Hi, I have been reading through the forums, and you folks are wonderful and so helpful. I have been planning a trip to Tanzania with my father in law for Sept, 2007. I am working with David Barker of Authentic Tanzania, in Dar Es Salaam, who has been extremely knowlegeable and helpful so far(and I have worked him pretty hard!!) as I have tried to create an itinerary for our first safari experience. My goals in planning the trip were to:
1)See as many of the popular animals as possible, in the most authentic African experience possible, away from the crowds and the tourist spots
2)Be able to move at a very relaxed pace, not trying to cram in too much or feel like I am on a tour that is rushing around trying to hit everything, but rather to have the time to relax and take it all in, revisiting spots and animals repeatedly if desired. I am there to see, experience, and spend time with the animals, not necessarily the parks, if you know what I mean.

With those goals in mind, and after extensive research, I am considering 2 itineraries.

The first is:
3-4 nights in Mahale, Greystoke camp
6-7 nights in Katavi, split between a lodge(probably Foxes, as they can help with the flights) and fly camping in the bush with an Authentic Tanzania guide
6-7 nights in Ruaha, split between Mwagusi lodge and flycamping with Authentic Tanzania

The second itinerary would be:
3 nights in mahale Greystoke
4 nights in Katavi split b/t Foxes/flycamping
4 nights in Ruaha Mwagusi
5 nights in Selous, split b/t Selous Safari lodge to get in a boating safari and flycamping with Authentic Tanzania.

My questions are:
1)Would the 3 park itinerary become too much time in each park, or would the ability to really explore the parks at a leisurely pace be an extra special experience?
2)Would the ability to see the same animals in a 4th park(by adding Selous)be worth the shorter stays in each park and extra travel days of fitting it in?
3)Is the Greystoke camp in Mahale worth the extra expense over the Nkungwe camp, and is Mahale worth a 4 night stay vs. a 3 night stay?
4)Is the Chada camp in Katavi far superior to the Fox camp or the Katuma camp there?
To help you answer that, I would say that in a lodge, I am looking for the best location, and the most passion and expertise of the guides, I do not care about comforts or food.
I really appreciate your time and look foward to your thoughts!!

I just returned from a visit to 3 of the 4 suggested parks (can see pics and some info on http://www.umiacs.umd.edu/users/yaser/ypics.html

As to your questions, your dilemma is well justified, and both options have their value. The decision is not easy even for me having returned from there (well, I have the benefit of thinking that I will go back in the future)
1. Katavi, Ruaha and Selous are quite different from each other so your interest and enjoyment will be continueous but diverse. Dropping Selous will make your enjoyment continueous but perhaps more intense.

2. Given that it's your first trip it maybe too long to spend 6-7 days at each park (Katavi and Ruaha). While normally more time at a park allows more intimate observation of animals, they are shy in Katavi and Selous, so may be time doesn't necessarily translate into more intimate observation. In my recent experience I found it harder to take good photos in some of these parks. At the same time, my best safari experiences were when canoeing the Zambezi for 8 days and bush camping the deep okavango for 6 days, so the more time the better...

3. My impression driving around Katavi is that Katuma camp, flycatcher camp, and chada pretty much cover the same territory (chada being a bit farther off and having access to the chada plain, so in a way more secluded). I haven't stayed at these lodges so no opinion on the feel in each. I don't know where the fox camp is.

This recent report seems to suggest that the chimps prefer Nkungwe http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34872773

I've been trying to work on an itinerary to Katavi and Mahale.

Since you have the Nomad Greystroke camp on your itinerary, you may want to consider staying at their Katavi camp as well. If you go with Nomad, they offer scheduled flights from Arusha. They leave on Mondays and Thursdays, so you have to spend 3 nights in one park and 4 in another, depending on what you decide. (You could also spend 7 nights in one place and then 3/4 in another)


Jenn

We just returned from Chada Camp and Greystoke.6 or 7 days at Katavi is too much.The camp and guides were wonderful, but we did not see an abundance of animals. Greystoke was one o f the highlights of our trip.The facilities were superb, the guiding excellent.And,there were other activities,such as snorkeling and fishing.We saw the chimps-a great experience,but they were not at the camp and seeing them involved hiking. Our stay of 4 days was perfect.

Thanks for the feedback. Yaser, your photos are beautiful. It's remarkable that you could see so many lions and other animals, yet mflickermd, who was there around the same time I think, saw so little. Just luck I guess. mflickermd, do you think 6-7 days in Katavi, splitting time between a lodge and the bush(meaning staying in and seeing different parts of the park--I think you were just at Chada?) would still be too much? I am really thinking of all of the ideas I am hearing from you all, and thinking I might be better served by doing 4 days Ruaha, 5 days Katavi, 4 days Mahale, and adding 4-5 days up in the north Serengetti, in the Lobo region.
Also, mflickermd, when in Mahale did you get a glimpse at or hear anything about the Nkungwe camp? Patty, I had read that link, and the little I have been able to find about Nkungwe is that it is really cool and low key, but that for the price difference not sure it matches the magic of Greystoke?
Jenn24, I am also doing Ruaha, so working with the Foxes in Katavi allows me to link those two parks on their planes and still get a shared charter from Arusha to Mahale and then Katavi.

I believe that Chada Camp does offer fly camping,so perhaps you could split your time between the main camp and a more rustic experience. I did get some glimpses of Nkungwe. It looked decent, but was not on the same luxurious level as Greystoke,but,the experience might be just as good. I hope this helps.

Everything helps!! I figure Greystoke is more luxurious, which is not important to me at all really in terms of plush rooms, fine dining, that sort of thing, it is really the location, spirit/attitude/passion and magic of the lodge I am interested in. It sounds like Nkungwe is very laid back, which I want, but that Greystoke's location is ideal from a visual standpoint, and that Greystoke is completely authentic; I think Nkungwe might even have a tourist shop...don't really want that kind of thing!! But there is so little written about them!!

mflickermd and yaser... how were the tse tse flies in Katavi?

#1 Speaking from general safari experience and not these parks, I think option 2 gives you a nice long time in each park. The first option might be too long in some of these places given that it means missing a fourth park.

#2 I'd go for Selous unless you think you'll be back to Southern Tanzania in a few years.

#3 Do you know what the cost difference is between the 2? I'd do a 4-night stay rather than 3.

This will be a great trip!

Thanks for those replies, but that itinerary has already changed quite a bit, and you have already reviewed my new one for me!!