Ve: Dealing with 4 companies....any input?

Old Jan 17th, 2008, 08:49 PM
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Ve
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Ve: Dealing with 4 companies....any input?

Shay Tay, atravelynn, Patty and Sandi:

Thanks to some good advice/info. you've all given me I'm now dealing with 4 companies, most of them African based like you suggested, especially because I want the itineraries they list tweaked to suit me better and they're willing to work with me. Dealing with Go2Africa, Tanzania Adventure, Predators Safari Club, and Another Land, one that's based in Minnesota I believe. Any pros/cons of these companies will be welcome, just hope I've made good choices.

I'm having a problem re-connecting with Nabeela at Predators and if anyone has her business e-mail address I'd appreciate you sharing it with me. I'm even having a problem connecting with the Predators site, and I'm sure it's something I'm doing wrong since switching computer systems (I'm not really a computer wiz at times). I started with Nabeela in Dec. 07 and would like to give her a chance on putting something together for me.

The other thing I'd like to know is how you all know the distances and/or driving hrs. between these locations. What info./map do you use or is it due to the fact you've all been over there so many times you know it by heart? I'd like to figure out those driving times myself and not all companies list them in their itineraries. If it's within my budget, I'll take your advice and perhaps check into a fly-in if the driving hrs. are too long. Or is just a simple answer like.....ask the person working on your itinerary how far everything is !!! Thanks, Ve















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Old Jan 18th, 2008, 04:54 AM
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We know distances based on past experiences, but they are always estimates... even those from outfitters. Road conditions, weather/rain, traffic (vehicles, cattle, bicycles, etc.), game viewing along the way, can delay drives

If you'd indicate where you are planning to visit, we can provide estimated drive times and suggest where flights might be worthwhile. However, there aren't airstrips at all parks.
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Old Jan 18th, 2008, 08:17 AM
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The northern Tanzania safari circuit is quite easy to do by road. The typical itinerary would take you from Arusha, to Tarangire, then to Lake Manyara, the Ngorongoro Crater and finally the Serengeti. As it's quite far from the Serengeti to Arusha, I'd suggest flying back to Arusha from there. That would save you a day on the road and give you more time for safari.
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Old Jan 18th, 2008, 10:33 AM
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Here are some trip reports where the ground operator used was Predators Safari Club (2 of these trips were booked through 2Afrika in the US and 1 was booked through Go2Africa in South Africa):

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...4&tid=34581453

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...4&tid=34512619

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...4&tid=34873555

More comments about Predators can be found here http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...4&tid=34645330

I couldn't find any trip reports that used Tanzania Adventure on Fodors. Here are some threads that discuss Tanzania Adventure on another forum:

http://tinyurl.com/2pecq4

http://tinyurl.com/3dczx5

http://tinyurl.com/35hjep

Not familiar with Another Land.

Go2Africa gets good reviews here. However, they're based in South Africa and tend to be more expensive compared to booking custom, private safaris with East African operators on East Africa safaris. One thread that discusses this http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...4&tid=34990378

Otherwise, I haven't read anything bad about them. Go2Africa may also offer group departures and if you're considering one of those, the above pricing comments may not necessarily apply. If you decide to go with them, I'd find out which Tanzania ground operator they'll use. I don't know if they're still using Predators.

Good luck!

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Old Jan 18th, 2008, 11:13 AM
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You could also check with Kibo Guides in Arusha, the company I've traveled with 3 times:

[email protected]

Divewop is staying at their mobile tented camp in the Serengeti on her current trip. She was able to get the guide I recommended, Peter Njau.
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Old Jan 18th, 2008, 11:43 AM
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Thanks Sandi and ShayTay. I do have one itinerary I'm working on...

Day 1epart from Arusha to Lake Manyara (app. 3hrs. 30min. drive)spending 1st night at a hotel in L.Manyara that's situated on a rock escarpment overlooking the lake, but no name of hotel is given.

Day 2: Serengeti NP (app.4hr.drive) Morning game drive in L.Manyara NP and after lunch driving to Serengeti NP for the next 2 nights at Serengeti Sopa Lodge.

Day 3: Serengeti NP with morn.& aft. game drives

Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater (approx 4hrs.30min.drive) where after breakfast they head to Olduvai Gorge to view fossils and after a picnic lunch coninue on to the Ngorongoro Crater staying at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge. Since no game drives seem to be included in this day, just hoping for some viewing of wildlife and some good sightseeing along the way. Not really that crazy about viewing old fossils,I have enough to look at around here, but will make the best of it.

