mctran

Jambo!

Thank you so much for all of your help in the last few months. I have learned a lot from the postings and will hopefully produce an interesting trip report in return. I am beyond excited for our upcoming trip. We leave Seattle on January 28th and will be back on February 20th. Our private tour includes stays in tents, lodges, camps and hotels. We are covering Arusha National Park (canoe and hiking safari), Tarangire, Manyara, Serengeti, Ndutu, Ngorongoro and Zanzibar (diving).

I have a few questions before our trip...
1. We have two free days in Arusha with absolutely no plans...Any recommendations?
2. After reading many posts about tipping, I'm still uncertain (sorry)...The guidelines provided by our safari company says $15-20/day from group...we are a group of four and were thinking of tipping $8-10/day depending on our experience. Also, tips are to be given at the end of every day right? I just want to do what's "right".
3. I am bringing some medication, lotions, soaps, antibacterial gel bottles, etc to donate. Does anyone know of a rural medical clinic that we can stop by? I was hoping to do some volunteer work but that didn't work out
4. How cold does it get at night and in the morning? We're camping in real tents for the first 2 days and planning to buy cheap sleeping bags that we can donate afterwards.
5. I just bought a new 5D MII and lens, and want to keep it as pristine as possible...Is it super dusty and if so, how have you dealt with switching lenses back and forth w/o dust and sand getting in? I was thinking of sewing a light blankie to hide under while I change lenses. Am I getting too carried away?!?

I think that's it for now! Any additional tips/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
THANK YOU

sandi

1) Visit Arusha National Park; or a local village as Il N'gresi or Terengu (sp)... your tour operator can assist.

2) Tipping; at the end of the safari, not daily, for the guide/driver and cook you have while camping; also the lodge/camp staff. The latter woulld be at the end of stay at each lodge or camp, i.e., after one day or after two or three days.

3) Your tour operator can advise on a clinic.

4) Even though it's "summer" in February, where daytime can be warm to hot, mornings/nights can be nippy; no need to buy sleeping bags, just rent from your tour operator (less than $10/person for the few days)... advise them in advance that you need. But suggest you purchase a sleeve/lines to keep close to your body even though these are cleaned after previously used.

5) Can't advise about cameras, as mine never seem to get dirty; it's always under my cloths when not in use, or in it's case. Still have cloths and brushes if needed.

Enjoy and safari njema.

Nikao

Considering your camera; it is definately dusty! Allthough not as bad as in october, you will want to be really careful changing lenses. In fact, I decided to gét an extra body to bring with me on my next safari just to avoid the lens changing. If you do change do it quick, hold yiur camera body facing the ground and preferably in some sort of dust-free-bag or other form of cover..

It gets quite chilly but nothing to worry about during the night. Any sleeping bag will do if you are not someone that get unusualy cold. Getting up and sitting in a windy car on the morning gamedrive can get chilly though, so make sure to also bring some warm clothes.

As for arusha; we did hike and some canoeing there, but you might be not interested in that since you are already doing that in arusha np. Walking around town can be quite entertaining for one day i would say, other than that there are a few nice lodges in the area where you can just chillnaround the pool

Have lots of fun and a safe journey!

mctran

Clarification - we were thinking of tipping $8-10 per person per day and not per group. I guess we'll just stick to that and pay at the end of the trip as advised. Thanks!

Are there a few good diving companies that we should be aware of? Any recommendations for restaurants in Zanzibar?

inquest

One Ocean are good to dive with.
http://www.zanzibaroneocean.com/
Some great restaurants in Stone town.Beyt al Chai Restaurant,House of Spices,Africa House.And of course the Forodhani Gardens,some have not had a good experience with food there,so even if you don't eat,its worth a visit in the evening.

cary999

I'm going to be right behind you, leaving for Ndutu, Serengeti, et al on Feb 13th.

About dust in camera, I've had it recommended that you take a little pillow case (is there a water proof one sold by Walmart, I heard?) and do your lens changing inside it. Pillow case is big enough, you of course must be able to change lenses without seeing them. And I always have a sensor cleaning kit with me and do sensor test every so often. But I also have two bodies so don't change lens that often.

I'll holler if I see you there - Tom

Nikao

instead of a pillow case choose to bring a weather resistant 'bag' with you where you can also store your electronic equipment when not in use. Besides water resistant it holds out the dust quite well as well, and its not expensive.

atravelynn

I second the dry bag recommendation.

TigerPhotog

If you have an army surplus store around you, get one of their large laundry bag (camo/no camo), it's large, made of polyster, keeps the dust out and does not create noise unlike plastic would when you work with it...

mctran

I guess it's better to be sick before the big trip...I've been out for a week. Thank you for all the suggestions. We already have dry bags so I'll try that. Can't wait! 5 more days

Marija

Stay well, mctran and enjoy your trip.

sandi

I'm sure you'll be fine by the time of departure.
Safari njema!