Hi All,

We've been working on an itinerary for a while now for our safari in Tanzania in June 2009. This is the latest itinerary--I would love to hear feedback. We've never been to Africa before, so we're starting from scratch! Here it is:

Day 1: Arrive Arusha - Karama Lodge
Day 2-3: Tarangire - Whistling Thorn Camp
Day 4-5: Tarangire and Lake Manyara - Bougainvillea Safari Lodge
Day 6-7: Central Serengeti - Serengeti Tented Camp
Day 8-9: West Serengeti - Mbalageti Serengeti Standard Room
Day 10-11: Ngorongoro - Ngorongoro Farmhouse
Day 12: Return to Arusha and leave!

The price we got for two people was 3950 per person (private safari).

Please let me know what you think. Thank you!!

While I am not familiar with all of the lodgings, I think the parks are a good combo and your price seems fair.

I agree with Lynn. The price seems reasonable, and the locations are good for that time of year. I'm not familiar with the accommodations.

The only suggestion I have, which would probably increase the cost a fair amount, is to drive in and fly out. If you did that, you'd re-order the itinerary: Tarangire, Manyara, Crater, Central Serengeti, Western Serengeti, and fly to Arusha from there at the end of the trip.

Thanks for the feedback!

You have a total of 3 nights in the Karatu region - 2 at Bougainvillea and another at the Farmhouse. I think this is excessive but it depends on what your activities are during those days. I would only do 1 night at Bougainvillea which would free up another night for the Serengeti. Are you including a Crater tour?

You're staying at nice places, some of which I'll be at this June/July.

That's an interesting thought. As the plan stands now, while at Bougainvillea, we'll be in Tarangire and Manyara, and I think doing "cultural visits." At the Farmhouse, we're going a crater "circle hike" and then a day actually in the crater.

The circle hike doesn't sound like a whole day's activity, but maybe we will be spending a good part of the day driving?

Barbra

Barbra,

<i>&quot;As the plan stands now, while at Bougainvillea, we'll be in Tarangire and Manyara&quot;</i>

You wouldn't be staying at Bouganvillea while in Tarangire. It's about 100km away. It would make sense for you to be there in combination with a drive in Manyara. You should check with your agent, but it sounds as though you'd leave Tarangire for Manyara, visit Manyara and then overnight at Bouganvillea.

Your drive from Mbalageti to the Farmhouse is long but do-able. Then you'll be backtracking to the Crater and will have to leave very early to get to the decent road for about 6am. The Crater decent road is near the Serena (have a look at Eben's map: http://go-safari.com/images/NCA.jpg) so you overshoot it coming back from the Serengeti. Perhaps you could consider staying at one of the Crater rim lodges, particularly if you're doing a crater rim hike. It could be that you're doing a hike to Olmoti Crater?

I'm thinking maybe we're going to spend part of the day in Tarangire, then drive to Bougainvillea, spend the night, and then spend the next day in Manyara? Does that make more sense?

It only takes about 1.5 hours to get from Tarangire to Manyara. Bouganvillea is beyond Manyara so you'll have to backtrack to go to the park the next day. I guess that's why you're going back to Bouganvillea for another night. As I said, the 3 days in the Karatu region are the ones that are unclear to me. I'd be inclined to get a more detailed itinerary from your operator to include exactly how and where the &quot;circle hike&quot; and cultural visits fit in.

Thanks--I'll definitely check that out with our agent.