Finally scored business miles from LA to London, then flight from London to Dar es Salaam. Planning overnight in DAR before leaving for Selous. So need some feedback for itinerary and accommodations. We arrive DAR 8/22 and will depart Nairobi on 9/5. I have one extra night, but not sure where to add it. Hope to have a mix or tented and lodges, and midrange and upscale. Looking at using Roy's, Good Earth, Access 2 Tanzania or Naipenda.

DAR - (1 night) Peacock or Holiday Inn
Selous - Rufiji River or Selous Impala (3 nights)
Tarangire (2 nights) Safari Lodge or Swala
Ngorongoro - (1 night) Sopa, or Gibb's or Plantation Lodge(though staying at these may be too far away from Crater)
Central Serengeti-(2 nights)Mbuzi Maze or Serena Serengeti
Northern Serengeti-(2 nights) Migration or Kleins
Arusha - (1 night)Impala, Karama or New Arusha
Return flight from Nairobi

Feedback appreciated!! Thanks.

Presume you'll be flying from Selous to Arusha or Kili to commence safari in the North with Tarangire first stop.

Big difference between Tarangire Safari Lodge and Swala - big $$$. Inquire about Tarangie River Camp instead. Safari Lodge tents are small and it's a larger camp... but does have great views. River Camp is charming, with larger tents and good views. Swala Camp, besides the cost, is at the farthest southern end of Tarangire, a good 2/hr drive from the park entrance.

At Ngorongoro, if you can get the 1/nt at Sopa would save the driving at end of day and shorter drive next day to Central Serengeti. Gibbs and Plantation Lodge, IMHO are nicer with beter food.

In Central, Mbuzi Mawe gets my vote.

For August, I'd go for Sayari Camp in the Northwest Serengeti near the Mara River; can see river crossings here rather than at Klein's. Also, you won't see many other vehicles in this area. Besides Klein's is very very expensive on a Game Package basis only (at least $1,000/person/nt).

You can fly from Central Serengeti to Sayari on a GP-basis; I would then stay at Serena vs Mbuzi Mawe. Doesn't pay to drive if only have 2/nts... it's a long from the Central area. I'd skip the last night in Arusha to add day here. On last day, fly from Kogatende via Arusha (or JRO) to NBO.

Migration Camp is lovely if you want a lovely romantic camp to conclude your safari. Resident game in the area. You can fly from here via Arusha (or JRO) to NBO.

We will be flying from Selous to Arusha or possibly to Tarangire area. Depends on the final selects for accommodations and costs. Like your suggestion about Sayari and Serena. What is GP basis? Also are Sayari and Migration in different types of locations to get sense of different areas? Any thoughts about accommodations in Selous? And finally, I presume the beginning of September would hold up for your thoughts about where to be in August.

Sorry, GP (game package) means your activities are done by camp guides. This is more expensive per day than the included price using the guide/driver up to that point. As mentioned, for 2/days only it's a long drive from Central Serengeti to Sayari, why I suggest flying and booking on a GP-basis. If 3/days, then the drive with your own guide is doable.

Klein's Camp is only booked on a GP-basis.

Migration Camp is midway between Central and Northwestern Serengeti - between Serena or Mbuzi Mawe and Klein's or Lobo Camps.

Selous Camps are generally quite expensive, i.e., Sand Rivers or Selous Safari Camp. Rufiji River or Impala are more reasonably priced. Or take a look at Beho Beho.

The itinerary is getting closer and closer. So here's what I have so far, but am wondering about forgoing a night in Arusha at the end and flying via Arusha to Nairobi. Of course we're flying north from Selous. We have an extra night and some friends have suggested ending with 2 nights in Nairobi. Seems there's plenty of day trips and shopping there. Thoughts???

