Tanzinia late Oct-November
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Tanzinia late Oct-November
My husband and I are considering an OAT 2week trip only in Tanzinia. It's a trip- with no flights between locations and my concern is sitting in a road vehicle on bumpy roads. It's our 50th anniversary and we've been to Africa (So.Africa, Nimibia, Senagal, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Israel) but never on safari. We're pretty fit...but both have 70 year old backs...
So before we put our $ into this trip, need advice...should we explore the option of flights within Tanzinia or is a ground trip OK? Also, I know the rains begin in November in Kenya....are we going at a bad time of year to this area?
Thanks for any input you can provide.
So before we put our $ into this trip, need advice...should we explore the option of flights within Tanzinia or is a ground trip OK? Also, I know the rains begin in November in Kenya....are we going at a bad time of year to this area?
Thanks for any input you can provide.
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Hello Sandra
can you inform on the camps you are going to stay that will give the experts (I am not belonging to that group ;-) )an idea
of the routing.
Some stretches are quite good and even tarred. Some might be too rough.
SV
can you inform on the camps you are going to stay that will give the experts (I am not belonging to that group ;-) )an idea
of the routing.
Some stretches are quite good and even tarred. Some might be too rough.
SV
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Once in the game parks, no tarmac, so expect bumpy roads of dirt and gravel; some places even mud though guides/drivers do their utmost to avoid these areas.
As SV mention, if you'd advise your actual routing and where staying, we can better advise how long the drives. But, if an all driving safari, you'll have some long drives. Despite this, many visitors are 50+, even as you "mature adults" have bad backs and don't necessarily find the drives any worse if they had 20/yr old backs. Good idea to have a seat cushion to absorb the bumps.
The "short rains" start in both countries anytime from late-Oct, thru Nov to mid-Dec. However, that doesn't mean it will rain during your visit. I've often been in November and rarely experienced wet.
As SV mention, if you'd advise your actual routing and where staying, we can better advise how long the drives. But, if an all driving safari, you'll have some long drives. Despite this, many visitors are 50+, even as you "mature adults" have bad backs and don't necessarily find the drives any worse if they had 20/yr old backs. Good idea to have a seat cushion to absorb the bumps.
The "short rains" start in both countries anytime from late-Oct, thru Nov to mid-Dec. However, that doesn't mean it will rain during your visit. I've often been in November and rarely experienced wet.
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Thanks for your replies. This is the OAT itinerary. I haven't committed to this trip yet, so any comments will be appreciated.
We fly to Killimanjaro/overland to Arusha: stay at Olasiti
Lodge or similar...2 nights
Arusha to Tarangire Nat'l Park-Lake Burunge tented camp or similar...2 nights
Tarangire Nat'l Park/Karatu: Tloma Lodge 1 night
Ngorongoro Crater/Serengti: Tloma Lodge 1 night
Serengeti Nat'l Park OAT Private Tented Camp (days 8-9-10)
Serengeti NaT'L Park/Karatu: Private tented camp 1 night
KaraThtu/Ngorongoro Farmhouse 1 ight
Karatu/Arusha: Olasiti Lodge
Fly USA
We fly to Killimanjaro/overland to Arusha: stay at Olasiti
Lodge or similar...2 nights
Arusha to Tarangire Nat'l Park-Lake Burunge tented camp or similar...2 nights
Tarangire Nat'l Park/Karatu: Tloma Lodge 1 night
Ngorongoro Crater/Serengti: Tloma Lodge 1 night
Serengeti Nat'l Park OAT Private Tented Camp (days 8-9-10)
Serengeti NaT'L Park/Karatu: Private tented camp 1 night
KaraThtu/Ngorongoro Farmhouse 1 ight
Karatu/Arusha: Olasiti Lodge
Fly USA
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I've done four safaris on the northern circuit (all with Kibo, your outfitter for the OAT safari.) My back isn't the best, but I've not had any major problems with it on safari. As Sandi points out, the roads in the parks are dirt, but the guides will try their best to miss the worst parts of the roads. We've had all sorts of people in our groups on these safaris, from 84 years old on down. One lady had a colostomy and did just fine. She sat in the front seat where the ride was smoother and had an additional seat cushion, which helped. Avoid the back seat, which is the bumpiest.
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Thanks for all your input so far. As I mentioned, I haven't yet committed to the OAT trip but I am feeling a little better about the comfort issue..( a question: Do I bring my own seat cushion?)
But....after reading Lynda's "Oh my gosh...." entry, I'm getting confused. Will this be "too plain pipe rack"...and after looking at tented camps and lodges in the Micato brochure and Africa Travels brochure...I'm wondering if OAT is a good choice....it sure soundsa like a good value..and $ is an object...
Again...any imput much appreciated.
But....after reading Lynda's "Oh my gosh...." entry, I'm getting confused. Will this be "too plain pipe rack"...and after looking at tented camps and lodges in the Micato brochure and Africa Travels brochure...I'm wondering if OAT is a good choice....it sure soundsa like a good value..and $ is an object...
Again...any imput much appreciated.
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The safari vehicle seats have cushions on them, but some people do bring a thinner, extra one. Magellan's has one that has a "cut-out" in the rear of it so that your spine is suspended and not jarred by the seat or cushion.
For Tanzania, I think that OAT does a fairly good job. They get great discounts on the airfare, which is why they can offer the prices that they do. They've cut out a couple of parks since I traveled with them, but that's OAT's choice, not Kibo's. The lodges are nice, but are located a bit farther away than some of the lodges on the high-end trips, such as Micato. You're still going to the same parks, though. It's the game-viewing that's important, not luxury accommodations IMHO. OAT also does a good job of giving you cultural interactions, which I think is important when visiting Tanzania. You'll go for the wildlife, but will remember the people.
For Tanzania, I think that OAT does a fairly good job. They get great discounts on the airfare, which is why they can offer the prices that they do. They've cut out a couple of parks since I traveled with them, but that's OAT's choice, not Kibo's. The lodges are nice, but are located a bit farther away than some of the lodges on the high-end trips, such as Micato. You're still going to the same parks, though. It's the game-viewing that's important, not luxury accommodations IMHO. OAT also does a good job of giving you cultural interactions, which I think is important when visiting Tanzania. You'll go for the wildlife, but will remember the people.
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