| Lodge Safaris in Tanzania - I will try to avoid the | | | | the Serengeti. Your choice of camp will depend on |
| travel clichés of - 'unique' - 'off the beaten | | | | what time of year you visit Tanzania. A good camp |
| track' and 'renown for...' these tired and overused | | | | is Kusini Camp in the Southern Serengeti, small |
| terms are used over and over again for almost | | | | luxurious, and in an ideal spot from the end of |
| every destination in Africa! The lodge safari in | | | | December until March, as the great migration is in this |
| Tanzania is the best way to see this lovely country. | | | | area at this time. However, the rest of the year this |
| Tanzania has so much to offer, so many parks that | | | | camp is a bit isolated and animals may be harder to |
| have few visitors and high concentrations of game | | | | spot. |
| animals. Some National Parks boast just one lodge in | | | | A problem with planning a safari round the migration |
| a million hectares. Your Lodge safari in Tanzania can | | | | is that the migration follows the rains and the rains |
| truly offer a taste of what the early explorers | | | | are notoriously unpredictable. Your camp may end up |
| experienced. | | | | being in the wrong area of the Serengeti. This year |
| When choosing your lodge safari, choose a lodge | | | | the migration was in the Northern Serengeti at a time |
| with care. Many visitors want to see the great | | | | of year when normally the animals have crossed into |
| migration and the Serengeti. Some lodges are in fact | | | | Kenya. Many safari expeditions finding themselves in |
| hotels and although very nice; they do not contribute | | | | the wrong country! |
| to that 'out of Africa' experience. What is called for is | | | | This is a head ache for safari operators as a |
| a camp experience; these private camps are ideal for | | | | disappointed client is not good for business. This can |
| the intimate African experience. So when you look to | | | | be solved with a 'mobile camp' this is by far the best |
| plan your trip do not go for the 'lodge safari' but the | | | | option but also by far the most expensive option. |
| private camp safari. Your choice of lodge or camp is | | | | There are a new breed of camps emerging, the |
| an important part of the whole safari experience. | | | | semi-permanent camp. This is a tented camp that |
| These camps are usually made up of a small number | | | | moves maybe three or four times per year. It will |
| of tents; not your two man tent with no standing | | | | follow the migration ensuring that whilst the migration |
| room, sleeping on the hard and sometimes damp | | | | is in the Serengeti the camp will also be in the mist of |
| ground. Not the cooking over a stove and eating | | | | the animals. One such camp I have heard good |
| grass and sand with your tinned food. No, these | | | | reports about is EMC [Exclusive Mobile Camp - |
| private camps have tents that have large | | | | Serengeti]. They are friendly, knowledgeable, |
| comfortable beds, bathroom en suite and butler | | | | embrace fair trade tourism and best of all the camp |
| service. The food is of the highest quality and you | | | | is very good value for money. They have a web site |
| dine from bone china and drink champagne [or beer] | | | | and have an office in Arusha and will give out details |
| from crystal glasses. | | | | of the migration and the position of their camp. This |
| If you want to listen at night to the song of the | | | | is great for tour operators and also for people |
| African bush with the occasional distant [or | | | | wanting to plan a safari. |
| sometimes close] roar of a lion; if you want to open | | | | This is where the internet can help in a positive way; |
| your tent in a morning to be greeted by Impala and | | | | to help you plan a safari that will truly be a holiday of |
| Zebra grazing so close to your tent you could touch | | | | a life time. There is no need to hope your travel |
| them; then choose one of these camps. If you want | | | | agent will do a good job in planning your vacation. |
| to be in a remote part of the park but close to the | | | | Take some of the responsibility your self and plan |
| animals; if you want to stand in to open plains of the | | | | your safari; check out your destination and |
| Serengeti and not be joined by a caravan of twenty | | | | accommodation. If you travel agent or tour operator |
| other safari vehicles then the private camp is the | | | | is not cooperative or flexible change them to |
| option above the mere mass tourist lodge. | | | | someone who is willing to earn their commission. |
| There are several such camps scattered throughout | | | | |