I hope I have done enough research into a Kenya/Tanzania trip to ask a semi-intelligent question. We are interested in doing private game drives, and I've been researching on here different possibilities for tour companies. So far I'm looking at Eastern and Southern and Africa Serendipity, among others. Among many other things, I'm confused about this: Does the tour company determine whether we have game drives for just the two of us if that is what we desire, or is that up to each individual lodge? Is it even a reasonable request?

I believe there are five main parameters affecting game drives.
1) Most important, your guide/ranger, you may or may not have a choice.
2) Drives allowed off-road.
3) Private or shared vehicle.
4) The type of vehicle.
5) (and least important) Are drives after sundown allowed (must the drive be back in camp by sundown).

regards - tom

If you have your own vehicle and driver, then it will be a private game drive. If you are using a camp's vehicles and guides, you'll be sharing unless you pay for a private vehicle. You can reach all the safari areas in northern Tanzania via private vehicle, so any safari there could be "private". In Kenya, you might find that you're flying into the Masai Mara or Samburu and would be using the camp's vehicles. I think it's harder to keep your own vehicle and guide in Kenya due to the driving distances involved.

Thank you both.

A private safari in Kenya depends on you. If your budget allows then you will have a private vehicle for just you. If you are on budget then you can be joined to another group where you share the costs and the vehicle.

Most tour operators want to handle their clients personally and they therefore buy packages from hotels that comprise of meals and bed only. The rest ie game drives they handle assuming that you have chosen a private safari.

The distances involved are not a problem. The reason is the tour operators come up with itineraries that are workable and make sure that the distances covered are reasonable.Example,you get from one lodge to another in time for lunch and you spend the rest of the afternoon on game drives then dinner and overnight.

Thanks sranger. I'm not to the point yet of actually calling the tour companies and having a discussion. Perhaps when I do, I will know more about what our budget can handle. I wasn't even sure it was doable regardless of budget.

We did a Tanzania/Kenya private safari in August 2008, arranged through Good Earth, that started in TZ for four days. We then flew to Nairobi, stayed overnight and then flew to Samburu (Serena). A guide from our safari company in Kenya (Safari Line) met us at Samburu. After several days we flew from Samburu to Masai Mara (Serena)and met a second Safari Line guide there. After several days there, we flew to Nairobi and then home.

Everything was seamless, flights were on time, all guides did a great job and it was well worth a bit more cost. It certainly wasn't extravagant; avoiding the drive time = extra game drive days!

Figure out what you THINK you want, and ask for advice. Then ask for a quote from two or three operators (IMHO, more than three is wasting their time). You are paying the freight, so there are no unreasonable questions! Jim.

I also want to do some flying to avoid the longer drive times. I think our budget will handle that.

Hi, We had a wonderful tour through the parks with a company I HIGHLY recommend,Superb Tours(after the bird).It was just my husband and myself and Dennis our guide. All of the tour companies go to the same parks and travel on the same roads. This company is very reasonable and Dennis was EXCELLENT! If you mention my name to Benjamin,the owner he will take good care of you!The few things that I think seperate this company from others is that they will take a percentage of the cost of your tour and put it back into the community. They support one of the Orphanges in Arusha. We also noticed while we were getting closer to Serengeti Dennis had us save all our water bottles(from lunches) and then we filled them up at a rest stop just before arriving to the Maasai people...we stopped and gave the kids a few bottle of water and bits of food we had saved from our box lunches.We did not see any other company do this?Our lodging was great,we wanted to experience B&B,tent and government lodging. If you let Benjamin know your heart's desires he will do all he can to help. We celebrated our 40th anniversary and we first met him he came with sparkling juice a lovely card!!

You are welcome to use my name Patti Pepelnjak..http://www.superbtoursandsafaris.com/ and address your emails to Benjamin!!

p.s I did a huge amount of research on tour companies before I left...this company is VERY reasonable! We were on a budget!! Remember they ALL must travel the same roads in the park and what ever day you are in the park you will see the same animals as the expensive companies. The guides all talk to each other when there is a spotting of an animal. Dennis is well received by ALL of the guides we met from ALL of the companies!

We are going Sept 2011, chose africatravelresources and are very happy with them. They do great planning and most of their workers actually spend time in Africa every year.They are worth looking at anyway!

We also used ATR and would highly recommend them. My trip report, with budget, is posted.