

10 Days | Fall 2024

Hi guys! I put together this menu of trip ideas as a jumping-off point for our discussion. Availability at the lodges listed isn’t guaranteed, but this is a taste of what’s possible. I can walk you through these and expand on any of them you are interested in.

–Scott

Return to Kenya

Relive a Honeymoon Highlight and Explore New Places

Start your safari with a night at Giraffe Manor and then visit a new Kenyan safari destination such as Samburu, Amboseli, or Maasai Mara. End your trip in Lewa to relive some honeymoon memories.

Breakfast at Giraffe Manor, luxury Kenya safari / Courtesy of The Safari Collection Sunset cocktails at Giraffe Manor, luxury Kenya safari / Courtesy of The Safari Collection Plunge pool at Sasaab, luxury Samburu Kenya safari / Courtesy of The Safari Collection Game drives at Sasaab, luxury Samburu Kenya safari / Courtesy of The Safari Collection Sundowner at Lewa Wilderness / Courtesy of Lewa Wilderness luxury Kenya safari Game drives at Lewa Wilderness / Courtesy of Lewa Wilderness luxury Kenya safari Room 8 at Lewa Wilderness / Courtesy of Lewa Wilderness luxury Kenya safari

Best of Southern Africa

Wildlife and Scenic Highlights of Botswana and Zimbabwe

Start dining out in Cape Town for a couple of nights before flying to the Okavango Delta for your safari. I’m looking at Okavango Explorers Camp or Duke’s Camp. Next, stop in Victoria Falls before finishing your trip at Tembo Plains, my favorite luxury camp on the Zambezi. You’ll see a ton of wildlife in Botswana, and Tembo is one of the best overall safari experiences. Botswana is the most expensive safari destination, but you can get a better rate if you travel in early November.

Guest tent at Duke's Camp / Courtesy of Natural Selection luxury Botswana safari Guest tent at Duke's Camp / Courtesy of Natural Selection luxury Botswana safari Okavango Explorers Camp / Courtesy of Great Plains Conservation Island treehouse suite at Victoria Falls River Lodge / Courtesy of Zambezi Crescent Collection luxury African safari Zimbabwe Elephant near Tembo Plains Camp / Courtesy of Great Plains Conservation luxury Zimbabwe safari Private plunge pool at Tembo Plains Camp / Courtesy of Great Plains Conservation luxury Zimbabwe safari Living area at Tembo Plains Camp / Courtesy of Great Plains Conservation luxury Zimbabwe safari

Wild Zambia

The Best Walking and Water Safaris in Africa

Zambia is the home of the walking and canoe safari. You can also get lower rates than other safari countries for the same high standard of experience. Stay at a luxury camp on the Zambezi River before flying to South Luangwa National Park for land-based activities at Chinzombo, the nicest camp in Zambia.

Canoeing the Zambezi River / Courtesy of Anabezi Anabezi Safari Drive / Courtesy of Anabezi Anabezi Camp, Zambia / Courtesy of Anabezi Walking safari at Chinzombo / Courtesy of Time + Tide Seasonal boating at Chinzombo / Courtesy of Time + Tide Suite at Chinzombo / Courtesy of Time + Tide luxury Zambia safari Bath at Chinzombo / Courtesy of Time + Tide luxury Zambia safari Bedroom at Chinzombo / Courtesy of Time + Tide luxury Zambia safari

Southern Tanzania

A New Take on Tanzania

Most Tanzanian safaris cover the country’s northern half, including the Serengeti, but there are starting to be fantastic camps at the less visited southern parks. Start at Jabali Ridge, a luxury camp in Ruaha National Park, famous for baobabs, before going chimpanzee trekking in the Mahale Mountains at Greystoke Mahale, a barefoot luxury lake resort.

Room exterior at Jabali Ridge, Ruaha National Park / Courtesy of Asilia Africa luxury African Tanzania safari Bedroom at Jabali Ridge, Ruaha National Park / Courtesy of Asilia Africa luxury African Tanzania safari Pool at Jabali Ridge, Ruaha National Park / Courtesy of Asilia Africa luxury African Tanzania safari Lion at Jabali Ridge, Ruaha National Park / Courtesy of Asilia Africa luxury African Tanzania safari Leopard at Jabali Ridge, Ruaha National Park / Courtesy of Asilia Africa luxury African Tanzania safari Greystoke Mahale, Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania / Courtesy of Nomad Tanzania Beach at Greystoke Mahale, Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania / Courtesy of Nomad Tanzania luxury African beach vacation chimpanzee trekking Chimpanzee trekking at Greystoke Mahale, Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania / Courtesy of Nomad Tanzania luxury African beach vacation chimpanzee trekking Chimpanzee trekking at Greystoke Mahale, Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania / Courtesy of Nomad Tanzania luxury African beach vacation chimpanzee trekking Waterfall excursion at Greystoke Mahale, Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania / Courtesy of Nomad Tanzania luxury African beach vacation chimpanzee trekking

South African Garden Route Safari

Wine, Flowers, Whales, and Leopards

South Africa is having a food renaissance right now, so I would start with a couple of nights dinging in Cape Town and the Winelands. Then drive the Garden Route during the wildflower bloom and stop at Grootbos, a luxury coastal lodge for whale watching. End your trip at Kwandwe, an excellent safari lodge in the Eastern Cape, or one of the many options in the greater Kruger area. Flowers and whales will be best in late September.

Whale watching at Grootbos Private Nature Reserve / Courtesy of Grootbos luxury South Africa Beach resort Forest Lodge at Grootbos Private Nature Reserve / Courtesy of Grootbos luxury South Africa Beach resort Grootbos Private Nature Reserve / Courtesy of Grootbos luxury South Africa Beach resort Flower safari at Grootbos Private Nature Reserve / Courtesy of Grootbos luxury South Africa Beach resort Suite at Kwandwe Ecca Lodge / Courtesy of Kwandwe luxury South Africa safari Great Fish River near Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge / Courtesy of Kwandwe luxury South Africa safari Buffalo near Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge / Courtesy of Kwandwe luxury South Africa safari Lion at Kwandwe Ecca Lodge / Courtesy of Kwandwe luxury South Africa safari Rhino conservation at Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge / Courtesy of Kwandwe luxury South Africa safari

Gorilla Trekking

One of the World’s Most Incredible Wildlife Encounters

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is notoriously expensive. However, you can trek in Uganda or Congo within your budget. The lodges aren’t quite as nice as in Rwanda, but the service is excellent, and the trekking experience is the same or better. In Uganda, you can also see chimpanzees or go on a traditional safari, and in Congo, you will see rare species like forest elephants.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest near Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp / Courtesy of Sanctuary Retreats luxury Uganda gorilla trekking Gorilla trekking near Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp / Courtesy of Sanctuary Retreats luxury Uganda gorilla trekking Lion at Queen Elizabeth National Park near Kyambura Gorge Lodge / Courtesy of Volcanoes Safaris luxury Uganda safari Lango Camp / Courtesy of Congo Conservation Company luxury Congo jungle lodge Lodge at Lango Camp / Courtesy of Congo Conservation Company luxury Congo jungle lodge Lodge at Lango Camp / Courtesy of Congo Conservation Company luxury Congo jungle lodge Lowland gorilla trekking at Ngaga Camp / Courtesy of Congo Conservation Company luxury Congo gorilla lodge Forest elephant near Lango Camp / Courtesy of Congo Conservation Company luxury Congo jungle lodge

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