Duane

Hi All,
I have a couple of decisions to make but since I have not been to any of these places I'd like your input. Budget is a consideration, but none of these are totally out of the range although I couldn't pick all the upgrades. So I can't upgrade to both Mbalageti and Swala, the costs are too much. I have looked at the pictures, but they can only show so much. I'd prefer comments from people who have been to these places. I would rather stay away from hotel type places with the exception of the crater. Both good and bad comments are appreciated.


*Serengeti the first week of July (first 2 days only). Keep in mind that we are probably also going to the Migration camp and Mbuzi Mawe (or similar) later. So I need your advice not only on the lodging, but the location based on the time of year.
-Base price: Mbalageti Camp (standard room) or Serena Lodge.
-Options - upgrade Mbalageti Chalet - $90 pppn = $360 for 2 nights
-Options - upgrade Kirawira Tented Camp - $50 pppn = $200 for 2 nights
For me this is a tough choice I hear Mbalageti is awesome, but Kirawira is nice too.


*Ngorongoro Crater
Which would you choose? Serena Lodge or Sopa Lodge? The price difference will only be a total of about $120 for the 2 nights. I've heard good things about the location of the Sopa, but have heard the Serena is much nicer. What are your thoughts? I am leaning towards the Sopa based only on location and based on what I have read.


*Tarangire
-Base price would be Tarangire Tented Safari Lodge, Tarangire River or Kikoti Camps.
-Options: upgrade to Swala Camp at $105 pppn = $420. Is it worth it? If not, which one of the first 3 would you pick. Treetops is out of our range I think.

Thanks everyone for your great advice already. I just need to make a few lodging decisions and we'll ready to make a final decision.
Duane

Duane

Any input? I need to make a decision in the next day or so.

I made a mistake in the pricing. Swala will be about $170 pppn for a total of $680. Based on that, I do not think it is worth it.

Please give me your comments on the above camps.
Thanks,
Duane

jenn24

Duane,

I stayed at Mbalegeti and loved it. The whole place was really wonderful. The showere were the best! I would definitely go back.


I also stayed at Tarangire River camp and loved that as well. The tents were so spacious and the beds were very comfy. The managers were very nice, even switching on the generator early at 5 a.m for us so we would have hot water for our early depature. The food was really good here as well.


Jenn

Duane

Thanks Jenn. I've heard Mbalageti is very nice that's why I was leaning that way. But, I also read in trip reports that Kirawira was very nice.

River camp sounds great in all the reviews I have heard. It is not in the park though is it? is that a drawback or doesn't it matter? I haven't heard from anyone that has stayed at the Tented Safari Lodge (tents and bungalows).

Too many decisions. I'm sure I can't go wrong either way.....
Duane

pixelpower

The problem is most of us just have experience with ONE lodge (per NP) on your list.

I for one chose Tarangire safari lodge because of it's location; close to the entrance. I figured; driving times inbetween the parks is long enough already, so I better take a lodge close to the entrance.

Same with Sopa @ the crater; we wanted to visit Empakai, so we needed a lodge at that end (or we'd have lost 3 extra hours on the road). Sopa was the only choice.

Both are great IMHO.

mrm512

I stayed at the Serena at Ngorongoro Crater and loved it. As someone else said, I have no way of comparing it to the Sopa since I haven't stayed there, but we had no problem with the location, drive, etc. It was a bit bumpy and long, but so worth it. I think Ngorongoro was my favorite location we visited.

~Mary

Calo

Duane,
As others have said, I have stayed at some of the camps, but not all so can't make comparisons. Here are a few of my thoughts...

Tarangire River Camp is indeed outside the park, but a VERY enjoyable (not long) game drive the whole way. We had to stop a few times for giraffe, elephant and warthogs on the road between the camp and the park, for example. So, I wouldn't let that sway your decision to stay at Tarangire Safari Camp over the River Camp. Interestingly, there is a path that goes from the park right into the "back door" of the camp which has been closed for some reason. Our guide had heard that perhaps safari vehicles would be allowed to access it again soon.

Kikoti is quite a distance outside the park gate, but night game drives are offered which might be of interest to you. We investigated this camp too, but we wanted to be closer to the park gate. Have a look at Eben's pictures of the River Camp: http://go-safari.com/Tarangire/RiverCamp.htm

We opted out of Swala because of it's hefty price and distance to get to inside the park, although it sounds lovely.

