Well, I think I'm finally booked - Tanzania/Kenya
Apr 13th, 2008, 06:07 AM
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Well, I think I'm finally booked - Tanzania/Kenya
As title, "think" I'm set for another adventure.
I was actually able to use my FF miles for a ticket... easier than I thought (thanks Patty). Had AA, NW/KLM and UA miles, the latter the ones I wanted to get rid of. Made the call and as I usually travel before or immediately after Memorial Day, with limited seats, I simply moved the trip forward a day or two and joila! Got seats, on Swiss (JFK/ZRH/NBO and return). Not thrilled that their metal, all legs, are Airbus (too tiny in my opinion), but as long as they take off and land... it'll be just fine. Got my seat assignments and so set to fly!
29 May - Lv JFK
30 May - Arv NBO - o/n Intercontinental
31 May - 10am flight to JRO - day in Arusha, business - o/n Kibo Palace
01/02 Jun - New or follow-up site inspections between Manyara/Ngorongoro (E-Unoto Retreat, Kirurumu, Gibbs, Plantation, Manor at Ngo*) - o/n Farmhouse
*this is newest in the Elewana group (Tar.Treetops, Arusha Coffee Lodge, Migration Camp) due to open Aug '08
02 Jun - on return to JRO, afternoon flight to NBO - o/n Giraffe Manor
03 Jun - NBO - meetings - o/n House of Waine
04 Jun - Fly to Meru - o/n Elsa's Kopje
05 Jun - Meru - o/n Elsa's Kopje
06 Jun - Fly to Samburu - o/n Saruni
07 Jun - Samburu - Saruni
08 Jun - Transfer to Shaba - o/n Joy's Camp
09 Jun - Shaba - Joy's Camp
10 Jun - Fly to NBO - o/n Ngong House
11 Jun - Fly to Mara - meetings/friends - o/n Royal Mara
12 Jun - MM - o/n Royal Mara
13 Jun - MM - Transfer to Entim Camp
14 Jun - MM - Entim Camp
15 Jun - Fly to Wilson - o/n Karen Blixen Cottages
16 Jun - NBO - Karen Blixen Cottages; depart late for home
17 Jun - Arv JFK
Thankfully, my YF inoc still good for another year; doctor gave me a Tetanus jab the other day; bloodwork done to determine whether I'm still protected for Hep-A; script for Malarone.
Just have to toss the usually attire into the duffle bag and I'll be ready. Except, of course, for gifts for the kids, NY bagels, cinnamon raisin bread and whatever else we've got here, they don't have there.
Though I have a 5mg/10x Optical camera, and though I have a small (fits in a pocket) Canon 5mg/3x Optical, great for general photos, I'm thinking of getting a new more powerful camera. I like my Fuji (very easy to use) and they now have an 10mg/18X wide angle or a 8mg/10X Optical zoom... decisions, decisions. Maybe yes, maybe no. Only way to decide is to get myself to B&H
Like everyone else, and as often as I've travelled these roads... it's the waiting and departure day that can't get here soon enough. Oh well, counting.............
I was actually able to use my FF miles for a ticket... easier than I thought (thanks Patty). Had AA, NW/KLM and UA miles, the latter the ones I wanted to get rid of. Made the call and as I usually travel before or immediately after Memorial Day, with limited seats, I simply moved the trip forward a day or two and joila! Got seats, on Swiss (JFK/ZRH/NBO and return). Not thrilled that their metal, all legs, are Airbus (too tiny in my opinion), but as long as they take off and land... it'll be just fine. Got my seat assignments and so set to fly!
