Straight through to Kenya or layover?

Old Oct 10th, 2017, 04:30 AM
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Straight through to Kenya or layover?

We are going on a safari in Kenya at the end of August 2018. Working on getting frequent flyer seats from Boston to Nairobi. Trying to decide whether to:

1. go straight through arriving the night before our safari starts.
2. stay over one night in whatever connecting European city we can get tix for (right now can get Zurich through Swissair, having trouble getting miles seats on Delta through Amsterdam, but could wait it out a bit). Arrival around 6:20 pm the night before our safari starts.
3. go straight through but stay an extra night in the Nairobi airport hotel we're scheduled to be in and do our acclimating there. Plus is that we're there and no risk of flight delays or cancellations.

any feedback welcome, pros and cons for all options!
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Old Oct 10th, 2017, 04:34 AM
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I'd always pick non-stop flights.
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Old Oct 10th, 2017, 05:02 AM
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Just to clarify, even if we go "straight through", it requires a stop with a several hour layover in a European city. The decision is whether to stay the night and do the second leg the next day.
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Old Oct 10th, 2017, 06:45 AM
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I've done your options 2 and 3 to East Africa and 1 to Southern Africa (twice). It depends on the flights (are they business or first class? are they fully flat? how well do you sleep on a plane?). I come from the west coast so it's much longer journey and time change. It helped to have a leisurely lay over in the connection city in Europe, with enough time for a shower and meal rather than jumping off one long flight and right onto another.

I'd probably vote for option #3, since it gives you a cushion if there is some delay on the flights it. We stayed at the Palacina in Nairobi before going on to Tanzania on one trip. It's not right by the airport, but a very comfortable place to spend two nights and a day acclimating to the time change.
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Old Oct 10th, 2017, 09:02 AM
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Particularly if this is your first safari, go with option 3. You will have that day to get the feel of Africa before jumping into your trip. Have a great time!
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Old Oct 10th, 2017, 09:21 AM
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we did our first safari this year and wondered the same thing. I did not want to spend extra time in Nairobi so we chose the sanctuary at ol lentille for our first stop (before the real safari) to get acclimated and to have cultural interactions and various activities. we loved it! we are now planning our second safari and wondering again...
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Old Oct 10th, 2017, 06:33 PM
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Option 3: Which Nairobi Airport Hotel? If it is Eka, it's a modern place in an uninteresting area...great for its purpose (sleep before or after plane trip) but i wouldn't use it for a full day to acclimate. However, imho a good idea to spend the first two nights/ one full day in Nairobi as you de-jet-lag. If you want, there are interesting easy sites there that will give you a real sense of being there (vs just a typical modern hotel). OR just relax around a pool /garden , but in a more "local" feel hotel. I love the Southern Sun Mayfair.

Note: you mention being near the airport for your continued journey, if it is to safari camps in Kenya, you will depart not from the airport where your international flight arrives, but fro the smaller Wilson Airport in another area of Nairobi.

I tried your option #2 last time between California and Kenya (stopover London, at the attached Sofitel LHR) but if doing it again, i would go straight through to Nairobi. You'll be tired in any case, unfortunately!
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Old Oct 10th, 2017, 06:40 PM
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Well I do both! Coming from the west coast of Canada I stop in the UK for a few days then also spend a few days in Nairobi. I enjoy Nairobi and you can't miss places like the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage or the Giraffe Centre.
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Old Oct 11th, 2017, 01:51 AM
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As advised above,acclimatise.I would prefer being well rested(not sleep depraved nor jet-lagged) before the Safari.Safaris are normally close to 8 hrs of game drive each day.Bumpy rides with the heat and dust is bound to leave you exhausted.The day would typically start at 5 am for the morning session,would end by 10 am.A couple of hours of lounging before and after lunch before setting off at 3pm for the evening round,winding up at 7pm.

