Charo3

Hello, I was hoping to book my safari last week but have been really stuck re the 3 nts in Masia Mara. Everything else is pretty much set. I would very much appreciate if you could help so I can get this finalized. We are confined to a specific timeframe - arriving on May 24th and departing Tanzania on June 4th. We are planning 3 days/3 nights in Masia Mara, 7.5 days/7 nights in Tanzania, 3 days/3 nts for Gorilla/Golden Monkey treks. The itinerary is:

Fly to Masia Mara via Nairobi, 3 nts at Kichechi Bush.
Fly to central Serengeti ,3 nts at Acacia Seronera (or possibly Lemale Nanyuke)
Drive to western Serengeti, 2 nts Asanja Gremeti (or possibly Nomad Serengeti) - where I'm hoping to catch the migration
To Ngorogoro Crater, 2 nts on the Rim at Entamanu
From Kilimanjaro to Kilgalo, overnight
Drive to Volcanoes Nat'l park, next day Gorilla trek
Following day Golden Monkey trek, to Kilgali to Nairobi for flight home

Safari portion: 11 nts incl nt in Arusha, 10 safari days. Plus 3 nts incl nt in Kilgali for gorilla portion.

My hesitation is whether Masia Mara is a bad move that in May. I included Masia Mara because of its large population of cats, different feel than Tanzania, and liking what I've read on the camp/conservancy, Some suggest I stay in Tanzania and add Tarangire - but it's also not the best time for Tarangire where the wildlife are more spread out (supposedly). Masia Mara sounded more enticing to me than Tarangire, but I've never been to either, so could be wrong given the timing.

We could try our luck in Masia Mara and hope the rain/mud isn't terrible then and the wildlife sightings are great.

If we removed Masia Mara, we could-
- Add 1 nt to Western Serengeti, use 1 nt at the Africa Amini Maasai Lodge (near Arusha) for a nice Maasai experience, and 1 nt at Tarangire. I don't know if 1 nt in Tarangire is to short with the drive there & back. I originally wasn't going to go to Tarangire because I heard it isn't great that time of year, when the wildlife have dispersed, and had thought we would have had the night drives in Masia Mara.
- Add another night to the western Serengeti and 2 nts in Tarangire (not sure it warrants 2 nts in Tarangire in late May) and skip the Maasai lodge.
- Add 1 night western Serengetti, 1 nt Maasai Lodge, and 1 nt ... (where? end 1 day earlier? ).

Really need to decide. Has anyone here been to Masai Mara and/or Tarangire that time of year? Any advice???? Thanks!!

Astuteafricasafaris

I feel the 1st itinerary with 3 nights masai mara would work best, the fear of rain shouldn't be of much worries first because the camp uses 4x4 safari jeeps but also is a good time to explore the vast masai mara.

Charo3

Thank you for your response. I went with the itinerary that included the Masai Mara, so am glad your response confirms that as the right choice!