Safari in Mid-July
 

I hope someone on this board can help me out. My family and I are going on a safari in Northern Tanzania from July 14-24, 2008. I have itineraries and quotes from two fairly high-end tour companies, but one has us starting in Arusha and then working our way through Tarangire and Ngorongoro and ending up in the northern Serengeti towards the end, whereas the other has us starting in the northern Serengeti and then working our way south and east through the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Tarangire, skipping Arusha altogether. Does it matter, in terms of maximizing our chance of seeing the great herd migration, whether we go to the northern Serengeti first (around July 15-16) or last (around July 22-23)? And does it make more sense, for wildlife viewing, to go to Arusha at the beginning, or towards the end as conditions become drier? Thanks in advance for any advice!

Where are they suggesting you stay in the Northern Serengeti?

Generally, it doesn't make much difference whether you fly to farthest point and work your way back to Arusha or vice versa....

Except - July is one of those quirky times as the migrating herds can be in either the Western Serengeti on their way to the Northern Serengeti.

Why not post both itineraries for our comments - where, accomm. #days, whether by road or where any flights.

A best guess would be to leave the northern Serengeti to the end of your trip, but it would be helpful to know your itinerary including where you're staying. You might want to include a stay in the western Serengeti to maximize your opportunity to see the migration.

Itinerary #1 is as follows:

Northern Serengeti (2 days) - Migration Tented Lodge near Lobo/Grumeti River/Mara River

Central Serengeti (2 days) - Turner's Spring near Seronera River Valley, Maasai and Sametu Kopjes

Ngorongoro Serena Lodge and Wildlife Lodge (1 night each); not crazy about this part since I would prefer not to be in any lodges, Any suggestions here?

Tarangire (2 days) - Swala Tented Lodge

Itinerary #2, starts out at Kigongoni Lodge at Arusha (2 nights), then 2 days at Tarangire, 2 days at Ngorongoro, 2 days Serengeti/Robanda, and 2 days Serengeti, and 2 days Kogakuria. Except for Arusha, all lodging is in tented camps.

Any suggestions?

Here are several links on the migration throughout the year, including July. You can study all of these and probably come to the conclusion Sandi provided with “quirky.”

http://www.africadreamsafaris.com/lodges/serengeti.html

http://safari.go2africa.com/africa-f...y-november.asp

http://www.ultimateafrica.com/Wildebeest_migration.html

http://www.kiliwarriors.com/

Here are some Serengeti maps.
http://www.thesafaricompany.co.za/Map_Serengeti.htm

http://www.abouttanzania.com/safbeach.html#seremap

<i>Northern Serengeti (2 days) - Migration Tented Lodge near Lobo/Grumeti River/Mara River</i>

Lobo is definitely north. Grumeti is more West. The mobile camp may go between these locations. That seems right for July.

You are flying from Arusha to this first stay?

<i>Central Serengeti (2 days) - Turner's Spring near Seronera River Valley, Maasai and Sametu Kopjes</i>

A central location is good because there is resident wildlife there due to available water.


<i>Ngorongoro Serena Lodge and Wildlife Lodge (1 night each); not crazy about this part since I would prefer not to be in any lodges, Any suggestions here?</i>

Lodges are the most common place to stay around the crater. It is rare to stay in tents here. I would not be crazy about splitting the stay between 2 locations. But doing so might work best logistically. I’d check. I’ve stayed at Wildlife Lodge and it was good. Serena is a higher end property than Wildlife.

<i>Tarangire (2 days) - Swala Tented Lodge</i>

Here are some links on Tarangire and Swala. No personal comments to offer.
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34920311

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34986768

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34886333

Why is this trip in this order? A reversal would make sense for 2 reasons. (1) Probably slightly more in tune with the migration, though that is not a given (2) Ending with Tarangire will not be ending with the trip highlight. Perhaps logistics and transport costs make this routing desirable.

<i>Itinerary #2, starts out at Kigongoni Lodge at Arusha (2 nights)</i>

This gives you a day in Arusha to go to Arusha Nat Park, with its forest environment. You may be able to see colobus monkeys.

<i>then 2 days at Tarangire,</i> Where?

<i> 2 days at Ngorongoro,</i>
In a tented camp?

Some companies run their own tented camps at the crater. A&amp;K does, I believe. Is this itinerary Thomson’s? They may have their own camp there.

While the tented experience is great, I don’t know that I’d spend extra for it at the crater because you are not allowed to camp IN the crater. I’d ask where the tented camp will be and what its advantages are over a lodge such as Sopa. Sopa has its own access road. A camp will be smaller and more intimate, of course, but will you be where wildlife is? Will your access to the crater be as good and will it take less time to get there than a lodge?

<i>2 days Serengeti/Robanda.</i> This is near the Ikoma gate from what I know. That would seem to be a good location.

<i>and 2 days Serengeti, and 2 days Kogakuria. </i>

I think that is a Thomson camp in northern Serengeti.

<i>Except for Arusha, all lodging is in tented camps.</i>

This second itinerary proceeds in the order that I would choose. It looks like it may not spend time in the Central Serengeti with the resident game. That can be ok since you have a couple of locations where the migration will likely be. But if you miss the migration because the wildebeest have decided to go elsewhere for some reason, then it
is nice to have the Central Serengeti for predators.

Migration Camp is not ideally sited for mid-July. Beautiful camp, but just not right. Assuming your outfitter doesn't have mileage limits, whether you're in the Central or Western Serengeti, with herds being in either, your guide will get you to see this.

The Grumeti River moves towards the north, but the Mara is in the Northwest... better visited in Aug or Sept.

Check into the other camping suggestions in the West or Central areas.

At Ngorongoro, no reason to spend 1/nt each at two different lodges; many prefer the Sopa for its private access road. Serena is newer. The crater being at 7,000' is best enjoyed at night indoors with a roof over your head. It's cold up here in mornings/nights. Once on the crater floor it will warm.

From Ngorongoro to Swala Camp (expensive) at Tarangire is going to be a very long drive. Swala is located at the far south end of the park, a good 2/hr drive from park entry; that's without game viewing along the way.

No one can guarantee where the herds will be at any given time. The millions of wildies, zebra (who actually lead) and antelope don't all move together. Besides, there are resident herds that never migrate. Some maybe in the Central, others in the West, still others who might have started north. Though it's usually thought the herds get to the West by June, I've been at that time (in '05) and they were very much in Central; past season ('07) parts of the herds were in the West in May, then they moved back to Central. And, I recall an earlier posting of visitors being in the North end-July/begin-Aug and the herds hadn't yet arrived.

You can definitely start out in Arusha with a day at Arusha NP for walking and canoe safaris, even a cultural village visit. You can also spend more time in the Serengeti, split between Central and West; cut 1/nt from Ngorongoro

Do the 12/days include travel days? or actual in-country time for safari?

Day 1 - Arv. - o/n
Day 2 - Arusha NP - o/n
Day 3 - Drive to Tarangire - o/n
Day 4 - Tarangire - o/n
Day 5 - Drive to Ngorongoro; afternoon crater tour - o/n
Day 6 - Ngo; morning crater tour; w/lunch drive via Oldupai (w/stop) to Central Serengeti - o/n
Day 7 - Central - o/n
Days 8 &amp; 9 - Western Serengeti - o/n
Day 10 - Fly to Arusha

If you have extra time, you can add a day to the Serengeti.

I would suggest though for July, you confirm space as soon as; much is already booked.