Your favourite place to stay in Kenya
Jul 16th, 2009, 08:45 PM
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Your favourite place to stay in Kenya
So many of you have been to Kenya and it would be interesting to have a list of your favourite places to stay.
What are your favourite lodges/camps and why?
Where do you like to stay in Nairobi, Mombassa, other towns and why?
What places have really blown you away?
Thanks
What are your favourite lodges/camps and why?
Where do you like to stay in Nairobi, Mombassa, other towns and why?
What places have really blown you away?
Thanks
Jul 16th, 2009, 10:35 PM
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My favourite place is my holiday house in Kilifi on Bofa Beach.
Commercial
Shompole - The tents are spectacular, scenery stunning and the whole concept very sexy.
Mara Explorer - Excellent staff, great game viewing, very good food, small camp, nice tents
Malu Farm - Beautiful cottages, stunning scenery, superb food, easy drive from Nairobi
Rusinga Island Lodge - Stunning location. Very nice rooms, great food and service.
There are so many more I want to go to: Desert Rose, Elsa's Kopje, Loisaba, Tortilis, Borana Lodge, Lewa, Sasaab, Ol Donyo Wuas,
Aah so much to do, such little time
Commercial
Shompole - The tents are spectacular, scenery stunning and the whole concept very sexy.
Mara Explorer - Excellent staff, great game viewing, very good food, small camp, nice tents
Malu Farm - Beautiful cottages, stunning scenery, superb food, easy drive from Nairobi
Rusinga Island Lodge - Stunning location. Very nice rooms, great food and service.
There are so many more I want to go to: Desert Rose, Elsa's Kopje, Loisaba, Tortilis, Borana Lodge, Lewa, Sasaab, Ol Donyo Wuas,
Aah so much to do, such little time
Jul 17th, 2009, 06:12 AM
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Desert Rose.
The farthest yet from NBO - big ticket airfare - no game (ok a few baboons you hear, but rarely see); most amazing area, landscapes, greenery; non-touristy villagers... peace and quiet. Great for walking or just doing nothing.
Otherwise, there are many really great lodges/camps, depending on what one wishes to see or do, how many days, and budget. Something for everyone.
The farthest yet from NBO - big ticket airfare - no game (ok a few baboons you hear, but rarely see); most amazing area, landscapes, greenery; non-touristy villagers... peace and quiet. Great for walking or just doing nothing.
Otherwise, there are many really great lodges/camps, depending on what one wishes to see or do, how many days, and budget. Something for everyone.
Jul 17th, 2009, 07:43 AM
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I've only been to Kenya once but my favorite place we stayed was Elephant Bedroom in Samburu. Specifically, the couch overlooking the river... where we sat and watched an elephant crossing, and a monitor lizard walked past our feet.
Jul 17th, 2009, 08:26 AM
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Our favorites in no particular order:
Elsa's Kopje - great views, great camp, hyrax all over camp
Samatian Island - beautiful open air cottages, views across Lake Baringo to the escarpment
El Karama - privacy, feeling like you have to place to yourself, we also had our most diverse cat sightings here
Sandai - great host, view of Mt Kenya, riding on the ranch
Galdessa - wonderfully positioned on the Galana River, great food, resident elephant (though we missed him last time)
Finch Hattons - waking up to the sound of hippos, best right from your tent game viewing and bird watching we've experienced
Malu - cozy cottages, I'm drooling thinking of the picnic we had here, Tanga and Sidney keeping us company
On my wishlist in no particular order:
Desert Rose
Ol Donyo Wuas
Kitich
Sarara
Sirikoi
Tumaren
Delta Dunes
Lake Rutundu
Elsa's Kopje - great views, great camp, hyrax all over camp
Samatian Island - beautiful open air cottages, views across Lake Baringo to the escarpment
El Karama - privacy, feeling like you have to place to yourself, we also had our most diverse cat sightings here
Sandai - great host, view of Mt Kenya, riding on the ranch
Galdessa - wonderfully positioned on the Galana River, great food, resident elephant (though we missed him last time)
Finch Hattons - waking up to the sound of hippos, best right from your tent game viewing and bird watching we've experienced
Malu - cozy cottages, I'm drooling thinking of the picnic we had here, Tanga and Sidney keeping us company
On my wishlist in no particular order:
Desert Rose
Ol Donyo Wuas
Kitich
Sarara
Sirikoi
Tumaren
Delta Dunes
Lake Rutundu
Jul 17th, 2009, 08:53 AM
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I can't compare that many places as I've only stayed in 2 Mara camps, one Samburu Camp and one Meru camp.
