First I'd like to thank everyone who has responded so far. The
information you have provided is invaluable. I've decided to focus on
Kenya vs SA. Hans, I looked at the materials on your web site and at
this point I'm not sure self drive for me is the way to go. You seem
to have a lot of contacts in Kenya that make a self trip more
manageable. I'm not at that comfort level yet but perhaps someday.
Nevertheless, there is a wealth of information there and the GPS
coordinates will come in handy with my Garmin Etrex. Your absolutely
right that the safety issue is crime not terrorism. I've lived in NYC
for most of life so I have street smarts but I would still like to be
cautious.

After doing some more research I feel what I would like to do is
maximize my time in country without going from camp to camp. Most of
the itineraries that I have seen require tons of driving from place to
place. I fell that this is too frantic of a pace. Wildlife viewing
requires patience. So here is my proposed itinerary. My current
plan is to visit in the beginning of September.


Day 1 Leave US For Nairobi
Day 2 arrive Nairobi. Overnight in Nairobi.
Day 3 Transfer to Samburu National Reserve - Flight on Air Kenya
Day 3-6 Elephant Hill Camp. A unique place. Pricey but I feel it is
worth it for the experience.
Day 6 Morning (Transfer back to Nairobi on return Air Kenya flight)
Day 6 -7 Two nights at Lake Nakura
Day 8 Morning - Drive to Masa Marai
Day 8 - 4-5 nights in the Masa Marai area. I'd like to work the whole
triangle if possible.Perhaps 2 nights in two separate lodges.
Day 13 - Morning Game drive - Transfer to Nairobi. Evening flight home
to US

The first several days will be on my own. I basically will arrive in
Nairobi, collapse, spend the night in a hotel and fly to Samburu the
next morning on the scheduled Air Kenya flight. I need to find a
company that will take me for days 6 - 13. I will follow Liz's advice
to focus on three - four companies and let them offer me quotes for
their services.

Please feel free to comment and offer suggestions.

--Joel
Hans-Georg Michna wrote:
On 6 Dec 2004 15:52:16 -0800, "Joel" wrote:

2. I personally dislike tours, have never used one although I
realize
that independent travel to game parks while possible may be self
defeating. Without knowledge of animal behavior and how to
approach, I
may essentially be driving around for a week and spending a lot of
money to do so.

Joel,

that's only half true, but if you drive yourself, you can take a
ranger or guide along on your first few game drives. There's not
that much you need to know. Only a few species can be dangerous
to a car, and you need to know these and keep a certain
distance. Actually, just observing the behavior of the animals
should already tell you everything, because animals always give
clear signals when you begin to come too close.

As to finding the animals, you will find many anyway, but there
are a few that a ranger or guide can find more easily. Taking
somebody along is inexpensive. I still recommend to do some game
drives on your own.

You need a GPS, of course, since you don't know the places. You
can download routes and waypoints from
http://www.michna.com/gps.htm.

1. Is it advisable to use a tour company the first time around?
What
do I gain or miss by doing so?

Third world countries have a few traps you can fall into. It all
depends on how much experience you have with travelling in
developing countries.

3. Is it possible to combine self touring on several days and hire
guides/driver for other days? Kruger has options like this where you
can pay to go a game drive.

Yes, that's possible. Have a look at www.rasuls.com for Kenya.

4. Would I better off spending several days on a private reserve?
Although it costs significantly more I might have a better
experience.

Speaking for Kenya, I would tend to say no, particularly for a
first time trip. The big nature reserves like Samburu and Maasai
Mara are hard to beat.

5. Putting US State Department hyperbole aside, is there any
validity
to their concerns about Kenya? Curious to here feedback from other
Americans who have traveled there within the last year.

I'm not American, but this should hardly matter. The concern, in
my view, is crime, not terrorism.

Please have a look at http://www.michna.com/kenya.htm, which is
a fairly complete guide to a self-drive safari. At least he
check lists should be useful even if you end up using the
services of a tour company.

Did I mention a GPS? Don't go without one and make yourself well
familiar with it before you leave.

Hans-Georg

--
No mail, please.