Thanks cheapiano,

We had a great time and would love to do back to Africa.

As I remember, there maybe a flight to and from Kili. If not, the flights are just out of Arusha. Goolge the Kiliwarrior's site, I think the various flight schedules are on that site. That site and here on Fodors were very helpful with our planning even before I contacted anyone with the safari we wanted.

For us, flying didn't really work well with our itinerary plus it was more costly than driving. The three companies we contacted all included a flying/driving option and an all driving option. On the flying option, all the bids had a charge for the driver to drive the car the leg we flew. We wanted to drive in and have our time at the Crater last. To fly back to Arusha from the Crater, you have to drive an hour plus to get to the airport that serves the Crater and it is only about two more hours on a good road into Arusha. So that didn't seem worth the extra cost. And as it turns out we did some shopping on the way back to Arusha anyway.

An all driving safari was fine and I would do it that way again. All the roads are interesting even if the the road is rough. You do get a different view from the air though.

The bones for your safari look good. For a Jan safari I think I would try for at least one night in Ndutu and one or two nights at Serengeti Sopa or somewhere else in the southern end. We did see many different animals very near the Sopa.

Good Luck on your plans!

thanks so much! yeah, i think if we flew at all, it would be just at the end from serengeti back to arusha (or kili if possible). and i'm still up in the air as to where to stay in serengeti. i was thinking of splurging and doing a fancy southern camp like kusini, but from what i've read on here, that's very risky, as there isn't much resident game if the migration doesn't happen to be there. so then i was thinking ndutu lodge, but i guess then you have to pay 2 park fees, AND there's still the issue of having a very long drive to the game IF the migration doesn't happen to be there. anyone have an opinion on this? so basically all of this leads me back to serena or sopa. which is certainly easier on my budget anyway. am i correct that there's good resident game where both these lodges are located? again, we would be traveling in mid-january. thanks for your help, everyone!

There is never any guarantee where exactly game will be situated and often you do have to drive a distance one way or another... just the way it is. Part of the adventure is just that, not knowing from day-to-day. Though most areas do have resident game, even the migrating wildies and the "calving" yet at other times you can drive for hours and see nothing! Remember.... this is not a zoo. It's always a guess based on previous years and the rains.

Flights from the Serengeti heading east towards Arusha/JRO will often stop at Manyara before landing at Arusha. Some flights go onto JRO with a change of plane at Arusha. If you wish to fly direct Serengeti/JRO, you'll have to book a "charter" which is your private plane and very expensive.

I headed out on an expedition of sorts--to verify what people had seen in late Dec-Feb in the Serengeti. A crap shoot to be sure.

The changing weather makes me think Central Serengeti is a better idea than what I used to think in the wet season, all to hedge bets on seeing the migration or a portion of it. Of course, that can mean a longer itinerary, which translates to more $$. Or it can mean you change your expectations.

I learned or re-learned a lot on my expedition. Thanks for sending my Cheapiano! Lynda's index made it easy.

Here's what I found, based on reports/accounts, in relation to the calving season in the Serengeti.
****************************


http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...4&tid=34466030
Lauds Northern Serengeti as having the most animal activity (against all logic) and mentions that the lack of rain could send animals to central (where Serena is and Sopa is near)

http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...p-report-1.cfm
Stayed in Central and were happy with wildlife viewing.



http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...n-tanzania.cfm
They went in Dec, spent several days in Ndutu and saw the migration and lots of other animals.



http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...m-tanzania.cfm
“Wonderful to drive through the massed herds of the migration before the park gates.” This would indicate the herds were in the southern part of the park and not central. This Kili-climber stayed briefly in at a campsite in Seronera in central Serengeti.



http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...rip-report.cfm
“Serengeti (Serena) - The Serengeti is another "must see" in our opinion. Our short stay limited us to the Seronera area, and we saw lots of animals including leopards, lions, and a serval cat.”



http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...nya-feb-05.cfm
“Between Ngoronogoro & Serengetti but still in the Ngorongoro conservation area we were lucky to come across a bit of the migration. There were literally thousands of wildies & zebra as far as the eye could see. This is also where we say the vultures at work for the first time making short work of a wildie carcass. The noise was amazing. “ Where they stayed, don’t know.



http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...4&tid=34744998
Has both Central and Southern Serengeti. He waxes eloquently about the Central Serengeti but says little about Ndutu.



