Roccco

I've worked out a new itinerary that I think may work. I figure that with 13 nights, coupled with my pre-Africa Italy itinerary, that I will arrive home on a Sunday. I would rather be bleary eyed at work for an entire week, jet-lagged, rather than losing a single potential night in Africa.

I am a little confused on whether the animals are really skittish in Selous or not. There are mixed opinions about that one, but I will trade tranquility and incredible landscapes for animals that sit there and pose.

I do NOT want a Sabi Sand/Kruger type of calm in the animals, where I feel like I can get out of the vehicle and play with the lions and leopards as if they are my dogs. While this type of calm in the animals does make for some great photos, it doesn't cause a great stir of excitement on the game drives, at least not after the initial spotting.

I did find this on one website, and it has me leaning towards only three nights in Serengeti and 3 nights in Tarangire:

"In contrast to Serengeti, Tarangire comes into it's own during the dry season. Between June and November, it attractes the animals because of the Tarangire river. During thes month it is likely to prove more rewarding than the Serengeti."

If I could get a morning flight into Kiliminjaro, I think the following itinerary may be possible:

Day 1 - Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
Day 2 - Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
Day 3 - Serengeti. Klein's or similar.
Day 4 - Serengeti.
Day 5 - Serengeti.
Day 6 - Tarangire. Best possible lodge.
Day 7 - Tarangire.
Day 8 - Tarangire.
Day 9 - Dar Es Salaam. Royal Palm Hotel.
Day 10 - Selous. River Sands Lodge.
Day 11 - Selous.
Day 12 - Selous.
Day 13 - Selous.
Day 14 - Transfer back to Kiliminjaro for flight home.

That is longer than I had originally anticipated, but I would hate to miss any of these places, since I will probably not return to East Africa at least until after I have had a chance to my initial visit to Botswana, assuming I am not hit by a bus before then.

I must say that I am proud that I am confident enough to spend two weeks in Africa without even stepping foot in Cape Town or any other part of South Africa. While I love South Africa like no other place, I am very eager to see other places in Africa and visiting Cape Town just wouldn't make sense on this trip.

Lastly, does anybody happen to have an online photo album that includes pictures from Selous or Tarangire???

Thanks!

Roccco

Just thought that this great Tanzania travelogue that I came across was worth sharing:

http://mooncross.bravepages.com/safari2002/serengeti/

SusanLynne

I see you have both Tarangire and Selous planned, so nix my last remark under your other Selous question. As you are well aware, the migration depends on the rains. It is to my understanding, migration concentrations in the Serengeti are usually something like this: December-April, the southern portion (closer to the Crater Conservation area); June through early July, the western corridor (in the area of Kirawira and Grumeti camps); and late July through August the nothern portion (in the general area of Migration and Kleins camps). After that, the herds upon herds are in the Mara through October or so. Have you checked out the following website: www.intotanzania.com It has a lot of information that may be helpful to you.

thit_cho

Its a good trip, but you can minimize your overland travel by flying into the Serengeti as your first destination, and then coming back overland to the Crater and Tarangire. I would also be surprised if your Day 14 will work, that is can you get from Selout to Dar to Kili in time for your flight, unless its the late night redeye.

Now if I can add my two cents. I'd cut out one day in Tarangire and the Selous and spend a couple of mid-safari days in Zanibar. I haven't been, but I do like to break up so many consecutive safari days, if only to get some days to sleep in and do something different than game drives. So I'd suggest

Day 1 - mid-day arrival in Serengeti (Klein's or similar)
Day 2 - Serengeti (Klein's or similar)
Day 3 - Serengeti (Klein's or similar)
Day 4 - morning game drive in Serengeti and overland to Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
Day 5 - Ngorongoro Crater Lodge (one full day in Crater is enough, in my opinion)
Day 6 - Tarangire. Best possible lodge.
Day 7 - Tarangire.
Day 8 - Fly to Dar and then to Zanzibar (Serena or similar)
Day 9 - Zanzibar
Day 10 - Zanzibar
Day 11 - Selous (Sand River Lodge)
Day 12 - Selous.
Day 13 - Selous.
Day 14 - Transfer back to Kiliminjaro for flight home.

SusanLynne

Why transfer back to Arusha for flight back? Why not fly directly out of Dar to the U.S.? After concluding our safari in Selous last year, we flew back to the states out of Dar. It only cost a few bucks more to fly out of Dar, and was certainly a lot easier. We flew direct from Dar to Amsterdam (KLM), and homeward bound.