Thanks for advices. I just finalized my itinerary last week as below. 8
days Safari + 3 days in Mombasa. I will travel along and have no choice
to join a local group. The certified Operator is Wildwatch Safaris
(anyone heard of it?) and I hope it's good. It seems it's the best one
I select after I researched quite a few Safari operators. For longer
trip with 2 wks, would definitely next time if my friend could join me.
I didn't know Kenya trip could be so pricey. USD 3,000 just for
Airfares + local package. If including some other expected expense,
such as visa, tips....a bit shopping, extra expense in Mombasa.....the
entire trip is quite expensive to me..
As for preparaion prior to the trip, anything I need to take note:
- Injection: do I need to have specific shots? I heard there are some
wide illness there?
- Stuffs I need to bring with me? Towel, toothbrush, mostiquo
spray.....
- Is it easy to exchange foreign currency in Nairobu, RMB?
Thanks,
Eunice
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Day 1: Nairobi/Samburu
Depart Nairobi in the morning and arriving Samburu Serena Lodge in time
lunch. Afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at Samburu Lodge.
Approx Transit time: 5½ hrs
Day 2: Samburu
Full day in Samburu, with an early morning and late afternoon game
drive. Optional activites include a visit to a local Samburu village,
camel riding and guided nature and bird walks. All meals and overnight
at Samburu Lodge.
Day 3: Mountain Lodge
Depart Samburu after breakfast and drive to the lower slopes of Mt.
Kenya arriving Serena Mountain Lodge (tree hotel) in time for lunch.
Relax the afternoon away as you watch game from the balcony with an
optional guided nature walk. Overnight floodlit game viewing. Dinner
and overnight..
Approx Transit time: 3½ hrs
Day 4 & 5: Lake Nakuru
Depart Mountain Lodge in the morning and drive to the floor of the Rift
Valley to Lake Nakuru National Park making a brief stop at Nyahururu
Thomson Falls. Arrive Sarova Lion Hill Lodge for lunch. Afternoon game
drive. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Approx Transit time: 3 hrs
Day 6: Lake Nakuru/Maasai Mara
Depart Lake Nakuru after breakfast and drive further along the floor of
the Rift Valley to Maasai Mara Game Reserve arriving Mara Sopa Lodge in
time for lunch. Afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at the
lodge.
Approx Transit time: 6 hrs
Day 7: Maasai Mara
Spend the day in Maasai Mara. Game drives are flexible, with the option
of going out with picnic lunch boxes to spend entire day in the the
park, or you can choose to have early morning and late afternoon game
drives. All meals and overnight Mara Sopa Lodge.
Day 8: Maasai Mara/Nairobi
Another early morning game drive in Maasai Mara, then depart after
breakfast and drive back to Nairobi arriving approx 13:00hrs. Kenya
comfort Hotel overnight
Approx Transit time: 5½ hrs.
Day 9-10 Mombasa
Fly from Nairobi-Mombasa and Leisure at the Travellers beach hotel
Day 11 Mombasa to Nairobi
Fly from Mombasa to Naibori to conntect international flight
USD 2,177
Prices include:
- Transportation in a custom safari minibus with pop-up roof ideal for
game viewing and sightseeing.
- Services of a trained experienced English speaking driver/guide
- Fullboard accommodation in the lodges as mentioned
- Bottled water for use during the safari
- Game drives and all park entry fees
- Return airfare Nairobi- Mombasa
- Airport Transfers both in Nairobi and Mombasa
- Accomodation in Mombasa for two night based on Half board
- Accomodation in Nairobi at Kenya comfort Hotel
Liz Leyden wrote:
In message
"Rita Daggett" wrote:
Personally, I'd go for more nights per place at fewer places.
The roads arent that good so the travelling is tiring (although you will see
game along the way, and African life).
Sorry I'm getting into this thread late. I've not been able to get
onto Usenet for months!
Definitely, but better still have a longer trip!
If you move on every day, you'll have very little time in the game
parks and reserves.
Nothing wrong with the places mentioned in your itinerary, but the
distances between them are big. You'd want at least two weeks to do
that itinerary!
Also, Shaba is off the main tourist itinerary: there's nothing wrong
with it, in fact it's one of the more scenic reserves, and the lodge
is fine, but usually the game is mostly in Samburu/Buffalo Springs. We
stayed at Shaba one year, and ended up driving into Samburu or Buffalo
Springs every day since there was so little game in Shaba.. Nowadays I
understand, if you did that you'd be charged extra (one fee for Shaba,
one for whichever of the others you went into), not to mention the
waste of time (about 1/2 hour each way). Mountain Lodge is OK, I was
there in July and there were very few animals at the waterhole, but
there were some Bush Pigs the first evening just as the sun was going
down. Even the Syke's/Blue monkeys were scarcer than the last time I
was there. However, if you're interested in birds and go out the
nature walk (quite expensive) there are birds there you won't see
elsewhere.
Lake Nakuru was great in late July: the third time I've been there,
and definitely the most flamingoes! That's just luck, they move around
at will.
I was really, really lucky in the Mara. The wildebeest and zebra were
crossing the river on 2nd August (but not the previous day, though
they had been in late July, apparently) which is very early. It
usually starts in mid-August, and doing a trip timed to see the river
crossing was going to be my second retiral trip.
Really, Mazda, try to get a longer safari. The trouble with the trip I
was on this year was that it was only 13 days: the longest I could get
(not being able to afford a private trip on my own in July). :-(
Slainte
Liz
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