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Kenya animal migration



 
 
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  #11  
Old September 6th, 2006, 09:05 PM posted to rec.travel.africa
Liz Leyden
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 85
Default Kenya animal migration

In message
"Rita Daggett" wrote:

Personally, I'd go for more nights per place at fewer places.
The roads arent that good so the travelling is tiring (although you will see
game along the way, and African life).


Sorry I'm getting into this thread late. I've not been able to get
onto Usenet for months!

Definitely, but better still have a longer trip!
If you move on every day, you'll have very little time in the game
parks and reserves.

Nothing wrong with the places mentioned in your itinerary, but the
distances between them are big. You'd want at least two weeks to do
that itinerary!
Also, Shaba is off the main tourist itinerary: there's nothing wrong
with it, in fact it's one of the more scenic reserves, and the lodge
is fine, but usually the game is mostly in Samburu/Buffalo Springs. We
stayed at Shaba one year, and ended up driving into Samburu or Buffalo
Springs every day since there was so little game in Shaba.. Nowadays I
understand, if you did that you'd be charged extra (one fee for Shaba,
one for whichever of the others you went into), not to mention the
waste of time (about 1/2 hour each way). Mountain Lodge is OK, I was
there in July and there were very few animals at the waterhole, but
there were some Bush Pigs the first evening just as the sun was going
down. Even the Syke's/Blue monkeys were scarcer than the last time I
was there. However, if you're interested in birds and go out the
nature walk (quite expensive) there are birds there you won't see
elsewhere.
Lake Nakuru was great in late July: the third time I've been there,
and definitely the most flamingoes! That's just luck, they move around
at will.
I was really, really lucky in the Mara. The wildebeest and zebra were
crossing the river on 2nd August (but not the previous day, though
they had been in late July, apparently) which is very early. It
usually starts in mid-August, and doing a trip timed to see the river
crossing was going to be my second retiral trip.

Really, Mazda, try to get a longer safari. The trouble with the trip I
was on this year was that it was only 13 days: the longest I could get
(not being able to afford a private trip on my own in July). :-(

Slainte

Liz

--
http://www.v-liz.com - Kenya; Tanzania; Namibia; India; Galapagos
Photo Gallery:
http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/g...emberID=165111

  #12  
Old September 10th, 2006, 03:14 PM posted to rec.travel.africa
mazda610328
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 8
Default Kenya animal migration

Thanks for advices. I just finalized my itinerary last week as below. 8
days Safari + 3 days in Mombasa. I will travel along and have no choice
to join a local group. The certified Operator is Wildwatch Safaris
(anyone heard of it?) and I hope it's good. It seems it's the best one
I select after I researched quite a few Safari operators. For longer
trip with 2 wks, would definitely next time if my friend could join me.

I didn't know Kenya trip could be so pricey. USD 3,000 just for
Airfares + local package. If including some other expected expense,
such as visa, tips....a bit shopping, extra expense in Mombasa.....the
entire trip is quite expensive to me..

As for preparaion prior to the trip, anything I need to take note:
- Injection: do I need to have specific shots? I heard there are some
wide illness there?
- Stuffs I need to bring with me? Towel, toothbrush, mostiquo
spray.....
- Is it easy to exchange foreign currency in Nairobu, RMB?

Thanks,
Eunice
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 1: Nairobi/Samburu
Depart Nairobi in the morning and arriving Samburu Serena Lodge in time
lunch. Afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at Samburu Lodge.
Approx Transit time: 5½ hrs

Day 2: Samburu
Full day in Samburu, with an early morning and late afternoon game
drive. Optional activites include a visit to a local Samburu village,
camel riding and guided nature and bird walks. All meals and overnight
at Samburu Lodge.

Day 3: Mountain Lodge
Depart Samburu after breakfast and drive to the lower slopes of Mt.
Kenya arriving Serena Mountain Lodge (tree hotel) in time for lunch.
Relax the afternoon away as you watch game from the balcony with an
optional guided nature walk. Overnight floodlit game viewing. Dinner
and overnight..
Approx Transit time: 3½ hrs

Day 4 & 5: Lake Nakuru
Depart Mountain Lodge in the morning and drive to the floor of the Rift
Valley to Lake Nakuru National Park making a brief stop at Nyahururu
Thomson Falls. Arrive Sarova Lion Hill Lodge for lunch. Afternoon game
drive. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Approx Transit time: 3 hrs

Day 6: Lake Nakuru/Maasai Mara
Depart Lake Nakuru after breakfast and drive further along the floor of
the Rift Valley to Maasai Mara Game Reserve arriving Mara Sopa Lodge in
time for lunch. Afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at the
lodge.
Approx Transit time: 6 hrs

Day 7: Maasai Mara
Spend the day in Maasai Mara. Game drives are flexible, with the option
of going out with picnic lunch boxes to spend entire day in the the
park, or you can choose to have early morning and late afternoon game
drives. All meals and overnight Mara Sopa Lodge.

