Feedback on Tanzania Itineraries
 

Hello all,

I've been lurking on this board a few weeks and would appreciate feedback on the following itineraries. We are going to Tanzania the latter half of November and are looking to spend some time in both the north and south and at the beach. The first itinerary is from ATR and the second from Good Earth. I'm leaning towards the Good Earth, but welcome feedback on both, particularly on Sayari Camp, as I can't find too much info on it. Thanks so much!

14NOV2006 Arusha : Moivaro Coffee Lodge
15NOV2006 Safari : Tarangire Mawe Ninga Lodge
16NOV2006 Safari : Tarangire Mawe Ninga Lodge
17NOV2006 Safari : Karatu Gibbs Farm
18NOV2006 Safari : Southern Serengeti Olduvai Camp

19NOV2006 : Fly: Central Serengeti to Sayari

19NOV2006 : Safari: North Serengeti : Sayari Camp
20NOV2006 : Safari: North Serengeti : Sayari Camp
21NOV2006 : Safari: North Serengeti : Sayari Camp

22NOV2006 : Fly: Sayari to Selous

22NOV2006 : Selous : Sand Rivers
23NOV2006 : Selous : Sand Rivers Fly Camp
24NOV2006 : Selous : Sand Rivers

25NOV2006 : Fly: Selous to Zanzibar

25NOV2006 : Zanzibar : Matemwe Bungalows
26NOV2006 : Zanzibar : Matemwe Bungalows
27NOV2006 : Zanzibar : Matemwe Bungalows
28NOV2006 : Zanzibar : Matemwe Bungalows
29NOV2006 : Zanzibar : Emerson & Green


Itinerary from Good Earth

Day 1 (Nov 2006): USA or Canada–Amsterdam
Board your flight on Northwest Airlines / KLM and arrive in Amsterdam the following morning
Day 2: Europe (Amsterdam)- Kilimanjaro
For people from Europe can board KLM flight today, and those from North America will connect with the same KLM flight this morning to Kilimanjaro International airport. Met on arrival at Kilimanjaro airport and transfer to Arusha to our Luxury hotel, Mountain Village Lodge
Day 3: Tarangire
Leave Arusha for Tarangire Park, game drive in Tarangire, Tarangire Treetop, B,L,D.
Day 4: Tarangire
More game drives in Tarangire, Tarangire Treetop, BL,D.
Day 5: Tarangire / Serengeti
Today after breakfast, we drive to Serengeti, game drive in Serengeti, in search of large predators and the gentle herbivores on which they feed, Serengeti Serena Lodge, B,L,D
Day 6~7: Serengeti
More game drives in Serengeti park, Migration camp, B,L,D.
Day 8: Serengeti / Ngorongoro Crater
After breakfast, we drive to Ngorongoro, with a visit to Masai Village en route, then arrive in Ngorongoro crater in time for afteronn game drive in the crater, Ngorongoro CRATER LODGE, B,L,D.
Day 9: Ngorongoro / Arusha
Descend into Ngorongoro crater for another game drive in the crater exploring the short-grass plains of the crater floor. This extinct volcano embraces 100sq miles alive with lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, buffalo, and many more games, then drive to Arusha, Mountain Village Lodge, B,L.
Day 10: Arusha / Selous
Transfer to Arusha airport, flight to Selous, leaving Arusha at about 8am, arrival Selous at about 11:45am, met and have game drives in Selous, Sand Rivers Lodge, B,L,D.
Day 11~12: Game drives in Selous including a walking safari and a boat safari, Sand Rivers Lodge, B,L,D.
Day 13: Transfer to airstrip in Selous, flight to Z’bar, met on arrival and transfer to hotel in stone town, Emersons & Green, B.
Day 14: Transfer to East Coast to Pongwe Beach Hotel, B,D.
Day 15~16: Pongwe Beach Hotel, B,D.
Day 17: Transfer to Z’bar airport, flight to Dar, connect your return flight from DAR, B.
Day 18: Arrival US

I was in Sayari last year, and really really loved it!. Im definately going back there next January.
We then also be staying in matemwe on Zanzibar.

Sounds like a very nice safari either way.. with selous included!

Thanks. We are also looking for feedback on Treetops, if anyone has any. We have heard a reason not to stay there is the distance from the park.

Also, with regard to both itineraries--do they seem like we will be rushing around too much--I just can't tell.

Final question, we have basically decided to do Pongwe instead of Matemwe, but wonder if there is good diving near Pongwe.

Thanks again!

I don't believe there is diving at Pongwe, but you can do a daytrip up the coast and go diving. Pongwe is a great place to just kick back and "chill out."

ktnyc,

I recently stayed at Tarangire Treetops, and for even a 2 night stay, I did find the distance to the park to be discouraging.

Although not too many people are aware of this yet, Nomad is opening a semi-permanent camp within the boundaries of Tarangire National Park on August 01st of this year.

I don't think there is anything up yet on their website, but if you wish to e-mail me, I would be happy to forward you the attachment that Nomad provided me with for this camp. Had this been an option during my March visit, I would have definitely stayed with Nomad.

Here's a link to Eben's site which has some info on Nomad camp planned for Tarangire: http://www.go-safari.com/Tarangire/Nomadtar.htm

Also might want to consider Oliver's Camp or Swala for Tarangire.

Looks like a great itinerary to get overview of Tanzania.

I wish you can combine some places from both itineraries!

Itinerary 1 issues:

No overnight near Ngorongoro - Gibbs and Olduvai Camp are too far away and unnecessary. The flight from Seronera to Sayari is a bit silly and can be avoided if you skip Olduvai Camp for a Seronera lodge/camp.

Itinerary 2 issues:

Way too much driving. It is better to drive one way, doing Ngorongoro on the way out, then fly to Zanzibar from Lobo or Seronera.

By mid-November it is tough choice between Migration Camp and Sayari at the Mara. Sayari will be more exclusive with fewer people but it is a long drive up there. If this is your first time in the Serengeti then it is probably better to go with the Seronera area and Migration Camp. BTW I love Sayari at the Mara - not to be confused with their Piaya location which is not my favorite game stop due to the nearby village of Piaya.

In Tarangire, Oliver's has a great location and their pioneering walking safaris inside the park don't get enough credit here. Nomad is certainly worth looking at but it depends on their location which is still unknown. Most of the special camp sites have been moved away from the Tarangire River and the better sites are hotly contested by all mobile outfitters. Location is important in Tarangire where the tsetse flies can be a real problem when camping.

Swala is another great camp and one of very few where you can sit on your deck and watch the wildlife.

On Zanzibar Matemwe Bungalows is a more upscale option but I am sure you are aware of this.

I think itinerary 2 is the better one if you can modify it to drive west and fly east.

Thanks so much--this is exactly the kind of feedback I was seeking. I will see what we can do and report back.

So, we have heard back from Good Earth and our trip is shaping up. Would love any feedback.

Nov 16th, 2006: Arrival in DAR at 7:25am. Good Earth to arrange and pay for a one way flight, leaving DAR at 8:45am, arriving Arusha at 10:50am, met on arrival an d drive to Tarangire Park, game drive in Tarangire, Tarangire Treetop, B,L,D. (will change to Oliver's Camp)
Nov 17: Tarangire
More game drives in Tarangire, Tarangire Treetop, BL,D. (will change to Oliver's Camp)
Nov 18: Tarangire / Ngorongoro
After breakfast, we drive to Ngorongoro crater, game drives in the crater, Ngorongoro CRATER LODGE, B,L,D.
Nov 19: Ngorongoro / Serengeti
Morning game drive in the crater, then drive to overnight in central Serengeti, with a visit to Masai Village en route, Serengeti Serena Lodge, B,L,D.
Nov 20~21: Serengeti
Game drives in Serengeti, in search of large predators and the gentle herbivores on which they feed, Migration camp, B,L,D.
Nov 22: Serengeti
More game drives in the Serengeti, Serengeti Serena Lodge, B,L,D.
Nov 23: Serengeti / Selous
Morning game drive as we transfer to Seronera airstrip for a flight to Selous, leaving Seronera at 10:50am, arriving Selous at 3:15pm, met and have game drives in Selous, Sand Rivers Lodge, B,L,D.
Nov 24~25: Game drives in Selous including a walking safari and a boat safari, Sand Rivers Lodge, B,L,D.
Nov 26: Transfer to airstrip in Selous, flight to Z’bar, met on arrival and transfer to hotel in stone town, Emersons & Green, B.
Nov 27: Transfer to East Coast to Pongwe Beach Hotel, B,D.
Nov 28~29: Pongwe Beach Hotel, B,D.
Nov 30: Transfer to Z’bar airport, flight to Dar, connect your return flight from DAR, B.

Also, I realized that we have an extra few days b/c of our flights that aren't scheduled (we aren't leaving until Dec. 3). I'm thinking maybe just have the first day in Arusha, and then extra time at the beach.

Finally, does anyone have feedback on Good Earth guides? Thanks.

Very good!

You will be on ZanAir to Arusha via Zanzibar, and Coastal Aviation back to Selous. I cannot improve much on this other than asking why you are starting in Dar? Are you arriving from Europe or Nairobi?

I prefer Ruaha over Selous but no worries - both very good and the boat is different!

In terms of international flights, you can fly to Kilimanjaro and out of Dar on KLM.

You are in for a very good trip to Tanzania!

We are using AA miles on BA and thus flying in and out of DAR. Thanks so much for the feedback!

ktnyc we are starting to work on an itineray for February with Good Earth. What is the cost for the package they have put together for you and did you compare it with other companies ? What got you on to Good Earth ?