29 May - Lv JFK
30 May - Arv NBO - o/n Intercontinental
31 May - 10am flight to JRO - day in Arusha, business - o/n Kibo Palace
01/02 Jun - New or follow-up site inspections between Manyara/Ngorongoro (E-Unoto Retreat, Kirurumu, Gibbs, Plantation, Manor at Ngo*) - o/n Farmhouse
*this is newest in the Elewana group (Tar.Treetops, Arusha Coffee Lodge, Migration Camp) due to open Aug '08
02 Jun - on return to JRO, afternoon flight to NBO - o/n Giraffe Manor
03 Jun - NBO - meetings - o/n House of Waine
04 Jun - Fly to Meru - o/n Elsa's Kopje
05 Jun - Meru - o/n Elsa's Kopje
06 Jun - Fly to Samburu - o/n Saruni
07 Jun - Samburu - Saruni
08 Jun - Transfer to Shaba - o/n Joy's Camp
09 Jun - Shaba - Joy's Camp
10 Jun - Fly to NBO - o/n Ngong House
11 Jun - Fly to Mara - meetings/friends - o/n Royal Mara
12 Jun - MM - o/n Royal Mara
13 Jun - MM - Transfer to Entim Camp
14 Jun - MM - Entim Camp
15 Jun - Fly to Wilson - o/n Karen Blixen Cottages
16 Jun - NBO - Karen Blixen Cottages; depart late for home
17 Jun - Arv JFK
Thankfully, my YF inoc still good for another year; doctor gave me a Tetanus jab the other day; bloodwork done to determine whether I'm still protected for Hep-A; script for Malarone.
Just have to toss the usually attire into the duffle bag and I'll be ready. Except, of course, for gifts for the kids, NY bagels, cinnamon raisin bread and whatever else we've got here, they don't have there.
Though I have a 5mg/10x Optical camera, and though I have a small (fits in a pocket) Canon 5mg/3x Optical, great for general photos, I'm thinking of getting a new more powerful camera. I like my Fuji (very easy to use) and they now have an 10mg/18X wide angle or a 8mg/10X Optical zoom... decisions, decisions. Maybe yes, maybe no. Only way to decide is to get myself to B&H
Like everyone else, and as often as I've travelled these roads... it's the waiting and departure day that can't get here soon enough. Oh well, counting.............
Apr 13th, 2008, 08:23 AM
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Sandi I might be in Nairobi on the 2nd or 3rd of June and be staying in either the House of Wain or in Macushla house. I will not have definate plans until i actually get there so would you be so kind to email me your mobile nr. Would be nice to have a few drinks together. I will be at Saruni Samburu just before you and I will leave the Mara on the day you fly in...
Do you reckon there is more mosquitos in May / June because of the rain? I have never seen a mossie in the Mara and therefor didnt plan on taking Malarone this time but also never travelled after the heavy rains.
Do you reckon there is more mosquitos in May / June because of the rain? I have never seen a mossie in the Mara and therefor didnt plan on taking Malarone this time but also never travelled after the heavy rains.
Apr 13th, 2008, 11:18 AM
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Alex - No mobile for moi! I'm incommunicado when on the road! But, I'll be where I'll be. It would be nice if we could meet up. Sorry though that we'll miss one another at Saruni, which I'm looking forward to. You'll just start on the grappa before me 
- think I'll stick with the wine! Or maybe we'll meet up at one of the Mara airstrips. Mossies? Even with the occasional rain, I rarely have seen and certainly not been bitten (any time of year), but I pop my pills; my drug plan pays for these so they're inexpensive.
Linda - eventually we'll cross paths.
Leely - soon enough you'll be back!
- think I'll stick with the wine! Or maybe we'll meet up at one of the Mara airstrips. Mossies? Even with the occasional rain, I rarely have seen and certainly not been bitten (any time of year), but I pop my pills; my drug plan pays for these so they're inexpensive. Linda - eventually we'll cross paths.
Leely - soon enough you'll be back!
One of these times it will be East Africa for me...
Apr 15th, 2008, 06:37 AM
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Sandi, great itinerary. You leave just after I get back from Easter Island, so looks like we'll have to delay brunch until the Summer. Have a great trip and take lots of photos with the new camera.
Michael
Michael
Apr 29th, 2008, 08:08 AM
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Getting excited already Sandi? Well I AM! 23 days till departure...For you it must be 28 days.
Have you already made changes to your itinerary and perhaps staying at Saruni Samburu a few days earlier than planned ?
Have you already made changes to your itinerary and perhaps staying at Saruni Samburu a few days earlier than planned
?
Apr 29th, 2008, 12:38 PM
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Hi Alex -
Not counting days (too frustrating as it's not soon enough); days are just slippin away and soon we'll both be off. No changes to my Saruni Samburu plans... sorry.
Just back from purchasing a new camera. No DSLR, as my brain is too dense for one. Already have a 5mg, 10X optical Fuji (purchased in '05) which has been more than satisfactory, so upgraded to an 8mg, 18X. Few differences, so it'll be easy to move from one to the other; same batteries and storage media.
