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Shimba Hills National Park
Hi all
I'm hoping to sneak back to Kenya next month for a week (annual Africa 'fix' required..) Probably going back to Diani for some R&R, and hoping to go to the Shimba Hills park up the road. Has anyone got any useful info or experiences of this park? In particular, what's the best way to arrange a couple of days there? I know all (?) the hotels on the beach will arrange trips, but I'm sure I can do better booking ahead. Is it better to stay in the lodge, or camping? Any tips? Thanks for any info. Charles |
#2
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Shimba Hills National Park
In message
"Rydale" wrote: Has anyone got any useful info or experiences of this park? Hard to say if it's going to be useful *to you*, but I have a page at: http://www.v-liz.com/safari/shimba.htm In particular, what's the best way to arrange a couple of days there? Hard to say what would be best *for you*! I know all (?) the hotels on the beach will arrange trips, but I'm sure I can do better booking ahead. Not necessarily, again it depends what you mean by 'do better'. If the lodge isn't full, for example, you *might* be able to negotiate a better 'last minute' deal, but I've never tried - safaris are too short to waste time haggling. Is it better to stay in the lodge, or camping? Again, it's hard to say what would be better 'for you'. I'd sooner pull out my hair than do rough camping, but you might love it. The lodge is absolutely fine (it was in the Block chain when we were there in July '99 - you can see the typical 'grey month' lighting): There was the cutest Bushbaby/Galago which came in at dinner time and went round the tables 'begging' for fruit. We saw no animals or birds at the waterhole or from the treetop walk: this varies, though - other reports have mentioned sightings. Any tips? We went specifically to see/photograph/draw Sable Antelope and weren't disappointed, though it took us a while to find them; but when we went, there were very few other species, even birds, to be seen. aybe that's July, or maybe just bad luck on the afternoon/morning we were there. Interestingly 'different' habitat compared to the other parks. Slainte Liz -- Virtual Liz: http://www.v-liz.com Kenya; Tanzania; Namibia; India; Seychelles; Galapagos Photo blog of Make Povery History rally in Edinburgh 2 July 2005: http://www.v-liz.com/g8rally/protest.htm |
#3
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Shimba Hills National Park
I would agree with Liz's comments. It is not the greatest, but we were
entranced with the elephants and with a fish eagle performing. On an early morning safari we also saw a marten, particulars forgotten, which the guide had never seen there before, so you never know. Peter |
#4
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Shimba Hills National Park
Thanks Peter and Liz (hi Liz!)
As its a small and less used park, I couldn't find much info in the 'literature' - hence the questions. I assume that it won't be full if I book when I'm there! Hopefully there'll be a reasonable amount of wildlife about - its hot and dry right now, so the waterhole should be in use. Is Sheldrick falls worth the trek? I'll be taking pot luck with a Diani hotel this time - whatever I can find as a last minute deal. However, the family is letting me out on my own this time, so I won't have to worry about spiders in the bedroom (wife not keen) or pestering locals (daughter not keen!) I guess I'll wait and book something for Shimba from whatever hotel I end up in. Any ideas what I might expect to pay for a 2 or 3 day outing to Shimba? (usual - transfer, accomodation at the lodge, game drives, maybe a bush walk...) Cheers Charles Our Africalogue at tomalin.org "Peter Gower" wrote in message .. . I would agree with Liz's comments. It is not the greatest, but we were entranced with the elephants and with a fish eagle performing. On an early morning safari we also saw a marten, particulars forgotten, which the guide had never seen there before, so you never know. Peter |
#5
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Shimba Hills National Park
Probably going back to Diani for some R&R, and hoping to go to the Shimba
Hills park up the road. Has anyone got any useful info or experiences of this park? In particular, what's the best way to arrange a couple of days there? I know all (?) the hotels on the beach will arrange trips, but I'm sure I can do better booking ahead. When we went to Kenya last (about 1982/3? and I think it was in July but memories are a bit hazy!) we wanted to go to Shimba Hills; we were with Kuoni (whom I'd normally recommend unreservedly). We asked about reserving for SH before we went and told it wasnt necessary; we asked the rep in Nairobi when we arrived (we were doing a safari to Amboseli and Tsavo first and then going to the beach) and she said it wasnt necessary to book in advance,we could do it when we got to Mombasa. First thing we did on arrival was ask rep there to book us 2 days at Shimba - no go, he said, its full. -- Rita Daggett |
#6
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Shimba Hills National Park
Thanks Rita - forewarned is forearmed.
