dayoung

I used www.africa-adventure.com last Feb and had the best trip ever. The weather was great and the animal viewing was great. AAC has select guides who work exclusively for them and my guide Emmanuel Mkenda was the best. He really made a huge difference in what we saw and how we enjoyed our trip. Another great thing about AAC (Africa Adventure Company - in Florida) was that we were able to book a private safari for not much more money. Our vehicle was very nice and compared to what we saw others driving in - we felt very fortunate.

Kacenka

Thank you so much to everybody for your encouragement and support!

This might be a very silly question, but bare with me ;-) - Is it possible to organise safari on our own by booking lodges/tents – would they organise game drives?

At the moment we’re thinking of the following itinerary:

London Heathrow - Nairobi
Nairobi – Masai Mara (overland) – 3 nights
Masai Mara – Serengeti (overland) – 3 nights
Serengeti – Ngorongoro (overland) - 2 nights
Ngorongoro - Lake Manyara (Great Rift Valley) - 2 nights
Fly from Arusha to Zanzibar - 5 nights + 1 night in Stone Town)

I would also like to include Amboseli but only because I love elephants, will there be enough opportunity to see elephants elsewhere?

And how about Tarangire national park but I can see from the chart that atravelynn kindly supplied that Jan/Feb isn’t the best time… should we skip this one?

As for the beach, we would love to get some R&R mainly because it will be a special occasion for my husband & I! ;-)

I am totally confused regarding the logistics of this trip as you might have noticed! ;-)

Please help x
Katerina

sandi

Of course you can book camps/lodges on your own. Besides room/board, this will include your daily park fees and game drives.

But you have to get to them - the parks and between countries. That's where an outfitter in-country comes into the picture. Besides, should there be need for changes, problems arise, when on your own it can be difficult to find resolution.

Patty

Booking on your own works better if you're flying between destinations, but since you indicated overland travel, you'll still need to contact a tour operator to arrange a vehicle and driver/guide (actually two vehicles and driver/guides since you'll be in both Kenya and Tanzania).

Overland travel between the Mara and Serengeti takes a very, very long day. Maybe you could replace the Mara with Amboseli since you already have the Serengeti on your itinerary. Amboseli would also work well logistically (from a driving point of view) in you're flying into Nairobi and heading to northern Tanzania. You'll see elephants at other locations but not in the same numbers as Amboseli.

atravelynn

If you do all the same properties, such as all Serena lodges, then booking directly with Serena would be fine.

Kacenka

Hi everyone,

Many thanks for your input. Please check out the itinerary that was supplied by Sardius Tours and Safaris - so far the best company that responded fast and is very flexible. We are considering taking the Scandinavia Express bus as I am not a great flyer - anybody has any feedback? Also the Simba campsite - any recommnedations - would like to experience the more authentic Africa and would love to do the luxury tented camps but I can't find any info about Simba.

Here is the itinerary:

Day 1 - On arrival at Nairobi airport,you would be transfered to Pan Afric Hotel for bed and breakfast.

Day 2 - Nairobi/Amboseli
After breakfast,leave for Amboseli national Park. Dinner and overnight at Dinner and overnight at Amboseli Lodge.

Day 3 - Amboseli
Full day in this unique and amazing park. Dinner and overnight at Amboseli Sopa Lodge.

Day 4 - Breakfast and leave for Namanga border crossing point and head straight to Arusha City.early lunch and leave for Tarangire National Park. Dinner and overnight at the Campsite.

Day 5 - Morning and afternoon game drives in the Tarangire Park, Meals and overnight at the Campsite

Day 6 - Leave Tarangire Ngorongoro Conservation Area for game drives. Ngorongoro Conservation Area's central feature is the Ngorongoro Crater. Dinner and overnight at the Simba campsite.

Day 7 - Morning and afternoon game drives at the Crater floor. Meals and
overnight at the Simba campsite.

Day 8 - After breakfast leave for vast Serengeti National Park. Dinner and overnight at the Serengeti Wildlife Lodge.

Day 9 - Morning and afternoon game drives in the Park. Meals and overnight at the Serengeti Wildlife Lodge.

Day 10 - After breakfast drive to Lake Manyara National Park and set up
camp. Dinner and overnight at the Lake Manyara Lodge.

Day 11 - After breakfast proceed for an early morning game drive enroute to Arusha town in time for lunch,after lunch at liesure.Dinner and overnight at Impala Hotel Arusha.

Day 12 - Early morning breakfast and transfered the Shuttle Bus terminers and board the shuttle for Daresalaam.On arrival in Dar,take the boat for Zanzibar.