http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...-from-1205.cfm
Both Southern and Central Serengeti in this report.
“We awoke the next morning and took off for a full day in the middle Serengeti. We had been searching the Southern Serengeti until then. We left in search of leopard and crocodile. It was a long drive, but definitely worth it. Likely the best day of the safari”



http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...-report-93.cfm

“We arrived at Ndutu fully expecting to find the migration on our doorstep but this was not to be. It has not rained for some considerable time and somehow the animals know that they should not migrate southwards. Lake Ndutu was completely dry and the whole area was like a dust bowl. Very disappointing seeing that the lodge is so full of character and, as usual, the food was so good. Despite the dryness we were able to go on some rewarding game drives – around Ndutu it is permissible to drive off-road and this enabled us to get some fantastic close-up sightings of cheetah and lion. Our impression of Ndutu was that it would be a delightful lodge in the green season and when the migration is in the area but can be given a miss in favour of the central Serengeti at any other time.”
Note—they WERE traveling in the green season in Jan.



“From Ndutu we traveled to the Serengeti Sopa Lodge for 2 nights. This lodge has a brilliant setting but is quite some drive from the main game viewing area around Seronera in the central Serengeti. The hotel itself was far better than we expected and animals in the area were plentiful. However, I think that with the benefit of hind-site I would choose the Serengeti Serena hotel – it is very close to the Seronera area which is extremely rewarding for game viewing, despite the absence of the migration.”




http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...rip-report.cfm
“On our way to the village, we also saw the start of the migration heading to the Ndutu area. It was thrilling and the reason why I chose Olakira. There were so many Zebra when you looked across the plains, it looked like a blur and you could not even see their strips. The lines of thousands of wildebeest was a sight to behold.”
Also stayed in Central Serengeti, but report stopped before getting there.



http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...-in-012007.cfm
"Of course wildebeasts, and zebras. Migration was in the south, that is near Ndutu."



http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...nuary-2007.cfm

"Once past the Crater we see a lot of giraffes, zebra’s and wildebeest. We encounter a bunch of vultures on a young wildebeest just next to the road.
On the turn off to Ndutu, we can see the migration through our binoculars in the distance, towards Loliondo. We decide not to go there at this time, since we will be heading that direction anyway in a few days.

At the Gol gate we decide to go along the loliondo track for a bit with 2 cars, so the others can see the migration before they head back to Arusha.
After an hour or so we see the thousands and thousands of wildebeest. We get out on the plains to have lunch, which is truly a remarkable spot to eat I must say…
After that we continue to Suyan, while the others head back.
We drive through the herds of wildebeest for something like 2 hours, it’s really amazing to see that many of them. Along the way we also see quite some Elands, and hyena’s are everywhere."



http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...nuary-2007.cfm
“The entire ride to Ndutu Lodge was a constant flow of wildlife and great views. Ndutu was my favorite place – great variation in terrain and animals. The Lodge was our most pleasant stopover and we were able to unwind over the two days. It was simple, uncrowded, well-maintained, and low-key”

“Our last two days were spent at SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK. We traveled North from Ndutu and picked up the “main road” just Southeast of Naabi Hill. We saw large herds of wildebeest and zebra, and flocks of stork all through this area. For the next two days we enjoyed game drives throughout the Seronera area, and on the last afternoon to and around the Retima Hippo Pool. There’s some of almost everything in central Serengeti; the downside of the Seronera area is the high concentration of other vehicles and people.”



http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...eb-14-2006.cfm

“Driving into the Ndutu area we couldn’t help but notice how dry the area was. The rainfall has been a fraction of what they normally get at this time of year. We also noticed the absence of a lot of animals, no elephants anywhere, and only a few impala and smaller animals. We were initially disappointed that the migration had not yet arrived, but felt worse for the animals that were suffering through the drought and hoped for their sake that the rains would come soon.”




http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...march-2007.cfm
“Our next scheduled lodging was at Olakira Camp, located in the Ndutu region. We had scheduled this to be our longest safari accommodations, three days, since February is supposed to be the time of the year when it is most likely that we would here find the Great Migration (recently voted to be one of the new seven wonders of the world..Gerald had told me the day before that Olakira, which is a semi-permanent camp that periodically moves to follow the migration, would be in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area part of the Ndutu area, instead of across the “border” inside the Serengeti National Park. The significance of this is that you can only be in one area or the other area, but not both, without paying the fairly significant daily fees for both of the areas. But Gerald assured me that the camp’s being in the NCA was a good thing, since he had it on good authority that that was where the migration was currently located. He hadn’t disappointed us yet, so we felt confident with Gerald’s seal of approval.

