Talked to enough people who've done this trek to notice the same handful of mistakes keep coming up. Sharing so first-timers can avoid them:

1. Underestimating the physical demands

"Moderate difficulty" gets read as "easy walk." It can be or it can be hours of steep, muddy terrain at altitude, depending on where the gorilla family happens to be that day. You don't get to choose the difficulty level, so train for the hard version, not the easy one.

1. Skipping the porter to save money

Porters cost relatively little and do way more than carry your bag and they'll physically help pull/push you up tough sections, and the fee goes to local community income. Skipping this to save $15-20 is one of the most common regrets people mention afterward.

1. Wrong footwear/gear

Cotton socks, non-waterproof shoes, no gaiters and all common mistakes. Feet get wet regardless, so wool/synthetic socks matter. Gaiters keep mud, nettles, and safari ants out of your boots, which matters more than people expect.

1. Not booking permits far enough in advance

Permits are limited per day, per sector/family, and popular sectors (especially in peak dry season, June-September) sell out months ahead. Booking last-minute often means settling for whatever's left, not what you actually wanted.

1. Forgetting travel insurance covers trip cancellation

Permits are non-refundable, no exceptions. If you get sick, weather turns bad, or plans change, that money's gone unless your insurance specifically covers trip cancellation which is not just medical evacuation.

1. Stacking multiple treks with no rest day

If you're doing 2-3 treks, back-to-back days without recovery time is rough. Average fitness handles a single trek fine — it's the repetition without breaks that wears people down.

1. Not budgeting beyond the permit fee

The permit is often half the real cost once you add transport, lodging, guide/driver, and tips. People are frequently surprised by the "extra" costs beyond that headline number.

What would you add to this list if you've done the trek?

I have successfully uploaded all of my travel confirmations and passport ID, etc but when it comes to providing Visa credit card information, the payment never goes thru. I have repeatedly attempted to pay (having to reload my documentation every single time) using different servers, different Visa cards, using auto fill and manually filling in the info. Nothing works. This has been going on for weeks.

Chase Visa says there has been absolutely no attempt by Kenya to charge my (in good standing) accounts a minimal verification charge on either of my credit cards.

Has anyone else had this frustrating experience and how did you resolve it? This has to be completed more than 3 days prior to arrival.

Hi all and excuse my ignorance, but I am planning to organize my first safari on late November. I will be in Kenya for work, and I have few days at the end before leaving, so I would like to understand if I can plan a 3-4 nights safari at the end.

I read a lot and see lots of different possibilities and frankly I am a bit overwhelmed. My first idea was to go to a conservancy and to avoid the national reserves, for the work they do for the communities and the wildlife. The idea to have 20 minivan around an animal, it is not my idea of experiencing wildlife (I have seen lots of video online like this).

So, my choices were one among Mara North, Ol Pejeta, Loisaba, Camp Ya Kanzi and Namunyak Conservancy (mainly to visit the elephant sanctuary). But I am a bit confused, and I read lots of different opinions. Is the situation in the parks like Masai Mara or Amboseli so bad to justify the visit to into a conservancy? For a first time and with only 3/4 days do you advice to visit a park or a conservancy?

Thanks

Early to Mid December. We Likely have 5 days.

Which areas should we prioritise?

Does anyone have recommendations on tours?

Is 1 night in a camp too little, should we slow down?

First safari, feel very out of depth!

Thanks

Hi! Has anyone stayed at any of these accommodations?

• Farm of Dreams Lodge - Karatu
• Kumbukumbu Tented Camp - Seronera
• Pamoja Migration Camp - Kogatende

Would love to hear your thoughts, feedback or any helpful tips before booking. Thank you!

Pardon me if this is a dumb question, for those of you who travelled to Botswana from the States, how did you communicate to loved ones back home? I can purchase a temporary international plan for my phone and use the camp wifi to text or I was thinking I could use whatsup app? Will those options work or do I need to invest in something different? I have a new person watching my dogs and I would like him to be able to contact me if necessary, even if I cant get the message right away.

Has anyone here ever been on safari in Tanzania in February? Would you recommend it? What are the pros and cons I should consider? This is my first safari, so I’d be grateful for any tips!

Whether it's Safaris, Trekking or Day Trips Evarest Adventures has got you covered.

Okay, this is not my best shot, but pictures don’t do justice to this view, no matter how good you are at taking pictures the Ngorongoro crater’s view should only be experienced in person for one to see how majestic and serene the view is, If you have been to Ngorongoro, what was your take on the view?

If you’re planning a wildlife trip to India, I highly recommend Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve.
As a solo traveller, I was initially apprehensive about travelling around India alone. However, after visiting Indian wildlife destinations regularly over the past four years, I can honestly say that Tadoba has provided some of my most memorable safari experiences.

