Finally getting around to doing a brief trip report for our trip to Tanzania in Feb, I posted spme photos, nothing fancy

http://picasaweb.google.com/Lauriego...BestOfTanzania

My Mother has always wanted to go to Africa so my brother decided this was the year! We got quotes from Africa Adventure, Good Earth and Africa Dream. We ended up using Africa Adventure for a private safari and were very pleased.. The price was in the middle of the 3, the service during the planning was very responsive and the trip went very smoothly. The guide and the vehicle were top notch. Our itinerary Feb 08 was

Arusha Coffee Lodge -2 nites
Kikoti in tarangire - 2 nites
Ngorongoro Farmhouse – 1 nite
Crater Lodge – 1 nite
Private Camp 2 nites –Central Serengeti at Turners Spring
Olakira in Ndutu 3 nites
The Palms in Zanzibar 3 nites

Arusha Coffee Lodge – beautiful place and perfect to rest and recover after the plane flight. We did a game drive in Arusha Park which was a great introduction. The only place we saw a whole herd of giraffes lying down and the colubus monkeys - beautiful.

Kikoti – We all loved this camp and Tarangire. I was unsure about this part of the trip based on many comments to skip Tarangire in Feb but I am so glad we did. It is a beautiful park and worth a visit even if the game is scarce. However we did have an amazing elephant encounter, stopping for 2 hours to watch a herd of about 60 play in the water and then all cross right in front of us. The scenery is spectacular. Kikoti is a long drive outside of the park (In fact we had a good bit of rain so the drive was pretty exciting), but we loved this camp and would recommend. It is very isolated, beautiful view, great staff and probably the best food on safari.

Ngorongoro Farmhouse - The lodge is much larger then the other places we stayed. It is very pretty, the room very nice (although we had adjoining rooms and you could hear everything from the next room. Good food. But we much preferred the intimacy of the other places we stayed. If I had to do over again I would go on to the Sopa at the rim, to get down to the crater earlier. Even leaving at 6, it was at least 7_30 when we got to the crater.

Crater Lodge – This was our big splurge. The location, rooms and view were spectacular. However, I think we were all disappointed in the service. For the price I expected more – we had comparable or better service at every other camp we stayed at.

Private Camp Central Serengeti – This was wonderful and I highly recommend the private camp experience. The crew came the day before and set up an amazing camp just for us in one day. The tents were quite large, even had running water and a flush toilet. The camp crew of 6 took such wonderful care of the 4 ofs us. Our waiter here was much more attentive then the “butler” at Crater Lodge”. One of the highlight of the entire trip was sitting around the campfire eating warmed cashew, listening to lions roaring and the baboons nearby with no one but us. Ranger Safari is the ground operator and did an excellent job . However there was very little game in the Central Serengeti. Although n the drive to the camp though we did drive right through a large part of the migration crossing the road.

Olakira in Ndutu – Very nice camp, very similar in set –up to the private but more tents and since is there for a while the common tents were nicer. The food and staff again were wonderful. The first nite the staff played music and sang for us around the campfire. But I think we preferred the private camp –although this location was much better. Lots of game here, zebra and giraffe in the camp. You could hear the migration moving in at nite. Drove through several times. Lots of cheetah! Great leopard sighting

The Palms in Zanzibar – Wow! A perfect way to relax after the safari. Highly recommend!

Needless to say - it was the trip of a lifetime for my Mom – Although I think it just left us wanting more!!!

Thanks for all the advice we got here

Thanks gokyoto for sharing the report and especially the pictures. My wife and I really enjoyed them. Such nice crip colors!

Thanks for your report and sharing your beautiful photos! Is that a vervet monkey mother and baby climbing the tree? I love the crowned crane with outstretched wing and the view of the zebra from the tent. You have some very nice shots and composition!

Thanks for the report. We are planning a safari next Feb. This will be a real help

Great photos. Thanks.

Thanks for the report and the photos. What great pictures, and such deep colors. You really got some great close-up shots. Like ggctheworld, I am also planning for Feb of next year, so this was perfect timing for me.

Beautiful rich color in all the photos and that's fancy enough. You have a way with zebras. Did you go on the balloon? You have some great balloon shots. Hey hey for the cheetah pair!

You mentioned there was not much game in the Central Serengeti in Feb. Did you also go to the Southern Serengeti? If not, I wonder how you chose only Central Serengeti?

Interesting comments on Crater Lodge. How wonderful you could go with your mother.

Oops, I was so enthralled with the zebras and other pics, I overlooked your itinerary, which would have answered my questions. I see you did spend time in Ndutu. That's good you went there.

Thanks for posting this. We did a different trip in Tanzania last September. I'm saving your itinerary and comments for next time. Great pictures, too.
Samcat

I am the Mother. Just a little history. As my daughter said I had always wanted to go to Africa. On the 1st anniverary of my husbands death my son called and said Mom lets do Africa. So my daughter and I started to plan. Since he is in CA, I am in Ga and Gokyoto is in NJ a lot of time was spent on the Phone. It was worth it all. 9 months later KlM did a great job of getting us there. As she said it was amazing. More than I could have imagined. For me the highlight was the private camp. Sitting with my family around the fire with the sounds of Africa all around. What a family I have to do this for me. So hope all of you planning your 1st trip feel the way I do. The most magical time of my life and it had been a long and good one.

Yes Atravelyn I do love the zebras, I could have just taken pictues of them all day - much to my travel companions dismay.

Patty - those are baboons on the baobob.

Thanks

Beautiful photos! Thanks to you and janetmac for the report.

Love the hyena on its back, the Gol Kopjes, cheetah on the kopjes and the gorgeous zebras.

I am planning my 'trip of a lifetime' with Africa Adventure Company for February, 2009. I have been trying to do tons of research and I think your trip report and photos helped me cement my decision to use AAC. Thank you for that! Also, your photos are lovely! Great composition, crisp, well-saturated color. Thank you!

One question -- am I jumping the gun in planning so fat ahead? I mean, it's only the end of April, and I am trying to plan for February of 2009...am I premature?

Thanks for any advice you can give.

Jozo - It is not too early at all - we booked ours about the same time last year and some places in Ndutu were already booked.

Jozo,
I almost always plan a year out to get what I want and not what's left. There were some people trying to get Ndutu in the Southern Serengeti almost a year in advance for the time you are going and they were having problems. If you know you're going, then book it!

JanetMac,
Thank you for chiming in with the mother's perspective and for sharing your background. I am glad you had such a fabulous time with your family.

gokyoto - thanks for posting this - I'm just starting to plan for Feb/09 (possibly too late I realize) - could you give me an idea of the price per person you paid for this itinerary. If you would rather not post it but are comfortable emailing me my email is

eseibertca AT yahoo DOT ca

Thanks

The safari portion of trip was 6K per person, but keep in mind this included about 600 upcharge for the Crater Lodge. It also inlcuded the private mobile camping which although pricey was worth it. Let me know if you have any other questions. You can contact me directly under same screen name on hotmail.