Caroline,
I'd be interested to hear what you ended up booking. I'm of no help with the curling iron issue. I managed 3 weeks without any hair apparatus on my last trip

I'd continue your questions on this same thread.

As to purchasing a hair blower in NBO, I haven't the foggiest, though I'm sure there must be. I just never leave home without what I need, be it shampoo, or appliances. Who knows (even on the continent) whether I'll have time on arrival to find what I want, be it drugs or appliances. No more than I would want to figure out how a camera works on arriving at my destination, same holds for a simple hair blower.

A portable/travel hairblower doesn't have to cost but $10... most all made are dual voltage, so all you need is the adapter plug. Then if your camp or lodge has electricity, you'll be fine. Try to avoid a travel blower higher than 1600 Watts, as this "might" blow out everything. However, if for some reason your hairblower doesn't work, at lodges you can inquire at reception. Many of the lodges have these available for guests if none provided in the rooms.

Hi Sandi,

Actually it's a butane curling iron I was looking for in Nairobi (since I can't pack one from Canada), not a hairblower! But thanks for the quick response anyway!

OK, will post my itinerary this afternoon after lunch. Thanks!!!!

Carolines,

I too am fulfilling a childhood dream of going to Africa. We leave June 25 for Kenya/Tanzania, and this forum has been an enormous help in helping us solidify our plans.

In our planning stages, I wanted to "see it all" and quickly realized that it's just not do-able for us in one trip, so I'm planning my next visit to Africa before I've even been on the first! I am excited beyond words

We're in Canada too...Victoria BC. Perhaps you wouldn't mind sharing your location?

I'm looking forward to reading the itinerary you've come up with.

Caroline, after dreaming of Africa for 30 years I am leaving June 16th for Botswana and Zambia. I planned this trip for a long time and can't believe it's only 10 weeks away! I'm also Canadian.

Calo, I know exactly what you mean by wanting to see it all. I picked Botswana and Zambia because of the quality of camps, remoteness and fewer tourists. I live in B.C. also, White Rock area. It would be great to compare notes on your trip to Tanzania and my trip. When do you return?

Regarding views of Kilamanjoro from Tortilis camp; was there in mid June and barely saw Kilamanjor due to clouds, so if that is a priority for you , I wouldn't make that the focal point of going there. Great elephant viewing, but not much else worthwhile, except for some cheetah. Guide was a rude, arrogant individual, and no off road driving as well.

Lewa Downs, on the other hand, was wonderful. Saw many, many black and white rhino up close, best rhino viewing I have ever had. Guide was wonderful, camp friendly and an overall wonderful experience. Even saw a pride of lions on the hunt, which isn't the specialty of the area.

Raelond,

Next trip will be either Botswana or Zambia, so would love to compare notes! We return on July 12.

[email protected]

Calo

Hello again,

Just wanted to thank everyone who's offered such helpful advice and positive encouragement regarding our trip in Feb. next year. All booked now, a full month on safari for our 25th anniversary (Calo, we're in Winnipeg! so it will doubly nice to escape the winter then!) We paid our deposit Saturday and were floating on air, but then, reading new negative comments on Tortilis, Serengeti Serena etc. just burst my happy little bubble.It is such a large investment and despite trying to incorporate all the advice gleaned from the forum, I admit I'm now second-guessing our choices and driving my husband crazy! He just wants me to be happy!

I've promised to stay away from reviews and forums for awhile so I can regain my enthusiasm and happy anticipation without the distraction of others' unhappy reports...so I will invite comments on our itinerary at a later date...maybe!!!

In the meantime, we really appreciate everyone's generous help and we will definitely post our trip report for you!

caroline,
Don't worry! We all have different tastes/expectations/goals for our trips, not to mention budgets. You will have a lovely, lovely time. Probably 3/4 of the people on this board would have fainted from shock at my first trip (I even bought the air tickets first) but I am happy to say it was the best holiday I've ever had.

I take it back about 3/4 of the people on this board "fainting from shock" (hyperbole). I just didn't plan very much last time. Didn't know to. So I think you're way ahead of the game. Sounds to me like your itinerary meets the priorities you stated in your first post. I'm quite envious, actually.

Leely, thank-you for your kind reassurance. Sometimes I think there can be too much knowledge (can this really be me saying this???) This is our first time with a forum "pre-travel" and we always had wonderful holidays, even in the remotest places, taking things as they came with no reviews to confuse us.. But we've never booked anything so far in advance, either, with so much time to second-guess!
Our itinerary has veered from the original somewhat but was poorly thought out anyway (because we hadn't looked at a map!)

Anyway, I'll spend the next while contenting myself with the Sheldrick website as we've just "adopted" two baby elephants! And we can make an appointment to see them...can't wait!
Again, thanks to the forum for letting us know about the fostering programme.
I think we are looking forward to our visit there as much as anything!

carolines:
You will have a fabulous time. You can also spend the time beteen now and your trip figuring out ways to accumulate frequent flyer miles for that 2nd trip you are going to want(I wish that I had done that).

Caroline,
Don't second guess yourself. You're going to have a great trip. If you listened to all of the (often conflicting) advice that's posted here, you'd never go anywhere!

carolines,
What they said . You can not have anything but a great time in Africa.

I also, went in Feb. to the same areas as your planning and had the best trip of my life. Once you breath your first breath of African air, see your first baobab tree and your first wildlife sighting, I guarantee you will be as completely hooked as we are.
Promise.
Sherry