Day 8: Maasai Mara/Nairobi
Another early morning game drive in Maasai Mara, then depart after
breakfast and drive back to Nairobi arriving approx 13:00hrs. Kenya
comfort Hotel overnight
Approx Transit time: 5½ hrs.

Day 9-10 Mombasa
Fly from Nairobi-Mombasa and Leisure at the Travellers beach hotel

Day 11 Mombasa to Nairobi
Fly from Mombasa to Naibori to conntect international flight

USD 2,177
Prices include:
- Transportation in a custom safari minibus with pop-up roof ideal for
game viewing and sightseeing.
- Services of a trained experienced English speaking driver/guide
- Fullboard accommodation in the lodges as mentioned
- Bottled water for use during the safari
- Game drives and all park entry fees
- Return airfare Nairobi- Mombasa
- Airport Transfers both in Nairobi and Mombasa
- Accomodation in Mombasa for two night based on Half board
- Accomodation in Nairobi at Kenya comfort Hotel

Liz Leyden wrote:
In message
"Rita Daggett" wrote:

Personally, I'd go for more nights per place at fewer places.
The roads arent that good so the travelling is tiring (although you will see
game along the way, and African life).


Sorry I'm getting into this thread late. I've not been able to get
onto Usenet for months!

Definitely, but better still have a longer trip!
If you move on every day, you'll have very little time in the game
parks and reserves.

Nothing wrong with the places mentioned in your itinerary, but the
distances between them are big. You'd want at least two weeks to do
that itinerary!
Also, Shaba is off the main tourist itinerary: there's nothing wrong
with it, in fact it's one of the more scenic reserves, and the lodge
is fine, but usually the game is mostly in Samburu/Buffalo Springs. We
stayed at Shaba one year, and ended up driving into Samburu or Buffalo
Springs every day since there was so little game in Shaba.. Nowadays I
understand, if you did that you'd be charged extra (one fee for Shaba,
one for whichever of the others you went into), not to mention the
waste of time (about 1/2 hour each way). Mountain Lodge is OK, I was
there in July and there were very few animals at the waterhole, but
there were some Bush Pigs the first evening just as the sun was going
down. Even the Syke's/Blue monkeys were scarcer than the last time I
was there. However, if you're interested in birds and go out the
nature walk (quite expensive) there are birds there you won't see
elsewhere.
Lake Nakuru was great in late July: the third time I've been there,
and definitely the most flamingoes! That's just luck, they move around
at will.
I was really, really lucky in the Mara. The wildebeest and zebra were
crossing the river on 2nd August (but not the previous day, though
they had been in late July, apparently) which is very early. It
usually starts in mid-August, and doing a trip timed to see the river
crossing was going to be my second retiral trip.

Really, Mazda, try to get a longer safari. The trouble with the trip I
was on this year was that it was only 13 days: the longest I could get
(not being able to afford a private trip on my own in July). :-(

Slainte

Liz

--
http://www.v-liz.com - Kenya; Tanzania; Namibia; India; Galapagos
Photo Gallery:
http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/g...emberID=165111


  #13  
Old September 10th, 2006, 03:35 PM posted to rec.travel.africa
Bill[_3_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 49
Default Kenya animal migration

mazda610328 wrote:

As for preparaion prior to the trip, anything I need to take note:
- Injection: do I need to have specific shots? I heard there are some
wide illness there?


Yes, you should probably visit a clinic or Dr. specializing in travel
medicine and you'll probably need shots or boosters for several things
like hepatitis A and B, yellow fever, polio, cholera, etc

Also perhaps a prescription for an anti-malarial drug like Malarone or
Larium.

- Is it easy to exchange foreign currency in Nairobu


Yes, if you meant Nairobi.

