Hi everyone. I am new so be gentle. I am trying to plan a trip to Africa for my entire family(mom&dad60, wife&I40,kids17&14). My basic plan is 10 days. we would start with 2 days at the crater. From there we would split with my dad, son and I hunting for Buff and Plains game. My wife, Mom and daughter would go to spend 2-3 days at 2 spots in/around Serengeti, then rejoining us maybe for the last day. I want to go 1st class at least for the ladies --they are spoiled, but reasonable. I am looking for reccomendations as I am looking to book soon-probably for August, but again looking for advice.

Search for Mark Young or Adam Clement here on the Forum. Hunting camp just a couple of hours from the Crater.

L

Thank you. I have spoken with Adam. My only worry is their ability to take care of the girls in the fashion to which they have been accustomed.

They also own a company that organize photo safaris around Lake Manyara and the Crater..I'm sure they will be able to organize a 5 star trip for them in the area.
Good luck
L

If you want to do your trip first class, then I would do it with Legendary Adventures. They have their safari company, which is called Tanzania Gametracker Safaris, and their photographic tour division, which is called Ker & Downey, a name you will recognize from the most classic days of the safari industry. With one company you could put together everything you are looking for with the highest standards in the business.

Dear Dog,

I was in Tanz last year for a month. The first week was spent with Serena Hotels who arranged my tour for me. You need to contact Vincent Kapeen, vkapeen@Serena.co.ke, who is the VP in charge of foreign sales in Kenya.

Serena has an excellent hotel at the Crater and at Serengeti as well as several other areas in the Arusha area. You can see their accommodations and check out their locations on line, Google Serena Hotels. They are a first class operation, and think the girls will be satisfied. They use the primary touring operation in the area for the guided tours, and we were very satisfied.

Also check with Premier Safaris, 407 889 9778, who arranged my safari. Charlie Goldenberg advertises in SCI news and magazine, and they offer excellent hunting and touring also.

If you can arrange it, please go for 14 days instead of 10, and go with the girls on the tour. It was as good as my safari which was truly successful beyond our wildest expectations. Kudude

quote:

Originally posted by kudude:
Dear Dog,

I was in Tanz last year for a month. The first week was spent with Serena Hotels who arranged my tour for me. You need to contact Vincent Kapeen, vkapeen@Serena.co.ke, who is the VP in charge of foreign sales in Kenya.

Serena has an excellent hotel at the Crater and at Serengeti as well as several other areas in the Arusha area. You can see their accommodations and check out their locations on line, Google Serena Hotels. They are a first class operation, and think the girls will be satisfied. They use the primary touring operation in the area for the guided tours, and we were very satisfied.

Also check with Premier Safaris, 407 889 9778, who arranged my safari. Charlie Goldenberg advertises in SCI news and magazine, and they offer excellent hunting and touring also.

If you can arrange it, please go for 14 days instead of 10, and go with the girls on the tour. It was as good as my safari which was truly successful beyond our wildest expectations. Kudude

I have a new rule: Never book with a booking agent who, upon seeing your posts on AR, calls you to complain about another agent's website typos (okay, lies) when he doesn't even have a website himself.

quote:

Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:

quote:

Originally posted by kudude:
Dear Dog,

I was in Tanz last year for a month. The first week was spent with Serena Hotels who arranged my tour for me. You need to contact Vincent Kapeen, vkapeen@Serena.co.ke, who is the VP in charge of foreign sales in Kenya.

Serena has an excellent hotel at the Crater and at Serengeti as well as several other areas in the Arusha area. You can see their accommodations and check out their locations on line, Google Serena Hotels. They are a first class operation, and think the girls will be satisfied. They use the primary touring operation in the area for the guided tours, and we were very satisfied.

Also check with Premier Safaris, 407 889 9778, who arranged my safari. Charlie Goldenberg advertises in SCI news and magazine, and they offer excellent hunting and touring also.

If you can arrange it, please go for 14 days instead of 10, and go with the girls on the tour. It was as good as my safari which was truly successful beyond our wildest expectations. Kudude

I have a new rule: Never book with a booking agent who, upon seeing your posts on AR, calls you to complain about another agent's website typos (okay, lies) when he doesn't even have a website himself.

Where did that come from?

Connect the dots. Or PM me. Or figure out which booking agents don't have a website (or work through others like Mark Young does).

Frankly, I don't have time to listen for an hour while Booking Agent A berates Booking Agent B for selling hunts (that I am not even interested in buying) at Price X that is way too low.

If you want true first class, go with Spring's recommendation.

Thanks,
They were on my short list. I appreciate the advice.

I'd have to say you won't get truly first class accommodation at any Serena hotel. If you want the very best accommodation & service on the photo safari circuit irrespective of cost then you need to us the CCA (Conservation Corporation Africa) camps.

The Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is simply exquisite. I'm not sure if it still is, but for many years it was on the list of the top 10 best hotels in the world.

CCA has Lodges all over Tanzania and if you'd like ideas as to which ones to book or are the best of a great selection just send me an e-mail to shakari@mweb.co.za

GDog,
The only problem you'll have with Tanzania Gametracker Safaris is that they are in high demand. You might be too late to get in with them for 2007 on this short notice. I know they were expecting to be booked through 2008 after the conventions this year.
If you watch any of the safari shows, such as Dangerous Game, Jack Brittingham's World of Hunting Adventure, Get Wild with Cindy Garrison, or Under Wild Skies, that's frequently who they are hunting with. In most cases, however, you won't hear them mentioned as the safari company as they don't comp any hunts for those shows for the advertisement, unlike most hunting shows you see. The shows have to pay the regular rate as everyone else, so they don't flash TGT all over the screen. You'll notice Douglas McNeil, for example, almost always has his TGT hat on (you'll see the lion footprint on the front), but little else will indicate TGT, other than the great hunting. What might the fact that these shows are willing to pay to hunt with TGT, vs using free services by other operators, indicate about their opinion of them?

Ngorongoro Crater Lodge owned by CCA:





Not cheap by any means but absolutely fabulous and worth every penny!

Gosh!! I guess I'd be expected to not scrape the dung from my boots on the chair rungs at that setting

It really is the most incredible place and everyone should try to get there even if only for one night sometime in their lives......

This company has some fabulous camps all over Africa and we often book our hunting clients into these camps either before or after their hunts..... Over the years we've managed to visit most all of them and my better half knows them inside out so she can design the perfect itinerary for each client....... If anyone needs info, advice or booking help just send us an e-mail......

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
Ngorongoro Crater Lodge owned by CCA:





Not cheap by any means but absolutely fabulous and worth every penny!

Thanks for the pics. It really helps. I am sure this is what the wife and mom have in mind. I had heard about this place and was told it was quite upscale but "eclectic".

I think African Opulence is Beautiful. Safari camps are great too though. I once stayed at Singita. It is a photo place but still very nice.