Boy, was he right. The Great Migration, as so many others have said, is an amazing spectacle that has to be seen to be believed. About an hour or so after we left Olduvai, our first contact with the migration was when suddenly Gerald just veered off the road towards the left and took off cross-country (which you can do in the NCA part of the Ndutu area, but not inside the Serengeti NP, another benefit of Olakira currently being in the NCA). He had seen something on the horizon and was headed towards it. As we bounded across the grass towards what turned out to be a huge throng of wildebeests, I was tempted to yell “Yee-haa!” (after all, we are from Texas) while standing up in the jeep with the wind blowing through my remaining hair. I knowingly said to DW and DF, “That’s the Great Migration,” whereupon Gerald simply said, “That is part of the migration.” It was a truly wondrous sight, where what appeared in the distance to be a dark line stretching across the horizon, as we got closer turned out to be what must have been several jillion individual animals surrounding us as far as the eye can see in all directions. Once we reached them, we were engulfed by wildebeests on all sides as we drove pole pole [slowly] through them for what must have been ten minutes. Like Moses and the Red Sea, as we approached they would part to make a narrow path between them. Gerald estimated that there were probably not a jillion but more like about 400,000 wildebeests in that particular group, and we would see many, many more, as well as huge numbers of zebras and many antelopes, in the next two days. Although we would spend much time during the next two days in the midst of different parts of the migration, neither words nor pictures, at least not mine, can adequately describe the sights or feelings of being there, so (much to everyone’ surprise, no doubt) I will limit my efforts as per the above.

We eventually left the herd, which is a word that is woefully inadequate to describe the huge mass of animals, and headed onwards towards Olakira Camp. At this point there were actually two parallel dirt roads (all of the roads had been dirt since we had reached the crater yesterday, and would remain so for the rest of the safari), one of which runs near the edge of the NCA and one of which is in the Serengeti NP.”




http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...oy-safaris.cfm
“After a while, we drove back for another outstanding meal at Ndutu. We relaxed in the afternoon and at 4:30 Sal picked us up for another drive. We went by a lake and into a green scrubby area. It wasn’t very pretty but it was wonderful for birding. Coming back, we saw the most beautiful sunset. We arrived back at Ndudu lodge at 7:30 for another outstanding dinner.

Ndutu Lodge rating: food 10, accommodations 9 out of 10. Our honeymoon room had cute decorations and was very comfortable. It had all we could want. The other’s rooms were small and had very small twin beds.

After lunch, we drove to the Serengeti, viewing the huge migration along the way. The migration again amazed us. Sal said there were a million and a half wildebeests and 800,000 zebra migrating. They were as far as we could see on the horizon.”


http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...--tanzania.cfm
“Next, we set out for two nights at Ndutu. The drive was quite arduous and the late rains meant that the region was very dry and dusty. It was quite depressing really. The Ndutu lodge is also a minimal facility and the water there is quite soapy (heavy with carbonates). So we were a bit in anguish - two days to follow. Ndutu was supposed to have the best game, but the area was quite depleted of any. Did I mention it was very dry? Anyway, as luck would have it, delayed rains meant that there was very little game to view. We did run into some lions and jackals.. And on an early morning ride, we did see a Cheetah with cubs, the saving grace for this part of our trip. The landscapes were unreal, with the flattened acacias and thickets of thorny bush.. very spectacular against setting sun. It was the image of Africa that you see in movies like Hatari. We also met the owner of the Ndutu lodge - he was telling us that Ndutu is really a great place for game, but <b>"global warming" was causing havoc with predictability. </b>

Our next stop was Serengeti. After a long drive through golden Serengeti plains we arrived at Seregeti Serena and were treated with a room overlooking the plains. We were also presented with a bottle of wine and fruit basket in our room. Thank you Roys! Our morning game drive was easily the best of the lot. The area hadnt had rains either, but was green because of the river and there was lots of game as we drove along the river. Hordes of Zebras.... a pride of lions, variety of birds, and leopard cubs up in a tree. We had a lot of fun, since there was plenty to see.”