End of Services:

Private safari is USD$ 2,285 per person sharing .Min 2pax

This cost includes

1. Park entrance fees
2. Transport in a safari 4x4 vehicle with pop up roof
3. Accommodation in spacious tents and lodges.
4. Three meals a day while on safari prepared by the safari cook at the
Camp[for the first 4 nights]the other nights in lodges.
5. Services of a qualified tour guide/driver.
6. Services of a safari cook[for the first 4
nights]

Patty

I think it's this campsite http://www.go-safari.com/NCA/SimbaA.htm

Kacenka

Patty,

Thank you for the link, I have to say that the campsite looks truly awful! I'm not a very fussy person and I don't need luxury at all but I require the toilet and bathroom to be clean. Anyway I guess I'm back to square one and that is to find an accommodation for Tarangire and Ngorongoro crater... any suggestions for luxury tented camps please?

Thank you.
Katerina

Patty

On that same website, there are photos and descriptions of camps/lodges in Tarangire http://www.go-safari.com/Tarangire/tarangirelodges.htm and Ngorongoro http://www.go-safari.com/NCA/ncalodges.htm

nanciej

Katerina
We were in Tanzania this year over the last week of Jan and first week of Feb. It was "supposed" to be dry season, but we got hit with alot of rain! (of 11 days on safari, the rains started the 3rd night and came every night but one-and hard!) It created enormous problems in region this year. We were stranded for 2 days at Mbuzi Mawi as both rivers over-flowed. Klein's camp, where we were supposed to stay for 2 nights had to close for flooding. Flying over the region at the end of the trip we could not believe the amount of water compared to our first flight over. This was VERY unusual. Apparently even the mobile camps following the migration had to move early. So, yes, it is supposed to be dry season but make sure you bring along anything you would need for heavy rains! We had a fabulous time although we did miss out on a few things because of the washed out rivers. Zanzibar weather was superb!
I also second the comment about tarrangire at this time...the grasses were very high adn the tse-tse's were insane. Have fun-youwill fall in love!

gokyoto

Nanciej,

We are going to Tanzania next Feb and had a few questions for you.

Did you end up going to Arusha park fron Arusha Coffee lodge? If so how far was it and would you recommend as we also have an extra day there.

Although not in season some poeple have enjoyed Tarangire in Feb, would you advise against. Where did you stay?

Kacenka

Nanciej,

Many thanks for the feedback! That is exactly the time when we're thinking of going. Please can you tell me where you stayed in Zanzibar? We are considering Matemwe Beach Village (Shambe Suite).

We're now considering Tanzania-adventure company who only deals with private safari. They have been extremely helpful and their proposed itinerary looks as follows:

1 night Nairobi - Stanley Hotel(shuttle bus to Arusha)
1 night Lake Manyara - E Unoto Retreat
2 nights Ngorongoro - Sopa Lodge
3 nights Serengeti - luxury tented camp
(flight to Zanzibar)
1 night Stone Town - Dhow Palace
5 nights Matemwe Beach Village (Shambe Suite)

The quote is for $4020 per person. Do you think this is good price considering the itinerary?

I would appreciate your feedback.
Many thanks.
Katerina

Patty

I would ask Tanzania Adventure what "luxury tented camp" they're referring to in the Serengeti. If it's this one at Ikoma http://www.tanzania-adventure.com/Serengeti/ it's not the ideal location for Jan/Feb.

Kacenka

Yes it is the one at Ikoma, why do you think it is not suitable for Jan?

Thanks.

Leely

Wrong area for the migration.

Have you contacted Africa Serendipity or Sunny Safaris or Green Footprint or Good Earth or Kiliwarriors?

Kacenka

I have contacted Sunny Safaris and got actually quite a good quote using Serena lodges but no luxury tents which I really wanted to use.

I am waiting to hear from Green Footprint.

I am also communicating with Kiliwarriors - the itinerary is fantastic but it is just way too expensive.

Patty

Here's a report from someone who stayed in the Ikoma area in Jan http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34937597 note the comments about wildlife as compared to the Ndutu area at this time of year.

Here are some more comments about the Ikoma location http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34817387

Both of the above threads refer to a different camp, but the location information is still relevant. Of course, there's no way to exactly predict the migration movement each year, but Ikoma does seem out of the way for Jan and a long drive from Ngorongoro.

Patty

Have you asked Sunny to include a tented camp on your itinerary and re-quote? Can you post the Sunny itinerary and perhaps we can make suggestions?

Leely

Yes, why not ask Sunny to price a similar itinerary for you, giving them specific direction about where you'd like to stay and when? Sunny should be able to book you almost anywhere (if there's availability).

Leely

Also, don't know if you've been folloing going2africa's developing-an-itinerary thread for Kenya/TZ January 08. Here it is; you may find it useful.

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34986829