A night or two in Nairobi,depends on your levels of energy,after a long haul, is advisable.
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Old Oct 11th, 2017, 01:53 AM
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Typo....Deprived.
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Old Oct 12th, 2017, 02:48 AM
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We recently stayed at the Eka for one night prior to the arrival of our tour group. As noted by CaliNurse it is in an uninteresting area and nothing nearby worth seeing, but very comfortable and gracious, helpful staff. We arranged for airport pick up which was $25, half what our tour company would have charged. As it turned out we had to go shopping as hubby split the seat of his pants and needed to replenish his wardrobe. We hired a driver , 80 USD for four hours, and were able to visit a museum as well as a mall. We were put of by the 29 USD breakfast charge noted on the Eka website, but found they offer cheaper room service options and reasonably priced lunch and dinner menus. I’d do the same again to minimize the chance of late arrival and ensure a good night’s sleep.
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Old Oct 12th, 2017, 04:07 AM
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I too fly from Boston. Be aware that most of the flights that connect through Europe to Kenya (KLM, British Airways, Lufthansa) arrive too late in the day to connect directly to the camps. It's dark and the smaller planes out of Wilson to safari destinations do not fly then. So you're compelled to spend the night in Nairobi somewhere. If you were to first stop in the European connecting city, you'd then also still have to spend the night in Nairobi when you get there. Then the question is whether you just overnight somewhere like the Eka or stop and spend some time someplace worthy of spending time like at Emakoko or Giraffe Manor and see other parts of Nairobi. (I think Turkish and Emirates arrive in the wee hours of the morning, so you could likely kill time at the airport and then head to Wilson for the first flight out of the day without spending any time at Nairobi hotel, if you were that ambitious.)

I never layover in Europe. When I go on safari that would usually require packing winter wardrobe for the European layover plus summer clothing for safari, not worth it. Plus with limited vacation time, I want to maximize my time on safari, so I just motor through the two flights, get to Nairobi for the overnight and wake up fresh and in the bush by lunchtime 2 days after I left home. (ie: leave Boston Friday night, connect mid-morning Saturday in Europe, arrive 9 p.m. Saturday in Nairobi, fly out of Wilson to the Mara 10 a.m. on Sunday)
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Old Oct 13th, 2017, 08:12 AM
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We did it from Philly - had about 3-4 hour layover in Frankfurt. Arrived Nairobi 8-ish? We thought it was perfect to go to the hotel, order room service, shower, and get a good night's sleep. Adding an extra day in Europe would have felt like adding to the misery -- what can you really accomplish in 1 day? You lose so much time going back and forth to airports that we felt it would just add to the pain.

Our first day in Nairobi was spent at Giraffe Manor. A driver picked us up at 11am, we checked in and had lunch, tea, dinner there at Giraffe Manor. We did take a few hours break for the visit to the Sheldrick Orphanage. We were overnight at Giraffe Manor and then flew out the following morning on safari.

We loved organizing it this way. Felt like we had a few days to orient ourselves - we had our traveling clothes washed at Giraffe Manor, so we were at least starting out with a clean suitcase, and enjoyed Giraffe Manor in the process. (one of the kids favorite things about the whole trip)

Eka is in a very sterile area. However, the hotel is a great stopover point - easy to get to, room service options were good, clean, safe and secure. I would do it the exact same way again.

On the way back, we arrived in Frankfurt at 5am and had until 1pm (ish) until our flight. We originally were going to book a day room, but you can't get in until 7 or 8am. We realized it was cheaper (and worked better for us) to book a suite for the night before - just arriving at 5am. It was awesome. A few of us took naps, we all showered, the breakfast buffet at the hotel was included so we took advantage of that. It was nice to be able to shut the door and not always be vigilant about bags and belongings while in the throes of jet lag. That also made us more mentally equipped to deal with the flight home.

figure out your style and what works for you.... lots of good suggestions above!
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Old Oct 14th, 2017, 09:44 AM
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I wouldn't stop on the way and hassle with customs. I went straight through and spent two nights in Nairobi to get some rest before safari. Use Gamewatchers for your safari operator and have them hire you a driver for Nairobi one day. You can see a bit of the city and do a bit of shopping. Skip the Giraffe Place but go to the elephant orphanage. I went into downtown Nairobi but if I did it again I would stay near the airport. If you don't want to spend two nights in Nairobi airport go to Nairobi National Park. Its a short drive and you can dive into the first day for a game drive without exhausting yourself. I had over three weeks so an extra night or two to slow down wasn't an issue. If you are pressed for time I don't know if I would be patient enough not to start right away. But the time change is tiring.
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