randipellmar

Looking for the best time to travel with friends ....

Considering September/October?

Kenya is questionable with recent unrest, please comment.

Zanzibar is a must for me, no one else is sold, thoughts??

Deciding on length of stay and tour operator...

Knowledge of Micato??

Thank you

ShayTay

October... you might find the Migration herds re-entering the northern Serengeti from the Mara. Otherwise, I'd suggest late July or early August to catch the herds up there on their way into the Mara. The crowds are much smaller in the northern Serengeti than they are in the Mara.

There are no current problems with Kenya. Unless you go right when they are having elections, you shouldn't have a problem. You just never know how those elections are going to play out.

I love going to Zanzibar after being on safari in Tanzania! Pongwe Beach Resort is my favorite for kicking back and relaxing on a great beach. In Stone Town, Tembo House is well located. You'll get to experience the Swahili culture in ST and relaxation on the beach... go!

Micato... greatly overpriced for what you get. If you have friends you're going with, you can book a private safari for less. I'd recommend The Wild Source in Colorado (Bill Given.) He's got great guides in Tanzania, but can also book you into Kenya. I'd recommend picking one country or the other, though, because of visa costs and travel costs between the two countries. You should be able to do a nice safari with about 11 nights, with about 4 night in Zanzibar afterwards.

sandi

If you do September, where the migration is still in the Mara, and if you wish to also visit Northern Serengeti...you get to see it from both sides and something many visitors choose.

Both countries require Visas (USD$50 for Kenya; USD$100 for Tanzania for US passport holders; USD$50 Tanzania other passports (unless you hold Irish passports... also $100). If visiting both countries you'll also require, besides Malaria meds regardless which visited, a Yellow Fever inoc along with proof of same is required for entry Tanzania from Kenya.

You should also check international flight options for schedules and fares, where those into Kilimanjaro/JRO Tanzania are often higher than if into Nairobi/NBO Kenya as there is more competition, more air carriers in/out of the latter. See Kayak, www.kayak.com

Micato tours are 'group' departures, with set dates and way way overpriced. For what you'd spend for one of their itineraries which don't even provide the best accommodations... as your own group you can design your own itinerary, when you wish to travel (dates), where you visit and select your own accommodations.

As to ZNZ, some do, others don't. Depends on whether people wish to 'chill out' on a beach... it's just a beach and depending on from where traveling at that time of year I'm sure there or closer 'beach' options at more attractive prices. But, it's a personal decision. Certainly with 2/weeks and omitting ZNZ you can have a really nice itinerary just doing safari combining both countries.

I wouldn't concern myself with 'issues' in Kenya; the election is in March, so even if some hooligans start something which I doubt they will especially after Ms. Hillary read the riot act to the powers who are in Kenya. Besides, the Kenyan people do not want a repeat of the earlier upheaval.

KathBC

I'm not even a beach person but wouldn't trade my week in Zanzibar for anything!

Thoroughly enjoyed going for long walks along the beach, relaxing and reading.

I know a lot of people say you only need 1 night in Stone Town to see all the sights however being from Canada I enjoyed just being in this totally different environment and culture, getting lost in the maize of old town, riding in a tuk tuk thru the narrow streets, people watching, haggling for a good prize for fabric, hearing the call to prayer or deciding on a different place each day to watch the sun set over the Indian Ocean.

Just hope I get a chance to go back there some day.

Percy

KathBC

Did you ever think that by the time you fly from BC to Newfoundland , another person living on the extreme Eastern Coast of USA is already in Kenya !!!

I think cary999 makes mention of how much more difficult it is to fly from California to South Africa.

Yep,I agree about Zanzibar, you can never spend to much time there.

And more so after a loong Safari through Kenya and Tanzania, Zanzibar is just the place to clear your head and shake off the safari dust and just relax.

baraca

Sandy - Seeing that you have returned from Kenya recently - what is the precise story with Yellow Fever issue, if coming directly from USA and visiting Kenya only?? Did you get the jab yourself? Is it required by Kenya authorities if ccoming from the States?
Thank you.

Percy

No Sandy did not get the jab on her most recent visit.

Her Yellow Fever vaccination is up to date. It is good for 10 years.

I will let her answer the USA part.

baraca

Percy,

Excuse me but I asked Sandy a question. The question was: is there currently Yellow Fever requirement by Kenya authorities for passengers arriving to Kenya directly from the US.

Percy

I answered the part about ...Did Sandy get the jab herself on her most recent trip.
My answer is No...because Sandy has her Yellow Fever Vaccination up to date.

