Serengeti in January
 

Going on Safari in January of 2008 (many thanks to all who posted and urged us to "go for it") We are thrilled beyond belief.
Budget is limited 1,500 ppn. and we have an extra $500 total for upgrades, etc. Ideally, I'd like it to be just the two of us in a vehicle.
I'm researching the tented camp thing, something in between budget and luxury.
I thought I'd just see what an outfitter would offer us and one came back with 3 nights at Serengeti Tented Camp and a night at Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge. (keep in mind that i'm coming from Mwanza). I've read on this site that this area of the Serengeti is not ideal in January. How far away are we from "all the action"? It's not completely devoid of game, is it? I'm really happy with this outfitter. Nice vehicle, private drives, unlimited miles. I'm kinda happy with this unless you all tell me it's a horrble spot to be in. We're going on our walk there and I believe this is where you can do a night drive.

And one more question: how far in advance should I be putting money down for such and adventure. Camps like this fill up quickly?
Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks,
teri714

Hi Teri

Unfortunately, the Ikoma area is my least favorite place in the whole Serengeti!

It is not because of lack of trying; I have driven that hour-long stretch from Seronera to the gate countless times while trying to learn more about the area.

I've not seen enough animals there to make the long drive worthwhile - and you are going to do it twice a day for 4 days?

The camp itself is getting better as recent trip reports indicate. But the night drives are much tamer than you think and the walks are bush walks not walking safaris! One night there is enough IMO.

I have a strong hunch that poaching in that area is the reason for the lack of wildlife.

Grumeti Reserves are tough on poaching so the Ikoma area is a much easier target.

You are going to end up in the NCA anyway so why not talk to some other outfitters for more (better) ideas about camps elsewhere along the way?

It is too early to commit for Jan 2008. By then there will probably be new camps and Serengeti activities to choose from. Since you are not looking at the most exclusive camps, I would wait until March 2007 or so before booking 2008.
Eben

Hi Eben,
I figured as much. Thank you for your honest input. I'm slowly plugging away, learning more and more every day...
Thanks again,
teri

Hi everyone,

I've been pouring over posts and trip reports and we've made the decision that another 500+ ppn added to our budget will get us a decent safari. It certainly has increased our options. It won't be the tent experience I had really dreamed of - but, really....we're truly happy just going on Safari. (i'm secretly already planning our second safari - *that* one will be our dream tent/hiking experience.)

Here's an Itinerary I recieved and i'm hoping you can help me decipher it a little. I've read alot of posters start with the statement: "help - the more i read, the more confusing it gets.". Needless to say, I understand where they are coming. But, I'm having some moments of clarity.


Day
1 -Drive Mwanza to Ikoma Gate (6hr)
Serengeti Tented Camp
2 -Ikoma Nature Walk/Serengeti
Seronera Wildlife or Ndutu Lodge
3 -Serengeti
Seronera wildlife or Ndutu Lodge
4 -Olduvai Gorge/Masaii Hike
Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge
5 -Ngorongoro Crater
Plantation Lodge or Gibbs Farm
6 -Tarangire - end up in Arusha

The total cost for the above itineary is $2,000.00 USD per person for 2 people (priced with Ndutu & Plantation Lodge). Unlimited miles. If Seronera Wildlife and Gibb's Farm are selected, then the pricing will come down to $1,925.00 USD per person. Without day 6 - Tarangire (and i'm assuming Gibb's) price is approx 1,600 - 1,700ish.


Here are my thoughts, however naive:

Day 1 - Drive form Mwanza to Ikoma. If I understand it correctly, the cost for flight to Serengeti airstrip is about the same for the drive and stay at the tent. If this is the case, then I'm kind of thinking that the drive might be rather pleasant - It will give us a chance to see a little bit of the landscape outside of Mwanza. It would also give us the opportunity to get to know our guide a little better, which is a big plus in my book. Anyone have any thoughts about this? Honest feedback is always appreciated - it really helps with the learning process.

Day 2 - Walk/Serengeti - However tame this walk ends up being - I like the idea of being able to stretch my legs and move around a bit. Sleeping at Ikoma Bush Camp will also give me a small taste of sleeping outdoors. Am not really sure if pushing on to Seronera will be too long of a drive.

Day 2 and Day 3 - the choice is Seronera Wildlife or Ndutu Lodge. Maybe one night at each? I'm totally open to suggestions. Seronera seems more ideally located, but for some reason, I'm in love with Ndutu Lodge. We're even toying with the idea of spending an extra day in the Serengeti and foregoing the day at Tarangire (i'll save Tarangire for second safari - lots of nice tent choices as well) Maybe one night at Seronera and maybe two nights at Ndutu. I read that some wished they had spent more time in the Serengeti. My personal thoughts are that I rather like the idea of exploring the Serengeti a little more in depth. Adding Tarangire kind of feels like were doing the "mad rush".

Day 4 - Maasai Hike. Hike is 3 hrs long...am very happy with this. Not too sure how Olduvai Gorge fits in to this plan...

Day 5 - Ngorongoro Crater. We want to do as early a drive as possible.

Then on to Gibbs and Tarangire or back to Arusha.

