Kenya & Tanzania Classic Safari
Is anyone going on the October 7 Classic Safari? We are booked from Canada, there are 4 of us travelling together, would love to get to know some fellow travellers!
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I've been following the forums (fora?,) and somehow missed your post.
We are on the same tour as you are and there are 4 of us as well.
I'm Bill, my wife is Donna and our two traveling buddies are Mark and Kathy. We all hail from New Jersey although our friends also have a residence in Naples, Florida. We're all in our mid-60's (well, I'm on the high end of "mid"!) and this will be our first time in Africa and our first tour with Tauck.
We're very excited! We all got our vaccinations yesterday and stopped at the Columbia outlet to do some clothes shopping. Visas are being processed by VisaCentral.
We arrive on the 6th (needed that extra day to acclimatize!) and are flying from Newark through Amsterdam.
Donna and I have been retired for 7 years and are working through our travel bucket list. (Mark and Kathy just starting their retirement, but we travel frequently with them. The safari has been on the list from the beginning and we figured we'd better get on it while all our parts still work! (Or at least the ones we'll need for the trip!)
Donna and I spent most of the summer moving into an over 55 community and so we've been a bit busy. Just starting to look a bit closer on the trip's day to day stuff - hence the recheck on the forum.
Looking forward to meeting you in person and perhaps sharing some info beforehand.
Regards,
Bill Robertson
There are a few things that travelers should know in advance and a few areas for suggested improvement of this itinerary:
Due to the grand scale of Africa and the complete lack of infrastructure, nearly all vehicle travel is on very rough dirt roads. For the daily drives, this is to be expected. However, the drive from Arusha to the Ngorogoro Crater and on to the Serengetti is a full 8 hours.
Daily briefings could be improved with what to expect and/or look for on the daily Safari’s (i.e. “this morning we will be in the following habitat which is where we will hope to see Rhino or Leopard, or Cheetah or none of the above …”).
Drivers were excellent but they are contracted by Tauck along with the vehicles (not employees of Tauck). As a result, I found the information about the wildlife and environment from driver to driver to be inconsistent.
We visited a Maasai village which was very informative, but ended in a high-pressure sales pitch by the entire village to buy cheap trinkets as souvenirs most of which were not made by the villagers but purchased and resold as if they were. Tauck could have and should have avoided this process. Just say no thanks, save your money for the cultural center where the items are in fact legitimate. We would have liked to spend more time at the cultural center (the brochure says you will have lunch, but in our case we had only 45 minutes, time for a coffee.
There were no less than 4 additional “diversions” from the Safari format that resulted in fundraising efforts to solicit money from Tauck travelers, each of which seemed to be encouraged/supported by Tauck. [They were the animal orphanage; the Chimpanzee sanctuary, the spinners and weavers, and the “Tauck” sponsored school] We should have been alerted to these efforts (told that we would be asked for contributions) and offered the opportunity to use the time as free time (i.e. to opt in or out). Each are worthy causes; my objection is simply that Tauck does not disclose these efforts in advance and put travelers on notice that they “will be asked for monetary contributions”.
You are not told what animals to expect because it can never be guaranteed and anyway, they like to surprise and delight you on showing you a 'new' animal siting. We have always found all local guides extremely knowledgeable. It is policy now and sometimes the country law that local guides are used to create employment for the people of that country. Also, it's not all about animals, it's about the culture too. In fact, our next Africa experience coming up, it's all about the scenery, then culture, then animals. And some of us do not like to spend endless amounts of time shopping and Tauck makes that clear in their literature, that shopping opportunities are not what they are about. I just thought I would show another point of view from a regular Tauck customer. Also, please do let Tauck know what you think because if the majority of their customers feel like you do, they will change things.
This is not too much different than you will find in other countries- these guys are local, but must go through an extensive training program equivalent to an Associates Degree in a country that has small population with relatively low education level and literacy. In addition to 2 or 3 local languages they must be able to speak English and sometimes other languages spoken by tourists. While there were certainly differences, they were all excellent.
In addition to being a cultural experience, this is an opportunity for the village to earn meager income for doing something more than just allowing you to view their simple way of living. You were under no obligation to buy anything which I am sure your TD explained. If you think it was high-pressure sales, try walking downtown Arusha without a guide to protect you, or walk down the street in Tijuana or most third-world countries, or even some parts of New York City. Again, our TD explained all this. He also told us about the Cultural Center.
Either things have changed or you were under a mistaken impression. I can't imagine that your TD didn't explain this. Our TD and others who have taken this tour said their TD explained as well. If not, then that is an oversight by the TD, and valid issue to raise in your critique. There was absolutely no high pressure pitches made at the spinners and weavers and, in fact, no pitch at all was made, the same for the Jane Goodall Chimp Sanctuary. The visit to the William Holden Conservancy was on our own, so a nominal (but still optional) donation showing appreciation for the facility and the guide is not out of line, but again, not required.
