June Tanzania Itinerary Please Critique
 

Hi all,
What do you think of the plan? I'd take any suggestions on the itinerary or lodgings. This is a 10 year wedding present so I'm opting for as nice a place as I can. Also, what is your thought on Ruaha and switching things around to see the park? Worth it or no? For June it was recommended we do the N. Circuit which is why Selous/Ruaha isn't included. Thoughts?

Days
1- USA/EUROPE
2- AMS-ARUSHA
3,4,5- ARUSHA-SERENGETI (Serena)I'd like to upgrade
6- SERENGETI-NGORONGORO (Serena) I'd like to upgrade to Crater Lodge
7,8- NGORONGORO-LAKE MANYARA (Serena) I'd like to upgrade to Tree Lodge
9,10- LAKE MANYARA-TARANGIRE (Kikoti Tented) I'd like to pick again a nice one.
11, 12 ARUSHA,AMS,HOME

Add a day, skip a day? Camps/Lodgings you prefer? Thank you!!

I think it looks good.

For your Serengeti upgrade, would you opt for a tented camp? That upgrade would reduce the number of other people around, allow for more intimate meals, and have the charming ambiance of a tented atmosphere. Or would you opt instead for a mobile tented camp? This would offer more remoteness, even more of a natural setting, and hopefully an even better location for viewing the migration.

The upgrade to Crater Lodge in Ngorongoro--I've read that for only 1 night you're spending a lot on luxury (like your own butler) that you aren't around much to appreciate. For 1 night Serena might make the most cost efficient sense. You may wish to add a second night if you want to fully experience Crater Lodge. It would also be a more relaxed pace.

Manyara—Tree Lodge gets great reviews. It is recommended for a 2-night stay, like you’re doing.

Tarangire—Since you’ve mentioned you want nice places, Swala seems to be highly praised but I think with a price to match.

Doing the trip in the order shown would put your best wildlife viewing first, rather than as the grand finale.

lenlu
I am in the same stage as you checking out lodges etc BUT most of my trip will be camping
have a look at the following for tarangire
Tarangire Treetops expensive but looks nice
Boundary Hill Lodge new and looks nice as well
this is where I am going half the price of Treetops
Swala also nice but also pricey

check out Eben's web site for the tarangire Lodges and you will see easily which are teneted and which are not
then make a choice
have fun (but I am no expert)
David

sorry teneted should read tented
David

I agree with atravelyn that tented camps have a different (in my opinion WAY better ) experience, but the price is different too ;)

I stayed in serena in manyara last year, and didn't like it that much. To much a 'hotel' experience, just to big. When I'm on safari I wanna feel like im living in nature... but you have to be willing to pay for that as well..

Nikao

REAL camping is being out with mother-nature without paying too much...

aby,

Do you have some recommendations of reliable operators with good guides for the kind of camping experience you are describing? That particular niche seems to be more difficult for me to understand, especially if the large groups in a truck are not of interest.

Thanks

Upgrades to all the Serena properties are possible, just depends on your budget. Also depends on what time in June you plan to travel. Specifically, if the early part, Tarangire (though my favorite park) does have high grasses from the rains in April/May and difficult viewing other than large animals - elephant, giraffe.

For the Serengeti from mid-month forward it should be the Western branch where you have Kirawira and Mbalageti; or the mobile camps as Nomad's, Tanzania Under Canvas, Olakira, etc.; or blow the budget completely with a stay at Grumeti Reserves. Even too rich for me!!!

At this time, if for June 2007, many of the properties are already booked, so it may not be easy to get the camps (especially the upgrades) you'd like... Crater Lodge especially is difficult and will run in the $700/person/nt. So your choices here would be Serena or Sopa or on the outter side of the Crater, at the Farmhouse and closer to Manyara, Plantation Lodge or Gibbs Farm.

Tree Lodge in Manyara is lovely, but also very expensive. It's also located at the farthest end of the park, taking a good 2/hrs from the park entrance and the same amount of time when departing; not including stops for game viewing. A lovely camp inside the park is E-Unoto Retreat. Besides, Manyara is a small park, which can be covered in 1/day.

You can visit the southern parks, but not till from mid-June on. The parks are closed in May and some camps don't open till June 15.

How many days total in-country do you have? If only the 12/days, you are limited to do Ruaha or even the Masai Mara in Kenya, unless you omit something.

So the questions: 1) when in June, 2) what's your budget and 3) how many days can you alot.

Thanks guys. I would gladly throw in tented camps over lodges for the reasons everyone suggests. I just want to know which are nicer for my itinerary. I'll check out Swala and Boundary Hill. Dates unfortunately are early June. June 1-16, inflexible. So I have to go wherever I can for those dates with the better chance at game viewing. Beauty goes a long way for me so if it's scenic, I'm happy. I guess the dates prohibit me from anything but the Northern Circuit. Our budget for land is flexible but I'd hoped to keep it around 6500 per person--maybe I'm dreaming! Also, days are really only 12/13. Is Farmhouse and Gibbs nice? Do you guys prefer permanent tented or mobile tented? I don't care which as long as they are nice. Sorry to disappoint, but I'm not much of a camping gal. I appreciate the point about the best game viewing first and not the finale. That's a set itinerary that can't be changed by AAC. I'll check with them to see what else they have.

If the $6500 includes your international air, assuming that costs $1500, you can certainly upgrade. Sure hope AAC isn't charging you $5000 for a Serena itinerary. For that price you can certainly upgrade to nicer properties.

But if beginning of June, I would seriously consider passing on Tarangire. Swala and Boundary Hill can't be compared. One is lux (the former) the other is rather low-moderate. If you decide on Tarangire, try for Tarangire River Camp, so you don't have to drive so far into the park (Swala) or so far outside (Kikoti).

