First safari in Kenya ( and maybe Tanzania)
 

My wife and are I planning a safari in Kenya in late January 2012. We are both major animal lovers, and our primary goal is to see as much wildlife as possible, every day.
This will be our first safari, and I have been researching for some time. We have about 12 days, and our budget is around $8000 for both of us.
So far, the best deal I have been able to find is an 8 night Kenya lodge safari from Africa Adventure Company for $5500 for both of us. It will take us through Samburu, Mt. Kenya Park, Lake Nakuru and Maasai Mara and includes a delight back to Nairobi. The lodges are all highly rated. Since we have additional days available, I have asked them to quote a price for an additional couple of nights in a tented camp in the Mara, and we may add an extra night before the safari to explore Nairobi. I expect those additions will bring us close to our budget.
On this safari, our vehicle will be a minibus with a max capacity of 7.
Before I commit to this trip, I have a few questions.
Is it possible to do a comparable trip that includes Tanzania? I have not been able to find one within my price range, but Tanzania sounds amazing and I might be able to increase the budget for a comparable trip that includes Tanzania.
Will we be maximizing opportunities for wildlife viewing with this itinerary? My concern is that we may be following the crowds to more touristy area of the parks, and we would love to find relatively remote locales to watch the animals. We are also interested in night safaris.
Will we be spending too much time driving? My preference is to spend less time in transit if possible, but flying safaris seem considerably more expensive.
Is a vehicle with 7 passengers a good option? It has a pop up roof with all window seats.
Is Africa Adventure Company a good choice? Their reviews have generally been favorable and their rates seem competitive with other larger operators.
This safari really is the trip of a lifetime for us. We have been saving for some time and are very excited.
If anyone has any suggestions or recommendations, we would greatly appreciate it! Thanks for reading this, and all feedback is welcome.

I assume that your budget is not inclusive of international airfare. You might look at Overseas Adventure Travel's "Best of Kenya and Tanzania." Their prices include air and would probably fit your budget. In January, your best bet to see the Migration is in Tanzania's Serengeti, rather than the Masai Mara in Kenya. However, OAT does offer the option of extending your safari for a few days in the Mara.

Thanks for then quick response, I will check them out.

Our budget does not include airfare - we are using frequent flier miles to get to Nairobi by way of Europe.

If you are so keen on wildlife and want to <b>watch</b> the animals rather than just 'see' them (to me these are very different things) I would definitely try to avoid the 7 people minibus.
To me that would almost be a small nightmare and will probably be more of a 'tick the boxes' experience than really watching the animals.
I would say it is better to have one or maybe a few days less in the wild, but enjoy it to the fullest, than be out there for many days and be annoyed/dissapointed every day.

I would try to contact some agencies and let them come up with an itinerary based on your preferences and budget availability. You probably will get a better fit to your desires than an 'out of the box' option.
With that budget you should be able to have at least a few nights in tented camps, that will give you good guiding and (most likely) open vehicles to gamedrive in.

Thanks Nikao, I definitely want to watch the animals rather than see them. My problem has been that I haven't been able to find a customized private tour within my budget range.

Can you recommend an agency?

At the price of $5,500 for both of you, it's obviously a group safari (very standard) and 6/pax should be max in vehicle and even that is pushing it. Also, based on the itinerary, and I personally would like know which 'lodges'... you indicate: Samburu, Mt. Kenya Park, Lake Nakuru and Maasai Mara and includes a delight (believe you meant 'flight'... that's ok, sticky fingers, I do often :) ) back to Nairobi, know these drive times:

Nairobi/Samburu - 6/hrs
Samburu/Mt.Kenya - 3/hrs
Mt. Kenya/Nakuru - 3/hrs
Nakuru/Masai Mara - 5/hrs

... and I assume this is Samburu (2nts), Mt. Kenya (1), Nakuru (1), Masai Mara (3); also guess the first night arrival at NBO hotel. You will be spending lots of time in transit on some nasty roads - bumpy, dusty & tiring. And, when with a group, often decisions on whether to spend more or less time at particular game sighting is decided by committee. You may not have the same interests as others and vice versa. Some only want to take a picture and be on their way.

