rowtownian

It is my wife’s 40th birthday in February and I am planning a surprise trip to Tanzania to celebrate it. She has always wanted to do this, as she absolutely loves wildlife (particularly big cats).

I have started investigating things and have come up with the following itinerary:

Day 1, Thu Feb 19th – Depart 18:25 from London to DAR (BA0047)
Day 2, Fri Feb 20th - Arrive DAR 07:00, Travel to Arusha
Day 3, Sat Feb 21st Safari Day 1 (Ngorongoro?)
Day 4, Sun Feb 22nd Safari Day 2 (Ngorongoro?)
Day 5, Mon Feb 23rd Safari Day 3 (Serengeti?)
Day 6, Tue Feb 24th Safari Day 4 (Serengeti?)
Day 7, Wed Feb 25th *BIRTHDAY* Hopefully Serengeti Balloon Safari
Day 8, Thur Feb 26th Back to Arusha (or somewhere that has transport to Zanzibar)
Day 9, Fri Feb 27th Travel to Zanzibar (Shooting Star Lodge /maybe Stone Town)
Day 10, Sat Feb 28th Shooting Star Lodge
Day 11, Sun Mar 1st Shooting Star Lodge
Day 12, Mon Mar 2nd Shooting Star Lodge
Day 13, Tue Feb 3rd Travel back to DAR (stay in DAR)
Day 14, Wed 4th Depart 09:55 from DAR to London (BA0046)

Does this seem like a more sensible plan?
I would really value any comments or opinions and would also welcome suggestions about reputable operators for the Safari.

Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions.

Regards

Ian

ShayTay

Hi Ian,

What a wonderful idea for your wife's birthday! However, if you're talking about going in February 2009, you may find it difficult to get accommodations at such short notice. My safari outfitter, Kibo Guides, told me in September that they were booked up and were no longer taking reservations for February. Given the world economy, though, there may be cancellations and space available. For outfitters, check out the East Africa Trip Report Index on the Board: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34860283
Also, safari planning companies such as Africa Travel Resource may have space set aside that they could book for you.

First, your flights: safaris start from Arusha, so you might consider flying KLM, which goes directly into Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) rather than flying to Dar. The connection would be LHR-AMS-JRO. To return from Zanzibar, you could fly on KLM out of Dar, DAR-AMS-LHR. Go to www.kayak.com to look at the flight schedules and pricing. Otherwise, you would probably have to stay overnight in Dar and fly to JRO the next day. There are flights from the Serengeti that go through Arusha (the domestic airport, not JRO) and onward to Zanzibar. I used Regional in September to do so, but I think that ZanAir also does that.

Second, I think you have too few days on safari and too many in Zanzibar. You could add a day in Arusha NP or Lake Manyara NP at the beginning of your safari. The Migration will probably be in the southern Serengeti where there is only one lodge, but several companies set up seasonal tented camps in the area. The balloon trips are in the central Serengeti, so you might consider spending more days in the Serengeti and splitting your time between the two areas.

The Shooting Star Lodge is nice (I've stayed there), but it's on a cliff above the beach. I also like Pongwe Beach Lodge, which is directly on the beach. However, SSL has air conditioning and Pongwe does not. In February, it's going to be rather hot. Even if you don't stay in Stone Town, I'd suggest doing a tour. If you went directly to the beach for 2 or 3 days, you could do the tour on your last day before flying over to Dar for your flight home.

Let us know how your planning is coming along and if you're finding space available.

pattyroth

I agree with ShayTay. We did a similar length safari and time in Zanzibar and found that three nights in Zanzibar was almost too much for us. But maybe Feb. is less humid. (Plus you're younger than we are!) We had six nights on safari (Tarangire, Ngorongoro, and Serengeti) and could have used another night or two there. www.pbase.com/pattyroth for photos if you want to see our journey in pix.

sandi

As shaytay mentions, if you can fly out of AMS to JRO would be better, arriving in evening and commencing safari next morning.

If your only option is BA, with arrival 7am, you can make a flight to Arusha later that morning and no need for overnight in DAR. At the back end, with a 9:55am departure, there is a very early flight out of ZNZ, specifically to connect with this BA flight... something to consider.

As to the safari, I too agree that you should consider more time than on the beach. The drive from Arusha to Ngorongoro is almost 5/hrs so would suggest you stop mid-way at Lk. Manyara for game drive and lunch at Gibb's Farm, continuing to Ngorongoro for overnight. Schedule the morning crater tour which isn't as crowded as the afternoon often having a few hours to yourself. You can then overnight here or nearby Karatu for following drive to Serengeti.

As to the Serengeti, February is very very busy and with only 1/lodge,, you'd have to consider some of the tented camps in Ndutu or Southern Serengeti. Spend at least 2, preferably 3/days before heading to Central Serengeti for the early morning balloon lift-off. After the balloon you can catch a 10am flight via Arusha to Zanzibar.

