So, planning part 1 has started. 3 challenges lie ahead.
1. Housing in Dar
2. Safari
3. Zanzibar
The questions to be answered being.
A. How much
B. What do we want to do
C. Is it ALL possible.
1. HOUSING
-- a lot of research had me realize one budget option close to our desired location = Al Uruba Hotel. I'll tell you how it is upon arrival. But, for now, this is a lodging option. It is in the Kariakoo district, which is supposed to be a market place, which in my head translates to -- immediate access to stores, and food!
**EDIT: we stayed at Al Uruba for 20,000 shillings a night $12.5USD/night. Incl: ac, full bed, fan, private bathroom. No mosquito nets, but there were barely any mosquitoes at the time we went. I had at most a total of 8 bites for 30 days.
2. SAFARII
-- Only in this part of the world can you see the large wildebeest migration, the lions, tigers, cheetahs, Giraffe, Zebras, all hangin out. Did I ever dream that I could see the live version of discovery channel? no, but now that I can, Safaring joined my wish list > Mt Kili . (Killi will have to wait another trip)
COSTS:
The best airport to start your safari from is Arusha.. you can fly either into Kili airport or Arusha. We know a flight to Arusha from Dar costs approx $400 and takes 2 hours. Hotels go around 100/night.
EDIT: we went with precision air for 343.00$ per person...we went with this option because it had convenient timings that worked for us. ..also flying into Kili (JRO) gives you more flight options.
For the safari, we would like to see:
WISHLIST
= Serengeti (because world heritage site)
= Nogorongo Crater (sometimes called the 8th natural wonder of the world) (largest unbroken crater in world)
= Oldupai Gorge (area with oldest fossil)
= Manyara/Tarangire national park. (manyara has tree climbing lions)
COSTS
The average cost of a budget safari is 170$. I emailed a few Safaries and found costs to range. I will later tell you which one we chose and why and how much.
EDIT: We went with It Started in Africa for $180USD/person/night. We went on a 4 night trip. We went with budget camping which incl. sleeping tents and sleeping bags as pictured on a later post. (with tips being approx $13 USD per person ). They were amazing, and accomodated my being vegetarian, and were very considerate and knowledgeable.
POSSIBLE?: time frame? 3.5 days.
What is possible apparently is 1. Serengeti, 2. Nogorongo, 3. Manyara.
** EDIT They tried very hard to convince us to to do the above itin. We instead, chose to see: Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Tarangire (tarang was good for girraffes, elephants, ostriches, babboonsk, and a few other animals. Overall, it was the perfect amount of time to spend on Safari.
3. ZANZIBAR
-- Apparently Zanzibar is the largest of a collection of islands On it is a famous world Heritage Site known as Stone Town. Did it make the list? you betcha!
COSTS
Hotel approx 100/night, tours == unsure. I"m yet to research companies. Flight Dar to Zanzi - 20 mins, $167. Ferry: 90 mins 35-45USD
**EDIT: We stayed at a hotel for $27USD/person/night. It was called 1001 nights and is considered a budtget/backpackers hotel. Let me tell you, it was infact quite luxurious..and I booked it thorough this website called hostelbookers.com We got a room for 4 people and split..but it worked out. Flight costs is discussed somewhere later.
WISH LIST
What do we want to do? Few options:
= Spice tour
= Swim w Dolphins
= Snorkle
= Prison Island -- turtle petting!!!
= Scuba?
= Stone town tour
= Jhozani forest,
= this palace for dinner + entertainment
= various reefs.
** EDIT -- we did the dolphin tour which for me was the most amazing part of the trip, and we did the prison island tour and petted giant tortoises! twas also amazing. We also did snorkeling. Dolphin tour we spent $35 tho another couple with us spent only 29$ + there was a jozani forest for 4-8USD? (I dont' remember).
POSSIBLE?:
We may need 2 weekends..but i'm not complaining because we DO get to spend them on an exotic island where water temperatures in the Indian Ocean in March ranges around 85 degrees.
LASTLY --- my dream is the get scuba certified. However, I am willing to place it in teh pipeline for another day, if costs start soaring.
Overall, thats the plan. I will update as we book deals, etc. and review each place we stay at, the tour companies we use, and include costs for our trip.