Day 5-6: Tarangire NP (4hr.drive)
After breakfast they depart Ngorongoro driving to Mro We Mbu Village for a village excursion and lunch. Following excursion/lunch they continue to Taragire NP with a game drive en route staying for the next 2 nights at Tarangire Sopa Lodge.

Day 7: Stone Town, Zanzibar.. After breakfast at Sopa Lodge driving to Arusha for lunch. After lunch transfer to Kili Int.Airport for Zanz. staying at the Tembo House Hotel.

Day 8: Zanzibar Beach at Mapenzi Beach Club for the next 3 nights.

Day 9-10: Still in Zanzibar and they offer optional morn. or afternoon scuba dives. You have other options also during your 3 day stay which works for me.

Day 11: Day of departure from Zanz. in the morning.

They mention pretty much the same places as ShayTay, just not in the same order, plus they gave me the approx. driving times between each location. If there's somewhere that I can fly-in I'm listening, that's if they can work with me on that and if my budget allows it, otherwise I'll live with the drives and hope I see some wildlife along the way and just enjoy the sightseeing end of it.

I have requested a price quote on an extra 2 days in Tanzania or Zanzibar since I was trying for about a 14 day stay. I was already told that Zanzibar would be the lesser of the two price wise, just waiting for a reply.

I see neither one of you gave me the pros/cons of the tour companies I chose to work with so I take it I've picked some pretty good ones..right? Thanks, Ve







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Old Jan 18th, 2008, 11:50 AM
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Thanks to you all for your input and certainly will take the time to read it all. I'm glad you gave a good review on Go2Africa because I'm sort of leaning towards them. Nicky has been most responsive and helpful so far, but in all fairness I'm still waiting on a couple of more price quotes/itineraries from others. With all of you helping me with this I feel like I'm there already..........Thanks again, Ve
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Old Jan 18th, 2008, 11:59 AM
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While I haven't read negative comments about Go2Africa, it's the ground operator in Tanzania that will ultimately make or break your trip. As I mentioned, find out who they use now. At one point, they did use Predators (see the 3rd link I provided) which has gotten mixed reviews here.
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Old Jan 18th, 2008, 12:10 PM
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You can also look through the East Africa Trip Report Index compiled by Lynda and see which operators others used for their Tanzania trips and what they thought about them http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...4&tid=34860283
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Old Jan 18th, 2008, 12:39 PM
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Ve -

Is this still for a September date? If so, for Serengeti, I'd try for the Serena Lodge or Mbuzi Mawe Camp. The Sopa is a bit of a distance from the central part of the Serengeti. And, while the migrating herds are in the Masai Mara, Kenya, there is resident game and cats (those that haven't headed north for "food." read: wildebeests, zebra and antelope).

Drive times are always estimates, but it shouldn't take 3.5/hrs from Arusha/Manyara, unless they have you stopping at Mto-wa-Mbu village (which appears on Day 5, and will take time out of your drive to Tarangire) before game drives in the park.

The drive to the Serengeti is at minimum 4/hrs, might be more.

On the day (Day 4) you drive back to the crater, I sure hope they have you going down into the crater, as it sure doesn't look like you're doing it the next morning. Departing the Serengeti early, you have the afternoon at Ngorongoro to spend on the crater floor.

There are just so many places to visit on the northern circuit. What's not shown is Lake Eyasi, where you can meet up with the Hadzabe tribes that live the old ways. The camp here Kisima N'geda is lovely. Arusha National Park is also lovely, as you can do game walk and canoe safaris.

Of course, depending on your budget, days on the beach will be less expensive. And, if you have the funds for a flight while on safari, I would route as:

Day 1 - Arusha Natl Park - walking and canoe safaris - o/n Arusha
Day 2 - Drive (2.5/hrs) to Tarangire - o/n
Day 3 - Tarangire - o/n
Day 4 - Drive (2.5-3/hrs) to Lk. Manyara - o/n
Day 5 - Drive (2.5/hrs) to Ngorongoro; afternoon crater visit - o/n
Day 6 - Ngo - option: morning crater tour; w/lunch drive via Oldupai Gorge (w/stop) continue to Serengeti - o/n Serena Ldge or Mbuzi Mawe Camp
Day 7 & 8 - Serengeti - o/n
Day 9 - Fly via Arusha to ZNZ - beach resort
Day 11, 12 - ZNZ - at leisure
Day 13 - Drive to Stone Town, town tour - o/n
Day 14 - ST, leisure, transfer to ZNZ airport for flight to homebound.

That's your 14/days.
- for 1/day less if you consider int'l flights (2/days), on Day 13 you can visit ST, town tour and late afternoon transfer to ZNZ airport for homebound connection.

