Crapshoooter

I have reseached/read forums/visted websites. I realize that the time of year will impact on best locations/accommodations. My questions are as follows.

1. Comments on the following companies: CCAFRICA, Africa Dream Safari, Kiliwarriors? Or if you have used them.

2. CCafrica has some very nice properties such as Crater Lodge and Klein's Camp, are the worth the price? Money is not the issue, but $2000 a day to keep the sun or rain off of us, I would hope for a little more.

3. If you do a private guided safari, with your own diver and vehicle, what do you do with the them when you stay at Crater Lodge which only allows their guides?

4. When traveling in Canada we use BUSH pilots to get from one location. Is there charters availble to fly in-out to pick you up?

5. Migrations is not the top item on my list. Would like to avoid Major tourist season. Will be sending 2 to 3 weeks in country. What time or times of the year would you recommend?

6. Any other comments would be appreciated.

Thanking you in advance

lillac

The all tour companies you mention are goods company i know them.For sure Crater lodge is one of most high price lodge at our national parks but its very beautiful lodge.
If you do a private guide safari after they droop you at Crater lodge most of them they are use to have Dinner and overnight at Kimba village where they will get rooms.And after you done crater tour with thier cars your driver will come to take you and contune with your Itinerary.At Arusha they have Flight from Arusha Lake Manyara national park,Arusha Ngorongoro consavetion Area,Arusha Seronera the middle of Serengeti national park,if you would like to use flight from one location to another you would book with Flight Company here are names Precision Air line,Air Excell,Air Tanzania or you will use the Company which will organise your safari to book the flight for you if you need it,but its better you can use only one trip so that you will not miss to see highlands and other atractive place on the way.During October,November,Dec,January,Feb,March this are month which you would not gets alots of tourist.
I wish all the best for your planing your safari.

climbhighsleeplow

Only Klein's camp concession does not not allow third-party vehicles on game drives.

Everywhere else you will enjoy a private car when booking with a third-party outfitter while staying at CCA properties as opposed to a shared vehicle.

atravelynn

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1. Comments on the following companies: CCAFRICA, Africa Dream Safari, Kiliwarriors? Or if you have used them.
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I have stayed at one CCAfrica property, Phinda, booked through an agent. I had several productive email conversations with the Phinda office. The agent price was the same as going direct and that is usually the case. Phinda was outstanding. I would never consider Crater Lodge. If Kleins is far more expensive than other options, I would not go to Kleins.

Here are some reports that you may have seen on Kiliwarriors and ADS. It was easy to find them thanks to LyndaS’s index. As you'll see, each did a great job.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34913040 (report)
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34838608 (Photo collage thread)
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...&y=-knykj0 (photo collage)


http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34990018 (safari)
http://brianrfox.net/Photos/Safari/data/index.html (safari photoshow - click on link at bottom of page)


Here is ADS.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34752882 (report)
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34752871 (report)
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34752872 (report)
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34752874 (report)
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34752878 (report)
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34752879 (report)
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34752890 (thread with picture link)
http://www.alabama.smugmug.com/ (pictures)
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34723862 (report)

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34830877 (report)


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4. When traveling in Canada we use BUSH pilots to get from one location. Is there charters available to fly in-out to pick you up?
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There are scheduled charters for many locations. If you look through the Kiliwarriors sites, there are links to the scheduled ones. You can always arrange a private charter if you wish to incur the costs. While flying is the norm for Botswana, driving is more common in East Africa or a combo of driving and flying. If you wish to fly and not drive, you can arrange that with private charters.

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5. Migrations is not the top item on my list. Would like to avoid Major tourist season. Will be sending 2 to 3 weeks in country.
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I would think Feb to March in the Maasai Mara would be one strategy to avoid people as many would be in Southern Serengeti. And the Mara is always good.

If you go at the rainiest times, I think you’ll have fewer people, like April in the Serengeti, and there have been good reports from that time frame. Or go to the northern part of the Serengeti in a mobile camp. I was just reading that something like 95% of Serengeti visitors never make it up that far. I am looking into that for Aug of 2009.

