cooper0717

TA asks if we would like to be bumped from Serena to Kirawira. Should I take it or refuse?

Going end of May (in about a month)

sandi

Kirawira is a camp located in Western corridor, often good for the migratioln end of May and at more attractive rates than if as 1st June,

Serena is a lodge located in Central Serengeti and can also be good for the migration as there is no guarantee exactly where the herds will be.

Distance between the two areas is a 2/hr game drive.
If you wish a tent, then go with Kirawira though rate should be higher than Serena Lodge.

You can also consider Mbuzi Mawe Camp (also a Serena property in the Central area), lower priced than Kirawira and with lovely tents.

You decide.

cooper0717

Thank you. I've booked the tour a year ago, but my TA emailed me that Serena was overbooked for one of my nights. They've offered us Kirawira for the entire stay (3 nights) for no price change....just wondering if I should say yes at that time or year or say no.

atravelynn

yes

TC

Kirawira is wonderful! No comparison to Serena lodge. Absolutely go for it!

cooper0717

Looking into it. Seems the herds are moving to central which would make Serena more central. If I'm getting bumped on an already paid stay, I want to make the most of it!

(there's an app for that http://www.discoverafrica.com/herdtracker/)

KathBC

Loved Kirawira!! If you can upgrade without a price change jump at it!

Ask for the Elephant tent as it has one of the better views over looking the Serengeti.

atravelynn

Thanks for that link.

sandi

If no price change, go for Kirawira. Besides, the herds do move so with only a 2/hr game drive distance between the two areas (if you even if you have to), you don't lose, as you'll see them regardless where laying your head.

However, I can't imagine that having booked a year ago they now have no space... someone messed up. But you win in the end. Kirawira is part of the Serena group and certainly a whole lot nicer accommodations.

Enjoy.

cooper0717

Actually got the forwarded email from Serena. Their goof, I suppose. Maybe I should also ask for a few dollars in resort credit

CarelDiscoverAfrica

Hi cooper0717 - like sandi said, Kirawira should be slightly better standard although if the bed-covers are still orange blocks then it must be 20 years of the same sheets. Serena Serengeti should be better located right now, when are you traveling? I would say that the first of the herds should arrive the other side of Simiti hills on the Mbalageti river side in more or less 2 weeks from today. If the migration is not there yet then you are kind of stuck on that Lake Victoria / Arusha highway with lots of traffic and not too many game drive roads - so don't let them bump you if you are travelling now - there is a reason why!

where are you arriving from also could make that particular day very long. Who did you book with, they should be able to help you retain your itinerary!!Otherwise let me know, I can help! Sorry new to Fondors, I normally sit on TA.

Good luck
Carel

atravelynn

When in May are you going Cooper?

aby

Lynn - "end of May"
Cooper: i would also take Kirawira for all the reasons stated: smaller, more intimate, more safari atmosphere, more luxurious...
saw the migration in Seronera in mid April just not long ago.
they'll be getting closer to Kirawira side, nobody can tell how close, but as Sandi wrote the distance is reasonable.

Are you flying or driving?
if driving you can pass the migration on the way...
if flying put on a GPS offline app record the location for a later game drive

Safari njema
Aby

PS thanks for that interesting link

sandi

Sadly, Serena is known for bumping guests from a confirmed booking to another of their properties. In this case though it's an upgrade in accommodation so doesn't owe you any $$$. Simply a mess-up as I mentioned above. However, it might also have been your tour operator who messed up and keeping mum about it.

Regarding where the migration was wherever in mid-April or might be end-May, unlikely to miss them either in Central (Serena) or West (Kirawira. But it's also important to know that game can move back and forth between the two areas, or if around Kirawira at 6am be way off to elsewhere within an hour... they do what they wish when they want.

Carel - Good laugh re the bedspreads. I've had an issue with these for years and if still those cotton ones, way overdue for an upgrade. As if, 'who uses cotton for durability in hotels anywhere these days?' How long does it take to remove and replace with duvet/comforters? While the duvet covers have to be laundered every time new guests* use the beds, and must have a top sheet between duvet cover/comforter and actual bed sheet. Kirawira does have washing machines, dryers and real irons... no big deal for them.

*Technically, bedspreads should also be laundered between guests anywhere or regardless price range, it's rare that they are; why if/where I find bedspreads these are immediately removed, placed in a corner till I depart.

cooper0717

Carel, that's your link I posted. I was wondering a few weeks ago why someone has not created a real-time migration tracker. #firstworldproblems no doubt.

First part of the day is to be spent at Ngo. with a drive out to Serengeti in the afternoon. Extending as far as Kirawira my shorten our time at Ngo....

cooper0717

What about Mbuzi Mawe as an alternative to Kirawira--similar, downgrade, upgrade?

atravelynn

Oh, right there in the second line, end of May.

Mbuzi Mawe would be farther north than I would care to be at the END of MAY.

cooper0717

Thank atravelynn, they are offering use Mbuzi Mawe or Kirawira. Think I'll go with Kirawira--we are there 22-24 May

sandi

Though I prefer Mbuzi Mawe Camp vs Serena Lodge, the camp is about 1/hr farther north of Serena, thus would stay with Kirawira.