I created a new comprehensive section of safari deals and special offers at TheWildSource.com. This new section will be continuously updated with the latest safari deals.
To help provide insight into this new safari deals section of the website, I have decided to put together a six part blog post about how to best evaluate a safari deal:
This is part one of that six part blog post: Are Off Season Safari Deals Good Deals?
Correct seasonal location is critical to witness The Great Migration. Wildebeest on the move.
Photo by Bill Given.
Is an "off season deal" a bad deal?
Too often special offers focus on the "off season" when a camp or lodge has difficulty drawing guests and far fewer offers include the best times of year. Game viewing may be down and the weather may not be optimal. Off season deals are not automatically a bad deal though.
When an Off Season Safari Deal is a Good Deal
I love the green season in Botswana (December through March), game viewing is not as easy and plentiful as found during the height of the dry season but the wildlife is in its peak condition, calving occurs, and scenery and bird life is at its spectacular best – and when it is sufficiently discounted at accommodation rates of 50 to 65% off the high season it becomes a great value that still delivers a tremendous experience. See my earlier blog post for more on the "off season" pros and cons in Botswana - Botswana Safari Green Season.
Current Botswana Safari Deals from TheWildSource.com
When an Off Season Safari Deal May Not Be a Good Deal
Contrast Botswana's off season with some deals in Tanzania. Many deals coincide with when The Great Migration is far from the accommodation on special, and in some areas that may mean poor game viewing. Likewise, there may be great deals during the long rains but the impact to the experience of 13 to 14 inches of rain in a month is far different from Botswana's green season when 2 to 4 inches in a month is the average.
Thus, it is essential to consider the location and time of year when looking at any safari deal to ensure a quality game viewing experience. Traditionally, publicly announced safari specials during the high season are hard to come by. However, under current worldwide economic conditions many safari specials are available. Plus, more often than not we have the ability to provide our own generous discounting for camps that have not published any safari specials for the high season.
Tanzania Safari Deals from TheWildSource.com
Recommendation for Evaluating Off Season Safari Deals
Do your research. Know what your objectives are for your safari, and don't sacrifice those objectives just to get a good deal - you could end up very disappointed. Of course, feel free to contact me with any questions you may have about seasonal factors to game viewing - as well as any other safari questions you may have.
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