My husband and I (in our 50s) would like to go on our first safari this year (Sept-Oct)- my dream trip. In my research of pre-packaged trips, I have reviewed numerous brochures and spent hours on the Internet. I finally narrowed it down to several choices. Thomsons (Classic)appealed to me but they are very expensive. Based on threads I read here, I checked out OAT (Safari Serengeti)and Good Earth (Classic Tanzania)and consider them possibilities. Has anyone actually traveled with either of these operators? I am interested in small groups, safety, reliable vehicles, comfortable (not necessarily luxury)accomodations. I would even like to spend a couple of nights in tents. I hope my expectations are not too high. Is there another pre-packaged tour I should check out? It seems the more I read, the more confused, discouraged and disillusioned I become. I even started questioning my decision to go to Tanzania, thinking perhaps another country in Africa would be better. I would greatly appreciate any advice.

If you look through the East Africa Trip Report Index http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34725679 you should find some reports from posters who have used Good Earth. I believe all of these were for private safaris.

At the bottom of this thread, you'll find a quick update from someone who took OAT's Tanzania tour - http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34648151

Actually, are you set on a group tour? A private safari doesn't cost much more (if any) and you can pick and choose where you want to stay and have more flexibility.

I travelled with Good Earth last year on their Classic Tanzania. I booked one of the scheduled departures and luckily I was the only client. I had a fantastic time on my unexpected private safari!

The same thing happened in Kenya where I also was the only passenger. This trip was booked through Good Earth as well.

I found Good Earth to be easy to deal with, competitive with pricing, very quick with email responses and all of the arrangements worked perfectly. I was very impressed that the trips departed with one passenger - lucky me! and that I wasn't transferred into another group.

I travelled in early October (this was a return trip to Africa for me) and was privileged to witness some wonderful wildlife interactions, lions and vultures in the Serengeti within 3-5 metres of the vehicle, (at one stage the lions got under the vehicle seeking shade), a very lame and distressed zebra in the Crater (which bought the cycle of life on the plains home to me in no uncertain terms). Also in the Crater a sacred ibis caught a snake near the vehicle.

My guide Kisali was a very good spotter with good bird identification skills. I would recommend him. He was quite chatty and taught me lots of Swahili words for the wildlife that we saw.

I will probably book with them when I return to Tanzania in 2008.

I did OAT's Safari Serengeti in June 2004. Their ground operator is Kibo Safaris, who do a great job. The guides were excellent, the vehicles in good condition, and the food was superb. The max number of people they will have is 15 (5 in 3 vehicles.)

The itinerary has changed since I did the trip, dropping Arusha NP and Lake Manyara NP. You'll enjoy the interaction with the locals the first day, though and won't miss anything at Lake Manyara. Their accomodations are nice: Tarangire Tented River Camp and the Farmhouse are wonderful. Also, I loved being in the mobile tented camp.

Usually, the Migration will be in Kenya's Masai Mara in Sept/Oct., but you'll still see game and predators in the Central Serengeti (Seronera.) if you only go to Tanzania. You might consider OAT's combined Kenya - Tanzania, trip, as well. Then, you'd have a chance to see the Migration.

Don't get discouraged! East Africa is a wonderful place to begin your love affair with Africa (trust me, it will happen!)

Lynn:

Most likely all places are booked up. But I believe you should at least try going to Kenya and the Masai Mara to see the Migration. We are going in August.

We found best pricing from African Serendipity here in the US. or Southern Cross or Eastern and Southern based out of Kenya. We actually booked with Southern Cross.

Good luck

Reading through your concerns and knowing now the level of detail that needs to be determined for a private safari (non-group), recommend a group tour. I've been working a private safari since March this year and nearly ready to make a deposit on the trip as outlined. That's a LONG time to plan for a trip and there are many trade-offs and decisions along the way.

There's been good feedback on Good Earth and Nikao knows them personally (maybe can give some good advice). OAT's itineraries look like they are very well planned and for the pricing, you get value. There are many other operators, but that's some good votes of confidence right there.

By choosing a group trip, you can sit back a bit more than most of us on the board and think about a camera, binoculars, what to pack... instead of going through decision process and waiting on confirmation from a camp/lodge.

When you mention Thomsons they seem in same price range as CCAfrica and Abercrombie and Kent level of luxury. Sounds like you are more into value than luxury though.

You might also look over Ker and Downey as an option. Their itineraries also were comprehensive, but they were slower to respond to my questions and inquiries. Likewise some of the local operators in Africa whom I emailed never even acknowledged my messages.

So, in this case, I'd strongly consider a pre-packaged tour, as small in group size as possible. Will caviat that with the fact that I've not been with a tour group myself in Africa.

We will be going with Micato in 17 days - ohmigosh - coming sooon!!!!
I literally did sit back, read the posts & addicting trip reports on this board and concern myself with packing, researching destinations, learning all kinds of neat stuff, buying stuff, etc - all the arrangements of accomodations, tips, drivers, meals, flights, etc were out of my hands, so I did not have to worry about them. It was easy - but, you do have to like group trips though as opposed to having a car, driver and the back seat all to yourself. We (DH and I) love to be with people and we like a group setting as we both work mainly at home and lack that great social contact.
I'll let everyone know how it turns out of course!

lynn a -- We went with Good Earth and recommend them very highly. You can see our photos & read our trip report & other details at homepage.mac.com/lisaandmarktravel.

Thanks to all of you for sharing your experiences and offering advice on planning my trip. Lisa, I especially enjoyed seeing your pictures and reading your trip report. Recommendations from those of you who have traveled with Good Earth and OAT are very helpful.

We were thinking of going to Tanzania in October, but now am wondering if another month would be better. Any suggestions?

Lynn:

You should really consider a private trip -- it's not much (if at all) more expensive, and you really will have a much better overall experience. If you can wait until February, the Serengeti is marvelous then, and I would recommend checking with Roy Safaris -- very good operator with reasonable costs. If Sept/Oct, Kenya is probably your best option for the wildebeest migration in the Mara.

Lynn,
I traveled with Thomson's on their Classic Camping Safari in March. I booked a group safari, but nobody else booked this trip, thus I (me and my sister) got a private safari. Eighteen months of planning and 40+ years of dreaming went into this trip. My expectations were huge, and everyone of them was met or exceeded. I cannot say enough about Thomson's, they were fabulous!
After passing other vehicles with 5 or more people crammed in together I felt so very fortunate for the way things turned out and quickly realized why so many on this board stress the importance of a private safari.
As long as you go with a reputable company, of which there are several, you will be fine. Africa does not disappoint!