Page 17 - INTRA MUROS December 2020

LIFESTYLE

The pros and cons of the self-planned
trip?
Pros:
• You can go at any time.
• If you drive yourself, you can stop where
and when and for how long you like.
• You can choose the lodge of your
preference.
• You can choose your travel companions.

Cons:
• You may end up on a game drive vehicle
with nine other people.
• The group on the vehicle may have
different interests to yours and you may
spend a lot of time looking at things
that may not interest you.
• You will not have a dedicated
photographic guide with you.
• It could cost you more money.
• If you choose to fly, there might
be limitations as to what type of
photographic gear you can take along.
Tracking wildlife
The table below shows what the average cost would be, based on AA rates for an average mid-sized SUV.
1 Person 6 People
*While these costs are not cast in stone, they are based on
rates that were available at the time of writing this article. Own trip Own trip Organised trip Organised trip
(with flights) (self-drive) (with flights) (road transfer)
Accommodation R20 000 R20 000 R16 000 R16 000
Transfer(s) or vehicle costs R6 000 R6 500 R1 840 R2 350
Flight(s) R3 200 R0 R3 200 R0
Entrance fees R520 R400 R190 R190
Total R29 720 R26 900 R21 230 R18 540

The pros and cons of an organised safari: Based on the figures I obtained, there scheduled photographic safari, I would
seems to be a slight drop in the rates that personally rather join such a safari and
Pros: tour operators are asking currently. This get the benefit of less people on the
• You save on your accommodation cost. may be to encourage more local tourism vehicle, as well as the help and guidance
• You have a maximum of six people on a while the overseas market is still absent. of the photographic guide to improve my
game drive vehicle. Should these rates increase, the result photography.
• You have a photographic guide with will be remarkably similar to the cost of
you that can give you helpful tips. organising your own trip. The real question is, based on this
• On many of these trips you may have information, what do you prefer?
the option of renting equipment. Taking this into consideration, as well
• You can save on the costs of transfers as what benefits there are to joining a
when travelling in a group.

Cons:
• Trips may only be available on pre-
determined dates.
• If you fly, you may be limited with what
type of photographic gear you can take
along.
• You cannot stop where and when, and
for how long, you like.
• You cannot choose the lodge of your
preference.
• If you join a scheduled safari, you will
most likely not be able to choose your
travel companions.

Public bird hide

INTRA MUROS DECEMBER 2020 15