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Guidance through world of wonder

Dan Silantoi in the Masai village of Kolong in Kenya, on tour with Wildlife Safari. Picture: Stephen Scourfield

The advice and organisational skills of touring companies and travel agents experienced in Africa can't be underestimated. Let's go back to those questions - the mix of wildlife and culture, then where to go and when to go - experts can put that together. Many of us like to feel we're more travellers than tourists, but Africa is one place where it can be good to be in a group - to see more and travel better.

AFRICAN DAWN

Travel Directors, based in Cambridge Street, Wembley, has a number of itineraries that include Africa. Director Tony Evans, who comes up with the tours and lives part of the year with his wife in Ethiopia, understands Africa.

Let me point you towards two of their tours, as examples.

African Dawn visits Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia, both to trek to mountain gorillas and experience Ethiopia's extraordinary Timkat Festival - the great celebration of Epiphany. And, as such, it blends both outstanding wildlife and cultural experiences. In Uganda, the tour visits Lake Victoria, the biggest lake in Africa. In Ethiopia, the travellers get a close view of Timkat in Addis Ababa, before heading to Gondar, Bahir Dar, the old city of Axum and the rock-hewn churches at Lalibela. The 28-day African Dawn departs on January 4 and is $18,880 per person twin share, including all flights, accommodation, most meals, tour director and local guides.

By comparison, the Southern African Magic tour is over 19 days, visiting Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa. In the first two countries, famous for their wildlife, there is accommodation in first-class lodges, and game drives. Hwange National Park, in Zimbabwe, has more than 100 mammal and 400 bird species. In Botswana, the tour visits Chobe National Park and the Okavango Delta. In South Africa, the group explores the Cape Peninsula. The tour departs on August 22, 2015, and is $13,990 per person twin share for the 19 days, including all flights, accommodation, most meals, tour director and local guides. traveldirectors.com.au, 1300 856 661 and 9242 4200.

EAST AFRICA FOCUS

Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, Mozambique and Madagascar. Wildlife Safari knows the African continent thoroughly, and is completely expert and experienced.

Wildlife Safari was founded and still has its global head office in Nairobi, Kenya, but Trevor Fernandes and Terri Cordin have been running part of the operation from its Subiaco office for many years.

Trevor's father, Tom, started the company in Nairobi more than 40 years ago, and many of their African guides have been with them for decades.

Wildlife Safari focuses on top-quality accommodation and experiences. It has its fleet of specifically designed safari vehicles, with more space and good viewing.

To give an example of their tours, there is the Grand Safari, a 17-day tour through Tanzania and Kenya. It begins in Nairobi (staying at the Nairobi Serena Hotel) before venturing on to Lake Manyara (staying at Lake Manyara Serena Lodge) then heading on to the Serengeti. Herds of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle roam, and the guests stay at Serengeti Serena Lodge. Then to Ngorongoro for more game drives before heading to Amboseli National Park, with snow-capped Mt Kilimanjaro as a backdrop. The journey continues to Mt Kenya and Samburu. For trips before the end of October this year, the cost is $13,000 per person twin share, including luxury accommodation, most meals, guides and two domestic flights. In November and December, it is $10,500 per person twin share. (Wildlife Safari has frozen prices for 2015.)

By comparison, the 12-day Savannah Safari is a shortened version, starting in Nairobi and visiting Amboseli, Ngorongoro, Serengeti but with two full days of game viewing in the Masai Mara Game Reserve. The price is $9975 per person twin share, for travel until the end of October and $8000 in November and December. wildlifesafari.com.au, 1800 998 558 and 9388 9900.

Africa Travel Co is an overland safari specialist based in Africa and with a fleet of safari vehicles in 10 eastern and southern African countries. Of its overland safaris, a spokesperson says: "Travelling in Africa is unpredictable. Expect the unexpected. Our trips are not luxury tours and trips of this kind do not always proceed as planned." And in that, there is the whiff of adventure.

The company also specialises in booking budget accommodation and in designing and arranging private group safaris. africatravelco.com.

FOR THE ADVENTUROUS

Peregrine Adventures and World Expeditions both run small-group, adventure-style touring itineraries in Africa.

