Hi all,

I've made a few posts here about planning a safari for my fiance and my honeymoon this June in Tanzania. I contacted 7 companies and am now in the process of going back and forth with 4 of them.

I was wondering if people could provide some additional guidance on lodging in some of the areas we'll be staying. Each company has different hotels to choose from, but much of the rest of the itineraries are nearly the same. Because of this it seems the main way to compare the alternatives are to build the best itinerary with each company then compare them together.

I was wondering if i could list hotels for each area and ask people to either list their picks or rank the ones listed. Many of these hotels/lodges/camps are in different price ranges, but I guess that can be ignored as I'll take that into account in the final planning. One other thing I would like to hear are people's thoughts on the location of these properties versus the location of game during June.

Any help is very much appreciated. I should have not written to so many companies, but most of the itineraries sent to me seem pretty good.

(Arusha/Kilimanjaro)
Karama Lodge
New Arusha Hotel
Moutain Village Serena
Arusha Coffee Lodge

(Tarangire)
Tarangire Sopa Lodge
Kikoti Tented Camp
Swala Camp
Tarangire Treetops

(Lake Manyara)
Kirurumu Tented Lodge
Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge

(Ngorongoro)
Ngorongoro Farm House
Ngorongoro Sopa
Ngorongoro Serena

(Serengeti Central)
Serengeti Wildlife Lodge
Serengeti Sopa
Serengeti Serena
Mbuzi Mawe
Serengeti Bush Camp (Hoopoe property)
Savannah Camp
Mapito Tented Camp
Olakira Camp
Serengeti Tented Lodge

(Serengeti West)
Mbalageti Camp (standard room)
Kirawira Camp

(Zanzibar - Stonetown)
Tembo House Hotel (aka Dhow Palace???)
Serena Inn
Zanzibar Palace
Stone Town Inn
Mbweni Ruins Hotel
236 Hurumzi

Thanks again!

Just a few remarks on the ones on your list we've either stayed at or are familiar with:

<b>(Tarangire)
Tarangire Sopa Lodge</b>

Stayed here two nights in Jan 06, it was OK but the tented camps you mention are much better from all I''ve heard.

<b>(Ngorongoro)
Ngorongoro Farm House
Ngorongoro Sopa
Ngorongoro Serena</b>

Dined at the Serena several times and stayed at the Sopa on two trips for 7 nights, for sure the Sopa is in the best spot for easier access to the crater floor and if game viewing is your main focus then stay at the Sopa. Serena is a half-star nicer property but the access road situation makes it less desirable here (every other place there's a choice between Sopa and Serena I take Serena, but not here).

The Farm House is not on the crater rim but rather near Karatu so I feel it's much less desirable to stay here if you are interested in crater game drives since it's probably an hour drive just to reach the crater floor. But if you are more interested in relaxed accomodations outside the NCA and near Karatu then Farm House (or Gibbs Farm, which would be my choice near Karatu) are better. For me personally I'm there for the game drives and it's a no-brainer to pick the Sopa at Ngorongoro.

<b>(Lake Manyara)
Kirurumu Tented Lodge
Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge</b>

Have stayed at this Serena several times and it's in a good location for access to the park, plus a nice relaxing lodge. Dunno anything about Kirurumu ...

<b>(Serengeti Central)
Serengeti Wildlife Lodge
Serengeti Sopa
Serengeti Serena
Mbuzi Mawe</b>

The &quot;Wildlife Lodge&quot; (probably Seronera, right?) chain is older than Sopa or Serena and for years had a poor reputation but supposedly has been revamped. Good bargain I guess, but our operator tells us he has more customer complaints from Wildlife lodges than from the other lodges his clients use.

From what I hear from our guides the Serena is well-located for game drives compared to the Sopa ... we stayed 7 nights at this Serena in April 06 and that was 3 nights too long, but worth a few nights. We'll be staying at Mbuzi Mawe in a few weeks, all I know now is that it's a nice tented camp operated by the Serena chain and the same rack rate cost as the lodge. We are looking forward to staying there.

So of these four I would pick Serena and Mbuzi Mawe (which is exactly what we have done for an upcoming trip). Dunno much about the others on your list except hearsay, I'm sure others will have better info on them.

Hope this helps.

Bill

Bill_H - Thanks for the advice. I'll make a note of your comments.

Karama and Mt. Village are located between Kili/Arusha, closest to airport if you don't want to drive into Arusha. New Arusha is in center of Arusha, Coffee Lodge outside of town near the Arusha airport. The latter is the most expensive.
If for 1/nt, any would be good, but prices are way different.

At Tarangire, Sopa Lodge in the middle of park. Kikoti lovely, in same price range, outside the park but nice 17/tent camp. Swala and Treetops both the most expensive. Swala the smallest, but a 2/hr drive from park entrance at Southwest corner. Treetops is larger with 17 very lux tents, about a 40/min drive outside the park, but when leaving for Manyara you don't have to drive thru park again... rather back track gets you to the main road. Again, budget is a consideration.

At Lake Manyara, Serena is lovely and right outside the park entrance, great views and lovely infinity pool. Kirurumu is a camp, about a 20/min drive from park entry. Serena might be a tad more expensive. Either are good.

