lexus

Thanks for the quick responses and leads. I will follow them up. I live in the United States. I did receive a phone call from Eco-resorts this afternoon. They had e-mail problems last week; hence the delay in hearing from them. They sound like a good match for the last part of our trip; the coast-Mombasa, Shimba Hills and the Watamu area.

JanGoss

lexus:

Sorry I didn't get when you were going to be in Kenya, but I would most definitely change the Shimba Hills to Tsavo East. I just returned from there. Stayed at Satao Camp for four nights and there were at least l,000 elephants at the borehole right outside the tents! Many, many other animals also. As long as you are going in the dry season you will see so many more animals at Tsavo than at Shimba Hills. Have your agent contact Southern Cross Safaris in Mombasa and they can set up Satao Camp for you. You will never regret it!

Jan

Nyamera

Lexus, Shimba Hills is a small park that’s usually visited in a half day though I think a whole day would be better. It’s very green and a great contrast to Tsavo East. I hope you visit Tsavo for a couple of days on your way to the coast.

Jan, karibu nyumbani.1,000 elephants at a borehole! I thought it was amazing to see around 50 elephants together when I was in Tsavo in June last year. Please, write more details ASAP. Has Aruba dam dried out completely?

JanGoss

Nyamera

Yes, Aruba Dam is again dry as a bone. Satao Camp, Voi Lodge and the Galana River are about the only places the animals can get water now.

Thousands of all kinds of animals this month! It was wonderful, although this was the first time I found Amboseli to be so cold - even during the day. It should be starting to warm up now though.

I met so many wonderful people this time, and many Americans were there. On previous trips I had been the only one there.

Anyone out there in Fodor-land who loves elephants: KWS started translocating elephants from Shimba Hills to northern Tsavo this week. They darted one bull and put him into the special vehicle and the trailer broke from his weight!!!(Chalk one up for the elephants!!). Another darted bull never woke up when they gave him the antidote - so the translocation has been called off for now (one strike against KWS). It's a good thing it has been postponed because translocating them to a new area at this time of year with hardly any water and almost no food to eat would be a disaster. Hopefully they will wait until after the rainy season when water and food are plentiful.

Just got my films back tonight and when I get them completed I'll give you the connection to the album.

Because I always go to the same parks I hesitate continuing to post trip reports. Don't want to bore people.

Jan

sandi

Welcome Home Jan -

They're being showing the elephants relocation on CNN these past two days. Interesting to hear about some of the problems they're encountered from someone who was there!

Of course, we'll wait to see your photos. And just because you visit and revisit the same parks on your twice-yearly visits... there's always something new, another adventure - and we have to read about at least one "snake encounter." LOL!

Again, glad to have you home.

Nyamera

Jan, that you really know the places makes a trip report even more interesting. You can compare different years and different seasons and there’s always something new.

I had a look at the KWS website and they don’t even mention the problems with the bulls. The most recent news is that they have captured a whole family that’s already on its way from the jungly Shimba Hills to desert like conditions in dry season Tsavo.

sundowner

Jan, I really like to read your trip reports so if you put one together, please post!

Cindy