Aug 22 - DAR - Peacock
Aug 23-25 - Selous - Rufiji
Aug 26-27 - Tarangire River Camp
Aug 28 - Karatu - Plantation Lodge
Aug 29 - Sopa Crater
Aug 30-31-Central Serengeti Mbuzi Mawe
Sep 1-2 - Northern Serenget Sayari
Sep 3-4 Either 2 nights Nairobi or one night Arusha, 1 night Nairobi
Sep 5- BA flight to London
Sep 6 - London - LA

>>Sep 1-2 - Northern Serenget Sayari
Sep 3-4 Either 2 nights Nairobi or one night Arusha, 1 night Nairobi
Sep 5- BA flight to London
Sep 6 - London - LA<<

Assume you'll be flying Sep 1 to Sayari for 2/nts; apparently the 3rd nt not available? Well, if it's not, it's not.

On Sep 3, the flight from Kogatende should get you to Arusha about 12:30; flight to NBO isn't till 1:45, not arriving Wilson/NBO till 3pm. And, because your BA flight on Sep 5 isn't till 11:30pm, if leaving to NBO on Sep 3, you actually have 2-1/2 days NBO. If on Sep 3 you continue to NBO this will primarily be a "travel day" by the time you get to your NBO hotel.

I'd suggest on Sep 3, when you arrive Arusha to spend the remainder of the day here where you can relax after all the safari bumping around; maybe pick-up a cultural tour (i.e. N'gresi Village), have local dinner... there are many choices if not your hotel, then overnight at a downtown hotel, such as Arusha or Kibo Palace.

Then Sep 4, catch early (believe it's 8 or 9am) flight to JKIA for stay in NBO. You can check into hotel, arrange some sightseeing for afternoon, then overnight. On Sep 5, you'll have a full day where to visit Sheldrick Ellees in the morning, visit the markets, last minute souvenir shopping, lunch and/or dinner at restaurant of choice. By 8pm you'll be transferred to JKIA for your BA flight.

I agree with sandi, since you have a late departure on Sep 5, one night in Nairobi should be enough for sightseeing and shopping. You could also consider an extra night at Sayari.

We'll be driving from Mbuzi Mawe north to Sayari. How long a drive is it? Patty, as far as a third night at Sayari, we were trying to keep costs down a little, as it is very expensive. You two may be right that it will end up too much time in Nairobi, but was trying to avoid 1 night in Arusha and then another single night in Nairobi. I think after the game drives, we'll want to chill out a bit and do more cultural/shopping type things. I don't know about the N'gresi Village. The thought of single nights in each location seems exhausting after the drives.

Sandi, you had also mentioned a long drive from Mbuzi Mawe up to Sayari. Did you suggest doing an extra night at Mbuzi Mawe? We do have this extra day to play with. We could use it somewhere else and still fly from the Serengeti via Arusha to Nairobi.

Have not committed any dollars yet, so not even sure that any or all of these choices are available.

It's a farely long drive from Mbuzi Mawe to Sayari if only 2/nts, as you'll only have 1/full day once here. And, in the Serengeti you have to keep to the roads... no short cuts. The reason I thought you'd be returning to Seronera to catch the flight to Kogatende.

Why I would have thought you'd spend 3/nts... then the drive wouldn't be taking time from being at the camp. If you can get the 3rd night, I'd take it from Mbuzi Mawe, thus saving a flight and a more leisurely drive.

Not unlike those leaving Ngorongoro and hoping to get up to Klein's in 1/day... too long, you need a stop midway. So would be similar if to Sayari; MM would be the stop, then continue the drive.

Inquire for price differences... can't believe it would be that more expensive - Mbuzi Mawe vs Sayari - besides you'd have sufficient time to enjoy and appreciate the area in the north. Otherwise, the visit to Sayari is much like a 1/nighter.

While I'm not in favor of 1/nighters, sometimes they fit where they do. If you decide not to o/n in Arusha, thus giving you an afternoon and evening to catch your breath... this entire day would be a travel day.

Again, it's up to you, but I certainly wouldn't wait much longer to get prices, check availablity and get it booked.

