Should I take this offer?

Kleins is great, but as a matter of fact ask CCafrica to put you 3 nights in SUC, Serengeti under Canvas and skip the night in Arusha. SUC will be where the wildebeest herds are and will be your best possible safari experience. It is a mobile tented camp (max 4 tents) and very luxury. It is more expensive but if they have availability for your dates they might do it. I would definately ask...Good luck

http://www.ccafrica.com/reserve-1-id-2-23

I agree that TUC (Tanzania Under Canvas) is great. We really enjoyed our stay there.

Looks like TUC has become SUC.

They can also do Grumeti's or Klein's. Thoughts?

When you stay at Kleins you can also visit some local Masai villages as it is outside the reserve.

thanks...

do you think the game viewing is the same at both place?

Grumeti should be better now! But I m sure there are people here who can tell you more precise.
Grumeti camp is located at the Grumeti river and most people prefer Grumeti over Kleins. Grumeti is cosier. You can watch the hippos from the (small) swimming pool.
regarding the migration have a look at this website http://www.wildwatch.com/great_migration
Still I would suggest you to request for Serengeti under Canvas. It would be your ultimate safari experience.

Thanks...anyone else?

IT FINALLY WORKED OUT!! Thank you Alejandra!!!!

Look at the email from my TA:

Andrea, I spoke with CCAfrica just now and Mnemba is available from 12th-16th, not the 11th, and yes, you can go all way from Tanzania Under Canvas Camp to Mnemba and skip Stone Town. Mnemba is also available for 9th/10th but you wouldn't want to go for 2 nights and have to stay elsewhere for 1 night so better to do safari I think.

We can give you Serengeti Under Canvas 9th/10h/11th which is best way to view the migration. It is currently in Ndutu area. Tents are huge and luxurious and I assume you know that you are right in the middle of 'things' so animals all around etc. and are comfortable with it. Great experience, I can tell you.

This itinerary actually is better than my original! We get to see the migration and spend an extra day at Mnemba!!!!

WOW, Lucky you, you have no idea how happy I am for you! This is fantastic. I m glad I suddenly thought of Serengeti under Canvas but i had my doubts that they would give it to you for the same price, as it is much much more expensive than all Bataleur, Grumeti, Kleins. 3 nights at SUC there must be a dream come true...Please tell us all about it when you return.
You see after all your worries and stressful last days of the year you can now relax and have a magnificent trip to East AFrica.
I m in Holland so if you are bored (which i doubt) when at the airport in Amsterdam please feel free to call me 0651240222

So now how is the finalized complete itinerary?

THank you again!! Phew...no more Xanax!

Leave JFK to AMSTERDAM on Delta in Business Class. Then KLM to EBB in Business. Then EBB to Rwanda with a stay in Kigali (this is late on the 4th.

Hopefully, on the 5th we get a early rise to PNV where we do our first gorilla trek. O/N in Virunga. Then another O/N in Virunga with another gorilla trek. Then onto Kigali for O/N at Kigali Serena.

Arrive in Serengeti Under Canvas on the 9th for three nights.

Then off to Mnemba for four nights!

Then off to DAR to leave for AMsterdam on KLM in Business class. Then Amsterdam on Delta in Business CLass back to JFK.

Phew. It seems that all of these changes were made without too much extra cost. Hopefully, I will get the 2500 back from Kenya Airways for the unused tickets.

Thank you all!!! Of course, I will post a thorough trip review!

Here's a shot of TUC:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9406244@N06/2155282758/

I can't believe that there are no walls! OMG!!!

Is this some kind of reality satire?

There are walls, it is a tent under a canopy. The canopy doesn't have walls but the tent does. You can see the back wall of the tent and a bit of the left wall with screened windows.

Andrea, calm down!

It is a tented camp. The walls of the are made of canvas. What did you expect? And it is on the ground.

Why don't you visit ccafrica's website and read about it. Then call your TA and talk to her about it.

Mobile tented camps are great. You just need to RELAX! Everything is going to be fine!!!!

I wasn't freaking out!!! My OMG was in surprise...not horror!!!

Is this some kind of reality satire?

I think she should re-route to Cutter's lodge and report back on the mice tap-dancing on her pillow each night ...

Safari njema Dr_Andrea

you will surely have astonishing experiences

aby

Dr_Andrea-

I did SUC last February and it was the highlight of our trip. We were in the Ndutu area and the migration was amazing. My favorite part of the day was at about 4:00 until sundown as the lighting was something I will never forget. The food was excellent, the management was top notch and the guiding was good. Ahh....do you have room to take me?

Monica

SUC or TUC - great analgrams, yes

Andrea - Great alternative and really where you should be in January. A bit early for the actual "calving" but the herds will be in the area.

Do they have you flying direct from Kigale into the Serengeti? Or via JRO? There is a direct flight, though early 6am, from KGL, arriving in the Serengeti about 11am after Customs stop at Mwanza. There's a 1/hr time difference between Rwanda/Tanzania.

Glad you worked it out. Now, take a deep breathe and report "everything" when you're back! Safari njema!

You have a great trip here! Good luck and enjoy.

Sandi-
Is that flight Rwanda Air? I'm trying to do the same thing (fly from Kigali into Kili) but their website shows the flight from Kigali to Kilimanjaro only on Mon, Wed, and Fri at 11 am. arriving Kili @ 2pm.

Sandy -

No,the flight direct from KGL into the Serengeti (with a few stops) ending at JRO is Coastal at about $600+/ o/w. The Rwandair flight isn't daily, and a whole lot less expensive.

Question for Alejandra -
Where did you see SUC/TUC is more expensive than either Klein's, Bateleur, or Grumeti? I am just starting to research for 2009. I'm trying to decide between February/March or July/August, so I've been looking at both the Mara and the Southern Serengeti. I thought SUC/TUC was comparable in price or even a little less than Bateleur.

I was leaning towards February/March and TUC, but if it's more than Bateleur's I may re-think that choice. I just looked on the CCA website and it shows TUC in high season $755 and the other camps you mentioned at $855. Obviously the pricing on websites can be deceiving, given the "range", what's included, etc., so I am not questioning your accuracy. I think you must know something I do not know. If TUC truly is more than the other camps, do you know how much it is?

Thanks,
Dana