I have found a couple of 'local' organisers, and I'll ask the question. Anyone know these guys - Eyes on Africa African Mecca Safaris ? Charles "Rita Daggett" wrote in message ... Probably going back to Diani for some R&R, and hoping to go to the Shimba Hills park up the road. Has anyone got any useful info or experiences of this park? In particular, what's the best way to arrange a couple of days there? I know all (?) the hotels on the beach will arrange trips, but I'm sure I can do better booking ahead. When we went to Kenya last (about 1982/3? and I think it was in July but memories are a bit hazy!) we wanted to go to Shimba Hills; we were with Kuoni (whom I'd normally recommend unreservedly). We asked about reserving for SH before we went and told it wasnt necessary; we asked the rep in Nairobi when we arrived (we were doing a safari to Amboseli and Tsavo first and then going to the beach) and she said it wasnt necessary to book in advance,we could do it when we got to Mombasa. First thing we did on arrival was ask rep there to book us 2 days at Shimba - no go, he said, its full. -- Rita Daggett |
#7
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Shimba Hills National Park
In message , Rydale
writes Hi all I'm hoping to sneak back to Kenya next month for a week (annual Africa 'fix' required..) Probably going back to Diani for some R&R, and hoping to go to the Shimba Hills park up the road. Has anyone got any useful info or experiences of this park? In particular, what's the best way to arrange a couple of days there? I know all (?) the hotels on the beach will arrange trips, but I'm sure I can do better booking ahead. Is it better to stay in the lodge, or camping? Any tips? Thanks for any info. Charles Hi Charles, Good to hear you are going to Diani,I hope you have a great trip, are you going to visit the Colobus Trust? Shimba Hills lodge is not very big and it is high season so I`d try to book soon. Have you checked out Lets Go travel in Nairobi? They have a good website and are very reliable, or you could go to Block Hotels website and check availability there. Enjoy yourself! Pat. -- Pat Anderson |
#8
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Shimba Hills National Park
Hi Pat
Ah if only it were as simple as it should be... Of course its high season there -I thought I would get a cheap deal in February.... The blockhotels website (www.blockhotelske.com) only covers Nyali Beach, Lake Naivasha and Lake Baringo, so not much good for me! Maybe they've the Shimba lodge to someone else recently? Can't find a reference to it belonging to anyone else though. I've dropped a note to Lets Go - thanks for the tip. It may not happen, but I hope I can get there The Colobus Trust is one of the reasons I'm going - I need to transport a few things over to Pam there. Cheers Charles "Pat Anderson" wrote in message ... In message , Rydale writes Hi all I'm hoping to sneak back to Kenya next month for a week (annual Africa 'fix' required..) Probably going back to Diani for some R&R, and hoping to go to the Shimba Hills park up the road. Has anyone got any useful info or experiences of this park? In particular, what's the best way to arrange a couple of days there? I know all (?) the hotels on the beach will arrange trips, but I'm sure I can do better booking ahead. Is it better to stay in the lodge, or camping? Any tips? Thanks for any info. Charles Hi Charles, Good to hear you are going to Diani,I hope you have a great trip, are you going to visit the Colobus Trust? Shimba Hills lodge is not very big and it is high season so I`d try to book soon. Have you checked out Lets Go travel in Nairobi? They have a good website and are very reliable, or you could go to Block Hotels website and check availability there. Enjoy yourself! Pat. -- Pat Anderson |
#9
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Shimba Hills National Park
Hi Charles, I`m sure Lets Go will help you, I wonder if Block have ceased managing Shimba Hills? Block have reduced the number of hotels and lodges in their name considerably over the years, when we left Kenya finally in 1987 after my husband finished his work there I went into Block hotels in Nairobi and booked us into The Outspan hotel, Lake Naivasha, Samburu lodge, Nyali Beach hotel, Sindbad hotel, Malindi, the Aberdare Country Club, we had five weeks in these hotels before leaving Kenya, since then things have changed and many properties are no longer Block hotels. Out of interest I could contact them and ask. I hope you can work something out. Best wishes, Pat. In message , Rydale writes Hi Pat Ah if only it were as simple as it should be... Of course its high season there -I thought I would get a cheap deal in February.... The blockhotels website (www.blockhotelske.com) only covers Nyali Beach, Lake Naivasha and Lake Baringo, so not much good for me! Maybe they've the Shimba lodge to someone else recently? Can't find a reference to it belonging to anyone else though. I've dropped a note to Lets Go - thanks for the tip. It may not happen, but I hope I can get there The Colobus Trust is one of the reasons I'm going - I need to transport a few things over to Pam there. Cheers Charles "Pat Anderson" wrote in message ... In message , Rydale writes Hi all I'm hoping to sneak back to Kenya next month for a week (annual Africa 'fix' required..) Probably going back to Diani for some R&R, and hoping to go to the Shimba Hills park up the road. Has anyone got any useful info or experiences of this park? In particular, what's the best way to arrange a couple of days there? I know all (?) the hotels on the beach will arrange trips, but I'm sure I can do better booking ahead. Is it better to stay in the lodge, or camping? Any tips? Thanks for any info. Charles Hi Charles, Good to hear you are going to Diani,I hope you have a great trip, are you going to visit the Colobus Trust? Shimba Hills lodge is not very big and it is high season so I`d try to book soon. Have you checked out Lets Go travel in Nairobi? They have a good website and are very reliable, or you could go to Block Hotels website and check availability there. Enjoy yourself! Pat. -- Pat Anderson -- Pat Anderson |
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