Tanzania and the Gorillas
 

Hello everyone
I am about to book my first safari for July 2007 for myself and partner with East African Safari and Touring company (Eastco)they were well reccom. by a friend who travelled with them but a different trip to this.
Can somebody please check the itinerary and the price and then give me some feedback.
Thanks heaps in advance.I have never been on the board before and this is my first trip to Africa.
Day 1 arrive Nairobi o/n Fairview Hotel
day 2 transfer to Arusha for lunch o/n Boundary Hill Lodge.
day 3 and 4 Boundary Hill Lodge game viewing Tarangire National Park. This includes a night drive
day 5 Lake Manyara o/n Eunoto Lodge
day 6 Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
day 789 exploring the serengeti o/n semi luxury camp. what ever that means.
day 10 fly to Kigali overnight Chez Lando
day 11 drive to Parc National des Volcans
track the Gorillas
overnight Assoferwa Guesthouse
day 12 track the Gorilas for a second time o/n Addoferwa guest house
day 13 head back to Kigali o/n Chez lando
day 14 flight to Nairobi
the cost I have been given includes airfares Gorilla permits and is a private safari
US$ 4895 per person for a group of two
What do you think of 1. the lodges
and 2 the cost

Hi Pepper

This sounds like a great trip.

I would love to visit the gorillas but I'm not sure physically I could do it because of my asthma. Apparently you have to be very fit.

I've heard good reports about Boundary Hill Lodge and have been to the Ngorongo Sopa Lodge which I thought was good.

Don't know about the others.

Pepper123

For nights 7, 8, 9 I'd check what camp that is or if it is a mobile camp. Semi-lux camping in the Serengeti is a good way to go but you want to make sure the camp is located in the correct part of the Serengeti for the time of year you are going.

I can only comment on Sopa, which I liked. Haven't been to other accommodations.

Looks good and should be a fantastic trip.

Malpa,
You have to be only reasonably fit. But having asthma could cause other problems aside from fitness. I have heard you can be carried on a stretcher-like device to the gorillas. I'd check it out if you really want to go but are concerned about your health. Maybe combine walking and being carried if your asthma requires it.

Hi
I did check out the semi luxury camping part with Eastco
We will be staying in a special campsite
around Seronera valley
apparently the tents are large with double beds, side table and writing desk and they have a walk in toilet and shower attached
Apparently camp staff fill up the shower bucket with hot water and off you go
We will be only ones at the campsite and have our own dining tent
with camp staff sounds good

Much depends on your expectations. The Fairview is fine, but you might expect to be put in a room with no heat. I have been to Rwanda and have not heard of either of the places that you are set to stay--which is odd. I would not expect to have much hot water or heat. I would take non-cotton clothes and a lot of layers. Also, you will be in the Parc des Volcans during the rainy season, so be sure to plan accordingly. You might want to check out the Rwanda board on Trip Advisor. There was a fairly recent post by mistyshoes (or a similar name) about the level of fitness needed for the gorilla treks in Rwanda. I [as JP & mom] am one of a number of people who responded--the conditions are well described in that thread. Lastly, my own impression of your plans is that you will be spending a lot of time in transit. Africa is not the UK or the US to be sure. The roads are slow. For example, it takes about 2.5 hours to drive from Kigali to the PNV.

On Day 10 are you flying direct from the Serengeti to Kigali? Or going via NBO? If the latter, that's a very long day. Inquire if you're not sure. The fare from Serengeti/KGL is stiff, but when you consider time and fares back to NBO and then to KGL, it's about a wash!

A couple of posters here have stayed at Chez Lando in Kigali http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34864926

Thanks everybody
the flight is direct from Seronera to Kigali
so that is at least one time saver
I will ask eastco about the other travelling distances
thanks also for tips about what to wear