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Yes, hope to see rhino! and plan on the crater if head out with Wild Encounters
here is another 2, 10-night itiniary from &Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas moves between 4 locations in the Serengeti annually and it stays in each place for a couple weeks or months at a time Option 1 (Kenya/Tanzania) Fly into Nairobi Kenya, overnight 3 nights Masai Mara in Kenya 3 nights Serengeti Under Canvas (Northern Serengeti) 2 nights Lake Manyara 2 nights Ngorongoro Crater Fly back to Nairobi for departure Option 2 (Tanzania) Fly into Kilimanjaro airport Tanzania, overnight Arusha 3 nights Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp (Western Serengeti) 3 nights Serengeti Under Canvas (Northern Serengeti) 2 nights Lake Manyara 2 nights Ngorongoro Crater Fly back to Kilimanjaro airport for departure In October the Great Migration usually starts to leave the Masai Mara and head back into Serengeti, often the herds cross earlier in September so I can almost guarantee that you’d see herds on the Serengeti side and its possible you’d see some herds on the Masai Mara side too – it all depends on the rains which affect the grazing but my feeling is that they mostly would have crossed back to Serengeti by then. Option 1 would cover both sides of the Mara river (Masai Mara and Northern Serengeti) just in case they are located on both sides still. Option 2 keeps you in one country and gives you the opportunity to explore the fairly remote (quiet in terms of seeing other vehicles while out on drives) corner of the Serengeti as well as spending some time in the north where you should cross paths with the migration herds. andBeyond said: There is no price, yet, but said it would be over my $6000/per person budget.... I am still aiming for Wild Source, but itiniaries still coming in.... so interesting to compare. Thanks again! |
Another itiniary: Great Safaris, 9 nights, $5400/person
Arrival Arusha JRO: September 30, 2014 September 30 Arrive Kilimanjaro JRO airport ( flight booked by clients ) on arrival met by Great Safaris Representative and transfer to Lake Duluti Serena Hotel for Overnight (Bed & Breakfast) October 01 After breakfast drive to Lake Manyara Serena Lodge for lunch. PM Game drive , dinner. Overnight Lake Manyara Serena Lodge October 02 After breakfast drive to Serengeti Serena lodge, lunch, pm Game drive , dinner and Overnight Serengeti Serena lodge October 03 Full day Game drive in Serengeti national park, Overnight Serengeti Serena lodge Fullboard October 04 Excursion Olduvai , picnic lunch , pm continue to Ngorongoro Serena lodge for dinner and Overnight. October 05 Full day Ngorongoro crater tour with picnic lunch, Overnight Ngorongoro Serena Lodge Fullboard October 06 After breakfast drive to Tarangire Sopa Lodge for lunch , pm Game drive. Dinner and Overnight Tarangire Sopa Lodge Fullboard October 07 Full day Game Drive in Tarangire national park, Overnight Tarangire Sopa Lodge Fullboard October 08 After breakfast drive to Arusha for lunch , pm shopping and then transfer to Kilimanjaro airport for departure flight (flights not included End of services Rate: US$5395. 00 per person, in one double room Including an extra night in Tarangire Sopa Lodge Cost Includes - One 4x4 vehicle on safari on private basis + Services of experienced English speaking driver-guide + accommodation + Park fees + game drives + Meals as shown in the itinerary + airport transfers + Government taxes + ½ litre of mineral water per person per day during Game Drives |
Nice spotting skills <b>amyb</b>! There are black rhino in the Serengeti too, plus the Mara, Lake Nakuru and even Nairobi National Park. Ol Pejeta is probably the best place in Africa to see black rhino, white too.
