Here are some threads that discussed the Nairobi to Arusha shuttle.

http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...-to-arusha.cfm


http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...s-or-plane.cfm


If you do your safari in Kenya, then flying in to NBO makes sense and you would not need to take a shuttle elsewhere.

But the plan of flying to NBO and the next day taking the daily shuttle to Arusha in Tanzania is very common and not an out of the way overland diversion. It takes about 5 hours.


Often the first full day is spent in Nairobi doing some of the acitivites there. Then the next day take the shuttle to Arusha, get picked up by your Tanzania guide in Arusha and either visit the local Arusha National Park that afternoon or drive a couple of hours to Manyara or Tarangire.

When you mention "fly out of a different airport" that is also very common for Kenya and Tanzania.

Here's how that works. On the front end of the trip you might do the international flt to NBO, take the daily shuttle to Arusha, TZ then do your safari in Tanzania. At the end, intead of taking the shuttle back to NBO from Arusha, you might want to <i>fly from Kilimanjaro, Tanzania (about an hour's drive from Arusha) back to Nairobi</i> and then catch your interntational night flight out. The timing of the Kilimanjaro to Nairobi flight works well with international departures to Europe.

Any other kind of overlanding through other countries where the plane lands or takes off to get to Kenya or Tanzania is a no go.

Two weeks on an escorted safari without public-site-camping for about $215 per night [ ($5000-$2000 transport/other expenses)/14] for a solo traveler might be hard to find.

But if you have $5K, you'll find a safari of some kind with transport to/from.

@sandi a few years back the sister of my girlfriend (at that time), who was the owner of Green Foot Print Adventures in Arusha, told us of a few accidents that happened around that time and warned us for this road.
I guess the links of atravelynn show some experiences of others that confirm it's not a really 'fun' ride to say the least

bookmarking

Hi, we have just come back from 3 wonderful weeks in East Africa. We live in Western Australia and went with Peregrine Tours - their operator in Kenya is JK Safari's.
Before I get carried away, don't take Malarone in the morning because it can make you queasy all day; take it after dinner -there seems to be less obvious side effects. Also most of our holiday - we went on Peregrine's Highlights of Kenya & Tanzania - was spent at very high altitudes compared to here in Perth - 400 feet -and that can cause dehydration if you're not used to it so make sure you drink plenty.
Also do not go to this part of the world if you have a weak bladder or, alternatively are prepared to pee on the side of the road or behind your vehicle, and always keep a good supply of toilet paper or tissues stuffed in your pockets. There are not that many toilet stops especially on all day game drives.
And take a face mask if you can handle wearing them - if you go at this time of year the dust is ever present especially as the roof of the vehicle is usually popped up for the full length of the game drive.
Would not recommend going on your own; when you are seeing so many wonderful things, sharing them with someone makes the experience much more special and, if you lose your camera, you at least have access to their photos.
Would recommend staying at Luxury Tented Camps in preference to most hotels or lodges. It's a much more personal experience and staff and other guests will chat with you - in a lodge or hotel, this is normally not the case.
The only hotels/lodges we would recommend is PanAfric in Nairobi and the Sopa Serengeti in the Serengeti. Recommended tented camps are Meru Springs Eco Lodge, Maili Saba Camp & Nairobi Tented Camps. The staff and management at all of these places are warm & friendly and at the camps, will chat to you for hours and the food is fantastic. And all the beds are King Size!
A lot of the other tourists were not English speaking so travelling on your own could get pretty lonely.
Tanzania has been ravaged by drought for the last 3 years so this has affected the variety of wildlife you are likely to see at their parks, for now. Tarangire, we only saw elephants, Ngorongoro was nothing like the mass of wildlife we expected but the Serengeti was worth the 6 hour trip from Arusha.
Do not try to do this trip on a tight budget as you may spend a lot of your holiday coping with a vehicle that keeps breaking down - the roads are horrific and littered with broken down vehicles. Demand a Land Cruiser or don't go. Do not go in an 8 seater transit van; even if it is 4WD.
Do not expect to do washing - I would just take enough underwear for the length of the holiday. Running water, especially hot running water is not often available except for showers between 5pm & 8 pm and you need to get in early before it runs out.
Kenyans are very warm & friendly - the people are very proud of their country and very passionate about conservation. We felt very safe over there. Tanzania, we didn't get to know so well and they do everything a lot slower over there so it's more frustrating than Kenya. Do not try and exchange cash at one of their banks - you'll be there forever.
Hope you have a wonderful holiday...

