Ted McGrath
After lowering prices amid the recession, high-end safari camps and tour companies are still struggling to bring rates back in line, offering travelers an opportunity to take one of the most expensive vacations there is for as much as 40 percent off. The dollar has also strengthened against African currencies in several popular safari regions, including Namibia andSouth Africa, making side trips and souvenirs less expensive, too.
Even with such significant price reductions, safaris are still not cheap. And don’t expect to find many bargains over the Christmas holiday week when camps are packed. Still, Africa specialists like Nina Wennersten, an owner of Hippo Creek Safaris in Woodcliff Lake, N.J., say that travelers willing to act quickly can score a safari for significantly less than they would have in past years. “There are some wonderful sales for safari in both East Africa and South Africa before the end of the year,” she said. Be aware, though, that the window of opportunity may soon be closing as many companies, including Hippo Creek, which operates throughout eastern and southern Africa, are beginning to see an increase in bookings and prices in 2012.
Below, some of the best deals in four African countries.
Kenya
Kenya, synonymous with safaris that offer opportunities to see the Big Five (lions, African elephants, buffalos, leopards and rhinoceroses), is facing its own particular hurdle as it tries to combat tourism fallout after a series of violent incidents near the Kenyan-Somali border. Over the last two months, Somali gunmen have kidnapped two Europeans and killed another. In September, a British tourist was snatched from the exclusive Kiwayu Safari Village northeast of Lamu island. Her husband was shot and killed. The most recent incident was the abduction of a French woman from her beach home on nearby Manda island.
While many resorts in that region, which is more popular with European tourists than Americans, have shut down as the government increases security, tour operators are trying to get the word out that Kenya’s safari parks have not been affected, and in fact, many are offering deals.
“People are going above and beyond to welcome guests right now in Kenya,” following the incidents along the northern coast, said Maisa Fernandez, president of Impact Tourism Consulting, which represents several resorts and safari camps in Kenya.
Ms. Wennersten of Hippo Creek wrote in an e-mail: “Many of the safari camps in Kenya have long-stay (4 nights or more) discounts or 20 percent off regular rates.” Olarro, a luxury lodge in the Greater Masai Mara region of Kenya, is offering three nights for the price of two from $1,460 a person, including a full day excursion into the Masai Mara meals, and a spa treatment through January, not including Christmas and New Year’s. Up to two children under 12 stay free with two adults. And Abercrombie & Kent has a nine-day Kenya Wildlife Adventure, with game viewing in Samburu National Park and the Masai Mara for $4,135 a person, down from $5,700 a person normally.
No comments:
Post a Comment