I just want to start by saying thank you to all the responses to my previous post. It was most helpful http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35094835

I received an itinerary from one of the Tour Operators I'm working with who has been very helpful thus far. I was hoping to get some feedback regarding the itinerary, accommodations, price, etc.

Here it is:

27 May - Arrive Nairobi (NBO) Kenya; connect to Kilimanjaro (JRO) Tanzania; transfer to Arusha: Kibo Palace Hotel or (Serena Mountain Village +$35 pp/night)

28-29-30 May
Option #1 - to Central Serengeti; Mbuzi Mawe Camp

Option #2 - to Western Serengeti; Kirawira or Mbalageti Camps (+$400 pp)

31 May - Drive via Oldupai to Ngorongoro Crater; Serena or (Sopa Lodges - $40)

01 Jun - to LakeManyara (Option: morning crater tour for extra $110 pp); Serena Lodge or (Kirurumu Camp - $40)

2-3-4-5 Jun - Drive to Arusha; flight to Zanzibar; Matemwe Beach Village (stnd room), (Pongwe Beach + $170 pp total for all 4 nights, Blue Bay + $130 pp total for all 4 nights - superior room, Breezes + $190 pp total for all 4 nights - deluxe room or Karafuu Resort + $105 pp total for all 4 nights - cottage)

06 Jun - Drive to Zanzibar airport; flight to Dar-es-Salaam (DAR) connect to flight home

The rate is $2,875 (Mbuzi Mawe) or $3,270 (Kirawira or Mbalageti Camps) which includes exclusive use of safari vehicle, all internal flights and daily park fees.

We have a few options in terms of accommodations in both the safari and Zanzibar. I've included the price differences for the options.

Is Kirawira / Mbalageti Camps worth the extra $400 per person or is Mbuzi Mawe a better pick considering our budget and price difference?

What about Kirurumu Camp for $40 less (pp) than the Serena?

Any opinions on the other accommodations?

Also, what is the best way to secure the best airfare?

Wow, that's a lot of questions

Thanks!

Personally, I didn't care much for Mbuzi Mawe. It was too far from game drive circuits, food was average and it was just big enough to attract groups giving it a hotel like feel.

Rocco - thanks for the reply. Have you stayed at Kirawira or Mbalageti Camps?

What about Kirurumu Camp?

Where's Patty?

Haven't stayed at the other two camps. Perhaps you should also consider Elewana's Migration Camp:

http://www.elewana.com/smc/serengeti...tion-camp.html

I did not stay here but I did stay at Elewana's Tarangire Treetops and found it be an outstanding camp.

In Lake Manyara, I loved Lake Manyara Tree Lodge and in Ngorongoro Crater, I loved Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, each CCAfrica properties:

www.ccafrica.com

In case you are interested, here is a link to my photoalbum and trip report from my March 2006 Tanzania & Zanzibar trip:

www.kodakgallery.com/rocco/main/tanzania

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34775997

We stayed at Kirurumu Camp for 1 night in October and thought it was very nice. Large, comfortable tents, nice bathroom with a good shower, nothing too fancy or over-the-top. Since we spent so little time at the camp here (we had a daytime game drive in Lake Manyara, then a bush dinner and night drive... so really only had lunch and slept at Kirurumu), we thought it was a good place to save a few bucks on lodging. And Kirurumu didn't disappoint us in any way. There is a nice bar area with a pretty view, which we didn't have time to hang out in. The only downside is that it requires a bit of a bumpy drive to get there, and is not located as close to the park as the Serena. But we didn't mind this. And even though it's not "in the bush," in general I preferred the tent-type lodgings to the big lodges.

If you have time in the Lake Manyara area, I highly recommend doing a night game drive here, and also taking some time for a walking tour around the town of Mto Wa Mbu. It's a really interesting place. We arranged both of these things (including visiting a medical clinic) through Green Footprint -- they organized our whole Tanzania safari, but I'm pretty sure they will also book invidual activities.

As I recall, when Rocco visited (pls correct if I'm off) it was during Feb/Mar when the herds are mostly found in the Southern Serengeti; Mbuzi Mawe would have been somewhat farther north - out of the way - located in the Central/Seronera area.

Likewise, if traveling in May/June, Migration Camp would be a bit too far north, and quite expensive.

Rocco – those are some amazing photos. Thank you.

MyDogKyle – Thanks for your Kirurumu input. I didn’t realize you can do a night drive in the Lake Manyara area… very exciting.

Sandi,

Yes, I was at Mbuzi Mawe to end my trip, I am thinking around March 10th or so. I had my best luck at that time further south in the Ndutu area, but I also had good luck, not with the Migration, but with the resident wildlife by traveling even further north of Mbuzi Mawe, to areas I was told that Migration Camp also used for driving circuits (about an hour north of Mbuzi Mawe, and likely about the same distance south of Migration Camp). Chances are there would be a better place than Migration Camp at that time of year. Where would you suggest, Sandi?

Hi Rocco -

As you're aware, there aren't that many choices in the Seronera area. Serena, Sopa, Mbuzi Mawe; seasonal camps as Olakira, EMC or Savannah; semi-lux camping.

However, based on the fact that DC2Africa is traveling in May, some of the seasonal camps are still closed; semi-lux may be too basic. The camps are still more costly than it appears DC2s budget.

Thus traveling in May and being able to get in on low-season prices, Mbuzi Mawe or Kirawira/Mbalageti are good choices. Also, with these two areas only 2/hrs apart, game viewing can be done in both areas and the wildies will be found.

And, I do agree that Migration is a lovely camp (sister to Treetops), but a bit too far north for May and costly.