carnivore without a tour agent
 

Hi all,

We are planning on having dinner at the Carnivore restaurant during our trip to Kenya. However, I think our tour agent is overcharging us ($45/person) for making reservations and taking us there. I had heard that the restaurant charges $20/person.

Has anyone gone to the carnivore restaurant without going through a travel agent?
If so, how do you make reservations?
How did you get there?
Is it safe to go there without an escort? We will be staying at the Nairobi Safari Club. How far is the restaurant from there?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

thanks!!

Its only 10 minutes drive from the Nairobi Safari club. I booked the taxi from city to the carnivore and it costed me ksh 500 one way. You can call the restaurant to make a reservation especially during the high season. For the meal it will be USD 26 per person. I think the Tour company is fair, as they will give you a return trasfer,meal and they will not ask for waiting charges. Taxis charges ksh 300 per hour and the more you stay the more expensive it is. With a Tour company you will not need to be in a hurry, at the carnivore you need to have your sweet time. But if you are a group you can share the taxi to drop you there and pick you the time you are through

I've NEVER done it through a travel agent. Most of the time you can just turn up if there's just a couple of you.

You can reserve here...

http://www.tamarind.co.ke/carnivore/contactus.php

Just get a taxi to take you. Should be safe enough. As safe as anywhere... you'll be on main routes.

Easy call this taxi man [Opiyo]on 0722 770234 he will charge you 1000 kenya shillings return trip without waiting charges if you give hime chance to book for you the means which cost $23 per person.

Our taxis never charged for waiting and I am pretty sure that this is the norm - perhaps it is different when the fare is very local, rather than being from the town center... fares are negotiable anyway, within reason. Using "unofficial" hotel taxi we paid 2000 shillings return from our hotel in the town center with an unlimited wait. Initial asking price was 2300 I think. Pay on return to hotel. Safety is just not an issue at Carnivore.

As stated above, you can arrange it all thru your Tour Operator; their charge is not "overcharged." Covers your cost for meal, drive to/from and waiting for your return.

Or make a reservation yourself, take a taxi from your hotel, pay the taxi driver, have your meal, pay for meal. The restaurant can call for a taxi to return you to your hotel - you avoid the "wait" time. This latter will be cheaper, but be assured that your operator is not overcharging you.

Hi africat,
If you care to go to my Tanzanian pictures, you'll see a Carnivore menu, along with pricing and interior shots of the resturant in with the very last 10 pics or so.
Enjoy!
Sherry

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34817288

p.s. Ask to be seated in the patio area as the inside is a bit cramped and smoking is allowed. Not so good when your seated upwind in this multi level resturant.