sealonsf

Just posting this in case anyone else planning would like to see sample itineraries. We are going to be in Tanzania in Mid-Feb, early March. Originally, we were planning to also go to Rwanda to see the gorillas but gave that up because of budget restraints.

So, here it is. I'm really looking forward to my first African Safari! The cost of the safari is around $3,200 per person, not counting our flights and stay in Zanzibar and the first night's hotel (which is only $50).

Day 0: Pick up from JRO airport to overnight at McElly's Hotel in Arusha.
Day 1: After checking out Arusha, overnight at Arumeru Lodge (looking forward to this because they are supposed to have Dik Diks on the property).
Day 2: Days hiking and game drive Arusha National Park, overnight Arumeru Lodge, Arusha.
Day 3: Drive to Tarangire National Park in time for lunch; first game drive. Overnight tents at Tarangire Safari Lodge (overlooks a river with *maybe* elephants - not a real good time of year for elephants).
Day 4: Full day game drive Tarangire National Park. Overnight Boundary Hill Lodge, night safari that evening.
Day 5: Drive to Serengeti National Park, overnight Serengeti Wilderness Camp tent.
Day 6: Full day game drive Serengeti National Park, overnight Serengeti Wilderness Camp tent.
Day 7: Last day in Serengeti, enroute to Ngorongoro Crater, stop at Oldupai Gorge. Overnight Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge on the rim.
Day 8: Days hiking in the Embakai Crater area of Ngorongoro. Overnight Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge.
Day 9: Game drive Ngorongoro Crater in the morning, drive to Lake Eyasi. Overnight Tindiga Tented Camp.
Day 10: Visit Hadzapi Bushmen and Datoga Tribe and then drive back to Arusha. Overnight Arumeru Lodge.
Day 11: Fly to Zanzibar. Overnight Dhow Inn, Paje Beach.
Day 12: Enjoy Paje. Overnight Dhow Inn.
Day 13: Transfer to Stone Town. Overnight Zanzibar Coffee House.
Day 14: Enjoy Stone Town. Overnight Zanzibar Coffee House.
Day 15: Ferry to Dar es Salaam. Overnight Holiday Inn.
Day 16: Fly back home.

sandi

Dik-diks - whether there or not... are very skittish and run at first sight of any movement, especially us humans.

Leely2

Looks good!

sealonsf

sandi, Thanks for the tip about Dik Diks -- other people who stayed at the hotel have managed to take photos of them so I can only hope I can do the same -- but it's great to know that I will have to try to sneak up on them!

Thanks, Leely2! I can't wait!

atravelynn

The shy dik diks may be a little more used to people around the hotel.

Is the Wilderness Camp tent in the southern part of the Serengeti?

Looks like a great trip!

sealonsf

>Is the Wilderness Camp tent in the southern part of the Serengeti?

That's a bit of a worry for me, because it looks like it will be in Central Serengeti and probably not near the migration. We were planning a trip in June and made the change to February last minute so I think that's one reason we are not in the thick of the migration, but our tour operator has said that we will be driving through the area where the migration should be twice -- so I'm just hoping that we'll get lucky. I would like to see the migration, but I'm not going to worry too much about it. I'll be thrilled with any animal I see.

pollydill

Thanks for posting your trip details--it sounds wonderful. Have a fabulous trip!
I am looking forward to your TR.

Elainee

We werein Stonetown this January. IMHO one night in Stonetown is enough. It was very hot there. Our hotel had good ac but still touring was hot, hot, hot and there really was not that much to see. We had most of two days with the one night and we would have liked less time. Our beach resort, Echo Beach was lovely..more time there would have been just fine.

sealonsf

Elainee, thanks for the tip about Stone Town. We could spend most of the day at the beach and then transit to Stone Town later in the day. That way, we really only have one full day in Stone Town. I was also thinking of going to the Jozani Forest on the way between Paje and Stone Town, but I don't know what we would do with our bags. Any ideas?

Elainee

We did not stop at Jozani forest. After safari it would have been hard to impress us. But, I repeat, Stonetoen was a disappoint to us. It is very poor with lots and lots of garbage everywhere, just a few interesting buildings to see, very hot. The market is worth a visit but just like third world food markets everywhere. I like them but it was so hot we went thru very fast. the ferry looks like an experience.

sangeeta

That's a good and well-priced trip! Enjoy.

Leely2

Different strokes, I guess, but I enjoyed Stonetown, both its historical sites and its atmosphere. That said, I visited in June not January.

atravelynn

You can drive south from the central area to see the herds, and sometimes the majority of wildes remain in the central region instead of heading south.

If this is a private trip, ask now about an all day trip (or 2) with a packed lunch to the southern part of the Serengeti. You can watch for dikdiks enroute!

ShayTay

I was in the southern Serengeti in February 2005 and the Migration herds had moved over towards the central Serengeti. You just never know. As Atravelynn points out, you can do an all day drive to where the herds are from camp. There is also a lot of resident game in the central area.

I was also in Tarangire that year. We saw about 200 elephants in one day. I think it's a great park any time of year.

sealonsf

Thanks so much for your comments! Yes, I'm going to let our guide know that we'd like to see the migration and we might just have to drive to it for one day - worth the time if we see them. But I'm really just excited to see anything and everything! I'll come back with a trip report.

sandi

As skittish the dik-dik, I was lucky once where sitting outside reading before afternoon game drive, looked up and there were four of them... just watching me. Along came a 'little Bambi' and it too, just watching me. All together we were a happy family and me completely surprised.

However, everytime I turned a page, the dik-dik would jump (guess why now a Kindle would be better), but they never did go away. So, you just don't know... rather be prepared for their funny behavior. Dik-dik are always in pairs, sometimes with a baby... with each pair/group territorial to 'their bush.'

Little bits of minutea.

PattyBikowsky

Could you tell me which tour company you booked with? I've been just starting to research our trip and could use any advice you have.

ShayTay

Patty, I'm using The Wild Source for my Kenya/Tanzania safari this year. They also handled my Botswana/Zimbabwe trip last summer. Bill Given is a wildlife biologist in addition to being a safari planner and will book you into the best areas for wildlife viewing at a fair price.