Masai Mara or not in Aug time Period
 

As I plan a Safari for a 10 day trip in August time frame (first 2 weeks) I wonder if I should just stay in Tanzania in the Northern Serengeti and skip Masai Mara for expense and logistics or not. Should I just add more nights in N. Serengeti and other places like crater and Tarangrie areas?

Thoughts anyone?

We were in the Maasai Mara and the Northern Serengeti in early September and the game viewing was MUCH better in the Mara, though we enjoyed both. I'm so glad the wise Fodorites told us to go to the Mara. That's one of the best pieces of advice I've gotten on fodors!

You'd have to spend a good part of a day to travel from the Serengeti to the Mara or vv so I'd probably stick with one country if you only have 10 days. Have you considered just Kenya?

Patty - To answer your question we have not just looked at Kenya probably because of the places and names are more familiar to me for Tanzania. Right or wrong that is what I was looking at.

When I said 10 days I meant excluding travel days from USA and out so that is 10 in country just to clarify. I will we could all just cross the border - it would be so much easier then back tracking etc.

I was wanting to say I wish we could border cross to make it easier. Sorry about that. Not even spell check would have helped me out with that one.

Tanzania, the northern Serengeti, with few properties and those that are mostly in the lux-category, is more expennsive than the Mara. For early August, I'd stick with a Kenya itinerary.

Sandi do you mean as Patty suggested an entire Kenya safari or adding Mara?

Can't provide specific answer unless you let us know what your preliminary thoughts are?

- Are you considering either Tanzania or Kenya?

- Are you planning Tanzania and wanting to know whether you should head to N. Serengeti or to the Mara?

Just better to provide as much info in initial post, so we know posters thought process.

10 days in Africa in August

Kenya only

1 NBO area--Sheldrick, etc

2-3 Samburu--variety of accommodations

4-5 Mt. Kenya--Sweetwaters

6 Nakuru--Lion Sarova Lodge

7, 8, 9, 10 Maasai Mara--variety of accommodations

I am looking at something similar for Aug of the following year.


Tanzania and Mara

1 Arusha National Park--variety of accommodations

2-3 Crater--I prefer Sopa

4 Serengeti Seronera area--variety of accommodations

5, 6 No. Serengeti (maybe add another night here if you stay only 1 night in crater) mostly mobiles or tented camps

7 Fly back to JRO and fly to NBO

8, 9, 10 Maasai Mara


Only Tanzania

1 Arusha National Park--variety of accommodations

2-3 Tarangire--variety of accommodations

4 Manyara (not at its peak but helps with driving. Hippo pool is always good--variety of accommodations

5 Serengeti Seronera area--variety of accommodations

6, 7, 8 No. Serengeti (maybe add another night here if you stay only 1 night in crater) mostly mobiles or tented camps

9, 10 Crater--I prefer Sopa


Is there a reason you prefer to travel to TZ over Kenya? Are there certain animals you wish to see? Is the migration a must for you?

atravelynn - Some great ideas for me. I agree with about 1 day in Lake Manyara area and another 2-3 days in Tarangire at Oliver's or there was another I had in mind. For Crater I was targeting Sopa and could see no more then 2 if I were going to do Tanzania.

Sandi we are looking at catching some phase of the migration. I think the name recognition of Serengeti and crater were what triggers to mind Tanzania. I never did consider a Kenya only but am now thinking about it.

If I do go to Masai Mara area it will be for a min of 3 days just because of the hassle factor. My real preference is 10 min days in country and up to 12 if budget will allow.

Goals are big 5 and other animals as well - we like all kinds. No beaches, no villages, just the animals is what I am after on this 1st and probably only Safari.

If you could eek out 12, that's a 20% increase in time and then you could do:

Tanzania and Mara

1 Arusha National Park (probably flying or driving from NBO)--variety of accommodations

2-3 Tarangire

4 Crater

5 Serengeti Seronera area--variety of accommodations

6, 7, No. Serengeti

8 fly back to JRO and I think you can get to NBO that night, if not early the next day

9 10 11 12 Mara

For Big 5, the tricky ones are rhino and leopard.
Rhino are in the crater in TZ and Nakuru and Sweetwaters (almost a sure thing there) in Kenya and live near other accommdations in the Laikipia area of Kenya.

