In the early stages of planning our Spring Break trip and am considering looking into WAT for our group. I have done it as a solo traveler and really loved it but I’m wondering if others can chime in on their experiences. I’m a bit hesitant to book - this trip will be with both of my parents. Mom is strong, but VERY prone to tripping/falling and Dad will be having hip replacement surgery in December. I think by March he should be up to 100%? Right? Assuming no complications with the surgery?
Other option might be Savor the Savannah which I’ve never done. Any insight into either of this with more senior adults (both in their late 60s. Dad actually turns 70 a month after our trip) would be helpful.``
I think WAT would really worry me with those conditions.
I have friends who just did StS and loved it. Theirs was sometime around lunchtime; another friend went in the evening and enjoyed that as well, though this was a few years ago
Yes. I think my folks would not say anything and do it if I signed us up but I don’t know that they would particularly like the rope experience and that seems to be what distinguishes WAT from Savor…?
Really? It does seem pretty pricey. The website just says “snacks” included along with wine. Could you maybe help me understand what all the tour entails to make it worth while?
Maybe. From what I hear hip replacement is easier to recover from than knee replacement. The only person in real life that I know with a hip replacement was in his mid 40s which is a different recuperation than late 60s. Three months seems like a long time. Time definitely speeds up as we get older.
One common thing among the knee replacement folk I’ve known is that the recuperation time is shorter the second time around.
He might enjoy looking forward to the trip more if WAT weren’t on the agenda that close to surgery…
I’ve done both. StS gave us all of the “insider tips”/“private safari” feel that WAT did, just minus the rope bridge and view over the hippos. Imagine it like the second part of WAT, after you get your harnesses off, when you get in the private safari vehicle, except with more time in that. Our tour spent about 30 minutes on the savannah with all of the giraffes probably within 20 feet of our truck because the main giraffe handler was out there talking to us. Amazing views, tons of information. They will stop at different points and give more information than you get on safari, with that “private” feel where you can ask questions.
The time at the Boma is similar to what you get on WAT, except with the addition of beer and wine, and more of a “buffet” of snacks as opposed to the individual tiffins.
I think it would be the better option for anyone with any potential mobility issues.
I can’t offer any opinions about WAT vs StS but can offer this…
DW had a knee replacement in October and in December was able to walk 4 parks in 4 days at a relaxed pace without any difficulty. My neighbor had a hip replacement 4 months ago and is still struggling with even a modest set of stairs. My point is that results vary considerably with joint replacement and I would suggest you have a low impact plan ready just in case
We paid for 2 adults and 2 kids. We got to take a tour around the savanna with an animal trainer and stop and get up close with the girafes. My kids are huge animal people and loved asking the trainers questions, all 4 of us throught it was worth it even without the food but also we’re nerds and thought it was awesome being behind the scenes and talking to the trainers. Food was a charcuterie type board and snacks. There was plenty of food and wine/beer.
That’s what I hear too and what we experienced with my mom’s partial hip replacement earlier this year. I’m praying his is smooth and recovery is easy!
Yeah….the more I’m thinking about it the more I’m leaning away from WAT. Too many unknowns.
Super helpful thank you. Is it as much food quantity at the tiffins? Because I for sure felt like the tiffins filled goodies were substantial enough for a meal during WAT.
Good suggestion. Thank you. It’s taken my dad 5 years of suffering to even consider surgery so I am praying for a non-complicated surgery. He is almost 70 and has never been hospitalized for anything so he’s for sure a little anxious about the whole thing.
It may be the recovery that will be the fly in the ointment. If he’s never really been laid up before, the way surgery can do a person, he may have a hard time moving forward.
DH had been in the hospital, surgical and nonsurgical but nothing along lines of not being able to use a leg while healing. DH was particularly slow at therapy. Partially because he didn’t realize you take the pain medicine before pt.
He knew the process with his second knee and breezed right on through. He just couldn’t imagine what folks were telling him, before the first surgery. He felt so dependent and awkward and not himself with the first. With the second he knew it would pass, and more quickly the more he worked at the pt.
70 and surgery isn’t a walk in the woods. Getting used to recovery could be the sticking point.
Good luck and lots of patience and help for your mom. The worst struggle for me was getting the TED hose over DH’s foot. golly!
Somebody just ‘recently’ did StS in a trip report and compared it to WAT…and definitely posted photos of the food. Now I just have to remember who it was.