In my last posting, I recommended Meru Springs Eco Lodge - that should have read Murera Springs Eco Lodge.

cmunro,
Thank you for the report. Perhaps it can be added to the E African trip index on fodors.
http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...port-index.cfm

also, can you elaborate on your time in Tarangire. Its normally very good in August. Perhaps the Crater as well.

Just looked more closely at this 2Afrika itinerary.
http://2afrika.com/site/safaris/safari.asp?SafariID=96

The stay at Shaba Sarova would be great if the majority of your game drives were done in Samburu or Buffalo Springs, about 30 minutes away. Shaba has far, far less wildlife activitiy than Samburu/Buffalo Springs. The itinerary shows all game drives in Shaba. I'd look into that. If the drives are not done in Samburu/Buffalo Springs, which has outstanding abundance and diversity, then this deal is not so good.

RE:East Africa index
I was adding reports to that for a while, but I'm no longer doing that. I just use the search function now.

nikao - no one ever said the bus between Nairobi/Arusha was <b>fun</b> it's just a means of getting between A & B, and cheap. Lots of people like cheap and time/comfort or fun isn't at issue.

cmunro - interesting report, but should be posted on the NEW East African Index, as link FrankS provided. Otherwise, it get lost on this thread. Maybe copy/paste to the proper thread.

As to some of your comments, know that everyone depending on when traveling will have a different experience. I for one and others with whom I've traveled have always taken Malarone (or even Lariam) in the morning with no ill effects; others though do report taking with dinner... so each their own, how their system reacts.

The dry season is just that and yes, lots of dust... just be aware. Other times, none at all. At least I've never found this to impact my breathing or finding dirty/dusty clothing at end day, or bringing them home as such. And, living at sea level (NYC), altitude anywhere, even at Ngorongoro hasn't had any effect on me... again, we're all different. It's awareness.

If there is no running water at camps or lodges but between certain hours, sufficient for taking showers... when it comes to laundry, it can be done by staff at very reasonable prices. And, when it comes to "wears" (especially women's smalls) which often are not done, either bring sufficient for the duration, or as I have done these past years... paper panties (inexpensive and just toss after wearing; less weight on the homebound trip).

guadalakara - safaris can be found at reasonable prices traveling with a group, but they're not always the best routings, lodgings and lots of time spent in transit rather than game viewing. And, if as you, trying to do so during the holiday, gets quite expensive - airfare and safari itself.

While visitors come from everywhere and some are not English speakers, if you work with an outfitter who caters to those who are, whether you travel with a group or solo... this shouldn't be a problem. Besides, such outfitters tend to recommend lodges/camps that more often than not do cater to English speakers. There are on the otherhand, many properties that do, indeed, cater to those who don't, whether Italian, German, Japanese, Chinese, etc. for whatever reason... so it's important to inquire.

Still, wishing you luck in this endeavor.

thanks again everyone. after some more time to think, i decided that an i'm up for an overland trip after all. what's most important to me is just getting to see the widest variety of sights in africa and an overland trip is the best way to do that (and really the only way, on my budget!)

so, i'm back to considering the nairobi to vic falls trip i linked to in my very first post in this thread... but also seriously considering this one through vic falls/botswana/namibia/s.a.: http://www.gapadventures.com/trips/d...lls/DZLD/2011/

i'm especially excited about the sand dunes, bushmen, canoe ride, and night game drive in etosha - but exactly how bad of an idea is it to visit that region during that part of the year? the fodors guide said its the "green season" in botswana - very hot and humid, but not crowded. i know on the other trip, things will be crowded (at least in tanzania) because of migration and the holidays... but what exactly does "crowded" mean in a game reserve in the serengeti? it can't be as bad as "crowded" at disneyworld, right?

"it can't be as bad as "crowded" at disneyworld, right??

Depends. Serengeti, watching leopard in tree (Feb of 2011)-
http://tomgraham.smugmug.com/SAFARI2...337_7SfvQ-A-LB

regards - tom

One year we were in Botswana/Chobe early-Dec and did have an occasional shower, but didn't inhibit safari. However, as December in going into "summer" in most of Africa from the Equator south, you can expect daytime weather to be hot and humid (it sure was in Chobe, Victoria Falls and Kruger). Evenings though do cool down somewhat. Mornings also are cool, sometimes even downright cold, so proper attire is required - layers works always, as you peel off/put on as changes happen.

