Duane

Hi All,
Before I make the deposit I'd like to get the opinion of the experts here. OK, even if you are not an expert give me your opinion After a little tweaking this is what we have come up with. This is a private safari for just me and my wife. Of course, even after we make the deposit, we could make changes. We decided to go with Good Earth.

There were 2 camps which did not have availability but we are on a wait list for them. I mentioned this below. We wanted a tent experience everywhere except the crater. Of course the orders from my wife were OK with the tent, but it had to have a bathroom and a shower with hot water ensuite.

We decided to fly into the western Serengeti, spend a couple of nights, head north for a night then head back to the central Serengeti so the ride back to the crater wouldn't be so awful. We'll then drive to the crater for a couple of nights then onto Tarangire for a couple of nights. Of course we will stop along the way at the various sites. We really want to see the migration, but also wanted to see the other parks so we couldn't spend too much time in the Serengeti.

Here goes:
- Wed July 4th 2007: Arrival in Nairobi, met and transfer to hotel in Nairobi, Nairobi Safari Club. (Unfortunately the flights are set. We need to fly into Nairobi because I couldn't get tickets into Kilimanjaro. I will keep trying, but for free Business Class tickets, I'll take a stop over in Nairobi any day. We arrive too late to catch a flight out to Kili so we are going to stay the night in Nairobi and visit the Giraffe Center the next day and a few other places. Might as well make the best of it. We would prefer to just get onto Kili that night, but no options for this.)

- Thur July 5: Day trip to Giraffe Center then later transfer to Nairobi airport for a flight to Kilimanjaro, leaving Nairobi at 6:00pm, arriving Kilimanjaro at 6:50pm, met and transfer to KIA Lodge, B. (I asked to stay at Kia Lodge because we are arriving @ 7:00 p.m. and leaving at 8:00 the next morning. Didn't make sense to go the Mountain Village Serena Lodge and back again early the next morning).

- Fri July 6: Transfer to Kilimanjaro airport, flight to Western Serengeti, leaving Kilimanjaro at 8:00am, arrival Serengeti at about 10am, met and have game in the Western Serengeti, Kirawira Camp,B,L,D. (We wanted to fly out and work our way back)

- Sat July 7: More game drives in Serengeti, Kirawira Camp,B,L,D. (this was a tough decision, either stay here or in a chalet at Mbalageti. Based on reviews and costs, we decide on Kirawira.)

- Sun July 8: More game drives in the Serengeti, this time in northern Serengeti, Migration Camp, B,L,D.

- Mon July 9: More game drives in central Serengeti, Serengeti Serena Lodge, B,L,D. (We requested, and are on wait list, for Mbuzi Mawe. We did not want to stay in a "lodge" except at the crater. We might want to take a balloon ride while here. We'll play it by ear. If there are spots open we might go for it. But, if there aren't, that's OK))

-Tue July 10: Another game drive in the Serengeti, then drive to Ngorongoro, with optional visit of Masai Village, and optional visit to Olduvai Gorge, Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, B, L, D. (Again, we and are on a wait list, for the Ngorongoro Serena Lodge. Although I will be perfectly happy at the Sopa. We actually could not decide on which property to stay at so whatever happens will be fine).

-Wed July 11: Game drives in the Ngorongoro Crater, Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, B,L,D. (we have the option of another game drive on Thursday morning before we leave for Tarangire)

- Thur July 12: Drive to Tarangire, game drives in Tarangire, Tarangire River Camp, B,L,D. (We decided on the River Camp versus the Tarangire Tented Safari Lodge which was in their original quote. From what I have read, the Safari camp is OK but the River camp gets rave reviews. If possible I would like to cruise through Lake Manyara on the way.)

- Fri July 13: More game drives in Tarangire, Tarangire River Camp, B,L,D.

- Sat July 14: Another game drive in Tarangire then drive to Kilimanjaro airport for a flight to Nairobi, leaving Kilimanjaro at 7:40pm, arriving Nairobi at 8:30pm, met and transfer to Nairobi Safari Club, B,L. (This day is pretty much open. We can visit Tarangire again or go to Arusha National Park or spend time in Arusha. We'll play it by ear. We would love to get a flight out to Amsterdam this night, but so far nothing is available.)

- Sun Jul 15: Transfer to Nairobi airport for a flight that leaves at 11:25 am, B.

He did mention and I quote from his email "Also, some of time, it happens a client is confirmed in a certain lodge, and that particular lodge has a lot of overbooking, and they have to transfer people to another lodge! and this happens a lot with Serena and even Sopa in peak season of Jan, Feb, July and August. I mentioning this so as you can know more on what to expect. As far as I know, not a single safari Company (including us) has a control over that."