To avoid tourists, I would go ASAP to Kenya while the numbers are still down. There are lots of accommodations in the Laikipia region of Kenya (north) that would offer remoteness and seclusion year round.
http://www.laikipia.org/laikipia-safari.htm


If you chose Southern Tanzania (different from Southern Serengeti), such as Katavi, Selous, Ruaha, you would have vast expanses with few or no people. The best times for wildlife in these regions are Aug, Sept. You could even tack on Mahale for chimps.

Other comments: If you would like to post ideas or itineraries from the agents you contact, then more specific info can be provided to you.

Fortunately (unlike your name), Africa is not really a crapshoot. You are guaranteed something wonderful, magical, and spectacular on every trip at any time of year.

Dana_M

I just booked with Kiliwarriors for February-March of 2009. I haven't taken a safari with them yet, so I can only comment on the planning stage. Eben has been excellent to work with. He listened to what I wanted to do, where I wanted to go and worked with me to plan a trip within my budget constraints.

I have not used CCA to book a trip, but I have stayed in many CCA properties, and all were excellent, although not all were to my own personal taste. I did not think Crater Lodge worth the cost, but I'm probably in the minority. I prefer tented camps, and Crater Lodge was a little too ostentatious for my taste. In February I'm staying at Lemala Camp at the crater rather than Crater Lodge. I have stayed at Klein's camp, and while I don't necessarily need the level of accommodations offered there, I had such fantastic game viewing, that I would recommend the Klein's concession, or another camp in that general area. My favorite CCA camp in Tanzania is Grumeti River Camp. However, I was there during the migration, which isn't at the top of your list, so the cost may or may not be worth it to you.

PredatorBiologist

1. I had a fantastic experience with Kiliwarriors in February and I highly recommend a trip with them (good choice Dana)! Kiliwarriors best strength is the incredible knowledge that Eben has for helping you plan the right time and place, I think this is especially valuable for someone looking to avoid the crowds and the standard Northern safari circuit. Lots of operators know who to put you in place for the migration but if you want something different it would be hard to imagine a better consultant than Eben. Their vehicles are unique with large roll up windows providing an open vehicle type experience and the guides are great guys that do a good job.

2. My philosophy is to only shell out big money when you are afforded a location or unique experience that cannot be duplicated by other choices and I will not spend just for opulent luxury in itself, especially because I do my best to be out on activities and spend very little time in my 'room'. At Crater Lodge in particular you are out all day driving a public area so you gain no experience advantage over guests at the much cheaper lodging expcept a swankier room at the end of the day. On the other hand spending a lot of money to fly in and see chimpanzees at Mahale is a unique experience and well worth a large expense to me.

3. Unless the operator does not charge you for your idle guide this would actually be a hidden additional charge at Crater Lodge. However, it sounds like in Climbhigh's post that is not the case and you can use your own driver.

4. The drives from place to place when outside the parks can be long and are largely a waste of time in my opinion so this is another good area to spend money if you have the budget. If you have a safari that ends in the Serengeti I think a flight back out is a good investment.

5. It seems like there are a number of different strategies here. You can shoot for rain season time like April when it is less crowded on the northern circuit, you could go almost anytime and just stay in areas away from the migration such as going in February but heading to the northern Serengeti (be sure to check with an expert though to not end up in an area devoid of animals) but the Crater and other spots would still have the seasonal crowd, or you can focus on the southern and western parks that are only lightly visited anyway -- July through October being the best time.

6. Since you want out of the way and seem to have a healthy budget I would definitely take a look at going chimp trekking in Mahale. It is a phenomenal experience that takes place in complete wilderness jungle -- 1 1/2 hour boat ride to get there because there are no roads and no vehicles and only small isolated camps so very few people too. In addition to the jungle and chimps you are set on the beach of Lake Tanganyika with crystal clear waters that you can snorkel in, boat, kayak, etc. I stayed at Greystoke which I think is worth a splash out especially as the next camp over was not significantly cheaper when I priced them out. Note though that while the Serengeti can work well during the rainy season it's not a good time to go to Mahale.

tripofalifetime

I'm scheduled for a Safari with Kiliwarriors in August/September. I spent a lot of time back and forth with CCAfrica, but what made the difference for me was that Eben took the time to find out what my interests were, where I wanted to go, and helped put together what I think will be a great trip. CCAfrica was quick with providing quotes, but never once made a suggestion on what locations might be overcrowded, where the animals were, etc. As a first time visitor to Africa, I really appreciated the "personal" touch that Eben provided.