Wow! What a fantastic trip and pictures.
thanks,
PD

Wow! Some amazing photos, especially of the three cheetahs. I am also enjoying your written report. Many thanks for sharing! We are heading to the Mara and northern Tanzania in August - your photos make me wish it was a bit sooner! CR

Your Tarangire report is now up! You left there just before I arrived. Your accounts prove it is an action-packed place!

You asked how can a lion pride be named after you if you've never seen them?

I think that's like the tree falling in the forest if no one is there to hear it.

You got plenty of lion cub pictures even so.

Wow, your photos are fantastic, what amazing sightings. You were smart to do several days in Tarangire in September, most people do the one day drive-by and miss the boat. Serval was nice too, took us three safaris to catch one, in Crater last February.

We went to Ngorongoro three different trips, first two were OK. Third time (Feb 2011) was over the top, great sightings through each of two days. Safaris are all about patience and good fortune. You hit the jackpot!

Jim.

Great report and photos, Tanya. I've been following along on ST. Will comment there as well.

I am about to go on my first Safari next fall. can you recommend a good camera for this type of trip?

Thanks for the trip report, Tanya_1976. I'm traveling there next year on a safari planned by Bill and myself. We'll be using Deo and another guide (8 travelers.) I, too, love Tarangire and am glad we'll be spending more time there than most people do. I think that's a smart move.

Denise_Boland, I'd suggest the Canon "superzoom" SX-40. It's got a great 35x zoom (equivalent to about an 840mm lens) and takes HD videos. You'll find that a safari is the perfect venue for videos, with all that wildlife action. I've used the earlier version (SX-10) after using the Canon digital Rebel cameras... wanted to go with less gear. I'm considering moving up to the SX-40 with it's longer zoom, better sensor and high-end video capabilities.

Thanks a lot everyone for your kind comments. I loved Tarangire and whenever the next trip to this part happens will be a mix of Serengeti and Tarangire.

Denise- hoping other people will chip in as my experience is severally limited and ShayTay's advice is a good one.

I went very overboard with camera equipment- what and how much totally depends on your involvement with photography and want you want to achieve. Only thing I would say is if going the DSLR way, more than the camera look at getting the longest lens you possibly can for Tanzania. If not the DSLR way, then everyone from Canon, Nikon, Sony, Panasonic and Fuji makes these 30-35x cameras which when used with a beanbag can produce very decent results so you can compare the features and decide the ones you want. If you are into post-processing then some of these non-DSLR options even have a shoot in Raw option now. I agree with ShayTay I would look closely at the HD Video capabilities as well.

You may have gone overboard, but you got good results Tanya.

Check these threads, Denise.

Really enjoyed your photos and trip report. I was there during some of the same time you were. Even tho I thought we had a fantastic guide and sightings, yours seem even better-at least the Cheetah brothers. We saw them also, but we didn't get to stay long-had to drive to our next camp instead It seems we were always rushing at sunset to get to camp, due to park rules about not being on the roads after 6PM. Did you experience that too? That was tough on me, as the light was so great at that time and I wanted to photograph!! Am toying with return trip but maybe to mobile camps that are more near the action, or going to Kenya next time, where people are not restricted by such rules.
Will get to writing trip trip report soon. My main question now is-would you mind sharing how much did you paid for your safari, and were you solo or were lodging and other costs shared? I went with Africa Dream Safaris, and have nothing but good to say about them, but am curious as to your costs versus ours ($8742 pp, for 10 nights private safari shared by 2 people, including 2 nights pre-safari & all meals in Arusha)

"...going to Kenya next time, where people are not restricted by such rules."
If you are serious about the 6pm, or sundown thing, some (most?) Kenya parks/reserves may be no different. Best check on it. I can tell you from experience that many camps in South Africa private reserves, Sabi Sand and Timbavati, have no such restrictions.

FWIW, $8,700 pp for 10 nights sounds on the high side to me. In Feb of 2011 I went on "private" safari Tanzania (with operator Roy Safaris, Arusha), only two of us (photographers) per vehicle and cost was under $450pppn. (So 10 nights much less than $5K). Here is link to my Fodors report -
http://www.fodors.com/community/africa-the-middle-east/trip-report-safari-2011-tanzania-.cfm

regards - tom

Hi Karn

We may have crossed each other! Deo knows a few ADS guides and we stopped to talk a couple of times. I was this Indian female with a monster of a beanbag on my window sitting next to the guide. I agree the 6 pm curfew is very painful.

