cwn,
Oh, I agree. I'm of the mind that a taste of honey is BETTER than none at all. So whatever time you've got to work with, go for it.

mkhonzo, a poster on this board, is taking the Rovos rail trip. That's where I've read about it. Certainly sounds fantasic.

Thanks bat and Leely,

I am so excited. I thought our trip in late 2004 to Asia(where I discovered Fodors) was the trip of a lifetime, this one with the train ride is for sure to me. Several of the Tour groups are trying to discourage us from just the three nights in Tanzania. But a TASTE is better than NOTHING for sure. The big negative is the drive from Ngoromgoro to Migration Camp. There have been posts by people that have done it, and said it was really kinda interesting even if long. I may do a post just on that part.

Thaks all. All comments are welcome!

cwn:
I noticed that your plane arrives between 3 and 4--you might see how far they are willing to drive you that day in case you could get closer to the crater (rather than staying in Arusha)--it will mean that you are in the crater that much earlier on the 14th.

Thanks bat,

At this point they (ATR, haven't heard anymore from Roy's, not sure they are still interested) have us flying to Kilimanjaro airport at 3:10 on precision. Then it says that it is 1.5 hours from the airport to Kigongoni Lodge. I can't get Precision's schedule to come up, but thought that flight was to Arusha. It leaves Dar at 1:20. Do need to check thar out. I read some post about confusion about airports!

That is a good idea. Any suggestions on places to stay? I will check on it.

Thanks.

Bat,

Thanks for the suggestion to drive past Arusha for the night July 13. I emailed both of the groups that have shown the most interest. ATR got right back with an updated quote. Roys has emailed that rooms were available at Migration and Ngorongoro. but no quote on the first desired safari yet.

Now the Safari looks like this:
July 13: Fly to Arusha, arrive 3:10pm. Drive to Gibbs Farm for night. ATR has a couple of side options for sights at this point.
July 14: Drive to Crater for morning game drive. Overnight at Ngorongoro Crater Lodge.
July 15: Drive central, northern Serengeti to Migration Camp for overnight. Again ART has given several route options. I posted these in different post.
July 16: Game drives, overnight at Migration Camp.
July 17: Game drive to Kein airstrip, fly to Kilimanjaro airport, day room at Kia Lodge, back to Kilimanjaro for evening flight.

Sounds good to me and the agent likes, it if we don't mind the little extra cost for the guide's over night and about $100 more for Gibbs Farm. Mainly,I think it makes the next day at The Crater Ldge make more sense.

Thanks again for all the help from the board, just wish we were going this summer!!

cwn:
Sounds good--this strikes me as precisely the kind of situation in which Gibbs makes alot of sense. It will make a big difference in what time you will get to the crater rather than staying in Arusha. And it is not as if you have the option of another Crater drive on the next day because that will be your big drive to Migration Camp. Plus, you may want to come out of the crater before it closes to have some time to enjoy the view from Crater Lodge so an earlier arrival makes that more possible.

Bat, my thoughts exactly. For what we will be paying for Crater Lodge, it would be a shame not to enjoy a bit of what it has to offer.

Thanks for the reply.

cwn:
BTW, you can request a particular camp at Crater Lodge (and unit, according to one of the managers). You can read my opinion of them in my trip report (plus look at Eben's site for pictures and video).