jenbertoni

Ok i posted an itinerary similar to this, but it has been revised and is with Good Earth Tours. Id lvoe to stay longer, but this is the time frame i have. This is gonna cost me about $5,000 total. Please let me know what you think of this. Also, is there any cheaper accommodation in the areas that I could ask for to lower the price a bit?Thank you.

Day 1 (Mid Feb 2008): Leave US for Kenya

Day 2: Arrival in Nairobi, Kenya
Met on arrival in NBO; met and transfer to Fairview Hotel.

Day 3: Nairobi/Samburu,
Drive to Samburu (approx: 6hrs drive), PM game drive, Samburu Serena Lodge, B,L,D.

Day 4: Samburu
AM & PM game drives in Samburu, Samburu Serena Lodge, B,L,D.

Day 5: Samburu/Sweetwater
Drive to Sweetwaters (approx: 3hrs drive), PM game drive including a visit to the Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Sweetwater's Tented Camp, B,L,D.

Day 6: Sweetwater/Lake Nakuru
Drive to Lake Nakuru (approx: 3hrs drive), PM game drive, Sarova Lion Hill Lodge, B,L,D.

Day 7: Lake Nakuru/Maasai Mara
Drive to Masai Mara (approx: 6hrs drive), PM game drive in Mara, Mara Serena Lodge / Sarova Mara Tented Camp (same price), B,L,D.

Day 8: Masai Mara
AM & PM game drives in Mara, Mara Serena Lodge / Sarova Mara Tented Camp (same price), B,L,D.

Day 9: Mara / Nairobi
AM game drive in Masai Mara; then after lunch at Mara Serena, we drive to Nairobi (approx; 6hrs), Fairview Hotel, B,L.

Day 10: Nairobi / Amboseli
After breakfast, we drive to Amboseli (approx: 4hrs drive); PM game drive, Amboseli Serena Lodge, B,L,D.

Day 11: Amboseli
AM & PM game drives in Amboseli, Amboseli Serena Lodge, B,L,D.

Day 12: Amboseli / Arusha / Lake Manyara
After breakfast, we drive with lunch boxes to Arusha via Namanga border; change of vehicle and drvie at border; proceed by road to Lake Manyara (approx: 4hrs drive from Amboseli to Arusha, and 2hrs drive from Arusha to Manyara); PM game drive in Manyara, Lake Manyara Serena Lodge, B,L,D.

Day 13: Lake Manyara / Serengeti
Drive to Serengeti (approx: 4~5hrs drive); PM game drive, Serengeti Sopa Lodge, B,L,D.

Day 14~16: Serengeti
More game drives in the Serengeti; and this time in southern Serengeti which boasts huge number of game in January ~ April time frame, EMC CAMP, B,L,D.

Day 17: Serengeti / Ngorongoro
After breakfast, we drive to Ngorongoro (approx: 3hrs drive); with an optional visit to Olduvai Gorge ($3/person) and optional visit to a Masai Village ($50/group). Arrive in Ngorongoro for afternoon game drive in the crater, Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, B, L, D.

Day 18: Ngorongoro / Arusha / Departure
Descend into Ngorongoro crater for another game drive in the crater exploring the short-grass plains of the crater floor. This extinct volcano embraces 100sq miles alive with lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, buffalo, and many more games, then drive to Arusha, (optional day room is available for $60/room at New Arusha Hotel); proceed to Kilimanjaro airport (45 minutes drive) for your return flight, B,L.

waynehazle

I hope that price includes airfare from the States. I did a very similar trek with Africa Point 2 years for half that price. Most of my hotels were Sopas & Serenas also.

Just know you are doing LOTS of driving!

Patty

For the Kenya portion, you could ask for a comparison quote using Samburu Lodge, Keekorok (Mara) and Ol Tukai (Amboseli). I think those are a little cheaper than the Serenas but not sure by how much. And as you asked in the other thread, you can substitute camping at some of your locations. How many people are traveling on this itinerary?