Option 1 (Kenya/Tanzania) Fly into Nairobi Kenya, overnight 3 nights Masai Mara in Kenya 3 nights Serengeti Under Canvas (Northern Serengeti) <red> 3 nights rather than 2 is more like it for parks like Serengeti and Mara. You probably will be at Kichwa Tembo or Bateleur Camp, both in nice locations for the migration in Oct. The Serengeti Under Canvas is in the right spot and should be outstanding. </red> 2 nights Lake Manyara <red>Here’s the lovely tree house</red> 2 nights Ngorongoro Crater <red>Crater should be included and it is. With AndBeyond, it is included at a tremendous cost. </red> Fly back to Nairobi for departure <red>Check on your logistics for going between the countries. This looks good for 2 countries. I’d prefer Tarangire to Manyara for the park and the animals you’ll see, especially late dry season. But if you’d like the tree hotel, you have to go to Manyara. I personally would not pay the price for this because I want my money going for what’s out there, not fancy properties. But this looks like a quality itinerary to me. If ambiance of lodging rates right up there with game viewing for you as ingredients for a good vacation, you couldn’t top this. </red> Option 2 (Tanzania) Fly into Kilimanjaro airport Tanzania, overnight Arusha 3 nights Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp (Western Serengeti) <red>Ok, because with 3 nights you have time to drive to Central Serengeti because it’s only about 2 hours away from Western. It is possible some of the herds will be more western in woodlands. But you want to be sure you can stay out all day to get to Central Serengeti where the river is and where the resident animals are likely to congregate. The reason they have you in Grumeti is that is where one of their permanent camps is. So again, property over location. But from what I understand it is a truly lovely property. And you can get yourself to Central for likely a more optimal location in Oct. Be sure an all day outing (or 2) is possible at your discretion. </red> 3 nights Serengeti Under Canvas (Northern Serengeti) <red>As mentioned, a highlight, should be great. </red> 2 nights Lake Manyara 2 nights Ngorongoro Crater Fly back to Kilimanjaro airport for departure “In October the Great Migration usually starts to leave the Masai Mara and head back into Serengeti, often the herds cross earlier in September so I can almost guarantee that you’d see herds on the Serengeti side and its possible you’d see some herds on the Masai Mara side too – it all depends on the rains which affect the grazing but my feeling is that they mostly would have crossed back to Serengeti by then.” <red>I’d agree with this. </red> Option 1 would cover both sides of the Mara river (Masai Mara and Northern Serengeti) just in case they are located on both sides still. Option 2 keeps you in one country and gives you the opportunity to explore the fairly remote (quiet in terms of seeing other vehicles while out on drives) corner of the Serengeti as well as spending some time in the north where you should cross paths with the migration herds. <red>That’s spinning it well for Western Serengeti in Oct.</red> <red>Both of these are quality itineraries. #1 more than #2 I think. Both of them have your safari dollars tied up more heavily in exquisite, elegant, awe-inspiring properties. You can visit all of these locations, or even slightly better locations for Oct, for less. You can not visit these locations in quite this level of luxury or elegance or uniqueness of lodging with The Wild Source or any of the other options you've presented. But you can have really nice accommodations for less than AndBeyond's pricing. I want my safari dollars going toward wildlife, not facilities. If you like the facilities angle, these will delight you.</red> andBeyond said: There is no price, yet, but said it would be over my $6000/per person budget.... <red>That may be the deciding factor right there. </red> Another itiniary: Great Safaris, 9 nights, $5400/person <red> To improve, add 2 nights in Northern Serengeti, even if it is only Lobo, or better yet, Bolongonja so you could get to the northern part of Serengeti where the herds are likely to be. </red> Arrival Arusha JRO: September 30, 2014 September 30 Arrive Kilimanjaro JRO airport ( flight booked by clients ) on arrival met by Great Safaris Representative and transfer to Lake Duluti Serena Hotel for Overnight (Bed & Breakfast) <red>Cool, I’d be more enthused if you had a little more time to enjoy this location. </red> October 01 After breakfast drive to Lake Manyara Serena Lodge for lunch. PM Game drive , dinner. Overnight Lake Manyara Serena Lodge <red>ok. </red> October 02 After breakfast drive to Serengeti Serena lodge, lunch, pm Game drive , dinner and Overnight Serengeti Serena lodge October 03 Full day Game drive in Serengeti national park, Overnight Serengeti Serena lodge Fullboard <red>2 nights Central, makes sense. Serena very good. But wait no Northern Serengeti to follow central? Then no migration most likely. Bad plan for Oct if you’d like to see the migration.