http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...o-5-jan-08.cfm
"Six nights, Serengeti National Park, tented camps, two sites. The first camp was in the south, in an area of short grass plains near Lake Ndutu. Other campers, but vast numbers of game, birds and reptiles. What a spectacle! Migrating wildebeest, zebra, gazelle and antelope; many lion and cheetah; elephant. Also, caracal, serval cats, hyena—the list goes on. The second camp was further north, near Ngare Nanyuki. A beautiful location, few/no other campers. Vast landscapes of tall grass, outcroppings of kopjes (fun to climb and for picnics). Followed a pride of 16 lion for three days. A lot of mouths to feed! The Ker & Downey guides tailored the drives for a wide range of activities for our group. The Sokwe camp staff were good, but the standout was Esther, who oversaw operations at both sites."

http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...trip-reprt.cfm
“Private Camp Central Serengeti – This was wonderful and I highly recommend the private camp experience. The crew came the day before and set up an amazing camp just for us in one day. The tents were quite large, even had running water and a flush toilet. The camp crew of 6 took such wonderful care of the 4 ofs us. Our waiter here was much more attentive then the “butler” at Crater Lodge”. One of the highlight of the entire trip was sitting around the campfire eating warmed cashew, listening to lions roaring and the baboons nearby with no one but us. Ranger Safari is the ground operator and did an excellent job . However there was very little game in the Central Serengeti. Although n the drive to the camp though we did drive right through a large part of the migration crossing the road.”

The private camp is a step up from the luxury tented camps, whether mobile or permanent.

O”lakira in Ndutu – Very nice camp, very similar in set –up to the private but more tents and since is there for a while the common tents were nicer. The food and staff again were wonderful. The first nite the staff played music and sang for us around the campfire. But I think we preferred the private camp –although this location was much better. Lots of game here, zebra and giraffe in the camp. You could hear the migration moving in at nite. “

http://culturesconnected.smugmug.com...84570422_egRd8
“The Ndutu area is not yet teeming with wildebeests like we had hoped for, given the time of the year. The week before we arrived brought a few good thunderstorms, so the grass is now green, the dust has settled, the temperature has cooled and there is water in the lakes. The scattered dark clouds promise more rain in the coming days…
Since it rains heavily at night, the next day we head out early to the plains area hoping to see more wildebeests. We are not disappointed. The plains are dotted with a few thousand wildebeests this morning. We are able to photograph them with the backlight provided by the sun rising behind them… In Ndutu, on our way to the Serengeti, we see a wildebeest almost ready to give birth – there are two slimy legs sticking out from behind her ready to take on the world. Wildebeests, however, have the ability to delay birth until the conditions are ideal. Salim tells us that in February - the peak calving month - these plains are dotted black with wildebeests as far as the eye can see.utiful. We also see a few newborn calves”


http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...oments-inc.cfm
“It was exciting as we entered and left Ndutu as we saw a small preview of the herds that were to come later in the trip.

Olakira Camp is a seasonal mobile camp moved occasionally to be well positioned for the migration. At this time of year it was inside the Serengeti National Park in the Ndutu area. There were a lot of different choices for seasonal camps and I worked for a long time with Eben at Kiliwarriors to find the best option for us. Olakira is one of the more reasonable cost camp choices and I think it was perfect for us so we received very good advice from Kiliwarriors. For a comfortable level of accommodation, good service and food, as well as being in an excellent location I think this camp provides good value."

Near Suyan
"As we were watching for movement, what little there was from this pride of flat cats I glanced out to the open savanna and where there had been nothing there was a line of wildebeest approaching and stretching for as far as I could see. It was incredible how there was no grazers to be found anywhere and all of a sudden there were thousands arriving. “

These sites have the migration in progress with a bit of a lag.

http://www.atta.co.uk/nomad/2005_04_01_archive.html
http://www.atta.co.uk/heritage/index.html
http://www.wildwatch.com/great_migration
http://www.ndutu.com/pages/whatshappening.html
http://www.intotanzania.com/

wow! this is amazing! i can't thank you enough! yeah, it really is a crap shoot. after reading this, i'm actually leaning towards one of the lodges---sopa or serena. i can't imagine how upsetting it would be to spend a bunch more on a southern camp, and not have the migration there where it's "supposed" to be. at least in seronera it's looking like there's good resident game. would you guys agree w/this?

