karenmorris

I have been researching and planning a Tanzania safari for 2014 and have gotten several quotes from different companies. All look good and it has been a very hard decision to make!! Ranger safaris and Gamewatchers both have very good quotes. I would love to hear back from anyone who has traveled with either of the two. Thank you!!

sandi

Both are reputable companies, but suggest you post what each is offering - where visiting, # of days, where staying (lodge/camp), drive/fly segments, price - in other words are you comparing apples-to-apples.

karenmorris

Yes...same itinerary. River Tree Inn first night. Private guide to Olivers for 2 nights in Tarangire . Then to Gibbs farm for 2 nights at the crater . One night at Lake Manyara Tree Lodge. Then fly to Serengeti for last 2 nights at Sayari Camp. Very excited!! Would like some feedback from anyone who has traveled with Rangers or Gamewatchers in Tanzania . We are going in October 2014 . 15 year anniversary .

WilmaW

Hello Karen

Here are some reviews written by people who have traveled with Gamewatchers in the past...

http://www.african-safari-journals.c...l#gamewatchers

Hope that helps

Cateyes555

Hi Karen - I have not traveled with Gamewatchers, but I think they are a reputable company that generally gets good reviews. They operate some very nice camps - I'll be staying at Lion Porini in Kenya in a couple of months - really looking forward to it, although the trip is not through Gamewatchers. The link provided by WilmaW above should be read with some caution. I do not believe these are spontaneous reviews by those without an agenda... (though I could be wrong...)

atravelynn

Can you add one more night Sayari?

Rangers was good. Went with them 2x, but booked through an agent who requested specific guides.

My comment is spontaneous and without an agenda!

Happy Anniversary.

sandi

What time of year visiting?

Sayari is at the very northern Serengeti and best from Aug-Oct. If this is your timeframe, as above I'd add another night.

While Gibb's is lovely, and if using this as a base for Ngo, it's a good 2.5/hr drive east of the Crater for a 6/hr crater tour (this the legal limit for crater tours), then you return 2.5/hrs to Gibb's. Then for Tree Lodge at Manyara which is lovely, is about a 20/min drive east to Lake Manyara and then at least a 2/hrs

sandi

... sorry about that,

2hrs drive (game drive yes) thru to the very south of the park for 1/nt. Next morning for flight to Sayari, again the 2/hrs drive to the airfield for early take-off, so doubt much game viewing.

Good to have an idea of where all are located and time needed between each.

edmund_isaac

My name is Edmund Isaac Burra and I'm a profession tour guide and licensed. I'm working with Safari Legacy and as a Private Guide. I do a Tailor Made Itinerary as a Private Guide option. For more information you can find me on my email
[email protected]

Peshf

I have used Gamewatchers several times and can recommend them very highly. I don't believe thta they have their own camp in Tanzania but I have stayed at their Porini camps in Kenya more times than I can remember and have never been disappointed. I have also recommended them to others for Tanzanai and the trips have been well planned.

With Tanzania where you need to go differs with the time of the year. If its your first trip there you will want to cover a number of places including Ngororngoro. I now tend to go to Alex Walker's Serian camps which twice a year he moves accroding to were the game is

I have cut an pasted below a response I did to a post earlier in the year.


I made two trips in Feb and back in March last year and spent the time in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA). The NCA covers over 8000 square kilometers and includes the short grass plains around lake Ndutu. I much prefer this area to the Sernegeti National Park which is quite crowded with many restrictions on what you can do.

At this time of the year the wildebeest will be calving in the NCA and the predators will be really busy.

In Feb 2012 was on a short walking safari in Kenya and had a few days free so took off for Tanzania. I have been there in the calving season twice before and the game viewing is spectacular with lots of predator hunts.

Two weeks is a good length of time and you might want to take in the Ngorongoro Crater, If you haven't been before its worth doing - Personally I wouldn't go into the crater again as I hate the vehicle circus around the game. But it is one of the Natural Wonders and at least one visit is a must - the view from the crater rim is spectacular.

I have stayed at the Ngorongoro Serena http://www.serenahotels.com/serenang...efault-en.html and also at the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge http://www.ngorongorocrater.com/ Both have excellent views of the crater. The Serena is cheaper and as lodges go it works fine for a short trip to the crater. All the rooms have great views and the common areas also. The Crater Lodge is run as part of the well known & beyond group and their standards are high. If you are there for a couple of days and enjoy walking ask for a walk in the Ngrogoro high lands. You can start from the lodge gates and its very pretty but don't expect to see much wildlife up close when you are walking as in most cases they tend to take off when they see you on foot.

I presume you are flying in to Kilimanjaro International Airport - your tour company based in Arusha will pick you up and you can drive to the Crater. Entering the NCA at the Lodoare Entrance Gate The road journey takes about 2 hours and the road is now hard surfaced. On another two week driving trip some years ago we started at Lake Manyara to see the tree climbing lions. Many options available and driving around is quite acceptable as usually you will be seeing alot of wildlife.

Last year I stayed at Alex Walkers Serian Seregeti Camp http://www.serian.net/thecamps/seria...getisouth.html At this time of the year his tented camp is in the South. The wildlife viewing is pretty spectacular and in February I was lucky to spend time with the largest pack of wild dogs that I have seen (>20). The reviews of the camp will speak for themselves. Great style, great opportunity to have a real bush experience. Again, if you like walking you can add in a couple of nights of fly camping. I tend to set out with a couple of Maasai guides and we walk and track all day. There are many activity options available.

This is a very intimate camp (c8 tents) and to the best of my knowledge it is still the only owner managed camp in the area. It's not the cheapest option but I have seen a few 4 nights for 3 deals on the net. I have also stayed at Kusini Camp and at other places around Ndutu but now I am an out and out Serian fan and tend to check out whatever Alex Walker does. He is also a committed conservationist and all his camps are low impact and he works closely with the local communities.

You might want to take in Gol Kopje by the South entrance to the Serengeti National Park. some of the best cheetah country I have ever been to. I am always amazed that most tourists drive straight by rushing into the Serengeti - This is pretty pristine uncrowded viewing well worth a day trip.