Destined2

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

TucanCosta2009

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.

MyDogKyle

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.

atravelynn

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.

Destined2

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

atravelynn

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.

sandi

>>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.

TucanCosta2009

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