Bill

  #14  
Old September 10th, 2006, 04:01 PM posted to rec.travel.africa
Liz Leyden
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 85
Default Kenya animal migration

In message .com
"mazda610328" wrote:


I didn't know Kenya trip could be so pricey. USD 3,000 just for
Airfares + local package. If including some other expected expense,
such as visa, tips....a bit shopping, extra expense in Mombasa.....the
entire trip is quite expensive to me..

If you're flying from the States, it sounds as if you've got a *very*
good price!

As for preparaion prior to the trip, anything I need to take note:
- Injection: do I need to have specific shots? I heard there are some
wide illness there?

Yes, you'll need quite a few, plus mosquito pills.
Consult a good travel clinic/nurse/doctor as is appropriate in your
country. Here we have a nurse in our Health Centre who has done a
specialist travel qualification.

- Stuffs I need to bring with me? Towel, toothbrush, mostiquo
spray.....

Try www.v-liz.com/safari/hints/tippac.htm for what I take, and adapt
it to your own needs.

- Is it easy to exchange foreign currency in Nairobu, RMB?

Theoretically in Nairobi, but you won't have much time, probably.
Depends when your flight gets in. Usually you leave for safari just
after breakfast, not having time to go to a bank.
I'm not sure what you mean by RMB?

You can usually change money/travellers cheques at the lodges.

This year, I took all my money in Ksh, for drinks, tips etc, and had a
card for any purchases in shops. I kept the cash in various locations
for safety.

Safari njema!

Liz

--
http://www.v-liz.com - Kenya; Tanzania; Namibia; India; Galapagos
Photo Gallery:
http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/g...emberID=165111

  #15  
Old September 10th, 2006, 05:47 PM posted to rec.travel.africa
mazda610328
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 8
Default Kenya animal migration

Thanks for Bill & Liz's great info. The link Liz provides is awesome!!
wow~ It seems lots of things I need to prepare before leaving,
especially for the medical stuffs. I heard it takes 10 days to validate
yellow fever shot.

I will fly from Shanghai. Shanghai Hongkong Nairobi round trip
through Kenya Airways (around USD960). RMB is Reminbi, China currency.

I will stay in Naibori for 1 night and another 2 nights alone after
Safari trip. Is it safe to walk around there alone if anyone has been
there before?

I will also share room with a stranger in Safari tour to save cost.
Hopefully, my roommate is an easygoing person and we don't hate each
other in the end.

Eunice

Liz Leyden wrote:
In message .com
"mazda610328" wrote:


I didn't know Kenya trip could be so pricey. USD 3,000 just for
Airfares + local package. If including some other expected expense,
such as visa, tips....a bit shopping, extra expense in Mombasa.....the
entire trip is quite expensive to me..

If you're flying from the States, it sounds as if you've got a *very*
good price!

As for preparaion prior to the trip, anything I need to take note:
- Injection: do I need to have specific shots? I heard there are some
wide illness there?

Yes, you'll need quite a few, plus mosquito pills.
Consult a good travel clinic/nurse/doctor as is appropriate in your
country. Here we have a nurse in our Health Centre who has done a
specialist travel qualification.

- Stuffs I need to bring with me? Towel, toothbrush, mostiquo
spray.....

Try www.v-liz.com/safari/hints/tippac.htm for what I take, and adapt
it to your own needs.

- Is it easy to exchange foreign currency in Nairobu, RMB?

Theoretically in Nairobi, but you won't have much time, probably.
Depends when your flight gets in. Usually you leave for safari just
after breakfast, not having time to go to a bank.
I'm not sure what you mean by RMB?

You can usually change money/travellers cheques at the lodges.

This year, I took all my money in Ksh, for drinks, tips etc, and had a
card for any purchases in shops. I kept the cash in various locations
for safety.

Safari njema!

Liz

--
http://www.v-liz.com - Kenya; Tanzania; Namibia; India; Galapagos
Photo Gallery:
http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/g...emberID=165111


  #16  
Old September 10th, 2006, 06:07 PM posted to rec.travel.africa
Bill[_3_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 49
Default Kenya animal migration

mazda610328 wrote:

I will stay in Naibori for 1 night and another 2 nights alone after
Safari trip. Is it safe to walk around there alone if anyone has been
there before?


Eunice,

Nairobi is considered a very dangerous city with high crime rates, so I
would strongly suggest not going out alone. There are some interesting
sights to see like the animal orphanage etc nearby but arrange with the
hotel to have someone take you there. If you venture out alone,
especially at night, you'll likely be mugged.

