kram

Hi, I will be travelling to Nairobi on work in the third week of Feb and want to add 2 days to a weekend and do a safari. I have been to Botswana for a safari last year and my primary interest is photography.

I will have only 4 days. Does it make sense to use it for a trip to Masai Mara or should I fly to Kilimanjaro and do a trip to Ngorongoro / Serengeti. I am told that Feb is calving season and the herds would be in Serengeti.

Thanks for your inputs....

pody22

Kram 4 days will be enough for a Maasai Mara trip.The animals will be calving in the Serengeti as you rightly put it.However,the majority of the wildlife remain around in the Maasai Mara where now the grasses are very tall and very green.
The Ngorongoro/ Serengeti option is also very interesting when combined and not done singularly.
Cheers/Karibu

atravelynn

You have 4 days and you are in NBO already, so I'd go to the Mara rather than head to another country.

US visitors add the cost of a $100 visa for Tanzania. Something to consider for just 4 days total.

The Mara is a .75 to 1.5 hour flight away, depending on where you go. Southern Serengeti is an international flight between Kenya and Tanzania, then a second flight to the Serengeti. That is lots of flying for 4 days total.

Though I have not been to the Mara in FEB, I believe those wildes are calving at the same time. The huge herds are in S. Serengeti, but the birthing occurs about the same time in Kenya and Tanz.

You're making good use of your business trip.

ShayTay

The other issue with going to the southern Serengeti at this late date is availability of lodging. I doubt if you'd be able to find anything, although you could have a Tanzanian safari operator check for you to see if anything has opened up.

cary999

Difficult to predict calving because very dependent on grass condition thus rain fall and rain pattern. Toss a coin.

regards - tom

sandi

If the big migration with wildies 'calving' in the Southern Serengeti, you've got to know that the wildies are calving in the Crater and likewise in Masai Mara and surrounding conservancies for the resident herds that never migrate. It's spring, so it's 'baby' time, for many species.

As others, with only 4/days and if trying to get space in the Southern Serengeti/Ndutu areas, who knows what's available at this late date. Then you have the flight from Nairobi to Kilimanjaro/JRO, Visa @ USD$100 and Yellow Fever inoculation and proof of same for entry; then flight to the Serengeti. Maybe, if lucky have 2/full days, then flight back to JRO, for flight to Nairobi.

I'd stay in Kenya as the Mara is outstanding all year round. Prices will also be better than if Tanzania.

Good luck!

kram

Thanks everyone for the inputs. Decided to stay put at the Masai Mara. I should be able to make another trip in 5-6 months - maybe I will again go to Masai Mara as it could be the migration time

sandi

... from mid-July thru Sep (or Oct) the migration can be found in the Masai Mara.

atravelynn

Two trips to E. Africa in a year. That's living! Good choice.

tanzaniatouroperator

Hi Kram,

You have been given good advice here - as great as the Serengeti is at the time of year you are travelling, it is expensive and time consuming to get to the area from Nairobi. 4 days is also regarded as too short a duration to make the most of the Serengeti and Ngorongoro area.....so the Mara (which can be seen well in the 4 days you have) is without doubt the easiest option.

Julian - Director, Africa Odyssey