For example, Peregrine Adventures has the 11-day East Africa Discovery, which includes arriving in Nairobi, driving along the escarpment of the Great Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru National Park, then time in the Masai Mara and Serengeti before heading up to Ngorongoro Highlands and Lake Manyara. Numbers are limited to between six and 16 people, and it is from $4500 per person twin share, included tented camp, hotel and farm-stay-type accommodation and most meals (not airfares).

Peregrine Adventures is run in WA from Peregrine Travel Centre in Hay Street (above Mountain Designs) and has knowledgeable professionals who can also put together independent travel in Africa. peregrineadventures.com.au, 9321 1259 and 862 Hay Street, Perth.

In east Africa, some of World Expeditions' most popular trips include climbing Mt Kilimanjaro.

There are also wildlife safaris to Tanzania, Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti.

But there is also the 17-day Best of East Africa tour, which combines Ngorongoro Crater with the Serengeti and a chance to day trek in Rwanda to visit the mountain gorillas. This is from $8690 per person twin share, including accommodation, touring, gorilla permit, domestic flights in Africa and many meals.

World Expeditions also has four itineraries in Ethiopia, including the 11-day Ethiopia Explorer, to Addis Ababa, Lalibela, Axum, the Simien Mountains, Gondar, Bahir Dar and Lake Tana, from $2690 per person, twin share, which covers accommodation, most meals, guides and touring. worldexpeditions.com.au, 9486 9899 and Level 1, Windsor House, 324-332 Murray Street (corner Queen Street), Perth, WA 6000.

AFRICA TRAVEL EXPO

Other independent companies, travel agents and individuals offer itineraries.

Alpha Travel, in Claremont, is taking a novel approach by holding an Africa Travel Expo at Perth Zoo on Saturday, November 15. Experts will be there from Bench International, African Travel Specialists, Wildlife Safari, Luxury Travel Management, Swagman Tours, New Horizons and Perfect Africa to talk about travel to Africa for every budget and desire . . . families, luxury, honeymoon, escorted groups and adventure. alphatravel.com.au and 9286 7100.

Traveljoy, in Busselton, has been specialising in Africa travel for more than a decade, and has itineraries which include South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

A 22-day tour combines Kenya and Tanzania, with a wildlife emphasis. Some tours are quite specific. There are 15 or 27-day itineraries just in Namibia. There are 15 and 22-day tours just in South Africa.

The 15-day South African Safari is a good example, visiting Johannesburg, Pretoria, Kruger National Park for two nights, then four nights at a private game reserve near Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilition Centre before journeying on along the Panorama Route past the Blyde River Canyon and finally flying to Cape Town. It is from $7560 per person, twin share, including airfares (return, from Perth), accommodation, three-to-five star accommodation, and most meals. traveljoy.com.au and 9753 2100.

This year, Bench International celebrates 45 years as a specialist in Africa travel. Based in Sydney, it has a big range of itineraries across Africa.

But let me pick just one example, as The Golden Age Safari is exclusive to Bench International and combines iconic accommodation with wildlife viewing and train travel. Travelling from Lusaka in Zambia to Pretoria in South Africa, it starts with a stay at Baines River Camp, in the Lower Zambezi National Park, before continuing to Lake Kariba (Changa Safari Lodge), Victoria Falls (Victoria Falls Hotel), then by Rovos Rail through Gaborone, before finishing in Pretoria. For travel until October 31, it is from $6635 per person twin share, including all accommodation, travel and meals in Africa. (Ask for other prices.) benchinternational.com.au and 1300 237 422.

Other companies to put on your radar are: African Sky Safaris and Tours, which has been running tours in South Africa since 1998 (africansky.com); Cheli and Peacock (chelipeacock.com), which has a big range of itineraries across Africa and some strongly themed tours, from horse riding safaris to a nine-day flying safari in the footsteps of Joy Adamson, the author of the book about Elsa the lion, Born Free; Abercrombie and Kent, which also covers all major destinations (abercrombiekent.com).

