oopsindia

I want to take my 18-year-old daughter to Kenya for a safari June 5 - 20. Yes, I know I am late; I always am. Our budget is $250 per day, and an ideal itinerary includes Samburu, Nakuru, Masai Mara, and possibly Serengeti and Ngorogoro. Amboseli might sub for Samburu. No luxury required; camping is OK. I am looking for a trustworthy safari company that offers something as special ... well, nearly ... as my daughter. Help, please. Asante sana. and aloha.

Pumbavu

Drop me an email and I can give you some tips.

$250 per day should go a long way if you're careful.

Kavey

Si, would you consider posting your tips here instead - would be great to add them to the wealth of info on the forum for all of us to benefit from?

Patty

Is your budget of $250 per day per person or for both of you? If per person, then I agree with Pumbavu that will be more than sufficient for Kenya in June without having to camp. Tanzania may be a little higher. If the $250 per day is for both of you, then it will be tight but I think do-able if you stick with camping and can find others to share the vehicle with you. Good luck!

sandi

June will be less expensive in Kenya than in Tanzania. When you take into account the daily park fees - ranging from $35-$50/day/person in either country you don't have much left for your room or tent. Your best bet would be some kind of group camping arrangement where the costs for the vehicle, gas, guide/driver is distributed.

janischa28

hmm, i think even tanzania is rather affordable on that budget in june.. we're paying 2600 USD for a 10 night private safari, staying at sopa and wilderness lodges.. and that includes 'going to the place to be at that time'...so, if you include some nights in towns (like arusha in tanzania and nairobi in kenya) which are much cheaper per night, your average should come around 250 USD per person per day...oopsindia, if you search on my name, you can find info on our trip, both part kenya and part tanzania... but sandi and patty are right, that kenya might be a bit cheaper.. just one more note, the budget for private safari camping is not much lower (eg i received a similar quote of 2200 USD for 10 night)...

Pumbavu

Hi happy to post tips on here... it's just sometimes I feel uncomfortable recommending particular tour companies in a public forum. I don't have any particular ax to grind, but I would be careful about saying who not to use.

Tip 1 - The price you see isn't the price you pay. Ask for a price reduction. No? Ask for more value for what your paying. If you're offered half board ask for full board. Just ask. It is a buyers market.

Can I also suggest trying to spend some time with Kenyan people... not just flying into a hotel... to a game park... to the hotel.... then home. Visit some local churches. Maybe ask to visit a school. Meet some people!!!

Tsavo is also worth considering. There are some more mid range lodges and the elephants are magnificent in their red dust make-up.

Maasai Mara is great... but more crowded, and in my experience more expensive, I don't think you'll see anything there you wont see in Tsavo (except maybe 20 buses around a kill)

Kavey

Si
I can't speak for everyone but, where I can see that a recommendation for (or advice to avoid) a particular operator is genuinely made and doesn't have a commercial motivation behind it, I really appreciate it - it's just that kind of info that is so useful.