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Kenya Safari September 2005



 
 
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  #11  
Old March 3rd, 2005, 12:51 PM
Stephen Robertson
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Thank you everyone for your replies.

I've booked it now so in a few months I'll know for myself! We're also
having a few days at the beach afterwards. I'm a little dubious about
Nairobi, we are spending two nights, one either side of the safari. By
all accounts it doesn't sound like the sort of place where you want to
leave the hotel at all or is that making it out to be worse than it is?
I'm not sure how much time we will have in Nairobi, or how much we
will want to do considering the flight times. Anyone have any
suggestions if we do have some time.

Stephen.

  #12  
Old March 3rd, 2005, 03:27 PM
Nick
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My only advice would be to stay a minimum of 2 nights evrywhere if you have
the chioce. The things is, you arrive one day and if you leave the next, it
will be just like driving through the place. No need to open
suitcase/backpack except to get the toothbrush out. My experience from
staying too short in places is, that I have ended up spending time with
transport instead of what I am there to do.

Nowadays I aim to stay a minimum of 2 nights, but try to make space for 3
nights. I know I don't get to see as much but better trips come out of it.


"Stephen Robertson" wrote in message
ps.com...
Hello all.

I've been having a scan of this group for a couple of days and you seem
like a helpful bunch. (Hoping flattery helps!) I'm sure this question
has been asked before and I apprectiate that it is very difficult to
answer. We are thinking about a trip to Kenya in September and have
been trying to do some research into what would be the best options and
finding it almost impossible to objectivly compare different offerings.
We seem to have rather unscientificatly decided upon the Cheetah
Safari from Kuoni with possibly extending it for a few days on the
coast. Does anyone have any suggestions or can spot any glaring
ommissions in the itinerary below.

Thanks

Stephen


Shamlesssly stolen from kuoni.co.uk:

Nairobi: 1 night
Samburu: 2 nights
Treetops: 1 night
Lake Naivasha: 1 night
Masai Mara: 2 nights
Beach: optional


Day 1 Wed or Sun
Depart Heathrow by Kenya Airways scheduled flight.



Day 2 Thu or Mon
One night at the Holiday Inn.



Day 3 Fri or Tue
Drive to Samburu with lunch en route. Afternoon game-viewing. Overnight
at Samburu Lodge (approx. 195 miles).



Day 4 Sat or Wed
Morning and afternoon game drives. Overnight Samburu.



Day 5 Sun or Thu
Drive south to the Aberdare Mountains and to world famous Treetops.
Lunch at the Outspan, then to Treetops your spectacular viewing perch
for the night, where the game is attracted by the waterholes and salt
licks around the lodge (approx. 115 miles).



Day 6 Mon or Fri
Early morning tea at Treetops and breakfast at Outspan, then drive via
Thomson's Falls, to Lake Nakuru National Park for game drive and
lunch. Continue to Lake Naivasha for overnight (approx. 150 miles).



Day 7 Tue or Sat
After breakfast, drive to the Masai Mara Game Reserve. Overnight at
Keekorok Lodge (approx. 153 miles).



Day 8 Wed or Sun
This may be the last day of your safari, but it could be the most
thrilling, for the vast Mara plains provide the best game-viewing in
Kenya. Serengeti and Mara are really one great reserve, covering over
6,000 square miles divided by the Kenya/ Tanzania border, and home to
thousands of animals. Morning and afternoon game drives into the heart
of the reserve - a fitting climax to an exciting safari. Or take the
optional Balloon Safari. Overnight at Keekorok Lodge (approx. 40
miles).



Day 9 Thu or Mon
Leave Keekorok after breakfast, arriving in Nairobi around midday
(approx. 160 miles). Kenya Airways flight to Heathrow arriving next
day. You may extend your holiday to the Kenya Coast, Zanzibar,
Seychelles or Mauritius.



  #13  
Old March 3rd, 2005, 03:27 PM
Nick
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Default

My only advice would be to stay a minimum of 2 nights evrywhere if you have
the chioce. The things is, you arrive one day and if you leave the next, it
will be just like driving through the place. No need to open
suitcase/backpack except to get the toothbrush out. My experience from
staying too short in places is, that I have ended up spending time with
transport instead of what I am there to do.

Nowadays I aim to stay a minimum of 2 nights, but try to make space for 3
nights. I know I don't get to see as much but better trips come out of it.


"Stephen Robertson" wrote in message
ps.com...
Hello all.