And another company I can recommend is Compass Odyssey, owned and run by Australians Kate and Darren Humphreys, and based in Cape Town. It has itineraries across southern Africa (South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique, Botswana), Cape Town Mini Stays, Namibia wildlife safaris, and has also been offering a Morocco Safari.

They are highly experienced and can also organise and tailor other travel in Africa.

And their vision statement says it all: "To bring greater awareness and understanding of our world's cultures, environment and people by informing and inspiring in an ethical and responsible manner." compassodyssey.net, tours@compassodyssey.net and +27 21 783 0360 (six hours behind WA time).

I have travelled in Africa with Firew Sayele, who runs tours specifically in Ethiopia, and he has featured in these pages. He is highly recommended for his excellent knowledge but also the organisational abilities of his company, Across Abyssinia. Across Abyssinia has packages and group tours but also caters for individuals, couples and small groups. They can follow Across Abyssinia's itineraries, or amend them. Look at his website and consider first the Northern Historic Route (14 days by road, or eight days flying, to Gondar, Axum, Yeha and Lalibela). adventureabyssinia.com, info@adventureabyssinia.com and +251 911 440 145 (five hours behind WA time).

I have also travelled in South Africa and Lesotho with Greg Garson and can recommend his Garson's Expeditions. Greg is passionate, knowledgeable and tremendous to travel with. He runs fully escorted expeditions, private tours and safaris throughout southern Africa, and is based in Umhlanga, near Durban. garsons.co.za, info@garsons.co.za and +27 31 561 1314.

FOR THE BUDGET CONSCIOUS

What we might call "mainstream touring companies" also offer economical travel in Africa - joining touring groups really brings the cost down.

New Horizons, which is based in Perth, has a big commitment to travel in Africa, with tours in South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe (and Madagascar).

There are big tours, short tours, interesting tours. Here are two:

Its Kruger and The Kingdoms Tour is over seven days, travelling from Johannesburg to Kruger National Park and through Swaziland to KwaZulu Natal and includes land content of six nights bed and breakfast, one lunch and three dinners from $1298 per person twin share. It departs from Johannesburg every Sunday for the rest of the year.

New Horizons also offers a two-day trip on the luxury Blue Train from $1381 per person, twin share and a journey on the five-star Rovos Rail from Cape Town to Pretoria from $1790 per person, twin share. newhorizons.com.au and 1300 730 010.

Once again, with Travellers Choice, there is a wide range of Africa touring, but I'd pick their South African Treasure tour as an example. Over 15 days in three-star accommodation, it is from $1599 per person twin share (for travel on selected dates to December 7) and includes touring from Johannesburg to Cape Town along the Panorama Route, game viewing in Kruger National Park and visiting Swaziland. travellerschoice.com.au and 1300 787 858.

Scenic Tours runs trips to South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana and Zambia, all five star and all-inclusive.

As one example, Scenic's 12-day East Africa Adventure visits famous locations in Kenya and Tanzania, including Mt Kilimanjaro, Masai Mara National Reserve and the Ngorongoro Crater. It is from $9495 per person twin share for all land content, including accommodation, transport, tour director and 32 meals. scenictours.com.au and 1300 723 742.

Trafalgar has been travelling through South Africa over 10 days on its An African Adventure tour. The next departs on September 13 and October 11, and the tour is from $3585 per person twin share for land content, which includes travel within South Africa, accommodation and most meals. The trip includes four nights in Cape Town, with plenty of sightseeing, two nights in the wine-growing area of Stellenbosch and then a flight to stay for three nights at Kruger National Park for game drives. trafalgar.com/aus, 1300 663 043 and travel agents.

Major tour companies are taking travellers to Morocco. A good itinerary to keep in mind is Best of Morocco, which is from $2385 per person twin share (including coach travel, accommodation, most meals and highlight events). It is a comfortably paced tour, with two nights in both Fes and Marrakesh. The itinerary includes the southern Saharan towns of Erfoud and Ouarzazate.

And dining highlights are a priority - in Fes there's a Moroccan feast, complete with music and belly-dancers, and in Casablanca, a four-course dinner with drinks at Rick's Cafe, made famous by the 1942 film Casablanca. insightvacations.com/au, 1300 237 886 and travel agents.