Good luck with an overland!

You may want to look at flying out of DC or Atlanta.

"what's most important to me is just getting to see the widest variety of sights in africa and an overland trip is the best way to do that (and really the only way, on my budget!)"

I think you have hit on a plan that combines variety and economy. This option will not provide the best conditions for photography and you'll have to go on the group schedule so no lingering at will, but you'll see a lot.

Have you changed your mind about participation camping?
"Help set up camp, pitch in at mealtime and work together to cross rivers, plains and passes." -from itinerary

Have you changed your mind about driving long distances? Drive times listed are about 90 hours. My experience is that listed times are usually on the low end. These times do not include the game drives.

Good luck.

We did the Lion World Tours trip pout of DC...phenominal...consider domestic to DC or take the Big Bus from CLT.

Neuman605,

While staying at Shaba Sarova do you recall in which reserve(s) you did the game drives? From the looks of the Lion World itinerary, Samburu and Buffalo Springs are never mentioned as the locations of the game drives. Only Shaba is mentioned.

Hi,
I would recommend that you do Kenya. Kenya has a wide variety of things that you can enjoy and even if you stayed for two full months,you will never have enough of it. Its tours are also cheap and any budget will always find a tour that fits. With your $ 5,000,if you subtract airfare and other official expendiures,you will be left with over $ 3000 to spend for your tour. You can get a number of places to visit. You can do safaris (and Kenya has such a large number of wildlife) and incorporate cultural visits and activities. You also have a chance to do trekking,home stays and other interesting activites. You can also tour the famous Kakamega forest,the only rain forest in East Africa with interesting stories.

Camping does not have to be in a scarery,lonely,abandoned place. There is a number of places to camp,including national parks and private camp sites. Check out this tour company, www.facebook.com/HeelsValiseToursKenya
It has a number of packages that can work for you since it is quite flexible. It can also custom make the itinerary to suit your needs.

I hope this helps you. All the best.

Although your overland trip covers a lot, you will find that you are travelling a lot and may not get the game viewing experience you want. Take a look at the group trips offered by Explore Worldwide, Exodus and The Adventure Company. They are usually smaller groups and smaller vehicles than those used by the overland trips. My first two trips to Africa were on trips like this and were a great introduction.

I have an acquaintance who went on an Intrepid Travel tour. Some of their tours might be what you are looking for. All prices are in USD, and watch out for the kitty costs.

http://www.intrepidtravel.com/

gap is more expensive than Intrepid. I know nothing about East Africa, so I can't help with good/bad itineraries or areas. You are getting good advice here from the experts.

Thanks again everyone. I am still evaluating options. It's hard for me to make a decision all by myself with so many exciting possibilities! For the past 2 weeks I've spent practically all my free time researching Africa trips I really appreciate everyone's help.

I am close to making a final decision. I am now back to wanting an East Africa trip, especially considering the weather in Botswana that time of year. Also thinking I'll depart in January rather than Dec for better airfares and possibly better weather. I'm currently looking at a few different tours that go from Nairobi to Zanzibar for 10 or so days, with plans to tack on an additional short Masai Mara excursion (if by myself), or short Cairo visit (I have a friend who might be interested in coming with me, but I don't really want to visit Cairo by myself).

For the main tour, I'm considering options from Gap, Nomad, and Tucan Travel all in the $1500-1700 range. christabir, I found that Intrepid is more expensive than Gap, across the board, once you add in those darn kitty costs. Gap doesn't charge additional kitty costs.

I also saw what looks like a great deal on an Amanzi tour: http://www.amanzitravel.co.uk/produc...002/index.html $959 + $150 extra for accomodation in Zanz = $1109 ... plus they're running a special to tack on a 3-day Masai Mara safari for only the local payment of $160! Is this too good to be true?


When it comes to airfare, since I'm looking at itineraries that require multi-city international air travel, that is a whole separate hunt to find the most economical way of doing things. If I did not do Egypt, it looks best to book a return flight from CLT(Charlotte NC, where I live)-NBO, depart on the tour from Nairobi, then at the end of the tour take a one-way flight from Zanzibar or Dar es Salaam back to Nairobi, go on the Masai Mara excursion then take my return flight back home.

Adding Egypt would complicate things. Air travel tips welcome!

ah just realized that Amanzi trip price does not include the "optional" Serengeti/Ngorongoro Crater Excursion, which is an additional $410. Still an alright deal though thanks to the MM special.