Hi,
I learned a great deal of info from this forum, so much more to learn! Thanks for all your help as we plan our 1st safari.
As we plan our budget camping safari, we're comparing quotes from Nairobi Backpackers and Africa Point. Both trips are for 4 days/3 nights in early July.
NBO Backpackers quoted us $270pp on a shared safari (4-6ppl total). Their camp site is inside the Mara near the Sekanani gate.
Africa Point has quoted us $476pp for a private camping safari.
Any recent feedback on either of these companies?
Any other things we should consider before booking the safari?

Kindly note that you are not allowed to have a permanent camp in Maasai Mara.
$ 270 seems alittle on the low side, make sure that you dont have to cough up more cash when you get to the park.
Rgds
Im

If memory serves me, the entrance fee to the Mara Park is $40 (USD) per day per person. We had to pay this at a "permanent" camp, Little Gov. So, I think everyone gets hit with it. Ask NBO if it is included in the $270. I they say no, it is addition, then ask what other fees are required or cost of other services from them.
regards - tom
ps - may or may not have been included on your AP quote either.

I don't think NBO BP uses a site inside of the Mara but rather just outside.

I'd suggest looking at http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com
under the Kenya branch for specific information.

Thanks for your replies, everybody!
Both of these quotes already include the daily park entrance fees! What's strange is that I asked NBO BPackers the location of their tents, and they specifically stated that their permanent tents are INSIDE the park. AP stated that their permanent tents are outside the park, and they gave me Chronicle and Mara Springs
Camp as examples of camps they use.
I agree - $270 does sound low for 3 nights, but others have had (mostly) decent budget experience with NBO BP.

I need to correct my initial post. Nairobi Backpackers would charge me $360pp for a 4 day/3 night budget camping safari. The $270 price I mentioned is for a 2 night safari...

Hello,
We did a safari with Africa Point in December and they were fantastic. We said vaguely where we wanted to go (Samburu, Nakuru and Masai Mara) travelling with two children and they put together a superb trip with flights into the Samburu and out of the Mara. The driver, Edwin, was amazing we didn't get stuck in the Mara despite being in a minibus when all around us others were. His knowledge of the animals, history etc. was very thorough.
The whole trip went very smoothly, and after two weeks at the coast booked seperately from Africa Point we phoned them up to arrange a taxi to pick us up from Wilson airport to jomo Kenyatta they didn't charge us, said that it was part of the package.
Also due to a minor misunderstanding they had charged us twice for one flight but when we arrived in Nairobi their representative was there with visa slip in hand with the money repaid, no quibbles or hassle.
Ours wasn't a camping safari so I can't advise you on that but I would reccommend Africa Point.
Enjoy it what ever you do!