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#1
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Serengeti roadmaps and 4x4 rentals?
Hi!
Anyone got good suggestions for DETAILED road maps of the Serengeti, especially I'm interested in the southern plains. Also anybody got any good rental companies for self-drives? Any good/bad experiences? Only interested in rentals out of Arusha, not stopping on the Kenyan side this time. Please post to news group. -Paal |
#2
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There's a list of maps here
http://www.ntz.info/gen/MapbyName.html and http://www.ntz.info/gen/n01203.html Mostly old, and the second link is in date order, so skip to the bottom for the recent maps.. The most comprehensive map of the Serengeti was made in 1971 but is out-of-date and inaccurate for roads. http://www.ntz.info/gen/b00044.html It was done by a Serengeti Researcher, and I am sure that by now there are many private GPS assisted maps of the Serengeti, developed by various research groups and other individuals. For example I know of one showing all the tracks in the Seronera area. Best overview map of the area is the aviation map http://www.ntz.info/gen/b00685.html, but don't trust it for roads, and Lake Ndutu is in the wrong place. Ndutu Lodge have their own accurate map for roads near them http://www.ntz.info/gen/b00411.html More recently someone has been driving round with a GPS and publishing good maps. The most relevant for you is the Ngorongoro map which covers lots of the Southern Plains. http://www.ntz.info/gen/b00489.html. Roads were accurate as at 1998/99, but local tracks in the parks are not always shown, are often rerouted, and sometimes impassable. At least one lodge is marked in the wrong place, but apart from that it's an excellent map. You can get it online at Stanfords http://www.stanfords.co.uk/mapdetail...087&loc_id=572 There is also a Manyara map, and rumours of others, including the Serengeti, but I haven't come across them yet - check with the publishers Harms-Ic-Verlag. Most advice says hire a car with a driver - they will have the local knowledge. (and it may even be cheaper than self-drive). For self-drive I think the only outfit in Arusha is Fortes http://www.fortescarhire.com/index.htm. Locals speak well of them, and they provide backup cars to some operators when they are busy. Make sure you have a means of getting help (working radio, plus someone to call) if you get totally stuck, or breakdown. Self drive in Northern Tanzania is not like driving in South Africa, or even Kenya. Few non-locals do it, but if you are on top of the risks, you will have a great time. David ps if you come across good/better maps, please let me know. "cc" wrote in message ... Hi! Anyone got good suggestions for DETAILED road maps of the Serengeti, especially I'm interested in the southern plains. Also anybody got any good rental companies for self-drives? Any good/bad experiences? Only interested in rentals out of Arusha, not stopping on the Kenyan side this time. Please post to news group. -Paal |
#3
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Greate site David!
I'v got a hold of the Hoopoe map, which seems to be one of the more detailed maps around. I will try to get a hold of the Ndutu maps and Ngorongoro maps. Driving is part of the fun on such a tour ;-) I'v been considereing bringing a driver along if not just for the company and employment opportunity. I do feel a certain responsibility to help generate local opportunities (not just leave all my cash with KLM and expat operated operations). Employ a guy and you are sure someone local is benefitting! Cheers, -Paal "nTZ" wrote in message ... There's a list of maps here http://www.ntz.info/gen/MapbyName.html and http://www.ntz.info/gen/n01203.html Mostly old, and the second link is in date order, so skip to the bottom for the recent maps.. The most comprehensive map of the Serengeti was made in 1971 but is out-of-date and inaccurate for roads. http://www.ntz.info/gen/b00044.html It was done by a Serengeti Researcher, and I am sure that by now there are many private GPS assisted maps of the Serengeti, developed by various research groups and other individuals. For example I know of one showing all the tracks in the Seronera area. Best overview map of the area is the aviation map http://www.ntz.info/gen/b00685.html, but don't trust it for roads, and Lake Ndutu is in the wrong place. Ndutu Lodge have their own accurate map for roads near them http://www.ntz.info/gen/b00411.html More recently someone has been driving round with a GPS and publishing good maps. The most relevant for you is the Ngorongoro map which covers lots of the Southern Plains. http://www.ntz.info/gen/b00489.html. Roads were accurate as at 1998/99, but local tracks in the parks are not always shown, are often rerouted, and sometimes impassable. At least one lodge is marked in the wrong place, but apart from that it's an excellent map. You can get it online at Stanfords http://www.stanfords.co.uk/mapdetail...087&loc_id=572 There is also a Manyara map, and rumours of others, including the Serengeti, but I haven't come across them yet - check with the publishers Harms-Ic-Verlag. Most advice says hire a car with a driver - they will have the local knowledge. (and it may even be cheaper than self-drive). For self-drive I think the only outfit in Arusha is Fortes http://www.fortescarhire.com/index.htm. Locals speak well of them, and they provide backup cars to some operators when they are busy. Make sure you have a means of getting help (working radio, plus someone to call) if you get totally stuck, or breakdown. Self drive in Northern Tanzania is not like driving in South Africa, or even Kenya. Few non-locals do it, but if you are on top of the risks, you will have a great time. David ps if you come across good/better maps, please let me know. "cc" wrote in message ... Hi! Anyone got good suggestions for DETAILED road maps of the Serengeti, especially I'm interested in the southern plains. Also anybody got any good rental companies for self-drives? Any good/bad experiences? Only interested in rentals out of Arusha, not stopping on the Kenyan side this time. Please post to news group. -Paal |
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