Sandi,
Asante kwa picha. Lots and furniture and only one topi, but Desert Rose and Shompole look incredible!
We’re waiting for the report.

Wonderful pictures, Sandi! The camps look incredible, I never tire of looking at the accomodation pictures!

Sandi,

Great pics! I'm curious what your favourite accommodations were (or maybe your top two places!!)

Thanks sandi! Amazing camps/lodges, very nice! Are there usually elephants in those areas? Kenya/Tanz is moving up my list....
Aloha, Dennis

Fantastic photos Sandi - what amazing accomodations.
One question, What airline did you fly from Nairobi to the Mara?
Imelda

Fantastic photos, Sandi -- gives a terrific taste of the camps.

Shompole looks extraordinary, with a design that seems both contemporary and classic. (I am drooling in anticipation.)

Thanks for these wonderful photos! The area around Desert Rose is simply stunning! I take it given the elevation it's not too hot here? Do they offer excursions to Lake Turkana? Camel safaris too, right? Before I get overly excited how long is the flight from Nairobi and what's the charter cost?

So nice to see some areas that aren't frequently visited. Lake Natron looks spectacular as well.

Your pics of Finch Hattons and Tsavo West brought back great memories. I have to plan a return trip there. Which tent # were you in?

Looking forward to your report!

sandi - Great photos! Man, those are some beautiful properties! Thanks -

great pictures, thanks for posting I’ve been waiting patiently. Great to see all the pictures of the different camps.

Joyce

The accommodations just kept getting better and better. I appreciate your posting such useful information. Thanks.

CW

sandi and Susan:

Awesome pictures and fantastic itinerary. Thank you so much for sharing all the wonderful hotel/lodge and camp pictures.

And with the rain, everything everywhere was so lush and green!

Asante sana

Sandi:

Thanks for great photos. Was is a bit cool at night in the Mara?

Thanks,

Kevin

Sandi,

Great pictures....lots of nice accomodations.

Hari

Great Pics of the Accommodations - I recognized the House of Waine, simply an exquisite property, but so many of your others looked great too. Was there somewhere that I missed, that you mentioned all the camp names where no name was shown. Thanks for sharing. You sure learn some great recommendations here, even as a travel agent. I appreciate that.

Thanks everyone. I knew this album would be more lodgings than animals, so appreciate your patience. I get my charge out of all the other great safari photos and Sharon's (cooncat's) were great.

Patty - At Fince Hatton's - tent #6. At Desert Rose, they do camel safaris, walks (lots of areas up/down the mountain), visits to Turkana which can be by road w/overnight at the Lake; flights to/from would be costly). Admittedly, the flight from NBO to DR is costly, but we saved a few dollars by taking scheduled flight to Nanyuki where we then picked up the charter to DR. Price: high, about $1600/return; $800/person. But the rates at DR are mid-range (in the $300+/pppn, season dependent). Definitely deserves a minimum of 2-days, more days is absolutely worth it for "something so different and unique."

Natron is fascinating. Though the rains did come, there was more dry/moist lake bed than on the Tanzania side. But those late night (because of the heat) game drives were interesting and lots of fun. During the day, some of the guests (w/guide) went out on bikes to ride around in the reserve.

Kay - In Arusha, the properties listed are where we did site-visits on the outskirts. And did stop into the Arusha hotel in town. We actually stayed at the Kibo Palace in Arusha, which was lovely (though no photos... must have just forgotten to take being so tired by the time we arrived; too busy after... next trip).

Otherwise, we visited at Desert Rose (north near Lake Turkana), House of Waine (Karen, Nairobi), Shompole (on Tanzania border between Namanga and the Mara), Finch Hatton's (in Tsavo W); Richard's and Saruni Camps (in the Mara).

Jan - yes, so beautifully green. After the drought, it was so nice to see how green it was in many places. Amboseli, when flying over was still pretty dry-looking... there just aren't that many trees.

Kevin - in the Mara. The nights were chilly, but indoors had plenty of blankets and hot-water bottles as company in the bed. Outdoors at night, I only wore an oversweater and shawl; Masai shukas were available, if needed. But around the fire at bush dinner it was delightful. In the mornings, the wind was blowing, but by the time of breakfast (about 9am) it warmed quite a bit. And guests at Richard's who had gone out on a bush walk, returned with their jackets wrapped around their waists. It will, however, be a bit cooler when you visit in August. Just be prepared with light-weight layers.

Dennis - surprisingly, we didn't see many elephants at the places we visited. Not that there aren't at Tsavo, the Mara and maybe at Shompole... we just didn't see. Ideally, for certain Samburu has elephants. But, I no longer tick off which game I see (jaded??) unless, of course, it's something new. I just take Afree-kah for what she offers and enjoy everything - whatever and wherever it may be. There's a place for everything in these two countries, whether game and when, lots of green, desert, mountains, beaches, country clubs; constant adrenalin, "slow-down-catch-your-breath" or peace and solitude. A combination of both is what I personally seek anywhere.

Imelda - From NBO/Mara - was scheduled on Air Kenya, but I had a private plane to/from.. just 'lil me both ways. Believe from the uniforms on those cute bush pilots, and the embossed emblem on the seat backs, it was Air Kenya.

Which was my favorite? Not fair as they were all great for where visited and all for different reasons. None, disappointed. All have something to offer all visitors.

Great resource of accommodation photos, Sandi - thanks!

I know Julian's keen to progress his project to assemble all the various accommodation photos taken and shared by Fodorites into one easy-access location and I'm sure he'll be keen to include most of yours!

Sandi-
Wow. Great photos. Thanks for providing pics of the camps of which I'm always interested in seeing. Desert Rose and Shompole are absolutely stunning. The solitude and views at those camps look incredible.

Sandi,
We are staying at Richard's Camp in September....I was so glad to see pictures of it...how did you like it there? I know it's not as fancy as some tented camps in the Mara, but the person making our arrangements says he's confident we won't be dissapointed.
PS- Your pictures were GREAT...wish we were staying at Shompole!-Cindy

I thought your view looked familiar. We stayed in tent #7.

Yes, may I add to how INCREDIBLE your camps looked.

Not sure I would ever come home after staying at those places!

Desert Rose is amazing. The other places aren't half bad too. Just as well I'm all booked up now - those photos wmake me want to go further north again. Do you know if all guests charter planes to Desert Rose or does it fit into a land trip?(I'm guessing few would drive all the way there just to go to Desert Rose - fabulous though it is).

Thanks

Patty - We were almost neighbors, though a few years apart.

Kimburu - Desert Rose is just so "special." No other words to express how we felt. Of course, one could drive, but a 4WD is an absolute requirement and you can't do it in one day. Admittedly, the air is costly, but the reason ones stay should be at least 3-, preferrably 4-days. But most choose to fly as it's just about 1.5/hrs direct from NBO. If stopping at Nanyuki as we did, that flight is about 40-min, then another 1.10 to DR.

cindysafari - Richard's was lovely. Lux in some ways, rustic in others; similar to others, but with a style very much its own. After being picked-up from the airport, the road here was quite rough (but there are a number of roads that can be taken)... and then you're at this wonderful great lawn that is totally unexpected. The tents with the added dressing room is larger overall then many other tent camps; the bathroom is large and well lit and that shower stall is big enough for two. Sitting around the campfire was fun, the food was outstanding and Richard's is one of only a handful of camps in the Mara that is owner hosted which is a lovely extra.

Wayne - I didn't want to come home, no so much the accommodations and hosts, as wonderful that they were - I didn't want to leave Afree-kah. That's the hard part. As LyndaS quoted in her report, to paraphrase, Karen B said "Africa is the place to be." Which was reinforced when after the bush dinner at Saruni, I stayed back with Riccardo, the owner, and we just talked and talked, about everything and anything, as I marvelled at the sky above and never gave a thought that there might be animals around; I was just able to "be" in Afree-kah!

Sandi:

thanks for the response. you are a great help to so many of us.

Kevin

Sandi,
Wow, what a treat. Your photos are wonderful!

I thought you had me with Desert Rose until I saw Shompole. Barney and Fred sure did a wonderful job. Too bad they didn't get Betty's imput on the blow dryer criteria, though .

What,stunning properties. I can't even imagine the logistics of building those places. How far from civilization (although they sure seem civilized) are they?
The price of Desert Rose is actually surprisingly decent, considering that it has a helopad etc. etc. What's the price of Shompole (I probably don't want to know). As I may now have to put it on my list.

Do the crocs. seem to obey the 'don't go past this area' sign in Tvaso?

Well done. Thanks for sharing and please thank Susan for us.
Sherry

Thank you Sandi for sharing the pictures and great visuals of the camps. It's very beneficial for planning trips and considering choices. Thank you, thank you.

Sherry -

I too was wondering why Betty didn't have more input re hairblowers at Shompole. But I understand they can provide a generator it using the device is an absolute must ("or I'll die") guest.

What's interesting is that though I didn't wash the hair daily (as done at home), because the air is relatively clean, my hair felt clean even after a day or two. Not like living here in the big city, where everything in the air settles on your hair.

Rates at Shompole are in the mid-$400s, person/night, season dependent.

The crocs "can't read" - they not only come ashore in the area across from the dining area, but are often found on the near side of the tree-log in the guest's path. I would have to say, "it's important to watch where you walk and what may be in your way."

Sandi - Have only just quickly looked through but boy those look like great places to just hang out! Thanks for sharing. I'll have to look more closely later!

Sharon

Thanks for sharing your great pics Sandi!

Sandi,
Just found these. What a treasure. Some great looking places; guess I'll have to try to pick up freelance work so I can refill my coffers for another trip. And your captions are priceless! I laughed and laughed.

Thanks for sharing. Maybe someday we'll get a report...

sandi,
thanks so much for the pictures.. we stayed at shompole for 2 nights, but didn't take that many pictures because after like 15 days of tanzania and kenya, i sort of just wanted to only relax back, and now of course i regret not having made more pictures... so seeing your photo's made me relive the whole wonderfull experience. we travelled there by car, and i can indeed vividly remember the dry surroundings, the dry lake we drove next too, the dust, and then finally the welcoming drink at shompole .. like entering a piece of paradise... you only forgot to take a picture of the birds regularly diving through the lunch/dining/sitting room, entertaining the guests