Clematis1

I don't know how long our vehicle transfer will be but we're being asked if we want to stop at the gorge. I know it's an important archaeological site but on trip reports it's skimmed over in a sentence. Is it worth adding the time to see? What was your experience?

SeeSee

Assuming the stop at Olduvai would be stopover from drive between Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti, it's a nice place for lunch and there is some interesting things to see in the museum there (the gorge itself is just a gorge) that won't take much time out of your trip and allow you to stretch your legs a little.

The drive between the Crater and Serengeti is quite long, hot and dusty, so the gorge is not a bad place for a break from the car.

cynstalker

<b>Clematis1</b>:

Here's a link to 2 of the pictures I took at the gorge - numbers 76 &amp; 77.

We had a worker give us a small talk about the gorge which was ok, although he seemed bored with it. As seesee said, the museum is interesting, but won't take long. I had read the book <u>Lucy</u> a long time ago, which mentioned this site a number of times, so for that reason it interested me. It was worth it to me. You'll be in and out pretty quick.

<font color="green">Cyn</font>

ShayTay

I agree that it's a good place to stop on your way from Ngorongoro to the Serengeti. There's a covered seating area by the museum where you can eat your picnic lunch while overlooking the Gorge. The museum has some interesting fossils in it. There is also a cast of the ancient footprints found by the Leakeys in Tanzania. In the Gorge is a marker where Mary Leakey found the Australopithecus fossil and is accessible by road.

There is also a Maasai village within sight of the Museum that takes visitors, should you wish to visit. It's one of several in the area that will allow visitors.

waynehazle

<font color="GREEN">Yaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwnnnnnnnnnnnnnn !
</font>

Oh did someone mention Olduvai Gorge?

I know it is an important antropological site. But it just didn't do much for me.

But I guess it won't kill you to go to the bathroom, have lunch and listen to a speech for a few minutes.

lifelist

Agreed that there isn't much there, but it's worth breaking up the trip between Serengeti and Ngorongoro. I found it interesting and the little lecture was nice. If nothing else, it gives you a bathroom break during that long drive, which we were in sore need of at the time.

waynehazle

<i>I know it is an important antropological site. But it just didn't do much for me. </i>

<b>Anthropological</b>

sometimes I look back at my old posts and I cringe, but I never take a second to proofread.

jasher

Hello Clem,

I know this may be sacrilege to some purists...but why don't you fly? I'm doing a few flights on my trip for logistical reasons, and they're quite inexpensive. There are airstrips dotted across the Serengeti, so you should be reasonably close to one. If you fly to Manyara airstrip, it's a 1.5 hour drive to the Crater.

Cheers,
Julian

sandi

It's more like 2 to 2.5 hrs. from Manyara airstrip to the Crater, especially that crater rim road.

Clem - I don't have your routing in front of me, from where are you going to/from in the Serengeti/Crater?

The stop is nice to stretch your legs, it's a brief, we found the museum interesting, and it sure doesn't cost much.

Patty

I think it'll either be Grumeti River or Tanzania Under Canvas (in June) to Crater Lodge or vice versa.

Clematis1

Sandi, our itineary was just changed to avoid that $2500 charter flight. So I think we start at Grumeti River Lodge, then Tanzania under canvas, then ncl. We had wanted the reverse because we are trying our best to avoid being cold (esp when sleeping). We hope the TUC won't be uncomfortable around mid June. They think they will be in the Seronera area then.

From NCL I believe they said the latest plan would be we are driving 5 1/2 hrs to Kili. So Julian, I am very interested in these inexpensive flights. We had changed our itinerary to avoid a $2500 private charter. I would rather avoid 5 1/2 dusty hours by car but wasn't clear there were inexpensive flights. [email protected]

sandi

Clem -

Thanks, Patty, for clarifying the routing, even if altered (happens often during planning). Grumeti River to Seronera, without game viewing stops is about 2-hrs. From Seronera to Olduvai is about 2.5 to 3-hrs. From Olduvai to Crater Lodge is about 1-hr.

From Seronera the closest scheduled stop to NCL is Manyara, which is past NCL, necessitating the 2 to 2.5/hr drive back to NCL. Some maps show an airstrip near NCL, but this isn't used except in case of emergency, i.e., Flying Doctor's (or maybe Bill Gates - nice to be king!)

So making the stop at Olduvai before arriving NCL, is perfect on this route; again, the museum is interesting, a place to stretch the legs and take a stroll. The gorge itself is a big hole, but if you're already there, stop.

If on return from NCL you don't want to drive the 6-hrs to Arusha, you can drive the 2.5/hrs to Manyara and fly from here to Arusha... this is a 20-min. flight with inexpensive fare. There is a morning flight departing somewhere between 10:30-11am; an afternoon flight (not sure of time).