On a per person per night basis I paid more but I was solo with single supplements and noone else to share the guide cost- For 2 people but everything else same, my itinerary would price at around USD 725 pppn 15 nights on safari and inclusive of 2 domestic flights(Killi-Kogatende and Arusha-Dar)all park and crater fees and guide+pv -I just took out the single supplement and divided the guide costs by 2 to get to this leaving everything else the same.

Obviously as Tom says lot more to save by staying at the Sopa/Serena but I really loved the tented camps and the locations, especially Olakira, Dunia and Lemala.

ADS also has their own private mobile camps apart from booking clients into Asilia/Nomad etc etc. Their ground operations in Tanzania are often referred to as Unique Safaris locally. Were you in Lemala Ngorongoro as well? I was there 12th and 13th September nights and on 13th evening there was a ADS vehicle there as well.

Whether Kenya or Tanzania, if camp/lodge is located inside the national parks or reserves, you have to be off the lands by dusk. Only if staying outside the parks/reserve boundaries (private conservancies), do you have more flexibility and can often enjoy a night game drive on the return to camp/lodge after 6pm.

Africa Dream Safaris, from various posts and clients who have used them, do seem to be more expensive than what other outfitters offer. That said, however, if as a solo traveler and staying at the properties indicated... the $700+/pp/nt isn't off base especially when visiting in peak-season which Sept is.

"Obviously as Tom says lot more to save by staying at the Sopa/Serena but I really loved the tented camps and the locations, especially Olakira, Dunia and Lemala."
No question, the camps you stay at have a LARGE part in your safari cost. No matter what country.

regards - tom

Sounds like a wonderful trip. Perhaps PixelPower will join in with the EU perspective of cost. Apparently we americans are paying far too much.
just sayin"

PixelPower, I dare say, can do this (10 days) for less than half the above cost. But again I'll say, it -largely depends- on your safari camps.

regards - tom

I never put in the camera links for Denise.

http://www.fodors.com/community/africa-the-middle-east/best-camera-for-semi-novice-for-safari-in-tanzania-kenya-nikon-p500.cfm


http://www.fodors.com/community/africa-the-middle-east/camera-and-binocular-recommendations-for-the-amateur.cfm

"...going to Kenya next time, where people are not restricted by such rules."


To avoid park rules, you can stay in conservancies. I think Kenya has more of those than Tanzania.


Regarding the comment about mobiles being "more near the action," those camps have to commit where they are established in advance. They don't follow the wildes day by day and nobody knows just where the predators will pop up. It can be hard to predict what goes on where in a park as large as the Serengeti. Staying for several days in several locations is the best strategy, but can be a costly one.

Those cheetah bros were a really fantastic sighting! Definitely in the right place at the right time on that one, Tanya.

Regarding cost, my husband and I are in preliminary planning for a trip with our grandson who will be 13 in about 2 years. There is no way we can pay $10,000 per person. I have to believe we could plan a good, safe trip for much less. Which companies should I contact? Is it best to deal directly with, for instance, a tour group in the Serengeti? Who is PixelPower?
Thank you.

There is no reason to have to pay $10K/person for safari, nor is it necessary to travel on a 'group' safari. You can certainly design your own private itinerary - based on total number of days you expect to be in-country, which areas you want to visit, selecting the accommodations... all based on your budget.

There are a wide-array of tour operators in your home country or you can contact an in-country tour outfitter to assist in your plans.

A 'search' on this board will bring up names of reputable operators/outfitters, so you can get started.

I'd also suggest, that you start your own thread for your upcoming trip, keep all subject re the trip under the same thread (always easier to find and for you and responders to follow your process) rather than piggy-back here.

Good luck.

Thanks Pollydill & Lynn- yes it was really a lot of luck that our wait with the brothers paid of the way it did

I hope this trip report doesnt send off wrong signals on how a safari can be done - I merely wanted to share my safari and sightings here to people who would love the encounters whether they are in or out of Africa.

