East African safari tour operators

Escapees

We're looking to organise a safari tour from Kenya to take in the Masai Mara and Serengeti parks in a few weeks time. Has anyone done this before but arranged it all when in Kenya at this time of year (peak season)? Have noticed that the safari tours offered by Irish/UK tour operators all seem booked up for the next few weeks so getting a little nervous! Any recommendations for tour operators? Been looking at trip-advisor but the reviews for tour operators are scattered all over the place and a lot of the company web links don't work.

skoomi

I organized my Masai Mara tour while in Kenya, around May 2010. The reception of my hostel sorted everything out. Where will you be staying once you arrive there? The hotel could sort something out for you if you call ahead. Everybody in Kenya knows a guy who knows a guy who can sort you out.

Anyway, one of the best Safari companies in Kenya is JT Safaris. Just look at their reviews on tripadvisor: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g317068-d318009-Reviews-Julius_Safaris_Day_Trips-Ukunda_Coast_Province.html

Their website: www.julius-safaris.com

I lived in Kenya for almost a year so feel free to ask as many questions as you want.

Escapees

Thanks skoomi - came across JT alright but he doesn't go to the Serengeti. I keep reading about hostels and hotels who offer to arrange safaris for you, but it kinda makes me think that you're paying a premium so that they can get a cut. Am I wrong in my thinking here? As in, is it that the hotels and hostels are just being helpful and not trying to screw you over?!

skoomi

I didn't go to the Serengeti so don't know about tours there.

The hostel who organized my tour added about $50 onto the "street" price. But given a choice of wandering around Nairobi looking for the cheapest and possibly the dodgiest tour company, or just having the hostel organize a trip with their tried & tested vans and guides etc. for less hassle, I chose the hostel. I wouldn't really call it being screwed over... I'm sure the high-end hotels screw you over though. Ended up being about $330 for the whole trip and it was fecking great.

bungaro79

are you open to going to tanzania escapees??? for one thats where the serengeti is and there are also a lot of other parks like ngorongoro, lake manyara, tangire, etc. if you do consider it then i'd recommend basecamp tanzania, accommodation is the only issue you might have if you're leaving it late though. fantastic part of the world though, you'll have a ball

Escapees

It does look like most of the action is in Tanzania alright, at least at this time of year. But we read that some safari operators in Kenya cross into Tanzania on their trips. From a map, it looked like Nairobi is quite close to the Serengeti, even though it's in another country, compared to say Dar es Salaam. Were you thinking of using Arusha as basecamp in Tanzania?

bungaro79

it was arusha (kiliminjaro airport) we flew into for the safari. from there i think the serengeti was a good days drive away. we did tarangire on the way out and ngorongoro on the way back to break the journey. absolutely fantastic trip. when first planning we were looking into kenya but the more we researched the better tanzania seemed to us. think kenya is just marketed better.
another thing to think about is if you are based in nairobi and you do cross into tanzania even for a day trip then it'll cost you $100 for a visa. not sure about kenya but you'll need a yellow fever cert for tanz.

Escapees

Thanks bungaro - I think we'll suss the situation when we arrive in Nairobi and if there's no availability for a trip to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro etc., we'll get the first bus to Arusha and cross our fingers from there. It's proving next to impossible to try to arrange something with an African tour operator from here and all the big UK names have no availability.

bungaro79

email achmed in basecamp tanzania, think its management@basecamptanzania.com , and see if he can do a safari at this late stage. if nothing else it will give you an idea if theres accommodation available or not. not sure if there is a limit on the number of vehicles in the parks but i'm thinking that the main issue for you at this stage is finding a place to stay as most places are nearly a days drive from either nairobi or arusha. anyway best of luck with it and hope you get sorted.

Escapees

bungaro - I'm in shock - I've been busy emailing safari companies the last few days for pricing and this one actually lists theirs. That's got to be a good sign! Thanks a mill.

Edit: Although, they ain't cheap!

tiel

Speaking as one who works in the Kenya travel industry, I know it is possible to organize a safari to the Mara with a local operator even this late in the peak season. However, you will find it quite hard getting the accommodation of your choice for all the number of nights you'd want to stay there. Most of the good lodges are booked well in advance. You may have to stay in less-than-ideal lodges, or hop from one good lodge to another, depending on availability.

It is possible to combine both Mara (Kenya) and Serengeti (Tanzania) in one safari, starting first in the Mara, then crossing to Serengeti. If you are interested in the migration, your best bet (assuming you are travelling around the week of 23 July) would be the Mara. As at now, the wildebeest haven't arrived in the Mara, although there are reports that they are close to the Kenya-Tanzania border on the way North. They may be in the Mara in the next two weeks.

Maragates (maragates.com) and Africapoint (africapoint.com) are just some of the reputable local operators that can assist you.