mara

I know more about Tz than Kenya, but your difficulty might be in finding camps/lodges to suit your budget at this late date. Many places get filled up months in advance. You might want to be corresponding with a reputable ground operator who can help you find accommodations since you're running out of time on this.

If you've been to Kenya before, do you feel that 20 days in the Mara would be excessive? Did you enjoy any of the other parks enough to revisit them?

You'll be paying a single supplement for the duration of your 20 days which will seriously impact your budget and where you stay. You may have to consider shortening your trip in order to apply some of your budget toward the single supplement.

Others will be able to help you with specifics, I just thought I'd top this thread with my general thoughts (concerns?) for you.

20 days Mara - you should consider yourself quite privileged!

Maybe split it between 10 days at ENTIM (excellent fly-in package and Kicheche Bush.

Jusr rush and try to get it going! Kicheche booking office will sure be able to negotiate so is Entim.

Budget should be fine and doable!

Just swing your butt and start requesting space!

I am jealous!

I'm also jealous, but if you want 20/days total, then definitely split your time between a camp inside the Reserve (as Entim, Naibor, Rekero, Little Governor's) and on the private conservancies such as: Mara North, Olaro Orok where you can do walks and night drives (at Kicheche, Elephant Pepper, Serian, Porini).

But even with $500/person/day you've got to consider the single supplement and not all will include your beverages.

Good luck!

spassvogel and sandi, thanks, join me, if possible !!!!!!!!!!!, would be nice to have such great knowledgeable company, i have read your posts on other threads and both of you are very very good with your information

spassvogel, how are the game drives done at entim, do they provide a spotter and a guide, also is the accomodation and camp area ( condition of the general tents and camp area )as top notch as compared to naibor and rekero and little governors, do they cater to veggie food, as i am a vegetarian
also are mobile signals availiable at entim, and can u charge mobiles and cameras in your rooms ? kicheche, sounds far, but do they have large prides of lions, leopards and cheetahs near the camp, interested in seeing the big cats

Sandi, am a teetotaller and not fond of coke etc, so chilled bottled water is fine for me, I am seriously looking at serian, would that be possible at 500pp if i stayed there for 4-5 nights or maybe more, pls advise

Also u both pls let me know the next time ur in africa, would love to join you

If you're vegetarian, just advise your dietary needs. And for drinks, if other than bottled water, advise your preference and if not too exotic that it's not even available in Kenya, most properties should be able to accommodate you.

You can charge batteries at all camps; if not in the tent, certainly at the public space. Bearing in mind these camps run on solar or generator power when it's on. Some camps have electricity provided by solar, others with battery operator lanterns, some with kerosene lanterns - all with generator back-up.

Beds are comfy with real mattresses, often down comforters, fluffy pillows, good linens, towels; food services are more than ample and welcoming and efficient staff.

As to cats or other game, from day-to-day what you see or don't will vary. Unlike a zoo, where Messrs. Simba, Chui or Duma are sitting there just waiting for you, it will vary in Africa. Some days... lots of cats, others not.

Serian is a lovely camp, but their "rack" rates for 2010 were $620/person/solo + daily park fee of $100 on the Mara No. Conservancy or $140 for access to Mara North, Narok, Reserve & Triangle.

No doubt, their rates will increase for 2011.

When I was at Entim I had a guide/driver and don't recall a tracker. In fact, at most places in Kenya, few camps provide trackers as the guides are excellent at what they do.

Entim, Rekero, Kicheche are traditional safari camps in the "rustic" sense, rather than those that would be categorized "luxury" with the extra touches - just a different way they're set up and designed, but neither better or worse than the other... just different.

Suggestion: Please keep all your questions about your upcoming trip under the same thread. This way it's easy for you and us to located and mostly so we can follow your progress and reply accordingly. Not having to jump to other threads to see what you said or did previously and so we're not repeating ourselves.

Thanks Sandi, all your information has been really very useful.
Serian is moving out of my budget, other camps are royal mara and karen blixen, would they match my budget
Also i could try to rope in some company as these single supplements are getting tiresome.
If you had around 20 nights in the mara around the same part of the year,as i do, which camps would you choose, for how many nights, and why ? am really interested. Also the focus should be on seeing the big cats.

Sandi got all the wind out of the sails..nothing to add just to support her statements!

No tracker in most places in Kenya.
STOP: Karen Blixen Camp provides 2 guides instead of a tracker/guide team as they strongly believe in the 4-eyes-principle. They even have one of 2 qualified FEMALE guides in all over Kenya (well, last Feb there were only 2 in the country).
Check Karen Blixen's location: From there you can (at least )see Serian.

By the way we had great encounters last Feb while staying at Karen's - you can't book that in advance :
Here comes a story which describes (in my view) how unpredictable a game drive can be:

We were watching a pride of lions close to a small forest not far from Musiara gate. Al of a sudden those (7) lions started stalking buffaloes. But nothing exciting unfolding.

We decided to leave and have our sundowner drink.
We were chatting, occasional scanning the area hoping something just comes along.
All of a sudden we realise the buffs started first walking, then running towards the lions.
Needless to say we just threw the G+T where it doesn't belong, packed up and drove off towards the scene.
When we reached the patch of trees/bushes the buffs were re-assembling outside the woods and the lions (7 adult and subadult lionesses/youngsters) were lying around in the grass close to the forest.
We thought they were just dreaming and watched them for maybe 5 mins. All of a sudden one lioness exploded into running after a Thomson Gazelle and got it. She didn't stop but ran further towards us - the Thommy in her mouth which she had grabbed on the back.
The poor gazelle baby was crying and zappling while the lion ran - the other lions were following her. The lioness ran maybe for 500/700 meters and the whole time the Thommy was alive and moving, crying. That will be visualised till my last breath I guess.
The lioness ran towards the treeline and before we realised what was going on the buffs started chasing the lions again. All went into that forest and the noise was unbelievable.
Now came a "herd" of 3 eles with a tiny baby.
One of the eles decided to join the buffs and also ran into the forest chasing the lions.
One lioness was trapped and went into a tree.
We were watching them with open mouthes and couldn't believe what within 20 or 30 mins unfolded in front of our eyes.
Thanks god the buffs did not shake the tree - nor did the ele. So after a couple of mins all buffs and the ele came out of the woods and went their ways.

Obviously the ele had an open bill with the Marsh pride .

That's what makes safaris so exciting - the lack of PLANNING pr predictability. One leave camp for a game drive and can hope for all sorts of stuff but in the end often there is a surprise waiting.

I not sure whether we stated it already: Reserve fees are going up next years as well!

Happy planning and Thanks for the compliment Giving tips or recommendations is rather fun as it offers the opportunity to "travel" with the person who is panning

I forgot:
We are vegetarians and let ALL venues know maybe 1 month in advance about our requirements.
Never got disappointed! It's not alway star cuisine but decent meals. Often Indian fare. Always tasty.

If you have a sensitive stomach drink regular coke as often as possible and avoid ice and salad.

"Karen Blixen's location: From there you can (at least )see Serian."

... drat, you can see Serian and not Russia?

Yes park fees are going up next year. And yes, do let Africa show you what she wishes day-to-day and expect nothing... but be surprised.

Thanks SV, and sandi, any idea how royal mara is ?

Royal Mara - I liked it, and as I recall SV didn't. Something to do with the TV being on in the public space. It sure wasn't on when I visited, but the accommodations are lovely, small camp with only 6/tents, all river facing, great food and service by camp personnel and our guide was wonderful.

Hey sandi - my initials are totally different from SP and I am not living in ALASKA .

Yes sandi is right - but my "didn't like it" is based on a friend's report who stayed there in - I think - late 2008 when it was pretty new. Maybe the owner and his sun have adapted now to the bush and rather prefer bush TV then the real thing.

Choices........choices.........I wish I had that prob

Happy planning!

Thanks SV and Sandi, u both been absolutely fantastic.
SV u just made me laugh and sandi that russia quote almost made me fall out of my chair laughing. U both really fun to communicate with.

Luckily there are sooo many lodges and camps in the mara that there is availiability at this late hour also

I am plannig on staying 5 nights at either naibor/rekero/serena, then 3 nights in the olare orok, there is a new camp called amanimara, looks very high end and nice.....anyone know about it ? then a furthur 3-4 nights in the mara conservancy, that leaves around 7-8 days at hand..........which part of the mara or conservancies should i stay at and at which lodges/camps ?

