Kenya - 1 week safari, 1 week beach in mid August

BossArky

Hi all,

Has anyone been to Kenya? Any recommendations on best safari and beach destinations? I am planning going there from 10th to 24th of August with one week safari and one week on the beach approximately.

I have just started my research so any pointers appreciated.

Thanks!

johnfás

Lake Nakuru National Park was the best I saw in Kenya. Best safaris I did though were in Tanzania.

Last summer I did 3 weeks with a tour company called Dragoman. Started in Nairobi, when down through Kenya into Tanzania where we did Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengetti National Park, on to Lake Victoria which we skirted right back up Kenya and into Uganda, stayed on the White Nile in Uganda and did some watersports, then crossed Uganda and into Rwanda where we went trekking for mountain gorillas, then back through Uganda and into Kenya where we took in Lake Nakuru (3 million flamingoes on one lake - incredible!!!) and back to Nairobi again - WELL WORTH IT!!!

ironictoaster

Sounds nice, My Irish teacher also went to Kenya. He told if ever went to Kenya go to the Serengeti national park and climb Mount Kilimanjaro

So yeah, Do what the man told me what to do

microgirl

I second Tanzania, but since they're neighbouring countries it's probably not much of a difference. The Serengeti straddles both anyway.

Arusha and Moshi are the two towns in Tanzania that safaris mostly base out of, near border with Kenya. I didn't plan my safari too much in advance, just looked up some companies online and mailed from Africa.

Beach-wise, I know Kenya has some lovely resorts, but I'm not familar with them. However, I can't recommend Zanzibar highly enough. There are flights there direct from Arusha, and I think Nairobi as well.

BossArky

Has anyone climbed Kilimanjaro? Just came across various bits and pieces and thinking it could be an interesting diversion from Kenya:

http://www.climbingkilimanjaro.com/why.htm

folkface

johnf&#225 wrote: »

Lake Nakuru National Park was the best I saw in Kenya. Best safaris I did though were in Tanzania.

Last summer I did 3 weeks with a tour company called Dragoman. Started in Nairobi, when down through Kenya into Tanzania where we did Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengetti National Park, on to Lake Victoria which we skirted right back up Kenya and into Uganda, stayed on the White Nile in Uganda and did some watersports, then crossed Uganda and into Rwanda where we went trekking for mountain gorillas, then back through Uganda and into Kenya where we took in Lake Nakuru (3 million flamingoes on one lake - incredible!!!) and back to Nairobi again - WELL WORTH IT!!!

Where did you book this tour?
How much did it cost?

Can anyone else please say what site they booked through and how much it cost to book and where they flew from and to etc?

What currency do they use???

Is it feasibly to book the flights / hotels / tours / safaris yourself online rather than pay a tour operator on Abbey Street E 3500 to do it for you

johnfás

folkface wrote:

Where did you book this tour?
How much did it cost?

Can anyone else please say what site they booked through and how much it cost to book and where they flew from and to etc?

What currency do they use???

Is it feasibly to book the flights / hotels / tours / safaris yourself online rather than pay a tour operator on Abbey Street E 3500 to do it for you

I booked the tour directly through the tour company which was Dragoman (www.dragoman.com) think the trip code for the one I actually did was NNN. They go all different places in the world.

The tour itself for 3 weeks cost about 750 euro. We camped for the 3 weeks, drove around in a big truck from place to place with an English driver/tour leader who was very knowledgeable - I would entirely recommend them. Visas were extra and that was about maybe 150 for all the different countries (Rwanda was the bulk of that but think it's cheaper now). On the truck we each contributed 350 US dollars into a kitty which covered all our National Park entrance fees and food while camping etc. The only currency you need to bring is US dollars - they accept it everywhere and almost prefer it to their own currencies. You can't buy their currencies here so bring dollars and then exchange over there.

We got flights to Nairobi for around 750 too via Heathrow (booked through USIT).

Was an excellent holiday well worth it, anymore questions just ask.

folkface

Would it be suitable for a wedding anniversaire? The woman might be fit for camping for a while but after 3 weeks we might be coming home seperate ways. :rolleyes:

Does this look like a good deal to you?
http://www.gohop.ie/1090/AdventureTravel/India/holiday.html

This price doen't include flights but i reckon i can get return flights with Etihad airways to New Delhi for E600 pp.

