Tanzania itinerary critique
 

We're starting our trip to Africa Feb 2007 in Tanzania. Right now I only have 6 days for Tanzania (but will try to change my FF flight if possible). After Tanzania we'll also go to Botswana and South Africa.

From CC Africa:
2 nights Lake Manyara Tree Lodge
2 nights Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
2 nights Grumeti River Camp
$6000 pp
(I'm getting them to look into Tanzania Under Canvas, but still waiting to hear back)

From e-gnu:
1 night Karatu
3 nights Ndutu Safari Lodge
1 night Mlambo Serengeti Savannah Camp
1 night overnight in Dar
$2845 pp (private guide/driver and private vehicle)

From Eyes on Africa;
3 nights Kusini Camp
2 nights Gibbs Farm
1 night Swala
about $5000 pp

I have also inquired at Thomson for private mobile camping itinerary but haven't heard back yet.

The price is not a huge issue if we're getting more in terms of quality of game viewing, guiding and accommodations. As another poster said, if once in a lifetime, what would it be?

Advice appreciated. Thanks.

Hi! I dont think, it is the right time of the year to go to Grumeti...however, let's get other opinions here.....

If you are interested in Tanz under canvas, i recommend swapping Manyara and Grumeti to stay there for all 4 nights and then do the two nights in the crater.

Where is Mlambo serengeti Savannah?

Did you check on the other semi-mobile operators and their rates and locations? Nomad, sayari etc etc?

Hari

Thanks Hari. I'll ask Nicky at EOA tomorrow about the other semi-mobile camps. I think she is trying to get availability and I'll see if the other choices are full.

I've not idea where Mlambo Serengeti Savannah Camp is... I searched it on this site and found nothing. E-gnu did say it's one of their own camps.

So many choices, so little days...

6 nights is very rushed...if you could add just one more night and replace Grumeti River Camp with Tanzania Under Canvas, I think that would be the best itinerary.

Another option would be to choose an operator who is willing to use Nomad Tanzania as your ground handler and to do this itinerary:

Lake Manyara Tree Lodge (2)
Ngorongoro Crater Lodge (2)
Nomad Ndutu (3)

It was nearly the above itinerary that produced this photo album (I had a 4th night at Nomad Ndutu).

http://www.kodakgallery.com/rocco/main/tanzania

It is VERY important on who your ground handlers are for your itineraries. It is apparent that for the CCA itinerary it will be CCA, but for the other two itineraries, who is the ground handler? What kind of vehicles?

If you absolutely only have 6 nights, then I would choose the following itinerary:

Ngorongoro Crater Lodge (2)
Nomad Ndutu or Tanzania Under Canvas (4)

E-gnu's own camp?

Rocco, they now run safaris?

Scary thought....

Hari

With only 6/nts, Grumeti River, for certain is not the place to be. I'm with the others, 2/nts Ngorongoro (Crater Lodge if available), balance of 4/nts in the Serengeti w/ Nomads or CCA UC. But do check where each of these latter camps will be set up.

Interesting that CCA didn't offer anything in the Central or Southern Serengeti - maybe no space at their props.

Space in the Serengeti for February '07 is already limited, if available at all. So much may depend on what is.

<b>From e-gnu:
1 night Karatu

From Eyes on Africa;
...
2 nights Gibbs Farm

price is not a huge issue if we're getting more in terms of quality of game viewing</b>

For &quot;quality of game viewing&quot; I'd avoid staying in Karatu (which is also where Gibb's Farm is) ... this is a rich agricultural area and perhaps a good place to stay for other reasons but <b>not</b> for game viewing. You will be about 90 minutes from the entrance to the Ngorongoro area, plus another 45 - 60 minutes to the crater floor, so you are too far from the areas you actually want to see for an early game drive.

They probably booked you in Karatu because most of the lodges on the rim are already booked for Feb 2007. The best way to enjoy the crater floor is to be at the gate when they open at 6 AM ... the animals are more active early on and there are few tourists as most don't drive down until after having breakfast at the lodge. Staying at Karatu means you can't get there early enough to enjoy this.

<b>2 nights Grumeti River Camp</b>

Wrong time of year, at least for seeing the migration.

Bill