Leopard can be anywhere but seeing them is unpredictable. Probably Seronera part of Serengeti is best bet. Sometimes in the Mara. Samburu is pretty good.

The most variety of animals would be a Kenya safari that included Samburu for the unique northern species of zebra, giraffe, ostrich, and a couple of antelope; Sweetwaters for chimps (not wild, Jane Goodall sanctuary) and rhino; and Aberdare for Colobus monkeys, maybe even a Giant Forest Hog.

FWIW, if <b>all</b> of the big five are what you want, go to Sabi Sand Reserve, South Africa. (As lynn mentions, rhino and leopard are a bit tricky in Kenya and TZ). Specifically, camp MalaMala, Sabi Sand Reserve, is one of the favorites around here.

Your first safri, right?
For my first safari (2005) to Africa I told my travel agent I wanted to see - the big five, up close and personal, and often. MalaMala worked for that big time.

If you already know this and want to go to Kenya, well, never mind. . . .

regards - tom

Well if we don't see the Big 5 it isn't the end of the world. Its a goal I have. If we see a lot of other animals and some predators in action then I will be happy. Heck being on Safari sure beats the hell out of working so any moment in the trip beats the alternative hands down.

We've been to Kenya once, Sept 2006, five nights at Little Governors Camp, Maasai Mara. Loved it want to go back. Saw a lot of animals, but no leopards nor rhino. Which was ok. The cheetah, lions, wildebeest crossing and more, more than made up for that. Here's my Fodors trip report if you'd like - http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...4&tid=34881694
(Also includes Kruger, MalaMala and Zambia. Kenya was/is last).

One of the things I like most about Kenya, Maasai Mara, is its classical African grassland savanna terrain. Like in the movies. While South Africa Sabi Sand is the more rough "bushveld" terrain. Although still open and fine for game viewing.

Being on safari not only beats the hell out of working it also beats the hell out of retirement !!!!! Well, except for the rigors of getting there and back :-)

regards - tom

With the exception of the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania, you can get much the same game experiences in Kenya and with August being migration-time in the Mara... I'd stick manly with Kenya. You can arrive Kilimanjaro (JRO) Tanzania and depart for home from Nairobi (NBO) Kenya, as:

Assuming a mostly driving itinerary to keep costs down; flights only for the longest distances.

Day 1 - Arv Kilimanjaro/JRO for - o/n in Arusha
Day 2 - Drive to Tarangire - elephant experience, predators, other game and baobab landscape - o/n
Day 3 - Tarangire - o/n
Day 4 - Drive to Ngorongoro; afternoon crater tour - o/n
Day 5 - Ngo - morning crater tour; drive to JRO; fly to Nairobi (JKIA) - o/n
Day 6 - NBO - sightseeing in morning; drive to Nanyuki for stay at Sweetwaters; Jane Goodall Chimp sanctuary; night game drives - o/n
Day 7 - Drive to Lake Nakuru; flamingoes, other birdlife, rhino sanctuary - o/n
Day 8 - Drive to Masai Mara - o/n
Days 9 & 10 - Masai Mara - o/n
Day 11 - Drive or Fly to NBO; day-room; transfer to JKIA for homebound.

This would be a private safari throughout, own vehicle/guide.

Can't guarantee the leopard, but most everything else is a good bet. Hope this helps.

We had 10 days in Kenya followed by 10 days in Tanzania, but if I was forced to choose between the 2 and had only 10 days total, I would choose Kenya. In that amount of time we saw a greater variety of landscapes and animals. I love rhinos, so seeing them close-up in both Sweetwaters and Lake Nakuru was a highlight. We did see one rhino in the Crater too, but it was very far away on the crater's slope. For the time of year we were there (late Sept/early Oct) we chose to concentrate on the Mara and skipped the Serengeti.

