We'll be visiting the Rift Valley Children's Village, near Karatu. (You can read more about them at tanzanianchildrensfund.org) We found out about them through Green Footprint, because we mentioned to Mirjam that we really were hoping for the opportunity to include some "non-safari" things and meet people outside of the tourist areas. Our visit will be for an afternoon, mostly just to tour the village and play with the kids, and to meet the little boy we're sponsoring. From the information on their website it looks like you can arrange a longer stay to work as a volunteer if you have the time -- I would love to do that some day. Mirjam mentioned that Green Footprint works with the orphanage and takes the kids out on safaris, which is terrific. I'm really excited about this part of the trip. If I remember correctly, there have been some other people on this board who mentioned visiting the children's village, too.

I disagree with climbhighsleeplow's statement that "the choice is very simple actually!"

I would say that it depends. If I was booking an all Nomad trip then ATR might be able to give me the best price--they have a long standing relationship with Nomad and U.K. or U.S. based companies with such a relationship may be able to give a better price than an in-Tanzania company. That is the experience that I had in pricing Nomad.

Like Leely, I booked a trip with ATR that was part MKSC and part Nomad for the ground operators plus I arranged on my own a day trip with Green Footprints. If my choice was MKSC vs Green Footprints, I would go with Green Footprints. Even though it was only a day trip, I was very impressed with them --I would definitely consider them for a full safari whereas, although I liked my guide and the camps, I would not go with MKSC again.

As folks have already mentioned the two proposed itineraries are very different in terms of the accommodations' pricing so it would not be fair to Green Footprints to count a significantly higher quote against GF.

Bat

Any reputable company can book Nomad camps! ATR does not have exclusive rights! Looking at their web site, it seems to me they are not even up to date with Nomad camp locations, names or rates!

I doubt that a local company will charge more for a Nomad stay than a UK company! Nomad operator rates are pretty standard. Should there be transfers between the camps, then obviously rates may differ as one company MAY use better vehicles/guides, etc than the other.

If you walk around Arusha and ask about Green Footprints vs. ATR the responses is about what one would expect!

I am still waiting for a quote from Green Footprints, however, both Green Footprints and ATR seem to provide equal customer service and attention; both making great suggestions for activities/lodging.

Are there any other comparable local outfitters that I should be contacting for an additional quote?

and I bet both operators are reading this board
which is great news for you try and get the best safari possible

Do you think operators actually read this board?

@Traveller,

well.. they should! :)

I know Green Footprint is reading this board from time to time

Can anyone who has used Green Footprints before recommend a guide in Tanzania?

Herman was our guide for our day trip with Green Footprints--very knowledgeable and a nice young man. I believe Herman was Leely's guide also.

Climbhighsleeplow--I only compared ATR vis a vis pricing for a Nomad trip. I stand by what I said.

Also, chsl--I am not walking around Arusha as you are, nor am I a part owner of a locally based company--my knowledge is based only on being a customer/consumer who has priced trips (and with that said I want to make it clear that I did not price Green Footprints for a Nomad trip vs ATR; I did price other local companies vs ATR and some US based companies).

I think that I have made it clear that in my opinion Green Footprints is superior to MKSC. In that we can agree.