Just emailed the airlines, as booking tickets one-way on 2 out of 3 websites is a problem... Talk to you all tomorrow, got to run ;-)
/Maria
P.S thit-cho
Sandi did miscalculate the # of days in her second proposed itinerary (if we count our arrival in Nairobi as day #1 we have there 10 days, not 9...; count for yourself ;-) )

You are correct.

Sounds like some very good advice is being given here and I would like to ask for some help as well. I have a trip scheduled for June 2 to June 15 to Tanzania. We are thinking of spending the last three days in Zanzibar. We would appreciate any thoughts of agenda for this trip and places to stay. We are thinking of a private safari using Roy's. Thanks!

MW123 -
If you're using one of the outfitters that Patty listed in her post above,to arrange your itinerary, accommodations, etc... let them handle your air or land transfers... that's their job. You don't have to do this yourself.

Zekester,
You could start your own thread posting questions you have about your itinerary even if your question is simply "what should my itinerary be?"

Try to give an idea of what your expectations and budget are so people can offer you advice pertinent to you.

Good luck.

Leely

Thanks, I'll try it. After reading your past comments, it really seems you know Tanzania and your help will be appreciated.

Zekester, I burst out laughing when I saw that! I have only been once!! I will be going again next June. You could say I'm hooked. ;)

There about a bazillion realy qualified people on this board who can actually help you with your trip.

Leely - Your comment below:

>>There about a bazillion realy qualified people on this board who can actually help you with your trip.<<

Are these the same bazillion that when George W was advised that 3 Brazillions were murdered, he wanted to know if a brazillion was a large number?

Couldn't help myself. But I got three of those emails the other day... and we're paying this guy a salary!

Enough, lightheartedness for the day!

Hi,

I plan to use Roy's myself for my honeymoon next June. I was wondering if Sandi or Leely might be able to offer some advice. I would appreciate some advice or somewhere to stay for three days after Kirawira camp on about the 23rd June 2006. Not too fused about cost but if there is a watering hole or river very near I guess animals will be close. Manty thanks

chrisamg,
Are you asking for suggestions for a secondary location in addition to Kirawira in the Serengeti or are you looking for suggestions elsewhere? If you tell us what other places you're already planning to stay besides Kirawira that might help others provide suggestions for your additional nights.

Oops, I wasn't being very clever.
We arrive in Arusha 19th June :
19th June Mt Village
20th Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
21st Kirawira
22nd Kirawira
23- 25 ? Not sure where to stay but think it might be best in Western Serengeti
26th Gibbs Farm
27th Mt Village
28th 30th Mnemba

I would appreciate any advice on places to stay and places not to stay.
Many thanks all

Sandi,
Uh oh. When I start sounding like George W I need to hang up my hat. Funny joke, though.

Chris,
If you're at Kirawira for 2 nights you wouldn't necessarily need 2 more nights in the Western Serengeti. Lodging options in/near the Seronera valley include the Serena, the Wildlife Lodge, the Sopa, Ronjo camp (rustic!) and Mbuzi Mawe (pricey but nicey, I think). If your budget allows, you could spend 3 nights Kirawira and 2 nights Mbuzi Mawe. If not, 2 nights Kirawira and 2 or 3 at the Serena or the Sopa would be nice. The Seronera is "crowded" with tourists, but full of resident wildlife, including lots and lots of big cats.

Hi Everybody :-)
I'm stuck with the details of our trip in NGORONGORO... Should we use a tour agency or go there on our own, is the second possible and reasonable? Please advice (distance, time, transport from Arusha, guides, maybe overnight at a camp, all costs)?
/Maria

Maria,
I don't know if the latter is possible. Does anyone know if you can self drive into the crater? In any case, I think by the time you rented a 4WD, camping equipment, etc. it may end up costing you almost as much as a tour. I don't think there is public transport to the crater rim. You may be able to find public transport to the town of Karatu, stay at a lodge there (I think there are some inexpensive ones) and see if the lodge can offer you a day or half day trip to Ngorongoro.

Try posting this question on the Lonely Planet Thorntree board. You'll probably get more suggestions for doing it on your own there (or at least semi-on your own).

You couldn't pay me to drive the ascent road out of the Crater! Granted, I am a bit of a chicken, but I was a nervous wreck coming up out of there.

Let's Go Travel does a la carte short safaris out of Nairobi; they have gotten good marks on Lonely Planet Thorn Tree. I wonder is there is something similar in Tanzania--there must be. Really, most any tour operator could handle a brief jaunt to the Crater for you. I would choose that over the hassle of trying to arrange it myself.

Thx Patty,
I thought it might be almost the same cost, so the fuss is not worth it... Roy's want 390,-USD pp for 2days - I'm looking for sth like that for 200,-USD. Any tips anybody for NGORONGORO CRATER tours?
/Maria

Leely,
I went to the bookstore again and i bought 2 guidebooks - 1 for K, 1 for T (wanted to buy Fodor's K&T all in one, but it was published in 2001, the Lonely Planet ones were 2003 & 2004, so more recent). I'm currently reading the about the northern circuit in T. I'll check up the Lonely Planet forum too. Big THX :-)/Maria

Maria,
Is that price for 1 night or 2 nights at the crater? Also is it for a lodge or camping? If that's the price for a lodge (which lodge by the way?), ask them for a price for basic camping.

I believe Roys only books (or primarily books) private tours. You could try contacting other operators to see if they already have clients booked on your dates who would be willing to share. Being able to split the cost between 4 or 6 would definitely bring the pp rate down versus just 2. However, I don't know how likely it is that you'll find others who are only interested in doing 1 or 2 nights at Ngorongoro.

Try Sunny Safaris in Arusha. I see them mentioned on the LP board quite a bit. You could also try posting a question on the LP board asking if anyone wants to go to Ngorongoro on the same dates and is interested in sharing. I see people posting such questions on that board all the time. It's worth a try.

I too have seen Sunny Safaris mentioned on the Thorn Tree; I believe they are also in the Bradt Guide to Tanzania (Maria, this is a great guide book, but since you already have bought 2, you might try to see if it's available at your local library).

By the way, where are thinking of staying on Zanzibar?

Maria,
Another thought, if you decide not to have one company handle both Kenya and Tanzania: have you looked at the list of operators on http://www.tatotz.org/ ? That is the Tanzanian Associaion of Tour Operators. African Trails Ltd., for example, lists short itineraries and prices. I think you could find something there that will work for you.

Caveat: I have never used African Trails!