My husband and I have heeded the advice from both Sandi and Patty. We just added the extra night at Sayari and it looks like they have the availability for three nights. We should get confirmation in a couple of days. The tour operator indicated that Regional Air flies from Klein's Camp to Arusha and then connects to the flight to Wilson. From the schedule she has, it appears the plane leave Klein around 10 and you get to Wilson around 2:45/3:00. Per tour operator, Coastal from Kogatende does not make the connect to the flight to Wilson.

Anyway, I think this itinerary will work and we'll still have almost 1 1/2 days in Nairobi. Looks like plenty of time to squeeze in the stuff we'd like to do. Most of the things center around Karen and Langetta. Looking at Macushla House. I'll have to search to see what folks think of it.

Again, thanks for all you advice.

>>The tour operator indicated that Regional Air flies from Klein's Camp to Arusha and then connects to the flight to Wilson. From the schedule she has, it appears the plane leave Klein around 10 and you get to Wilson around 2:45/3:00. Per tour operator, Coastal from Kogatende does not make the connect to the flight to Wilson.<<

Unless schedules have changed, it shows that flight departs:

Kogatende @ 10:15am - arvs Arusha 12:15pm

Klein's @ 10:30am - arvs Arusha 12:15pm

Seems to me the first pickup is at Kogatende, flies to pickup at Klein's and then to Arusha. On arrival Arusha, the connecting flight to Wilson leaves @ 1:45pm. From either, you have sufficient time to connect to Wilson

If there is a flight from Kogatende take it; otherwise, it's a long drive (2-3/hrs) to Klein's (I've had client's miss this flight due to poor road conditions trying to get here).

Have the agent double check as you don't want to have to be hauling across the northern Serengeti in hopes to make a connection where you could have a short drive to Kogatende... the Sayari airstrip.

Macushla House is lovely, with 6 rooms, ensuite bathrooms (w/ tub and shower), lovely indoor sitting areas w/ fireplaces, interesting artwork from the owners travels worldwide; outdoors a large pool and gardens, also a viewpoint, ideal for sundowners. They offer the most reasonably priced accommodations in Karen.

That should be the Coastal flight from Kogatende (or Klein's).

Who flies from Arusha to Wilson? Coastal or another carrier. Don't know if the tour operator was trying to keep us on the same flight through to Nairobi, but I certainly don't want to have to travel 3 hours to get to Klein's when Kogantande is so close to Sayari. From you post it sounds like the flight to Arusha then connects to Wilson. I'll ask further. As always, thanks.

Got a reservation at Macushla, but the cost of a day room is almost the same as the night rate and check out is 10 a.m. Even with sightseeing for the day, from previous experience with a late night flight, it's nice to have a spot to go back to the room, freshen up or just relax before the overnight flight. I was also thinking of checking out the Fairview, as their night rate is similar and the day room is half the cost of the night rate. I know staying in Karen would be great and the Macushla looks fab, but don't know if the extra night cost(you save $20 on the day room) is worth it. Thoughts?

From Arusha, it's either Air Kenya or Safari Link to Wilson. So doesn't matter whether it's Regional Air or Coastal out of the Serengeti to Arusha.

As to Macushla vs Fairview. Both are nice, though believe the latter is a bit higher priced. Macushla with only 6/rooms is obviously smaller than Fairview. Fairview is located across the street from the Israeli Embassy; some feel this is the safest place in Nairobi, others would rather not be here... all very personal.

You can get a day-room at Macushla and thus have a place to shower, change clothing before official 6pm day-room checkout, though you don't have to be picked-up till 8pm. The day-room rate at Fairview allows for checkout by 8pm.

Safarilink and Air Kenya fly from JRO to Wilson. I believe Safarilink partners with Air Excel and Air Kenya partners with Regional Air within Tanzania, so perhaps they were trying to keep you on those carriers to guarantee the connection.