Thank you so much for this detailed reply to my post! I thought I would get an email if someone replied, so I didn't check back unitl now, just 7 days prior to our trip! This trip has also been on our bucket list for years! We are all in our mid 50s, and it is our first time in Africa. John & I did a river cruise with Tauck 2 years ago, we were extremely impressed with the quality and level of service. I think we are all in for a fantastic holiday!
We are all Canadian. John is from Edmonton but found his way to Toronto where we met over 25 years ago (this trip is a 25th wedding anniversary), so we settled here in Toronto. Our friends are both from Toronto as well, their names are Cindy & Dave. We were out for dinner last winter, they asked us where our next trip was, and there was still room on our trip so they decided to join us! I like to joke that was an expensive dinner, lol!!
We are all ready with lots of beige clothing, binoculaurs, etc, and feel ready! We are arriving 2 nights early, hopefully we will find each other! John & I are flying via Istanbul, and Cindy & Dave via Amsterdam. They are staying one night in Amsterdam en route.
I hope your move went well, and you are all ready for this incredible adventure!
I apologize again for the very late reply, and thank you again for taking the time to reply way back in August!
Warm Regards,
Andrea
Looking forward to seeing you at the Duluti - hopefully sometime on Saturday. (We figure we won't get to the lodge until 10 PM or later on Friday evening.)
As I write this we're in Pennsylvania getting a couple of days of "grandkid fix" before we leave! Home tomorrow to put the final touches on packing, but 95% of it's already done. (I hope we all look good in khaki!)
It should be a super trip!
Safe travels!
Bill
Also, as the Malaria meds does not work immediately when it is taken, but takes several days, what happens to the people who were not taking meds but were bitten by a mosquito carrying Malaria? I have spoken to several doctors now who have treated people with Malaria that they contracted in Africa. Is anyone reading this forum that has had Malaria after visiting the various countries that Tauck visits?
Yes, Tauck Tim and Tauck Emily, but rarely. If you want specific info or answers, you are better calling Tauck than ask on this forum.
Tim will be out of the office for a bit- nuptials and honeymoon!
Formal solicitations for money were non-existant. The opportunities were there, such as at the small animal sanctuary just outside the gate to the Mount Kenya Safari Club. It is free to visit, and a guide is provided, so a small donation to keep the place running is not out of line. It is here we were provided the opportunity to pet some of the socialized rescue animals including a Bongo and a Cheetah!
But, you gotta remember, third world street vendors vary by country and can be quite aggressive in some places. You aren't really exposed to those on this trip unless you go to the market near the entrance to the Duluti or into Arusha town. The two exceptions where they could not be avoided because you leave the bus are at the TZ/Kenya border crossing where the Masai (women) vendors will really try hard to make a sale but are not physically aggressive and to a much lesser degree at the Amboseli National park entrance where they were persistent but more in a pleading, passive way. To me it was very interesting to watch from a sociological perspective.
We are going on this trip in August. The itinerary shows an overnight at the crater. Do you mean that it is a full 8 hours drive from Arusha to the crater and another full 8 hours from the crater to the Serengetti? Just curious.
Thanks
Minder's info is incomplete.
First you will have regular bathroom stops (no more than 2 hr. apart?) There is no doubt that you will have a number of early starts and long (8+ hour) days, but, the journeys are broken up, you make stops, and there are things to see along the way. You are not in Kansas any more!
It is a full day from Arusha to Ngorongoro, but first you go to Lake Manyara National Park (*2hr 5min Lake Duluti Serena to Lake Manyara) where you have a bathroom break before a game drive. The road is paved but not in the park. After the game drive which includes an overlook where you can get out of the vehicles, you travel a short distance to the Lake Manyara Serena Lodge for a leisurely lunch and time to look around- you have a mountaintop view of the entire Manyara Conservation area. We stopped for a bathroom break at the entrance to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. We also stopped to observe a herd of Cape Buffalo and then spent about 20 minutes at a crater overlook/photo op before arriving at Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge in late afternoon. After cleaning up and settling in we watched (and photographed) the beautiful sunset from our deck. (*Lake Manyara to Ngorongoro 1hr 33 min.)
After two nights at Ngorongoro, we headed out around 8:00 AM, initially on a paved road, but later mostly unimproved roads. The first stop was at a local school partially supported by Tauck to see the facilities, staff, and some students, before we continued on to the Serengeti. (*Ngorongoro to Oldupai 58 min.) We stopped at Oldupai gorge for about an hour+/- for a briefing about the Leakys, their digs, and research on early man; and to visit to the small museum. Next (*1 hr 4 min. Oldupai to Naabi Hill Gate) was a stop at the Naabi Hill Gate entrance to the Serengeti National Park for a bathroom break, (box) lunch, and time to stretch and walk around a typical kopje. From then on it was all unimproved gravel road. We made a number of brief stops starting a few miles from the Four Seasons for animal viewing- an enroute game drive. We saw bunches of lions and other animals. We arrived at the Four Seasons late afternoon. (*1hr 32min. from Naabi Hill Gate to Four Seasons)
Times below are from the "go sheet" provided by our TD and are approximate. They may not be your exact timing or sequence of events.
