Starting planning a trip to East Africa - likely Kenya and Tansania. Any recommended publications, tour groups to check out, sights not to miss? Travelling alone for 2-3 weeks at the end of July.

Maybe an option. We went to Kruger Park for 5 days and had a great time. We stayed at bush camps (huts that are like a regular motel room) that had all facilities (grocery, gas, etc.). What is different about Kruger is you can drive yourself, there are tours but we opted to drive. We did take a couple of nighttime game drive tours because visitors are not allowed out of the camps at night except on a tour - no kidding, they close the gates. The good and the bad. When you are on a tour the guide probably has a good idea to where to spot animals - on our own it was truly hit or miss. The accomodation costs, including the park 'tax', was around $70/night for two people. We rented the car in J'burg and returned it there.

Tanzania has the highest density of wildlife in the world.The serengeti,Nogorogoro Crater are fabulous.We went for 3 weeks over Christmas
I recommend Tropical Trailsthey were out tour company.
RR

Tanzania has the highest density of wildlife as well as having 25% of their land set aside for national parks and reserves (this is second only to Costa Rica). The country is very safe. I traveled there as a single woman and felt fine. The culture is very respectful of women. I would recommend www.thomsonsafaris.com

I am a little biased since I worked for them back in 1996-1998 but I honestly believe they are a great company. They offer a wide range of safaris from camping in A-frame tents to luxury hotels. There are only 2 companies based in the U.S. that have operations in Tanzania, Thomson Safaris and Abercrombie and Kent. (Other companies that you see in the US offering safaris to Tanzania are resellers) A&K, in my opinion, is way overpriced. Thomson is reasonably priced and they have native Tanzanians as their guides. The guides are awesome. The owners of Thomson Safaris bring staff from Tanzania to the US for a vacation during the rainy season. I swear that the staff that comes to the US has seen more of the US than I have since past travelers fly them around the country for visits.

Hope this helps. I'd be happy to answer any questions for you (although it has been a few years since I was involved with Tanzania)

-Mary

I can not agree more with Mary. Thomson Safari is an incredible organization of the highest integrity and quality. If only the entire travel industry operated the way they do. They treat employees incredibly well--with great dignity and respect. They give back to the country of Tanzania in many ways. We went on safari with them and know of what we speak. If you are interested in our experience, the wonders of Tanzania and some good photography of people, wildlife, savannahs, topography, etc. you might enjoy my travelogue and photos TANZANIA Hope you enjoy it and hope it helps. You are in for the most incredible trip of your life.

I can't imagine driving around Kenya on my own. Over the course of two weeks we were stopped several times (in a van with a local driver) on remote roads by guys with big automatic weapons to check our papers. I wouldn't be keen on doing that by myself.

We went with a locally owned tour company arranged through a US based reseller. There was an A&K tour staying at the same camps for the same amount of time we were. The only difference was that they flew on a small plane from one camp to the next while we drove on dirt roads. (Okay, there were a few other differences - they all had matching hats, jackets, etc. and a guide who carried a case of champagne to the top of a big hill/small mountain for them while the rest of us carried our own stuff.) We almost fell down when they told us what they had paid - almost twice what we had.

Besides, Ellen, wouldn't you have preferred to drive on the dirt roads than fly? I know that would be our choice as there is much to see of the people, culture,landscape, etc by driving. We would have missed so much that was enriching if we had flown. I would never choose to fly on safari unless going somewhere when that is the only alternative.

We have worked in Uganda repeatedly over the last 14 years and en route have been on safaris throughout East Africa as well as having read a great amount of material. I would use a local Kenyan or Tansanian company who contracts with a Western travel agent so that they have a long record of integrity--don't use a fly by night bunch for many reasons. We have found Discover Kenya Safaris owned by Fatma Chandani as more than fair and totally honest and knowledgeable. We can particularly recommend Abdul Hamid as a driver/guide but their other drivers are all good. In e-mailing or faxing or even phoning Mrs. Chandani, you can plan any type of trip you wish from simple to very up-scale--she can adapt.

If you can go a little earlier in July the chances of being there during the migration improve as the migration is related to the rain and varies some from year to year. The end of the first week of July gives you the best chance of being there as the zebras and wildebeasts move from the Serengeti to the Masai Mara.

South Africa and Southern Africa have different and good parks but East Africa is generally better as a first time visitor to the parks of Africa.

Even if you currently have no interest in birds, they are a special extra for those going to see the animals.

You should have a great time.