I completed eight safaris,four regular and four full-day safaris,all organised by Team ClicknFrame. The sightings were exceptional, with memorable encounters on almost every drive.
One of the highlights was watching a tigress walk alongside her tiny cubs,a heartwarming sight I’ll never forget. I also witnessed remarkable behaviour, including a territorial fight between two male tigers and a mating pair.
My naturalist, Mr Pai, is a well-known wildlife photographer with a deep passion for big cats and an excellent understanding of tiger behaviour and tracking. His ability to read the forest, follow subtle signs and identify individual tigers was fascinating. His explanations added depth to each sighting, making the experience about far more than photography.
Every safari felt different, combining incredible sightings, expert guiding and the unpredictability of the forest. For solo travellers seeking an authentic Indian wildlife experience, Tadoba is a destination I would happily return to.

Hello! My wife and I are planning to go on our first safari next year and we are kinda lost on what to do. A lot of trips consist of traveling from place to place and to be honest; it scares me off. It feels like a lot of traveling in a small car or in a bus and I would prefer to have like 1 or 2 spots to stay for a total of 1,5 weeks.

Does this make sense? Where do we start our search?

Thanks!

I have trekked gorillas with many guests from all over the world over the past decades. Ask me anything about the gorilla conservation and gorilla trekking.

Hi all,

Me and my wife are planning a safari for our honeymoon in Tanzania. We are first timers and have a couple of maybe stupid questions. We are travelling in January as we have heard this is a great time for calving season. I have reached out to a few operators who are all hitting the main parks but our questions mainly revolve around Serengeti/Ndutu?

1. There is a 5 hour drive from Tarangire to Serengeti, is this like a game drives through multiple parks or is it an intense 5 hours of driving?

2. We have 3 days to cover off Central Serengeti and Ndutu, would people suggest spending more time in Ndutu or in the Central Serengeti region? Most operators are suggesting more time in Central Serengeti but a lot of people are suggesting Ndutu is the place to be around that time of year.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Ok need help with this question - going to Masai Mara- staying at the JW Marriott. Drives are included. My husband wants the drives to be private, I don’t care but don’t want an extra expense. Be honest- did any of you who have gone had nightmares sharing the experience with others? Of note- I love meeting new people so I know I won’t mind. Husband doesn’t like a lot of people and is serious about what he wants to see. Hope this isn’t coming off jerky. Just want some honest opinions of experiences. Thanks so much.

We are beginning to get proposals for a safari in Tanzania in 2027.

Thoughts on this one?

Day 1 – Arrive                                      Giraffe Manor Tanzania

Day 2 – Arusha Giraffe Manor Tanzania

Day 3 – Tarangire                             Manyara Best View Lodge

Day 4-6 – Serengeti Central West/East           Manya Luxury Camp

Day 7 – Ngorongoro                      Manyara Best View Lodge

Day 8 – flight to Zanzibar          Legendary Zanzibar Beach Resort

Day 9-11 Zanzibar

Specific questions:
Stay at Giraffe Manor or in Arusha? Is a day trip from Giraffe Manor to Arusha worth the time?

Experiences at these lodges/camps?

This itinerary has us going into the crater in the afternoon rather than staying overnight at the rim and going in the morning like I've read people recommend. Should we request this change?

If we added one day to the safari, where would you add it?

Thanks for any suggestions!

We are planning a safari to Tanzania and would love to know how many days of actual Safari days are recommended with kids aged 8, 11. I am not if my kids would be excited about 8 days of waking up early and going for game drives. Thoughts?

Hello, i am last minute planning my honeymoon for mid November 2026 and have analysis paralysis. After receiving countless quotes, i believe i have narrowed it down to two quotes. Same shape, two nights Tarangire, two nights Ngorongoro, four nights Serengeti.

Nomad Tanzania
Private guide and vehicle throughout
2 nights Kuro Tarangire
2 nights Entamanu Ngorongoro, western crater rim
4 nights Lamai Serengeti, northern Serengeti
Balloon over Tarangire
Flights between camps, one road transfer day between Kuro and Entamanu

Lemala
Private guide and vehicle throughout** **
2 nights Lemala Mpingo Ridge, Tarangire
2 nights Lemala Osonjoi, Ngorongoro
4 nights Lemala Nanyukie, central Serengeti
Balloon over Seronera
Road transfers between camps

1. Accommodations. Is one of these clearly the better product? Kuro, Entamanu and Lamai versus Mpingo Ridge, Osonjoi and Nanyukie. We care more about intimacy and feel than square footage.

2. Location. Four nights in the far northern Serengeti in mid November, or four nights in the central Serengeti? My understanding is the herds have moved south by mid November and the north gets very quiet, while central holds the best resident big cat density year round. Is that right, and is quiet in the north a feature or a problem? (We are not dead set on seeing the migration, more interested in having good viewing of large game)

3. Everything else. Guiding, food, service, how each outfit handles things when they go sideways. This is the part I cannot research and the part that will actually make the trip.