I've been having a scan of this group for a couple of days and you seem
like a helpful bunch. (Hoping flattery helps!) I'm sure this question
has been asked before and I apprectiate that it is very difficult to
answer. We are thinking about a trip to Kenya in September and have
been trying to do some research into what would be the best options and
finding it almost impossible to objectivly compare different offerings.
We seem to have rather unscientificatly decided upon the Cheetah
Safari from Kuoni with possibly extending it for a few days on the
coast. Does anyone have any suggestions or can spot any glaring
ommissions in the itinerary below.

Thanks

Stephen


Shamlesssly stolen from kuoni.co.uk:

Nairobi: 1 night
Samburu: 2 nights
Treetops: 1 night
Lake Naivasha: 1 night
Masai Mara: 2 nights
Beach: optional


Day 1 Wed or Sun
Depart Heathrow by Kenya Airways scheduled flight.



Day 2 Thu or Mon
One night at the Holiday Inn.



Day 3 Fri or Tue
Drive to Samburu with lunch en route. Afternoon game-viewing. Overnight
at Samburu Lodge (approx. 195 miles).



Day 4 Sat or Wed
Morning and afternoon game drives. Overnight Samburu.



Day 5 Sun or Thu
Drive south to the Aberdare Mountains and to world famous Treetops.
Lunch at the Outspan, then to Treetops your spectacular viewing perch
for the night, where the game is attracted by the waterholes and salt
licks around the lodge (approx. 115 miles).



Day 6 Mon or Fri
Early morning tea at Treetops and breakfast at Outspan, then drive via
Thomson's Falls, to Lake Nakuru National Park for game drive and
lunch. Continue to Lake Naivasha for overnight (approx. 150 miles).



Day 7 Tue or Sat
After breakfast, drive to the Masai Mara Game Reserve. Overnight at
Keekorok Lodge (approx. 153 miles).



Day 8 Wed or Sun
This may be the last day of your safari, but it could be the most
thrilling, for the vast Mara plains provide the best game-viewing in
Kenya. Serengeti and Mara are really one great reserve, covering over
6,000 square miles divided by the Kenya/ Tanzania border, and home to
thousands of animals. Morning and afternoon game drives into the heart
of the reserve - a fitting climax to an exciting safari. Or take the
optional Balloon Safari. Overnight at Keekorok Lodge (approx. 40
miles).



Day 9 Thu or Mon
Leave Keekorok after breakfast, arriving in Nairobi around midday
(approx. 160 miles). Kenya Airways flight to Heathrow arriving next
day. You may extend your holiday to the Kenya Coast, Zanzibar,
Seychelles or Mauritius.



  #14  
Old March 3rd, 2005, 03:54 PM
Rita Daggett
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"Stephen Robertson" wrote in message I'm a
little dubious about
Nairobi, we are spending two nights, one either side of the safari. By
all accounts it doesn't sound like the sort of place where you want to
leave the hotel at all or is that making it out to be worse than it is?
I'm not sure how much time we will have in Nairobi, or how much we
will want to do considering the flight times. Anyone have any
suggestions if we do have some time.


The first time we went to Nairobi (and I think the second) we went out quite
happily walking down to the town (in daylight) - this was in 1979 and
1982-ish. Last time(2000?) we were advised not to walk around at all!
But places worth going to IF you do have the time are the museum (and you
might as well visit the Snake park opposite while you are there; they are
trying to make it more educational!). First time we went we walked; last
time the hotel arranged a taxi and the taxi driver arranged a time to come
and pick us up!
But if you are tired when you arrive (depending on arrival and whether you
can sleep on aircraft) you might be best advised not to try to do too much.
You might have time to fit something in at the end of the safari. I remember
in 1979 on our first (Kuoni) safari that we did over do it - went to town
and did some shopping, had a 'proper' dinner and had to get up early the
next day to leave, and I felt awful during the night and was convinced I
wasnt going to be well enough to go on the safari at all!


  #15  
Old March 3rd, 2005, 03:54 PM
Rita Daggett
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Posts: n/a
Default



"Stephen Robertson" wrote in message I'm a
little dubious about
Nairobi, we are spending two nights, one either side of the safari. By
all accounts it doesn't sound like the sort of place where you want to
leave the hotel at all or is that making it out to be worse than it is?
I'm not sure how much time we will have in Nairobi, or how much we
will want to do considering the flight times. Anyone have any
suggestions if we do have some time.


