cbb Posted June 4, 2015 #1 Share Posted June 4, 2015 I apologize for this really 1st world question; we are on RTW16 and O has several options for a safari experience. Currently we are waitlisted for one and have a reservation for the other. Do any of you have experience with Phinda Game or Thanda Game Preserves? O has us in Mountain Lodge for Phinda and Main Safari Lodge in Thanda. Both look amazing. Since they are private game preserves I know that we will be able to go "off road" which can't be done in Kruger since it is a national park and vehicles must stay on roads. Off-road increases the chances for seeing wildlife. Other than that, any opinions? As always......thanks, c Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HotRoot Posted June 4, 2015 #2 Share Posted June 4, 2015 Saw lots of wildlife at Kruger. The animals use the roads to get around. That said, you have to compete with tour buses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rallydave Posted June 4, 2015 #3 Share Posted June 4, 2015 Have you thought about booking a safari on your own or with members of your roll call?? We did a cruise 2 years ago and organized our own tour within our roll call and it was really easy. We paid less than 50% of what the cruise line, which is less expensive than Oceania, was charging and only included 3 game drives while we had 6 game drives and a very good group of people. Difficult to recommend anyone in South Africa as you don't say which port or ports you are traveling from. We did three nites and two plane flights and it was fantastic!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
computerworks Posted June 4, 2015 #4 Share Posted June 4, 2015 ...and remember to keep the windows shut. :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wripro Posted June 4, 2015 #5 Share Posted June 4, 2015 Hard to do with an open air Land Rover!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
no fuss travel Posted June 4, 2015 #6 Share Posted June 4, 2015 If you are having to pay for the safari, try booking it on your own as Oceania charges a premium for booking through them. We booked on our own and saved a fair amount of money by not using Oceania's tours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbb Posted June 4, 2015 Author #7 Share Posted June 4, 2015 Thanks everyone, but what I was asking is.....has anyone had any experience at either Phinda or Thanda to help me decide between the two. fwiw, leave from Durban return to Richards Bay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelcat2 Posted June 4, 2015 #8 Share Posted June 4, 2015 (edited) We recently had to make a decision between safari camps for our upcoming Regent cruise. Since no one had been at the camps that we had a choice of, in addition to going to the websites, I checked TripAdvisor (sister company to Cruise Critic). So, if you have not checked these sites out yet, here are some links: Phinda: http://isafari.nathab.com/camps/phinda-forest-lodge Thanda: http://www.thanda.com/rooms.htm TripAdvisor for Thanda: (lots of member photos) http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g312597-d543323-Reviews-Thanda_Private_Game_Reserve-Hluhluwe_Zululand_KwaZulu_Natal.html It is interesting that Phinda is not reviewed by TripAdvisor. I did find an site with a map showing the location of both camps: http://www.africatravelresource.com/africa/southafrica/natal/elephantcoast/phindamkuze/maps/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=phinda%20safari%20camp&utm_campaign=Bing+CPC+Campaign Hope this helps make a decision. Both look like great safari camps! Edited June 4, 2015 by Travelcat2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Caroldoll Posted June 4, 2015 #9 Share Posted June 4, 2015 as we did a Safari there about 4 or 5 years ago. The Land Rovers did go off road at that time. We stayed at Ulasaba Lodge and it was fabulous. I must say, we saw the most off the road. Hardly ever anything on the road. The trackers communicated with other lodges by walkie talkie and when there was a sighting, off they went as fast as possible, over bush, etc. It was a fabulous trip, but very, very hard on the back and the body. The game drives are 3 hours at a time, two times a day. The animals are best viewed very, very early in the morning and in the evening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbb Posted June 4, 2015 Author #10 Share Posted June 4, 2015 travelcat: I frequently use tripadvisor and have received lots of great info from the contributors. I have found several review sites for the 2 preserves but couldn't find much on tripadvisor for Phinda. Thanda reviews I read thoroughly. I just thought perhaps people on O cruises might have stayed at one or the other and could give me some 1st hand info. thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
no fuss travel Posted June 4, 2015 #11 Share Posted June 4, 2015 Someone on last years cruise went to Thinda (hope I spelt it correctly) and raved about the park. I haven't been there myself, so I am just repeating what I heard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fam_Cruise Posted June 4, 2015 #12 Share Posted June 4, 2015 The Land Rovers did go off road at that time. We stayed at Ulasaba Lodge and it was fabulous.There is Kruger National Park and greater Kruger National Park which includes both Kruger National Park and numerous surrounding private game reserves. Ulusaba Safari Lodgeis in Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve which is part of Greater Kruger National Park, hence the reason you went off road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KruiserKat Posted June 4, 2015 #13 Share Posted June 4, 2015 I apologize for this really 1st world question; we are on RTW16 and O has several options for a safari experience. Currently we are waitlisted for one and have a reservation for the other. Do any of you have experience with Phinda Game or Thanda Game Preserves? O has us in Mountain Lodge for Phinda and Main Safari Lodge in Thanda. Both look amazing. Since they are private game preserves I know that we will be able to go "off road" which can't be done in Kruger since it is a national park and vehicles must stay on roads. Off-road increases the chances for seeing wildlife. Other than that, any opinions? As always......thanks, c We went to Phinda and thought it was GREAT!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crowpro Posted June 4, 2015 #14 Share Posted June 4, 2015 We were at Phinda and Samwari in January. They were both a truly great adventure. You will enjoy. Have fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hrprof Posted June 5, 2015 #15 Share Posted June 5, 2015 Ask how many people per vehicle. If it's 3 to a row, it's a crowd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbb Posted June 5, 2015 Author #16 Share Posted June 5, 2015 thanks everyone. It seems that either will be great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wripro Posted June 5, 2015 #17 Share Posted June 5, 2015 hrprof's advice re; The vehicle is spot on. You want no more than six people per vehicle which means two per row. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oceansandseas Posted June 6, 2015 #18 Share Posted June 6, 2015 Travelcat2 You stated that Trip Advisor is a sister company to Cruise Critic? I thought that Trip Advisor was run by Expedia. Did I miss something here? Please advise. Thanks. o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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