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Tanzania Sugested Routes of Travel ....got 4 weeks to play with



 
 
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  #1  
Old January 7th, 2004, 07:20 PM
BAC
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Default Tanzania Sugested Routes of Travel ....got 4 weeks to play with

Tanzania Suggested Routes of Travel. I plain to go to Tanzania for 4 weeks, Feb to March. I'm open to a travel route with an end point in Zanzibar for a week to work on the tan and do some diving. I think I'll have to bag the Killi climb...don't think my knee will make it. I'm open to suggestions. Also....how bad are the little rains in Feb-March, will they pose a travel problem. I will also carry a Digi camera...how tough is it to find an outlet for rechargeable batteries??

TIA,

BAC



  #2  
Old January 7th, 2004, 09:07 PM
Liz
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Default Tanzania Sugested Routes of Travel ....got 4 weeks to play with

In message
"BAC" wrote:

Tanzania Suggested Routes of Travel. I plain to go to Tanzania for 4
weeks, Feb to March. I'm open to a travel route with an end point in
Zanzibar for a week to work on the tan and do some diving. I think I'll
have to bag the Killi climb...don't think my knee will make it. I'm open to
suggestions.


It might help if you'd tell us what you're interested in!
I'd suggest doing the Northern Circuit, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Manyara &
Tarangire, with a look into Olduvai Gorge. Then down to Selous and/or Ruaha.
Then on to Zanzibar. This is prefectly doable in four weeks: we did it in
three weeks in '98. But if you're not inteterested in wildlife...
Info/pix from our trip on my website (in sig): nothing to sell!

Also....how bad are the little rains in Feb-March, will they pose a travel
problem.

Sorry, we were there in July, can't help.
I understand that the rains were very problematic that year, as it was an El
Nino event.

I will also carry a Digi camera...how tough is it to find an outlet
for rechargeable batteries??

If you're staying at the main safari lodges or 'luxury tented camps' it's
unlikely to be a problem. Lots of people were doing it even back then! They
run on generators which are switched off for several hours during the day:
times are normally posted, or you can ask when you check in. At that time,
people seemed often to be charging their batteries in the sockets around the
dining rooms during meal times.

Demand must be higher by now!

Slainte mhath, and safari njema.

Liz

--
Virtual Liz at http://www.v-liz.co.uk
Kenya; Tanzania; India; Seychelles
New Aug '03: Namibia
"I speak of Africa and golden joys"
  #3  
Old January 8th, 2004, 12:18 AM
Dave Patterson
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Posts: n/a
Default Tanzania Sugested Routes of Travel ....got 4 weeks to play with

BAC wrote:

how bad are the little rains in Feb-March, will they pose a travel
problem. I will also carry a Digi camera...how tough is it to find an
outlet for rechargeable batteries??


I would try to finish your time in the game parks in February. 4 weeks
is a long time
to be there, by the way. I'm not prying, but I hope your budget is
strong.

In the lodges, you will find electricity in the room. In tented camps,
you will
be able to charge batteries at the Reception area.

  #4  
Old January 8th, 2004, 09:05 AM
Eric Edwards
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Default Tanzania Sugested Routes of Travel ....got 4 weeks to play with

On Wed, 07 Jan 2004 18:20:19 GMT, BAC wrote:
Tanzania Suggested Routes of Travel. I plain to go to Tanzania for 4 =
weeks, Feb to March. I'm open to a travel route with an end point in =
Zanzibar for a week to work on the tan and do some diving. I think I'll =
have to bag the Killi climb...don't think my knee will make it. I'm open =
to suggestions. Also....how bad are the little rains in Feb-March, will =
they pose a travel problem.


I spent almost 4 weeks in Tanzania starting in late January of 2002.
It rained rather hard one day in Kigoma, Western Tanzania but, other
than that, rain was of little consequence and never presented a travel
problem.

In case you are wondering, the attraction in Kigoma is the chimpanzees
at Gombe Stream. Highly recommended, especially, if you are going to
spend 4 weeks in Tanzania.

If you don't want to go to Zambia, the only really straightforward way
to get to and from Kigoma is via the Central Line, starting from Dar Es
Salaam.