Looked at the Olympus S570 which is a 20x. Though when compared to the Fuji does get better reviews. However, the Olympus has a manual zoom which didn't feel at all comfortable; also price was higher (and it was on back-order). So an easy decision for me.
Sorry we won't meet... next time maybe! My best to Alex. Oh, go easy on the grappa with Ric!
Not counting days (too frustrating as it's not soon enough); days are just slippin away and soon we'll both be off. No changes to my Saruni Samburu plans... sorry.
Just back from purchasing a new camera. No DSLR, as my brain is too dense for one. Already have a 5mg, 10X optical Fuji (purchased in '05) which has been more than satisfactory, so upgraded to an 8mg, 18X. Few differences, so it'll be easy to move from one to the other; same batteries and storage media.
Looked at the Olympus S570 which is a 20x. Though when compared to the Fuji does get better reviews. However, the Olympus has a manual zoom which didn't feel at all comfortable; also price was higher (and it was on back-order). So an easy decision for me.
Sorry we won't meet... next time maybe! My best to Alex. Oh, go easy on the grappa with Ric!
May 15th, 2008, 12:13 PM
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Good that you bought a new camera...
I'm getting all excited now that it is only a week to go until i board KQ to Nairobi. Did you receive Riccardo's email with the Samburu images? Liked it? I did! I ll be staying there from May 29th until June 2nd or 3rd, depending if i can get a flight out. At this moment my main struggle is finding flights due to the low number of pax. The Nanyuki-Samburu leg is hopeless and i gave up, have a driver taken me from Nanyuki to Isiolo and a Saruni verhicle will collect me in Isiolo. Then from Samburu to the Mara is another struggle since they have too little or no other pax to fly Samburu - Mara and even through Wilson is hard since they just land at 1 airstrip and i will have to pay double to land at the airstrip i want. I m sure in the end it will all be fine so i m not too worried but its getting more costly.
I'm getting all excited now that it is only a week to go until i board KQ to Nairobi. Did you receive Riccardo's email with the Samburu images? Liked it? I did! I ll be staying there from May 29th until June 2nd or 3rd, depending if i can get a flight out. At this moment my main struggle is finding flights due to the low number of pax. The Nanyuki-Samburu leg is hopeless and i gave up, have a driver taken me from Nanyuki to Isiolo and a Saruni verhicle will collect me in Isiolo. Then from Samburu to the Mara is another struggle since they have too little or no other pax to fly Samburu - Mara and even through Wilson is hard since they just land at 1 airstrip and i will have to pay double to land at the airstrip i want. I m sure in the end it will all be fine so i m not too worried but its getting more costly.
May 28th, 2008, 03:46 AM
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Hi Leely"2"
Alex was up and away last Fri and I'm out of here tomorrow. Unfortunately, we miss one another by a day or two both at Samburu and in the Mara.
Just learned that a friend managed to coordinate (last-minute) a few weeks and though we won't be spending time together, we do meet at one of the private airstrips. Whoopie! Though we're a few 100/miles from one another in the States, only in Afree-kah do we get together, short as it will be.
Bags are packed, sort-off. More gifts than my own clothing, lots of babies born this past year; the other kids keep growing. Food items also. Batteries charged, lots of USD (all denominations), my YF inoc has 1/yr to go before I need another jab.
Guess, I'm ready to go. Thanks for your good wishes.
Alex was up and away last Fri and I'm out of here tomorrow. Unfortunately, we miss one another by a day or two both at Samburu and in the Mara.
Just learned that a friend managed to coordinate (last-minute) a few weeks and though we won't be spending time together, we do meet at one of the private airstrips. Whoopie! Though we're a few 100/miles from one another in the States, only in Afree-kah do we get together, short as it will be.
Bags are packed, sort-off. More gifts than my own clothing, lots of babies born this past year; the other kids keep growing. Food items also. Batteries charged, lots of USD (all denominations), my YF inoc has 1/yr to go before I need another jab.
Guess, I'm ready to go. Thanks for your good wishes.
May 28th, 2008, 08:04 AM
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Sandi, I hope I'm not too late in adding my wishes for a wonderful trip. You're staying at great places as always....glad to see you've slipped in a night at HOW.
I've started the countdown to my departure in just over 5 weeks. You get back 2 weeks before I leave.
Safe travels!
I've started the countdown to my departure in just over 5 weeks. You get back 2 weeks before I leave.
Safe travels!