K,
ZZZZ for tonight.
1. Housing in Dar
2. Safari
3. Zanzibar
The questions to be answered being.
A. How much
B. What do we want to do
C. Is it ALL possible.
1. HOUSING
-- a lot of research had me realize one budget option close to our desired location = Al Uruba Hotel. I'll tell you how it is upon arrival. But, for now, this is a lodging option. It is in the Kariakoo district, which is supposed to be a market place, which in my head translates to -- immediate access to stores, and food!
**EDIT: we stayed at Al Uruba for 20,000 shillings a night $12.5USD/night. Incl: ac, full bed, fan, private bathroom. No mosquito nets, but there were barely any mosquitoes at the time we went. I had at most a total of 8 bites for 30 days.
2. SAFARII
-- Only in this part of the world can you see the large wildebeest migration, the lions, tigers, cheetahs, Giraffe, Zebras, all hangin out. Did I ever dream that I could see the live version of discovery channel? no, but now that I can, Safaring joined my wish list > Mt Kili . (Killi will have to wait another trip)
COSTS:
The best airport to start your safari from is Arusha.. you can fly either into Kili airport or Arusha. We know a flight to Arusha from Dar costs approx $400 and takes 2 hours. Hotels go around 100/night.
EDIT: we went with precision air for 343.00$ per person...we went with this option because it had convenient timings that worked for us. ..also flying into Kili (JRO) gives you more flight options.
For the safari, we would like to see:
WISHLIST
= Serengeti (because world heritage site)
= Nogorongo Crater (sometimes called the 8th natural wonder of the world) (largest unbroken crater in world)
= Oldupai Gorge (area with oldest fossil)
= Manyara/Tarangire national park. (manyara has tree climbing lions)
COSTS
The average cost of a budget safari is 170$. I emailed a few Safaries and found costs to range. I will later tell you which one we chose and why and how much.
EDIT: We went with It Started in Africa for $180USD/person/night. We went on a 4 night trip. We went with budget camping which incl. sleeping tents and sleeping bags as pictured on a later post. (with tips being approx $13 USD per person ). They were amazing, and accomodated my being vegetarian, and were very considerate and knowledgeable.
POSSIBLE?: time frame? 3.5 days.
What is possible apparently is 1. Serengeti, 2. Nogorongo, 3. Manyara.
** EDIT They tried very hard to convince us to to do the above itin. We instead, chose to see: Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Tarangire (tarang was good for girraffes, elephants, ostriches, babboonsk, and a few other animals. Overall, it was the perfect amount of time to spend on Safari.
3. ZANZIBAR
-- Apparently Zanzibar is the largest of a collection of islands On it is a famous world Heritage Site known as Stone Town. Did it make the list? you betcha!
COSTS
Hotel approx 100/night, tours == unsure. I"m yet to research companies. Flight Dar to Zanzi - 20 mins, $167. Ferry: 90 mins 35-45USD
**EDIT: We stayed at a hotel for $27USD/person/night. It was called 1001 nights and is considered a budtget/backpackers hotel. Let me tell you, it was infact quite luxurious..and I booked it thorough this website called hostelbookers.com We got a room for 4 people and split..but it worked out. Flight costs is discussed somewhere later.
WISH LIST
What do we want to do? Few options:
= Spice tour
= Swim w Dolphins
= Snorkle
= Prison Island -- turtle petting!!!
= Scuba?
= Stone town tour
= Jhozani forest,
= this palace for dinner + entertainment
= various reefs.
** EDIT -- we did the dolphin tour which for me was the most amazing part of the trip, and we did the prison island tour and petted giant tortoises! twas also amazing. We also did snorkeling. Dolphin tour we spent $35 tho another couple with us spent only 29$ + there was a jozani forest for 4-8USD? (I dont' remember).
POSSIBLE?:
We may need 2 weekends..but i'm not complaining because we DO get to spend them on an exotic island where water temperatures in the Indian Ocean in March ranges around 85 degrees.
LASTLY --- my dream is the get scuba certified. However, I am willing to place it in teh pipeline for another day, if costs start soaring.
Overall, thats the plan. I will update as we book deals, etc. and review each place we stay at, the tour companies we use, and include costs for our trip.
K,
ZZZZ for tonight.
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