Thorn Tree travel forum
Messages: 206,410 - Threads: 40,631
10-Feb-2010 04:08
cheapiano
last reply
10-Feb-2010 04:08
cheapiano
0 replies
26 views
location:
Tanzania
thanks so much for all your help in planning our egypt/tanzania trip. we narrowed our safari operator options to about 5 companies that we felt very comfortable with, and then bargained it out. MELAU TOURS won the game! has anyone ever had any experience with them? they have been in operation 15 years, fully TALA licensed and a TATO member. everything seems to be in order, and heaven knows i've peppered them with enough questions, to which they've very promptly and thoroughly responded.
their website is www.melautours.com
thanks again for all your help, and please do let me know if you've heard of or had any experience with these guys. now just have to settle on an egypt operator, and we're all set!
09-Feb-2010 15:10
Rydryd1
last reply
10-Feb-2010 00:28
Jamani_
3 replies
93 views
location:
Tanzania
I'm contemplating a trip to Tanzania in mid/late January 2011, to include a kilimanjaro climb. I would certainly avoid the coca-cola route - but I've also heard that Machame has gotten very busy. At that time of year, how bad are the crowds on Machame or Lemosho or Shira? Are we talking a couple of other groups, or constant crowds of people around all the time? I've heard rumors of crowds & photo waiting lines at the summit - true? I definitely want to do this, but massive crowds can be a turnoff, hoping to find a time of year when weather is decent and crowds aren't as bad as in the summer. Also, how's the trash factor on those routes?
Thanks for any advice.
09-Feb-2010 01:06
mya1095
last reply
09-Feb-2010 12:38
thetravelingjimz
1 replies
59 views
location:
Tanzania
I am a 27 year old female traveling solo. I am trying to decide between Tanzania's Northern circuit: Ngorongoro Crater & Serengeti (going from Arusha) or Maasai Mara (going from Nairobi). I will be in both Nairobi and Arusha anyway, so the cost of getting to those places isn't an issue, but the cost of the safari is.
I'd like to do a budget safari in late February (timeframe is fixed) for about 3 (or max of 4) days. So 2-3 nights. I'm alone, so i'd prefer to join a group to save costs and also to make it more fun.
07-Feb-2010 21:23
liquidmonkey
last reply
09-Feb-2010 19:10
liquidmonkey
7 replies
183 views
location:
Tanzania
i've seen a lot of people writing that park fees to climb kili are roughly $750 US per person?!??!
is this true????
and before i even start on how i think this is just plain extortion, i want to ask, what is that money used for?
does it keep the mountain clean?
i know the guys who take up the gear get paid $1 US a day and expect $100 US from the person they are helping. why doesn't the park fee pay for the gear guys/gals?
07-Feb-2010 08:49
susanmcd
last reply
08-Feb-2010 01:47
sarah1968
2 replies
70 views
location:
Tanzania
Hey,
Has anyone been to meserani snake park near Arusha? Any idea of how much it is to get in and how much it costs to camp? Ive been on their website but couldnt find any prices. Also does anyone know of local busses or dalla dallas that head out that way? Any info on the place would be great.
Cheers
05-Feb-2010 21:31
aidanpine
last reply
08-Feb-2010 00:36
aidanpine
3 replies
141 views
location:
Tanzania
Hey everybody, I'm in Berlin at the moment and I'm hoping to fly out on the 13th of Feb, with a one way ticket. Does anybody have any experience with this? Do you know if an onward bus ticket will suffice? or one of those shuttle tickets from say Arusha to Nairobi? Or do I need a plane ticket? If I do need a plane ticket, do any of you know what airlines offer 100% refundable tickets? I have the money to shell out for one, but only if I know I'm getting the money back...anyways, thanks a lot for any responses...
05-Feb-2010 11:28
pineda03
last reply
06-Feb-2010 06:53
stefo
6 replies
254 views
location:
Tanzania
Greetings,
my name is Jonathan (29 as of trip) and I plan on climbing Mt Kilimanjaro and then spending time in Zanzibar and relaxing. The details so far of my trip are as follows. I plan on leaving Washington DC-Dulles on May 18 @2200. I arrive in NYC for 13 hour layover and plan on partying the night there and then going back to JFK to fly out to Dar E Salaam via Dubai. From Dar I plan to to travel to Mt. Kilimanjaro and climb up the Coca-Cola route (I would do a harder one, but I would hate to travel around the world and NOT get to the top). While I am up there, I plan on adding a day so I can get aclimatized (spelling?). Following this, I will take some land transportation to Zanzibar, pray the weather is warm. This should be May 28/29. Depending on how long I can be there I plan on spending some time in Zanzibar. Then I plan on flying back Jun 4th from Dar E Salaam.