So that's it in a nutshell - my first itinerary...woo hoo! How does it look to you all? Is this a lot of driving time with very little game viewing? I'm having the most difficulty figuring out driving time vs. game drives. As always, all comments and critiques are welcome....

teri

<b>Day 2 and Day 3 - the choice is Seronera Wildlife or Ndutu Lodge. Maybe one night at each?</b>

Should be many more animals and many fewer tourists at Ndutu, plus the lodge is nicer and better run, and you can drive off-road at Ndutu. If the 'short wet' rains come in Nov and Dec then Ndutu in January is about as good as it gets. We were there Jan 2006, have reservations for Jan 2007 and will probably be there Jan 2008.

<b>We're even toying with the idea of spending an extra day in the Serengeti and foregoing the day at Tarangire</b>

We stayed 3 days at Tarangire last January and the game was scattered because of light rains. This was our least productive park for photos. Our driver felt Tarangire was peak in late summer with game concentrated near the river and could be skipped without missing anything in January and I agree with that based on our very limited experience.

<b>Day 5 - Ngorongoro Crater. We want to do as early a drive as possible.</b>

We are always at the entrance gate at 6 AM when they first open and for the first two hours we see few other people on the crater floor (at least on the other side where we stay), plus the animals are more active then. Good plan!

Bill

Thanks again for your help, Bill.

In our case, I think foregoing Tarangire at this point is wise. I read here that a lot of outfitters switch Tarangire for Lake Manyara at this time of year. Besides, a few days in the Serengeti and a zip through the Crater is really the small &quot;intro safari&quot; I had originally imagined.

Adding an extra day in the Serengeti is looking like a better idea. We can stay one night at Seronera Wildlife and two at Ndutu. This way we can spend a little time in both the Central and Southern Serengeti. Do you know the approximate driving time/driving distance between these two parks?

One more question if you happen to read this: Does Ndutu fill up early? Will I have to put down a deposit soon (1 yr in advance)?
Thanks again for all of your help.

teri

Teri, your plan sounds good. Ditch Tarangire in January for another night in the Serengeti. And you can't miss predators in the central Serengeti, even if you wind up with the worst guide in the world. So a night there is a good way to hedge your bets.

Sandi, climbhigh, bill and others will have a good idea how early Ndutu books up.

I think Ndutu lodge is the one lets you make a reservation without a deposit and lets you cancel without any penalties. Someone else correct me if I'm wrong.

Jenn

Leely,
Thanks for the vote of confidence. I like the way this itinerary is progressing so far. I'm working with Access2Tanzania and I'm extremely pleased with all the options they are offering. Their price seems very reasonable as well.

Jenn
You're absolutely right, I remember reading that somewhere on this board. Thanks for the reminder. I just wanted to get an idea of when I should get ready to put down a deposit as I probably need to purchase travel insurance soon after this.

Thank you both for your input. I really couldn't have gotten this far without all of the help/info this site has provided. I also look at trip advisor, but that's more for Mwanza-related questions.
This really is turning out to be our dream mini safari after all. woo hoo!
teri

<b>I read here that a lot of outfitters switch Tarangire for Lake Manyara at this time of year.</b>

On our trip next January we are at Manyara the first two nights, then seven nights at Ndutu, then 3 nights at the crater. We like Manyara because of the birds but many people don't like it and for a 5 day trip I'd do 3 at Ndutu (or one at Seronera if you are coming from Lake V) and 2 at the crater, skipping Manyara ...

<b>We can stay one night at Seronera Wildlife and two at Ndutu. This way we can spend a little time in both the Central and Southern Serengeti. Do you know the approximate driving time/driving distance between these two parks?</b>

On the Ndutu site it says 90 km (1.5 hrs) from Ndutu to Seronera ... Ndutu is actually right on the border of the NCA and Serengeti and you can buy day passes for $107.50 for 2 people and go across into the Serengeti during the day if you wish, which is why we skip Sereonera this time of year. The two things you'll likely see at Seronera but not at Ndutu are crocs and leopards, though there's a chance of leopards at Ndutu (we didn't see any in 5 days last Jan yet saw several leopards at Seronera in April). But in a normal year there will be hundreds of thousands of wildebeests near Ndutu and almost none near Seronera this time of year.

From Ndutu to the crater it's listed as 90 km or 2 hrs (the road up the crater is bad). Our last day at Ndutu we do an early game drive (leave at 6 AM), come back for a quick late breakfast, drive to the Serena on the crater rim for lunch (most of our guys stopped for an hour at the Maasai village on the way) and still have time to goof off for an hour in the Serena lounge before starting a game drive into the crater around 2:30, heading for our lodge on the other side. In other words Ndutu is pretty close to the crater rim ...

To me personally the most important part of our trips is getting in the early AM game drive and we found it's easy to plan staying at lodges close enough to each other to let us go out early, move mid-day and still get in a PM game drive on moving days. I think you can do that with your schedule (your driver may not volunteer this info because he has to get up earlier each day).

<b>Does Ndutu fill up early? Will I have to put down a deposit soon (1 yr in advance)?</b>

Yes, for mid-Jan thru March Ndutu is one of the best-known places for photography and since they only have 32 rooms and there are no other lodges within 90 km either direction it fills up early. We had to book a year in advance to get our dates. I hear they may change the no deposit policy because of people abusing it, dunno ... probably your outfitter will want a deposit though.

Bill

Bill