africaanxious

With help from this forum and fodorites, I've narrowed down to 3 choices for our trip Feb 2007 for 6 nights to Tanzania. We hope to confirm this by next week.

Option 1
- operator and agent: CC Africa; shared vehicle/guide
- Days 1 - 4: 4 nights Tanzania Under Canvas in the Serengeti (don't know exactly the location yet; the brochure points to Ndutu area)
- Days 5 - 6: 2 nights Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
- cost: $6000+ pp

Option 2
- operator Nomad; agent Safari & Company; private vehicle/guide
- Days 1 to 2: 2 nights Nomad Serengeti Safari Camp
- Days 3 to 4: 2 nights Nomad Loliondo Safari Camp
- Days 5 to 6: 2 nights Plantation Lodge
- cost $4000+ pp

Option 3
- operator Sanctuary Lodges; agent EOA; private vehicle/guide
- Days 1 to 3: 3 nights Kusini
- Days 4 to 5: 2 nights Gibbs Farm
- Day 6: 1 night Swala
- cost: $5000+ pp

I'm leaning towards option 2 with Nomad primarily because of the private vehicle and guide. But Under Canvas sounds very tempting with its new luxury tents (and staying in Crater Lodge), but I'm unsure how much of a drawback is sharing a vehicle. First time Africa trip for us.

Caveats: We will try to add 1 to 2 more days if possible. Also will consider swapping one of the Plantation Lodge nights for Crater Lodge in option 2 to get the best of both worlds.

Your vote is appreciated and thanks for all your advice thus far.

MonicaH

africaanxious-

I am also going to Africa in Feb 2007 and we opted for CC Africa. We are staying at Tanzania Under Canvas, Swala and the Crater Lodge. CC Africa has been a pleasure to work with and they have put together the trip exactly the way I wanted. Good luck!

Monica

Duane

We had some of the same decisions when booking our Safari. Did we want to go to 5* properties or get a little more safari for the same amount of money. The way I figured is that if I am going to spend the money to stay at someplace like the Crater Lodge, I'd want to make sure I got to spend a considerable amount of time enjoying the lodge. But, most days I will be getting up early, going on a game drive. Come back and eat then go on another game drive or sleep then go on another game drive.

That's not to say that we or you don't want to stay in nice places. I think you can get some real nice places without going over the top. I mean once you get to a certain level of luxury, then what more are you paying for? We are staying at Kirawira Camp, Migration Camp, Mbuzi Mawe, Ngorongoro Sopa, and Tarangire River Camp which for the most part are very nice places (other than the Sopa lodge, but I picked that because of the location).

I also choose a private safari. I like hanging out with people, but we want to decide when and where we go and how long we stay at a certain site. We want to make our own schedule. I'm paying too much money to chance this on my vehicle mates.

Just my 2 cents. There is nothing wrong with staying and paying for the top of the line camps. It would be wonderful. I just couldn't see spending the extra money for that little bit more of luxury when my camp time is limited. I'll wait until I go to a beach or something and spend the money there when I can sleep in, have room service, etc.

enjoy,
Duane

Local2542

Duane,

Can i ask the number of days, number of people in your group and the price range?

I am in the same anxious state as Africaanxious is, as we narrow down our operator and itinerary.

Thank you.

sandi

In Option #2, Nomad Loliondo is way north and not ideal for game viewing. And the drive fromthere to Plantation Lodge which is closer to Manyara... long drive. I presume that Plantation Lodge is to allow visit to the Crater? If so, one crater tour or two? If two, you'll be driving back and forth and time between Plantation and the Crater is about 2/hrs.

On Option #3, Gibbs is also at Lake Manyara, so you have the same situation if you hope to visit the crater, long drives between.

Option #1, even though shared seats with others during game drives, and the costliest, with flights, but is probably the best positioned for your time of travel.

Swala is a lovely camp in Tarangire, but the park isn't at optimum in February; but a nice place to relax at the end of your safari.

From my view, as it is actually getting late for Feb 07 bookings, the lodging on Opt #2 and #3 (Loliondo/Plantation and Gibbs and Swala) are based on where space is available.

Marija

Tanzania Under Canvas is wonderful. The shared game drives (max 4 people in a car for Tanzania Under Canvas)just weren't a problem for us. On the ground we found CC Africa to be superb.

africaanxious

sandi, what would you suggest changing then? For option 2, should I try to stay all 4 nights at Nomad Serengeti? And instead of Plantation Lodge, where should I stay closer to the crater? With Plantation Lodge, because we've our own guide, we can do 1 or 1.5 days of crater touring, but as you said, the driving would take a while.

Thanks. I'm not sure of availability either, but I'll make some further inquiries.

Lolazahra

CC Africa is great. They planned South Africa for us last year. Two safari camps, Joburg and Capetown, all tours, cars, meet and greet, restaurant reservations, etc. They never missed a beat, available throughout the entire 2 weeks, and the safari camps from the food, accommodations, staff, and game experience were fantastic. Truly the most memorable experience. Hence, we are using them again for Kenya and Tanzania in January. We are doing their Kichwa Tembo Bateleur Camp in the Masia Mara and then Ngorongoro Crater Lodge at the Crater. We were booked at their Grumeti River Lodge in the Serengeti, but changed with their help to Kusini because of our desire to see the migration. They also booked Mombasa for us at Alfajari Villas and our night in Nairobi including cars, hotel and tours. We would have loved to do Tanzania Under Canvas, but we are traveling with small kids who cannot stay there yet. CC Africa would be my choice. You will not be disappointed in the least! Good luck and let us know your final choice.

sandi

If price ins't the issue, Option #1 is probably the best.