...
more »
05-Feb-2010 10:52
camilla_pierina
last reply
07-Feb-2010 10:51
camilla_pierina
5 replies
234 views
location:
Tanzania
Hi!
We are a couple (33 yrs from Sweden and Cuba) who will travel to Tanzania 23rd of Feb. After some relaxing at Zanzibar we plan to do a few days of safari in Ngorongoro & Serengeti, and after that trek Kilimanjaro. We are on a budget and figure that it would be cheaper to arrange with a guide if in a group.. so we would like to know if there are any groups or individuals out there that are planning to mount Kili some day in early March?:) Our main interest is to literally reach the top so we are looking for the one route that allows you the best possibilities to acclimatise (could it be Machame or Rongai?), thus minimizing risks of having to turn back due to sickness.. :/
We may also be interested in hooking up with some people for safari the days before; either by renting a car together/camping around or if there are any budget organisers that arranges safaris for groups.
..an...
more »
04-Feb-2010 08:28
petrgu
last reply
09-Feb-2010 20:02
zanzilandholidays
4 replies
207 views
location:
Tanzania
I have booked the BA flight from Tanzania which unfortunately is an early morning one. WOuld anyone advice if there is a chance to get to DAR airport early in the morning to get to the airport (DAR) at abt 7am? Or is it necessary to get one night sleep at DAR? Thks a lot
03-Feb-2010 03:26
youonlyliveonce
last reply
10-Feb-2010 02:26
youonlyliveonce
3 replies
134 views
location:
Tanzania
Just a little warning for peeps that are thinking of booking a safari (serengeti/ngorogoro) from Moshi.
We booked our safari with ksb safari's and had a lot of trouble, the organisation was not good at all, we did manage to see the big 5 thank god! but apart from that it was diabolical!
full report on our blog if your interested
03-Feb-2010 02:09
newjersey2edinb...
last reply
09-Feb-2010 00:20
femaletrekker
3 replies
197 views
location:
Tanzania
Hi All,
I am organizing a trip for 7 people total, including Tanzania northern circuit safari followed Kilimanjaro. I am currently based in Nairobi but most of the group is coming in from UK. We are very close to booking with a Kenyan company who we have met and just about trust.
The company has asked for a 20% deposit to their Kenyan bank account, which seems reasonable as a percentage. The problem comes with the remainder. A fair portion will need to be in US dollars for park fees etc.
We could pay the company the remainder of the safari cost upfront at the beginning of this trip, but we don't want to pay for the Kilimanjaro portion until we have been on safari, by which time we will know for sure whether he will perform as he says he will. However, the Kilimanjaro cost will be circa $1100, which is obviously not an amount we want to carry with us while we are on a b...
more »
03-Feb-2010 01:45
holidayhoneymoon1
last reply
05-Feb-2010 15:07
Hessian
2 replies
236 views
location:
Tanzania
Hi
There's a fair chance I'll be in Kigoma for several days around early March awaiting the boat to Zambia.
Does anyone know of backpackers accomidation there?
Thanks
Jim
Edited by: orry
02-Feb-2010 22:39
Cocodrilo
last reply
10-Feb-2010 10:02
Cocodrilo
14 replies
379 views
location:
Tanzania
Planning on climbing Kili this August, then doing a safari for a few days afterwards, and I have abotu 5-6 more days free so I would like to head to Zanzibar and hang out on Kendwa beach. Does anyone know the frequency of flights (and from where I should take one to get to Zanzibar)- or if possible if you could post links to airlines flyingTanzania-Zanzibar? Also, is my timeframe (5~6 days) reasonable for a short bit of R & R? I have no idea of the logistics, and would appreciate any info/advice you may have. Cheers!
02-Feb-2010 21:15
kernowotter
last reply
02-Feb-2010 21:15
kernowotter
0 replies
55 views
location:
Tanzania
Just back from Dar Es Salaam.
While there we found John, a Private Hire taxi driver in the city.
He speaks good english, has a respectable vehicle, and charges fair rates. He is also prepared to meet busses/ ferries/ aircraft which avoids the hassle associated with Taxi touts.
He is also very knowledgable about his city, and knows a lot of useful people - good for opening 'doors' that might otherwise not open to travellers.
His number - +255 (0) 682819970
Cheers
Posted By: VenessaP -- 28-Jan-2010 15:01
Posted By: VenessaP -- 09-Dec-2009 17:01
Africa: Destination information
It can be argued that no other continent comes close to Africa in terms of scale, diversity or sheer impact on the senses. Africa is the place for adventurous travel, where stunning geography, ...more »
Nothing comes close to Africa in scale, variety, and pure, raw impact. This 30th anniversary edition of... buy it »
Booking hotels is simple with Lonely Planet. See our reviewed and recommended hotels and book online.
Tweak your wanderlust
With you all the way
Tweets, feeds and more
Go behind the scenes
Travel inspiration to your door