So the tour and flights work out at @ 1300 pp.

johnfás

folkface wrote:

Would it be suitable for a wedding anniversaire? The woman might be fit for camping for a while but after 3 weeks we might be coming home seperate ways. :rolleyes:

Does this look like a good deal to you?
http://www.gohop.ie/1090/AdventureTravel/India/holiday.html

This price doen't include flights but i reckon i can get return flights with Etihad airways to New Delhi for E600 pp.

So the tour and flights work out at @ 1300 pp.

Certainly on our tour around East Africa on almost every campsite there was a guesthouse where one could "upgrade" and stay for about an extra 8 dollars! Which would only work out at about 180dollars (150 euro?) to do that the whole time. I didn't bother doing it at all though - the banter around the tents was good but one or two did it for a night or two.

The India tour looks great - it's a place I would love to go. I think for a tour with hotels and that you are looking at that sort of price as about standard.

zoemax

A friend did a one week safari and one week beach honeymoon and told me that it was fab but that the safari should be week 1 as it can be tiring and the beach should be week 2 to wind down.

MissThing

I was in Kenya last month.
I stayed in the Baobab Beach Resort for one week all inclusive flights and transfer from Gatwick for £500.

http://www.tripadvisor.ie/Hotel_Review-g294210-d633837-Reviews-Baobab_Beach_Resort-Mombasa.html

We booked through FirstChoice.
http://www.firstchoice.co.uk/

Also we flew to a safari on the masi Mara for 2 nights 5 * through mombassa air safair (might have that wrong) amazing "tents" which had four poster beds, en suite wet room, our own driver for 2 days safari all for $1500 the lot. FX to $ is very good now.

Make sure that you get all your vaccinations, including rabies as lots of animals are carriers not just dogs, before you go and give yourself lots of time for them to take effect.
Have a great time!
MT

Esteem

BossArky wrote:

Has anyone climbed Kilimanjaro? Just came across various bits and pieces and thinking it could be an interesting diversion from Kenya:

http://www.climbingkilimanjaro.com/why.htm

I climbed Kilimanjaro and also done a safari in Tanzania last year. I would highly recommend both. We done the safari in Lake Minyara, Serengeti and Ngorogoro crater.

brndonnie

hopefully you guys can help

i will be in kenya late august early sept so i am hoping to catch the great migration

does anyone have any advice on companies or guides and estimate of costs to expect??

thanks

Tiesto

simple as...
-Fly to Nairobi..
-Spend a couple of nights there..
-Then go on a 3/4 night safari to the Masai Mara.
- Return to Nairobi and take a flight to Mombasa. A week in Mombasa. Return to Nairobi, fly home.

Ive went to the Masai Mara twice now.. I was also in Lake Nakura. You cant compare the 2 though. Way more to be seen in the Masai Mara.

Spook_ie

Brndonnie, was there on family trip in 2007 - had an amazing time, but you are going at the peak time and prices will reflect this. As there were 10 of us going we booked through trailfinders in Dublin & they used a Kenyan company called Pollmans and they were fab. Lodges tend to be cheaper than the camps, try and get accommodation around the Talek River ie Serena Lodge, Intrepids camp, govenors etc.

Tiesto

Had to dig for this
For the Safari, you should use Lets Go Travel.
Gladwell@letsgosafari.com
That's a contact at Lets Go Travel, Nairobi.
Amongst my family, we have used this company on quite a few occasions and found them excellent to deal with.
There totally legit, and have a pretty big operation in ABC Place (www.abc-place.com ) in Nairobi.

Tiesto wrote: »

simple as...
-Fly to Nairobi..
-Spend a couple of nights there..
-Then go on a 3/4 night safari to the Masai Mara.
- Return to Nairobi and take a flight to Mombasa. A week in Mombasa. Return to Nairobi, fly home.

Ive went to the Masai Mara twice now.. I was also in Lake Nakura. You cant compare the 2 though. Way more to be seen in the Masai Mara.

seldoon

Hi,

I only recently started looking into Rwanda as a holiday destination. I want to go to the Volcanoes National Park to see the mountain gorillas. I came acorss you thread about using Dragoman and I have seen a trip, very similar to yours, that looks fantastic!! What I would like to know is if you had any security concerns while you were travelling?