sandi

Many people do visit both the Northern Serengeti/Sayari and the Masai Mara/Il Moran. However, better know now that the drive from Ngorongoro to Sayari is an entire day thru the Serengeti, not arriving till dusk. Then with only 1/full day here and departing next day for the Mara, and even with only drive across border to Migori and flight to the Mara... it's just too hectic. "September is Mara time"

You already have an elephant park on the itinerary... Tarangire, which between July-Oct there is a mini migration and should be a minimum 2/nts. Then onto Manyara and/or Karatu area (where Plantation Lodge sited), and to Ngorongoro... are good. From here you can return to Arusha or Kilimanjaro for a flight to Nairobi.

Spend some time sightseeing in Nairobi and a bit of time to chill after bumping around Tanzania, then off to the Masai Mara. Note that while the House of Waine is one of my favorites, and often my "home-away-from-home" it's an expensive day room choice.

Consider:
Day 1 - Arv. JRO - o/n
Day 2 - Drive to Tarangire; game drives - o/n
Day 3 - Tarangire; game drives - o/n
Day 4 - Drive to Manyara; game drive - o/n Plantation (in Karatu, 1/hr farther down the road)
Day 5 - Drive to Ngorongoro; afternoon crater tour - o/n
Day 6 - Drive to Arusha/JRO; flight to NBO - o/n (here consider HOW, great to chill before starting again next day)
Day 7 - NBO - morning sightseeing to visit: Karen Blixen, Giraffe Center, Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage; lunch; then transfer to Wilson for 3pm flight to Masai Mara - o/n
Days 8, 9 & 10 - Masai Mara - o/n
Day 11 - Fly to NBO; dayroom (Fairview or Macushla) - depart for home.

Much smoother and covers it all!

wkwb42a

Hi Sandi!

Thank you so much for your detailed reply and great suggestions! My husband and I appreciate your help. We will discuss it with our TO. BTW, our TO had suggested staying at Mbalageti (2 nights) instead of Sayari. Would we see anything good there? And does this make a difference in the driving time? Do you recommend Il Moran? (Can't find much at all written about it here). Do you think that your suggested plan will cost more than the one we were considering? Also, do you suggest that we stay at different places for Tarangire and Manyara? Or can we stay at Plantation Lodge that whole time? Thanx so much!!

sandi

Mbalageti is a lovely camp, but best visited in June/July when the migration is moving thru the Western corridor where this camp is located. However, if staying here (not recommended for Sept), and then "driving" (ugh!) to Migori, you're a bit closer to getting out of the Serengeti but it's still a long drive along coast of Lake Victoria to Isebania border and then to Migori... don't recommend this drive, sorry.

And, since the migration is in full-swing in Kenya at this time, just forego the Serengeti (the Mara is just the northern extension of the same eco-system).

I can't offer pricing, but if departing after Ngorongoro to Arusha/JRO and flight to NBO... it should be a wash, maybe cheaper then trapsing thru (and the time needed) the Serengeti to get to Kenya and the Mara.

Have your TO price what I suggested and then compare.
You'd be
- adding 1/nt Tarangire
- omitting 2/nts in Serengeti/Sayari
(includes guide/vehicle & accomm)
- omitting drive to Migori
(includes guide/vehicle dead-heading empty back to Arusha)
- omitting flight Migori to Mara
- you'd be adding flight Arusha/Wilson (NBO)
- you'd be adding 1/nt Nairobi + half-day sightseeing

Il Moran is one of the Governor's properties, their lux 10/tent camp vs Governor's Main (40/tents) or Little Governor's (17/tents). Can't say why there's not more comments re Il Moran, but there are many many choices for tented camps in the Mara. Depends on whether you want a large or small/intimate property and your budget.

As to Tarangire/Manyara, as everyone knows "I don't do zig-zagging" from place to place and back again. Rather, I prefer to move in one direction.

Picture this:
Arusha to Tarangire - south/ 2hrs
Tarangire to Manyara - a bit north, then west / 2hrs
Plantation Lodge located in Karatu - 1+/hrs farther west from Manyara
... why would you want to visit Tarangire (half-day game drive only) before drive (2.5/hrs) to Plantation in Karatu for o/n; next day drive back (1+/hrs) to Manyara and again back to Plantation for o/n; next day (1+/hrs) to Ngorongoro as the original routing showed? Duh! Not me.

My 2-cents.

wkwb42a

Thank you again for your very, very helpful info! We think that we may now omit the Serengiti from our itinerary. Have always wanted to go to the Serengiti; but am I understanding correctly that the Mara is sort of an extension of it? I think that you must visit East Africa often? Fabulous!!

Have you ever stayed at Il Moran; what do you think of it? We prefer a tented property, not too big, somewhat deluxe, and not more expensive than Il Moran, (could be less). Any other recommendations in the Masai Mara? I am guessing that this is a good area of the MM for the migration?


I will ask our TO for a quote on your proposed plan.
Thanx so much for your expert advice! We are wrestling with all the options and trying to get it right. Is this what you suggest?

Day 1 - arr. JRO, o/n Mt. Keru Lodge
Day 2 - A.M. Ride to Tarangire (2 hrs.), game drives, o/n
Day 3 - Tarangire, game drives, o/n
*Where to stay? (not more costly than Plantation Lodge)
Day 4 -A.M. Ride to Manyara (2 hrs.), game drive *(only 1?)
o/n Plantation Lodge? *(1 hr. ride??)
Day 5 - A.M. Ride to NGO, afternoon crater tour (only P.M.?),
o/n at NGO
*How long is ride to NGO? *Where to stay? Serena?
Day 6 - Ride to Arusha/JRO * How long is ride? *Morning?
Flight to NBO, o/n at HOW, *Does this take all day?
Day 7 - Do we need to sightsee in Nairobi? Or can we take
earlier flight to Masai Mara (for game drives)?
o/n Il Moran?
Days 8, 9, 10 - o/n Il Moran (or other?)
Day 11 - fly to NBO, dayroom (Fairview or Macushla)
**Less expensive than HOW?
Depart for U.S. (home)

How long is flight to NBO from Arusha?
How long is flight from NBO to Masai Mara?
This trip is for early Sept. 2011.
Sandi, thank you so very much for all your time and advice.