Sandi...now you have me confused. when you visit the crater (or any park/lake/site for that matter), aren't the fees already paid for upfront in your stay package?

Kavey: I've been told about Elsa's... Is it vastly (or moderately) different that what I will see in Masai Mara or Amboseli? I'm looking for a third (and possibly forth) lodge to complement the others so I don't go home with 159 photos of the same giraffes.

In 2008 we spent 3 weeks in E Africa. In Kenya we went to the Masai Mara, Samburu and Meru. In Tanzania we went to Tarangire, Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti.

The Mara and Northern Serengeti are, of course, very similar, being the same place divided by national borders.

Samburu and Meru are not the same as each other but have certain things in common, not least those unusual species I mentioned. The parks neighbour each other. On a landscape level, Samburu is perhaps more spectacular, but I don't know what the situation is there, following the devastation they experienced not that long ago. Certainly, for game viewing, at the right time of year, the density of game by the main river (brain fart, forgotten name) is incredible. We also saw wild dogs there, but this was a rare and lucky sighting, not guaranteed. Meru is fascinating - flat, flat, flat land punctuated by these huge rounded mound-like hills - Elsa's Kopje sits on top of one of these hills or kopjes. As I said, less dense game viewing, but also less other people, and feels more remote, very rewarding. I loved it but can't speak for anyone else. Oh and I found the doum palms also added something different to the landscape.

In Tanzania, Tarangire's lagoons are a great place to watch the elephants bathe and play in the afternoon, evening. We loved that, this was in early/mid September, btw. The park also has wonderful baobob trees, a special sight. But for game viewing in general, apart from those eles, I didn't love this park, though I'm very glad we visited.

We almost skipped Manyara, but I'm glad we didn't. Though we just spent half a day there. The drive through the forest itself felt magical to me - many of the most strongly scented trees were flowering, the forest smelled perfumed. Light was dappling through the foliage high above. Monkeys were playing, guineau fowl squawking in the undergrowth. Somehow the forest felt like a grotto, more fairy like and lush than I expected. Then we were through the forest looking at the masses of birds at the shores of the water. That was certainly an amazing sight, though be warned, it's RAMMED with fellow visitors. Never seen so many visitors looking at a single wildlife spectacle in a small space as that. But for us, it was on the way from one place to another, so worth a stop over.

For a break, we spent a night in Gibbs Farm, I loved it there, so lush, so incredibly beautiful and relaxing, pretty birds in the flowers.

Northern Serengeti I am sure is great, though we didn't love it - the camp staff just didn't have the same skills and warmth as those in the other camps we visited, which, for us, makes a huge difference. But it's on the circuit at certain times of year, as best place to see the migration... so may be worth including or not on that basis.

But, to recap, the advantage of including EITHER Samburu or Meru in your trip is the opportunity to see gerenuk, grevy zebra and the other species of giraffe - depends how interested you are in those.

Kavey--thank you so much. This is very informative! Bushbabies...in the day(?) Really? I saw one in Bots at night...barely. Now I wonder how vastly (or moderately--if at all) different the Mara is from Amboseli. I hesitate to contact my travel agent and get her involved until I have my info gathered. Maybe i'll venture into Zambia...i stayed at the Royal Livingstone and didn't get to see fauna at all. I will look up Samburu, Sandi also suggested it.

Kavey - Hi Miss brain fart ... nice to hear from you. Believe you're thinking of the Ewaso Nyiro River at Samburu! Since the flood in early March, the river is back down to a stream and the park is beautiful. You can still see some areas where trees,branches and other brush that washed ashore, but most of the camps/lodges damaged (or washed away) are back in business, or will be late 2010 (Serena Lodge).

Lionlove - The Mara and Amboseli are way different, as is Amboseli and Samburu. Locale, landscape, and game.

Meru is lovely and Elsa's just won "Best" property in a recent survey (not Conde Nast or Travel & Leisure), but from people who have actually stayed at those that were up for awards.

You can fly up to Meru for 2-3/days, then onto Samburu for 2-3/days; from here fly south to the Masai Mara for 3-4/days. In all of these cases you'd be using the vehicles/guides of the camps at which you stay... most all of which provided open sides, though are on a shared basis with other guests. However, if using small camps, it's rare for there to be more than 4/guests per vehicle.

Then when concluding time in the Mara, fly via Nairobi (Wilson, domestic airport) to Kilimanjaro/JRO Tanzania to visit at Ngorongoro. You'll need an o/n in Arusha as you can't make it to the crater the same day. Unless flying to Manyara and then that 2.5/hr drive I mentioned earlier.

Even if thinking Zambia, and still including Kenya and/or Tanzania, how do you get from the south to the east of the Continent... pretty much the same situation as if staying at Phinda. Via JNB to NBO or DAR, 4/hr flights, etc. etc. etc.

I'm sure there'll be another Africa adventure in your future and Zambia or Phinda aren't going anywhere!

Yup, that's the one!

(Lionlove, Sandi helped me pull together that 2008 trip and I was really pleased with our itinerary)

Sandi--now you're just showing off.

Again, invaluable tips, thank you. Sad that my travel agent will earn the profit on this. Do you provide quotes at well?

Btw, on my first trip to Africa, we flew ALL over from Kenya to Cape Town. It was very busy, but incredible. From dinner at La Colombe (Stellenbosch?) to the buffet at Kichwa, it was well worth it.

I can, but I'm not allowed to... I read and understand the Rules & Regs. I'm sure someone who sees this will be able to provide my contact info.

Lionlove, may I take the chance to recommend you search out and contact Africa Serendipity.

Got it! Thank you.