And I did want to acknowledge the efforts of The Wild Source-Bill and Deo. A guide who spent 13 hours everyday on the road for 15 days is what in the end made this special for me because he gave it his best with his time and spotting skills in letting chance encounters unfold. Bill @ TWS put together an itinerary and ironed out all minute details the way I wanted it and am sure he and few others mentioned here would do the same for multiple budgets.

The one message I didnt want to convey is that an expensive safari is required to have a trip of your lifetime-because that would just not be true. Someone asked me the cost and I helped out with the numbers. There are enough trip reports here and on ST that will showcase safaris of all types and each one of them has had their many special moments- Whatever budget we go with, there will be something special that will unfold while you are around. I didnt see a river crossing and I didnt see an actual hunt or kill happen- But I saw enough to not feel that I missed out- Whatever money anyone pays, whichever guide you go out with, no one can guarantee these things- and thank god for that

A big way to reduce the cost is not go alone, advice I don't follow.

Northern Serengeti is a more expensive destination than some places and is more remote.

You got your money's worth Tanya!

Question, why did you book this combo? In Sept, were both in the same general area?

-2 nights Olakira, N. Serengeti
-5 nighs Sayari, N. Serengeti

Thanks!

Hi Lynn

Yes they both are in the same general area- around 25-30 minutes drive without stopping- in the Kogatende/Wogakuria region and very close to the river. Sticking with the same camp chain (long stay discount +SS waiver in 2 of the 4 camps)and availability defined the choices in the end since I booked mid-March for September. After the 1st 2 days Olakira wasnt really available on consecutive days and I didnt want to spend less than these 7 days in N. Serengeti. Both are excellent locations with Olakira definitely having an edge.

Makes sense and it worked out great for you.

Tanya, if you check this could you expound a bit on the camps, Olakira, Dunia and Olivers - sounds like you were attached to Olakira and I assume the staff travels south with them now - will be there in Feb. We enjoy chatting with staff,etc and hope they are inclined to do the same with us and not be standoffish...

For box lunches, where you able to request certain foods; like vegetarian, etc. We like to have a picnic type atmosphere and find a spot away from everyone (IF that is possible in Feb) and set up chairs/table as was done for us in previous trips - are they set up for this or is in just a box in the vehicle.
Definitely into Amarula! And want to try that ginger soda!

Any info would be helpful. Thanks so for a great report!

MB

As long as you advise your food preferences - allergies, do/not eat, prefered - in advance (on booking) and even on arrival at lodge/camp/hotel - they are good at seeing you get what you wish. Some moreso than others, so don't hesitate speaking up nicely!

For box/picnic lunches, discuss with personnel evening before what you'd like.

Sandi, I did discuss with the booking company, but knowing Tanya had actually been in the camps, I was interested in follow-through and hoping she will chime in.

As we know, sometimes preferences passed on to agents somehow get lost in the shuffle to the camp, as I remember in a very long and detailed report last year by some visitors in Kenya.

Thinking (as detailed a person as she appears to be!) she would have her ducks in a row, I wondered what the camps chefs/staff/etc ACTUALLY did to accommodate her requests.

Not that it will affect my gameviewing, but just like to know how accommodating they are (esp for the price!) LOL

MB, I'm sure she'll be fine with me telling you that the lucky thing is currently on her second safari of the year! She didn't think she would have Internet access, so you'll probably hear from her in January.

Wow, so lucky, indeed.... Thanks for replying. She's having a great year, I'd say!

Have a good one yourself!
MB

MBs, you can PM Tanya on Safaritalk as she is a member there as well. Shame Fodors don't have that facility.

Hi MB replied to your PM on ST regarding food and sundowners.

Regarding staff at Olakira (and elsewhere)- yes it is the same staff that travels to South. You will find them very relaxed and friendly- a bit of leg pulling and friendly banter will always see them open up and not be wary- I still get (and send) messages from them sometimes relayed through Deo or Fadhil (Deo's son)-Ask them beforehand if you can do a full day drive to Naibartat hills ( followed by a small walking trek)if so inclined or to Ol Karien Gorge ( the latter might be a bit rushed to do a return trip in the same day), or even upto Lemuta Hills and back. You will not find people around and if the migration is in the southern short grass plains some excellent sightings. And please come back and report to us as this will be my 1st trip in 2013