Hi,
First I would like to thank you ALL for the advise I have gleaned from this site. I have been lurking here for the last two years, which is when I started researching for our Egypt trip in Feb. 2006. I kept reading about the safaris that people were going on and we decided to go on one ourselves.
My husband and I are traveling with another couple we have been friends with for years. I am the type to do lots of research and then just book it with one travel company. I picked out three companies and made a spreadsheet comparing three of their set itineraries. After all my research I chose Good Earth Tours. I had read good reviews and they have a US office. I picked one of their set tours and we made a few adjustments. This is our itinerary:
Day 1 (Sep 1st, 2007): SEA to AMS
Day 2 (Sep 2): Arrival Nairobi, Kenya
Meet and transferr to hotel, Nairobi Safari Club
Day 3 (Sep 3): Maasai Mara
After breakfast, transfer to Wilson airport in Nairobi for a morning flight to Masai Mara. Arrival in Mara; met by awaiting driver with the safari vehicle and start game drives in the Mara, Mara Serena Lodge, B,L,D.
Day 4~5 (Sep 4~5): Masai Mara
More game drives in the Mara, Mara Serena Lodge, B,L,D.
Day 6 (Sep 6): Mara-Nairobi
Depart Maasai Mara in the morning and drive back to Nairobi, Nairobi Safari Club, B,L.
Day 7 (Sep 7): Amboseli National Park
Drive to Amboseli National Park. Afternoon game drive in Amboseli, Amboseli Sopa Lodge, B,L,D.
Day 8 (Sep 8): Amboseli - Arusha, Tanzania – Tarangire National Park, Tarangire Safari Tented Lodge, B,L,D.
Day 9 (Sep 9): Tarangire National Park
Game drives in Tarangire National Park, Tarangire Safari Tented Lodge, B,L,D.
Day 10 (Sep 10): Tarangire – Lake Manyara
After breakfast drive to Lake Manyara Park, Kirurumu Luxury Tented Camp, B, L,D.
Day 11 (Sep 11): Lake Manyara / Serengeti
Today, we drive to Serengeti, Serengeti Sopa Lodge, B,L,D.
Day 12~13 (Sep 12~13): Serengeti:
Full day game drives in the Serengeti park, Serengeti Sopa Lodge, B, L, D.
Day 14 (Sep 14): Serengeti / Ngorongoro
After breakfast, we drive to Ngorongoro, with a visit to Olduvai Gorge. Arrive in Ngorongoro for afternoon game drive in the crater, Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, B, L, D.
Day 15 (Sep 15): Ngorongoro / Arusha / Departure
Descend into Ngorongoro crater for morning game drive in the crater. Drive to Arusha, day room at Impala Hotel, then evening transfer to Kilimanjaro airport, B,L
Day 16 (Sep 16): AMS to SEA
On advice from this forum we added a flight to the Masai Mara but chose to drive back to get the feel of the country. Also because of advice given to other people on this site we chose the Mara Serena over the Sopa because it will be closer to the action during the migration. We are doing a lot of driving but this makes the trip more affordable. We are staying at a couple tented lodges.
Once again thanks for all the information on this safari and the egypt trip.
Julie
Safari Sept. 2007
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Have a wonderful trip!
Sounds great--take lots of photos!
Julie, if you read this, I am looking at a very similar type safari leaving about the beginning of Sept too. I have looked some at Good Earth and am wondering about what your safari is costing. I seem to stay confused as to an itinerary. How long is that drive from the Mara back to Nairobi? Thanks! Carol
Carol,
I know the feeling about the confusion. It is difficult to pick out an itinerary. I read so much on Fodors that it made it more confusing. I wanted to do everything in one trip. I just found three companies with itinerarys which included Kenya and Tanzania. I than made a spreadsheet which compared them day by day, with the price listed on their websites. I decided I wanted a mostly lodge based safari which makes it more affordable. When we decided on Good Earth we picked their "Tanzania-Kenya Special" set tour and added a few nights, another park, a flight to the Mara and a different hotel in the Mara (Serena instead of Sopa). Our private safari is costing us $3700 per person. We got a small ($150 pp)discount for having a group of 4. So far I have been pleased with all contact I have had with Narry at Good Earth Tours. We have purchased our own airfare from Seattle. We are flying into Nairobi and out of Kilimanjaro.
The drive back from the Mara Serena to Nairobi is about 6-7 hours.
Julie
Have a wonderful safari.
Did you get a prompt confirmation from Good Earth for your lodging?? I've been working with them for a month now finalizing my itinerary and lodging choices for a late September safari (combined with Kili trek). Now all the sudden Good Earth is telling me it will take up to a month (or more) to confirm the safari lodges/camps, and chances of getting the better ones are slim! Did you have any problem getting your lodging confirmed??
Hi cmlong,
We actually planned this vacation very early. We put our deposit down at the end of October so we didn't have any problems with getting confirmations for the lodges and camps. I had been reading Fodors for a couple of years and kept reading how the best lodges were booking up fast. Some a year in advance, so we made sure to book early. So I can't really help with your problem.
Julie
I just put a deposit on a safari with Good Earth, and, so far, couldn't be more pleased. I was interested in their Migration Safari in Tanzania for July 2008. After researching many companies, I chose Good Earth. Their pricing for such fine lodges and luxury camps was much more reasonable than the other companies we looked at.
I emailed Good Earth on Sunday, received a reply on Monday with pricing and a suggestion for a different hotel in Serengeti (due to the time of the year). I had asked for a stopover in Amsterdam to break up the flights and they were able to accomodate that as well.
I replied by email later that day (yesterday) and today received a comfirmation that all accomodations were confirmed, as long as a deposit was made by April 25 (8 days from now). I spoke to the booking agent and he said by booking so early, he was able to get immediate confirmation from all lodging venues.
Adding only $150 per person enabled us to have a totally private safari, leaving on the exact date we wanted.