Tanzania 2010 - don't know where to start planning
For her 60th birthday "trip-of-a lifetime", my mother requested a mother/daughter african safari. After a little bit of research I've decided to go with Tanzania during July-August 2010 (avoiding the world cup traffic). My internet research has not been very helpful though and I have no idea where to go from here with planning so I'm turning to this forum for some help. I have questions and qualifications but no one to ask! :
Questions:
Should we stay in one lodge/preserve or hit few different ones to catch all the wildlife?
Should we stay in one place or is it easy enough to catch a regional flight/rent a vehicle and take off on our own (we are very capable travellers)?
All the lodges have meals included, do we have to eat all our meals at the lodges/preserves or is it easy enought to fend for ourselves (we also eat just about anything - including bush rat)?
Qualifications:
We don't need (nor can afford) luxury or even air conditioning, but showers are a must
She wants a "national geographic" like wildlife experience
A mix of vehicle and walking game watches is fine
We both have short attention spans so after the 300th elephant scratching on a tree trunk we've probably had enough
She's also an avid scuba diver so I'd like to surprise her with a short beach soiree at the end of the trip if possible
For her 60th birthday "trip-of-a lifetime", my mother requested a mother/daughter african safari. After a little bit of research I've decided to go with Tanzania during July-August 2010 (avoiding the world cup traffic). My internet research has not been very helpful though and I have no idea where to go from here with planning so I'm turning to this forum for some help. I have questions and qualifications but no one to ask! :
Questions:
Should we stay in one lodge/preserve or hit few different ones to catch all the wildlife?
Should we stay in one place or is it easy enough to catch a regional flight/rent a vehicle and take off on our own (we are very capable travellers)?
All the lodges have meals included, do we have to eat all our meals at the lodges/preserves or is it easy enought to fend for ourselves (we also eat just about anything - including bush rat)?
Qualifications:
We don't need (nor can afford) luxury or even air conditioning, but showers are a must
She wants a "national geographic" like wildlife experience
A mix of vehicle and walking game watches is fine
We both have short attention spans so after the 300th elephant scratching on a tree trunk we've probably had enough
She's also an avid scuba diver so I'd like to surprise her with a short beach soiree at the end of the trip if possible
Help? Anyone?
I've just gotten through planning mine, although I'm going in June (before the WC starts). General consensus from people I talked to and various operators I contacted was that you should move around a bit. Stay a few days in the Serengeti, a couple of days at Ngo Crater, a few days in Arusha and then if you're up for it, a few days in Zanzibar (for the diving) - of course the amount of time you spend in each place would vary depending on how much time you had available to spare. While the distances between places aren't particularly huge, the driving can be long, as the roads are in pretty bad condition. I guess if you can budget for it, fly, if not a good airconditioned 4wd seemed to be the best option (what we chose in the end). Lodges were quoted for us at full board, though you seem to have the option to eat out in some locations (and not at others).
Last year I travelled with Intrepid from Nairobi to Zanzibar (2 weeks) and then onwards.
This trip had a group of 18, and ranged in ages from 22 to 64.
Most of the trip was camping, but you could upgrade for a nominal fee most places.
They do also offer a lodge tour for about $4700 for 14 days here: http://www.intrepidtravel.com/trips/YKL
Programs: Almost anything with six to twelve steps...
Posts: 480
You can get a pretty good overview of the different options in Tanzania from the web site of a UK-based safari company called Expert Africa.
They have excellent descriptions of most of the parks, nice sample itineraries, and a downloadable brochure.
Whether you want to use them to organize things, that is then up to you. They tend to be somewhat upmarket and therefore their trips are pricey (very good, though).
If you are looking at tours that are somewhat lower priced, one option is Gecko's Adventures.
We have never travelled with Gecko's but we've met some of their management while travelling in Africa and they seemed like very genuine and likeable people with a true passion for Africa.
A third option would be to try and find a local operator. They tend to be the least expensive option (and in a sense, the most responsible one, as all the money stays in Tanzania). However, finding the right outfit can be a bit of gamble. Do ask around and try to get some recommendations.
You'll love Tanzania, by the way. It is a magnificent country!
Cheers,
T.
__________________
Did William of Ockham ever nick himself?
I've travelled with both Geckos and Intrepid elsewhere in the world. They're both good companies, and I enjoyed my travels with them, but if the OP's mother is 60, it's probably not entirely appropriate. Most people on those tours are late 20's-early 30's, with the occasional one or two in their 40's. I don't know how comfortable someone in their 60's would be travelling in a much younger group.
I've travelled with both Geckos and Intrepid elsewhere in the world. They're both good companies, and I enjoyed my travels with them, but if the OP's mother is 60, it's probably not entirely appropriate. Most people on those tours are late 20's-early 30's, with the occasional one or two in their 40's. I don't know how comfortable someone in their 60's would be travelling in a much younger group.
We had a 60+ couple, and 2 other 60+ ladies on our tour in Africa.
You can always inquire before signing up on the ages of fellow passengers on the tour, so you do not end up on a trip full of 20yr olds.
The best part of the Intrepid/Dragoman trip in Africa was the cook, who was Kenyan, and every day made us spectacular 3 meals.
My mother (53) joined me on an short Intrepid trip in SEAsia 2 years ago, and she loved it
Wow! Thank you everyone!! I checked out both Intrepid and Gecko. These are exactly the kind of trips I was hoping for - at a very doable price (rankourabu: I was hoping for ~2500pp for 6-13days). Even found a few other adventures worth stuffing the piggy bank for.
And thank you SanDiego1K for the link to your post! It's a great overview and gives me the confidence to strike out on our own a little bit too.
Finally I have a good start...
Thank you, thank you!
Wow! Thank you everyone!! I checked out both Intrepid and Gecko. These are exactly the kind of trips I was hoping for - at a very doable price (rankourabu: I was hoping for ~2500pp for 6-13days). Even found a few other adventures worth stuffing the piggy bank for.
And thank you SanDiego1K for the link to your post! It's a great overview and gives me the confidence to strike out on our own a little bit too.
Finally I have a good start...
Thank you, thank you!
I have some pictures on flickr from the Intrepid/Dragoman trip. We also had a mother/daughter 22yo/55yo on the trip from the UK. In Namibia we had a 50 something couple with their 19yr old daughter
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