You mention that you're probably going to be staying at Mbuzi Mawe later...I would choose either that or Serengeti Serena - no point in staying at two different places in the Central Serengeti in my opinion. If you stay at Kirawira or Mbalageti in the west and Migration in the north, I think you really only need either the Serengeti Serena or Mbuzi Mawe to cover the Central Serengeti.

With regard to the upgrade between Kirawira and Mbalageti, I guess you have to decide whether you want to spend the extra $$ for a chalet experience over a luxury tent. This is strictly personal preference. Our stay at Kirawira was just fabulous.

Re: Ngorongoro accommodation, I wonder if anyone out there has stayed at both the Sopa and the Serena. Honestly, I don't know how our experience at the Serena could have been topped by anything the Sopa has to offer. I originally wondered if their access road would be a plus, but we didn't encounter any other vehicles descending into the crater, or exiting the crater, so that wasn't an issue for us.

Bill_H

Agree with the posts that say most of us would have stayed at just one of your choices, but regarding your crater choice of Serena vs Sopa, we've stayed at two Serenas (Manyara and Serengeti) and two Sopas (Tarangire and Ngorongoro) and prefer Serenas but both chains are fine.

When we stay at Manyara Serena we make arrangements to have lunch at the Ngorongoro Serena on the way across the NCA so have visited the NS twice for lunch and it's a very impressive looking lodge, but we always stay at the Sopa at the crater because of the easier access to the crater floor, so I think you already understand the trade-offs.

Bill

Duane

Thanks for the info. Now that you mention it, you're right, most people don't have experience with both lodges or camps. I shouldn't have phrased the question that way.

Basically then I am looking for people that have stayed in one of the locations listed and what they thought of the lodge/camp. Would they go back and looking back, would they have stayed elsewhere?

Thanks again,
Duane

Calo

Duane, see my post above - I think we posted at the same time and mine got booped up above yours.

jenn24

Duane,

Yes, Tarangire River Camp is outside of the park, but it didn't seem like that far of a drive for me. If I understood my guide correctly there it actually is right on the border of the park. He showed us that there is actually a road from inside the park that you can get to the camp from, but it has been closed for whatever reason. I'm not sure if that road will ever be opened up.

I really loved this camp and wouldn't hesitate to stay there again. I thought the beds (especially the bedding) were the best of our whole trip.


Jenn

roderick

I stayed at Kirawira in 2003 and thought it was great. I'd base my decision on where you think the migration might be at that time and how far you want to drive to your destination.

Kirawira is in the far western corridor. I assume you'll be driving in from Ngorongoro, and Kirawira is one of the farthest camps in the Serengeti you can stay in from there. If you're flying then you don't really need to worry about it, there are air strips close by.

As for the camp, it's amazing. When I was there my friends and I sat by the pool and watched a thunderstorm come across the Serenget. It was pretty incredible. The food there was great, the tents were killer, and the staff great. You can't go wrong with it as a camp.

Duane

Thanks everyone, this really does help.
Duane

cybor

Hi Duane,
We stayed in Kikoti and the Ngo. Sopa last Feb. If you want to go to my trip report in the E. African trip index you'll find detailed desciptions and pics. of both.

Kikoti: I didn't mind the location as we spent 2 nights. We were able to do a game drive in and one on the way out. Also, we were able to do a night drive and drive onto private lands as well, which was a plus. We found the food, service and rooms to be very good there. loved Tanangire, btw.

Sopa: excellant location, beautiful sunsets, rooms ok. food ok, service not so ok. Many others have had better experience. This did not impact my game viewing and it was nice to roll down the hill and be at the gate as it was opening without a long or bumpy drive. So it's really what your priorities and budget are.
Good luck!
Sherry

kata1

I was very keen to read all your notes..I ahven't been to northern Tanzania, since 1984, when I camped at the bottom of the crater for three days and never saw another vehicle...I have been afraid to go back...but you all seem to like the Serena lodges, although I had heard they have 80 rooms or so...is that true? Perhaps I have been in Botswana too long, but I have come to enjoy the feel of a camp with 10-15 people...can someone tell me about the Serena lodges?

bix6

Duane
We stayed at Migration and loved every minute of it - camp and comfort superb. We were booked at N'gro Serena but they were overbooked and we ended up at the Sopa - we were not very keen on the Sopa. I understand that the Serena has this problem of over booking often!! But viewing fine just the Lodge nothing to compare with staying in a "camp". The road down the Crater was something else!!!! Glad we only did it for 1 day! Said from someone who does not like heights!!
Good Luck