StanKase

KathBC; Was your stay in the West in early June or mid-June?
From all I have read each year the migration, and the vegetation growth and therefore the animal activityi.e. crossings can be different by a few weeks based on rainfall,temperatures,etc.
I will ask for the Elephant Tent.Thanks.

KathBC

I was there June 7,8 & 9 and I'm sure activity does change, but then who knows for sure what it will be like until you actually get there. You may just want to keep your options open.

StanKase

I looked at the migration map and it shows the west and I do think and hope that this firm knows what they are doing. They are likely operating on past experience in that region in June/July. For example, I wanted the Northern Circuit but neither the migration map nor the firm recommended that was wise for June but mid-Jan through Feb.was the north normally the best for migration.
I will see because we will be there June 11-13,2012.

sandi

Stan - By Jan/Feb, the herds are almost assured to be in the Southeastern Serengeti or Ndutu area of the NCA, where they "calve" their young. So for your tour operator to say they are in the North at that time, is way off. That's not to say, whether in Kenya or anywhere in the Serengeti, there are resident herds that "never" migrate.

As it was in the summer of 2010 when I last visited and again this year (as reports indicated... I haven't been yet for 2011), by early June some of the herds had already arrived in the Masai Mara, when usually they arrive by mid-July. So, who knows what 2012 will bring.

In fact, on some visits in early June I've encountered herds in both the Central and West, moving back-n-forth between the two, before both groups are northward bound. Also, when the herds first arrive in Central, they split with some heading North and the others out to the West.

The "migration" is NOT an exact science. It's the weather, grasses and what these often confused animals may do from year-to-year. Unlike elephants with a matriarch to follow, wildies just go by their individual noses, even if there appears to be a leader... wildies do not have a leader.

Why I often comment, there's more to safari than just the migration which can be hit-or-miss.

StanKase

sandi; you mighy want to source some trip reports from this past Jan.-Feb. My cousin was in the North this past Jan.for 4 days and it was dense with widerbeast and their calves, zebras, etc. They even saw a leopard though it was for less than 2 minutes but he has 3 picture to prove it.
So, as you say you never know.Let's hope we are more successful in terms of active animal life in the West than you were 11+ months from now. That's a long time from now, Between now and then we have a 24 day trip to Indonesia (Java and Sulawisi) and to Micronesia (Palau) for diving/snorkeling.

pcex

linjudy,
I've booked with Duma Explorers for the Tanzania portion of our safari in Sept. Stacy has been wonderful. She replied promptly to all my emails, and there were many. She has been patient with all the changes we've made, even offering less expensive alternatives in lodging. Sent the deposit after she had confirmed all the properties and I had a firm price quote.

Marcobatuta

We had the unfortunate experience of having our local operator abandon us in Tanzania half way through the safari. We had paid for the trip with wire transfer to a bank. We have complained to the Tanzanian government, tourist ministry etc but so far have not even got a response. One needs to be very cautious about payments to small local operators. If things go wrong there is nothing you can do and nothing anybody else will do. I would strongly urge you to pay via credit card, at least part of it so you have someone to complain to if something goes awry.
We did have to rebook and refinance our trip, we used the same lodges and were surprised that the Serena Hotel group who arranged everything for us so well were not at all more expensive. They are a reliable large group who will take credi card payments and do all the arrangements. Do not use our local our operator. "Neodestinations." Good luck. East Africa is beautiful and it was the best holiday we had even after considering the fraudulent local tour operator.

atravelynn

Marco, please let us know if you ever recoup any of your losses or if you find out what happened to Neodestinations.
Thanks.