Day 2
7:30 Morning meeting
8:30 Depart Arusha
1:00 PM Lunch
5:00 Arrive Ngorongoro Serena
6:45 Welcome reception
7:30 Dinner
Day 4
8:00 Meet in Reception and depart
5:00 Arrive Four Seasons
7:00 Dinner
*You can actually check the driving times on Google/Google maps.
Minder was a first time poster and quite niave, he should have realized about many of the things he mentioned before he took the tour. Glad I didn't have to travel with someone who was ungrateful about a trip of a lifetime when some people would give their eye teeth to afford to do a tour in Africa.
And, a funny story about the roads...on the day we went from Ngorongo to Oldupai to Serengeti, our TD rode in our truck, so we were the last to leave each stop. We were a bit later than the others leaving Oldupai, so our driver took a “ shortcut!” Oh my, if you thought the regular roads were rough and dusty, this one beat them all! But, we laughed, pulled our buffs over our faces as the dust billowed through the truck and figured it was all part of the experience!
We have never just focused on how many animals we can see when we are in Africa, to us it is so much more. I swear that some of our fellow traveling companions never see the people, they are not interested, they cannot relate to them. They just want to see animals, I am not even sure they even look around at the vegetation and scenery and see every darn thing just through the narrow lens of a camera, which replaces the cell phone screen. In less than three weeks we will be going to Namibia on a tour that focuses a lot more on meeting the people. The scenery will be amazing and if we see animals we know there will only be a few. We have researched as much as we can what to expect from this tour so we do hope we are prepared. Maybe we should take our shukas with us, we got ours on the Botswana tour---we were loaned shukas for the desert and we used them and found them effective, others didn't. We bought some to bring home. I did not need one when I was doing yard work this year because it never got too hot this summer. I bought one for my son, he's just the kind of guy who could pull one off.
I wonder who the tour guides were on the trips, we have met quite a few of the regulars now except Seth who seems to have a god like reputation on this forum. Our tour guides have all been passionate about Africa and some live there permanently and one at least is married to a local in Tanzania. I am sure they have the best interests of the local people at heart as well as the paying Tauck clients. I do hope that visits to Maasai villages and achools are not taken off these tours, otherwise the travelers could save their money and just visit a zoo to see the animals, and yes we hear fellow travelers moan after a few days saying things like, oh just more zebras/wilderbeest/substitute, we don't need to see any more of those, we don't need to stop, can we find more lions?
There are two schools that are being "supported" by Tauck. Travelers were encouraged to participate in ceremonies to give students uniforms, et cetera, and the students sing for the group. It was the holiday season and one felt a bit like a humbug if one did not volunteer donations -- especially in the last case where the school was just a clearing in the bushes. (We received an email after the tour advising that construction would begin on a simple school building for the Kenyan students based on "our donations.") There was one jeep of like-minded travelers who decided not to visit the Kenyan school; they felt some pressure about volunteering to support these various charities. The poverty levels you will see are stark, but knowing that beforehand will help you to decide how to handle these gentle suggestions.
thanks
I agree that one of the best parts of our trip to Africa was the people: so friendly, so welcoming and so joyful. I have two pages of the photo book that I created devoted to the thoughtful and smiling faces of the many people that we met. And, our trip to the Maasai village was a highlight for us, as we found their culture so fascinating, and we didn't mind buying some of their wares. I thought the prices we settled on were fair to all. I loved the visit to the school outside the crater, perhaps my connection to education skewed my thinking. The teachers and children were so appreciative of the things we brought, and I had a very emotional hug from the English teacher when my husband mentioned that I, too, was an English teacher. I found the visit to the spinners and weavers very uplifting and bought some weavings there. It reminded me of a project we had seen in Fiji where women were taught to grow orchids and then brought them to the old Raymond Burr (think Perry Mason) house for sorting and then received compensation. What I found very uncomfortable was a visit to an orphanage in Nanyuki, and I am not sure why. There was some pressure, and then probably some self-imposed guilt. However, for some on our trip, that was one of the most important places we visited, and I think that was a good thing. Our TD was very clear about each place we visited, again, managing our expectations. I appreciated the variety of experiences, even if I wasn't crazy about all of them. And, as you pointed out, I appreciated Tauck's sensitivity to the local people. It was nice to hear that the Serena Hotels actually helped support the school we visited, and former Tauck guests were funding a latrine that was being built while we were there.
Now, on to another note...I am very envious of your upcoming trip to Naimbia!
Finally, BTW, I also have two pages of my photo book titled "Back(s) to Africa" as there were far too many times I would raise my camera to take the perfect shot, and the animal would turn around leaving me with a lovely photo of its backside!
Excellent post! Are you an English teacher? : )
I can't and say for sure because I wasn't there, but I think the sentiment I quoted from your post may have been a significant factor in the post about being pressured to donate.
Hah! I are!!! (retired now, though!)
Yeh, I knew that. : ) Hey, did you get my follow-up email about Cesky Krumlov? I've had a few computer issues lately.
We are very much looking forward to our journey to Africa - for all the aspects - scenery, animals and people - ones living there and ones on our tour.
Thanks again.