Roys, Good earth or ATR? Please help with Itinerary :o)
May 11th, 2005, 09:24 AM
#42
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amfs,
I believe there's a Tarangire Safari Lodge and a Tarangire River CAMP. As far as I know there isn't any accomodation that goes by the name of Tarangire River LODGE.
http://www.tarangiresafarilodge.com/
http://www.africawilderness.com/river/index_river.html
I believe there's a Tarangire Safari Lodge and a Tarangire River CAMP. As far as I know there isn't any accomodation that goes by the name of Tarangire River LODGE.
http://www.tarangiresafarilodge.com/
http://www.africawilderness.com/river/index_river.html
May 11th, 2005, 11:07 AM
#43
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I think Tarangire Safari Lodge is sometimes confusingly referred to as Tarangire 'River' Lodge because it overlooks a river of the same name. That might be why you're seeing that name appear in some posts, but it's not the actual name of the lodge.
May 13th, 2005, 03:21 AM
#46
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As is my style (I hate my nasty habit of indecision!!) we've changed our minds and decided to go with ATR now.
I thought it might be helpful for other people trying to choose tour operators to know why we chose ATR over Good earth, Roys etc so here goes...
1. They have been by far the most helpful and the most honest (from what I can tell anyway). They've been prompt when replying to emails and explain everything down to a T. This puts me at ease as i can see exactly where my money is going.
2. They can offer us exactly what we want - some comfy lodges, some rustic permanent tents and some fancier tents
We really liked the sound of mawe ninga and could only get this thru ATR.
ATR and GE were very similar in price at the end of the day, when added everything up.
Both ATR and GE actually quoted us the same price for our Zanzibar leg of the trip - for the exact same rooms etc. So even though we originally thought GE was going to be a lot cheaper - it wasnt.
Also GE could only put us up in Lodges and Luxury tented camps - we couldnt stay anywhere rustic and were very limited in our accom options for Tarangire and Ngorongoro.
Finally GE were very slow replying to our mails. We're in ireland and I think they're more focused on the US market. I had to keep asking questions for accom options. I think GE would be good to use if you know exactly where you want to go. But we needed opinions and recommendations.
Hope this info helps others who are trying to decide!!
And thanks again to everyone who replied to my post, its been really appreciated.
I thought it might be helpful for other people trying to choose tour operators to know why we chose ATR over Good earth, Roys etc so here goes...
1. They have been by far the most helpful and the most honest (from what I can tell anyway). They've been prompt when replying to emails and explain everything down to a T. This puts me at ease as i can see exactly where my money is going.
2. They can offer us exactly what we want - some comfy lodges, some rustic permanent tents and some fancier tents
We really liked the sound of mawe ninga and could only get this thru ATR.ATR and GE were very similar in price at the end of the day, when added everything up.
Both ATR and GE actually quoted us the same price for our Zanzibar leg of the trip - for the exact same rooms etc. So even though we originally thought GE was going to be a lot cheaper - it wasnt.
Also GE could only put us up in Lodges and Luxury tented camps - we couldnt stay anywhere rustic and were very limited in our accom options for Tarangire and Ngorongoro.
Finally GE were very slow replying to our mails. We're in ireland and I think they're more focused on the US market. I had to keep asking questions for accom options. I think GE would be good to use if you know exactly where you want to go. But we needed opinions and recommendations.
Hope this info helps others who are trying to decide!!
And thanks again to everyone who replied to my post, its been really appreciated.
May 13th, 2005, 03:34 AM
#47
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amfs -
Glad to hear that you made you decision wisely based on the criteria important to you.
Your thank you is much appreciated... it was a pleasure to be able to assist you. Now, you have to remember that we'll be waiting for a trip report when you return from your holiday.
Happy travels.
Glad to hear that you made you decision wisely based on the criteria important to you.
Your thank you is much appreciated... it was a pleasure to be able to assist you. Now, you have to remember that we'll be waiting for a trip report when you return from your holiday.
Happy travels.
