Newby seeking advise
 

After many years of saving and not wanting to waste anything on our "trip of a lifetime", I welcome advise from those that would share their expertise.
My wife and I are planning (beginning) a safari next July-August, 2010 to Kenya/Tanzania. I have been reading the posts on this site with great interest and have tenatively settled on: Nairobi, Amboseli, Arusha, Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Masai Mara, Nairobi.
Comments please, I will be traveling on Frequent flyer mileage (wipe out that account!) and my wife and I are both retired. A night or two in a tented camp would be nice, a shower and nice lodge stay is a must.
I have some information from Africa Adventure Co but plan on soliciting bids from others as well.
Thank you,

Okay then OD - first of all: A very wise decision to save for that safari. Don't spend too much on that because you want to return ;-)

Now - I would re-route a bit to avoid criss crossing making it

Nairobi and the proceed to Amboseli and further to Massai Mara. To Kilimanjaro/Arusha on Safari link www.safarilink.com. From Arusha further to Tarangire, the crater and Serengeti. Mostly on Air Excel.
Or you do a chauffeur safari. They pick you up at Kilimanjaro and drive you the whole TAZ safari circuit.
Then you either fly back to Nairobi on Safari Link, drive to NBO or fly out from Dar - in case you can book a fork.

I would opt for August - it's a bit farther into the dry season for both destinations as well particularly for the Wildebeast migration in the Mara or northern Serengeti.
The later the better.

Now - would you please inform on the length of travel excl. long-haul as well as on the budget. Otherwise it's becoming a search for the needle in a hey pile.

Finally - I would not stay for ONE night in a camp. Except for the crater I would at least stay for 3 nights in one location. Rather cut on destinations than on days per location.

Let's come the details...........

SV

The FF seats are released 330 days before the flight date, so watch your calendar. You might want to get your seats first, then build the safari into the time you have. Also, not all the seats are released at the same time. What air team do you have your miles on? Star Alliance? Sky Team? American/BA?

I am flexible on the length, (14days? in country) I would prefer at least 2 nights per stay, I like the idea of 3 nights at the crater.
I have 170K mi on American.
How are the local airlines?

Congrats on deciding to take that trip of a lifetime.

Your budget may dictate the length of the safari, especially if you are flexible and not limited to a certain # of vacation days.

"How are local airlines?" You may not need any if you do all driving. Otherwise you can use something like Safarilink in Kenya that goes from park to park.
http://www.safarilink-kenya.com/

Or Precision Air in Tanzania
http://www.regional.co.tz/docs/regairsched.php

I've had no problems with local airlines. In fact, I think flying is safer than driving, though I'll probably do mostly driving on my next Kenya trip (about the same time as yours.)

Kenya Airways was just on strike and it slightly disrupted one of my flights, but otherwise it was fine.

If you stay 3 nights at the crater, you can do numerous trips in, but the costs will start to add up because you pay for each visit and I believe you can only stay half a day. Otherwise, you can spend a day hiking instead of going into Ngorongoro for wildlife. I stayed 3 nights at the crater once at Sopa Lodge.

Your wish for showers is a given unless you do budget camping. Your least expensive tented camp option might be in Tarangire if you choose Tarangire Tented Lodge or Tarangire River Camp. Or Mara Intrepids in the Maasai Mara. There are many nice tented options at most of the places you list.

"Nairobi, Amboseli, Arusha, Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Masai Mara, Nairobi."

Those would be good choices in August. I'd stay at least three, even four or more nights in the Mara as a grand finale.

Good luck on your trip.

Depending on when in July or August, you wouldn't necessarily need to visit both the Mara and Serengeti.

Have you looked at the East Africa Trip Report Index? Many, many itineraries and times of year using a wide variety of local and other operators, accommodations and price points. Check it out.

http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...port-index.cfm

Happy planning and congratulations on deciding on such a great trip!

...and for August, I wouldn't go any farther north in the Serengeti than the Central area; or skip this altogether, instead using this time for the Masai Mara in Kenya.

Note: Mara Intrepid's isn't all that inexpensive; certainly not for a solo travelers.

Hi
I would also give up Serengeti and stay more time in the Mara. (and save the long drive north) in a 14 day tour i would stay at least 5 days in Mara...
in Mara - the latest the better during July-August

Sandi's right of course: "Mara Intrepid's isn't all that inexpensive" i think Sarova would be a more reasonably priced tented camp... if you decide to take Sarova (which is in the rather eastern part of Mara) then take another lodge/camp in the more westerly area e.g. Serena or any other place in the 'Mara Triangle'

i think 2 nights in Ngorongoro are sufficient

i've said the same things over and over again:
1.IMO Samburu is a MUST!
2. a night viewing lodge is recommended: e.g. Ark / Mt. Lodge / TreeTops
3. Nakuru's million-flamingoes-show
4. a boat ride in a freshwater lake with all the birding and hippo watching e.g. on Lake Naivasha (plus a walking experience on Crescent Island)
5.a high mountain experience with the different vegetation belts; forests, afro-alpine etc'

ask if you need me to elaborate on thses subjects

aby

Thank you all for your input, my wife and I have a lot to contemplate. We are also going to dinner tonight with our long-time friends and try to convince them to join us. I will post my results when we finish the planning and of course our trip report will be a must to post.