For 8/nts at $2,750/person - avgs. $460/person/nt. which seems a bit high for January which is at mid-season rates in Kenya. You may want to contact a few in-country outfitters for comparison pricing and ask for a 10-12/day in-country safari, to include some options for tented camps. Believe you can get something at arounf $4K/person.

Some you may wish to contact:
Eastern & Southern Safaris
Wildtrek Safaris
Southern Cross Safaris

As to Tanzania, know that for January their prices are at peak-season, and doubt you'll get as attractive a price... besides many properties have been booked here for months, even a year ahead. Have you asked AAC for a similar Tanzania itinerary? Once you have something from them, likewise you can compare with some in-country outfitters on prices.

Note: Visa for Kenya USD$50; Tanzania USD$100 and if arriving Kenya heading to Tanzania, need Yellow Fever inoculation and proof of same for entry.

I'd continue researching.

Hi Sandi,

The lodging is one night at Nairobi Serena, two at Samburu Simba, one at Serena Mountain, one at Sarova Lion Hill, and two at Mara Serena Safari Lodge. It's actually only 7 nights.

I am concerned about all the driving, and I have spoken to a couple of agencies through Zicasso (which someone recommended on one of these threads). I am waiting on quotes, but it looks like we may be able to visit Tanzania and stay in tented camps door at least a couple of nights.

I am leaning toward canceling the original plan in favor of a private safari, if I can find an itinerary within our budget.

You will absolutely have a much better experience on a private safari, even if they do cost a bit more.

Are you definitely set on January? I went this last June which was shoulder season in Kenya and prices were lower plus less people. With both of my tented camps where I took their game drives in 4x4 land cruisers, I had a guide and vehicle all to myself!

Try and squeeze in a flight somewhere like maybe Nairobi to Samburu to cut down on travel time. I did the Nairobi to Samburu flight in a 12 seater plane, sat right behind the pilot & it was amazing! Was a bit of nervous flyer up to that point...but not anymore!

Should have been my first question; but why are you looking into Kenia in particular? You're also mentioning Tanzania, so I guess your not fixed on one destination or the other. So what it is you would really like and love to experience? Wildlife watching, which sceneries maybe, remoteness and 'wild' or a bit more luxuary/comfort? Does it bother you when you are with 5 - 15 cars at 1 sighting? etc. etc. All questions that could determine what the best place is to go ;)

If the goal is to really observe the animals rather than see them and tick them off a list, I'd certainly not recommend 7 in a minivan on a general tour.

Personally, I'd rather reduce my number of nights and locations and have a more immersive, safari-time-heavy experience than have more nights, but with more people, more transit time and not as much time with the wildlife.

For example, admittedly not our first safari, but for sheer abundance of game and incredible experiences, not to mention control over our own time (in terms of how long we chose to spend with an interesting sighting and so on) we had a great experience by simply booking 10 nights solid at one camp in the Mara. We chose Serian Camp because they have a seasonal tented camp within the heart of the triangle, so we could spend some nights at their main camp in conservancy adjacent to NP and some inside the triangle at the tented camp. Best of all, we had a private vehicle, guide and driver for the two of us included in the rate. Can't stress enough how much of a benefit that is.

If you prefer to go to different places, and I can understand the desire, look into a customised itinerary staying at less expensive places.

Sandi (above) can be contacted at Africa Serendipity, and she may be able to put together a clever itinerary within your budget.

For Tanzania, you can look into a private safari with Roy, again, staying in good lodges but with your own guide and vehicle, you can contact them directly but when I booked a trip with them, I went via Sandi.

Hi Sandi,
Maybe I didnt read the thread closely, but the $460/person/nt seems to be a miscalculation. I show a $300ish per pppdy, or $340/pppn which is closer to the market. But you are right, as if they check around they can get a private safari for that or less in Jan

I remember Serena had an incredible deal last Jan(mid 2's in Serena properties)...but of course I couldnt take advantage of it

We chose Kenya mainly for cost. We are able to use miles to fly into Nairobi, and the cost in Kenya seems significantly less expensive than Tanzania, and we need to go in January. I have seen some amazing safaris in Tanzania, but not within our prife range.