May 13th, 2005, 03:40 AM
#48
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Hi Sandi
Yes will definitely come back and tell you all about it. One thing the forum is missing is lots of feedback about Olduvai camp and Mawe Ninga (thx climbhigh... and marius1 for feedback there) so will make plenty of notes
Yes will definitely come back and tell you all about it. One thing the forum is missing is lots of feedback about Olduvai camp and Mawe Ninga (thx climbhigh... and marius1 for feedback there) so will make plenty of notes
May 13th, 2005, 05:06 AM
#49
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Thank you for such detailed notes of your process. Why did you say that although initially GE was less expensive than ATR, at the end it was the same. What were additional costs that didn't show up at first? We are currently in the same processs - trying to decided between different quote for our trip inn November and I'm also looking at GE, Roys and ATR. For me, ATR is actually quiet a bit higher and they refused to make a booking for us at Migration Camp. I understand giving a recommendation, but not refuse to book. I think due to this reason, we will pass on ATR as we would like to stay at Migration Camp rather then the semi-permanent Olosokwan Camp. But I'm curious about any "hidden" costs with GoodEarth.
May 13th, 2005, 05:42 AM
#50
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hi lerasp
ATR broke down the itinerary for us so it shows exactly what everything costs.
So for Zanzibar they included the room rates and then the cost of getting from resort to resort.
While the GE itinerary lumped it all together and gave us a final figure. I remem when we first got a mail from GE they gave us room rates for Zanz but each had the word "about" before the price. I worked out the cost of our zanzibar trip at these prices and GE was cheaper than ATR (each place would be roughly $20 cheaper) but then when I got the final itinerary from GE it matched ATR's so to be honest I dont know happened! Also on GE's website it says that its $50 to get from Stone town to an east resort, but ATR charge $40. So maybe thats where the hidden costs are....
Hope that helps
To be honest GE gave us a very competiive price but their accom was limited in Tarangire and Ngor. In Tar we basically had a choice of Tarangire Safari lodge or Kikoti for our budget. But we werent really interested in either of these as we want to get off the tourist trail a bit. So thats where ATR came out stronger.
ATR did the same with us with treetops - they said they couldnt book it for us. I suppose its like all the other tour groups - they have affiliations with certain places and they obviously dont have one with Treetops or Migration.
We get one less day on safari with ATR (we have an extra day on the beach) but we are staying in places we prefer. so i suppose that was the trade-off.
ATR broke down the itinerary for us so it shows exactly what everything costs.
So for Zanzibar they included the room rates and then the cost of getting from resort to resort.
While the GE itinerary lumped it all together and gave us a final figure. I remem when we first got a mail from GE they gave us room rates for Zanz but each had the word "about" before the price. I worked out the cost of our zanzibar trip at these prices and GE was cheaper than ATR (each place would be roughly $20 cheaper) but then when I got the final itinerary from GE it matched ATR's so to be honest I dont know happened! Also on GE's website it says that its $50 to get from Stone town to an east resort, but ATR charge $40. So maybe thats where the hidden costs are....
Hope that helps
To be honest GE gave us a very competiive price but their accom was limited in Tarangire and Ngor. In Tar we basically had a choice of Tarangire Safari lodge or Kikoti for our budget. But we werent really interested in either of these as we want to get off the tourist trail a bit. So thats where ATR came out stronger.
ATR did the same with us with treetops - they said they couldnt book it for us. I suppose its like all the other tour groups - they have affiliations with certain places and they obviously dont have one with Treetops or Migration.
We get one less day on safari with ATR (we have an extra day on the beach) but we are staying in places we prefer. so i suppose that was the trade-off.
May 18th, 2005, 05:19 AM
#52
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amfs -
>>does anyone know how I can find out how much a flight from Seronera to Zanzibar would be?<<
Precision Air has a flight departing Seronera 10:45am to Arusha, arriving about 12N - cost about $165 + tax*. From Arusha there is an ongoing flight to Zanzibar, about 50-minutes later. The combined airfare Seronera-Arusha-Zanzibar run about $305+ tax/person/one-way.
Coastal Air also has flights from Arusha to Zanzibar, that has an immediate connection once you arrive at Arusha - don't know what their fare is... either a bit more or less, maybe more!
