We will be travelling East and Southern Africa from Jan to March.

We will be making our way from a Kili climb, to Zanzibar, Mwanza, Uganda and then around Lake Victoria and south to Cape Town.

My wife has never been to Africa, and we need to do one quality safari and see the "big five" Since the Serengeti is right up there, I think it should be our main safari experience of the trip.

Can anyone recommend a great lodge within a day's drive of Mwanza where we could really get the quality safari experience? I really don't want to pay over $1,000 night but if it is only for a couple of nights and the experience and viewing would be unforgettable, then what the hell!!

Thanks again,

nigel

Hi learnix,

If your trip is between jan to march, the wildebeest migration will be in the southern plains of serengeti

I think you should find a flight from mwanza to serengeti, and go to central and southern serengeti.... it's great

Sonali

Hi hope this timetable works, there are other airlines flying into serengeti, you can check www.go-safari.com, he also has very good info on the web for anything you need in tanzania

If you still donnot get airlines then take your transfer from seronera

This the coastal airway schedule

Mwanza Arusha Daily 09:00 12:05 Continues to Zanzibar and the Coast 200.00
Mwanza Grumeti Daily 09:00 09:30 Continues to Arusha, Zanzibar and the Coast. 75.00
Mwanza Manyara Daily 09:00 11:45 Stops at all Serengeti airstrips. Continues to Arusha and the Coast. 160.00
Mwanza Seronera Daily 09:00 10:15 Continues to arusha and the coast.140

Have a great trip and enjoy yourselves,

Sonali

Sonali has all the air timetables for you. I agree with the advice to go to Southern Serengeti that time of year.

The Big 5 will be tough in the Serengeti because of the rhino. They can be seen, but not that often. I never saw one in the Serengeti.

Ngorongoro is a better bet for rhino in Tanzania. I've seen at least one on two visits, but not necessarily a photo shot.

If Big 5 with a rhino sighting is not crucial, then the Serengeti should suffice for your safari time.

What will you be doing in Uganda? Gorillas? Chimps? Queen Elizabeth Nat Park?

You've got great variety in habitat and activities in your itinerary.

Back to your "Big 5" comment. If you have about 2 or 3 months (Jan-Mar) and you are going to Cape Town, you could make a 3-day stop in the Sabi Sands (via Johannesburg) for your Big 5 viewing. It is very likely you will see rhino, and the other 4 species of the Big 5 there. Much more likely in Sabi Sands than the Serengeti. (Of course the Southern Serengeti will have the migration spectacle!) There are a variety of accommodation levels in Sabi Sands. I loved Mala Mala Main Camp for the outstanding wildlife, the only place I've stayed in Sabi Sands. As is typical, I saw the Big 5 within 24 hours of arriving.

Good luck!

Great stuff thanks!

Actually Mwanza is not critical. It is just that I had thought we would fly from Zan to Mwanza and then take the ferry route up to Uganda.

While in Mwanza I thought we could visit West Serengeti.However, we could just as easily go from Zan to South Serengeti, if you feel that the South would be better than the North.

Regarding Sabi Sands, I was thinking we would head west from Vic Falls and perhaps see Hwange, Chobe and or Etosha, but I don't think either one is particularly good at this time of year.

Let me look again at South Serengeti. Any recommendations for the great places to stay for a couple of night?

Many thanks for all your suggestions,

nigel

As space in the Southern Serengeti is limited (if any) during Jan & Feb, many camps having been booked as much as a year in advance. Even campsites are full. You'll probably have better options if arriving in March.

If arriving in the Serengeti via Mwanza, you can arrange for the lodge or camp to handle your transfers - airstrip/lodge - and have game drives done from the particular property at which you'll be staying... shared with other guests. You can also arrange with an in-country outfitter to have a private guide/vehicle meet you in the Serengeti; having activities on a private basis.

From Vic Falls, Hwange is to the East, Chobe to the West. Sabi Sabi is in South Africa so Southeast, while Etosha is in Namibia and so Southwest.

Hi learnix,

Sandi is right,book fast,as southern serengeti can be very full,and the space on flights can also be limited

Asilia lodges camps(sayari etc),CCafrica's TUC,nomad tanzania and kiliwarrior grandeur of the migration camp would be the best/highly rated mobile camps in southern serengeti

What I would recommend is go to southern serengeti from zanzibar if they have camp/flight space and then fly from the serengeti to mawanza to begin your uganda trip

Sonali

Excellent ideas and sincere thanks for your great suggestions.

I am looking at a couple of lodges right now. Kasini and Olakira look good but as you say they may be booked up already as may be the planes.

Thanks again

nigel

Lynn,

Your rhino reference ... i remember when we stayed at Governor's camp area, we did an extended game drive to the Serena side and did find a black rhino. This is ofcourse, a long time ago. Don't know how the rhino numbers are at the moment.

Hari

Hari,

That is exactly where I had my last Mara rhino sighting, back in 2000. None in the Mara for me since then. A friend of mine returned in Sept and saw a black rhino in the Mara and I think she said there were under 10 left.


Learnix,
Ndutu is a lodge in the Southern Serengeti.

I think you are right that the Botswana and Zimbabwe parks you mentioned would not be at their best.

I agree with the others mentioning the need to act quickly for this Jan-March.

Hari,

That is exactly where I had my last Mara rhino sighting, back in 2000. None in the Mara for me since then. A friend of mine returned in Sept and saw a black rhino in the Mara and I think she said there were under 10 left.


Learnix,
Ndutu is a lodge in the Southern Serengeti.

I think you are right that the Botswana and Zimbabwe parks you mentioned would not be at their best.

Check these for what parks have the best wildlife in which months.

http://www.africa-adventure.com/dsp_besttime.html

http://www.bornfreesafaris.com/best_travel.htm



I agree with the others mentioning the need to act quickly for this Jan-March.

OK, you have all done a wonderful and very helpful job of convincing me that we should see South Serengeti between Zanzibar and Mwanza.

I am looking at Kusini Camp, Olakira Camp and Seronera Wildlife Lodge, although the latter seems to be pretty run-down but well located.

Olakira says that I should book with a travel agent in Tanzania. Will they all quote the same prices or are some offering the same package but at better rates?

Many thanks,

nigel

I would suggest you have an in-country outfitter book as much as possible for you. They can coordinate your flights, transfers, camps/lodges, daily park fees, private vehicle/guide, etc. They know what is available where. They have contract prices with the various camps/lodges, usually better than the client would get going direct (which is often the Rack - highest - rate). Prices should pretty much be similar from one operator to the next. This way, you have a single set of documents, vouchers and someone to run interferrence and be a contact if needed while in-country.

Thanks Sandi.

Can you recommend anyone?

Nigel

You can contact Roy Safaris located in Arusha: www.roysafaris.com

You can find others by doing a search on this board.

Thanks again.

I have emailed Sunny and Roy's.

Thank you all for your great help.

Nigel