victorofd

This is my first attempt at using this forum and I am really looking forward to all of your responses! I will be travelling alone to Tanzania in Sept of this year. The highlight of my trip will be trekking and hiking Mount Kilimanjaro. As for an Itinerary I haven't completed one yet , thus the reason for my post.

My ideal program would be as follows:

1) Arrive at Kilimanjaro Airport - Sept 22
2) Arusha National Park (by foot or private hike with guide)
3) 5-6 day safari ( see below)
4) Hike Kilimanjaro ( using Machame route - 7 days)
5) Fly to Zanzibar, spend 3 -4 days before heading back to Arusha and leaving for
home on the 14th of October.

My first most obvious question is - Does this Itinerary make sense and can it be done for a reasonable price? ($ 5000-6000). My flights have already been booked and paid for so the above price does not include flights.

I have been trying to determine which National Parks to include on the safaris and they all seem incredible, but based on my time restrictions I was thinking of limiting to 2 or perhaps 3 spots at best. Possibly - Lake Manyara (1 night) , Serengeti (2 nights)
Olduvai Gorge towards Ngorogoro Crater ( 2 nights). Although I have had several responses from some tour operators, many saying this is very feasable and others trying to dissuade me, I have yet to determine what to do.

I want to do a safari and the Kili hike is an absolute. My only flexibility lies with Zanzibar, which I would really like to see but I would give that up if it meant a more fulfilling and adventerous trip in the Northern Tanzanian Circuit. Do any of you have suggestions / Ideas?

Finally as a single traveller several guide books mention that I can just show up in Arusha and try to book safaris when I arrive. Although staying at high end lodges / hotels would not be an option here, I may be able to get in with other groups / or join safaris after I meet a few people in my travels. Has anyone tried this ? Would you recommend it or not? Failing finding a group to join I could always check out, in person, the available tour operators and book a single private safari , which is what I was going to do in the first place

Thanks for taking the time to read my post and I'm sure I'll get some very valid responses!

sandi

Sept is peak season, so while some "backpacker" types will wait till they arrive, you may get stuck with a group not to your liking and likewise, limited choice of accommodations.

Also, many visitors do the Kili Trek first, then the more sedentary safari.

The Kili Trek portion, avg price about $1500/person, though as a single somewhat higher. And, yes a private safari for a solo traveler can be costly, dependent on the lodgings you select. At least with private, you decide where you visit, for how many days and select the accommodations that best work with your budget. But for only 6/days safari, is doable.

In Sept, I'd visit Tarangire over Manyara as this is peak-time for game viewing where they have a mini-migration between July/Oct. Giving this 2/nts.

Ngorongoro can be done for 1/nt and still have an afternoon crater tour (they're limited to 6/hrs only, no longer full-days) and then another 6/hr crater visit next morning, before continuing onto the Serengeti.

The Serengeti, really deserves 3/nts and though the Northern area would be the best place to catch the migrtating wildebeests (lots and lots of them) that don't make it into Kenya's Masai Mara, it's quite a drive (8-10/hrs w/ game viewing along the way), while the Central area always has game as there's year-round water source.

From Central you can fly to Zanzibar (preferrably 3/nts, but 2/nts good if that's all the time you have) and at conclusion, fly to JRO* (not Arusha which is small domestic airport) for your homebound flight.

*be aware that this flight departs JRO and flies 1/hr south to DAR to offload and pick-up paxs before heading to Europe.

fourwheelinit

I have to agree with sandi although we only spent several hours at Lake Manyara, I much preferred Tarangire when I went last November. It seemed like there was so much more to see there.
Can't speak to the climb other than you are a whole lot more ambitious than I am!

Leely2

If you are really rushed (time and $), depending on what time your flight arrives at JRO, you could skip Arusha NP, plan one night Tarangire, three nights Serengeti and then circle back for one or two nights Ngorongoro and back to Arusha. Exactly how many nights do you have total? I'd probably opt for more safari over Zanzibar--and I liked Zanzibar a lot--but safari days are quite expensive. I wonder if instead of adding the cost of flight to/from Z-bar you might build in a day of R-and-R at a coffee farm or something.

Sandi, am I way off here?

I probably wouldn't just show up and join a group. But that's just me; you may be way more free-spirited and adventurous. If you do go that route, do some research in advance and have a list of vetted operators you want to approach.

atravelynn

I like the 2, 1, 3 for Tarangire, Crater, Serengeti.

victorofd

Thank you Sandi, Fourwheellinit and Leely2. Sandy, thanks for the tip on Tarangire. I have had so much response from people who have done the Kilimanjaro hike, but very little on safaris', so any information and opinions on this is fantastic. I definitely have 3 nights (maybe 4) for Zanzibar but I don't want to sacrifice time on a Safari for that experience.

As for Manyara, maybe I can do as fourwheel suggested and spend 'a few hours' at Manyara, then do the Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorogoro circuit. That seems to be the most popular as all three of you suggested the same.

As for 'showing up' and booking when I get there, I have done that in two places now, New Zealand and London. I do like being prepared and will research the areas that I travel too well, but I have never been afraid to just 'free wheel' so to speak when I arrive.

Thank you all for your suggestions...I will give them all serious thought!

canadian_robin

I agree with Sandi - put the climb first. Going on safari is surprisingly tiring, and I wouldn't want to tackle Kili after a week on safari. I too would give up Zanzibar in favour of a longer safari, but then I am not a big beach person - it really depends on your priorities.

