oopsindia

Aloha. This forum has been very helpful — instructive, inspiring, comforting. Thanks, everyone! We have decided to stay in Tanzania alone, June 5-20, focusing on Serengeti and Ngorongoro, with perhaps a splash of Eyasi. Your decision-making process was so thorough, passionate and well-reasoned, Janischa, that I am very interested in learning of your final choices. Could you possible share them, please? Again, mahalo!

janischa28

hi oopsindia... june is coming near for both of us i hope you are managing to get the bookings where you wanted... now, and really now now now, is the time to push for it, as block bookings are being released according to my tour operator.. for us, all except one night (serengeti sopa) have been confirmed... so here comes my full itinary. I'm putting prices everywhere for those interested...

Arrival June 10th, Nairobi, stay at the New Stanley ( 65 USD per person, including breakfast)

June 11th, take early morning bus to Arusha (25 to 40 USD per person ?), stay at Karama Lodge (from here until June 24th included in my safari package of Tropical Trails- the nights in Arusha are only breakfast, not full board and not including activities, the other days are all inclusive with private vehicle and private driver-- TOTAL PRICE for Arusha and safari 2800 USD)
June 12th, relax in Arusha, go for village or waterfall walk, feed the squirrels (which will be the only animals I will be feeding...), sleep in Karama Lodge
June 13th, early morning drive to Ngorongoro, half day crater visit, stay at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
June 14th, Ngorongoro Crater visit in the morning, afternoon trek in the NCA area, stay at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
June 15th, drive to Serengeti, stay at Serengeti Sopa Lodge (this one still to be confirmed)
June 16th, Serengeti, stay at Serengeti Wildlife lodge (which is rather basic i heard, but has a prime location)
June 17th, Serengeti, stay at Serengeti Wildlife lodge
June 18th, Serengeti, stay at Ikoma Bush Camp(so, depending, we can go to north or west)
June 19th, Serengeti, stay at Ikoma Bush Camp
June 20th, go to lake eyasi, stay at Kisima Ngeda lodge
June 21th, go visit Hadzabe, afternoon drive to Tarangire, Tarangire Safari Lodge (yes, relax at the pool
June 22nd, Tarangire, Tarangire Safari Lodge
June 23rd, return to Arusha, relax at Karama Lodge
June 24th, relax at Arusha, stay at Karama Lodge

June 25th, early morning drive to Nairobi, afternoon visit giraffe centre, stay at Nairobi Serena hotel (130 USD per person, including breakfast)
June 26th, drive to Shompole (our dream lodge.. just check it out yourself , stay awake the whole night just to enjoy (from here untill the lunch in Carnivore restaurant, we paid 1400 USD per person all inclusive, also activities-- we booked with southern cross safaris)
June 27th, stay at shompole lodge
June 28th, drive back to Nairobi, short flight to the Mara, stay at Olonana Camp
June 29th, Masai Mara, stay at Olonana Camp
June 30th, fly back to Nairobi, lunch at Carnivore, fly back to Brussels

There are some impracticalities in our itinary, I know, like the drive from Serengeti to Lake Eyasi, and the drive & flight on one day to masai mara, but as far as I managed, this was really
the best we could do, and hey, I'm really proud of the trip we managed to set together within our budget... In total, we're spending almost 4500 USD per person for 20 days, bringing the average around 225 USD per person per day for a private trip, staying in nice lodges in Tanzania up to really fancy ones in Kenya.
hope this answers you question .. sorry, just so looking forward to our trip, i tend to post more info then asked

dlo

Hi Janischa
I just travelled with Tropical Trails and they were great.I just wanted to add that at Karama bring earplugs as there are probably a hundred dogs barking all night near the lodge.Also our driver was Wilson and he was an amazing spotter so you might want to ask for him if possible.
Enjoy your trip,i am very jealous.

oopsindia

Aloha Janischa. Asante sana. Your itinerary sounds fabulous, and if the sites themselves equal your enthusiasm, you will have an absolutely wonderful time! Will report back soon on our own decisions and experiences. Again, thanks!

janischa28

dlo, just a question on tropical trails.. did they provide you with sufficient water during the game drives ? also, how did you like karama for the rest ? is it, besides the noice, a nice place to relax ? and is it clean ? thanks...

dlo

We had enough water but we also bought a little extra just in case at Shoprite.We did not run out and i just gave the extra water to our guide.Karama is very peaceful untill nightfall.There were only a handfull of guests there and you can do nothing or organize something from there if you want.Its a bit of a walk into Arusha but its a nice way to kill a day but they also run a shuttle into town if you want.I highly recommend lunch at PizzaArusha.Karama is very rustic and it is clean with very friendly staff.

janischa28

dlo, thanks