Having said that, I like Sandi's latest suggestion a lot, if you want to keep the Crater in there and see some of both countries. And I loved Tarangire, especially for elephants. This looks like a good solution, if you don't mind the expense of the transportation between countries and the extra visa costs.

I agree that you'd likely see a greater variety of species on a northern and southern Kenya itinerary vs a northern Tanzania only or northern Tanzania and Mara itinerary.

These are all great suggestions and I am so very appreciative of them. Thank you everyone for your time and advice. Sandi I am liking the last itinerary you sent. This may be a great compromise to my dilemma

There are so many options, but with limited time you have to decide what are the "must sees" vs "I'd like" along with when traveling. As the saying goes... "can't fill a 5/lb bag with 10/lbs of stuff" (that's not the real last word of the saying, but you get the drift) :) Glad to help!

I would like to add the leopard sightings close to TALEK gate in the Massai Mara were exceptionally good - not only one year but 3 in a row.
Furthermore there is an almost "resident" leopardess close to Kicheche Mara camp which has been raising her litters there for 4 consecutive years now.
Rhino is excellent in Meru where they gave a black rhino sanctuary. White rhino can be visited also close to Kicheche Main camp!

www.kicheche.com

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Happy Planning!

SV

If I were going in August I would definitly spend several days in the Mara. The accomodations are more plentiful and much less costly than in the Serengeti. I agree with Sandi that being in the Mara at the end of the trip would be best. I was in the Mara in September last yeat and it was spactacular. You won't be disappointed with the variety of animals, and the mara is beautiful with it's savannahs.Your first safari you want to see everything, but you will be saving yourself alot of driving time by staying in either Kenya or Tanzania.I have done the two country combo and it does keep you moving around alot As for myself my two favorite parks are the Masai Mara August thru September and the Serengeti in January thru June etc. for the migration which is truly amazing. Happy planning

Destined2

Did you feel it was worth doing both countries for your first trip? I can't afford to come back so I want to do this right the 1st time. We plan to see so many other parts of the world so this is our 1 shot at Africa.

Hi Tucan -- I know you didn't ask me (you asked Destined2), but if you really think that you will never have the chance to return to Africa, then I'd suggest you try to see both countries even if that requires a lot of moving around. I definitely felt it was worth it for us to do that. The Mara is a must and so is the Crater, if this is your only shot (although of course there's no "right" way to see Africa!). There's just so much diversity in East Africa, it's impossible to see it all in one fell swoop... but for a once-in-a-lifetime trip I would try to get in both of those incredible sights.

On my first, one and only trip of a lifetime to Africa, I wanted to see the famed Serengeti and other parts of Tanzania, along with Kenya and the Mara. I didn't care if there might not be as many animals in the Serengeti.

I went the end of July and got to the Serengeti in August. I did 2 nts at Seronera Lodge and 2 nights at Lobo Lodge. I did not see the bulk of the migration and saw only 1 cheetah in the Serengeti. We saw a couple of lions on the kopjes (big rocks) which was a beautiful sight. No leopards, but lots of hoofed species.

I remember being thrilled with the animals we did see and enchanted with the vastness of the Serengeti. At the time I was very thankful I had gone and cherished my time there. In retrospect, I realize those days were some of the least animal-filled of that trip or any of the game-driving trips since then. I've been fortunate to return to Africa and admit I've been bitten by the bug.

A tented camp further north in the Serengeti than Lobo Lodge might offer you a better shot at the migration. The terrain in the Serengeti is different from the Mara. The kopjes are certainly a distinguishing feature. I don't recall Mara kopjes. But there are no species you'd see in the Serengeti that you wouldn't see in the Mara, to my knowledge.

If you have a slightly expandable budget with 12 days and really want to include the Serengeti, here’s a tweak to Sandi’s itinerary. I think this plan would result in fewer total animals than her original itinerary because there would be one less crater visit and no Tarangire.