Reason I know about the latter is that for our upcoming trip - leaving next week (can't wait), we just received an email of a change in that Precision doesn't have sufficient passengers to justify the Arusha/Zanzibar flight, so we've been switched to the Coastal flight.
Your tour operator should book these for you.
* taxes aren't too high - a terrorism fee of $2 and a fuel surcharge of $5 and maybe a few dollars more for something or other - per leg. All taxes should be included in your ticket "going to ZNZ." On the return (either DAR or JRO) not sure of the fare, but the taxes are payable upon departure from ZNZ - figure about USD$10-$15.
>>does anyone know how I can find out how much a flight from Seronera to Zanzibar would be?<<
Precision Air has a flight departing Seronera 10:45am to Arusha, arriving about 12N - cost about $165 + tax*. From Arusha there is an ongoing flight to Zanzibar, about 50-minutes later. The combined airfare Seronera-Arusha-Zanzibar run about $305+ tax/person/one-way.
Coastal Air also has flights from Arusha to Zanzibar, that has an immediate connection once you arrive at Arusha - don't know what their fare is... either a bit more or less, maybe more!
Reason I know about the latter is that for our upcoming trip - leaving next week (can't wait), we just received an email of a change in that Precision doesn't have sufficient passengers to justify the Arusha/Zanzibar flight, so we've been switched to the Coastal flight.
Your tour operator should book these for you.
* taxes aren't too high - a terrorism fee of $2 and a fuel surcharge of $5 and maybe a few dollars more for something or other - per leg. All taxes should be included in your ticket "going to ZNZ." On the return (either DAR or JRO) not sure of the fare, but the taxes are payable upon departure from ZNZ - figure about USD$10-$15.
May 24th, 2005, 05:53 AM
#55
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We are about to leave on a one month North and South Tanzania tour arranged by Good Earth Tours. We used them last year and found them to be excellent. They will work hard to customize your tour to meet your needs and their prices will be competitive. They are Tanzanian owned with an office in the US.
Jul 7th, 2005, 04:37 AM
#56
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I don't know if you looked at the US State Department web site concerning travel. But the elections are in October 2005. Most information that I have read concerning this area since I am also interested in travel there said that traveling to Zanzibar and the surrounding area during the election is very dangerous. Just food for thought.
Jul 8th, 2005, 07:33 AM
#57
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hi there
Any tour group or other traveller I talked to about the elections said it was a fraught situation, but was not dangerous. Now I am getting worried!
Has anyone else been told its dangerous to travel to zanz during the elections?
Any tour group or other traveller I talked to about the elections said it was a fraught situation, but was not dangerous. Now I am getting worried!
Has anyone else been told its dangerous to travel to zanz during the elections?
Jul 9th, 2005, 05:51 PM
#58
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amfs:
I love ATR - they helped me book my 2006 Botswana trip and really took the time to go over the best options, inclusive of price and location. When I show people my "invoice" - four pages long with detailed descriptions of each concession, camp, camp highlights and price breakout - they can't believe it. I think you made a wise decision. I can't wait to hear about your trip. It sounds fabulous.
I love ATR - they helped me book my 2006 Botswana trip and really took the time to go over the best options, inclusive of price and location. When I show people my "invoice" - four pages long with detailed descriptions of each concession, camp, camp highlights and price breakout - they can't believe it. I think you made a wise decision. I can't wait to hear about your trip. It sounds fabulous.
Oct 12th, 2005, 10:21 AM
#59
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Hello. I'm jumping in here to ask if anyone has experience with a company called Destination Africa Tours ("DAT" and based in South Africa) for a Kili hike. I know of a couple of hikers who used them a couple of years ago and were very pleased with their booking services and the actual hike itself up Machame. Any other feedback?
Also, how can I research the local outfits that these "middleman" companies hire? I want to know their reputations w/r/t how they treat porters. I'm checking out several companies, so I'm curious about how to find out that info!
Any advice?
Thank you.
Also, how can I research the local outfits that these "middleman" companies hire? I want to know their reputations w/r/t how they treat porters. I'm checking out several companies, so I'm curious about how to find out that info!
Any advice?
Thank you.
