lovelybulutgg

My husband and I,we are planing to go to Tanzania in July for 12 days.
Destination Tanzania Tour Company
made for us safari+zanzibar program.
1 day arrive arusha stay Kigongoni Lodge.
2 day tarangire-tarangire safari lodge
3 day Lake manyara-serena lodge
4 day Serengeti-serena lodge
5 day '' ''
6 day Serengeti-kirawira tented camp
7 day ngorongoro-serena lodge
8 day karatu-plantation lodge
9 day fly zanzibar-serena inn
10day spice tour-ras nungwi beach h.
11day just relax
12 fly back home
price 5000 us dolar pp
please write your opinions...
Many thanks

doohickey

Dear lovely,

First off, people a lot more experienced at safari in Tanzania and with time on Zanzibar will likely reply to your question. Many are experts. Listen to them!

That said, having only recently returned from Tanzania and Zanzibar (staying at Ras Nungwi Beach Hotel, too) I have the following comments:

You are traveling around too much and too often in that short a time! Working within the same amount of days you have given I suggest the following.

1. Kigongoni
2. Tarangire
3. Tarangire
4. Serengeti Serena
5. Kirawira (because I think the migration will be in that area then and it’s a fabulous camp. If the migration is closer to the central Serengeti then 2 nights at Serengeti Serena and 1 at Kirawira)
6. Kirawira
7. Ngorongoro
8. Ngorongoro (because you’ll deeply regret not having more time in the crater once you see it)
9. Zanzibar Serena Inn
10. Ras Nungwi Beach Hotel
11. Ras Nungwi Beach Hotel
12. Fly back home

I wouldn’t book the Spice Tour in advance. Decide if you want to do it once you get to Zanzibar and then make it an excursion on any day you choose. I was really glad we didn’t book and pay for this in advance because once we got to the island we chose not to leave our hotel.

If your safari is a private one I think $5,000 p/p is a good price especially since Kirawira is very expensive.

-doo

lovelybulutgg

Thanks ...very helpful...
Do you recomend a tour company ?

hguy47

I too suspect that you will get replies from true experts. My thoughts are:

1. Doohicky was suggesting two nights at Ngorongoro, whereas I thought one afternoon game drive and another the following morning was enough for us (as with most people, so many places to see, so few days). Your original itinerary might have you doing afternoon drive/night at Serena/morning drive drive/afternoon drive and then on (not far) to Plantation Lodge, which would be 3 game drives in the Crater. Or, maybe it's just two game drives with the second afternoon walking around
Karatu.

My other thought, more of a question, is why split your nights on Zanzibar between the Serena and Ras Nungwi? Why change lodgings so often, unless there is a good reason.

Lots of good tour companies to choose from -- Good Earth, Green Footprints, Roy's, Africa Serendipity, Kibo, others.

Happy hunting, but if you are talking July 2008, availability may well be an issue.

sandi

I too would do 2/nts Tarangire and skip Manyara. Howevcer, as the drive from Tarangire to the Central Serengeti would take up most of the day, they have you stopping at Manyara to break up the time.

As to Ngorongoro, apparently your tour operator only has availability for 1/nt on the crater rim - Serena, with possibility for crater visit that afternoon. If not than Serena is still a good bet for crater visit next morning. And, if you manage to stay longer than the 6/hrs and w/o space again at Serena, they have you at the Plantation Lodge. Then next morning, it appears you might be driving, either to Manyara or Arusha for flight to Zanzibar.

The flight from Manyara departs 11:50am which via Arusha gets you to ZNZ about 2pm. It's sufficient time to drive to Ras Nungwi. However, if they have you scheduled for flight out of Arusha (thus a 4.5-5/hrs drive) you'll be on a later flight, not arriving ZNZ later, so easier to o/n in Stone Town; drive to Ras next day.

At this late date, routing may all be up to what is available and where.

Ideally, the smoothest routing would be:
Day 1 - Arv JRO - o/n
Day 2 - Drive to Tarangire - 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 Serengeti (either central or western, wherever they have space*) - o/n
Day 6 & 7 - Serengeti - o/n
Day 8 - Drive to Lk. Manyara; afternoon game drive - o/n
Day 9 - LkManyara morning game drive; fly from Manyara via Arusha to ZNZ - transfer to beach - o/n
Days 10 & 11 - ZNZ - at leisure
Day 12 - Drive to Stone town; tour; shopping; late afternoon or early even flight to DAR or JRO or NBO.

*distance between the two areas is 2/hr, so easy enough to traverse; if herds in west or central, your game drives should take you wherever.

It's all going to depend on what's available!

JNG

Bookmarking!

Londonres

For an alternative to a beach resort on Zanzibar, you could consider staying at Chumbe Island. It's in a marine reserve with superb snorkelling, and you are well looked after. I combined Chumbe with a superior room at the Tembo House in Stone Town, which is closer to the main sights, more individual and cheaper than the Serena, and very atmospheric.

The area around the Serena seemed a little lonely after dark, and I felt happier with the locality of Tembo House.

I went on Mitu's Spice Tour and it was excellent value for money. I booked it inside a souvenir and clothing shop opposite Zanzibar Gallery, at the top of Kenyatta Road, and I was collected from my hotel.

I was staying in Tanzania for a few months, but I booked my safari and Zanzibar/Chumbe trips through Rainbow Tours (a London based Africa specialist). Everything was prepaid, so I didn't have to carry around large amounts of cash in Tanzania.

lenlu

If you can do more time in the crater, you should. It's my only regret. We had an afternoon game drive (coming from Serengeti) and thought it would be enough. Having seen Serengeti (I'd have spent more time there too), Manyara, Crater and Tarangire, our favorites were by far the Crater and Serengeti.

sniktawk

I was right he did go to the same charm school as Grant Nel, almost unbelievable!
I have cancelled my visit next year.

sniktawk

Sorry above is on wrong thread PLEASE IGNORE