Hi - I've made a lot of progress, have almost finalized the itinerary, and gotten quotes back from ATR, Planet Africa, Roys and Warrior Trails.

There's one big difference between ATR and the rest. ATR does not have their own guide/vehicle, so will use a guide/vehicle from one of the companies that runs the camps (in our case, probably Asilia). The guide/vehicle will still be with us the entire trip even during our stays at non-Asilia camps.

The rest all have their own guides/vehicles. And we will have one for the entire trip.

What's the collective wisdom here? Is there a substantial difference between the 2 approaches?

I answered this for you on TA.

LJ I had the exact same problem when I was booking my trip- to use a private Asilia guide vs a local guide. Few things I checked then ( I was very particular about WHO the guide would be and one condition I had was the guide I wanted is confirmed to my trip before I paid- you might not be this finnicky )

- So most important- who is the guide. Clamian who runs Warrior Trails had such good feedback on this forum, he was very high on my list.

-Roy also has a couple of very highly recommended guides

-Somebody just got back from a trip with Planet Africa and I remember reading that they went with PA because a guide they had used earlier was now working for PA.

-regarding Asilia guides- my itinerary had included Northern Serengeti which you wont have, so for me it was a bit of a dilemma as the guides from Sayari over there would know the area really well. Generally Asilia guides get good feedback.

-In your case, who is your Asilia guide and has he had solid upto date experience in the crater, Tarangire, southern serengeti, will he be comfortable off-roading where its allowed in Ndutu

In the end I went with a local guide with over 20 yrs experience that I really wanted and got but maybe you might want to have a more detailed input into who the guides would be from each of these outfitters

-Also in my case the Asilia guide was coming to around USD 50-90 more expensive per day.

In the end, for a newbie like me, the best option to choose a guide was from the many feedbacks here since there was no other way I would know for sure if I had a good guide. I am sure there are many guides who are equally good who are not mentioned here, but with so little info, I didnt want to take any risks.

It would be worth your time to try Superb Tours,direct your email to Benjamin. I can't say enough about them!! Small company and they support several orphanges in Arusha with a % of the fees that their guests pay. Use my name Patti Pepelnjak

It is worth an email to them

@tanya_1976, thanks for the response. Glad to hear Asilia guides get good feedback.

I'm really kind of worried about this "commitment" to a guide in Tanzania. In botswana, everyone uses camp guides, there's no option (b/c everyone flies from camp to camp -- too far to drive). I have to say I *really* enjoyed meeting the different guides, all of whom were superb. I feel like I made 4 friends instead of just one, and each was super knowledgeable about the local area. Each guide seem to know EXACTLY what animals were where. They all had different personalities and experience level, but all were excellent at their job.

Now we have to choose 1 guide for the entire trip. What happens if the guide is bad, or just boring and no fun? Anyone would be fine for 2-3 days. but 12 days, thats a LOT.

Has anyone just abandoned this dedicated guide concept and go with local camp guides?

Just curious, do most of the camps in Tanzania, e.g. Ndutu, Kusini, Serena, Seronera, Sopa, have vehicles and guides? Somehow I have the impression that guests come in with their "hired" vehicles and guides. (Via Roy Safaris etc). For example when you look at the Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge rates -
http://www.serenahotels.com/serenase.../rates-en.html
You see only room rates. Nothing in the T&Cs about game drives. But does that rate indeed include game drives?

regards - tom

Yes! this is why I'm puzzled. I know Nomad and Tanganika have guides and vehicles, and indeed do not allow other guides/vehicles to be used on their properties. But I didn't know the other camps even had guides.

So confusing!

Hey Linjudy,

Most of the camps provide their own guides and vehicles. It is cost effective for the travelers but all guides tell you the same thing over and over every time you change camps... I recommend a experienced private guide that design and guide the all trip for you, so he knows what you have seen, what you would like to see next...

I have used Pietro as a private guide in Tanzania in the past: http://www.whosmyguide.com/pietro.luraschi

Could not recommend him high enough! Fantastic bush knowledge and great personality! He has worked in many (all?) parts of Tanz and can arrange a private vehicle and acco at your convenience.

Enjoy!

LJ, Asilia has its own vehicles and guides for guests. If you dont want to have a guide and vehicle to yourselves, you can use their Fully Inclusive (called FI or GP for Game Package)rates which will include game drives etc but shared with other Asilia guests.

If you use Asilia's own private guides and vehicles ( different at each camp) , you will still have to use their Fully Inclusive/Game Package rates and add to that the Private guide/vehicle rate.

