My son and I are coordinating a final itinerary for a mid Jul 08 safari. We are in touch with 5 safari operators, all but 1 in Tanzania and all with good reputations. I have received input suggesting that Jul is the worst month for Serengeti because the migration is spread all over the place. A couple have suggested going central (Olakira Mobile Camp or Savannah Camps) then to north (Migration camp or Lobo area). Another suggests a camp in the western corridor and then the central area around Seronera. We would appreciate your comments and others experiences relative to how to structure the Serengeti portion of the trip. What locations/camps were good at that time. Here is our itinerary:
Day 1 - 13Jul, arrive Arusha
Day 2-3, drives in Tarangire National Park
Day 4, drives in Lake Manyara
Day 5, drives in Ngorongoro Crater
Day 6-9, Serengeti (need help here)
Day 10-13, Fly to Zanzibar for Stone Town and Matemwe Beach

Thank you in advance for your comments and suggestions

July isn't the "worst" month, rather one of the in-between months, if you want to catch the migration. Herds can be somewhat dispersed.

I'd skip Manyara. Head to Serengeti from Ngorongoro and split your time between 1) Central (Olakira or Savannah) and Western (Mbalageti or Kirawira) or 2) between Western and Northwestern (Sayari Camp).

I wouldn't go to Migration (though a lovely camp) or Lobo. The latter is better in Nov/Dec.

I agree with Sandi who is one of the resident experts but also I did this trip in mid-June. I'd skip Manyara as there's more to see in the other parks and although the entrance is pretty, other parks are more impressive. Manyara is a bit of a sad place to me. We actually didn't see any cats in Tarangire but saw everything else. I have to throw my vote in for Mbalageti, I thought it was divine.

This is the second time I've seen July is the worst month. What a bad and undeserved reputation July is getting.

Check out this thread of trips to East Africa that Lynda has generously created and maintained. You’ll see plenty of good reports on July.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34860283

Here is what two companies say about what places are good to visit in what months and you can see July is a nice time to go.

http://www.africa-adventure.com/dsp_besttime.html

http://www.bornfreesafaris.com/best_travel.htm

I like Sandi’s #1 and Lenlu gives Mbalageti a second vote. That’s good you are spending 4 nights in the Serengeti.

I enjoyed Manyara. What it offers that the other places you mention did not, based on my one visit is: the best baboon activity especially near the entrance, though baboons are found all over; the best chance to see blue monkeys (sometimes called black monkeys), although I’ve seen them near the crater; the best hippos out of the water; good elephant activity, which you should also get in Tarangire; a chance to see tree climbing lions, though rare and I did not see any, it does happen both in Manyara and sometimes Tarangire.

If you need to find an extra day somewhere, then I’d agree to take it from Manyara rather than the other safari destinations. Actually, I’d do more safari over Stone Town (where I’ve never been), which shows my nature bias.

dgenep, I loved the Serengeti enough in July last year that I'm going again in July next year. It's true that the herds are a bit scattered, but if you go with a reputable guide, he'll know where they are. We saw huge herds last year. I'm covering all bases next year by staying at Mbalageti in the Western Corridor, Sayari up North and Mbuzi Mawe just north of the Seronera.

Have fun with the planning!

I'm just jealous of Calo.