Booking Tauck Classic Safari - Kenya & Tanzania

Debearle

We are planning to book this tour for Oct 2019 for our first visit to Africa. Would like to know if most people book directly themselves with Tauck, or prefer to book through a travel agent? Thanks in advance for your input!

British

We always book directly with Tauck. Book soon, these tours sell out way out in advance, we already have one tour booked for October 2019. Also you might take into consideration that the 'Short rains' occur from October to December, so if you don't want to experience rain and possibly muddy trails, you might want to consider other times.

AlanS

We always book our trips directly with Tauck.

Some folks also book air with Tauck. We don't, unless we make a last minute decision to take tour (on the rare occasion the tour has openings) then we book air with Tauck- they can usually get better rates closer to the tour date.

Other than letting someone else do all your planning, a process I enjoy, I don't see the advantage of booking with a TA. There are potential and definite disadvantages with a TA- one of the biggest is everything, must go through the TA before it gets to you.

Sealord

I agree with AlanS. We have booked with an agent, and we have booked directly with Tauck. Now we book directly with Tauck. Whatever small benefits you may receive from an agent are not worth the drawbacks. Being able to deal directly with Tauck about all issues is ‘big’ in my opinion. Most agents are not very knowledgeable about the Tauck operation. If, for example, you use an agent you cannot even make payments without going through that agent. I find that a bit inconvenient.

Debearle

Thank you so much for your replies! Based on your responses, I will call Tauck this week to book our tour for South Africa!!

British

But you are posting on the K and T forum! The Elegant South Africa tour is very different.

Debearle

You are correct British! I called Tauck directly and booked the Classic Safari Tour to Kenya/ Tanzania for Oct 26,2019 and we are very much looking forward to making this our first journey to Africa!!