If you bring your own private guide and vehicle ( through Roy,WT, PA) you should use their Full Board (lower than FI) rates.

I dont know what rates they will use if you have the same Asilia guide and vehicle throughout.

However if you do want different private Asilia guides at each camp and use their guide and vehicle exclusively for your party, you can still ask ATR if the Oliver camp guide will also cover the crater/plantation lodge.

Most important difference you would then need to consider is that you will have to fly between each camp you are using a different guide for.

Even Lemala would have the same set up as Asilia. Not sure about Serena/Sopa etc but looks like they have only Full Board rates with no mention of game packages/activities.

When I was enquiring Asilia private guide/vehicle was USD 250 or so per day on top of the Fully Inclusive rates!

I couldnt see the rates updated for 2012 but on eyesonafrica.net you can get a sense of the difference between FB and FI rates for 2011. Usually 50-70 USD per day per person.

Its funny how people have such different views For me the idea of 1 guide through the 15 days was very appealing as he would know what I have seen, what I would like to see, comfort factor would grow with days etc...

Anyway, if you do end up choosing Asilia camps, ask for a long term discount which could be anywhere between 10 to 15%!

The Serena rates you see online do not include game drives and park fees are also extra... it's just their "rack" room rate.

In Tanzania, Serena I believe will accept guests on both a FB (with your own guide/vehicle) as well at GP (using their guides/vehicles)... the latter, of course, on a fly-in basis.

Sopa, on the otherhand, I believe is FB only.

Claiman of Warrior Trails had been with Roy's Safaris for many years until about 3/yrs ago decided to go out on his own. Like Claiman, Roy's has excellent guides who have been with them many years and are out on safari regularly... out, return, out again, etc. Not familiar with AP.

The Asilia and Lemala Camps will accept guests on both FB and GP basis. Nomad's only accepts guests on GP basis, as does Klein's Camp though the latter is on a private conservancy at northern Serengeti.

GP rates are usually higher than FB rates, which difference often comes down to fact that with FB you're paying for own guide/vehicle, but then you're assured of private game drives. Nomad's, however, being very small camps (4-6/tents only), provide exclusive use of guide/vehicle per tent/group, so you're not sharing. Asilia's GP rates are on a shared basis, so if you want private, you pay for exclusive use.

Most lodges/camps do have their own guides/vehicles for those guests who may be on a fly-in/out itinerary. There are few properties that DO NOT allow guests to arrive with their private guides/vehicles.

If using a few Asilia Camps, you may qualify for "extended stay" discounts, so do inquire.

I too prefer to have same guide throughout as stated above, but if for some reason you find the guide lacking, ask to speak to the office (guides have both cell phones and two-way radios in vehicles) and advise why and if they can provide another. Unless for some unforeseen reason, dealing with reputable outfitters, with qualified guides... this is a rare occurence.

Bear in mind though that it can take a few days for both guest and guide to become comfortable with one another, but for sure, don't wait till your last stop to broach the issue.

On our first trip to Africa (Northern route Tanzania and Kenya) we had a dedicated guide. He was wonderful, of course we didn't know anything at the time so really had no comparison. On our second trip (southern Tanzania) we used camp guides. They were tops! It is true that they really know their own area. However, it is also true that they will all give you some of the same basic information regarding animal life, etc. By the final of four, we had really heard it all and could quote on our own. I did feel a bit sorry for this last fellow, as he really had to work hard to come up with something new for us. If I were doing it over again, I think I prefer the rotation of guides. We did enjoy meeting new people and changing the conversation from time to time. I also think there was a competitive nature among the camp guides, with each wanting to show us something that others hadn't. Like you, I would be a bit concerned about getting stuck with someone who didn't fit my personality for an entire trip.

Southern route Tanzanian parks are different than those in the North. More like being in Botswana where visitors fly to the various parks and/or areas within parks, Selous, Ruaha, Mikumi. Distances are great and the road system isn't as it is in the North. Therefore, it makes sense visitors will be using individual camp guides for activities.

@TC, exactly! It was fun to get to know the different guides. Funny comment about the last fellow struggling to find something new to day.

When we were in Botswana, the last guide knew we were on the last part of the trip, and he immediately asked us what we had seen, and focused on things we hadn't seen. He also kept the general commentary to a minimum. I think he was by nature a less talkative person, but an incredible tracker, and that was just fine with us at that point.

In contrast, our first guy was in his first year, and full of enthusiasm to show off his knowledge, and it was great to hear about all the birds/plants. Another that was a bit of a practical jokester, and that was very funny for 2 days. Not sure how it would go over for 12 days!