As Bill mentioned, Sopa is preferred for the access road, though Serena is a nicer property. And, Farmhouse which is really lovely is outside the NCA, in Karatu but the closest to park entry. If you want to do an early morning crater visit, best to stay on the rim at Sopa or Serena.

Central Serengeti - Sopa is way out of the way. Wildlife is ideally situated as is the Serena; Wildlife has the negatives as Bill mentioned, but many like the place. Mbuzi Mawe is 1/hr north of Serena, and as a camp, it's lovely. Mbuzi Mawe is the more expensive of the above. Hoopoe's is there, so no comment. Not familiar with Mapito. Savannah and Olakira both good choices, but will be the most expensive in the area.

Western Serengeti - both Mbalageti and Kirawira are great, but at Mbalageti you want a Chalet, not a &quot;room&quot;. The prices for both are high, so compare Mbalageti Chalet and Kirawira Tent.

Zanzibar, in Stone Town - Tembo House IS NOT aka Dhow Palace, two different hotels, but sister hotels. Serena Inn the most expensive. Many like the Zanzibar Palace. 236 Hurumzi (formerly Emerson &amp; Green), also a nice choice. Prices for these two a few steps down from Serena; Tembo and Dhow, the least expensive of the lot.
No feedback on Stone Town Inn or Mbwena Ruins.

Suggestion Grumbo: Try to keep all posts about this trip under one thread (your original one). By doing so, it's easier for those who wish to respond and follow your progress. Also for you to find everything in one place.

Grumbo, nice approach to gaining input.

Tarangire. Based on one night stay in at Sopa in 2004 and one at Tarangire Safari Lodge in 2007 (both in late May to early June)we vastly prefer the Tarangire Safari Lodge. With the river overlook, the Safari Lodge offers excellent wildlife viewing. Although tents relatively close to one another we simply enjoyed it more than we did at the Sopa. Thought food/service/cleanliness etc were about the same.

Lake Manyara. Stayed at the Kirurumu Tented Lodge during two trips. Food excellent. Depending on occupancy can be quite intimate. Setting at the lounge is great! Ride from/to main road can be quite bumpy.

Ngorongoro. Stayed at Sopa on three trips. Access road into/outof crater a big plus. View of crater especially from patio are muchly improved (tree trimming work). Food, staff and overall service more than met our needs. Also, this past besides staying at the Sopa one night we also stayed at N Farm House. Our &quot;half&quot; house there was huge! Food excellent, facility is nicely kept and well landscaped. Nice place if one simply wants to sit back and relax. Reminds me of plantation life in Africa years ago. Immediate area is agriculture area. Given proximity to other lodges in the area where wildlife viewing is likely doubt would stay at Farm House Lodge again. Depends on what you want.

Serengeti Area. Stayed at both the Sopa and the Serena. Much depends on time of year, interest in the migration, etc. Been at Sopa on two trips (2002 and 2004) and Serena in 2007 at roughly same time of year. Again, conditions vary from year to year, etc but saw more wildlife closer to Sopa than we did at Serena. Have not checked out price difference but in general would be comfy at Sopa.

We enjoyed safari with mix of accommodations (smaller tented lodges and larger higher occupancy lodges. Don't require a lot of fancy ammentities. Want reasonably clean, safe conditions, decent food, etc. Main emphasis in on opportunity to view wildlife. We also accept the &quot;unknown&quot; that weather, vegetation, etc determines wildlife presence.

I'd do Sopa in Ngorongoro due to the private road.

Tarangire Sopa was a little out of the way. I believe closer to the entrance has better wildlife. But quite lovely.

If Wildlife Lodge is Seronera, then I thought that was good.

No personal experience with the other spots, but I like learning what others say about them. Great idea Grumbo.

Whatever you do, don't stay at the Moivaro Coffee Lodge near Arusha. I don't know about the Arusha Coffee Lodge, it may be fine. Moivaro was a rip off, terrible rooms, the pool was disgusting, the plumbing inadequate, the food bad. The staff was not very helpful. The only nice thing about was the gardens.

The Tarangire Sopa and Ngorongoro Sopa Lodges were both very nice. I think we liked the Tarangire Sopa best of all our lodges. The food was better at Ngorongoro but though the rooms were nice they were not nearly as nice as at Tarangire Sopa.

Kirurumu Tented Lodge was ok, but not terrific. Pretty basic. We only spent one night there though.

The Serengeti Wildlife Lodge was a big step down from the Sopas. I didn't stay at any Serenas so can;t comment on them.

Hi Grumbo

I can help at least with the Zanzibar side if you'd like:
I stayed at Africa house (not on your list) so visited many other hotels on your list during my stay there. 236 Hurumzi is lovely, and the rooms are very unique. The only drawback is that you are really in the heart of Stonetown and it was sometimes a mission to get in and out of this hotel if streets were busy etc, also could be quite noisy. You must definitely book a dinner there, best place to watch the sunset and the entertainment at dinner (local singing etc) is a great atmosphere. Personally, especially if on honeymoon I would suggest the Serena, a quieter part of Stonetown without losing the 'feel' of the town, lovely views and generally nicer.
Hope this helps!

Thanks everyone for the information! I'll take Sandi's advice and post further questions in my original message. This is starting to be quite a detailed project. : )

Has anyone stayed at the Tarangire Tented Safari Lodge? I will be there in a week but have not seen any reviews on it. Thanks