christo

Hi Folks,

I was here a while back asking for info to get me started on our next trip which will include a safari in Tanzania. I now have some proposals from safari companies I would like to get some comments on please.
The timeline is for Feb 2014 starting in Arusha:

Feb 21
• Mt. Meru Game Lodge & Sanctuary
• Transfer to Hotel
22-Feb
• Tarangire National Park
• Tarangire Safari Lodge
• Night Game Drive
23-Feb
• Serena Ngorongoro Lodge
Transit time from Tarangire to Ngorongoro Crater is approx 2.5 hrs.
• Village Visit
24-Feb
• Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive
• Serena Ngorongoro Lodge
• Ngorongoro Circle Hike
25-Feb
• Ndutu - Ngorongoro
• Ndutu Safari Lodge
26-Feb
• Ndutu - Ngorongoro
• Ndutu Safari Lodge
27-Feb
• Serengeti National Park
• Serengeti Wilderness Camp
28-Feb
• Serengeti National Park
• Serengeti Wilderness Camp
1-Mar
• Fly from Seronera (11h00) to Arusha (12h15)
• Dayroom and Dinner at Mt Meru Game Lodge

We are also considering some time in Zanzibar but due to timelines will likely be before the safari.
Thanks.
Christo

cary999

Don't have much to say - except doing all of that in 7 days seems very rushed to me. Can you stretch it out to 10-11 days? Stay another day at your main camps, Ngorongoro, Ndutu (2 days, migration may be there), Serengeti.

regards - tom

sandi

Rushed - I'd add a day to Tarangire and omit Central Serengeti, and add the day to Ndutu.

As to ZNZ, most people do this 'after' safari where they'd been bumping around for days on end. You'd need 3/nts minimum.

Do know also in Feb, it's very very hot on ZNZ (often 100+ degrees) with humidity in the 80s/90s. Having a place with a/c is a must.

christo

Thanks,
I have read that Tarangire is so so in Feb. Does anyone know about that ?
Also same for Central Serengeti. Is that why you are recommending to omit it Sandi ?
Will make sure to get AC in ZNZ.

inquest

A nice quiet beach I stayed is Paje in Zanzi. Well of course a day or two in Stone Town is a must.Don't miss the Forodhani garden in the evening for some fantastic sea-food.

amyb

We had great luck in Tarangire in February. We saw a coaliton of three cheetah brothers, a mother lion with two cubs and spent nearly 2 hours at a watering hole surrounded by nearly 200 elephants. They just kept coming in from every direction! It was a highlight of our trip.

I agree with Sandi on Ndutu. When we were there (Mid-Feb) that was where most of the migration was, and with the benefit of being able to go off-road, we were surrounded with wildlife on every game drive and stumbled on several lions who'd either just eaten or just hunted. Plus the wildebeests are birthing in the early mornings, so we saw quite a few "just born" babies (which are in turn, lunch for cheetahs and other predators!)...timing is everything both with the migration and just missing a wildebeest birth!

sandi

Again, add day to Tarangire and omit Central... rather stay in Ndutu area end-Feb.