Camping in Africa doesn't have to be what you think it is. The only difference between a lodge vs camp/tent safari is with a tent you have canvas surrounding and above you, rather than a firm roof and walls. Inside, the beds are real, with mattresses, linens, running water, flush toilets, great food. When in Africa, nothing compares to sleeping under canvas.

Sandi
have you been to Boundary Hill Lodge
I am now going in early Feb and I have been led to believe it is one of the better lodges in Tarangire .
David

David, haven't stayed at them, but from research and reading trip reports, the "top" (most luxurious or most exclusive or most...you name it) are Treetops, Swala and Oliver's. Also, Nomad is now doing a seasonal camp in Tarangire. There are certainly others.

We stayed at Mawe Ninga and really enjoyed it, but I think it's probably too rustic for most/many Fodorites.

Other camps frequently mentioned here are Tarangire River Camp, Kikoti, Tarangire Safari Lodge. Hmm, I know there are more.

Swala, Oliver's, Mawe Ninga and Tarangire Safari Lodge are all inside the park.

Fully expecting to be corrected,
Leely

This is just a comment on defining nice accommodations and then having to pay for them.

If you want something nice and comfortable that is definitely not a pup tent or a dumpy lodge, then Serena or other lodges would fit the bill. I think many guests are pleasantly surprised with the quality of African accommodations (and food). Lodges generally cost less than tented camps with mobile tented camps being the most expensive.

With the tented camps, you pay for exclusivity and remoteness, along with excellent creature comforts. You're a premium for more nature and less people.
I consider those qualities very nice, but they are not nice in the traditional lodging sense.

If you want extra special accommodations for an anniversary then it makes senses to go with the Crater Lodge and the top end place in each park, as long as it is conveniently located.

If you just want to be sure you avoid medicore and unattractive, then there is no need for the most expensive top of the line lodging.

Leely
and others hi again
I did read a trip report from a fodorite
Utlending
and this is what amongst other things has convinced me to go with Boundary Hill Lodge and will also probably use the operator she used as they seem the oply ones so far to cater to where I want to visit
also I agree with Utlending about the importance of the guide
they can make or break I trip
BUT about Boundary Hill Lodge
she said and I quote
"We went to Boundary Hill Lodge in Tarangire and loved it! Stunning place to stay."
lets hope so but also the agent I am dealing with mostly has given me other comments from visitors there
and they rave about it
Also nice to know it is owned 50% by a local community
that to me is one of the attractions of the place
apart from the cost and also the closeness to the park and I do want to do a night drive and walk around a bit.
Would be interested to hear what others who have stayed there think
thanks david

David987,
Could you share the name of the operator that is going the places you want to go?

Atravelynn
In the end it came down to two operators
BUT havent paid a deposit yet am in the process of finalising the booking
conditions etc
the two that worked best for me were
Sunny safaris
and Eastco
both replied fast and both had almost exactly what I wanted
many operators didnt even answer my emails
one wanted to fly me everywhere I wasnt interested in that (Hoopoe Adventure Tours)
but after reading Utlending's report and being promised Onesmo as a guide I have chosen East African Safaris (Eastco)
I sure it will be perfect or as much as it can be
David

David987,

Getting a good guide is a huge component of the safari and it looks like you've done that. But I did want to include this link on a particulary troublesome safari.

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34868464

I've just posted a long message on 2Afrika and don't want to repeat myself so if anyone wants to see that information you can check it out. I did want to comment that my husband and I spent two nights at the Tarangire Treetops during the 3rd week of November. We were 2 of only 4 people at the camp so you can imagine how great the service was. Rooms were huge with unbelievable views built up around trees and the food was excellent. I guess the downside is that it was a long drive (1 hour) to the parks gate. I'm a little confused by the comments on the Boundary Hill Lodge. We passed by it on the way to Treetops and it looked like it was still under construction although some of the readers here appear to have stayed there. Maybe I'm confusing it with another new lodge that was being built. Anyway, if you choose Treetops I don't think you will be sorry.

Gina
I choose Boundary Hill Lodge
for the following reasons
1. It is about half the price of Tarangire treetops
2. I have been told it overlooks the park gate and a old WW1 battlefield
3. I have talked to people who stayed there in June 2007
from Australia and they said room no 2 is super luxury with
great views and caters for a couple or is big enough to put a single bed in
they said it was "one of the best rooms they had stayed in"
4. this lodge according to the website pictures(Eben's) is not canvas but made out of stone and brick and glass
after camping I wanted somethiing different
however when I visit there in early feb I will know what it is like and will ask the driver to take me to Tarangire Treetops for a coffee and a swim
then I will give you my impressions of that as well for what it will be worth
Atravelynn
Lynn
Hi I did read all those reports and the one you mentioned I have been reading fordors for years but never had this type of trip before so never posted
I know somebody in Arusha a teacher not a safari operator and they visited the three Tour operators offices of which I mainly dealt with
they have assured me that EASTCO has good vehicles (as does Sunny safaris), has excellent guides especially Onesenmo and another called bernard
and they said this trip you referred to was "probably one of those things"
and to go with Eastco anyway also other reports are excellent this one you refer to is not just one I read there are at least three really excellent reports on this board about people who used Eastco
BUT the bottom line is somebody did the trip I am doing and they said it was excellent and also not too many operators were interested in quoting or even answering my eamils
even those highly reccomended on this board
at the end of the day I will find out for myself and will keep you posted on my trip and Boundary Hill Lodge
I will see if it is open or not
thanks for your inputs and keep them coming
david

Hi

I went to Ruaha a number of years ago after visiting the National Park in the N. Circuit.

I personally thought is was very good and quite different from the other National Parks (even though I was a bit unhappy with our guides there which we had organized localy in Iringa)...worth seeing if you have the time.

malpa