climbhighsleeplow

Friends

I posted some pictures of our 5-day trip to the West Kilimanjaro area of Tanzania. You can see Kambi ya Tembo, Ndarakwai and Makoa.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slidesho...adi9j&Ux=1

I am a film-maker (prefer video over still pics) so my pics are always rushed between the filming!

At least you will get an idea of how splendid this area is. West Kilimanjaro is a great alternative to the other areas of Northern Tanzania. No crowds (we saw ZERO other vehicles during our visit)!

Be aware that Kambi ya Tembo has moved! Most travel agents and outfitters don't know this and still talk about elephants moving through camp, etc! This is no longer the case, but it is still a great camp and while it is now further away from the elephants, it has great views, service and more.

Game drives in this area will take you close to the Kenya border with Amboseli. Many of the animals here (especially elephant) migrate between Amboseli and west Kilimanjaro.

Enjoy!
Eben

cooncat

Wonderful photos! Thanks for sharing!

Patty

Thank you for the wonderful photos of Makoa and Ndarakwai! Kambi ya Tembo looks great too. The landscape with Kili in the backdrop looks stunning. Certainly, as you mentioned an uncrowded alternative to Amboseli and other areas.

How far would you say Kambi ya Tembo is from Kili airport, Makoa, and Ndarakwai? I'm trying to get a mental picture of where everything is in relation to each other. Thanks!

Leely

Ditto to what Patty said. Great photos...how long of a drive from JRO and/or Arusha, if you recall?

Would you recommend this area as an r-and-r, not safari-intensive break post-safari?

And again, thanks for all the details regarding your trip. Very interesting.

sandi

Climbhigh....

You beat me to it again! You're shaming me.

Great photos. Thanks.

climbhighsleeplow

From JRO to Ndarakwai - 90 minutes on an OK road
Ndarakwai to Kambi ya Tembo - 80 minutes as the roads are bad.
From JRO to Kambi ya Tembo - 2.5 to 3 hours

It is a great area to unwind yes. Visting with the Maasai here is a more interesting experience as many families are nomadic and their villages will move through the year.

There are very few Tsetses which makes it suitable for horse-riding, mountain-biking, etc. You see animals here that are not seen elsewhere in Tanzania such as generuk. You can easily take a day trip to Arusha NP and you can walk the slopes of Kilimanjaro.

It is very much like having a huge private game park all to yourself as you will probably not see many vehicles during your visit.

Poaching and hunting is under control which means more animals are leaving the dry Amboseli and coming south.

But the animal patterns depend on the rains and I am still trying to figure out how it all works in this area. Sometimes the elephants disappear. Now they are all over!

Kavey

The ones of Kilimanjaro are particularly wonderful plus there's a pic of a herd of eles infront of a beautiful backdrop... lovely!

janischa28

Hi, we'll be coming back from our safari trip through Ngor/Ser/Tar in June, and still are looking what to do with the remaining 5/6 days. The pictures look wonderful !! I'd actually like to go somewhere less touristic, and maybe if opportunity gives, get closer to the people living there. Do you know the rates of these places where you've stayed ? I'll be doing my safari with Sunny safaris, but not sure yet if I could book this nights myself ? I'd love to get some advice.. thanks heaps

climbhighsleeplow

I really like the West Kili area for several reasons - less people, true Maasai interaction, views of Kilimanjaro, no tsetses!, white elephants (not really but from the mud near the forest), and more...

For more pictures and some rates, you can visit
http://www.go-safari.com/Westkiliman...jarolodges.htm

For West Kilimanjaro it is better to go with one of the three lodges/camps that operate there. Sunny guides may not know the area and you really need a Maasai guide. The camps know the areas must better and they have open safari vehicles and so on.

I suggest you contact either Kirurumu (http://www.kirurumu.com/camps%20and%...aro%20camp.htm),

Ndarakwai Ranch (http://www.ndarakwai.com/) or

Kambi ya Tembo (http://www.africawilderness.com/kambi/index_kambi.html)

Peter at Ndarakwai will be my first choice to start planning a safari in the area.

Have a great time!

Eben

janischa28

thanks eben !! i'm going to contact them and hope they'll make me an affordable price

Matt_from_England

Hi Eben, got your email, very little time at present, will speak soon more. Take care,

Matt

cybor

Thanks for posting Eben,
It's so nice to see an off the beaten track local. It appears to be a beautiful place - one worth researching. The views of Kili. are stunning. What's the elevation there - is the terrain flat?

As always, your pics are so well done and informative.
Most appreciative;
Sherry

Patty

Sherry,
If I recall correctly, Makoa and Ndarakwai are located around 3000-4000 ft elevation (I have the exact numbers at home). The area around Ndarakwai is mostly flat but with small hills here and there. If you look at photos 13-40 (all taken on Ndarakwai) in my album, it probably gives you a better idea of the terrain than how I explained it - http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...&y=-dle0fg

I haven't been as far north as Kambi ya Tembo.

rsnyder

Wow! Great shots. Really liked the views of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Thanks for sharing.

cybor

Thanks Patty - good excuse to look back at your awesome trip photos.
Sherry