In message , andrew
writes
I would like to go on my first safari. There seems a wealth of knowledge in
here I'm glad to say.

I am quite an experienced traveller but will only have two weeks available &
like a bit of home comfort. Having said that I love camping in the UK & so
the idea of a tented camp is quite attractive. I will be travelling with my
in laws who are fit but in their sixties.

I really have an open mind but I am trending towards Kenya as it seems to
tick most of the boxes & offer good value for money.

The other question is what time of year? I can go anytime & so what ever
offers the best value for money whilst avoiding rainy / mosquito season.

Thanks.


Andrew,
You will get a wealth of advice on this NG and on this subject!
I lived in Kenya for some time and for me this is one of the best times
to visit Kenya. The short rains usually arrive early November and so
between now and through October is a great time. You will get other
opinions!
You can try Kuoni or Somak, both of whom offer good two week holidays
and if you check their brochures and/ or websites, you will see they
offer good hotels, lodges, tented camps-- which give you all the
comforts you need. You can spend a few days at a beach hotel as well if
you wish.
I think there are less mosquitos at this time of the year but you will
still need anti malaria protection.
I thought we were also going to Kenya this month but my other half
has work commitments!
Enjoy your holiday. Kenya is a great country with so much diversity.
Pat
--
Pat Anderson

First safari advice
 

In message , andrew
writes
I would like to go on my first safari. There seems a wealth of knowledge in
here I'm glad to say.

I am quite an experienced traveller but will only have two weeks available &
like a bit of home comfort. Having said that I love camping in the UK & so
the idea of a tented camp is quite attractive. I will be travelling with my
in laws who are fit but in their sixties.

I really have an open mind but I am trending towards Kenya as it seems to
tick most of the boxes & offer good value for money.

The other question is what time of year? I can go anytime & so what ever
offers the best value for money whilst avoiding rainy / mosquito season.

Thanks.


Andrew,
You will get a wealth of advice on this NG and on this subject!
I lived in Kenya for some time and for me this is one of the best times
to visit Kenya. The short rains usually arrive early November and so
between now and through October is a great time. You will get other
opinions!
You can try Kuoni or Somak, both of whom offer good two week holidays
and if you check their brochures and/ or websites, you will see they
offer good hotels, lodges, tented camps-- which give you all the
comforts you need. You can spend a few days at a beach hotel as well if
you wish.
I think there are less mosquitos at this time of the year but you will
still need anti malaria protection.
I thought we were also going to Kenya this month but my other half
has work commitments!
Enjoy your holiday. Kenya is a great country with so much diversity.
Pat
--
Pat Anderson

In message , andrew
writes
I would like to go on my first safari. There seems a wealth of knowledge in
here I'm glad to say.

I am quite an experienced traveller but will only have two weeks available &
like a bit of home comfort. Having said that I love camping in the UK & so
the idea of a tented camp is quite attractive. I will be travelling with my
in laws who are fit but in their sixties.

I really have an open mind but I am trending towards Kenya as it seems to
tick most of the boxes & offer good value for money.

The other question is what time of year? I can go anytime & so what ever
offers the best value for money whilst avoiding rainy / mosquito season.

Thanks.


Andrew,
You will get a wealth of advice on this NG and on this subject!
I lived in Kenya for some time and for me this is one of the best times
to visit Kenya. The short rains usually arrive early November and so
between now and through October is a great time. You will get other
opinions!
You can try Kuoni or Somak, both of whom offer good two week holidays
and if you check their brochures and/ or websites, you will see they
offer good hotels, lodges, tented camps-- which give you all the
comforts you need. You can spend a few days at a beach hotel as well if
you wish.
I think there are less mosquitos at this time of the year but you will
still need anti malaria protection.
I thought we were also going to Kenya this month but my other half
has work commitments!
Enjoy your holiday. Kenya is a great country with so much diversity.
Pat
--
Pat Anderson

andrew wrote:

I love camping in the UK & so the idea of a tented camp is quite attractive.

Tented camps, as you see on their internet sites, are fixed tents,
many with landscaped grounds. Bathrooms inside and quite nice.
Really not 'camping' as we know it. But still can be fun.

The other question is what time of year?

I say avoid the period roughly from late March through
to mid-May. Rains are heavier and sometimes make roads
within the preserves either impassable, or very difficult.

You are right about Kenya for value. And the wildlife is
predictably good.

andrew wrote:

I love camping in the UK & so the idea of a tented camp is quite attractive.

Tented camps, as you see on their internet sites, are fixed tents,
many with landscaped grounds. Bathrooms inside and quite nice.
Really not 'camping' as we know it. But still can be fun.

The other question is what time of year?

I say avoid the period roughly from late March through
to mid-May. Rains are heavier and sometimes make roads
within the preserves either impassable, or very difficult.

You are right about Kenya for value. And the wildlife is
predictably good.

"andrew" wrote in message
...
I would like to go on my first safari.

I am quite an experienced traveller but will only have two weeks available
&
like a bit of home comfort. Having said that I love camping in the UK & so
the idea of a tented camp is quite attractive. I will be travelling with
my
in laws who are fit but in their sixties.

I really have an open mind but I am trending towards Kenya as it seems to
tick most of the boxes & offer good value for money.