If you take the MV Liemba from Kigoma to Zambia, there is transport to
Kasama. Kasama is on the Tazara rail line which runs to Dar Es Salaaam.

In total you might end up with something line this:

Nairobi - Arusha (I'm guessing. What entry point did you have in mind?)
Arusha - Dar Es Salaam (maybe stopping Moshi)
Dar Es Salaam - Kigoma
Kigoma - Mpulugu, Zambia
Mpulugu - Kasama - Dar Es Salaam (perhaps stopping at Selous between
Mbeya and Dar Es Salaam)

It is probably possible to get from Liemba's last Tanzania stop overland
to Mbeya, picking up Tazara without venturing into Zambia. However, the
roads in the area are rather limited.

I will also carry a Digi camera...how tough =
is it to find an outlet for rechargeable batteries??


A lot depends on your style of travel. On the budget end, you are not
often going to have outlets in the rooms. However, any place with a
bar or cooking facilities should have outlets. In 2002, I went on a low
budget overlander to the see the Gorillas in Rwanda. One traveler in
our group had a video camera. He was able to recharge everywhere we
went, including the tiny border village of Kesoro. (It's the kind of
the place where they run cattle through the main street of town).

--
Photos and travelogues from Africa and Southeast Asia: http://www.exile.org
  #5  
Old January 8th, 2004, 11:21 AM
Paul
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Default Tanzania Sugested Routes of Travel ....got 4 weeks to play with

On Wed, 07 Jan 2004 18:20:19 GMT, "BAC" wrote:

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

------=_NextPart_000_0241_01C3D507.DB45FBF0
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Tanzania Suggested Routes of Travel. I plain to go to Tanzania for 4 =
weeks, Feb to March. I'm open to a travel route with an end point in =
Zanzibar for a week to work on the tan and do some diving. I think I'll =
have to bag the Killi climb...don't think my knee will make it. I'm open =
to suggestions. Also....how bad are the little rains in Feb-March, will =
they pose a travel problem. I will also carry a Digi camera...how tough =
is it to find an outlet for rechargeable batteries??

TIA,

BAC


I did a similar trip on honeymoon last July/August. If you have the
cash, I would thorough recommend who we went with. If you're
interested, there's full details of the trip at
http://www.africahoneymoon.com


  #6  
Old January 9th, 2004, 05:01 PM
BAC
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Tanzania ....got 4 weeks to play with .....Thanks

Thanks for the responses. I've got a lot of research to do...looks like. I can see that this is not going to be a cheap trip and am willing to spend a few bucks but I hesitate to set myself up on an organized tour (which looks like the cheaper way to go). I can see that I will still have to join a safari for parts of the trip. I tend to just show up and try to put together my trip as I go (hit or miss approach...sometimes my timing is not so good). Now I'm toying with a northern route and then a boat trip into Uganda for the gorillas.....I'm looking for a new experience, to see the wild life and local color. I'm willing to spend a few bucks but tend to stay in budget accommodations. I have also learned that it is sometimes more cost effective to throw down the credit card and hop a local flight than to spend 2 days on a bus, train ect. I've eaten enough dust. By the by, how tough is it to use a credit card (I know, they have to charge you a %). I keep reading how US cash rules but having been held up, at gun point, and try to limit the cash I carry. How tough is it to cash TT's?
BAC

"BAC" wrote in message news Tanzania Suggested Routes of Travel. I plain to go to Tanzania for 4 weeks, Feb to March. I'm open to a travel route with an end point in Zanzibar for a week to work on the tan and do some diving. I think I'll have to bag the Killi climb...don't think my knee will make it. I'm open to suggestions. Also....how bad are the little rains in Feb-March, will they pose a travel problem. I will also carry a Digi camera...how tough is it to find an outlet for rechargeable batteries??

TIA,

BAC



  #7  
Old January 10th, 2004, 02:15 AM
Eric Edwards
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Posts: n/a
Default Tanzania ....got 4 weeks to play with .....Thanks

On Fri, 09 Jan 2004 16:01:42 GMT, BAC wrote:
Thanks for the responses. I've got a lot of research to do...looks like. =
I can see that this is not going to be a cheap trip and am willing to =
spend a few bucks but I hesitate to set myself up on an organized tour =
(which looks like the cheaper way to go). I can see that I will still =


You won't save money with organized tour, not even a low budget one.
For the cost of traveling independently and sleeping in hostels and
cheap guest houses, you get an overland tour where you sleep in tents.