</red> October 04 Excursion Olduvai , picnic lunch , pm continue to Ngorongoro Serena lodge for dinner and Overnight. October 05 Full day Ngorongoro crater tour with picnic lunch, Overnight Ngorongoro Serena Lodge Fullboard <red>I like Sopa over Serena for Sopa’s access road. But Serena is fine and actually a nicer lodge. Sopa is really nice, though. Interesting a full day in crater. That’s nice. Be sure the full day crater tour is costed into the itinerary and they are not just saying full day but really only by a morning a morning permit and are just hoping to stay the afternoon without another permit. Full day crater is costlier than morning only. Worth the cost, but it’s times 2. </red> October 06 After breakfast drive to Tarangire Sopa Lodge for lunch , pm Game drive. Dinner and Overnight Tarangire Sopa Lodge Fullboard October 07 Full day Game Drive in Tarangire national park, Overnight Tarangire Sopa Lodge Fullboard October 08 <red>Rather than shop, spend as much of the morning as you can in Tarangire. If you can stay until noonish, you’ll get another shot at eles at the river. They come out in mass not at daybreak but around 10 am. I’d choose Tarangire Wildlife Lodge over Sopa. </red> After breakfast drive to Arusha for lunch , pm shopping and then transfer to Kilimanjaro airport for departure flight <red>With the changes I suggested, this would be acceptable to me. Without the extra time in N. Serengeti that I think they should add, I'd forget this one.</red> (flights not included End of services Rate: US$5395. 00 per person, in one double room Including an extra night in Tarangire Sopa Lodge Cost Includes - One 4x4 vehicle on safari on private basis + Services of experienced English speaking driver-guide + accommodation + Park fees + game drives + Meals as shown in the itinerary + airport transfers + Government taxes + ½ litre of mineral water per person per day during Game Drives <darkgreen>Looking at all the itineraries so far as they are printed and not with tweaks I'd make, I'd sum it up: Wild Source has you in the right parks at the time you are traveling, staying in really nice accommodations, and seems to be in your price range. AndBeyond "Option 1 (Kenya/Tanzania)" has you in the right parks, with one exception, and has you in outstanding to spectacular lodging, and is probably over your budget. </darkgreen> All the others, as is, are lacking in some respect. |
And, now Go2 Tanzania, is here: out of my budget, though as over $9,000... and too many days, so can be trimmed by at least 2 days which would bring the budget down somewhat and looks nice overall but may cost too much in comparison.
Oct. 4• Arrive Kilimanjaro (JRO) Airport • Arumeru River Lodge Transit time from JRO to the Usa River area is approx 35-40 min. • Transfer to Hotel • www.arumerulodge.com Oct 5 • Kili Day Hike & Chaga Village Visit (with local lunch) • Arumeru River Lodge Transit time from the Usa River area to Kilimanjaro Day Hike area is approx. 1 hr. each way. • www.arumerulodge.com 6-Oct 3 • Masai Boma Visit • Lemala Explorer Tarangire Seasonal Camp Transit time from Usa River area to Tarangire is approx 2.5 hrs. • Tarangire National Park • www.lemalacamp.com 7-Oct 4 • Guided Bush Walk • Lemala Explorer Tarangire Seasonal Camp • Tarangire National Park • www.lemalacamp.com 8-Oct 5 • Tarangire National Park • Lemala Explorer Tarangire Seasonal Camp • www.lemalacamp.com 9-Oct 6 • Ngorongoro Conservation Area • Sopa Ngorongoro Lodge Transit time from Tarangire to Ngorongoro Crater is approx 2.5 hrs. • Olmoti Crater Hike • www.sopalodges.com • or Empakaii Crater 10- Oct 7 • Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive • Sopa Ngorongoro Lodge • www.sopalodges.com 11- Oct 8 • Olduvai Gorge (extended visit) • Lemala Ewanjan Seronera Valley Camp Transit time from Ngorongoro Crater to the Serengeti Gate is approx 2 hrs. Transit time from the Serengeti Gate to the Central Serengeti is approx 1 hrs. • Serengeti National Park via Ngorongoro Conservation Area 12- Oct 9 • Serengeti National Park • Lemala Ewanjan Seronera Valley Camp 13- Oct 10 • Serengeti National Park • Lemala Ewanjan Seronera Valley Camp 14- Oct 11 • Serengeti National Park • Lemala Mara North Serengeti Transit time from the Central Serengeti to the Kogatende Area is approx. 