October itinerary
 

We've got a group of 4 planning an October trip to Tanzania. I think we've got a plan but am a little worried we're moving around too much. We'd prefer tented lodges where they're not too expensive. We'd appreciate suggestions. Thanks.
Day 1 - arrive at KIA
Day 2 - Arusha N.P. - Momella W.L.?
Day 3,4 - Tarangire - Tarangire Safari Lodge?
Day 5 - Lake Manyara - Kirurumu Tented
Day 6 - Ngorongoro Crater -
Day 7 - Serengeti - Ikoma Bush Camp?
Day 8,9 - N. Serengeti - Lobo W.L.?
Day 10 - Fly to Arush for flight home

With 10 days, if you want to hit the major spots on the Northen Circuit, you need some 1 and 2 night stays and you need to move around.

Here is how you could cut down the moving around.

Remove Manyara because Oct is not prime time for it. You could add that day to either the Crater or Ikomo Bush Camp or Lobo.
Adv of 2 nights Crater-A full day in the crater is possible. You have time to enjoy views of the crater from your lodge.
Adv of 2 nights Ikoma-It is tented and you want that. The drive from Crater to Ikoma is long and you have more time to relax, recover, and enjoy this spot.
Adv of 3 nights at Lobo-In Oct this is where the most migration action will likely be.

I personally would remove Manyara. Where I'd stick that day, I am torn.

You could also skip Arusha National Park and add that day to one of the places mentioned above. A day in Arusha National Park is not a standard part of every Northern Circuit itinerary. I have not gone on my 2 Tanzania visits, but I'm going to make sure I get there when I return someday. It has the most wooded terrain and you have a good chance of seeing Colobus Monkeys. I'd keep Arusha over Manyara.

You have tents with Tarangire Safari Lodge and Ikomo Bush Camp and Kirurumu.

Good luck.

As usual, atravelynn's suggestions seem sound. We enjoyed Manyara, but we were there in February. I would add that if you want to go to Arusha NP (we made a day-trip there and enjoyed it, especially the canoeing), I suggest that instead of staying at two different places on Night 1 and Night 2, you stay both nights at somewhere near the main highway to Arusha, and that way you won't have to pack your bags and move that one extra time. It's only about an hour drive from the ANP gate to Arusha, and there are places to stay on the main highway that would be even closer. We stayed at Kigongoni Lodge one night, and it is very nice. Mountain Lodge and some others have also gotten some good recommendations.

The only other thing, and this is where atravelynn and I differ somewhat, is that my group thought one night at the crater (an afternoon game drive and a morning drive) was enough. Lynn is right that this doesn't give you much time to enjoy the scenic view from a lodge on the crater rim, but unless you are staying at the Crater Lodge, I'm not sure the other lodges on the rim warrant spending a lot of time there.

It would be a fairly long drive from the crater to Ikoma, and making that trip in one afternoon will get you to Ikoma fairly late, but you could add the extra day there (or Lobo). If your goal is to get to Lobo, you might want to think about Mbuze Mawe instead of Ikoma, since Mbuze Mawe is another tented camp which I believe is more directly en route to Lobo.

So many places to go, so little time. Good luck, it will be great whatever you choose.

Thanks. Manyara seemed like a fixture in most of the standard routes, but doesn't sound necessary to me. Now I just have to decide where to spend that time. Kind of like finding cash...

Nothing wrong with Manyara, it's just that Manyara and Tarangire are often not both at their wildlife best at the same time. So if the # of days on safari is an issue, you can choose one or the other.

But you are right that both are often included on standard itineraries.

You would have a fantastic time with the itinerary you presented. Our suggestions are tweaking.