We just returned from Kenya & Tanzania on Tuesday with Rebecca our 11 yr grand daughter. Lynda S. suggested about a month ago that I might make some comments from a young child's point of view.

1. Rebecca's expectations (which were high)were more than met in most cases.
2. The biggest disappointment was Sweet Waters because the Jane Goodall Reserve is highly over rated (from Rebecca's point of view). The Houston Zoo has a better chimp display.
3. Rebecca was highly fascinated with the Serena Mountain Lodge. She loved watching the animals at the floodlit water hole.
4. Rebecca enjoyed shopping in the Serena Lodges gift shops in Kenya. This was surprising because she is usually not a shopper.
5. A big hit was out last day in Nairobi. We visited the Sheldrick orphanage and Rebecca thought she had died and gone to heaven when she got to pet the baby elephants. She also got to feed and hug the giraffes at the Giraffe Center. We went to the giraffe center early and there were very few people there.

Now for my suggestion. 1. Bring a deck of cards or other games for the grandkids. There is a long period of time between game drives and nothing planned for children in most cases.

2. Don't ride the bus from Arusha to Nairobi. We had been led to believe it would be the equivalent of the US tourist bus, which is certainly not correct. No air conditioner and for reasons I am unable to understand the African people must love the heat because no one wanted to open a window. At the border a lady with a window seat changed places with me so I could open the window an inch. If I had known all this I certainly would have been glad to fly to Nairobi. I thought I would the country side would be interesting, and it really was not - at least not after a 13 day safari.

3. If you have an extra day to spend in Nairobi, I believe most ladies would enjoy the Kuzuri Bead Factory. That is where I bought my souvenirs. I liked the idea of helping the single African mothers as well as the jewelry.

We used Eastern and Southern and were quite pleased with their service.