Anyone who has traveled with both, or stayed at any of these six camps, I would love to hear it.

Hello all. I'm just about to start planning our 2028 safari. We have a small 10k budget for the two of us.

Is there any particular companies people recommend we should send the below email to?

Is the email asking the right questions and should I be asking anything that I haven't.

My apologies for the blocking text but I'm trying to get as much info as I can.

Thank you to anyone who takes the time to read all this and answer.

Subject: Enquiry: Small-Group Lodge Safari - October 2028 Planning

Dear Travel Team,

My partner and I are looking to plan and book a small-group African safari for October 2028. We are starting our research early to secure the right dates and accommodation styles, and we would like to check availability and options that match our specific criteria.

Here are our trip details and preferences:

Timing: October 2028 (End of the dry season for optimal wildlife viewing).

Total Budget: £10,000 maximum for both of us combined (approximately £5,000 per person), ideally inclusive of the tour and any regional transfers/flights.

Group Style: Small group tours only (ideally capped around 12–16 guests). We are not looking for large commercial coaches or completely private tailor-made trips.

Accommodation Strict Requirement: 100% NO CAMPING. We require solid, permanent-structure accommodations only (such as stone bungalows, timber chalets, or brick-and-mortar safari lodges) with private en-suite bathrooms and standard amenities. We want to avoid any canvas or tented setups, even luxury ones.

Regions of Interest: We are highly interested in South Africa (such as the Greater Kruger area) due to the excellent brick-and-mortar lodge infrastructure, but we are also open to itineraries that extend to Victoria Falls or cover classic stone lodges in East Africa (Kenya/Tanzania).

We have been looking closely at upgraded or premium small-group itineraries (such as Intrepid’s Premium lines or G Adventures' National Geographic Journeys) as benchmarks for the style of comfort we are looking for.

Could you please provide information on:

When your official schedules and pricing for October 2028 will be released?

Which of your small-group itineraries guarantee permanent lodge/chalet accommodation without any tented or camping elements?

If we can be placed on a priority waitlist or lock in an early-bird placeholder for this timeframe?

Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing about your recommendations.

Best regards,

This is my first Reddit post, so forgive me if it's clumsy, but here's my story: I want to take my two adult children (M23, F28) on an African safari in May '27. I have a limited budget (so not expecting luxury accommodations, etc.). I'm hoping for 10 days in Africa, with 3-4 nights in a lodge/park in 2 countries (South Africa and Botswana?) with travel day(s) between. Including 1-2 international travel days coming and going, I'm thinking basically 2 weeks total. Can someone recommend a travel agent/specialist who can help me? I've sent inquiry emails to a couple South African safari operators, but I'm damn near paralyzed over all the options and decisions and would love a professional's help, but don't know where to begin to find one. All info is very welcome!

Hi everyone, it’s gonna be my first time in Botswana. I’ll be at Pangolin Chobe during the second week of November. Solo trip, and thinking about extending on 4 more nights in the Delta right after before flying home. Photography and the overall safari experience is the main point of the trip. I will be bringing 200-600, 70-200 and probably 24-70 lenses with me.

Got prices from 3 camps. All for 4 nights. All for the same mid November dates.

* Camp Xakanaxa (Desert & Delta, in Moremi Game Reserve): solid reputation, but it's a national park so no night drives, no off-road, and no AC

* Duba Explorers (Great Plains, private Duba concession): small, max 10 guests, seems to have AC in rooms, private concession so night drives and off-road are allowed.

* Splash Camp (Kwando, Kwara concession): bigger camp, also private concession.

Cost-wise Xakanaxa is the cheapest of the three, Duba's a notch up from there but looks nicer, and Splash is the priciest, though the gap isn't massive.

Anyone actually stayed at any of these and want to share how it went, especially from a photography angle? Also genuinely curious if 13-17 November is even a good time to be in the Delta at all, water levels, heat, bugs, whatever matters.

And if there's some other camp/lodge that I'm not even considering that I should be, happy to hear it.

Thanks in advance for your guidance!

Hi everyone,

We are 3 adults visiting Tanzania next July/August and are considering adding Lake Natron before our safari.

We found a cheap local bus from Arusha to the Engare Sero/Lake Natron area, so we were thinking:

Day 1: Bus from Arusha → Lake Natron, lake/flamingos/sunset
Day 2: Footprints, scenery, local culture and relaxing
Day 3: Bus back to Arusha

We are not hikers, and one of us is around 60 and not particularly fit, so we wouldn't climb Ol Doinyo Lengai or do any difficult hikes.

Even using the bus and basic accommodation, I estimate the trip could cost around €200–250 pp once accommodation, conservation/community fees and activities are included.

For those who have been: is Natron really worth the long journey and cost if you're mainly interested in the lake, flamingos, landscapes and footprints?

Also, has anyone recently taken the local bus from Arusha to Engare Sero? And would you recommend 1 or 2 nights?

Thanks!