sallysaab

How's this looking now?
After reading MyDogKyle's description I dont think I need to go as I feel I've now been there!
2 nights Samburu Serena
1 night Sweetwaters Tented Camp
1 night Lake Nakuru Sarova Lion Hill
2 nights Mara Serena
Fly to Serengeti
wow, 4 nights Serengeti Ndutu/Kusini/Sopa
2 nights Ngorongoro Sopa
1 night Manyara Serena

aby

Hi sallysaab

<b>When</b> are you planning to go ?

i've written here a number of times
i prefer a night-viewing-lodge (Ark / Mt. Lodge / TreeTops) instead of SweetWaters

&amp; i would rethink Manyara, but depends on season too

aby

sandi

aby -
It's for March '09.
Oh, and The Ark is closed indefinitely; Serena Mountain Lodge too far south; easier to stop at Sweetwater's on way to Nakuru.

sally -
Looks good. Kusini will be the most expensive in this area. Ndutu/Sopa with similar prices. Sopa maybe a tad to far north (kind of southwest of the Central Serengeti) for that time, but you have to give yourself options.

Request Ndutu as first choice; if not available, have it &quot;waitlisted&quot; then cover-book at one of the seasonal camps as Savannah, EMC or Olakira. These will be more expensive than Ndutu (or Sopa), but sited better in/near the Ndutu area.

sallysaab

Thanks Sandi, we have requested Ndutu but havent as yet heard back from them, so will do as you suggest with the others.

sallysaab

Me again sorry, I'm really going to show my ignorance here, but I've been poking around the accommodation sites, and found what appears to ne a Ndutu mobile camp, is that what we should be booking or the fixed one, or have I misread it?

sallysaab

please ignore those last comments, too early in the morning

MyDogKyle

Hi Sally,

Wow, I'm flattered! But of course you still need to go -- because even if you'd been already, you'd want to go back.

My two cents (having only been there once myself) :

Sweetwaters is in a good place to break up your drive from Samburu to Lake Nakuru. I think it's one of those places where your expectations will have a lot to do with what you get out of it. If you have time, I'd recommend a night game drive and/or lion tracking... but the lion tracking is early in the morning, so perhaps you wouldn't have time for that with a one-night stay.

Why only 2 nights in the Mara? (Maybe you've already talked about this on another thread?) Are you driving from Lake Nakuru, or flying? If you're driving there, you will spend most of the day getting to the Mara Serena, so that really only leaves you with one full day of game drives in the Mara. Even with time in the Serengeti too, you might find that you wish you'd had more Mara time... If you really can't add a day here, you might want to look into flying to the Mara instead of driving there, but if this is a private safari and you want to keep your same guide throughout, then flying wouldn't work out, I guess.

I'm excited for you! You'll be seeing a lot of variety in landscapes (and, hopefully, animals too).

sallysaab

Aby thanks for your input &amp; as Sandi said 22nd March - 4th April.
MDK, thanks for your 2cents worth, I really do appreciate all the feedback everyone has given me.
Our agent picked Sweetwaters for exactly the reason you gave. And we'd planned on a night drive.
Why only 2 nights Mara, um, no reason, although I think someone suggested more time in the Serengeti &amp; that will give us a break from travelling, but it can be changed.
I can pinch a day from the Serengeti.
We are doing a private safari, and we're only flying Mara - Serengeti, when my friends read your comments, they insisted on flying.
Guys do you know if we're staying at Ndutu, can we do the balloning still?
[email protected]

sandi

If interested in hot-air ballooning, it's a tad less expensive (still costly in the $425-$475/person range) in the Mara than in the Serengeti. Besides, the lift-off site in the Serengeti is in the Central/Seronera area, which you won't get to from Ndutu for 6am lift-off.

If you really want to do this activity, I'd overnight in the Seronera area on arrival from the Mara, do the hot-air balloon next morning, then head south towards Ndutu.

aby

<b>Sandi</b>
saw your post about the Ark being shut-down; i was sure it's only temporarily...

Still. i'd change Sweetwaters to Serena Mt. Lodge

<b>Sally</b>
Within this is the itinerary, i'd still change the Manyara day for one of those <u>better</u> options:
1) Cultural experince: Hadzabe hunter-gatherers + Datoga
2) Arusha NP with special activities like canoeing or going up (by 4X4)the Meru mountain to the Afro-Alpine belt, something only hikers usually experience
3) another mountain - Mt. Kenya you vcan easily reach 3000m Met Station &amp; do some (montane) forest walks.
if you are fit you can hike up (and down the same day) through the different vegetation belts to reach the Afro-Alpine area which is simply 'Alice in wonderland'
4)(my beloved) Lakes: Baringo or Naivasha, Kenya. you can search for threads about them (i've written several times about them. but will repeat if interested)

these are unique experiences;
will make your itinerary more varied
and anyhow, Manyara at the end is an anti-climax

Bon Voyage

aby

sallysaab

Thanks Aby, appreciate your advice.
You'll all be glad when it's over and done with I'm sure. 354 days to go, but who's counting.

atravelynn

Looks good. If you keep what you have or even if you substitute one of aby's suggestions for Manyara, could you reverse the Tanzania part so that you drive up front and then fly back with the Serengeti at the end? I can understand not wanting to delay the Serengeti so it is closer to the start of March than the end of March, but it's only 3 days. With the reasoning of getting to the Serengeti promptly, maybe the whole Tanzania portion should be first and then on to the Mara. Don't know how that works with your international flights though.

MyDogKyle

I agree with the suggestion about considering reversing the order in Tanzania -- Lake Manyara is a pretty little park and we had a great night drive there, but it wouldn't be the biggest &quot;bang&quot; with which to end your safari.