Bring your own tent and you can travel independently for less than that.

What a tour buys you is simplicity of planning and a ready supply of
"friends" to share activities. (Sometimes one person isn't enough)

You lose on flexibility and comfort (or it costs more).

You really don't need a tour for the gorillas. All you need is a
willingness to negotiate for local transport on the last leg into
Bwindi.

have to join a safari for parts of the trip. I tend to just show up and =
try to put together my trip as I go (hit or miss approach...sometimes my =
timing is not so good). Now I'm toying with a northern route and then a =
boat trip into Uganda for the gorillas.....I'm looking for a new =
experience, to see the wild life and local color.


By the boat trip, I assume you mean crossing Lake Victoria between
Tanzania and Tanzania. Be aware that the Tanzania side is Mwanza, which
is not the easiest place to get in and out of. There are two ways of
getting from Mwanza to Arusha. The "normal" way is long trip via
Nairobi. As I recall, this also involves changing buses in the middle
of the night in Nairobi.

There is also supposed to be a bus that runs through Serengeti National
Park. It costs more because you have to pay park fees. When I was in
Arusha I ran into a couple who had intended to take that route but for
some reason could not. They ended up going via Nairobi.

It is also possible to travel by rail from Mwanza to Kigoma or Dar Es
Salaam.

I'm willing to spend a =
few bucks but tend to stay in budget accommodations. I have also learned =
that it is sometimes more cost effective to throw down the credit card =
and hop a local flight than to spend 2 days on a bus, train ect. I've =
eaten enough dust. By the by, how tough is it to use a credit card (I =
know, they have to charge you a %). I keep reading how US cash rules but =
having been held up, at gun point, and try to limit the cash I carry. =
How tough is it to cash TT's?


It's not hard to find money changers that will take travelers checks.
You will take a hit on the rate. Rates are better and travelers checks
more easily changeable in major towns.

You will generally not be able to spend travelers checks directly. The
major exception is safari's in Tanzania. The parks take travelers
checks and the safari company that used, Safari Makers, actually
preferred them.

You will find few opportunities to use a credit card. Banks can issue
cash advances but that is the most expensive way to change money.

You will need US$ cash for the gorillas and for transport on the MTV
Limbo.

I used ATM's in Kenya and Tanzania. ATM's are not many in Tanzania but
they do exist in Aisha and Dar Es Salaam. Uganda has ATM's but, at
least in 2002, they only worked for locally issued cards.

If you haven't already, I would strongly recommend getting a guide book
or two. Lonely Planet East Africa is pretty good for travel logistics
though it does have its blind spots.

Lonely Planet Thorn tree is good for filling in the gaps.
http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/

There are more budget travelers there than here.

--
Photos and travelogues from Africa and Southeast Asia: http://www.exile.org
  #8  
Old January 10th, 2004, 04:41 AM
BAC
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Tanzania ....got 4 weeks to play with .....Thanks

Thanks, Just read that there are no ferries anymore 'tween T and U...that
changes some planning. I had a older book that said that there was. Ya, I
use Lonely or Moon when I travel....we all tend to hit the same places. I'm
always look for a new twist. So I need US cash to check out the Gorillas in
Bwindi? I'm not planning on taking a tent I want to travel light and will
look for guest houses and hostels. If I was traveling with someone I would
bring a tent. I am prepared to drop a few bucks on some nice accommodations
from time to time and safari's as needed.....but the bucks just keep adding
up on this trip.

Eric, when were you there?

"Eric Edwards" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 09 Jan 2004 16:01:42 GMT, BAC wrote:
Thanks for the responses. I've got a lot of research to do...looks like.

=
I can see that this is not going to be a cheap trip and am willing to =
spend a few bucks but I hesitate to set myself up on an organized tour =
(which looks like the cheaper way to go). I can see that I will still =


You won't save money with organized tour, not even a low budget one.
For the cost of traveling independently and sleeping in hostels and
cheap guest houses, you get an overland tour where you sleep in tents.

Bring your own tent and you can travel independently for less than that.

