lovetodiscover

What is the different on a landcruiser between a pop-top and roll-top and which do you prefer for N. Circuit Tanzania?
Does the pop-top literally lift up in the air for a hard cover canopy and the roll-top only a soft-top that is always open or closed? My rep is preferring a soft-top. As reference, there are 3 of us and 2 of us have tendency to burn easily. Thinking we'd want a pop-top for sun protection, but wondering if we limit our ability to drive in parks due to height of pop-top. Welcome your ideas.

It will be Late December, early January in N. Circuit - if time of year makes a difference.

Eben: Oliver's walking safari by the camp staff, and is noted on my itinerary as TASL for the operator (?).

Mbuzi Mawe cleared for me, so ready for down payment.

Patty

A pop top is exactly as you described, literally a hard canopy that goes up. A roll top, as I understand it, is one that goes back and there's no cover at all when open. I'd ask if it's possible to put up a canvas(?) shade with the roll top option. I prefer to have some sort of sun protection on game drives. I don't see how a pop top would limit your ability to drive in parks.

lovetodiscover

Thanks Patty. Which one would you choose in my situation and timing for the safari?

Other general questions:
Actually the vehicle option was described as having "roll ball roof"? Would this still be a landcruiser?

Does anyone have a link to pictures of each type of vehicle? Would love to be able to see them to help make the decision.

lovetodiscover

okay - so I'm reaching. Reading your message again Patty, looks like you'd go with roll top if there was opportunity for canvas cover of sorts, but it not go with pop top. Is that right?

Couldn't find anything searching web on "roll ball roof", hmmm. Wonder what he meant. Probably roll top.

lovetodiscover

Read through my old emails and he previously commented that the Landcruiser would have open hatch roofs for game viewing. Don't think from that description there'd be any shade provided.

Alright, now I'll wait for your answers and stop answering my own thread!

cybor

We had a flip top open hatch (don't know the proper name) land cruiser this past Feb. and liked it. It offered a nice open feeling that didn't obstruct, block the needed breeze or shade our photo ops. I have to admit to like sticking my head out of the top like a dog in a car while riding slowly ((&amp) I loved it up there. The open views are spectacular.

As I'm on some meds. that make me photosensitive, I would put block on and my widebrimed hat and never got burned with the hatch open. We would usually go out quite early in the am and would return to camp when the sun was mid sky and go back out later in the afternoon so the sun usually wasn't much of an issue.
Sherry
Sherry

Patty

I have no idea what a "roll ball roof" is. My personal preference is to go with an option that offers sun protection. Sometimes we like to go on all day game drives and I know I couldn't do that without cover.

Patty

I believe this is an example of a vehicle with a soft canopy added - http://www.kiliwarriors.com/

A pop top would look very similar except that the canopy is rigid. If there's no canopy, just imagine the same vehicle with no cover on it at all.

Patty

Here's a clearer picture - http://www.kiliwarriors.com/images/safari_vehicle2.jpg

lovetodiscover

Thank you for the pictures, Patty and advice. Sherry - what a great description of enjoying the breeze and drive. So much to look forward to! And viewpoints from both sides. Thank you, both.

Well, since it may be possible there will be rain, and don't think there is cover for the non-pop top option (unless fully covered)... and thinking of dust getting between canvas and rooftop and possibly into vehicle, will request a pop-top. There is at least one day planned for full day game drive.

Last step, get it in writing! Almost there.

santharamhari

Does CCAfrica have open top safari jeeps for their safari under canvas? or in either of their Serengeti camps?

Thanks
Hari

lovetodiscover

I don't know Hari, but I did look up on CCA's web. They work with partners for the guided portions - so - when they quoted me the flying safari it would have been camp/lodge vehicles. So some like Kusini would even have been open vehicles. Can't speak to the others.

Not sure if they do a guided tour in Tanzania overland and if they did who they'd work with... maybe Nomad? Didn't get that version quoted. Actually didn't hear back after responding that the price for flying safari in N. Circuit + Mahale was more than my budget (significantly) would allow. It was odd. The itinerary we discussed was not what was priced and quoted and was ~10k more than I was willing to spend for 3 persons.

So to your question, maybe one of the fodorites knows.

lovetodiscover

Finalized Itinerary - all confirmed!
Thank you for all the support and ideas.

