JBezat

Please help me!!

I am planning a trip in June 2009 to Tanzania. I am using Africa Dream Safari. The itinerary they provided is the following:
Day 1 - Arrive
Day 2/3 - West Serengeti
Day 4/5 - Centrel Serengeti
Day 6 - South Seregeti
Day 7/8/9 - Ngorongoro Crater
Day 10 - Lake Manyara
Day 11 - Tarangire
Day 12 - Depart

I did some research and it appears that north Serengeti is a good place to be at that time - I am not sure why that is not included. Also, do I need that many days at the crater? Do I need to go to Lake Manyara - I read that it is very quiet at that time.

Please provide some guidance - it is my first trip and I hope to see alot of animals, which is our main goal.

Leely

Sorry, I have to rush and am not an expert at all but must say:

Too many nights at the Crater (will you be hiking or something in the highlands from there or...?). Two is usually more than enough.

Why south Serengeti in June?

And finally, when in June are you going? Early, mid or late?

Hopefully others will chime in.

The planning is fun--enjoy it!

atravelynn

West Serengeti is where the bulk of the migration should be in June. I can understand Central Serengeti to see herds that have made it to that general area and because Central always has resident game in any season. South Serengeti does not make sense to me unless you stated you do not want long drives. If you were going a month or two later, then North would make sense, but I would not go North in June.

I'd take the South Serengeti night and add it to the West.

Why 3 nights at the crater? Do you have specific activities there that you wish to do, such as hiking? Did you request several crater visits over several days? If not, then 3 nights is a longer stay than normal. Two is fine and sometimes even one night can work.

Manyara--June is a good time, maybe not its peak, but certainly not a bad time. Manyara has great hippo and baboon activity. You can do a night drive there at an extra cost--the only place for that in your itinerary. Stopping at Manyara breaks up the drive.

But if you preferred 2 nights in Tarangire instead, that would be fine too. The later in June and closer to July your trip is, the better 2 nts Tarangire would be.

I'd take one of the crater nights and do one of the following. These are listed in no order:

-spend a day in Arusha National Park, where you arrive. A buffer day up front can't hurt and Arusha is more heavily forested than your other parks with the chance of seeing the beautiful Colobus monkey. You can do walks and canoeing there if you want, but you don't have to.

~or~

-do 4 nights in West Serengeti since that's where the action should be

~or~

-spend 2 nights at Lake Manyara and spend one day doing walking/canoeing and take 2 night drives.

~or~

-spend 2 nights in Tarangire

Africa Dream Safari often comes out on the high end cost-wise. You've got time so I'd shop the itinerary around. In the process you learn more about what is best for you and you'll end up with exactly what you want with the company you want, which may still be ADS.

dugi_otok

Hi J
It appears that you have selected or ADS has suggested their Deluxe 12 day Private Safari for June. To help you get comments I will present your itinerary in terms of nightly accommodation rather than regions explored. You might want to post name of Lodge/ Camp for even more feedback.
Day 1 - Arrive(Kilimanjaro/Arusha)
Day 2/3 - West Serengeti
Day 4/5 - Centrel Serengeti
Day 6 - South Seregeti
Day 7/8 - Ngorongoro Crater
Day 9 - Lake Manyara
Day 10 - Tarangire
Day 11 - Tarangire
Day 12 - Depart late PM

My comments/ answers:
The north Serengeti is not recommended for June. The migration does not generally reach the north in June.
The itinerary is setup for 2 game drives in the crater. The best being early morning drives on Days 8&9. This is the best times and avoids the crowds. You are spending 2 nights at the crater rim. This is not too much.
The itinerary is set up to spend the night of Day 9 at the Plantation Lodge in the Karatu area. The next morning you can visit Lake Manyara or skip Lake Manyara and go directly to Tarangire. Another option is to save a day and drive directly to Tanangire from the Crater. In this case you would visit the crater on the afternoon of Day 7& the morning of Day 8 skipping some of the cultural options of Day 7(walk the plains with a Maasai warrior, tour a Maasai Boma, visit Olduvai museum, etc.)The saved day could be added to the Serengeti.
It is your vacation. That is what a private safari is all about.

Gary

JBezat

Thank you so much for your feedback. As you will note, my itinerary reflects the feedback provided by you.

My revised itinerary is the following:
Day 1 - Arrive
Day 2/3/4 - West Serengeti (loding- Kirawira)
Day 5/6 - Centrel Serengeti (Serengeti Serena)
Day 7/8/ - Ngorongoro Crater (Ngorongoro Serena)
Day 9 - Lake Manyara (Plantation Lodge)
Day 10/11 - Tarangire (Swala)
Day 12 - Depart

I welcome any feedback on this itinerary and lodging. My husband and I did the splurge for one night at Crater Lodge. If anyone has stayed there - is it worth the money or should I pass?

I have requested quotes from other vendors so hopefully their pricing will be a little cheaper...

Thanks again!

Leely

I like this much better. So you will fly out to West Serengeti and then wind your way back?

Another option would be to end in the west and fly back to Arusha (I have done that myself, June 06).

Sorry, I can't comment on lodging--I'm a cheapie.

Leely

topping for the night crew.