canadian_robin

Hi again Charlie! Below is the link to the trip report written by the couple who were asked to share the campsite in Tarangire. Here is the relevant bit:

<i>At 17:30 we arrive at our campsite again, and notice that there is another car with 'self-drivers' on our spot! After checking up with them it seems they have a reservation as well and since there is no ranger station nearby we decide the campsite is big enough for the 2 of us and we put our car a bit further behind some bushes and still have some privacy. (Later we would learn that the rangers seem to think the campsite is big enough for 2 people camping there 'privately' so it was no error. Something to keep in mind in the future as I definitely think it is less nice having 'others' there)</i>

Their full report and photos may be viewed here:
http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...rn-circuit.cfm
Robin

Charlie_Cornwall

Hi Robin thanks for the link. I will be very interested to hear how you get on next August. We wouldn't mind sharing with one other couple but Expert Africa reported groups, staff playing radios, Yikes! And so much noise late into the evening that no animals came near. We were thinking of going with a driver/guide set up where simple tents are put up for you. This isn't cheap so to find yourself in a crowd would be a shock when it's advertised as private. C

canadian_robin

The scene that Expert Africa describes - large groups and radios - certainly was not our experience on the Tanzanian special/private campsites in 2012 (or 2009). Hopefully, things have not changed that drastically since then. I will certainly let you know.

That being said, from what we saw at the public campsites at Seronera and Lobo, Expert Africa describes them pretty accurately. We stopped at one of the Seronera public campsites for lunch and were horrified - garbage strewn everywhere, guest tents packed in like sardines, and guides standing around in groups talking and laughing loudly. I have a vague recollection of a radio playing. Lobo was quieter and less crowded, with only two groups, but also poorly maintained, with garbage everywhere and dilapidated toilets. We were very thankful that we had paid the extra for the private campsites - well worth it from what we saw (albeit briefly) of the public campsites. Robin