Organizing the Tour
Several years ago we went with two other couples to South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. We booked a private group tour with Tuli Wilderness. I began corresponding by email with the company’s representative, Stuart, six months out. Stuart and Tuli came highly recommended to us by friends who had completed three safaris with them. Read on to know more about what we learned on our bucket list trip to Southern Africa.
We had a basic budget in mind, which was not to spend more than $10,000/couple for the entire three-week trip. This may seem like a lot of $$$ for many people, but a safari alone can reach stratospheric price ranges and we did not have the funds to do that. We are also not really backpackers and while we could have certainly visited Southern Africa for less, this was a bucket list adventure, and we wanted some luxury experiences. Click here for more information about planning your own bucket list trip to Southern Africa.
Our Adventure Begins in Cape Town
Since I was the only one on our trip who had visited Southern Africa before, I knew that besides going on a safari and seeing Victoria Falls, I wanted us to see Cape Town and a bit of Johannesburg. I shared my vision with Stuart who then put together an itinerary that included locations, hotels, and possible excursions. I reviewed the itinerary in detail, including researching the hotels, and made additional suggestions or edits.
Our visit to Southern Africa started in Cape Town. The views of Tabletop Mountain are amazing any time of day. Given what we wanted to see and do, this made the most sense. Stuart booked us a lovely house next to the coast and we spent several days recuperating from jetlag and seeing many of the Cape Town sites, which included a visit to the Stellenbosch wine country outside of Cape Town.
If you enjoy good wines, this side trip is not to be missed. Much like Napa and Sonoma in the U.S., the area around Stellenbosch and the Franschhoek Valley is gorgeous. We boarded the hop-on hop-off wine tram and enjoyed a stress-free day of multiple wine tastings. And of course, we had to ship a few cases home!
On the third day, we said goodbye to Cape Town and flew to Johannesburg, where we immediately loaded into SUVs and drove into Botswana for our stay at Tuli.
The Safari Experience
We arrived at Tuli after dark and spent the first night at the Serolo Safari Camp and the following 4 nights at the Mohave Bush Camp, along the Limpopo River. Each day we had a morning and evening excursion to explore the area and look for animals. Several times Stuart also took us on a hike in the bush to scout for wild dogs and other animals.
These drives and hikes never disappointed. Each day we also enjoyed breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner. When we went to bed at night, our tummies were full, and we slept quietly underneath the stars.
Next Up — The Okavango Delta
While we were sad to leave Tuli behind, we knew there were more adventures ahead. From Tuli we headed by SUV in the direction of the Okavango Delta, a swampy grassland area that covers about 5,000 square miles. Interestingly, the water doesn’t flow into any ocean. It evaporates each year, then floods again. Stuart had arranged for us to take a small plane and fly over the Delta so we could see the herds of buffalo, wildebeest, and zebras and just the vastness of the area from above.
This was followed by a drive through the Moremi Game Reserve, which borders the eastern side of the Okavango Delta and abuts the Choebe National Park.
One thing Stuart had not arranged for was getting the SUV stuck in the sand while we made our way through Choebe. The men had to unhitch the luggage trailer from the SUV then push while two of the women stood on lion watch. It was an unforgettable adventure!
We eventually made our way to Victoria Falls, which was a bucket list place for us. It was worth all the hype, and I wish we had spent more time there. We also did not visit at the time of year where you could swim in the falls, and that would have been fun.
We can’t speak to the knowledge and skills of the other guides, but we can confirm Stuart was outstanding. He has lived his whole life in South Africa and Botswana and knows everything there is to know about animals, including where to find them! There was no question we asked that he couldn’t answer. We all felt safe in his protective care, including the day our SUV got stuck in the sand.
From Victoria Falls we returned to Johannesburg for the last three nights of our Southern Africa adventure. It was during this part of the trip that we did our sightseeing trips to Constitution Hill and Soweto with a different local guide.
What it Cost
At that time, the cost was about $325 per person per day. It included all in country ground and air transportation, three meals a day, plus afternoon tea, and at least two game drives a day, sometimes more. Stuart was with us the entire journey until we said goodbye at Victoria Falls. The entire experience was definitely worth what we paid and we would do it again in a heartbeat. Our friends who have traveled with Tuli on several excursions would say the same thing.
Will We Visit Africa Again?
What we learned on our bucket list trip to Southern Aftrica is this. We will certainly plan to visit Tuli Wilderness again, but we also want to see Namibia, the Skeleton Coast, and Tanzania. This is likely too much for one trip, so we will have to decide what our priorities are. The only thing we didn’t do on the first trip that in hindsight we wanted to, was a hot air balloon ride. This will be on our itinerary for our next adventure to Southern Africa!
Our big takeaway from this trip was that to make the most of our trip to Southern Africa, we did not need to spend all our children’s inheritance. Yes, safaris can be hugely expensive, but they don’t have to be. It is possible to spend less (sometimes a lot less) and still have an adventure that creates a lifetime of memories. Also, remember that spending more dollars does not guarantee you a better experience. This is true for just about anything in life and travel.
We hope you enjoyed this blog on what we learned about our bucket list trip to Southern Africa. If you are thining about your own bucket list trip and want to read a few planning tips, check this blog out.
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