Tanzania Safari Itinerary - Dec 2006 to Jan 2007

NW/KLM to JRO
Day 1: Kigongoni Lodge -Arusha

Day 2: Oliver’s Camp - Tarangire NP
Drive Arusha to Tarangire + Game Drive inside park

Day 3: Oliver’s Camp - Tarangire NP
Game Drives and Walking Safari inside the Park

Day 4: Gibbs Farm - Karatu
Morning Game Drive in Tarangire
Drive Tarangire to Manyara National Park - game drive + picnic lunch
Drive (up Rift Escparpment) to Gibb’s Farm

Day 5: Ngorongoro Sopa - Ngorongoro National Park
Drive Karatu to Ngorongoro Crater - Crater View and Sopa Descent
Game Drive and Picnic Lunch inside Ngorongoro Crater

Day 6: Ndutu Lodge - South Serengeti
Game Drive and Picnic Lunch inside Ngorongoro Crater
Drive to Olduvai/Oldupai - visit / history
Drive Oldpai to Ndutu Region
Late afternoon Game Drives around Ndutu Lakes
Optional: walking safari arranged with Lodge directly - customer arrangement

Day 7: Ndutu Lodge - South Serengeti
Full-day Game Drives and picnic lunch - Ngorongoro Side
Optional: Games Drive within Serengeti NP - pay to enter at gate

Day 8: Mbuzi Mawe - Central Serengti
Drive Ndutu to Simba Kopjes to Seronera
Optional: Lake Magadi or Maasai Kopjes

Day 9: Mbuzi Mawe - Central Serengeti
Full-day Game Drives in Central Seregenti with picnic lunch

Day 10: Greystoke (Zoe’s) Camp - Mahale National Park
To Seronera Airstrip
Nomad flight Serengeti Seronera to Mahale (08.30/12.00 hrs)
Boat - Mahale airstrip to Camp

Day 11: Greystoke (Zoe’s) Camp / Nomad - Mahale National Park
Chimp Tracking and Boating - as recommended by Camp Guides

Day 11: Greystoke (Zoe’s) Camp / Nomad - Mahale National Park
Chimp Tracking and Boating - as recommended by Camp Guides

Day 12: Greystoke (Zoe’s) Camp / Nomad- Mahale National Park
Chimp Tracking and Boating - as recommended by Camp Guides

Day 13: Kigongoni Lodge - Arusha
Boat from Camp to Mahale Airstrip
Nomad Flight Mahale to Arusha (13.40/18.30 hrs)
Arusha Airstrip to Kigongoni Lodge

Day 14: Kigongoni Lodge Day Room- Arusha
Relax at Lodge or Day Trip to Arusha NP (e.g. canoe, Mt. Meru hiking)
Kigongoni Lodge to Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) - late evening flight

bat

lovetodiscover
Looks like a great itinerary to me.

The "roll bar roof" land cruiser might be what we had for 2 days--a large rectangular hatch that had a rolled (kind of cushioned as I recall) area along the perimeter on the top of the roof. Our driver indicated that professional photographers use them--perhaps to steady the cameras on the rolled area.

I agree with cybor that being that open is not a problem for morning and late afternoon drives. I had a problem with it for all day drives--the sun (in Feb) was too much for me to go from early am to late afternoon. If only one person has a sun problem they could ride in the front with the driver. Also, some all day drives are more transporting from A to B rather than games drives (or parts of the drive at least)-so having the hatch open all of the time is not necessary. But for a full day game drive it could be a bit much for some travelors.

lovetodiscover

Thanks bat, and if I remember your trip report you also used ATR (? right?). That would make sense from what they described to me as well. Since we've got 2 days of full day games drives, I've asked for the pop-top version of land cruiser.

I'm going to need to get more photo savvy and make/buy a bean bag to steady my camera instead of using a roll bar. Photo gear is the next purchase.

Patty

lovetodiscover,
Looks great. Can't wait for your report!

bat

lovetodiscover--yes, we were with ATR.

Have fun moving to phase 2--the post-my trip is now booked what do I now phase in which you research all the new "stuff" to buy for the trip.

lovetodiscover

Thanks Patty and bat. It's getting SOOOO quiet on the board. Look forward to reading all the trip reports to follow.