Great news is we booked our ticket from LA to JRO. There was one day this week when the fare dropped $1,000 and we were able to purchase our tickets. We are very lucky as the fares shot up again. We are very excited. Now that we are actually going I have a few questions about our itinerary. We have scheduled walks in Tarangire, Sayari and a crater walk around the Ngronogoro Crater. Has any one done these walks and would you recommend them? I think their is another walk in the Ngronogoro area as well. How does that compare to the Crater walk. We are trying to vary our trip and include walks so that we are not in the vehicle the whole time. Any other activities that anyone would recommend, we would love to hear about. We will be going to Tarangire, Manyara, Ngronogoro and Sayari in our itinernary, staying at Oliver's Camp, Gibb's Farm, Lemala and Sayari. Thanks for all your help!!

What site should I be looking at?
I need that same itinerary but in June.
Thanks!

I also forgot that we are staying at a new Asilia camp called Dunia in the Central Serengeti after Lemala. We booked our trip with Good Earth as a private tour. I did most of the research and picked the camps and Good Earth booked the trip.

Oops..meant the site or airline where you found the great airfare if you don't mind sharing the info.!

Lemala and Sayari both in August. Know that these two camps are in the same vicinity, not far from one another. Are you splitting time between the two? How many days each?

Dunia, is in Central and has been opened about 2/yrs, recently moved here (replacing Olakira... as of this coming season going up north, to the east of Sayari) for period from June-Oct from earlier being in Ndutu during Jan-Mar.

I could be mistaken but it sounds like the OP is staying at Lemala at the crater.

In any case, congrats on getting your air!

Patty is correct. We are staying at Lemala at the Crater. Phill Bill- It was a travel agent that was referred by Good Earth. It is a Delta/KLM flight but the best thing is that return is non-stop from Amsterdam and arrives at LAX at 12:30 in the afternoon instead of other flights that did not come in until almost midnight. The rates seem to have literally just dropped that one day and I found the same rate on the KLM website but could not get the good return that the Travel agent was able to secure.

I've been checking the KLM website but over $3000 so went up this week....must have just missed the day when you checked !!! I don't really want to fly for 36 hours with 4 or 5 changes which are the less expensive options. I'm sure the bags would not keep up with the transfers to all the different airlines.
Thanks so much for the info.. It has given me renewed hope(!!).

I know I was so discouraged and thought we were going to have to cancel the trip. I would just keep checking everyday. We ended up paying $2,500 per ticket which still seemed little high but maybe not considering the directness of the flight.

Good catch Patty. Lemala at the Crater!

I'm anxious to hear comments about your plans for the walking safaris. This is something I would be interested in doing as well--not that I know anything about them--but I agree with your comment about not being in a vehicle the whole time is appealing.
Is is safe? How far can you walk?
Do you mind sharing info on what Good Earth is charging you for this tour?
Congratulations on getting the break in your air fare!!!!

Any comments on these two options (Sandi and others)?

They are not walking safaris per se but we were interested in any input regarding the extra hike in option 2 Day 4 afternoon and Day 5 as money is a little tight. It sounds like the focus is scenery from what I have read online and that the village etc. might be a little touristy. After Kili we really want to focus on game sightings.

Both include a crater rim walk.
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Day 1 Arusha to Lake Manyara. Game drive. Afternoon transfer to Karatu for overnight.
Day 2 Via Ngorongoro Conservation Area for highland walk.
Day 3: Game drive in Serengeti.
Day 4 Morning game drive in Serengeti. Afternoon transfer to Ngorongoro Crater rim.
Day 5 Descend into Ngorongoro Crater for game drive. Afternoon return to Arusha.

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For SIX days, a typical itinerary would look something like this:

Day 1 Arusha to Tarangire. Game drive. Afternoon transfer to Karatu for overnight.
Day 2 Via Ngorongoro Conservation Area to Serengeti, with game drives en route.
Day 3 Morning game drive in Serengeti. Afternoon transfer to Ngorongoro Crater rim.
Day 4 Descend into Ngorongoro Crater for game drive. Afternoon transfer through Ngorongoro Crater Highlands to Nayobi Village. Begin trek with donkeys & Maasai. (Tonight all accommodation grades will be required to camp).
Day 5 Hike through Crater Highlands into the Great Rift Valley. Afternoon transfer to Mto wa Mbu for overnight.
Day 6 Lake Manyara game drive. Afternoon return to Arusha.

lhgreenacres: We did the walk around the crater rim led by a Ngorongoro Serena guy, and I was out of breath! We had just arrived at the Serena an hour prior and I hadn't given a second thought to the altitude. I'm fit - I walk a mile a day at home in San Diego - and it just surprised me that I couldn't keep up with the small group of about 6 people. We were just ambling along and the guide was stopping often and pointing out different things here and there. The walk lasted about an hour and I survived it but I didn't enjoy it! Too stressed. My recommendation is to take the walk on the second day after you arrive so that you get a chance to acclimatize to the high altitude because you never know how the lack of oxygen might affect you. Apparently everyone reacts differently. We didn't see a single animal during our walk, but the guide kept mentioning snakes and buffaloes and how he would sacrifice himself for our safety - kind of creepy - I think he was angling for tips.
We also went with Good Earth this past August. A fantastic experience in every way.

Phil -

With either option whether hiking/walks, you're sure rushing thru some great distances. Spending more time in transit than game drives. What month is this visit scheduled?
When you mention Serengeti, which area? It's big, so south, central, west?

The end of June, beginning of July. That is the description which the tour operator sent us as a suggested itinerary.
I am assuming the 'Serengeti' portion is close to the crater area judging from the schedule.
We just asked for a 5 day safari suggestion.

This was from another operator but more expensive:

Day 1 Depart Arusha for Ngorongoro Crater, afternoon game drive on Crater floor, overnight Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge (B/L/D)

Day 2) Morning game drive on Crater floor, afternoon guided rim walk, overnight Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge (B/L/D)

Day 3) Depart Ngorongoro for Serengeti National Park, afternoon game drive, overnight Serengeti Sopa Lodge (B/L/D)

Day 4) Full day Serengeti, morning and afternoon game drives, overnight Serengeti Sopa Lodge (B/L/D)

Day 5) Game drive as exiting Serengeti, overnight Ngorongoro Farmhouse (B/L/D)

Day 6) Proceed to Lake Manyara National Park for game drive with packed lunch, late afternoon return to Arusha and transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for outbound evening flight. End of services.

Any thoughts?

End of June/early-July is best in the Western Serengeti where the migrating herds are found. Unfortunately, most properties in the West are expensive, but for Ikoma Camp which is a bit worn. Or have a look at Kijereshi Camp (a lower priced sister camp to luxury Mbalageti) at: www.kijereshiserengeti.com/

But getting to the West vs where the Serengeti Sopa is will add about 2-3/hrs drive time. If not the Sopa, then check-out the Serena Lodge or Medium Camp at: http://www.tanganyikawildernesscamps...etimediumcamp/
in Central Serengeti or about 1/hr north of these at Mbuzi Mawe Camp. This Central area is only about a 2/hr game drive to the Western corridor and where your guide should take you (do make sure your outfitter doesn't have daily mileage limits for game drives).

I'd omit the 2nd o/n at Ngorongoro as you can after morning crater tour head into the Serengeti, thus having 2-full days here. Unless you want that 2nd afternoon for a crater rim walk or trek to Olmoti Crater.

If you've gone as far as Central Serengeti, it can take about 6/hrs to Manyara (even longer if in the West, so the stop at Farmhouse is good. Drive to Manyara next day will be about 1/hr.