Tanzania Safari Itinerary Advice Needed - Mid-May 2017
Sep 24th, 2016, 04:49 PM
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Tanzania Safari Itinerary Advice Needed - Mid-May 2017
Hi everyone,
We are planning a safari in Northern Tanzania in middle of May 2017 and could use your collective expertise and knowledge in planning what we hope will be a trip of a lifetime. This will be our first trip to Tanzania and hope to see a part of the migration. We have contacted a few trip operators and are currently considering the following itinerary:
Day 1: JRO to Arusha (African Tulip)
Day 2: Arusha to Tarangire (Maramboi Tented Lodge)
Day 3: Tarangire to Serengeti National Park (Kubukubu tented camp)
Day 4: Serengeti National Park (Kubukubu tented camp)
Day 5: Serengeti National Park ( Kubukubu tented camp)
Day 6: Serengeti National Park to Western Corridor (Mbalageti Safari Lodge tented chalet)
Day 7: Western Corridor (Mbalageti Safari Lodge tented chalet)
Day 8: Western Corridor to Ngorogoro Conservation Area (Ngorogoro Sopa Lodge)
Day 9: drive back to Arusha for a noon international flight
For budgetary reasons, we are considering reducing one day (if we do, where would you cut?).
A few questions.
1. Is this a balanced itinerary? Any changes you would make? For mid to late May, would you stay in the Western Corridor and go to Grumeti River? Would you consider Ntudu during this time?
2. What do you think of the lodges/camps individually and are they well balanced as a group? If not, where would you rather stay at this time of the year in comparatively priced camps?
3. Another itinerary has us doing Lake Manyara, but we read that during this time, Lake Manyara and Tarangire may not be at their best. Would you omit both and add this time elsewhere?
Looking forward to your thoughts and thanks in advance!
We are planning a safari in Northern Tanzania in middle of May 2017 and could use your collective expertise and knowledge in planning what we hope will be a trip of a lifetime. This will be our first trip to Tanzania and hope to see a part of the migration. We have contacted a few trip operators and are currently considering the following itinerary:
Day 1: JRO to Arusha (African Tulip)
Day 2: Arusha to Tarangire (Maramboi Tented Lodge)
Day 3: Tarangire to Serengeti National Park (Kubukubu tented camp)
Day 4: Serengeti National Park (Kubukubu tented camp)
Day 5: Serengeti National Park ( Kubukubu tented camp)
Day 6: Serengeti National Park to Western Corridor (Mbalageti Safari Lodge tented chalet)
Day 7: Western Corridor (Mbalageti Safari Lodge tented chalet)
Day 8: Western Corridor to Ngorogoro Conservation Area (Ngorogoro Sopa Lodge)
Day 9: drive back to Arusha for a noon international flight
For budgetary reasons, we are considering reducing one day (if we do, where would you cut?).
A few questions.
1. Is this a balanced itinerary? Any changes you would make? For mid to late May, would you stay in the Western Corridor and go to Grumeti River? Would you consider Ntudu during this time?
2. What do you think of the lodges/camps individually and are they well balanced as a group? If not, where would you rather stay at this time of the year in comparatively priced camps?
3. Another itinerary has us doing Lake Manyara, but we read that during this time, Lake Manyara and Tarangire may not be at their best. Would you omit both and add this time elsewhere?
Looking forward to your thoughts and thanks in advance!
Sep 24th, 2016, 11:59 PM
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I'd skip Manyara and stay at the Tarangire Safari Lodge-fabulous location and the views from the terrace are wonderful.
We stayed at the Ngorongoro Sopa and liked it.
Go on safari for as long as you possibly can; it's an amazing experience.
We used EASY TRAVEL and recommend them most highly.
We stayed at the Ngorongoro Sopa and liked it.
Go on safari for as long as you possibly can; it's an amazing experience.
We used EASY TRAVEL and recommend them most highly.
Sep 26th, 2016, 04:42 AM
#3
Check this map, which has month-by-month where the migration tends to be. https://www.expertafrica.com/tanzani...eest-migration
Before anyone, including a tour operator or safari planner, offers up any suggestions for locations or lodges, they should first know where the migration usually is at that time of year and point you there. Since that's a priority of yours, it looks like the western corridor is where you should focus your time in May.
While I loved my itinerary in Tanzania in February, it doesn't seem appropriate for you in May, since the migration won't be where I was. I used Access2Tanzania, they were fabulous and will be knowledgeable of the best places to be in May. Be sure to tell anyone you're dealing with that you will want to see the migration.
Before anyone, including a tour operator or safari planner, offers up any suggestions for locations or lodges, they should first know where the migration usually is at that time of year and point you there. Since that's a priority of yours, it looks like the western corridor is where you should focus your time in May.
While I loved my itinerary in Tanzania in February, it doesn't seem appropriate for you in May, since the migration won't be where I was. I used Access2Tanzania, they were fabulous and will be knowledgeable of the best places to be in May. Be sure to tell anyone you're dealing with that you will want to see the migration.
Sep 30th, 2016, 04:59 PM
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Thank you for your thoughts, abram and amyb! Did you find the daily distances covered to be too much? Also, are the drives between camp locations essentially game drives or is it travel time that is lost? We are concerned about this if we go out to the western corridor. The drive from there back to Arusha is over 2 day. We were given the option of flying back but the cost is too high for all of us. Some say the migration won't be there in May, while others say it is. I suppose it is unpredictable and can change year to year.
Oct 1st, 2016, 05:27 AM
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We drove Aurusha-Tarangire-Manyara-Ngorongoro-Central Serengeti-Northern Serengeti and then flew back to Arusha.
IIRC, the drives Arusha-Tarangire-Manyara-Ngorongoro were on roads, but it was game drives as we drove after that.
IIRC, the drives Arusha-Tarangire-Manyara-Ngorongoro were on roads, but it was game drives as we drove after that.
Oct 1st, 2016, 08:17 AM
#6
The drives were on roads, not like in the Maasai Mara where driving camp to camp is all game drive. Now that I've been to Kenya I realize how much time was lost driving that circuit in TZ. In the Mara every drive, even in transit from camp to camp, is a game drive. I did the same circuit as abram though, so can't speak to what the drive is like back from the Western Corridor.
Contact other safari planners and ask them where the migration will be *usually* when you are planning to go and what the drive is like back from the Western Corridor. You are paying for their knowledge and expertise to inform you correctly. The migration will not be where we were when you are there in May, so if you commit to the loop both abram and I did, you will most certainly not see the migration.
Contact other safari planners and ask them where the migration will be *usually* when you are planning to go and what the drive is like back from the Western Corridor. You are paying for their knowledge and expertise to inform you correctly. The migration will not be where we were when you are there in May, so if you commit to the loop both abram and I did, you will most certainly not see the migration.
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