My thought in visiting different areas is to experience different ecosystems and see as wide a range of animals as possible.

Nikao, you raised a good point. The idea of watching animals from a large cluster of vehicles is not appealing at all. I would prefer to be alone with the animals and our guide as much as possible. As far as luxury, we are looking for a reasonable level of comfort. From what I have read, mobile tented camps might be good for us.

Maybe it would be a good idea for us to do what Kavey did - stay at the Mara the whole time with a private vehicle and guide. I will look into Serian Camp. If we are able to also go to Tanzania, we would like to see the Ngorongoro Crater.

... ooops, sticky fingers - the $2,750 div 8/nts is about $345. My fingers input 3,750, why I gave you the higher number, sorry!

You can certainly arrive in Nairobi/NBO Kenya (where I'm sure your FF miles will get you more easily than if into Kilimanjaro/JRO Tanzania), spend a few days at Samburu or Amboseli (both elephant parks), the Masai Mara, then head into Tanzania for visit to Ngorongoro Crater.

While there is an elephant park in Tanzania at Tarangire and also the Southern Serengeti/Ndutu area where the wildebeest settle to 'calve' their young, prices overall are more expensive and at this late-date, limited space in/around the Serengeti.

And, as the wildebeests weren't even on your list if visiting Kenya only, and inasmuch as there's more to safari that just the wildies/migration... you can just spend more time in Kenya, but for the Crater.

Also, when in Kenya, flying between the greater distances isn't all that more expensive, if it even is, than driving. Though in Tanzania for visit to Ngorongoro you can have your own guide/vehicle for this.

There is no right/wrong itinerary, just some better for particular visitors, when, where, how much!

Example:
Day 1 - Arv. NBO - o/n
Day 2 - Drive to Amboseli - o/n
- or Fly to Samburu - o/n
Day 3 - Amboseli or Samburu - o/n
Day 4 - Fly to Masai Mara - o/n
Days 5 & 6 - Masai Mara - o/n
Day 7 - Fly to Kilimanjaro/JRO Tanzania, to Arusha - o/n
Day 8 - Drive to Ngorongoro; afternoon crater tour - o/n
Day 9 - Ngo - options: morning crater tour; visit Oldupai Gorge or Olmoti Crater Trek or Crater Rim Walk - o/n
Day 10 - Drive to Arusha; option: shuttle bus to NBO to airport and home OR dayroom till later transfer to JRO for flight to NBO and home.

If you do stay at one camp, or possibly two sister camps owned by same company, you should be able to negotiate for discount. Discount for multiple nights and discount for multiple tents, if you are more than 2 of you travelling together.

I was thinking the same thing as Kavey. If you limit your trip to one (or two) parks, it probably would benefit you to stay at camps operated by one company.

Just nailed down my own award tickets for Kenya next June! :D

"see as wide a range of animals as possible."

Samburu has different species,along with eles, you may not find elsewhere such as grevy zebra, reticulated giraffe & beisa oryx.

Thanks. Are there any companies anyone can recommend that own sister camps in multiple parks?

Ask Sandi or an agent at any of the operators mentioned above. Also, if you haven't already, check out the operators listed on Lynda's New East African Safari Report thread. Keep in mind that most operators will first give you a standard/canned itinerary--you need to specify exactly what you want, e.g.: Mara and Samburu, Mara and Meru, Tsavo and Amboseli...etc. Friends use Eastern and Southern fairly often, and I shared part of their safari on my last trip.

Take your time. If you're not hustling to the Serengeti, you shouldn't feel rushed to book because of availability issues.

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong on that last point.

Cheli & Peacock
Serian
Saruni
Kicheche, I think do now

Lodges such as Sopa and Serena

As previously, can recommend booking through Africa Serendipity, (Sandi, above).

There are also the
Porini Camps
Kicheche (as Kavey shows)
Governor's Camps
Off-beat Camps
Intrepid's Camps
Wilderness properties (camps/lodges)

... other 'group' properties at various locations.