I recently wrote my trip report of my last trip to Tanzania here:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34784464

and now we are planning for our trip back there!

Our planned trip is the following for now:
16-20Jan Arusha
21-Jan Tarangire, Oliver's Camp FB.
22-Jan Tarangire, Oliver's Camp GP.
23-Jan Plantation lodge
24-Jan Plantation lodge
25-Jan Ndutu lodge
26-Jan Ndutu lodge
27-Jan Sayari FB
28-Jan Sayari GP
29-Jan Drive back to Arusha
30-Jan Zan Air Flight Aru-Znz etd 14:30 eta 16:00, Matemwe Bungalows
31-Jan Matemwe Bungalows
1-Feb Matemwe Bungalows
2-Feb Matemwe Bungalows
3-Feb Zan Air Flight Znz-Dar etd 17:30 eta 17:50,KLM flight back home

one day of the Plantation Lodge we will probably be going to the Ngorongoro Crater..

And all with Green Footprint Adventures again.
www.greenfootprint.co.tz

Can't wait to go back!

Welcome to the "Going Back Club"! It seems we all join this club!

A mark of confidence for Greenfootprint.

Since I've never been to Africa at the time of year you are going, I'd like to ask you if you are hoping to see a zebra birth in January. I believe January is the zebra birthing season.

Have another wonderful trip.

Wonderful news Nikao. We will be in Oliver's Dec 27-28, and Ndutu Dec 31 - Jan 1. Waiting on formal confirmation for the accommodations. They have been on hold for us. Also keeping Kigongoni based on your positive feedback from last trip report. Where will you be staying in Arusha this time (e.g. with family or at a lodge)?
Our itineraries differ when it comes to Plantation Lodge, although remember that was recommended to me on this board as well. We are staying at Gibb's Farm and Ngoro Sopa for one night each.

Did check with Greenfootprint for a one day guided tour to Arusha National Park, but they didn't do one day trips. Kind response from them.

Sounds great!

Nikao, welcome back to Tanzania!

You are planning another long stay in Arusha!

Are you related to Mary Rijnburg from Green Footprint? She is also from the Netherlands and I think I recognize her and Jean du Plessis in your pictures!

@climbhighsleeplow;

she's the sister of my girlfriend

@atravelynn:

according to Green Footprint the birthing season is february. It may start at the end of january.. so we might get lucky..

Excellent!

Green Footprint is a great company and while I don't know their other guides it is well-known that Jean du Plessis one of the best guides in Tanzania.

Hope you have a wonderful trip with or without births. I thought zebras gave birth mainly in January with the wildebeest in February.

we saw some newborn zebras in South Luangwa in mid-march. the guides said they were less than a week-old. There were a lot of babies about 1 month old. Seemed all the zebras had babies.

@climbhighsleeplow
how do you know Jean and Mary?

And people in Canada can look forward to seeing Jean with his own show on TV soon.

Hi Nikao

Their office is next to Albatros - a company that I used in the past! So I knew about them before I met them.

One day I talked to the guides from Royal African who said they partnered with a guide from South Africa (Jean) and since I am also from South Africa they suggested that we should meet!

So last year I happened to be at Ndarakwai Ranch and I ran into Jean who was leading a weeklong guide school. That's how we met!

A few days later I visited his office to meet about helping him on Kilimanjaro (I own a trekking company) and I was introduced to his business partner Mary.

We've kept in touch since then and needless to say I enjoy their friendship and I have a great deal of respect for both of them!

great to hear that climbhigh..

we are probably changing the schedule a little; putting 2 days in Arusha after coming back from safari and going to zanzibar.. we will be going home on the 6th..

Just received my Digital SLR camera;
Nikon D70s with a 24-85mm F2.8 - 4 Nikkor
Now I can start practicing with it.
Within a few weeks I will also get a 80-200mm F2.8 Nikkor, so I will be well prepared for my trip nex January.

About the trip;
1 day of Ndutu lodge was already full, so we will throw in one day in Olakira.

Hi Nikau

I see you are going back to Sayari in January.

When I was there in early Jan 2006 it was very dry with very few animals (none actually). Do you have specific reasons for wanting to go back there in January?

It may also be a bit early for Ndutu so Olakira is probably a better option anyway because being mobile they may wait at Seronera if 2007 is a repeat of 2006!

well about sayari; we were there last december and it was very dry with no animals.. and we loved it!!
We were there our last 3 days of our safari, and I really loved it. We did some great walks, and we were the only ones (actually the very first) in the camp on that location. I loved the emptyness and the absence of any tourist or other people except for the masai of course. That's why I really want to go back there at the end of our trip..