4 hrs. via Mugumu Village (outside of park boundary) • www.lemalacamp.com 15- Oct 12 • Serengeti National Park • Lemala Mara North Serengeti • www.lemalacamp.com 16- Oct 13 • Serengeti National Park • Lemala Mara North Serengeti • www.lemalacamp.com 17- Oct 14 • Fly from Kogatende (10h00) to Arusha (12h15) • Depart Kilimanjaro (JRO) Please arrive 1 hour in advance of your scheduled flight departure time. Your luggage is limited to 15 kgs per person on domestic flights. Transit time from Usa River area to JRO is approx 35-40 min. Please arrive 2 hours in advance of your international departure time. • Day room & meal at Arumeru • Have a safe journey home! • Transfer to Airport The total cost for this itinerary is $9,100 USD per person for a private group of 2 people. BUDGET NOTES: ~ Room type: 1 Double room - ~ Vehicle type: 1 Standard Toyota Land Cruiser - ~ Safari Guide: Full-time professional guide exclusive to Access 2 Tanzania - ~ All lodging subject to availability |
<b>And, now Go2 Tanzania, is here: out of my budget, though as over $9,000... and too many days, so can be trimmed by at least 2 days which would bring the budget down somewhat and looks nice overall but may cost too much in comparison.</b>
Oct. 4• Arrive Kilimanjaro (JRO) Airport • Arumeru River Lodge Transit time from JRO to the Usa River area is approx 35-40 min. • Transfer to Hotel • www.arumerulodge.com <red> This place is a dik dik paradise. A 3-day old baby on the grounds was a highlight of my whole trip last year. Dik diks are small antelope. The baby was the size of a rabbit! </red> Oct 5 • Kili Day Hike & Chaga Village Visit (with local lunch) • Arumeru River Lodge Transit time from the Usa River area to Kilimanjaro Day Hike area is approx. 1 hr. each way. <red> Interesting activity. For just one day, I’d probably opt for Arusha Nat Park because of the colobus monkeys. But this looks intriguing. I will keep this in mind. Very nice.</red> • www.arumerulodge.com 6-Oct 3 • Masai Boma Visit • Lemala Explorer Tarangire Seasonal Camp Transit time from Usa River area to Tarangire is approx 2.5 hrs. • Tarangire National Park • www.lemalacamp.com 7-Oct 4 • Guided Bush Walk • Lemala Explorer Tarangire Seasonal Camp • Tarangire National Park • www.lemalacamp.com 8-Oct 5 • Tarangire National Park • Lemala Explorer Tarangire Seasonal Camp • www.lemalacamp.com <red> 3 nights, very good. Even a walk. </red> 9-Oct 6 • Ngorongoro Conservation Area • Sopa Ngorongoro Lodge Transit time from Tarangire to Ngorongoro Crater is approx 2.5 hrs. • Olmoti Crater Hike • www.sopalodges.com • or Empakaii Crater <red>nice activity for afternoon. Sopa is good. </red> 10- Oct 7 • Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive <red>Check if this is am, pm, or all day. If am or pm, what goes on the other part of the day? You may just prefer to enjoy the views from the lodge and relax if you have a half day free in the crater. </red> • Sopa Ngorongoro Lodge • www.sopalodges.com 11- Oct 8 • Olduvai Gorge (extended visit) <red>You don’t want too extended a visit at Olduvai. You don’t want to spend hours there I don’t think. I’d have to see what all the “extended visit” entails, though. </red> • Lemala Ewanjan Seronera Valley Camp Transit time from Ngorongoro Crater to the Serengeti Gate is approx 2 hrs. Transit time from the Serengeti Gate to the Central Serengeti is approx 1 hrs. • Serengeti National Park via Ngorongoro Conservation Area 12- Oct 9 • Serengeti National Park • Lemala Ewanjan Seronera Valley Camp 13- Oct 10 • Serengeti National Park • Lemala Ewanjan Seronera Valley Camp <red>3 nights in central in a camp, very nice </red> 14- Oct 11 • Serengeti National Park • Lemala Mara North Serengeti Transit time from the Central Serengeti to the Kogatende Area is approx. 4 hrs. via Mugumu Village (outside of park boundary) • www.lemalacamp.com 15- Oct 12 • Serengeti National Park • Lemala Mara North Serengeti • www.lemalacamp.com 16- Oct 13 • Serengeti National Park • Lemala Mara North Serengeti • www.lemalacamp.com 17- Oct 14 • Fly from Kogatende (10h00) to Arusha (12h15) • Depart Kilimanjaro (JRO) Please arrive 1 hour in advance of your scheduled flight departure time. Your luggage is limited to 15 kgs per person on domestic flights. Transit time from Usa River area to JRO is approx 35-40 min. Please arrive 2 hours in advance of your international departure time. <red>3 nights in north, also very nice</red> • Day room & meal at Arumeru • Have a safe journey home! • Transfer to Airport The total cost for this itinerary is $9,100 USD per person for a private group of 2 people. BUDGET NOTES: ~ Room type: 1 Double room - ~ Vehicle type: 1 Standard Toyota Land Cruiser - ~ Safari Guide: Full-time professional guide exclusive to Access 2 Tanzania - ~ All lodging subject to availability <red> If you had the time and it was within your budget, this looks like a quality, well crafted and well thought out itinerary. It also has 3 opportunities to get out and walk, which is a nice bonus: #1 Kili walk #2 Tarangire #3 crater hikes. (Maybe even something at Oldupai) But unfortunately you need to chop 2 days. </red><b>"trimmed by at least 2 days" </b> <red>I’d suggest the second night in Arusha for REMOVING ONE DAY. That means no Kili Day Hike & Chaga Village Visit. FOR REMOVING THE SECOND DAY I’d see if on 9-Oct 6 you could visit Tarangire in the am, then drive to the crater in the pm. Then on 10-Oct 7, if the crater game drive were half a day, you could do that in the morning and do your Olmoti or Empakaii crater hike in the afternoon. If the 10-Oct 7crater game drive were a full day, then it looks like you’d miss a hike in a crater. But these moves on 9 Oct and 10 Oct <b>would allow you to remove one of the 3 days from Tarangire and spend only 2 nights there. Those 2 nights would be 6-Oct 3 and 7-Oct 4.</b> My changes would remove 2 or all 3 of the walks I was enthused about. Alternately, if you wanted to keep Tarangire and the crater exactly as stated, you could REMOVE THE SECOND DAY by staying only 2 nights in Lemala Ewanjan Seronera Valley Camp, Central Serengeti. If only 2 nights, I’d really inquire on the time and activities of the “extended” Olduvai visit. Some of the unique features that make this itinerary stand out require the number of days shown. Cuts to the # of days remove those unique features. </red> |
Further to atravelynn's point, I'd skip the Masai boma visit if you're looking to cut from somewhere. I didn't feel it was terribly authentic at the time (and more so now that I've been to Kenya and met them there) and had a rather pressure-filled "buy our stuff" experience as we tried to leave. If you ever get to Kenya, you can do a walk with the guides who work with your camps that's a lot more authentic.
Also we had a late day 1/2 day in Tarangire and then 3/4 of the day the next day starting early. I'd opt for earlier than later, if you have any control over that. The game was just better, at least for us. Arumeru is wonderful, both for that first overnight as well as the day room before the airport. |
SUCCESS!!! We are booked on Wild Source beginning of September, 11 nights.... I am so excited... Thank you all in what must be the longest forum correspondence ever.... I have a few days before the safari begins and I am considering stopping in Amsterdam for a few nights, as that is where the flight heads, and to offset jetlag, and to see the town a bit.... any recommendations .... ? and again thank you all so much....
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Congrats! I wish you a speedy countdown! I will warn you, this will change your life and make you only want to ever do safaris forever more. I wish someone had told ME that! ;-)
I love Amsterdam, it's a great, fun city with lots and lots of art and history. My favorite hotel switched hands last year though, so no reccos there. |
Success is right! Going with Sept is a great move. 11 nights will be excellent.
Amyb is exactly right! |
The Wild Source is a great choice, Bellatravel. I've gone with them several times and will be in Kenya in September on a TWS safari myself. I've also traveled in Tanzania with them and the guides are great!
As for your question about stopping over in Amsterdam, I've done that a couple of times. It's a good way to shake off the jet lag and be ready to go on safari when you arrive in Tanzania. If you're there for several nights, stay in the city itself. I've stayed at the Ambassade Hotel and found it to be well located. Check out the reviews on Trip Advisor or other websites. For just one night, staying at an airport hotel such as the NH Hotel would be better. Either way, you can take the train into town from the airport. Heading back to the airport, leave yourself plenty of time to figure out the right train to get there. I always find European train schedules a bit confusing. Amsterdam Restaurant tip - Blue on the third floor of the shopping center Kalvertoren has great views over the city. Just head down Kalverstraat from the main plaza until you reach the shopping mall, then find the elevator up to Blue. |
Thanks; I found a B&B on tripadvisor, so am looking forward to that as will be there 3 nights, and will definitely check out the Blue restaurant and glad to hear you had good reviews with TWS. Very much looking forward...
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