Tanzania in March 2007

Old Dec 10th, 2006, 02:00 PM
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Tanzania in March 2007

Hi corrected the title we are travelling in 2007 not 2006 (thanks Malapa) still hoping to get some input on parts of my planned trip
especially Saadani, Tarangire (dont know which lodge to use Tarangire Treetops, Boundary Hill lodge or Swala camp)
am spending more time camping in the serenegti but will probably stay in a lodge for 2 nights at lobo as well.
Went out and bought the Rough Guide to Tanzania to try and get some up todate info
What a fantastic book am emailing 6 Tanzania operators with my almost final itinerery
lets see what they say
still looking for input from fodorites especially for the off the beaten track parts of my "safari"
final itinerery will be as close to this as possible if I can get an operator to do it
private safari with driver/guide and cook
day 1 fly into dar es Salaam o/n hotel
days 2 3 4 Sadaani Game Reserve (camping)
days 5 travelling o/n Mkomazi Game reserve
days 6 7 Mkomazi Game Reserve 9camping)
day 8 travelling o/n Tarangire lodge to be decided
days 9 10 tarangire
day 11 travelling o/n Sopa if possible Ngorongoro Crater
day 12 Ngorongoro Crater (lodge)
day 13 travelling o/n camping
day 14,15 Ndutu area (camping)
day 16 travelling
day 17, 18 Lobo area relaxing o/n lodge
day 19 21 Seronera valley camping
day 22 flight
What do you fodorites think happy for any input
and lets see what the TA based in Tazania say
thanks David
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Old Dec 10th, 2006, 09:43 PM
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Hi David,

No I haven't been to Sadaani. I went to Tanzania in 2003 for a short time and mainly went to the National Parks. (And many years earlier with my children and we travelled around a fair bit!!)

Boundary Hill was apparently being built then. I stayed for three nights at Naitolia which is nearby and saw many fantastic birds!!! I want to go back there with a good camera and photograph them!!

I'm not sure if this is "off the beaten track" but when I went with my children about 10 years ago we had a very interesting trip to the cave paintings at Kondoa and then went to the Stone Age site near Iringa.

bye,

Malpa
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Old Dec 11th, 2006, 12:31 PM
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Hi Malapa
thanks for the info read about naitolia in the guide books seems like a nice place not interested in staying there though as I am looking for a lodge/s with a pool after all that camping
did talk to the agents abouts Kolo though
lets see what they say am interested in the cave paintings
In the end emailed 8 operators also some highly reccom. on this board only two replied so far
am in a bit of a hurry as only 2 and a bit months to go and school is now finished
am still working out my itinerery etc but it is fun planning such a trip
David
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Old Dec 11th, 2006, 02:01 PM
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Really an interesting itinerary, David. I do want to see what the TAs say about this. I wonder how long the drive from Dar to Saadani is, for example, and then you should be getting a nice long drive from there to Tarangire. Well, you said you were interested in seeing the countryside and this should afford you the opportunity.

One thing I'd check is what kind of camping gear your operator will provide. That will make a difference in how exhausted/grimy you feel.

Try searching Saadani here; I know there have been comments but I can't recall what the upshot was.

I'm not sure why Lobo in March, but perhaps some of the TZ experts here will clarify for me (or you will).

Best of luck. I do hope some of the hardcore campers will add to this post. But in any case, please add to it when you hear back from the operators.
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Old Dec 11th, 2006, 02:43 PM
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Leely
Hi just a quick note on Lobo
friends of mine went there and they said it was loke being at "the end of the world" ie the distance but for me I expect us to be on our own and also want a day trip to the Mara river even though I wont see many animals I will have seen the river
david
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Old Dec 12th, 2006, 01:15 PM
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Hi again
emailed in the end 9 TA's only 4 replied
some with quite good changes/ideas however only one so far has quoted exactly what I want
apparently the drive from Dar to Tarangire has put a few operators off
or is it my budget of about $US10,000 for the land only part
would be interested in any comments on this.
travelling with a 14 year old maybe this is the problem
Leely have asked the TA's about distances
from sadani to Peponi
and then from Peponi to Mkomazi and on to Tarangire
no reply so far
also with the camping apparently I will be travelling with a cook great ( I dont wont to cook on this trip) also we will have two walk in dome tents with stretchers and all other bedding
this is from one operator still talking to the others
so that is one for each of us and I guess a mess tent also will be provided
( must ask the operators about this )
have requested an "experienced" guide
must have a sense of humour for such a long trip and be knowledgeable
one of the operators has give me people to contact who have done a similiar trip to this so will email them as well

Malapa it seems most operators dont know about Boundary Hill Lodge or dont want to use it and are trying to steer me elsewhere one even suggested 3 different lodges for the Tarangire part
But am sticking on that as well as my son wants to visits some schools and Tarangire seems to be the best place for that
am pressing ahead however about to book the tickets have chose Emirates Sydney Singapore Dubai Nairobi o/n Nairobi then local flight to dar es salaam
still hoping other TA's will reply
regards David
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Old Dec 14th, 2006, 11:23 AM
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David,

Glad to hear your making progress.
"have asked the TA's about distances
from sadani to Peponiand then from Peponi to Mkomazi and on to Tarangire
no reply so far"

It's the drive from Mkomazi to Tarangire that seems as if it will be very, very long. Topping this in the hopes that someone who has done a lot of driving off the standard safari circuit will see.

Which operator have you been working with?
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Old Dec 14th, 2006, 11:26 AM
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Ooops, "you're making progress" of course, not "your."
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Old Dec 14th, 2006, 12:54 PM
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Don't know if you considered Klein's camp but there is a Maasi school near Klein's and they can arrange a visit. I went and did an astronomy program for some of the kids and it was a very enjoyable and moving experience. Lobo is not far away so maybe they can also arrange a visit also.
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Old Dec 15th, 2006, 02:36 AM
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Hi David,

Not sure why people don't know about Boundary Hill.

I know about it because some friends of mine went there earlier this year...and because I heard it was being built when I was in Tanzania in 2003.

Not sure where my friends heard about it... but I've seen some great photos of it from them.

Malpa
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