Should this concern me? Is this normal? picked the tented camps because that is where I want to be. It's not like here in the states, if a hotel is over booked they just put you up in another one down the street. I have nightmares that my whole Serengeti time will be spent at the Sopa Lodge . OK, not really, and there is nothing wrong with that, just not what I want to do. I mean there is a big difference in staying at Kirawira Camp versus Sopa in the Serengeti. Anyone have their accommodations changed on them? Since there are just 2 of us, it would be easy for them to switch us versus a group.

Well, that's it. From here we fly to Amsterdam then rent a car and drive to Heidelberg, Germany to visit my Son and family. We'll be there for 6 nights then drive back to Amsterdam for 2 nights before we fly home. I'm getting tired just thinking about it

Thanks in advance for all your advice.
Duane

Leely

Duane, my only question is about the 1-nighter at Migration camp followed by one night in the central
Serengeti. Is there any way you can add a night to one of either of these? Perhaps taking a night away from Ngorongoro?

You'll have a great time regardless, but it might be more relaxing and fruitful game-wise to have a 2-nighter either in the north or the central area.

Looks good. Maybe some real experts will chime in.

Patty

I've heard of guests being "bumped" in high season from lodges on the Tanzania northern circuit, but I don't recall hearing an example of this happening at a tented camp although I supposed it's possible.

Duane

Yea Leely,
I am not a fan of moving after just 1 night at Migration Camp. We kind of wanted to stay away from it, but this seemed to work.

That is not a bad idea though, taking an extra day in the Serengeti and removing a day at the Crater. The only drawback I can see to that is we will arrive at the crater late afternoon, too late for a game drive. Then, after staying only the 1 night we'll have a game drive the next morning then have to drive to Tarangire River Camp after the game drive. Will that make for a very long day? This also takes away any chance of 2 drive in the crater.

Patty, maybe that is what he meant that we could get bumped at the lodges. If that is the case, I am OK with it. I just don't want to get bumped from the tented camps.

Thanks,
Duane

sandi

It's a bit of a drive from Kirawira to Migration Camp. It might look easy enough on a map, but without off-road driving, you've got to keep to the roads and there are few between these two locations. I'd try for a 2nd day at Migration and only one in the Serengeti. You won't be missing any game by doing this.

Then from the Serengeti with a very early departure and even a brief (30-min) stop at Oldupai you can get to Ngorongoro for lunch and into the Crater for a good portion of the afternoon. If you wish you can do another game drive in the Crater next morning; then head to Tarangire, arriving in time for your afternoon game drive.

For a stop at Manyara and game drive you pay for another park fee; if visiting Tarangire, it's not absolutely necessary to try to get Manyara into the itinerary.

On the day you return to Kili for your late flight to NBO, I'd suggest you get an earlier flight to be sure you're in NBO for your morning departure next day. I wouldn't chance a late or cancelled "last flight out" the day before departing. While there is an early flight from JRO to NBO on the morning of departure, avoiding the o/n in NBO (rather in Arusha/Kili) I'm not comfortable with such tight flight schedules.

The drive from Tarangire to Arusha is about 2 to 2.5/hrs. You can get a mid-day flight to NBO, an overnight in NBO and then to JKIA for your ongoing flight to AMS.

Duane

You guys are awesome. I would have never thought of these changes without you. To be fair to our tour operator, early on I did specify that the crater was one of the top items on my "must see" list. But, the more trip reports I read, the more I realized that one good day in the crater would probably be enough. I am amazed by the crowds in the crater. But, it didn't actually sink in that I only need 1 night at the crater until you guys mentioned it.

I changed the itinerary to add a day at the Migration camp and take away a day at the Crater. Everything else stays the same.

2 nights Western Serengeti - Kirawira camp
2 nights Northern Serengeti - Migration Camp
1 night Central Serengeti - Serena (waitlisted at Mbuzi Mawe)
1 night Crater - Sopa
2 nights Tarangire - Tarangire River Camp

Thanks again,
Duane

Leely

Duane,
I've been on the Northern Circuit for two safaris; both times just spent one night at the Crater. By FAR the better experience was waking up at the crack of dawn and heading down to the floor at 6am. The best part of being there is being there without the crowds. I think that unless you're also planning some trekking in the area or just want to relax (say, at someplace fancy like the Crater Lodge), you should be fine with one night there.

Looks like a great trip.

lerasp

you will love migration camp! we haven't stayed at kirawira (but it looks nice). migration camp was by far our favorite. We also stayed at Tarang.River Camp. Great camp! beautiful views from the camp, bigger than migration/kirawira and not as exclusive, but very nice. i agree with others - 1 night at Crater is enough. If you stay at Serena, i think it's less driving. it's closer to Serengeti and also close to the main access road out to Tarangire direction. Not sure how much the time difference with Sopa is. we really enjoyed Serena.