For Ngorongoro - stay at Lemala or Sopa Lodge, so that you may take advantage of the Sopa ascent/descent road. It allows you to be in the crater early and avoid the crowds. We loved Lemala Camp (www.lemalacamp.com), which is inside the Lemala Gate, so there are no delays in the morning.

Unless something has changed since August, you may stay in the crater all day for the "crater service fee" of US$200 - according to the rangers, the 6-hour restriction was discussed but never implemented. We were in the crater by 6:30am and didn't leave until almost twelve hours later.
Robin

sandi

Leely2 - Doing good, doing good. And, do agree re omitting Arusha NP... there will be plenty of safari without stop here especially since OP has limited time for safari. Of course, though if OP omits Zanzibar, more time for safari.

canadian_robin - Lemala at Ngo is lovely, but will be way above OPs budget.

Also, regardless the ranger's mention re 6/hr vs full-day; the rule is 6/hrs. The fact that there is no sensible system to check visitors in and see that they depart when the time is up... their issue. Yes, some do stay down for the day, but it's "still 6/hr visits" and should whomever, whenever decide to check, you as the visitors don't want to be on the wrong end of things.

victorofd - "As for Manyara, maybe I can do as fourwheel suggested and spend 'a few hours' at Manyara, then do the Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorogoro circuit."

You'd be backtracking by doing Manyara and then Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro. You can, however, visit Tarangire and then on the way to Ngorongoro stop at Manyara for a short game drive; then Ngorongoro to Serengeti and fly back to Arusha. If you don't have the budget to fly (it's about $200), visit Tarangire, then Ngorongoro, to Serengeti and on way back to Arusha, stop at Manyara.

Most all reputable tour operators use 4x4 vehicles.

victorofd

Robin and Sandi

Thanks again. The reason that I was going to put the safari before Kili was due to the fact that I will basically be flying for 28 hours before arriving.
Ottawa Can - London (12 hours here) then onto Kili Airport

I certainly didn't want to start the Kilimanjaro hike after that, hence the safari two days after I arrive and then onto the climb.

Although it would be interesting to stay at some of the more expensive lodges I will be camping most of this trip. I really want an authentic experience so with the exception of Zanzibar I will be looking for a more rough and tumble holiday.

After reading your comments last night I did send a couple E-mails to operators asking for qoutes on Tarangire / Ngorogoro / Serengeti route taking your advice using the 2-1-3 stay schedule. I'm waiting for the responses from them now.

Sandi - good point on backtracking to Manyara...thanks! Can I expect to see Flamingos and Hippos at the other parks too?

I figure that with my schedule I can do the 6 day safari, 7 day hike and still do Zanzibar, but if things don't work out perfectly I will avoid Zanzibar to spend more time on safaris or hikes. Has anyone hiked or visited the Usumbara and Pare Mountain Regions?

Thanks again!

canadian_robin

Quite right Sandi - Lemala is likely too expensive, but worth considering given her time restrictions.

As for the 6-hour rule, we had arrived at Ngorongoro expecting only to be allowed to stay 6 hours each day. Everything we had read (online and in the guide books) had indicated this was the restriction. However, when we received our permit from the NCAA, it indicated that the crater is open from 6am to 6pm and there was no mention of a time restriction. This is why we asked the rangers. I have just looked at my NCAA permit again to ensure that we didn't miss something, and there is no 6-hour restriction mentioned anywhere. If my DH and I had thought for one minute that the rule was for six hours, we would have stuck to those 6-hours and not because we would have been worried about "being on the wrong end of things." We respect park rules without exception, I assure you. I can't imagine why the rangers when they issued us the permit would have told us that we could stay all day if there is a 6-hour rule or why the restriction wouldn't be mentioned on the permit - there is a lengthy list of rules, and the 6-hour restriction is not among them.

I have no idea why the discrepancy. Robin

canadian_robin

Crater tour will be half day and will be charged US$ 200 from July 1, 2007.

My apologies Sandi - seems you are correct. Found the above after a considerable search on the NCAA website. You have to click on "fees and regulations" and then follow the link to fees and go to the very bottom of the page - I missed the info when on the NCAA site prior to our trip. I don't know why the NCAA don't put this vital piece of info more prominently on their website and on their permits, or why they don't post it at the gates. Perhaps it is because most people are not in the crater on a self-drive basis and the guides are all aware of the rule.

Seems my DH and I were breaking the rules by staying almost 12 hours, but I assure you that it was not intentional. I have no idea why the rangers gave us permission to stay all day. The rangers, who were very friendly, seemed rather embarrassed/uncomfortable at having to charge us US$400 for our two visits. Perhaps they use their discretion based on how busy it is, although generally we have not found park rules/rangers to be terribly flexible. I have learned an important lesson. If the rangers invite us to stay the whole day the next time, I will have them write it on our permit so that we won't find ourselves "on the wrong end of things". However, even with their permission, I would be more inclined to respect the 6-hour rule and stay only six hours, for all the reasons that the rule was no doubt implemented in the first place.

My apologies again! Robin

sandi

Robin - please, please, no need to apologize. Nor would I ever think to "report you" or anyone... it's not my place, rather it's important that someone reading might think they can stay a full-day and then be tossed out But, as you say, the permit didn't indicated (not surprising) and/or if visitors arrive with guides, the tour operator who booked their time and the guides know the rules.

victorfd - Many people arrive JRO from long flights and take a day after arrival to catch their breath and catch up on sleep before doing the Kili trek.

canadian_robin

Sandi: Actually, I must confess that it hadn't occurred to me that you (or anyone else, for that matter!) might report me. I was more concerned about my reputation and that of my DH. Robin