I like my home comforts too, but as someone else has said, the permanent
tented camps are really quite luxurious, but do give you more of a feeling
of 'being in the wild' than some of the lodges.
Probably Kenya is a good place for a first safari, but you might like to
look at Zambia or Botswana instead (tending to be more expensive; but
smaller lodges).
Kenya (or Tanzania) probably gives the 'safari experience' you expect from
TV documentaries about Africa - the rolling plains and the large herds of
herbivores.
Distances between places can be quite large and roads not too good and
vehicles not to comfortable, so my advice would be to make sure you stay at
least two nights at each place (I prefer a minimum of 3 ) and consider doing
all or part of the trip by air rather than road, if you can. If you do go
mainly road, make sure the company guarantees a window seat for everyone.
And check exactly what is included and what is extra - recently some of the
Tanzania safaris in particular seem to be making some of the game drives
'optional extras'.
If there are 4 of you, you might be able to get a vehicle to yourselves.
Kuoni certainly offers a good range of safari options, and will do
'tailor-made' as well.
I'd recommend Sunvil if you are thinking of 'not Kenya' - I dont think they
do Kenya.


--
Rita Daggett

"andrew" wrote in message
...
I would like to go on my first safari.

I am quite an experienced traveller but will only have two weeks available
&
like a bit of home comfort. Having said that I love camping in the UK & so
the idea of a tented camp is quite attractive. I will be travelling with
my
in laws who are fit but in their sixties.

I really have an open mind but I am trending towards Kenya as it seems to
tick most of the boxes & offer good value for money.

I like my home comforts too, but as someone else has said, the permanent
tented camps are really quite luxurious, but do give you more of a feeling
of 'being in the wild' than some of the lodges.
Probably Kenya is a good place for a first safari, but you might like to
look at Zambia or Botswana instead (tending to be more expensive; but
smaller lodges).
Kenya (or Tanzania) probably gives the 'safari experience' you expect from
TV documentaries about Africa - the rolling plains and the large herds of
herbivores.
Distances between places can be quite large and roads not too good and
vehicles not to comfortable, so my advice would be to make sure you stay at
least two nights at each place (I prefer a minimum of 3 ) and consider doing
all or part of the trip by air rather than road, if you can. If you do go
mainly road, make sure the company guarantees a window seat for everyone.
And check exactly what is included and what is extra - recently some of the
Tanzania safaris in particular seem to be making some of the game drives
'optional extras'.
If there are 4 of you, you might be able to get a vehicle to yourselves.
Kuoni certainly offers a good range of safari options, and will do
'tailor-made' as well.
I'd recommend Sunvil if you are thinking of 'not Kenya' - I dont think they
do Kenya.


--
Rita Daggett

On Mon, 6 Sep 2004 21:35:15 +0100, "andrew"
wrote:

I would like to go on my first safari. There seems a wealth of knowledge in
here I'm glad to say.

I am quite an experienced traveller but will only have two weeks available &
like a bit of home comfort. Having said that I love camping in the UK & so
the idea of a tented camp is quite attractive. I will be travelling with my
in laws who are fit but in their sixties.

I really have an open mind but I am trending towards Kenya as it seems to
tick most of the boxes & offer good value for money.

The other question is what time of year? I can go anytime & so what ever
offers the best value for money whilst avoiding rainy / mosquito season.

Andrew,

I don't see any first question, but my personal choice to go to
Kenya is June. (I visit Kenya about once a year.) That is the
time of year when most lodges offer low season prices, but the
weather is usually fine. Also there are fewer tourists, which is
an advantage.

For some more information including check lists on what to take,
please have a look at http://www.michna.com/kenya.htm. The text
refers to a self-drive safari, but most of the information is
still valid for your intentions.

Hans-Georg

--
No mail, please.

On Mon, 6 Sep 2004 21:35:15 +0100, "andrew"
wrote:

I would like to go on my first safari. There seems a wealth of knowledge in
here I'm glad to say.

I am quite an experienced traveller but will only have two weeks available &
like a bit of home comfort. Having said that I love camping in the UK & so
the idea of a tented camp is quite attractive. I will be travelling with my
in laws who are fit but in their sixties.

I really have an open mind but I am trending towards Kenya as it seems to
tick most of the boxes & offer good value for money.

The other question is what time of year? I can go anytime & so what ever
offers the best value for money whilst avoiding rainy / mosquito season.

Andrew,

I don't see any first question, but my personal choice to go to
Kenya is June. (I visit Kenya about once a year.) That is the
time of year when most lodges offer low season prices, but the
weather is usually fine. Also there are fewer tourists, which is
an advantage.

For some more information including check lists on what to take,
please have a look at http://www.michna.com/kenya.htm. The text
refers to a self-drive safari, but most of the information is
still valid for your intentions.

Hans-Georg

--
No mail, please.

Hans-Georg Michna wrote in message . ..
On Mon, 6 Sep 2004 21:35:15 +0100, "andrew"
wrote:

I would like to go on my first safari. There seems a wealth of knowledge in
here I'm glad to say.



Andrew,

I don't see any first question, but my personal choice to go to
Kenya is June. (I visit Kenya about once a year.) That is the
time of year when most lodges offer low season prices, but the
weather is usually fine. Also there are fewer tourists, which is
an advantage.

Hans-Georg

We also went in June. It was not crowded, and the animals were
plentiful and easily seen. The weather was nice, and bugs were not a
problem (except for the giant spider in our shower at Samburu...)

www.johnheather.com/africa.html