First Time on Safari to Africa Questions

On Sun, 12 Dec 2004 21:01:50 GMT, Liz wrote:

In message
Anyway, I'm genuinely interested in finding out which UK insurer/s cover
both at a reasonable price:

The policy I've got is from Tesco...
They may have another policy coveing higher cancellations.
But then yours is more expensive already (I discovered mine cost less than I
thought).

It's more expensive now than when I bought it too... and the
cancellation appears to be 5000 now too, but yes, it doesn't look so
competitive now.

Jim.

In message
(Jim Ley) wrote:

On Sun, 12 Dec 2004 21:01:50 GMT, Liz wrote:


The policy I've got is from Tesco...
They may have another policy coveing higher cancellations.
But then yours is more expensive already (I discovered mine cost less than I
thought).

It's more expensive now than when I bought it too... and the
cancellation appears to be 5000 now too, but yes, it doesn't look so
competitive now.

Still, would be worth it if someone was booking a trip outwith ABTA/ATOL.

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

In message
(Jim Ley) wrote:

On Sun, 12 Dec 2004 21:01:50 GMT, Liz wrote:


The policy I've got is from Tesco...
They may have another policy coveing higher cancellations.
But then yours is more expensive already (I discovered mine cost less than I
thought).

It's more expensive now than when I bought it too... and the
cancellation appears to be 5000 now too, but yes, it doesn't look so
competitive now.

Still, would be worth it if someone was booking a trip outwith ABTA/ATOL.

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

"Liz" wrote in message
...
..
I was very pleased with our Kuoni safari which was our first trip.
Bangs for bucks, excellent value (on a group tour).
(snip)
However, they don't offer fully tailor-made safaris: you can pick and mix
from the different offering in their brochure, that's all.

Apparently not true - someone I know (electronically) had a complete
'tailor-made' done bt Kuoni in Tanzania a couple of years ago, with own
driver/guide.

(by the way, I agree with you about using an agent, for the 'bonding'
reasons, getting (often) cheaper flights TO Africa, and there's a time issue
too - I dont have endless time to sort things out for myself so I'm happy to
deal with an agent, and if its a good one, they often have very good advice.
For example, at WWJE and Sunvil the people who are organising your safari
have often visited the places themselves.

--
Rita Daggett

"Liz" wrote in message
...
..
I was very pleased with our Kuoni safari which was our first trip.
Bangs for bucks, excellent value (on a group tour).
(snip)
However, they don't offer fully tailor-made safaris: you can pick and mix
from the different offering in their brochure, that's all.

Apparently not true - someone I know (electronically) had a complete
'tailor-made' done bt Kuoni in Tanzania a couple of years ago, with own
driver/guide.

(by the way, I agree with you about using an agent, for the 'bonding'
reasons, getting (often) cheaper flights TO Africa, and there's a time issue
too - I dont have endless time to sort things out for myself so I'm happy to
deal with an agent, and if its a good one, they often have very good advice.
For example, at WWJE and Sunvil the people who are organising your safari
have often visited the places themselves.

--
Rita Daggett

On 10 Dec 2004 10:12:35 -0800, "Joel"
wrote:

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

Joel,

sounds excellent to me. Also the idea to change lodges in Masai
Mara for a total of 5 nights is not bad.

I don't know the Elephant Hill Camp, but usually you get what
you pay for.

Hans-Georg

--
No mail, please.

On 10 Dec 2004 10:12:35 -0800, "Joel"
wrote:

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

Joel,

sounds excellent to me. Also the idea to change lodges in Masai
Mara for a total of 5 nights is not bad.

I don't know the Elephant Hill Camp, but usually you get what
you pay for.

Hans-Georg

--
No mail, please.

On 11 Dec 2004 09:29:11 -0800,
wrote:

I recommend flying to the Mara since you don't need a driver/guide
there. Also the road from Nakuru to the Mara is bad. I remember some
really bad patches near Narok but since I always fly, I don't have the
latest info. Hans should know.

From http://www.michna.com/kenya2004/ :

"The road between Narok and Ntulelei has been, or is still being
repaired. I met the repair truck on the way. Funny, the same
thing has happened to me before. They always seem to repair that
stretch in June, then the repairs hold for half a year. Ntulelei
itself and the distance to the edge of the rift valley is as
terrible as it was, however, so that took me some time."

That stretch is the real problem, apart from the whole drive
taking the better part of a day. Around Ntulelei the road
consists almost entirely of potholes and lots of dust, so you
have the choice between being thrown about, wasting several
hours while driving at pedestrian speed, and suffocating from
the dust.

On the other hand, it's part of the adventure. (:-)

I would say, if you drive in a minibus with an experienced
driver, it is bearable. These things have soft springs. And the
rest of the drive is nice and interesting. But flying is nice
too.

Hans-Georg

--
No mail, please.

On 11 Dec 2004 09:29:11 -0800,
wrote:

I recommend flying to the Mara since you don't need a driver/guide
there. Also the road from Nakuru to the Mara is bad. I remember some
really bad patches near Narok but since I always fly, I don't have the
latest info. Hans should know.

From http://www.michna.com/kenya2004/ :

"The road between Narok and Ntulelei has been, or is still being
repaired. I met the repair truck on the way. Funny, the same
thing has happened to me before. They always seem to repair that
stretch in June, then the repairs hold for half a year. Ntulelei
itself and the distance to the edge of the rift valley is as
terrible as it was, however, so that took me some time."

That stretch is the real problem, apart from the whole drive
taking the better part of a day. Around Ntulelei the road
consists almost entirely of potholes and lots of dust, so you
have the choice between being thrown about, wasting several
hours while driving at pedestrian speed, and suffocating from
the dust.

On the other hand, it's part of the adventure. (:-)

I would say, if you drive in a minibus with an experienced
driver, it is bearable. These things have soft springs. And the
rest of the drive is nice and interesting. But flying is nice
too.

Hans-Georg

--
No mail, please.

In message , Hans-Georg
Michna writes
On 10 Dec 2004 10:12:35 -0800, "Joel"
wrote:

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

Joel,

sounds excellent to me. Also the idea to change lodges in Masai
Mara for a total of 5 nights is not bad.

I don't know the Elephant Hill Camp, but usually you get what
you pay for.

Hans-Georg

Hans Georg,
I think Joel means Elephant Watch camp? It is run by Iain and Oria
Douglas Hamilton. They have the Save the Elephant project at Samburu.
It certainly is pricey Joel but of course they are the elephant
experts. We found Samburu lodge to be well run.
Pat

--
Pat Anderson