But I can try to help you out by saying this.

There is no Yellow Fever vaccination required for Kenya.
The USA is not a Yellow Fever hotbed.!

So if you are only doing Kenya , then you have no worry of being asked.

There is for Tanzania.

And therefore you might be asked to show the Yellow Fever vaccination Yellow Card at either Isebania bordertown on the westside of the Marain Tanzania or...

at Namanga in the East.

Now I know people have gone and were never asked at the entrance point into Tanzania ..

I was one of them , they never asked me, or could have cared less about the rest of my vaccination record.

But this is hit and miss and YOU do not want to be HIT and have no Yellow Fever vaccination card.

Friends of mine went earlier this year ,first to Nairobi and then on to Tanzania ( Arusha).

They told me they were asked about their Yellow Fever vaccination certificates ( cards) and many others were stopped and asked also.

So you see what I mean, ( hit and miss), like the red light ,green light when going to Mexico

However if you have a waiver from your doctor that you are unable to take the Yellow Fever vaccination , then the waiver will be sufficient.

KathBC

Percy - I really try not to think about an easterner getting all the way to Kenya while I'm just breezing over Newfoundland. The thought alone makes me kinda cranky.

Heading to South Africa next June but not in as much of a hurry as Tom is to get there...will catch some theatre in London for 5 days before that 11 hr leg.

KathBC

Percy you make me laugh!

rdcarl

Randi- I started out looking at the large, well-known companies such as Micato, Abercrombie & Kent, etc. I am a middle-aged single female who planned to be traveling alone. I had decided to do the Wings Over Tanzania tour with Micato when I happened to run into an old friend. I knew she had done several safaris so I asked for advice. Turned out her daughter is living in Arusha and at that time she was dating a guy who is a free-lance guide. I began to correspond with him and he encouraged me to do a private safari instead. So, after much more research, I got quotes from 6 of the frequently mentioned outfitters here and on other forums that I follow. End result: I am booked with The Wild Source (Bill Given) for a Serengeti-focused trip in late Feb.thru early March. In the meantime,a friend asked to come along and she and I are traveling together on a private safari, stayed in more luxurious, intimate accommodations than Micato offered, doing our own schedule (not theirs), and the cost, for BOTH of us, is almost exactly the same as I would have paid alone for the Micato trip!

Up to this point, I have only rave reviews for TWS - Bill and his assistant,Shannon, have been extremely helpful and communication has been almost immediate on every question. I can only assume that our trip will be equally wonderful. Seventy-seven days to go!!!

rdcarl

Forgot to mention: we are doing a 10-day safari, followed by 4 nights in Zanzibar. Couldn't pass up the history of the island nor the opportunity to sit alongside the Indian Ocean for a few days!

sandi

Thanks Percy for remembering my inoculation history... maybe we share TMI on there forums. Certainly better than what too many do on Facebook

randi - Yes, I am current with ALL my inoculations - Tetanus and Hep-A (both good for 10/yrs, and which can be easily contracted anywhere even your home country), the Polio Booster and especially Yellow Fever which is required by Tanzania if arriving via a YF area (ie, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda). Whether proof of will asked for on arrival by air or land, is still hit-or-miss, so best to have. YF inoc is good for 10/yrs and though rather expensive, over the term comes to about $12-15/yr.

YF though is NOT required for entry to Kenya if arriving from Western Europe, Canada, US.

Percy

Hi sandi

Yep I remember you and I do not do Facebook.!!

Sorry to answer the question directed to you

KathBC:

I have followed many of your posting on this forum and enjoyed them all.

I too want to go to South Africa next and yes that flight from London to South Africa is looooog!!

However, I have a friend in Tallinn Estonia, who is enticing me to do Moscow and then fly to Tallinn and he will tour me throughout Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.!!

Hmmm... I have to think about that for sure.

A friend of mine in Newfoundland said that he can fly to Shannon Ireland sooner than back to Toronto.

KathBC

Percy maybe we should move to Newfoundland. 8-)

The Baltics would be nice in summer altho I've never been, however I would take St Petersburg over Moscow and there I HAVE been.

Percy

KathBC:

I have been to St.Petersburg with a private tour guide for two full days, from 7 AM to 7 PM..believe me I saw every major place ( inside)that there was and then some.

It is a lovely place and place everyone should go to once.

That is why I am only thinking of Moscow and the Red Square and Kremlim etc.
But we shall see.
Take care