Hope this helps.

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Old Jan 18th, 2008, 01:21 PM
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I'd agree with Sandi's routing. It's in a "straight line", versus going to the end (the Serengeti), then coming back to the other parks. The Serengeti is usually the highlight of a Tanzania safari and I like having it at the end. Also, you can fly back to Arusha from the Serengeti, which gives you more time on safari.

Regarding Zanzibar: you might consider going directly to the beach resort, then coming back to Stone Town and the Tembo House for your last night. That way, you're much closer to the airport, as you mention a morning departure from Zanzibar. Where are you going from Zanzibar; back to Arusha and Kilimanjaro Airport for a flight back to the US? If so, why not depart from Dar es Salaam, instead of Kilimanjaro? The KLM flight goes from Kili to Dar on the way back to Amsterdam. It's quicker and cheaper to go to Dar from Zanzibar (a quick hop) rather than back to Kili and you can spend more time in Stone Town.
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Old Jan 18th, 2008, 06:43 PM
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Thank you all for the input. I'm still reading a lot on the sites you put up and found Tripadvisor also good to look at (more confused than ever right now) but I especially liked the itinerary you suggested Sandi. Much less driving time between locations. I liked it so much that I contacted one of the tour groups listed on www..tatotz.org and submitted it. I'm curious to see the difference in price quotes doing it that way against just taking a tour listed on the Internet or in brochures I've received. Is it ethical for one tour company to request seeing my other price quotes/itineraries from other companies ? Just wondering. Thanks a bunch, Ve
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Old Feb 9th, 2008, 07:29 PM
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I especially want to thank ShayTay, Patty,Sandi and atravelynn for their help and useful advice and let you know that I've booked through Go2Africa for the Tanzania/Zanzibar trip. Working with Nicky was great, she was a huge help, put up with me because I'm so-so on the computer and we must have e-mailed back and forth a million times, but she was always there for me and I'd recommend her highly anytime. She even got me connected up with a good travel insurance gal and that's taken care of also. Finalized my flight through a local travel agent in my town and he got such a good price that Nicky even e-mailed him with high praises of a job well done and I'll be leaving on Sept. 1st, 08'.

Searched the forum for tips on visas and made copies of the form from my computer and will get it once I'm there. Not comfortable with mailing my passport so this was a better choice for me. I'm going to assume someone will be there 24/7 once I arrive at KMO airport to get my visa squared away.....right ???? Especially due to the fact I'm arriving late at night.

My travel agent said once I check in my baggage at El Paso it will follow me through all the way through to KMO airport and all I'll have to deal with is my carry on. I've read some horror stories of the luggage not arriving, so I plan on putting 2-3 days of wearables, plus other important things, into my carry on just in case.

I know that Sept.1st is months away but I'm guilty of planning ahead and getting all my duckies in a row once things are set in motion. I'm now searching over this forum for packing tips so I'll cover all the bases. Thanks again for all your helpful advice.......Ve
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Old Feb 9th, 2008, 10:52 PM
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Hi Ve,

We might just overlap somewhere in Tanzania! I've moved my safari from Kenya to Tanzania, Sept. 7 -20, with an extension to Zanzibar. Let me know what your itinerary is and let's see if we can wave at each other anywhere along the way.
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Old Feb 10th, 2008, 09:09 AM
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HiShayTay,

My tour's from Sept.3-13 spending Sept. 3-9 in Tanzania. Zanzibar from 9-13. Itinerary is as follows :
Sept.3 Lake Manyara Serena Lodge
Sept.4/5 Serengeti Sopa Lodge
Sept.6 Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
Sept.7/8 Tarangire Sopa Lodge
Sept.9 Zanzibar...Tembo House Hotel
Sept.10-12 Mapenzi Beach Club
Sept. 13...Day of departure..boo hoo

I think staying in Zanzibar will be a relaxing end to this trip. Although lodging/some meals are included I'll have to come up with my own activities if I so choose. I've been on their websites and there's plenty of things to do but so far haven't seen prices for these activities and excursions. I'm assuming paying by credit card will suffice. Not going to pre-book on anything and will check it out once I get there. Also going to assume that Mapenzi has somewhere you can book something too.

Who knows ShayTay, maybe we'll wave to each other somewhere out in the middle of theocean. Why did you change direction and cancel out on Kenya anyway? Seems some of you are still brave enough to go to Kenya, regardless of their troubles. I was originally going there and started planning last year but once I saw what was happening, I changed over to Tanzania/Zanzibar and think I made a good choice and it seems a lot of travelers are doing the same.

HAVE A GOOD DAY......Ve

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