For $1,000/pp (savings $2,000) less, then Option #3, may offer you more things to do/places to visit, as drive from Kusini to Crater isn't long and you'll arrive in time for afternoon crater tour of about 6/hr, which many find more than sufficient down there. At the end of day you can drive to Manyara (once outside Ngorongoro area, a great road) for o/n at Gibbs and next day visit Manyara for game drive/s; some culture at Mto-wa-Mbu. And the last day, drive to Tarangire is about 2/hrs, staying at Swala - works. Swala is right in the middle of the park, with game often right outside your tent, great food and service - and romantic.

Option 3
- operator Sanctuary Lodges; agent EOA; private vehicle/guide
- Days 1 to 3: 3 nights Kusini
- Day 4 drive to Ngorongoro; afternoon crater floor visit; drive to Manyara - o/n Gibbs
- Day 5 morning visit Manyara; lunch; afternoon visit Mto-wa-Mbu (or vice versa) - o/n Gibbs
- Day 6 drive to Tarangire; game drives here - o/n Swala
- cost: $5000+ pp

As Kusini is in the Ndutu area, but if the herds are in the Serengeti area, you can pay the daily fee to enter Serengeti to do your game drive/s - inquire of your outfitter cost, which isn't much.

africaanxious

Hmm, it seems like most of you think that Tanzania Under Canvas (TUC) and Crater Lodge is the best option, but I'm still hesitant about the shared vehicle/guide issue. I've read enough "bad experience" stories on this forum about uncompatible vehicle mates and my partner is not a group person.

My priority is to get the best varied gameviewing with the most experienced guide. I want to maximize my chances of being in the right place without having to drive for hours. The ultra-luxury aspect of Crater Lodge is not essential, as Duane wrote, I can do that at a resort. I do like the notion of tenting in comfort in the wilderness. Although price is not a major determinant here, of course I want to get the best value and not overpay.

What to do?

climbhighsleeplow

Sharing or not sharing is a very personal decision and a roll of the dice. In Sabi Sands we made life-long friends with a few couples. This June my wife and I wanted to throw a certain person out of the CCA car at Ngorongoro.

In general I suggest avoiding shared vehicles if you can!

You have given us only 3 options to choose from!

I love CCA camps and their TUC open/closed cars. Though in Option #1 you may be up to 6 people in a closed car at Ngorongoro and up to 4 people at TUC.

Option #2 is a bit less luxurious but the private closed car is attractive. My suggestion is to book 4 nights at Nomad Serengeti and skip Loliondo (BTW, the Nomad Loliondo Camp is on the edge of the Serengeti in the south of Loloiondo in Feb). But you cannot enter the Serengeti from camp - you have to drive to Naabi - so I prefer staying 4 nights at the Serengeti camp. Try to get a lodge on the Crater rim instead of Plantation Lodge (a very nice lodge BTW). It is simply too far to drive daily as I think your main interest is the crater.

Option #3 is too risky and one night at Swala is a bit crazy.

lisa

I would rule out option number 3. Would not recommend just one night at Swala -- it takes too long to get to. If you do go to Swala, which is wonderful, go for two nights.

But with only 6 nights, I would concentrate mostly on the southern-central Serengeti and just spend one night at Ngorongoro.

These prices seem very high IMO for only a 6-night safari. Our 15-night safari last year was about $4,000 pp and that included 2 nights at Swala and also Migration Camp. I realize park fees have gone up since then, but still. (Or do these prices include international airfare?)

africaanxious

Dear lisa and climbhighsleeplow,

I've narrowed down to these options based on previous feedback on this forum, picking operators with the best guides, and availability I could confirm thus far. I'm also limited with only 6 nights.

Price-wise, I do feel it's steep, but if CCAfrica is quoting me that rate, I doubt other agents can get it for any less, or am I mistaken? I haven't approached Roy's or other Tanzanian-based operators, although one operator (e-gnu) in Cape Town offered a mobile camp using operator Amazing Tanzania. Born Free Safari is using Naipenda which I can't find too much info about. All their prices, except the e-gnu one which is significantly lower, are about the same.

I'm looking into whether I can get a private vehicle for TUC, but I think the price would jump up even higher. I'm kind of approaching the limit at $2000 per night already... (can't believe I'm prepared to spend that much).

So if you can change anything and only have 6 days, what would it be? I'm not locked anything yet, but I want to be fair to the agents and not take up any more of their time unnecessarily.

Thanks!

Duane

Local2548,
We are paying right at $4,000 pp for 8 nights on Safari, 2 nights in Nairobi, 1 night in Arusha. Also includes round trip flights from Nairobi to Kilimanjaro and a flight from Kilimanjaro to the Western Serengeti. This is for a private safari staying at some pretty nice places.

If you want more details, just drop me an email @ riced @ Comcast dot net

enjoy,
Duane

Aleksandra

Africaanxious,
I myself would never go for a shared vehicle; particularly taking into account your friend is not keen to do that. You never know, whom you meet and IMHO it's better to make friends in a lodge, where you choose with whom you want to spend your time.

Plantation Lodge is a very nice place. During the safari we woke every day at the sunrise (and got to bed not very long after sunset...), so driving to the crater was not a problem for us; we were there early enough to spend the whole day inside. Anyway, it's less than 2 hours drive.
That said, of course, the view from the lodges on the rim is something really special.
Serengeti should be great in February; Tarangire less so. This place is fantastic now, in the autumn. If you want to relax after your safari, better choose Zanzibar.
For the safari, 4 days in Serengeti and 2 in the Crater would be perfect.

Have a great trip,
Aleksandra