What a tour buys you is simplicity of planning and a ready supply of
"friends" to share activities. (Sometimes one person isn't enough)

You lose on flexibility and comfort (or it costs more).

You really don't need a tour for the gorillas. All you need is a
willingness to negotiate for local transport on the last leg into
Bwindi.

have to join a safari for parts of the trip. I tend to just show up and =
try to put together my trip as I go (hit or miss approach...sometimes my

=
timing is not so good). Now I'm toying with a northern route and then a =
boat trip into Uganda for the gorillas.....I'm looking for a new =
experience, to see the wild life and local color.


By the boat trip, I assume you mean crossing Lake Victoria between
Tanzania and Tanzania. Be aware that the Tanzania side is Mwanza, which
is not the easiest place to get in and out of. There are two ways of
getting from Mwanza to Arusha. The "normal" way is long trip via
Nairobi. As I recall, this also involves changing buses in the middle
of the night in Nairobi.

There is also supposed to be a bus that runs through Serengeti National
Park. It costs more because you have to pay park fees. When I was in
Arusha I ran into a couple who had intended to take that route but for
some reason could not. They ended up going via Nairobi.

It is also possible to travel by rail from Mwanza to Kigoma or Dar Es
Salaam.

I'm willing to spend a =
few bucks but tend to stay in budget accommodations. I have also learned

=
that it is sometimes more cost effective to throw down the credit card =
and hop a local flight than to spend 2 days on a bus, train ect. I've =
eaten enough dust. By the by, how tough is it to use a credit card (I =
know, they have to charge you a %). I keep reading how US cash rules but

=
having been held up, at gun point, and try to limit the cash I carry. =
How tough is it to cash TT's?


It's not hard to find money changers that will take travelers checks.
You will take a hit on the rate. Rates are better and travelers checks
more easily changeable in major towns.

You will generally not be able to spend travelers checks directly. The
major exception is safari's in Tanzania. The parks take travelers
checks and the safari company that used, Safari Makers, actually
preferred them.

You will find few opportunities to use a credit card. Banks can issue
cash advances but that is the most expensive way to change money.

You will need US$ cash for the gorillas and for transport on the MTV
Limbo.

I used ATM's in Kenya and Tanzania. ATM's are not many in Tanzania but
they do exist in Aisha and Dar Es Salaam. Uganda has ATM's but, at
least in 2002, they only worked for locally issued cards.

If you haven't already, I would strongly recommend getting a guide book
or two. Lonely Planet East Africa is pretty good for travel logistics
though it does have its blind spots.

Lonely Planet Thorn tree is good for filling in the gaps.
http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/

There are more budget travelers there than here.

--
Photos and travelogues from Africa and Southeast Asia:

http://www.exile.org


  #9  
Old January 10th, 2004, 07:00 AM
Eric Edwards
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Tanzania ....got 4 weeks to play with .....Thanks

On Sat, 10 Jan 2004 03:41:46 GMT, BAC wrote:
Thanks, Just read that there are no ferries anymore 'tween T and U...that
changes some planning. I had a older book that said that there was. Ya, I
use Lonely or Moon when I travel....we all tend to hit the same places. I'm
always look for a new twist. So I need US cash to check out the Gorillas in
Bwindi? I'm not planning on taking a tent I want to travel light and will
look for guest houses and hostels. If I was traveling with someone I would
bring a tent. I am prepared to drop a few bucks on some nice accommodations
from time to time and safari's as needed.....but the bucks just keep adding
up on this trip.


As far as I know, all the gorilla venues are US$ cash only. My trip in
January of 2002 went to Rwanda. I'm not 100% certain on this, but I
think permits may have to be purchased in advance in Kampala. It was
definitely the case for Mgahinga in 2002. That's why we ended up going
to Rwanda.

One thing to consider is visas. If you stay within Kenya, Uganda, and
Tanzania, a single entry visa is good for as many entries and exists as
you want. Not so if you enter Rwanda.

There have been some horrifying accidents on the ferry across Lake
Victoria. It is not too shocking to learn that it has been shut down.
If still want to cross a big lake in Africa, the MV Liemba down
Lake Tanganyika is a good trip. Lake Malawi is another option.

--
Photos and travelogues from Africa and Southeast Asia: http://www.exile.org
 




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