plambers

more reasons to stay in the private conservancies in kenya rather than the national reserves:

you can offroad

you can do night safaris

very little traffic or other vehicles.

twins77

I thank everyone for their responses and their advice. I originally had Kenya in my itinerary though I had many travel agents and safari agents tell me it would be repeating what I would be seeing, If we did the serengeti and the mara at that time of year.They had nothing to lose really only gain more nights from me so I trust that I was being told correctly. It was from three different agencies.
As of now I have one over night in Arusha
two nights Tarangire
two nights at the Ngorongoro Crater
5 nights different areas Serengetti
4 nights in Zanzibar
but nothing has been booked yet.
I could add in two-three nights in the beginning in Kenya? I am open to suggestions.We have the time and could also take out Zanzibar. I also am flying in between camps to save on time and I believe two of our camps are totally private conservancies. Thank you.

twins77

I also had another question on the current South Africa itinerary below I am deciding between .

1 night Johan. Intercontinental
Victoria Falls River Lodge 2 nights
Savuti camp two nights Botswana
4 nights Gomoti camp Botswana
Bantry Bay Capetown 4 nights
Banguerra Island 3 nights

Is anyone familiar with these hotels, and camps and can tell me if they are higher end luxury or rustic. Pictures ar sometimes very deceiving
We have room to mov this around still our dates are pretty flexible. I welcome any advice. Should we add another camp in Botswana for total of three possibly three nights each? Should we leave Mozambique out completely and add more to the Botswana budget?
Thank you.

twins77

* its actually *three nights at savuti

kej8166

South Africa is beautiful and relatively inexpensive. Check out the primitive trail with KZN Wildlife, I can't say enough great things about the trail, it was the highlight of our SA trip

MsafiriGM

Hi Twins as a tour consultant there is nothing much to add to what has been said by the few enlightened travelers in here. The choice is totally yours. In deed the itinerary you have is a good one and as we advice travelers most of the time you can't see the whole of East Africa in just one visit if you really want to enjoy. What you need to have is what's is your must see at least for the first time here. What Amyb has told you is absolutely in order as opposed to what Christinabir was saying. I don't know where s/he got that info about Shedrick. The choice is yours to make. What I can only add is that since you will be traveling in June, it is good to make your booking early one, and also to end the tour between Serengeti and Masai Mara since that's when the great migration happens. The Gnu migrate from Serengeti on their way to Mara for the fodder and from July to September the millions of the Zebras,Wildebeest(Gnu) are in Masai Mara.

twins77

HI MsafiriGM Thank you for your advice. I know I cannot expect to see all of East Africa in 16 days. I was wondering if you recommend leaving out the crater due to the many, many crowds and starting in Kenya then heading toward Masai Mara then towards Serengeti (Bushtops camp)and ending up Chem Chem lodge possibly adding in Zanzibar if I find a hotel that is decent and not outrageous.
My previous itinerary did not include Kenya at all.
Some properties in Kenya are - Sarara Camp - Matthews Range - Richards River Camp - Serengeti Bushtops and then Chem Chem.
I was looking at Mnemba Island but its a bit $$$$ to end this long trip
There are so many choices it is very overwhelming.

plambers

we considered matthews range but were told by our planner that the animal density i not very high. why would you not look at the mara if the migration is your focus? as i said before kicheche has 3 camps in the mara and with a party of 4 they will insure a pv.

deladeb

Any updates with your planning?

Lolazahra

Amyb, thanks for the post on the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. I have read most of your trip reports and am thankful for the details you have provided. I am grateful for your support of this esteemed organization. Ekscrunchy, thank you for your comments to Christa. I am grateful for her in depth knowledge of South Africa, especially certain regions in the country, but it is really important to understand that a person’s budget has NOTHING to do with the authentic and wonderful experience we all want to have. To the OP, I hope your planning is going well. Africa is an amazing continent and to experience its wildlife is one of the true privileges in this world. Good luck!

twins77

Yes I am about to finalize after many months of research our trip to Tanzania
we start out Arusha 2 nights then Tarangire three nights, crater 2 nights, central serengetti 3 nights and Grumeti 2 nights. I am torn between adding in Zanzibar or just heading home and stopping off to show my sons Amsterdam for a few days. I have thought about visiting Giraffe manor and the company that has been assisting me has told me that this is very inconvenient to do at the end of the trip. I welcome any suggestions other than Zanzibar. Very very excited for this trip. It has taken a lot of research and planning but I believe we have gotten the best camps and lodges that will work for our family, flights in between the lodges and guides. We should really have an unforgettable journey. I am already pre planning my next trip back. There is so much to see in East and South and I know already that I am going to fall in love with it. Thank you everyone for all your suggestions and advice. I am so grateful to this site. Happy New Year to you all. I will definitely need help with packing!

KathBC

I would take Zanzibar over Amsterdam any day! I loved it!

When you say visit Giraffe Manor do you mean the Giraffe Centre or were you thinking of staying at the Manor? I understood one needs to book the Manor well in advance.

Lolazahra

I think you have created a wonderful itinerary! For one of our trips, we did 2 days Nairobi, 3 days Masai Mara, 4 days in two different areas in the Serengeti (one luxury mobile camp to see the migration), 2 days at the Crater, then went down to Lake Eyasi for 2 days to trek two very remote tribes. After all of this, we flew to Mombasa and ended on the beach flying home through Nairobi. I mention this because relaxing on a beautiful beach reminiscing about our trip was a wonderful way to end an amazing time in Africa. And while I love Amsterdam, my vote is on Zanzibar. It would be the perfect ending to your Tanzania visit. Have an amazing time!

twins77

Thank you! Yes we are doing one higher luxury camp in Grumeti one other mobile nice camp in central serengeti too. I am pleased with the results. I am torn between two properties in Zanzibar. The residence and xanadu villas. I could not decide and am still going back and forth. I agree that zanzibar will obviously be more unique than Amsterdam.
I have heard mixed reviews on Zanzibar and the tides coming in late afternoon and not too have high expectations of the beaches so I started to question if it was worth the extra cost. I am not sure if we should just go or not. It seems like the down time would be welcomed.
I was looking at four nights though we could certainly do just three. I was hoping we could see stone town.
still on fence.

Lolazahra

Oh my goodness, they both seem fabulous! We did a private villa in Mombasa and is was extraordinary. I think you are going to have to go off reviews on service, location, accomodations, etc. to choose as they both look fantastic! Good luck. Also, when you get a chance please list the lodges you chose. I always like to keep a list of options. Thank you!