19 Feb - Lv LHR 6:25pm
20 Feb - Ar DAR 7am, mid-morning/early-afternoon flight to Arusha - o/n
21 Feb - Drive to Manyara, lunch at Gibb's, continue to Ngorongoro - o/n
22 Feb - morning crater tour - o/n on rim or in Karatu
23 Feb - Drive to Ndutu/S.Serengeti - o/n
24 Feb - Ndutu or S.Serengeti - o/n
25 Feb - w/game drive to Central Serengeti - o/n
26 Feb - Balloon, fly to ZNZ
27 Feb - 2 Mar - ZNZ
3 Mar - Drive to Stone Town; town tour - option: fly to DAR for o/n or o/n Stone Town
4 Mar - Transfer to DAR airport for 9:55am homebound or early flight from ZNZ to DAR for 9:55am homebound.

Now, you just have to hope there is lodging/camp space available during this very busy time. Good luck!

atravelynn

Maybe the poor economy will help you out on this and there will be room at the inn(s).

If your wife loves wildlife, then I'd agree with the others and do more days on safari.

Feb is great for the migration in Southern Serengeti. You might have more luck finding room in a mobile tented camp (very nice, comfortable, some are downright luxurious) over Ndutu, the one lodge. The tented options are usually more expensive, though.

If you cannot find lodging in the Serengeti, maybe you could consider Kenya. The Maasai Mara is always good. But I'd try for Tanzania as Choice #1.

I wouldn't wait to contact some agents. There are many options for Tanzania. Some that have been used here with success can be found in this handy index of East Africa Trip Reports.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34860283

rowtownian

I'd just like to say a huge thank you for all the extremely useful information.

I wasn't aware of the KLM flights so I'm having a look at their schedule now. My wife isn't a particularly comfortable flier so it might help with that!

I'm also busy checking availability of other things too. I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks again

Ian

rowtownian

Hello again

I have been talking to an agent in the UK who has recommended Kenya Airways flights...

For my trip this I think it would work out like this:

1. LHR - NBO - JRO
2. JRO - ZNZ
3. ZNZ - NBO - LHR

So it does look to me as if using Kenya would be quite logical (assuming I have understood correctly). particulalrly since I can book the whole flight package through them in one go.

Anyone have any experience using Kenya Airways?

Thanks

Ian

Feistybrit

Hi there.
My daughter and I used Kenya Airways on October 29th this year for our Tanzanian safari. The flight itself was fine. Each seat has their own tv/movie screen so you can watch what YOU want to watch. We like that.
On arrival at check in we were informed that our straight through flight was now being sent to Paris to pick up more passengers and there would be a 50 minute delay. The 50 minute delay turned into 3 hours sitting on the runway. So we missed our connecting flight to Kilimanjaro from Nairobi the next morning.
But that can happen to any airline. I thought Kenywa Airways was fine in every other way. It got the job done...we got there safely albeit late.

ShayTay

You won't actually be flying on Kenya Airways from NBO to JRO, but will be on the small planes of their partner airline, Precision Air... That's the same for the flight to Zanzibar and from Zanzibar back to NBO. The Kenya Airways flight from London is a "red-eye", so you'd have to decide if you'd want to start your safari after doing that. The Precision Air flight from Zanzibar to NBO is quite early (about 6:20am), so you'd definitely need to stay overnight in Stone Town. The flights from Arusha to Zanzibar for Precision are currently showing to be out of the domestic Arusha Airport, rather than JRO, so that's good. However, if they moved them back to JRO, you'd need to get there from the Arusha Airport, where you'd arrive from the Serengeti and that's a long drive or a short flight. If I were doing this, I'd use the KLM flights and leave the "red-eye" for the end of the trip and book the Zanzibar portion separately. It would be a good idea to book a "through flight" from the Serengeti to Zanzibar so that you don't miss a connection in Arusha. You'd also get more time in Zanzibar on that last day.

rowtownian

Hello again!

I have been talking to UK Safari specialist and they have come up with the following itinerary/package:

Day 1 Depart London Heathrow on Kenya Airways flight to Nairobi.

Day 2 Arrive into Nairobi and connect with flight to JRO. Met by guide and transfer Lake Manyara National Park, Kirurumu Tented Lodge

Day 3 Morning ethno-botanical walk on the edge of the rift valley then drive through the farmlands and rainforest of the Ngorongoro Crater before descending to the crater floor for a day’s game drive. Return to the crater rim in the early evening to Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge.

Day 4 Drive round the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater to the Serengeti with a stop at Olduvai gorge to visit the museum. Continue game viewing en route arriving at Ndutu Classic Serengeti Camp in the early evening.

Day 5 Ndutu Classic Serengeti Camp.

Day 6 Ndutu Classic Serengeti Camp.

Day 7 Leave the Serengeti’s Southern Plains and drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area to the farmlands of Karatu staying at Tloma Lodge.

Day 8 Continue back to Arusha and fly to ZNZ Stay at Mbweni Ruins hotel.

Day 9 Mbweni Ruins hotel

Day 10 Mbweni Ruins hotel

Day 11 Mbweni Ruins hotel

Day 12 Transfer back to Nairobi, Kenya airways flight to LHR.

Day 13 Arrive back at LHR early AM.



I would of course really appreciate any comments on the above.

Thanks in advance.

Ian