But I adored Elsa's Kopje. A combination of the setting itself and the way the shared buildings and individual chalets are located and built, the stunning views, the fact that we were fortunate enough to be assigned our own guide and vehicle (though we'd not paid extra for one), the truly wonderful managing couple (who'd only moved there a month or two previously, as had our guide) and the lovely park itself.
I also loved Serian. We were moved to the posher camp on the other bank of the river to the main camp, which we loved. Our tent was the furthest from the central area and just by the hippo pool within the river. We had great experiences here with our fantastic guide and driver and private vehicle. We also had an absolutely magical night at the mobile camp, which we had to ourselves on the night we were there. We experienced some negative issues with staff in the camp, mostly because there were NO managers there, not the owner, not the normal camp manager or even any of the senior staff. The entire thing had been left in the charge of a recently arrived lion researcher who was lovely and did her best but it just didn't work for us. BUT I'd stay here again in a heartbeat and as I planned my parents upcoming trip, I sent them here too.
But I adored Elsa's Kopje. A combination of the setting itself and the way the shared buildings and individual chalets are located and built, the stunning views, the fact that we were fortunate enough to be assigned our own guide and vehicle (though we'd not paid extra for one), the truly wonderful managing couple (who'd only moved there a month or two previously, as had our guide) and the lovely park itself.
I also loved Serian. We were moved to the posher camp on the other bank of the river to the main camp, which we loved. Our tent was the furthest from the central area and just by the hippo pool within the river. We had great experiences here with our fantastic guide and driver and private vehicle. We also had an absolutely magical night at the mobile camp, which we had to ourselves on the night we were there. We experienced some negative issues with staff in the camp, mostly because there were NO managers there, not the owner, not the normal camp manager or even any of the senior staff. The entire thing had been left in the charge of a recently arrived lion researcher who was lovely and did her best but it just didn't work for us. BUT I'd stay here again in a heartbeat and as I planned my parents upcoming trip, I sent them here too.
Jul 17th, 2009, 09:19 AM
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It also appeared to me that each party had their own vehicle when we stayed at Elsa's. Kavey, who were the managers when you were there? Anthony and Emma were wonderful hosts as well (probably the best non-owner hosts we've encountered).
Jul 17th, 2009, 09:31 AM
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I'd have to look up the names and I don't know where my trip journal is! (I live in chaos)
They had moved from a Mara camp just a month or two previously, they were very young and yet absolutely fantastic managers. Considerate, warm, welcoming and went above and beyond for us.
The camp was only half full which helped on private vehicle front plus we'd sent a request, in advance, for a guide who'd be able to respond well to our photographic interests and a) position us well for shots and b) help us see and spend more time with some of the smaller critters.
They had moved from a Mara camp just a month or two previously, they were very young and yet absolutely fantastic managers. Considerate, warm, welcoming and went above and beyond for us.
The camp was only half full which helped on private vehicle front plus we'd sent a request, in advance, for a guide who'd be able to respond well to our photographic interests and a) position us well for shots and b) help us see and spend more time with some of the smaller critters.
Jul 17th, 2009, 11:00 AM
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Have only been to Kenya once and favorites for that trip would be
Olonana just outside the Mara and
Elsa Koje in Meru.
Going back in September and I'm glad to see that we'll be staying at some of Patty's favorite places with Patty and Mark.
Olonana just outside the Mara and
Elsa Koje in Meru.
Going back in September and I'm glad to see that we'll be staying at some of Patty's favorite places with Patty and Mark.
Jul 21st, 2009, 07:36 PM
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The best safari camp I ever was at in Kenya was Little Governors, Maasai Mara. Of course, it also has been the -only- safari camp I've been to in Kenya.
regards - tom
ps- still would like to go back
regards - tom
ps- still would like to go back
Jul 22nd, 2009, 12:21 AM
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Governor's and Little Governor's are superbly situated in the Mara, they really are. Fantastic game viewing, beautiful location.
My only negative is that, for my (and it's a purely personal preference), the camps are just too big, even Little Governor's has 17 tents. I think main has 40 odd though I have some vague memory they were building new accommodation ahead of last year's Big Cat Diary filming and can't remember whether some of these will remain permanently?
My only negative is that, for my (and it's a purely personal preference), the camps are just too big, even Little Governor's has 17 tents. I think main has 40 odd though I have some vague memory they were building new accommodation ahead of last year's Big Cat Diary filming and can't remember whether some of these will remain permanently?
Jul 22nd, 2009, 06:30 AM
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I have stayed at the posh Mt. Kenya Safari Club but would choose Kichwa Tembo in the Maasai Mara over that in a heartbeat. Stanle, the manager make you feel like family. I also had the best photo ops there thanks to safari organizer and leader Daniel Kikemu of DK Grand Safaris. We visited 5 locations in Kenya and Tanzania and Kichwa and the Maasai Mara was the best on our trip!
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