Hi, Thanks to all who gave me input so far!
I hope someone can tell me how long are the road trips between, Kilm to Lk.Manyara?
Serengeti to Kilm? Mara Sarova to Mara Serena
or Lk. Nakuru to Mara Serena? I have to decide soon as they are filling up for my trip in Aug 07 Thanks in advance, Darlene

Travel time estimates:
1) Kili to Manyara - approx 3 - 3.5 hrs
2) Serengeti to Kili - about a full day; assuming the Central Serengeti, if you leave real early, w/o any stops you can probably arrive Kili mid-to-late afternoon. Personally, I'd fly.
3) Mara Sarova to Mara Serena - approx. 1.5/hrs with stops for game viewing.
4) Lake Nakuru to Mara Serena - easily 6+ hrs. It's a hard drive and lousy roads. You can drive from Nakuru to Nairobi and fly at 3pm to the Mara airstrip for the Serena Lodge.

All of the above based on little or no traffic and w/o stops (except if you have potty-calls).

Thanks Sandi for your quick response! You have a wealth of knowledge of Africa. Have you traveled there alot?I did mess up a few things on my first itinerary post #7 driving from Serengeti to Kili & then a flight to Nairobi 1 night at Stanley.Then do the Kenya portion of the trip.What I think I should do is find a post with a perfect 11 night trip to Kenya & Tanz and and just copy what they did. What ya think? I'm really getting nervous cause I heard facilities for Aug 07 are really getting booked up. Thanks again, Darlene

Hi Darlene

no need to get nervous. focus your questions & in a couple of days you'll get on this board the info u need.

my opinion:
1. don't go to Serengetti in August!
better add days in Mara (& save on the driving as well) or, i suggest, Samburu (a really special reserve unlike the others)

The basic question: Why not do a 1-country tour (August means Kenya)?
Add days in Mara, possibly Samburu
and IMHO a freshwater lake like Naivasha or Baringo (with a boat trip for a change).

If Ngorongoro is a "must" for you -
u can consider skipping Manyara and go straight for 2 nights Ngorongoro

Darlene - As a group of four, you can do a private safari with your own guide (except in the Mara where you'd have a shared seat in lodge/camp vehicle). Try this.

Day 1 - Arv. NBO - o/n
Day 2 - Visit Sheldrick Ellees; lunch Carnivore; drive to Mt.Kenya - o/n Serena Mountain
Day 3 - Drive to Samburu - o/n
Day 4 - Samburu - o/n
Day 5 - Fly to Masai Mara - o/n
Day 6 & 7 - Masai Mara - o/n
Day 8 - Fly to Wilson; connect to flight to JRO; drive to Tarangire - o/n
Day 9 - Tarangire - o/n
Day 10 - Drive to Ngorongoro; afternoon crater tour - o/n
Day 11 - Morning crater tour; w/ lunch drive to Arusha/Kili; depart JRO in evening.

That's 11/days.

Darlene

Efficient & quick Sandi has given u a nice option. IMO much better than your previous plan.
still u need to decide if u stick to a 2-country-trip

aby

Aby, Thanks to you I'm not as nervous as I was before! This my 1st trip to Africa and I guess I want it to be perfect and I do want to do both Ken & Tanz. Now that I found the forum I'm hooked and content knowing I will get honest input from all of you. Thanks, Darlene

Sandi,thanks for itinerary!!!Now 11 days doesn't seem long enough. Before you know it I'll be asking for advice for a 2 month trip (smiley face) You gave me something to think abt. Thanks, Darlene