i know i'm probably committing safari "blasphemy" here, but all these years as i've "envisioned" going on a safari, i haven't once thought "wow! i really wanna see a wildebeest"! lol! i'm sure the migration is an incredible spectacle, and i understand that the predators follow the herds. but i want to see lion, elephant, giraffe, hippo, etc.. the "big 5" and beyond is really my priority, NOT the migration. does that make me a horrible person? perhaps i'm just uneducated. that's where you guys come in! and i appreciate you so much!

so now we're back to sopa vs. serena. i understand that serena is probably the better property. any final thoughts on resident game/"supposed" proximity to game at each?

also, a random question---i've been told by several operators that tarangire is a no-go in january. would you guys agree?

oh, and as for flying back to arusha from serengeti, i'm just thinking that this way we could make our connections to kili w/o having to spend a night in arusha. so deleting that extra night might make up for the cost of flying. thoughts? thanks again!

The migration is not on everyone's wish list and that is fine. A lack of wants and expectations makes planning easier and makes your daily outings all the more enjoyable because you'll be amazed at whatever you do manage to see without lamenting what you wanted to see but did not.

Manyara has more animals in January than Tarangire, especially elephants. With under 2 weeks, I'd concentrate on other places besides Tarangire in January. But if you want to see it for the baobabs on a once in a lifetime trip, then go ahead. There was just a thread on that very question. The sightings were surprisingly good for Tarangire in January.

But I would not take a day from Serengeti to put in Tarangire, especially with the uncertainty of what wildlife will be where in the Serengeti. You may need an extra day to go find it.

A box lunch may come in very handy during your Serengeti stay so you have more time to search.

Flight for hotel is a good tradeoff.

Serena vs. Sopa: I'd ask: 1) "How long a drive is it to Ndutu from each?" 2)"How long a drive is it from Sopa to the Seronera area with permanent water?"

Oh, it is YOUR thread on Tarangire.

http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...b-or-march.cfm

Hi,

We found plenty of animals in the area right around the Serengeti Sopa. We also drove though the Seronera area on the way to the Sopa and on our drive the next day. It isn't that far, really, and both areas were very good for us. Eben thought that staying at the Sopa was best for us, given the time of year as we could go up to the central area or down toward Ndutu if the migration was still down that way.

We wanted to see the migration, if possible, but it was not a deal breaker for us...any animal sighting would have made us happy. It was thrilling to see the thousands of wildibeest gathered on the plains around Nabi Gate and to watch the hyena pack chase the wildibeest herd walking to join the main herd near Nabi Gate. (That is the series of pictures taken the morning of the full day just a little ways from the Sopa. When we looked at that series of pictures from both cameras blown up, one of the last pictures taken with our long lens shows that a hyena did actually get one of the babies.)

So the Sopa in Jan might work for you also, as there always seems to be some game around there and in the Seronera area. Plus if you stay at the Sopa at the Crater also, you can get a price reduction...at least they were doing that when we were booking. I would say if you really want to see all of the big five to be sure and also allow enough time in Ngoronoro. We saw, with out much effort, four of the big five in the Crater , but only two of the big five in the Serengeti.

If you can avoid spending the night in Arusha, it is very worth it to max your time in the parks.

thanks so much! ok, i did some research, and it looks like sopa is about 1 & 3/4 hrs. from ndutu---closer than serena, which is situated farther north, and is more suited to drives out to the western corridor. sound reasonable? perhaps i should have just trusted AAC when they "booked" me at sopa to begin with! lol! silly me---i have to question everything!

thanks cwn! ok, sopa it is. do you remember how far it was from there to ndutu? i read 1 & 3/4 hrs. somewhere. and also how far to seronera? and yes, AAC has us staying at the crater sopa as well. that's the one with its own private descent road, right? we just have the 1 morning drive planned for the crater. hopefully this will be enough?

i'm planning to head out to manyara as soon as we arrive in arusha, rather than do a stopover. my trip partner and i are in our early 30s, and we just like to go go go on vacation, so no need to rest up for a night. and then maybe i'll look at flying back from serengeti to arusha in time to catch our kili flight, so we can eliminate that night in arusha as well. i think that saving on the hotel would make up for the plane flight. anything to save time & $.

i think i read on your blog that you bought some tanzanite in arusha? do they have it set in jewelry, or just the loose stones? any idea what the low-end prices are? i'd love to get something tanzanite as a souvenir. nothing large or top quality. just a little something to forever remind me of my trip.

oooh! and, while we're at it, (and i KNOW this is the stupidest question on earth, and i need to be SHOT for even asking it! lol!)....but have any of you ever rented a cell phone in tanzania? is cell reception on the northern circuit even remotely a possibility anywhere other than arusha? sorry. had to ask! lol! i know my family will be wanting to know that i haven't been eaten by a wild animal. if cells are a no go, how 'bout internet access? (we're staying at kirurumu, and crater/serengeti sopas). slower than slow? thanks again!