Day 1 - Arv Kilimanjaro/JRO for - o/n in Arusha

Day 2 – Fly to N. Serengeti and meet your guide, who has driven there beforehand. Sending the guide ahead costs more. Another possibility would be to join others staying at the camp who also flew in for the tented camp N. Serengeti part of the trip. In that case your private guide could meet up with you on the day you head to the crater. That could save you 2 days of private guide expense. Either way, your private guide would be doing quite a bit of traveling to the destination without you—unless he had just completed a safari with another group that ended in the N. Serengeti with that group flying out. Then he’d already be there. Those logistics might not be finalized until closer to your travel date.

Day 3 – N. Serengeti—2nd night

Day 4 - Drive to Ngorongoro & o/n (probably no crater visit, that was present in the first itinerary)

Day 5 - Ngorongoro - morning crater tour; drive to JRO; fly to Nairobi (JKIA) - o/n

Day 6 - NBO sightseeing - (or skip this since you stated you prefer just safari activities, but one of the NBO sightseeing stops could be Sheldrick’s Elephant Orphanage) drive to Nanyuki for stay at Sweetwaters; Jane Goodall Chimp sanctuary; night game drives - o/n

Day 7 - Drive to Lake Nakuru; flamingoes, other birdlife, rhino sanctuary - o/n

Day 8 - Drive to Masai Mara - o/n

Days 9 & 10 & 11 - Masai Mara - o/n (one more night here, if you have 12 days on safari)

Day 12 - Drive or Fly to NBO; day-room; transfer to JKIA for homebound

A few years ago, I wanted to include Tanzania and Kenya in a trip that left mid-July. I was going with 3 other women who had not been to Africa before. We spent our Tanzania time in the crater and Tarangire and did not go to the Serengeti. Then we did a couple of parks in Kenya with the majority of time in the Mara. We all were very happy with the plan. But I had been to the Serengeti before and they were not that particular on the destinations.

ToucanCosta2009
My first trip I did feel that (I did want to see it all). Africa has such a diversity of faces with so many areas being different that it is a very hard decision. I guess priorities ... but unless you have been on safari before you would not know what your priorities are. You can choose to fly between a park or two but then this gets very expensive but saves all the time spent on very bumpy roads at slower speeds,and would add to the time you could be out on game drives. After driving from Lake Nakuru to the Mara I vowed I would never do that again, especially because of the condition of the road and the time lost from driving They are putting a new road in that will go into the mara. I was told it was supposed to be done in 2010, but looking at the progress that would greatly surprise me. It is hard to make choices about where to go .. I think the time of year and intersts would determine. If I was going in August I would certainly choose to spend time where ever the migration would be .... that is such a breathtaking addictive experience. Hope you have a very rewarding safari and will be anxious to hear how you arrange your itinerary and a full trip report :)

In re-reading this comment of mine regarding the Serengeti:

"At the time I was very thankful I had gone and cherished my time there. In retrospect, I realize those days were some of the least animal-filled of that trip or any of the game-driving trips since then."

I'm still glad I went and hope to get back to the Serengeti another couple of times.

>>I can't afford to come back so I want to do this right the 1st time.<<

When I did my first trip to Kenya in '95, the thought of another trip never entered my mind, whether for cost or any other reason... just not on the horizon. Figured Kenya was Africa and that was that. However, on arrival and not even out of the airport some little voice told me I'd be back, but gave it no further thought. Our 2+/weeks were wonderful. Returned home and that was it.

Till, 2/years later when I realized Africa was calling me back, so planned a return visit, this time some Kenya but mostly Tanzania. And, as the saying goes "the rest is history." Have visited the southern African countries of South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and returned to Kenya and Tanzania too many times to count.

Plan this trip best you can, but don't sweat the small stuff. Even if this is your one and only, it will be amazing. Thereafter, if Africa is in your future, you'll return.

Again thank you all for the wonderful words of encouragement and sound advice. As I shape up the itinerary I will share for people to poke holes in and refine it to the point I can shop for quotes. Thanks - Tucan