From Arusha without a stop and over some bumpty bumpy roads takes about 8+/hrs. Arriving Arusha at 2pm won't cut it. Besides you can't be on National Park lands after dark. You can't even make it to Ngorongoro; closest would be Lake Manyara (about 2.5/hrs).

However, there is a flight leaving JRO at about 2:30pm which I believe picks up in Arusha 2:40pm. From here the flight goes to Lake Manyara and then onto the Seronera airstrip.

I'd check if you can't take the morning flight on Coastal from Kigali to Seronera (from here plane continues to Arusha), before turning around and going West to Seronera and then Kigali.

I don't know the exact number of hours it takes to drive from Kilimanjaro to the northern Serengeti but it's long! Hopefully someone else can give you a time estimate.

You may want to check if it's still possible to catch an afternoon flight to the Serengeti with a 2:00pm arrival at Kilimanjaro. I'm not sure what time the last afternoon flight leaves. Might be very tight.

The Coastal Kigali-Seronera flight that sandi mentioned sounds like the easiest option (but a pricey one).

I think it would be a very, very long drive from Arusha to Serengeti, and I'm not sure it's possible arriving at 2pm as you're not to drive in the park after dark (I believe). <b>At least</b> six/seven hours, I would think. Plus you're headed up to Migration Camp, aren't you? That would make it even longer. I haven't read everyone's comments, but have you considered going to the Crater before the Serengeti?

I guess Patty and Sandi beat me to the punch with better info. Also, you can check go-safari.com for flight schedules and routes.

Tokitae, sounds like a really interesting trip you're planning.

P.S. - When checking flights, make sure you know which airport is used for arrival/departure. Arusha and Kilimanjaro airports are about 45 minutes apart, so it does make a difference. With a 2:00pm arrival at JRO, you might be able to make a 2:30pm (you'll need a little time to clear immigration and pick up you bags) but it would leave no room for delays.

In case you start to reconsider Uganda. You can definitely do some daunting treks in Rwanda...namely seeing the Susa group. Before I left for my trip, a lot of people kept telling me to stop jumping around from place to place (at the time I was planning a 2 week trip to Rwanda and Tanzania...it ended up being Kenya due to the easier flights). At the time, I couldn't really understand it...since it felt like a once-in-a-lifetime trip, I wanted to get everything in. Now, I'm so glad I got that feedback. The time in transit isn't too fun and it certainly isn't as fun as spending time with the gorillas. Some tour operators can make the in-transit time seem like it's the same as being on safari (I love the expression used...afternoon game drive while transferring:)).

If you're only going to Uganda to see the gorillas, I'd would suggest saving the extra $$$ from the flight and long drive to Bwindi to do extra gorilla treks in Rwanda (or vice versa). You could probably do at least another one for what you save. 4 gorilla treks, a visit to Nyungwe Rainforest (for some light trekking to see the waterfalls and orchids), a trip to Lake Kivu to relax...you can even take a boat ride from Gisenyi (on Lake Kivu) to Kibuye (on Lake Kivu)...seeing the beautiful scenary as you go.

Don't mean to push this on you, so apologies if it seems that way. But seriously do consider how many places you are going to in 3 weeks (4 countries!) and count up how much time out of those 3 weeks you will spend on planes and in vehicles (opposed to seeing and doing what you've travelled all the way to Africa to do). In my quick count it looks like you're going to spend considerable parts of 10 out of your 20 days in-transit.

Just my 2 cents.

This is great feedback, and exactly what we need to fine tune our plans. I am hearing the 'chorus' that we haven't alot enough travel time for the distances involved, so that triggers a question.

Does it make more sense (and possibly save $$) to start the Tanzania trip in Tarangire? I'm suggesting taking the flight from Kigali to Arusha, then a relatively short drive to Tarangire. Then the next travel segment is driving from Tarangire to Ngorongoro, then driving Ngorongoro to Serengeti and then the final travel segment to fly from Serengeti to Masai Mara?