I was thinking about mara bushtops/mara west/richards camp/olarro/saruni/oloshaiki ( new camp i found ) has good reviews

Where should i spend my remaining 8 days or should i extend my visits at the places am planning to visit..........

We may be Africaphiles, but as you've no doubt gathered, we're all quite aware about what's happening elsewhere in this very strange world in which we all live. And, if we couldn't laugh about it, we'd all be lost. So a bit of light snippets are needed.

Amanimara... is a new camp that was due to open mid-2010. Do you have a link for their website as I couldn't find it and being on Olare Orok, there are maybe "now" a total of 4/camps only and have tranverse rights on Mara North conservancy. Olare Orok is also right above the Reserve... a very short drive, but again... another park fee, so good to break up time with days in the Reserve and others on the conservancies.

Likewise, Mara West... also relatively new? Good prices though. Sited on the western side of the Triangle (in/around the vicinity of Kichwa Tembo and Olonana) vs Rekero ($730/pp single rack in'10)/Entim on the eastern side, while Serena Lodge is midway between east/west by 30/miles.

Olarro is also relatively new and probably drop-dead amazing as built by the same owner as Shompole, thus also very expensive; located to the far east and from what I hear maybe somewhat sparse for game. Along with Richards ($730/pp single rack in'10) and Saruni ($700/pp single rack in'10), Bushtops (don't have $), all of which are wonderful, as shown, way more than $500/ppnt not including their daily conservancy fees.

I've seen Oloshaiki mentioned elsewhere but have no knowledge.

Sure wish I had the problem of 20/days and "where oh where should I stay?" Do know that if you choose too many camps, you also have to pay for the transfers between each and these can be steep, but it's a "per vehicle" charge ($180-$300) one way.

If I had to decide, I'd consider splitting the time only between 3/areas with two being inside the Reserve 1) Triangle area maybe Mara West; 2) on the East at Rekero or Entim; 3) on Olare or Mara North at whichever camp works with your budget. Good luck!

Thanks Sandi,as i am taking a break for a real safari, after 3 years, am going all the way, and a few thousand dollars here and there is kind of fine, just want a great experience....
Same here did not find out any website for amanimara, camp looks fabulous, wish they have an introductory discount

All of you know alot about Kenya.Kudos.......The amanimara camp is now open and for their rates i can only try to contact a friend who works there and then get back to you.If interested please let me know.

Hi Josekenya, pls find out the rates for a single person with park fees for amanimara,time period beginning october, thanks

Hi crazyaboutafrica,

i saw your comments regarding the maasai mara and amani mara. Amani Mara is located in the Olare Orok area, which is about 7km from the Ol-kiombo airstrip, maasai mara.

The Park fees of $60 are not included in the rates as they are paid directly to the council.

you can find some more information from http://www.africapoint.com/hotels/hotel-Amanimara.html

Crazyaboutafrica

Before you rule out Serian, I would contact them directly. Husband and I returned from there day before yesterday, having spent 10 days there. I know that they give good discounts on the rack rate for last-minute bookings, if they have availability so it's worth getting in touch, just to ask. All they can do is say no, and then you can continue looking.

The camp was very busy when we were there (end August into first week September) but that would likely tail off soon so you may be lucky.

Their rate includes private vehicle per party which has both a guide and a driver (most of their guides are trained at the local Koiyaki Guide School, which I think is excellent).

You also have the advantage that you can spend some of your nights at their Nkorombo seasonal camp within the Mara, it's perfectly situated for crossings and plenty of other wildlife sightings, it's charming, right on the river banks and we loved it this time as much as we did back in 2008. (They have a second mobile camp on the other side of the river, behind the Serena, which we didn't rate highly, because of position, there's a dearth of wildlife in it's vicinity).

10 days worked out very well for us, though we could have happily done another 4 or 5. If we'd had another 10, I probably would have chosen to spend 5 nights at Elsa's Kopje in Meru, which we loved in 2008 - less dense game viewing but far less people too and very rewarding sightings - plus some species one doesn't see in the Mara, as you know.