Help Me Choose Outfitter
 

OK............here is how we have it narrowed down (if you can call it that....:-) June/July Safari of Tanzania 2007.

1 - Arusha - Mt. Village Lodge
2-3 - Tarangire Sopa
4 - Manyara Serena
5-6 - Ngorongoro Serena
7-8 Serengeti Serena
9-10 - Kirawira
11 - Flight to Arusha - Mt. Village Lodge

Outfitters/Costs (all approximate within a few hundred)

$4000.00
Roy Safaris
Naipenda Safaris
Twiga Safaris
Good Earth
Destination Africa
Eastern & Southern (substituted Swala in place of Tarangire Sopa - sounds like a good idea)

$3500.00
African Trails

$3000.00
Sunny Safaris

I am sure some of these will change slightly as we firm up arrangements, etc. but what is everyone's opinion of which outfitter to use? Is it worth saving $1000.00 per person to use Sunny's Safaris over the majority of the rest at $4000.00 per person. They have all quoted on the exact itinerary (apples to apples), except the change for Eastern/Southern.

I have basically read good reviews on some these outfitters (Roy, Sunny, Good Earth) and would anyone comment on the good/bad of them?

Thanks to everyone and these forums have been great.

dssxxxx, #-O
You have read good reviews on Sunny. Do you feel like throwing away $1000? If so, send them to me. It’s a xxxxxx return flight to Nairobi!

I agree. Why would you have asked Sunny to quote if you didn't intend to book with them -- time, to operators, is money.

I didn't say I was not using Sunny.

Read the post.

I am asking for opinions as to why someone would pay the extra $1000.00 to use the others.

Sorry if you misunderstood.

Thanks.

Aha. Sorry. I’m so used to Fodorites being silly. That’s a not a good excuse … English is not my first language …

I don’t know why anyone would pay the extra $ 1000. $ 3000 for 11 nights is already expensive. Maybe if your money is burning a hole in your pocket, but I’ve never seen that in real life.

Understood. I don't have any knowledge about the operators, but can you pin them down to see what type of vehicle they provide. I would pay $1,000 more to be in a modern Land Rover than an old jalopy. I would pay $100 more per day for added comfort.

I can't comment on the outfitters.

However, June/july may still be too early in the season to get the best of tarangire. I would recommend utilize the two nights better, by adding them to the serengeti. Just something, i would do.......

Hari

Hi,
Have you checked out Green Footprint Safaris? We are booking with them for an October Safari, going to many similar places to you. They include activities such as canoeing, hiking, biking into a village, visiting an orphanage.
1,2, Arusha, Kigongoni Lodge
3, Tarangire, Treetops lodge
4, Manyara, Serena Manyara Lodge
5, 6, Ngorongoro, Plantation Lodge
7,8, Serengeti, Sayari camp
9,10,11, Zanzibar, Beaches

Our price per person is 3,400

Of course we haven't done the trip yet, but they have been very helpful.

Since you have plenty of time, the best thing to do is to search through this forum for various comments on each operator - there is informative stuff going quite a few years back. With comparisons like you're asking for the problem is that if you're happy with an operator first time out it is unlikely you will change. There are only a few people who would be able to compare ground operators like that - and most would be tour operators themselves. Hopefully someone out there can give you a clue. Vehicles, pre-safari service (which is principally being a good consultant for you and making helpful and interesting suggestions) and quality of your driver/guide are all that can really vary. As you read the posts I'm sure you'll get an idea of what impressed people and whether you want to pay extra for it, as compared to repainting the house, staying at somewhere whacky like Crater Lodge, or giving it away to Swedish people who ask for it on forums.

((a))

Try looking at Journey to Africa website,
Journeytoafrica.com
Their office is here in the states but their Rep, Mefi, is Tanzanian and very knowledeable, fleixible and prompt with inquiries.

I am planning a safari with them July/aig '07 and I have had nothing but very positive feeb back from references they supplied me.

Are these all firm prices for 2007?

Thit_cho,

They seem to all offer the same 5 or 7 seat Land Rover - Land Cruiser.

santharamhari,

Since posting, have already removed Tarangire and am figuring out where to spend the additional 2 nights.

jdavies - Khori,

Have requested enough info - must now narrow down to make a half intelligent decision.

kimburu,

I have used the search function of this forum, until I thought I knew ever post within the Tanzania section...:-)

Patty,

The only outfitter that said these were 2006 prices and could rise was Roy Safaris.

Are all these for private safaris? Or would you be sharing a vehicle on some of these?

I used Roy for our first safari (Aug. 2005 yet I still linger on this board--Africa is addictive!) with excellent results but as kimburu pointed out, I have no point of comparison.

Patty has an excellent point. Check with the other outfitters that they are indeed quoting prices for 2007, all of which aren't yet available.

All pricing is for 2 peeps.

And, what can the 2007 price increase amount? 5% or another $200 per person.

I look for ward to this trip as I did when I did Kenya in 1990...:-)

These prices are for 2 people?? Not per person?
J

Two additional days.......i'd say serengeti. There is just so much to do and see and cover huge areas.....the longer you stay, the greater your chances of seeing something special!!!

Hari

Prices can go up 10%, even 15%, for the mid-range Sopa/Serena lodges on your itinerary. It's Kirawira that's expensive and can run $1300-$1400/nt/rm.

I just came back from a 10 day Northern Circuit trip with Naipenda Safaris. We did a private safari with them and everything was just fantastic! I highly recommend them, our guide Chris was experienced and had encyclopedic knowledge of all the animals we saw (great and small). We even saw a Cheetah take down a gazelle!

The lodges were excellent but I highly recommend doing part of the trip on mobile tented camp, it was the highlight of the stay. I had the best trip with no hiccups or problems.

I also call all the references Naipenda provided and got very comfortable with their service prior to booking. We also met the owner at Naipenda's office in Arusha and saw their facilities there.

You're going a long ways for this, would you rather have fabulous memories or say you saved some money on the trip and risk potential problems.

Other aspects than costs, some already mentioned:

Safari vehicle offered
Firm Pricing -- not 2006 pricing
Length of time in business
Your Personal Experience/Satisfaction..so far
Others experience post-trip
Accessibility /responsiveness
Method of Payment

$1000 is a lot of money. Buy a good digital SLR camera body!