<i>AAC has us staying at the crater sopa as well. that's the one with its own private descent road, right?</i>

In rsnyder's trip report from Nov http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...rip-report.cfm he mentions that they couldn't use the Sopa road for descent, only ascent, not sure why. Does anyone know if this is a permanent change?

yikes! just read that report you posted. anyone know anything about this? again, we won't be there 'til jan. 2011. but we kinda picked the crater sopa b/c of the private ascent/descent road. argh! always something!

Hi,

There is really no stupid question when planning a trip like this for the first time! We had internet and cell phone service in Arusha. My husband has an Iphone what he had set up for worldwide access. It worked in all countries we visited with out doing anything else to the phone. Pricesless! I didn't see anything to indicate that the Serengeti Sopa and the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge had internet acess, I know that doesn't help much. I asked my husband about the phone, but we didn't recieve any calls or try to call out as we told everyone at home we won't have service for those days so can't really help you where either.

Now for what is worth, after looking again at your safari plan, if it were me, I would ask to stop at olduvai on the way to the Serengeti Sopa, you will have plenty of time. We didn't stop, mainly because from other reports and after reading about the sight we felt we wanted to spend our time with the animals more!

The main reason I suggest doing that is coming back from the Serengeti Sopa, it will be a much better drive to the Ngorongoro Sopa to go down into the Crater that afternoon,. You can leave the Serengeti Sopa at 8AM and be at the main descent road by noon to 1PM even with game driving out of the Serengeti. You might as well, as you will pass right by that descent road on the way around the rim to the Ngorongoro Sopa. Instead of driving the rim road, go down and game drive through the Crater. Right now you are paying for one 6 hour trip into the crater...do it that afternoon. We could have done that, but wanted to indulge ourselves at the Lodge that afternoon instead. You have to be out of the Crater by 6PM. Then if you have as great a visit to the Crater floor as we did, you can go back the next morning for another game drive using the Sopa descent road. You will get a different look at the Crater going down. You can ask for this option with the tour company and work out wether to pay upfront or as an extra payment when you are there. (We knew we wanted to do two trips into the Crater, so paid up front...it is really worth it!) This will also give you a great chance to see all the big 5.

Looking at your plan, I don't see why you would even spend the last night in Arusha, flying back or not. You can easily drive from the Crater to the Kili Airport for a 3PM flight. We did. Skip the extra cost of the flight back an spend two nights at the Crater. Then spend the extra cost of the flight on another visit to the Crater.

Or since you are half our age an probably alot more active than we are.... there are other things to do in the Crater area including some hiking if you are interested.

We didn't go down to Ndutu, as the migration was near the Sopa. It isn't the miles from place to place that take the time (distances are relatively short) in the Serengeti, its the things you are looking at and for that slow you down.

Just read the comment about the Sopa road above. They were using that road a descent only when we were there in April. We wee told it was weather...rain related.

thanks cwn! you are SUCH a great help! yes, i don't feel like we will need a whole lot of time for olduvai, but i would at least like to see it, as i minored in anthropology in college, and it would be too cool to see something i studied for 4 years!

ok, so, olduvai on the way to serengeti, afternoon crater drive on the way back. we won't be able to quite get in 6 hours though, i suppose. now, doing a 2nd. crater drive in the morning the next day, would we STILL be able to make it back to kili for a 3:30-4pm flight? how long is the drive time? thanks again!

Hi,

I maybe missing someting in you plan so I will fill in my ideas in CAPS as I go ...

day 1: arrive kili airport---coming from cairo, so probably arriving 2pm-ish.
depart for lake manyara (kirurumu tented lodge)---approx. 3 hours from kili?
dinner/night game drive---heard we should try a lake manyara night game drive

THAT IS DOABLE BASED ON OUR ONE HOUR KILI TO ARUSHA AND TWO HOURS ON TO MANYARA ENTRANCE. I don't know exactly where the tented camp is so you still have to have a bit of time to get to the camp. But you can definitely get to Manyara that day.

day 2: morning game drive lake manyara
onward to serengeti---sopa, maybe serena?, arriving early to late afternoon---4-5
hrs. from lake manyara? game viewing along the way?, and possible
afternoon game drive depending on arrival time?