The first time we went to Nairobi (and I think the second) we went out quite
happily walking down to the town (in daylight) - this was in 1979 and
1982-ish. Last time(2000?) we were advised not to walk around at all!
But places worth going to IF you do have the time are the museum (and you
might as well visit the Snake park opposite while you are there; they are
trying to make it more educational!). First time we went we walked; last
time the hotel arranged a taxi and the taxi driver arranged a time to come
and pick us up!
But if you are tired when you arrive (depending on arrival and whether you
can sleep on aircraft) you might be best advised not to try to do too much.
You might have time to fit something in at the end of the safari. I remember
in 1979 on our first (Kuoni) safari that we did over do it - went to town
and did some shopping, had a 'proper' dinner and had to get up early the
next day to leave, and I felt awful during the night and was convinced I
wasnt going to be well enough to go on the safari at all!


  #16  
Old March 3rd, 2005, 04:48 PM
Dave Patterson
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Default

I glanced at the Kuoni itinerary and you are staying
at the Holiday Inn (according to the web site) which
is the newer name for an older (nice) property in
the suburbs. Unless the schedule offers some free
time, you won't really be out of the hotel anyway.


  #17  
Old March 3rd, 2005, 05:37 PM
Liz
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Default

In message .com
"Stephen Robertson" wrote:

Thank you everyone for your replies.

I've booked it now so in a few months I'll know for myself! We're also
having a few days at the beach afterwards. I'm a little dubious about
Nairobi, we are spending two nights, one either side of the safari. By
all accounts it doesn't sound like the sort of place where you want to
leave the hotel at all or is that making it out to be worse than it is?
I'm not sure how much time we will have in Nairobi, or how much we
will want to do considering the flight times. Anyone have any
suggestions if we do have some time.


You'll probably arrive early morning, so will have time to consult the tours
desk at the hotel to decide what you want to do. Depends what you're most
interested in: as Rita said, the Museum is worth a trip (just get a taxi
there, like Rita said.). Some people have posted here that the railway
museum is interesting if you're interested in that sort of thing.

The Bomas of Kenya is a show with polished performances of all sorts of
tribal dance: in 2002 there were dancers from the Bomas also at the
Carnivore, someone here can probably update you on that.

You can do an afternoon trip which combines Karen Blixen's House with the
Giraffe Centre at Langata (feed the giraffes by hand!)

Or have the afternoon in the National Park seeing your first wildlife.

I wouldn't go out wandering on my own: my husband was even worse when we
tried on our first visit - he was so nervous he pretended to be ill so that
we'd have to go back to the hotel!

Slainte

Liz

--
Virtual Liz now at http://www.v-liz.com
Kenya; Tanzania; Namibia; India; Seychelles; Galapagos
"I speak of Africa and golden joys"
  #18  
Old March 3rd, 2005, 06:24 PM
Hans-Georg Michna
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On 3 Mar 2005 03:51:47 -0800, "Stephen Robertson"
wrote:

We're also having a few days at the beach afterwards.


Stephen,

oh, I personally consider that a mistake. You may be bored to
death. I'd try everything to spend these days in the nature
reserves, rather than at the beach.

As to Nairobi, there are a few things you could do, like visit
the National Museum. I like the archaeological displays most.

You could also go to the city market or, if you're really into
it, have lunch at Kariakor Market, but I guess that's already
taking it too far. (:-)

Hans-Georg

--
No mail, please.
  #19  
Old March 4th, 2005, 09:08 AM
Liz
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In message
Dave B wrote:


My wife and I went on our first Safari in September 2001 on the very
trip you are looking at.


Hi, Dave -

Can you remember what company they were using for ground arrangements in
Kenya? I know they've changed since I was there.

Slainte

Liz (Just being nosey)

--
Virtual Liz now at http://www.v-liz.com
Kenya; Tanzania; Namibia; India; Seychelles; Galapagos
"I speak of Africa and golden joys"
  #20  
Old March 4th, 2005, 09:08 AM
Liz
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Posts: n/a
Default

In message
Dave B wrote:


My wife and I went on our first Safari in September 2001 on the very
trip you are looking at.


Hi, Dave -

Can you remember what company they were using for ground arrangements in
Kenya? I know they've changed since I was there.

Slainte

Liz (Just being nosey)

--
Virtual Liz now at http://www.v-liz.com
Kenya; Tanzania; Namibia; India; Seychelles; Galapagos
"I speak of Africa and golden joys"
 




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