Arusha NP, Tarangire - good options for May 2011?
 

Hi, folks,

Planning a trip for May end (20th) 2011.

Thinking of doing these places:

1 day Lake Manyara NP
2 days Ngorongoro Crater
3 nights Western Serengeti (for the river crossing) - Any lodge suggestion here ?
2 nights Seronera

Are Tarangire and/.or Arusha NP (probably 1 drive is enough here?) ok for this time of the year ?

Thanks,

TP

Forgot to mention, am skipping Ndutu in this trip completely during this time frame (May), is that a good idea ?

There's really little reason to be at Ndutu in May. That said, however, if the herds are slowing moving north it's not unusual for some of them to still be down south. And, timing may be such that it's too early for the West and thus a river crossing.

Said once and can repeat, there's no guarantee where herds will be. And, they can easily move between Central and West and back again for a few weeks.

Some can be in the Central, especially the wildies while the zebra are still in the south. And since the zebra are needed to eat the taller grasses, the wildies will wait till their black/white friends arrive.

The major issues with May travel is that the grasses are often high at all parks and thus difficult to spot small game, even predators that are sleeping in the green stuff. Elles and giraffe are easy enough to spot most everywhere :)

Tarangire is good for ellees, but coming out of the rainy season, the volume of game normally found in the dry season (mini-migration) of late-June/Oct haven't yet returned in numbers as there are still water sources outside the park. Same holds true at Arusha NP, but here you can do walking and/or canoe safaris.

Hopes this helps somewhat!

TigerPhotog

Arush NP - i love it, IMO it is a park for the "advanced" rather than "novice" safari-goer. you have to know what to expect though

Tarangire - books haven't been updated yet, but a group of (a couple of hundred) ellies is present there in the off-season..
(last time i have been there in Feb 2010 & the ellies are sure there)
the local ungulate (in-)migration is due only in July, so animal numbers are limited. take notice of Sandi's remark about the grass, still nothing matches the view of Tarangire's
Baobabs on the horizon as the sun sets

i would sure stop at central Serengeti for a nighter
(e.g. Seronera / Serena / Sopa... in previous years i've seen some good migration herds (gnu) during this season in May

about river crossing - letws cross our fingers

aby

let's