Does CC Africa have their own ground operators in Tanzania? If they do, I wonder if I could get some feedback as to how they would compare/rate with Roy (who we booked with this year) or Leopard Tours, for example...just doing some research for my 2008 trip.

Would suggest you ask for prices from all three - CCA, Roys and Leopard. See who offers the best deal.

If using only CCA props, they'll probably offer you a flying safari using their guides on a shared vehicle basis for game drives at the respective properties. If using a combination (CCA and other) props, then I believe CCA has a ground operator (not certain whom) to get you between areas, so a combined drive/fly itinerary. In this case, you may have CCA guides/vehicles at their props, but your own private guide/vehicle at others.

If using Roys or Leopard, they too should be able to provide an all fly itinerary, using guides as above - so pricing may be the determining factor.

If using Roys or Leopard, on a drive/fly, except for some CCA props where it's a GP (game package only) where you have to use CCA guide/vehicles (i.e., Klein's Camp), at the other props you can have your own private guide/vehicle.

If planning for 2008, you certainly have time to obtain prices from all three outfitters, but you won't be getting 2008 accommodation and flight prices before mid-2007.

Thanks for your informative reply Sandi. So, just to clarify...if I choose the drive/fly combination of CCA and other properties, it seems I'd be paying for both my own private guide and the CCA guide/vehicle? And the only way to really avoid this is to stay exclusively at CCA properties and do the fly-in safari or not visit the CCA properties at all?

I wonder if anyone else has any knowledge about who CCA uses as a ground operator?

You're right, Sandi...the nice thing about having lots of time for planning is I can investigate all my options. The thing is there are just so many of them! But it's fun and keeps me grounded until I can get back to Africa.

Hello Calo,

I'm pretty certain that CCA use Hoopoe for their driving itineraries.

There are plenty of people staying at CCA properties who are on a full-board basis with their own guides (e.g. at Crater Lodge). If you were at a CCA game-package only property, you wouldn't necessarily need to pay for their guide and yours -- your driver-guide (from Roys or whomever) could drop you off for your stay there, and you could either fly to your next camp or get picked up again afterwards. For logistical reasons, it would probably be easiest to schedule that camp at either the beginning or the end of your itinerary.

Cheers,
Julian

Welcome home Julian. Can't wait to read your tales.

Calo - Julian is correct in that you shouldn't have to pay for a CCA guide/vehicle and one from "an" outfitters. Most of the CCA props offer both FB (w/your guide) or GP (w/CCA guide). If I recall correctly, you can visit Tree Lodge, Crater Lodge or Grumeti River on either a FB or GP basis. Klein's is GP only, and so is Tanzania Under Canvas.

It comes down to coordinating the itinerary, depending on props selected and their order in which you visit.

We are using CC Africa to plan our upcoming trip to Kenya and Tanzania in January 2007, as they did for us last year in South Africa. We are staying at their camp in the Masai Mara, flying to Olakira Camp, which is not theirs. They arranged Ranger Safaris to guide us at Olakira and transport us to Kisema Ngeda Camp at Lake Eyasi. The next day the same guide we drive us to Ngorongoro Crater Lodge which is one of their camps. We will then fly to Mombasa and stay at Alfajari Villas. CC Africa is handling all aspects of the trip whether it is their camp or not, as well as arranging the overland drivers for Olakira and our transport. Good luck.

Hello!!! I just noticed Ranger Safaris doing your drives. I had the WORST guide in 2002. Infact, so awful that i have been scared to return to East Africa since.

I'm sure Ranger has other good guides, ensure that you dont get Ahmedi Sakala (our guide)in 2002. Providing, he still guides at the moment. Sorry, that's DRIVE. He doesnt guide, he's a driver at best....

Hari

Thanks Hari -- I will email a request not to get this driver right away. I must say I am not educated on all the ranger companies out there. Like I said, my previous safari was done by CC trackers and guides who were great. For Olakira Camp and for the drive to Lake Eyasi, they hired Ranger Safaris. The CC rep who is booking my trip said she used them personally last year and highly recommended them. Thanks for the good tip. What other companies do folks like?

Why not write to CCA to ask for a good guide. Just let them know that they need to pre-assign a really good guide thru Rangers (OR) ask on these boards for a good guide they may hv used with Rangers and send them an email request for him.

Hari

Thanks Sandi and Julian - this is all starting to make more sense to me. Would you be able to comment in general terms about the costs of flying, fly/driving and driving safaris? I went with a driving safari this year and was planning the same for our next trip. The time we spent in the vehicle with our beloved guide ended up being the best payoff for having chosen a driving itinerary, not to mention all of the things we'd have missed seeing had we flown.

Lolazahra, you have a very nice sounding trip planned. I've been looking into a stay at Kisema Ngeda too.

Hari, I'm sorry that your bad experience in 2002 has kept you away from East Africa! But I know that if I'd had a bad experience, my next trip would be to Bots or Zambia and not Tanzania again.

Calo -

Bite the bullet and send off a few requests. That's the only way you'll find out what prices are for flying vs driving; which segments and any other information to assist in formulating your itinerary.

Do remember, you'll still be getting 2007 prices and on average increases these past few years have been between 10-15% including on airfares.

Calo,

I definitely will return to Tanzania one of these years....

Hari

Hi Calo,

My first trip to Tanzania was a driving safari, and my most recent one mixed flying and driving. I flew when it seemed that the drive was likely to be very long or very unpleasant, and drove when the drive was likely to be interesting (e.g. through the park) and of a reasonable length -- my personal driving limit is about three hours.

I found that the internal flights are very reasonable (often less than $100, but this will depend on your itinerary). I also found that flying gave me an interesting new perspective on what I'd seen on the ground.

The daily cost of a driving safari often does depend to a large extent on which ground operator you use. If you go with Nomad, for instance, it can be as (if not more) expensive than flying. That was certainly the case for a few of my transfers, but will be less of a factor for you since you are travelling with other people.

BTW, based on my experience I would not recommend either Ranger Safaris or Leopard Tours. I will go into greater detail on my trip report, but in brief the moment one of their vehicles saw anything of interest the guide was on the radio, and within five or ten minutes there were ten of their vehicles there (this happened when my guide found a leopard in a tree in Tarangire and one of the Leopard Tours vehicles saw us watching it). The Ranger vehicles often travelled in convoys of three or more, and I saw them breach basic game-viewing etiquette at several sightings, including revving the engine to make animals react (badly frightening a young lion cub) and pulling in between another vehicle and the animals being viewed. How rude!

Personally, I'm shocked that CCA is using Ranger. While some of the individual guides may be good, my main concern would be that if you travelled with them you would never have a sighting to yourself. This wasn't just limited to a single incident in one park - it happened over and over in different parks.

Just my 0.02p

Cheers,
Julian

Sandi you're right - I'll "bite the bullet". Good to know about projected pricing for 2008. Thank you.

Julian, interesting info on Leopard Tours and Ranger Safaris. I await your trip report for more detail. In the meantime thank you for yor input regarding the fly/drive options.

Hari, glad to hear you haven't given up on East Africa entirely!