As to the temps - these past few years we've traveled late May/into June and found the temps lovely. Mild during the days, the nights are cool, but the tents are warm. I sleep in a man's large t-shirt (always have a pair of leggings, just in case - others choose PJs for sleeping); there are plenty of blankets (some camps offer down filled duvets) and extras if you need. Bathrobes are provided which serve as another layer of warmth during the cooler hours.

And don't be surprised to find hot-water bottles placed under your blankets. Note: a number of camps cover these with fleece covers; other camps use different covers that can feel like a &quot;furry thing&quot; - no, it's not a small animal! Forewarned......

Patty

Clem,
Are you still trying to depart NCL in the morning and make it to JRO for the 11:00am Precision Air flight to DAR?

If so, I don't think you can drive and make it. If the early morning Coastal flight from Manyara to Arusha that Eben mentioned isn't operating, then I believe you'll need to charter. But a Manyara-JRO charter should at least cost less than your original Serengeti-JRO charter.

Or are you overnighting in Arusha on the return now?

For anyone who wants to take a stab at this, Clem's air routing thread goes into great detail http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34838510

Clematis1

Coastal sent a response = they are running in mid June!

Sandi I see some inconsistencies in the new itin - as they have us booked at camps in this order - NCL/TUC/Grumeti (which was the first itinerary and ou preferred one) but the transfer dates have us in another order - so the camp dates may not have been changed in the spreadsheet.
day 1 schedule flight Dar to Kili 390 for 2
day 2 schedule flight kili to Grumeti $440 for 2
on ccafrica

day 4 grumeti to seronera scheduled (194 for 2)
overnight
Day 7 sched flight seronera/manyara and road to ncl (many of these are CCAfrica 440$ for 2

day 9 road ncl/Manyara coaster Manyara/Arusha and road to kili 486 for 2
same day Precision Kili/Dar 410
JNB
and then on to Namibia
Arusha stay on day 1 (with road transfers and meets in Dar 364$
jnb 3 nts.

Earlier they had said the cca transfers were too high - but now they are here - maybe it was because of the fuel situation. Sandi do you think it's ever possible if quotes are hgh due to an unusual fuel situation as Andy Biggs said that they would lower the cost next year if it straightens out (which he thought it would)?

Bill_H

&quot;From NCL I believe they said the latest plan would be we are driving 5 1/2 hrs to Kili. ... I would rather avoid 5 1/2 dusty hours by car&quot;

Just to clarify, after about 1/2 hour on not-so dusty dirt roads from the crater rim to the entrance you reach a nice paved road for the last 5 hours of your drive to Kili airport ... after all the dust and bumps of the Serengeti you may feel the urge to get down on your knees and kiss the pavement but at that point you have left the bad roads behind

Patty

Clem,
At least you've been able to bring the internal Tanzania air cost down by $2K since last week =D&gt;

sandi

I know that Precision increased their fares as July 1 for fuel surcharges, which varied from between $7 to $17 per leg. It's possible some of the other carriers flying these routes have done likewise.

As to whether the fares will go down next year, I can't say, but whenever there is an increase, it's rare that prices come down to earlier ones. Some other cost, for whatever reason will eat up any expected reduction.

But you can save airfares by doing a road transfer from CCAs Grumeti to CCAs Under Canvas in Seronera... it's only 2+hours and game viewing along the way.

And from Seronera Under Canvas the drive to NCL is about 3.5/hrs + stop at Olduvai, rather than fly to Manyara and drive back to NCL for 2.5/hrs.

That's two airfares saved.

kumasawa

I'm surprised the Precision Air flights are so much. Just a couple weeks ago we flew one-way JRO-&gt;ZNZ for $140/person. I would assume substituting Dar for Zanzibar would be less expensive. Are you buying your tickets directly from Precision?

Clematis1

Patty the applause goes to Sandi and Eben and Bill and everyone who has helped with input. Kuma, the fares seem to be higher for 07. I'm not buying it directly but doing this through my agent who typically gives me discounts but who knows on the planes.

Sandi, you are sharp. My agency did also suggest the road transfer on day 7 from Sererona to the Crater but they were waiting for the price and so plugged in the plane for now. But I didn't undersand why until you explained it.

&quot;And from Seronera Under Canvas the drive to NCL is about 3.5/hrs + stop at Olduvai, rather than fly to Manyara and drive back to NCL for 2.5/hrs.&quot; - oh, this is interesting. I will request this - I wonder why they went the flight way? Is there any advantage to it?

Clematis1

Just ignore that last paragraph. I meant to say your other suggestion - &quot;a road transfer from CCAs Grumeti to CCAs Under Canvas in Seronera... it's only 2+hours and game viewing&quot; is one I will ask about.