Does that have better flow? Just a thought.
Thanks
T

Starting in Tanzania makes sense. Don't know about a Serengeti-Mara direct flight. You might have to go through Arusha to Nairobi. I'll let the airplane experts address that one and will be very interested in their response.

If you just did Rwanda and not Uganda, what you'd be giving up is QE. Of course you'd also be giving up Bwindi, but that's gorillas, which you'd have in PNV. I really liked QE, especially the Kazinga Channel. Of all the boat trips in Africa, this is one of the most action packed, second only to Chobe in my experience. It offers you the chance to see chimps in the wild, which you can't do elsewhere on your trip. QE also has the beautiful Ugandan kob and Giant Forest Hog. Elephant action is also outstanding. And of course there's the bat cave if that's of interest. I would not count on QE to produce views of tree climbing lions.

As to the difficulty of the treks, it is a toss up between Uganda and Rwanda. Just depends on where the gorillas are. But the humidity was far worse in Bwindi than PNV and that made Bwindi treks more difficult for me during our summer months.

You could also look at nixing Uganda as a trade-off for more days in the Serengeti. What you would give up in QE, while not duplicated in the Serengeti, would allow you more days in this wildlife-rich region. It would probably offer a cost savings as well, and provide more relaxation.

Re: Gorilla's Nest--I loved its location and the resident flock of crowned crane. The rooms were a little chilly and the food was good. It is where I would stay again, unless the Governor's accommodations were the same price as Gorilla's Nest, which I don't believe is the case.

You could take the flight from Kigali to Kili (if you're there the right day), then drive to Tarangire. You could then drive to the Crater and onto the Serengeti and then the Mara (I think to fly you'd have to charter a plane but others would know better). From the Mara you could fly back to Nairobi...don't drive.

Alternatively, you could fly from Kigali to Nairobi (if the Kili flight doesn't work) Nairobi to the Mara, drive to the Serengeti, the Crater, Tarangire and then Kili (and fly home from there).

Or...you could do ONLY a private driving safari in Tanzania. You could fly from Kigali to Nairobi, Nairobi to the Mara and back to Nairobi, Nairobi to Kili...drive to Tarangire, the Crater, end in the Serengeti and then fly from the Serengeti to Arusha (which I think is possible, but again don't know for certain) and then fly home from Kili.

Sounds like a fantastic trip. Both Chimp and Gorilla tracking are on my list for my next trip to Africa. Please post some results when you return.

You might be trying to fit too much in with the driving from place to place. I flew from location to location, so I don't know, but as mentioned by another writer, I'd re-check the distances/driving time.

I have been to east Africa and southern Africa. I spent a month on safari in July of 2003. I stayed at some fantastic places, and while not as luxurious as some of the other locations I visited, Grumeti River Camp was one of my all time favorites. I understand the comment about not moving around too much, but if you want to see the wildebeast migration, my suggestion is NOT to stay in one place since the migration is unpredictable. I stayed a couple nights each at Bateleurs Camp in the Massai Mara, and Klein's Camp and Grumeti River Camp in the Serengeti, and Grumeti is where I saw the migration. It was incredible. The staff and accomodations at Grumeti are also wonderful. The perfect combination of comfort and wilderness. And the food was fantastic. I definitely would not eliminate this from your itinerary. In fact, I'd stay an extra night if you could. Make sure you take malaria vaccine before you go. It isn't necessary for most of your trip, but in this region it is a must.

In the Ngorongoro Crater I stayed at the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge and thought is was too over the top. I'm glad you've chosen another location. A tip about the Crater location--it will be much colder during the early morning and the evening than you think. Take along some long underwear.

Please post results about Jacana and Gorilla Forest Camp when you return. I've read wonderful things about both locations and had planned to include them in my next trip (likely 2008).

Have a great trip. It will be the experience of a lifetime.