| Lodge Safaris in Tanzania - I will try to | | | | and in the ideal spot from the end of |
| avoid the travel clichés of 'unique', 'off | | | | December until March, as the great migration |
| the beaten track' and 'renowned for...' These | | | | is in this area at this time. However, the |
| tired expressions are used over and over | | | | rest of the year this camp is a little |
| again for almost every destination in Africa! | | | | isolated and animals may be harder to see. A |
| The lodge safari in Tanzania is by far the | | | | problem with planning a safari round the |
| best way to see this lovely country. Tanzania | | | | migration is that the migration follows the |
| has so much to offer, including many parks | | | | rains and the rains are notoriously |
| that have few visitors and high | | | | unpredictable. Your camp may end up being in |
| concentrations of game animals. Some National | | | | the wrong area of the Serengeti. At times of |
| Parks boast just one lodge in a million | | | | little rain the migration can remain in the |
| hectares. Your Lodge safari in Tanzania can | | | | Northern Serengeti at a time of year when |
| truly offer a taste of what the early | | | | normally the animals have crossed into Kenya. |
| explorers experienced. When choosing your | | | | Many safari expeditions in a season of little |
| lodge safari, do so with care. Many visitors | | | | rain may find themselves in the wrong |
| want to see the great migration and the | | | | country! This is a headache for safari |
| Serengeti. Some lodges are in fact hotels and | | | | operators, as a disappointed client is not |
| although very nice; they do not contribute to | | | | good for business. However, this can be |
| that 'out of Africa' experience. What is | | | | solved with a 'mobile camp' and this is not |
| called for is a camp experience and the | | | | only the best option but also by far, the |
| private camp is ideal for a special | | | | most expensive option. To get around the high |
| experience. When you look to plan your trip | | | | costs of the mobile camp there is a new breed |
| try not to go for the 'lodge safari' but the | | | | of camp emerging, a semi-permanent camp. This |
| private camp safari. Your choice of lodge or | | | | is a tented camp that moves perhaps three or |
| camp is a very important part of the whole | | | | four times per year. It will follow the |
| safari picture. These camps are usually made | | | | migration, ensuring that whilst the migration |
| up of a small number of tents. Not the two | | | | is in the Serengeti, the camp will also be in |
| man tent with no standing room and sleeping | | | | the mist of the animals. One such camp I have |
| on the hard and sometimes damp ground, nor is | | | | heard good reports about is EMC [Exclusive |
| there the cooking over a stove and eating | | | | Mobile Camp - Serengeti]. It is friendly, |
| grass and sand with your tinned food. No, | | | | knowledgeable, embraces fair trade tourism |
| these private camps have tents that have | | | | and best of all, the camp is very good value |
| large comfortable beds, a bathroom en suite | | | | for money. They have a web site and an office |
| and some even boast a butler service. The | | | | in Arusha which will give out details of the |
| cuisine is of the highest quality and you | | | | migration and the position of their camp. |
| dine from bone china and drink champagne [or | | | | This is great, both for tour operators and |
| beer] from crystal glasses. If you want to | | | | for people wanting to plan a safari. This is |
| listen at night to the song of the African | | | | where the internet can help in a positive |
| bush with the occasional distant [or | | | | way, to help you plan a safari that will |
| sometimes close] roar of a lion; if you want | | | | truly be a holiday of a life time. There is |
| to open your tent in a morning to be greeted | | | | no need to hope your travel agent will do a |
| by Impala and Zebra grazing so close to your | | | | good job in planning your vacation. Take some |
| tent that you could almost touch them, then | | | | of the responsibility your self and plan your |
| choose one of the tented camps. If you want | | | | safari; check out your destination and |
| to be in a remote part of the park but close | | | | accommodation. If your travel agent or tour |
| to the animals; if you want to stand in the | | | | operator is not cooperative or flexible, ask |
| open plains of the Serengeti and not be | | | | around and go to someone who is willing to |
| joined by a caravan of twenty other safari | | | | earn their commission. |
| vehicles, then the private camp is your | | | | |
| option above the mere mass-market tourist | | | | Bethel Adventure cares about responsible |
| lodge. There are several such camps scattered | | | | tourism; we use tourism to improve lives. - |
| throughout the Serengeti. Your choice of camp | | | | We believe responsible tourism should give |
| will depend on what time of year you visit | | | | back to the communities that tourism relies |
| Tanzania. A good camp is Kusini Camp in the | | | | upon. |
| Southern Serengeti. It is small, luxurious, | | | | |