Planning our September 2011 Safari. I've read and read and now have decided to come to the pro's who've "been there, done that." with my point of indecision. Of course I also risk getting further confused by posting this cause I know you all each have your own great ideas! But - here goes!

Guidelines:

1. Flying in and out of Nairobi due to possible FF milage use
2. Must keep to 15 days with Day 1 being the day we leave the U.S.
3. Amboseli has to stay in the itinerary per DH
4. Would like to do Masai Mara last

So here's the general itinerary:

Day 1 - Leave U.S.
Day 2 - Arrive Nairobi - O/N
Day 3 - Drive to Amboseli - O/N (Tortilis Camp)
Day 4 - Amboseli - O/N
Day 5 - Drive to Gibb's Farm - arrive late O/N
Day 6 - Activities through Gibb's Farm or (b) go to Crater
Day 7 - Go to Crater either overnight there or back at Gibb's Farm
Day 8 - Back to Arusha to catch flight to Nairobi - O/N
Day 9 - Drive to Lake Naivasha - (Loldia House)
Day 10 - Drive to Lake Nakuru NP (Loldia House)
Day 11 - Drive to Samburu - (Elephant Bedroom)
Day 12 - Samburu
Day 13 - Fly to Masai Mara - Royal Mara or Bushtops (?)
Day 14- Masai Mara
Day 15 - Masai Mara
Day 16 - Fly Nairobi - dayroom go home

Here's what I see in options:

1. Two nights total in Manyara/Crater area - 1 at Lake/1 at crater. Both at Gibb's Farm?
2. Eliminate Lake Nakuru area visit; or
3. Eliminate Samburu visit

Which would you do? Why?

Hi patandhank

I guess you do not want to go to the Serengeti !!

There is no right or wrong way of doing a Safari...it is a matter of how much time you have , when you are going, and how you are going to get from place A to place B.

I would eliminate Sambura, it is a nice place and you will see animals here that you won't see in the other places.

Like the Grevy Zebra.

Other have also said that you see the Oryx at Sambura, but you will see the Oryx and Gerenuk at Amboseli National Park.

But Samburu is a loooong drive from Nairobi.!

Actually if you took in the Serengeti, then you could do the "loop".

Which would be this:

Nairobi to Amboseli

Amboseli to Arusha....to Lake Manyara ...to Ngorongoro Crater

From Ngorongoro Crater to Serengeti...to Maasai Mara

From Maasai Mara to Lake Nakuru.....then to Lake Naivasha.

From Naivasha ..back to Nairobi.

Are you going to do the driving ?

Is this a private tour or are you joining a small group ?

I would plan this with a Travel Agent who has been on a Safari...or better still deal with someone in Nairobi or Arusha like I did.

There are people on this board that know a whole lot more about a Safari then me and I am sure they will have a better plan.

You have plenty of time until September 2011

I really did mine really quick.

Decided in early June and left in the middle of August!!

Hi Percy - good to hear from you!

Yes I'm working with a planner. Actually given the time of year, we've been advised that because both Masai Mara and Serengeti are in the same eco-system it wouldn't provide that much variety to do both. We're looking at doing a private safari. Your idea was actually our original plan other than we put the Masai Mara last. You're right we have some time. I'll keep pondering on this.

In the meantime, we're headed on our Western Med cruise in another couple of weeks.

Anybody else - comments?

Pat

sandi

Would you please help patandhank out about their itineray.

You know a LOT more than I do about this area !

patandhank:

Yes the Mara and the Serengeti are in the same ecosystems ...but to me there was just something about the Serengeti that I wanted to see.

For example , I did not see a Leopard while I was in the Mara... but I saw 4 in the Serengeti ( up close and personal !!)

Also, I wanted to go to Speke Bay and to dip my feet in Lake Victoria.

Like I said you have a whole year to fine tune your Safari.

Have a nice Western Mediterranean Cruise .

Percy

... and my best leopard sighting was in the Mara. Just me and the leopard, with not another vehicle for miles.

Or did anyone expect the migration to arrive in the Mara as early as it did this year; unexpectedly seeing a crossing while enjoying a lovely al fresco lunch.

Every day in Afree-kah is different, so best to take each as it is and enjoy!

So many places not enough time! Why many of us return again and again.

How long is the drive on Day 5?

I’d spend as much time at the crater as possible on Days 5-6, staying at the crater.

Nairobi to Samburu and Nakuru to Samburu are both about 6- hour drives, just so you are aware.

This gives a nice variety and works well in Sept. To remove some drive time you could do this:

Up to Day 8 as shown
Day 9 Fly to Samburu fom NBO ( Ele Bedrm)
Day 10 Samburu (Ele Bedrm)
Day 11 drive to Nakuru (Loldia)
Day 12 Naivasha (Loldia)
Day 13 Fly to Mara as scheduled

Your Mara-Serengeti reasoning in Sept seems fine.

Have a nice trip.

See I told you good advice is forth coming !

As you know I dealt with a Safari Company out of Arusha.

I did a private tour also, so I could choose where I wanted to go....but if you have never been before ( like me) you do want to see the 'major" places.

I added extra days before and after the Safari, to go to places I personally wanted to see.

Good advice from atravelynn.... she's been more than once , so has sandi !

Yawn...time for

One park i would not miss is SAMBURU

<i>Others have also said that you see the Oryx at Sambura, but you will see the Oryx and Gerenuk at Amboseli National Park.</i>
a. these are 2 different Oryx species:
Beisa Oryx
Fringe-eared Oryx
b. one cannot compare Gerenuk sightings in Samburu to amboseli

Hi patandhank

Day 8 - skip Nairobi.
when is the earliest flight to NBO?
maybe you can make it by flight to Samburu today

or: I would drive to a night-viewing lodge ("tree hotel")
Ark / Mountain Lodge / TreeTops
a. it is a special unique experience
b. it breaks the drive to Samburu

aby -
On Day 8, from Gibb's in Karatu, where there is no airstrip,
would have to drive to Manyara for flight that then connects in Arusha or JRO to NBO; or drive to Arusha/JRO for flight to NBO. Flight, if on time, won't arrive NBO till 3pm. No afternoon flight to Samburu or anywhere but to the Mara.

Once in NBO, if driving, could probably make it to Mt. Kenya area... in time for dinner. Doing this winds up being a very very long day.

Never saw Gerenuk in Samburu...was not lucky enough, but did see them in Amboseli ( feeding right beside the road.)

Could not tell you what type of Oryx I saw in Amboseli, I was just happy to see about 6 of them.

Most of the animals were starving in Amboseli due to the conditions last September.

I broke up the drive to Samburu by staying at the Mount Kenya Safari Resort ( The William Holden famous place... heck , even paid extra to stay specifically in The William Holden cottage/house !!).

There is only so many places you can visit in a limited 2 weeks period...so

you pick out the places that are of most interest to you.

Like I always say, "it's your holiday and your money"

Maybe canadian_robin will also give some of her points of view, plus many others who have recently been there.

patandhank...... before you leave , we will have your whole trip planned for you

I would like to suggest that a visit to Serengeti and then cross directly to Masai Mara would be great.
Drive or fly from Ngorongoro to Kogatende, spend a couple of nights (or more) at Serengeti Bushtops Camp and then transfer to Migori, via Isabenia border (the camp will do this complimentary transfer) and then fly from Migori (daily scheduled flights by Safarilink) to the Masai Mara and spend 2 to 3 nights at Mara Bushtops Camp. Fantastic combination.