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#11
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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
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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
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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. |
#14
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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
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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! |
#16
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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" |
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