Hi,
I would like some advice from all of you on a trip we are planning for Jan/Feb 2007. We were all set to go in June of this year but had to postpone our trip.
My daughter is in Western Kenya and will be joining us for the safari. We need to go to Kisumu at the end of our safari. I have tentatively planned on the following routes. I am yet to get in touch with the tour operator for availability but I am hoping that I will get them.

Jan 28th arrive in NBO
Jan 29th - Nairobi
Jan 30th - Fly to JRO and drive to Tarangire Park - Sopa Lodge
Jan 31st- Tarangire
Feb 1st - Drive to Crater - Serena lodge
Feb 2nd - Crater
Feb 3rd - Drive to Ndutu - Ndutu lodge
Feb 4th - Ndutu
Feb 5th - Drive to Serengeti - Seronera lodge
Feb 6th - either fly to NBO and then to Kisumu or drive
to the Isbenia border and cross over to Kenya
If we do drive to the border,
Feb 7th - Speke lodge
Feb 8th - Drive to Kisumu

Are the places and the number of days in each of the places in Tanzania sufficient? This is our first trip and good game and photography are important to us. If possible, I would like to stay in a luxury tented camp in one of these above places. Any suggestions?
Has anyone driven from the Serengeti to Kenya via the Isbenia border ? How long of a drive is it?
We would also like to add on a few days in Kenya before we return home. Given the time of the year, any suggestions on where we should go?I was thinking of either Lake Nakuru or the Masai Mara.
Hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks

I'll be the first to chip in though certainly not the most knowledgable:

I was in TZ at the same time in 2005.

I think from what I've read Tarangire might not be at its best at this time. Bearing in mind (with luck and depending on the rains) the great migration will be in the Southern Serengeti / Ndutu region you would be better off spending more time in these areas.

In your itinerary you only have one night in the Serengeti - take out one or more of the Tarangire nights and spend it in the Serengeti instead.

Just my opinion.
BTW it is my intention to visit Tarangire but it will be later in the year.

Matt

Have to agree with Matt, that Tarangire, while beautiful, is not ideal for the time you plan to travel. You could instead put these days towards to the Serengeti.

You can drive from Arusha to Ngorongoro straight on, but if you wish a stop mid-way, you can consider Manyara for a few hours and then o/n at Gibbs Farm or Plantation Lodge before heading to Ngorongoro next day. From here you'll arrive Ngorongo earlier enough for a full afternoon game drive requiring only one o/n.

Then head to the Serengeti - a few days in the South (2), a few in the Central (2 or 3).

From here, if you choose the drive via Isebania be aware that this is a very long drive. If you wish some lux, you can consider a night at Kirawira or Mbagaleti in the Western Serengeti, before continuing to the border. At Isebania you would change vehicles and drive to head to Kisimu. Once you conclude here, you can visit the Mara. I would, however, once concluded at the Mara - to Fly back to Nairobi.

But, how many days do you have in total? How many days do you plan to spend at Kisimu? The Mara, even if off-season, deserves at minimum 3-days.

Suggestion:
28 Jan - Arv. NBO
29 Jan - NBO
30 Jan - Fly to JRO, drive to Manyara - o/n Gibbs or Plantation
31 Jan - Drive to Ngorongoro - afternoon crater floor - o/n Serena
01 Feb - Drive to S.Serengeti - o/n
02 Feb - S. Serengeti - drive to C.Serengeti - o/n Serena
03 Feb - C. Serengeti - o/n Serena
04 Feb - C. Serengeti - o/n Serena
05 Feb - Drive to W. Serengeti - o/n Mbagaleti or Kirawira
06 Feb - Drive to Isebania - change vehicles, drive to Kisimu
07 Feb
08 Feb - Drive to Masai Mara - o/n
09 Feb - MM - o/n
10 Feb - MM - o/
11 Feb - fly to NBO

I haven't done the drive but from what I understand, it's about 4 hours from the central Serengeti to Speke Bay and about 3 hours from Speke Bay to Isebania.

If you plan to include the Masai Mara, I'd head there first, then Kisumu. I don't think it makes sense to drive to Kisumu and back down to the Mara. I think Isebania to the Mara is around 3 hours.

Take a look at this map. Kisumu is still quite a distance from the Isebania border - http://www.kenyatravelmaps.com/western/map.htm

Thank you for all your advice. We have decided to drop Tarangire Park and stay a day longer in the Serengeti.
We have also decided to fly back from the Serengeti to NBO and then drive to one of the parks in Kenya.
We are still unsure where we should spend the two days that we have.
Our stop after the park would be Kisumu, hence I would rather not go east of Nairobi.
I would appreciate any suggestion that you may have for the two or max three days in a Kenya park.
If the resident wildlife is still good in the Masai Mara, would that be a good choice? If so, what are the good lodges/tented camps there? I am also considering Lake Nakura.

Here is our revised itinerary, please feel free to make any changes.

Jan 28th arrive in NBO
Jan 29th - Fly to JRO and drive to Crater- Serena
Jan 30th- Crater
Jan 31st – Drive to Ndutu with a brief stop at the gorge
Feb 1st - Ndutu
Feb 2nd - Drive to Serengeti – Seronera lodge
Feb 3rd- Seronera lodge
Feb 4th– Fly to Nairobi – Nairobi
Feb 5th Dr to Nakura or Masai Mara
Feb 6th – Nakura or Masai Mara
Feb 7th – Dr to Kisumu

Thanks

If you want to fit more and see some fantastic scenery, try this:

5th
Drive to Mountain Lodge or the Ark
6th
Drive round Aberdare National Park via Nyahururu to Lake Nakuru (not much more than 3 hours with stops and a beautiful drive on what are surely the best roads in Kenya)

Other alternative:
Drive straight from Nairobi airport to Mountain Lodge to the Ark on the 4th. Leave before lunchtime on the 5th and (taking a packed lunch) drive through Aberdare National Park coming out either on the road to Naivasha (Patty describes this drive in one of her trip reports) or the road to Nyahururu (both roads go to Nakuru). You should arrive in Nakuru around nightfall, but if you are late you have an extra night which you can spend at Nakuru town (in the park if you arrive in time). All day snd night of 6th is at Lake Nakuru.

Personally I think the Masaai Mara option needs another day.... ????

If you want to stay at Ndutu Lodge, you may have to work your dates around their availability. According to their calendar, currently the 3rd and 4th are available http://www.ndutu.com/upload/Availability.html

You should probably get your Tanzania plans confirmed as soon as possible, then worry about the couple of extra days in Kenya, if you have any left over.

Good luck!