Patty

To be fair, prices for accomodations, park fees, etc. have increased since 2005 and this is an itinerary for 2008. Plus you have 3 nights at a seasonal camp (EMC) which is more expensive than Serenas/Sopas. The seasonal camp should put you in a good location for the time of year. Ndutu lodge would be a cheaper option in this area but it's probably been fully booked for your dates by now. When exactly do you plan to depart the US? If you could push your stay to early March instead of late February for the Ndutu area, they might have availability. That would save you some money over staying at a seasonal camp. Good luck!

jenbertoni

thanks patty. We cant really push our dates to march, so that Ndutu lodge was taken. Yeah, the EMC camp was pretty expensive. Our operator actually saved us $450 by reducing our stay to 2 days from 3.

sandi

Patty's suggestions re alternative lodging is good. Samburu Game Lodge might save a few $$, as will Keekorok in the Mara. I find that Ol Tukai and Serena at Amboseli are the same price. So no savings here.

In Tanzania, Ndutu Lodge has been full for sometime now... February, especially.

You also have to realize that February is peak season in Tanzania, while in Kenya it's simply high season.

On your last day (18), with a morning Crater tour and if you spend the entire 6/hrs allowed, you have another 6+/hr drive to Arusha/JRO, so might not have time for a day-room, rather right to airport for flight.

If you would want to spend sometime in Arusha, a cultural visit, shopping, etc. inquire about having this morning crater visit as an option (could save $100+/person) and head out early from the crater to spend day w/day-room in Arusha before transfer to JRO for homebound flight.

Wayne - remember your trip was 2/years ago and prices have seen sizeable increases since. While the total $5,000/person seems high, for 18/days this is about $280/day/person... Not bad including 2/days at EMC.

going_2_africa

Very similar itinerary to what I'm doing in January, 08. I'm a solo for the last 7 nights and my price was right around $6000. I do have a couple flights in mine, and mostly tented camps. Seems like that's about in the range I was seeing for 18 days when I was looking and getting my itinerary set.

waynehazle

<i>Wayne - remember your trip was 2/years ago and prices have seen sizeable increases since.
&lt;I/&gt;

This is a real bummer
I knew the gorilla permit prices were going up and I knew the entrance fee to the Crater was also going up, but WOW this is quite a jump.

</i>

sandi

In the past 2/years
- Gorilla permit - up
- Crater fee - up - vehicle/individuals
- Kenya &amp; Tanzania Park Fees - up
- Kenya Park Fees - up, as Jan 2008
- Lodge/Camp rates - up, as 2008
- June in Tanzania - peak season rates as 2008
- Fuel costs - up
- Avfuel - up

- African Safari - Priceless

Patty

Sandi,
Are Kenya park fees going up again in Jan or May 2008 (I'd read a previous post that mentioned May)? Do you know what the new fees are?

QueenofDaNile

Sandi,

Thanks for mentioning the per person/per day cost. We think this gets overlooked when folks are comparing safari prices.

kimburu

Just throwing out some ideas... don't pursue them too far unless they really strike a chord.

Take away day 1, deduct $120 per person for days 2, 9 and 18 (fair or not?)and $280 per person per day it is not - more like $330. However, with EMC in there I would say any per day price is meaningless. It might save a really significant amount by camping in the Serengeti only?

Other ideas to trim cost -

Cut Sweetwaters - it is relatively expensive - maybe stay at cheaper accommodation nearby and do a day trip.

Stay in town in Nakuru - it is 5 minutes from the park entrance and you can have an &quot;evening out&quot; in a Kenyan town. This is my least popular regular suggestion (with me too!!) but as prices go up and up ideas like this may make more and more sense.

No idea how much that would save - but it should be something.

Longer shots:

Cut the Mara if you are with a Tanzanian company - they are perhaps more likely to be able to help you cut your costs if you are on their home turf. Camp in Ndutu for the herds and head up a bit further north in the Serengeti where accommodation is available.

Combine it with Sandi and Patty's ideas and even if you don;t save much, you're certainly going to surprise your Good Earth contact!

Good luck. Hope I can do better price-wise with my own trip, but I'm gritting my teeth for the worst.

sandi

Patty -

Whether Jan or May, just as long is it's not in the middle of a season as they did in 2006, with an increase in July when the season has already begun.

Believe they're considering fees to increase to $60/day.

Think of how long it took for the Tanzanian park fees to take effect? Jan or July, 2006 or 2007? Decisions, decisions, but.... TIA!

jenbertoni

thanks for all the replies and helpful info. I dont know how people used to plan trips without the internet back in the day! Where would i be???