OK, MORNING MANYARA GAME DRIVE, DRIVE TO OLDUVAI THEN ON TO SOPA, SOUNDS GOOD. We did just a two hour drive in Manyara and saw lots of animals. It is a 5hour drive including a nice game drive once in the Serengeti to the Sopa from Gibbs.(Gibbs is almost an hour past the turn off on the main highway on the way from Manyara to Ngorongoro. The turn off for Gibbs is less than an hour from Manyara so that should be a wash for you.) It will be a long day but if you don't mind you will see a lot! IT IS A GAME DRIVE IN THE SERENGETI ON THE WAY TO SOPA. YOU WILL HAVE YOUR LUNCH IN THE CAR MOST LIKELY.

day 3: serengeti---morning and afternoon game drives

BE SURE AND PLAN AT LEAST ONE BREAKFAST GAME DRIVE. That was one of the best we did!

day 4: serengeti---morning and afternoon game drives

OK

day 5: serengeti---morning game drive
onward to ngorongoro crater (sopa), w/stop at olduvai

SKIP OLDUVAI HERE AND TAKE THE MAIN DESCENT ROAD FOR A NICE AFTERNOON GAME DRIVE. YOU CAN GET TO THE DESCET ROAD BY NOON FROM THE SOPA AND HAVE THE FULL 6 HOURS. IF THE ROAD TO SOPA IS UP ONLY, THAT WILL WORK OUT WELL.

day 6: ngorongoro crater---morning game drive---sopa private ascent road?
onward to arusha---3.5-4 hrs.?---serena mountain village

HERE IS WHERE I WOULD SPEND ANOTHER NIGHT AT THE NGORONGORO SOPA AND DO ANOTHER GAME DRIVE THAT MORNING OR MAYBE ONE OF THE OTHER CRATER ACTIVIES. IF THE SOPA ROAD IS DESCENT ONLY LIKE IT WAS WHEN WE WERE THERE GREAT OR GO BACK TO THE MAIN DESCENT ROAD, but stop at the Crater Lodge gift shop...they had the nicest stuff we saw and at reasonable prices. Also there is a very nice MasSai lady doing handwork and selling her things separate from the gift shop. I got some really nice small bead pieces for $2 each.

day 7: morning last-minute shopping in arusha, transfer to kili for (possibly) 3:50pm
flight back to cairo. onward to US

HERE I WOULD DRIVE STRIAGHT TO ARUSHA. IT IS DOABLE FOR A 3PM FLIGHT FROM KIKI...WE DID IT FROM NGORONGORO. We stopped in Arusha for lunch and I got my tanzanite then. It is not cheap anymore...plan to spend $1-$200 or more for a small unset stone.

this is awesome! ok, so we WOULD need to spend another night at sopa instead of being able to get to our kili flight AFTER doing a morning crater drive, right? how far from crater to arusha to kili?

what exactly is a breakfast game drive? also, kirurumu is about 20 minutes from manyara, i believe, so it would take longer to get to serengeti than it did for you from gibbs. thanks for the tanzanite advice! i assume the set stones are pretty expensive then, if the unset are that much. i'll have to save my pennies.

I believe the morning in the crater followed by a drive direct to JRO for your international flt out of the country works when that flight is in the evening. For a 3:00 pm-ish flight, I would not attempt it.

2 points on breakfast--A breakfast game drive is when you take a breakfast box with you and depart early, spending more time on safari. Cwn suggests it for the Serengeti, which is a good idea. I'd also suggest it for Ngorongoro, so you beat the crowds into the crater in the morning. You can enter as early as 6:00 am (check on this).

ok, we won't attempt to catch the afternoon flight then. thanks for the "breakfast" tutorial. so i guess the point of that is to just maximize game drive time by getting out earlier? and to beat the crowds, in the case of the crater. ok, lots to think about, but i think it's coming together! do you share the opinion that the crater is worth 2 drives? also, cwn advocates NOT flying back from serengeti, but driving through to the crater. there IS game-viewing along the way, right? so it's almost like thinking of it as an extra game drive, which we would miss out on by flying? just trying to wrap my brain around everything. thanks again!