mad

We're interested in traveling to Kenya in March with our well-travelled 9 year old. We've been on safari in the Sabi Sands before (not with our son) and loved not having crowds around. Any recommendations on where to stay in Masai Mara that isn't too difficult to get to from Nairobi and is not outrageously expensive or too crowded?

sundowner

How much is outrageously expensive to you?
Where did you stay in Sabi Sands?
The Mara is a short flight from Nairobi. Will that work for you?

selenamartin

Maybe healp you: http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...-old-child.cfm

mad

I'd say anything more than $1000 per day for the three of us is too expensive. The short flight is fine. We stayed at elephant plains about ten years ago. Not luxurious, but nice enough for us. Thanks for any suggestions.

amyb

This recent thread applied to a family trip with teens, a lot of very good information here:
http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...eche-camps.cfm

mad

thanks for the helpful links!

sundowner

In March you may be able to stay at Topi House within your budget. http://www.nomadicencounters.com/topihouse.html
It's a private 3 BR home that you have full use of. Private chef, private vehicle, private rangers.My daughters (all grown up ) and I stayed there 6 or 7 nights in 2014 and then moved to Mara House for 2 nights. The rangers are so good and so much fun. Fred and Mpatinga (spelling?) can really find the game. One morning they said "let's go look for a rhino". We drove to where they said we would go and as we were pulling under a large tree to stop for breakfast a rhino was just walking away from there. We saw the Big 5 that day!
http://www.pbase.com/cjw/2014_kenya

I'd go back tomorrow if I could get away.

mad

Wow, that sounds cool. I'll check it out. Thanks!

plambers

Hi. I am the one taking our teens to Kenya. Almost everyone I asked suggested Sosian for kids. There are many varied activities here for kids-fly camping, camel and horseback riding safaris, river to swim and jump into, a pool etc. Chimp and rhino sanctuary too and lion tracking. Of course there are driving safaris too. We are staying here our first 4 days.

mad

Ok thanks I'll look into. Sounds ideal!

sundowner

I've been to Sosian as well and it's a beautiful camp and does have the extra activities. I was sick and didn't get to do the horseback safari but did do a camel ride. You don't need to plan too much time for the camel ride.

mad

Cant find the prices on their website- is it about $500-$600 per person per day? Kids prices?

sundowner

The rates and specials for Sosian are at the bottom of this page.
http://www.offbeatsafaris.com/sosian/

mad

Thanks so much. if we stayed here for 4 nights, any suggestions on where to go before or after? We have a total of 10 days.

plambers

after Sosian, we head to Kicheche Laikipia (3 nights) and then Kichecheche Mara (4 nights). It is not a traditional route but it seems to have the most varied activites for the kids (canoe ride, rhino and chimp sanctuary, walking safaris and cultural experiences etc.) vs more time in the Mara which is (I have been advised) more focused on game drives. All these camps are very good with children too.

mad

Ok thanks. I agree, just game drives with kids for many days in a row might not work out so well. I'm still a little sticker shocked by the prices in Kenya. Our safari in South Africa was so much less expensive!

plambers

SA would have been a lot cheaper. I wanted the cultural experience and the small tented camps and the wide open spaces that lead me to Kenya.