The most important factor when choosing where to go (other than money, of course) is time. How long do you have for your vacation, and how many parks do you wish to include, keeping in mind likely travel time between camps?
To get a feel for the larger parks, experts have traditionally recommended planning for at least three days in each. While five- to six-day combinations of the big four northern parks — Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara and Tarangire — are doable, it’s probably best to either drop one or allow at least seven days to avoid feeling rushed. A good rule of thumb for the more remote parks in the west and south is to allow at least three nights in each.
Nowadays, as advocates of the ‘slow safari’, we suggest spending longer in fewer locations. Doing so will reduce the amount of travelling time and will give you greater opportunity to relax into your holiday and get to know your surroundings and
