We leave for Tanzania in 60 days, it's starting to seem real. The other couple that was going with us had to cancel, but we've picked up another friend for our 3rd and are still looking for a 4th, but that would just be kismet as this stage. My wife and I went to South Africa and Botswana in 2004 and caught the safari "bug," but this is our friend's first trip to Africa, and I am expecting a lot of "Oh, wow!"'s (and that's just from me).

We are using Sunny Safaris (and their guide Gerald), and have arranged for a variety of extra activities from time to time. The lodging is pretty much cast in stone, but some of the activities can be tweaked, so if any of you Fodorite experts think we ought to do any tweaking and/or have any other suggestions, please let me know. I realize that the itinerary covers a lot of ground, but there indeed are just so many things to see and do.

In consideration of the ladies (and I won't mind either), we are alternating staying in lodge/tents/lodge/tents/lodge/lodge/tents/lodge/beach bungalows, so we'll get to recharge our batteries every few days at least.

We've got the digital camera (point and shoot, but with a 10x zoom) and a new camcorder, and lots of memory for both, so hopefully we'll have something (strictly amateur) to share when we get back.

We're hoping to see the migration somewhere during our 5 days in the south and central Serengeti. I don't know what the rains have been/will be like, but we're keeping our fingers crossed.

Itinerary:

Day 01: 20th February 2007
Arrive Kilimanjaro International Airport (late evening arrival), transfer to Kia Lodge.

Day 02: 21st February 2007
Full day at Kia Lodge (to recover from jet lag -- and pretty much the last rest we will have until we get to Zanzibar)

Day 03: 22nd February 2007
Drive to West Kili/Sinya area, stay at Kambi Ya Tembo. Game drives with KYT guides in open vehicles.

Day 04: 23rd February 2007
Full day at Kambi Ya Tembo. Game drives, walks, Maasai activities

Day 05: 24th February 2007
Drive to Arusha National Park, game drive, picnic lunch, afternoon Canoeing Safari in Small Momella Lake with Green Footprint, walk with ranger, then drive to Kigongoni Lodge for overnight.

Day 06: 25th February 2007
Drive to Arusha, stop at Sunny Safaris office; stop at market for snacks/drinks; drive on to Tarangire National Park for lunch and afternoon gamedrive. Stay at Oliver’s Camp.

Day 07: 26th February 2007
Full day at Tarangire National Park, afternoon walking safari. Oliver's Camp.

Day 08: 27th February 2007
Drive to Lake Manyara, gamedrive in Lake Manyara National Park, late lunch at Lake Manyara Serena Lodge and afternoon at leisure. Night Game Drive and Bush Dinner in park with Green Footprint. Overnight at Lake Manyara Serena Lodge.

Day 09: 28th February 2007
Early morning bike ride & village walk, early lunch at Mto-wa-Mbu (get more snacks/drinks?). Drive to Ngorongoro Crater and descend to the Crater floor for gamedrive, ascend to the rim. Overnight at Ngorongoro Serena Lodge.

Day 10: 01st March 2007
Descend very early to the Crater floor for gamedrive, ascend to the rim, lunch and drive to Serengeti National Park (Ndutu Area), with brief stop at (Maasai Village??)Olduvai Gorge. Stay at Olakira Camp.

Day 11: 02nd March 2007
Full day in Serengeti National Park (Ndutu Area), Olakira Camp.

Day 12: 03rd March 2007
Full day in Serengeti National Park (Ndutu Area), Olakira Camp.

Day 13: 04th March 2007
Early morning gamedrive in South Serengeti National Park, lunch and drive to Central Serengeti National Park, dinner and overnight, Serengeti Serena Lodge.

Day 14: 05th March 2007
Full day in Central Serengeti National Park, Serengeti Serena Lodge.

Day 15: 06th March 2007
Balloon ride over the Serengeti plains, champagne breakfast and thereafter (return to room to pack??) transfer to Seronera Airstrip for flight to Zanzibar via Arusha dept 11h05 12h30??, arrival Arusha 12h10, 13h45??, dept Arusha 12h30 14h15??, arrival Zanzibar 14h00 15h40??, meet and transfer to East Coast of Zanzibar, Matemwe Bungalows

Day 16: 07th March 2007
Flex day in Zanzibar, Matemwe Bungalows. [snorkle, boat ride, walk to village, ??]

Day 17: 08th March 2007
Flex day in Zanzibar, Matemwe Bungalows. [snorkle, boat ride, walk to village, ??]

Day 18: 09th March 2007
After breakfast do a full day city tour & spice tour in Zanzibar, (day rooms??)thereafter transfer to Zanzibar Airport flight to Dar-es-Salaam -- dept 20h30 arrival 20h55.

Now 60 days seems like an awfully long time to wait.

Enjoy your trip! Tanzania is a wonderful place. I'm glad to see you're going to Arusha NP. So often, it's skipped and I've found it to be an interesting park, especially the black and white colobus monkeys.

I hope you have an excellent trip. I'm certainly no expert, but it sounds like a good mix of activites and camps/lodges. I wish I were counting down days.

What a great start to the new year. Looks like you will have a wonderful time.

You should be able to charge your batteries at all of the lodges and camps.

I went to Tanzania for the first time in September. It was the most amazing trip. I think about it every day. Have a wonderful journey!

I am going on my first trip to Kenya and Tanzania in about 12 days! So I have been planning, reading posts and books for a while now. I think your trip sounds amazing. It is so varied and vast, but planned so well to rest up and enjoy several days at key places. Have a fabulous time!

about the rain:
it has been raining so much, that Olivers camp isn't reachable at the moment!

I believe they have picked an alternative place in the park to set up the camp.

you've got a lot similar things as I do by the way.. Oliver's camp, Olakira, Matemwe Bungalows..

I will be departing januari 16

Nikao,

Have a great trip. But then how could you not? I hope the rains have let up, and that you are able to get to Oliver's Camp and the other places you are scheduled for. If you really hurry after you get back, you could have your trip report posted in time for me to read it and see your pictures before we leave on Feb. 19 (was that too subtle?).

To you and Lolazahra, Safari njema!