Safari - Kenya

[andyb]

Anyone ever done one? or done one with Virgin?
What are they like?

Whats the best time of year to go to see the most game? was thinking feb\march or may???

Thanks for your help

Andy

[Theigoes]

I dont know what part of Africa you are going to but we did a safari in Kenya for our Honeymoon in June 91 (long time ago now!) It was fabulous I would definately recommend it. I cant wait until my kids are old enough to go, that will be a year we give Disney a miss im afraid.

We booked thru Somak Holidays who just do Africa and Safari's I would recommend them every time

[andyb]

Going to Kenya.

Did you fly onto a beach location after the safari? mombassa\zanzibar?
How did you get over there? was it a small light aircraft?

What was the weather like in june? as thats the wet season i think?
was there alot of animals about?

[Jan]

I wouldn't fancy having to take anti-malarial tablets!

[Theigoes]

Going to Kenya.

Did you fly onto a beach location after the safari? mombassa\zanzibar?
How did you get over there? was it a small light aircraft?

What was the weather like in june? as thats the wet season i think?
was there alot of animals about?


We Flew to Mombasa , as soon as we landed we drove ( very scary and I dont even want to think about the Toilet facilities YUK!) for about 5 hours to Amboseili, we had a night there, Monkeys on the Dining table and an infinity pool overlooking the Savannah really spectacular. Then game drive's and onto Tsavo West we did another two days on Safari. It was fantastic so many amazing memories cant list them all. We then drove to the beach and had ten days there. The weather was great it rained once or twice I dont know if were just lucky. The beach boys can get you down a bit but you are safe on Hotel property as the security guards wont let them in.

We managed to see Lions, Hippos, Zebra, Giraffes, Rhino's and many more.

You will have a great holiday, it makes me shiver when I remember mine!

[andyb]

Thinking of doing the Masia Mara safari, not sure of best time of year to go though.

[Theigoes]

We went to a Masa Mara Village and my DH went into one of their Huts OMG the Flies it was horrid, but still an amazing experience.

As for the weather I think you were right I think our spring is the best time to go. But I have to say when we went in June we got a good price (£500.00 each) but this was 15 years ago:blush: and the weather was fine.

Only thing I wish I had done was the balloon safari, maybe next time!

[scottfeltham]

hi we got back from a safari in kenya in may,it was brilliant
we had 3 days in shaba/samburu parks
1 day in lake nakuru
2 days at the masa mara which was the best
we saw the big five plus lots more
weve got 8 cubs and a mother feading on a buffalo on dvd
we flew in and out of nairobi
a few in our group went to the coast after that
the journeys between the parks was an eye opener
we booked with tradewinds,and rhino safari drove us everywhere
scott

[Burties]

We visited friends in Zimbabwe a few years ago and went on a boat safari on Lake Kariba. It was Feb/March time and very, very hot.
We were able to charter a boat with crew for 5days, very cheaply, and then go out in small boats with our guides to look for game.
We were lucky enough to see lots of elephants, hippos and even a black rhino with a baby. Unforgettable!

Unfortunately, with the problems that Zimbabwe has now, tourists don't visit.

Burties

[caz&zoe]

I have just booked the Masai Explorer Safari and Papillon Reef Hotel in Mombasa with Virgin for next year.

My DD did a month in Mombasa last year and wants to go back, so was happy to oblige!!!

Really looking forward to it.

[scottfeltham]

i will say the parks up the north of kenya.shaba /samburu it was very hot
but the masa mara it was hot in the day and chilly at night
scott

[grottyrotty]

I went to Kenya with 3 friends (from Saudi) **?!@ yrs ago - cough!

What a fab holiday. I, too, can't wait until the kids are old enough to go.

We booked a very, very cheap safari when we arrived in Nairobi. I'd be mortified if one of my kids did a similar holiday.

We stayed in 2-man tents in the middle of the Masai Mara (not an organised campsite), where we watched lions, elephants etc during the daytime & found paw prints around our tents in the morning:omg: Our toilets were down by the river behind a bush during the day, and as close to the tent as poss at night :pgig: Washing facilities were a plastic bowl with some cold water (rationed coz it was the camp drinking water) that had to be used between 2 of us.

The animals that we saw on this holiday were awesome - and I got some wonderful photos. And plenty of them. To see a lion hunting & bringing down its prey in real life is beyond words!

We also drove down to Lake Nakuru - Pink Flamingos by the milliions on the lake - its a standing joke in the family that I have a "thing" about pink flamingoes now

We did journey each evening to a posh resort while our driver stocked up on fuel & drinking water. Here we would run into the loo to have a strip-down wash, then onto the verandah for a Pimms while watching the wild-life at the watering hole, then back to our makeshift camp.

The anti-malarials made me ill, so after realising that the efficacy rate isn't wonderful anyway, I stopped taking them, luckily with no detriment to myself.

We flew onto a bit of luxury after our "bucket" safari - we went to the Seychelles for a week. But guess what??? We preferred the "roughing-it" hol in Kenya!

Deb :wave:

[andyb]

scott - What was the weather like in May? i heard its wet season then and the best time to go is the dry season??


caz&zoe - When are you going on the Masai Explorer? Thats the one we would like to do.

[scottfeltham]

hi,andyb,the weather was hot up in the shaba/samburu and south in masa mara parks
nairobi was warm and lake nakuru was warm but had showers
i did think it would rain alot,but we had an hr or two around the pool every day at our lodges,i was surprised
we had no problems with the malaria tablets apart from the price of £42.00
plus the yellow fever jab cost the same aswell:cry:
if we went again id just go to the masa mara
scott:wavey: