Mick,
Kind of a different take on things for you. While I'm not going to Africa, this year, I do have an 'Africa' account that I use to invest money that I'm saving for that purpose. Right now, with interest rates as low as they are and with the stock market on the climb (at least some sectors), I believe it would be wiser for me to take out a loan than to take monies out of my stock portfolio (that I've invested just for this purpose).

I seriously don't plan on taking out a loan for the safari, but... if I was going today, it might not be a bad idea given the situation above.