Here's a link to a story about a robbery in a safari camp near the
Masai Mara a few weeks ago, with some comments about crime in general
.... if the Russian ambassador got robbed and stabbed in town and the
golf courses need armed guards then you know it's not a very safe place
....

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...324779,00.html

Here's a clip from the above story ...

"Visitors are told to remain alert to the risk of violent crime. Last
year two Japanese tourists were injured when armed bandits held up two
tour vans. A similar incident was reported further north in Samburu
National Park.

Security officials at western embassies in Nairobi suggest that
criminals are getting bolder, particularly in towns and cities. Latest
travel advice issued by the Foreign Office warns tourists: "There
have been a number of armed attacks on golf courses around Nairobi. Be
extra vigilant while playing in remote areas away from the clubhouse of
any golf courses." Several golf courses in Nairobi employ watchmen
armed with bows and arrows to patrol distant fairways.

Elsewhere, billboards warn women to protect themselves against rape and
offer advice to drivers in the event of a carjacking.

Small arms left over from civil wars in neighbouring Uganda, Somalia
and Sudan are easily available in Kenya. Banks and restaurants are
protected by security guards and homes in well-off suburbs stand inside
high walls, razor wire and electrified fences; but money and status do
not always offer much protection.

Valery Egoshkin, the Ambassador for Russia, was stabbed on Sunday
during a robbery."

And so it goes ...

Bill
(not trying to dissuade you from your safari, just warning you not to
wander around Nairobi alone)

  #17  
Old September 10th, 2006, 06:07 PM posted to rec.travel.africa
rascal[_1_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 20
Default Kenya animal migration

I will stay in Naibori for 1 night and another 2 nights alone after
Safari trip. Is it safe to walk around there alone if anyone has been
there before?


Do NOT walk alone in Narobi unless you know the city very well.


  #18  
Old September 10th, 2006, 06:36 PM posted to rec.travel.africa
Liz Leyden
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 85
Default Kenya animal migration

In message . com
"mazda610328" wrote:


I will stay in Naibori for 1 night and another 2 nights alone after
Safari trip. Is it safe to walk around there alone if anyone has been
there before?

No.
Get a taxi recommended by your hotel to wherever you want to go.
They will either wait for you or give you a number to contact them on.
Nairobi is often called Nairobbery, and for good reason.
Lots of horror stories, though obviously some people are OK.
Even many of the safari driver/guides like to get out of Nairobi as
quickly as possible!
www.v-liz.com/safari/nairobiare/nairo.htm

Best way to spend your day in Nairobi would be to have a full day in
the National Park, which has lots of birds and most of the mammals
except Elephant. www.v-liz.com/safari/nairobiare/nnp_pa.htm

Alternatives:
Giraffe Manor: www.v-liz.com/safari/nairobiare/girman.htm
Karen Blixen House: www.v-liz.com/safari/nairobiare/kbh.htm
The Museum
The Bomas of Kenya (professional dance troupe)
The Railway museum (if you're interested in railways)
There's also a famous market, which I think might only be on a
Saturday, maybe someone has more info?


I will also share room with a stranger in Safari tour to save cost.
Hopefully, my roommate is an easygoing person and we don't hate each
other in the end.

I did that this time, and my two Galapagos trips.
Good luck!

Slainte

Liz



--
http://www.v-liz.com - Kenya; Tanzania; Namibia; India; Galapagos
Photo Gallery:
http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/g...emberID=165111

  #19  
Old September 11th, 2006, 03:48 PM posted to rec.travel.africa
mazda610328
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 8
Default Kenya animal migration

Wow~ scary and shock. Thanks for everyone's warning.
I am thinking to bring whistle, gas gun, buying more insurance........
Actually, that's how I lost my travel partner. My girlfriend's mom said
it's dangerous there and tried her best to stop my friend and I thought
it's ridiculous.

How about Mombasa? Is it safe to walk around? If the answer is no, I
might consider ending my trip in Safari and come back home earlier.

Does it mean sharing room with stranger would mostly end up an aweful
experience?

Thanks,
Eunice

  #20  
Old September 11th, 2006, 04:20 PM posted to rec.travel.africa
Liz Leyden
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 85
Default Kenya animal migration

In message .com
"mazda610328" wrote:


Does it mean sharing room with stranger would mostly end up an aweful
experience?

Not necessarily.

Slainte

Liz


--
http://www.v-liz.com - Kenya; Tanzania; Namibia; India; Galapagos
Photo Gallery:
http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/g...emberID=165111

 




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