Travel Company Recommendations?
 

I've traveled with Overseas Adventure Travel. Would appreciate hearing about any recommendations (positive or negative) for any other travel companies.

National Geographic trips look awesome but are a little (actually, more than a little) out of my price range.

Am interested specifically in Africa.

Other travel I've done (Asia) has all been work related so not for pleasure and I didn't have to do any planning.

If you find anything good, let me know. Those Nat Geo trips do look awesome, but they are too long also! I can't go for a month tour of Africa, unfortunately. I've heard good things about Silverfox (or something like that) cruise lines. They go all over the place and are LUXURY. One of the docs I worked with in MD went everywhere with them.

LOVED INTREPID...
 

I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED Intrepid Travel, http://www.intrepidtravel.com/ . They are Australian based but have several offices in USA.

What part of Africa are you looking at? I did North Africa with Intrepid.

They were very reasonable. I looked at Overseas Adventure Travel, and Intrepid Travel appears to be less expensive.

• The lodging that Intrepid uses is not as nice as Overseas Adventure Travel. However, there is something to be said for less fancy schmancy accommodations.
• Half the time I did not have English TV, let alone any TV.
• Also, not all the meals are included. That can be a pro and a con. The group ate together a lot. I wish that I would have eaten on my own a lot more without the tour; cheaper and less touristy. $15 dinner is expensive in North Africa. I found dinner for $5.
• You will have to book your own flight. Or, you can have Intrepid do it. I did my own so I could use frequent flier miles.
• Not sure if OAT does this, but, you can travel solo at no additional cost. Initially, I was going to go single until a friend decided to come with me.

Other similar companies to Intrepid are;

• Gap Adventures; http://www.gapadventures.com/ , Canadian based. I have heard good things about them.
• Shoestring travel; http://shoestring.eu/

DO NOT, DO NOT USE Viator. They outsource to other companies and their leaders do not speak much English.

Let me know what else you need help with.

Thanks! If I were traveling solo, I would try Intrepid; I've been looking at their offerings for two years. BUT, this Africa trip will be with my best friend and her idea of roughing it is a room at The Westin (seriously).

Considering a safari/wildlife/maybe a gorilla trek in Rwanda (big "maybe" there) & would like to see South Africa. So we're thinking Kenya/Tanzania/Namibia - where else? Africa is a Big Country.

I'm definitely contacting you again, will do it via PM.