Help: 15 camping tour in Kenya & Tanzania
 

We are booking GAP 15-day participation camping safari in Serengeti and Masai Mara. We have some questions as we prepare for the trip.

1. What is the weather like in early Oct? What should be the proper day wear (e.g. long/short sleeves)? Night? What kind of sleeping bag should we buy?

2. We will bring a 36-430mm camera. Do we need more telezoom power? Would a tripod be useful any time?

3. What type of electric outlet is in used there? The following page listed Kenya and Tanzania as Type G. Would anyone confirm it?

http://users.pandora.be/worldstandar...city.htm#plugs

4. How bad is the insect problem? Do we need to wear long sleeves/pants all the time? How about headnet? Is OFF effective? What concentration do I need? How much do I need?

5. How is humidity at night? Do we need to worry about everything gets wet in the tent? Should we some waterproof bags?

6. Airport transport. The tour operator charge a lot for a pickup. Is it easy and safe to get a taxi at the airport?

7. We plan to stay at Kenya Comfort Hotel http://www.kenyacomfort.com/docs/kch.htm . Has anyone stayed there? Any comment?

8. In the middle of the trip, we will be back at the hotel for a day. Is it easy and safe to get laundry done nearby?

9. We plan to carry our laptop with us to record the trip. Is there any problem?

Your help is highly appreciated!

If you're going on a camping tour, I doubt you'll find much electricity, if any. However, the camps may have generator or solar power, but your best advice will come from whomever you're booking this trip. Even if generator or solar, you may only have access for a few hours each day... don't know what you need to feel this is sufficient. As to the laptop, I suggest you have lots of battery power.

Temps in October are mild as it is year-round in Kenya and Tanzania - avg temps mid-70s. Evenings and mornings will be cool, probably mid-50s. Be prepared with layers in the early and late hours and peel off as the day goes on. Not likely that you'll need shorts or sleeveless/backless tops (women). Many like the convertible pants that unzip at the knee and joila you have shorts!

Insects? What kind? Mosquitos? Malaria mossies do their dirty deeds from dusk to dawn, so long pants, sleeves, socks best. Use repellent on any exposed skin except on the face. This is still the dry season so doubt you'll have any humidity. Can't say about other insects... none have every bothered us, but if concerned use repellent during the day.

I am hoping "participation camping" means using designated camp sites which might provide some electricity and water. Preparing batteries for a week is rather hard.

thanks!

All I know is that we were staying at semi-luxury semi-permanent and permanent camps and we never had power of any kind... so I would most definitely confirm with your particular tour company about the particular camps!

We actually got a car charger for our batteries and so we plugged in our various equipment as we were driving... Not a perfect solution (especially on some of the roady roads, it was constantly cutting out), but at least somewhat helpful in a pinch. We just brought ALOT of battery power!

Hi, we visited (but did not camp at) a public campsite in the Serengeti. It didn't look like there was any kind of power!

So check with GAP and have fun.

Just got a reply from GAP:

"I have been advised that there is electricity at all of the campsites as you can charge batteries for cameras at all of the campsites"

I am hoping that is true. Unfortunately, they can't provide names for the campsites so I have no way to confirm it.

Anyone can comment on the other questions (e.g. taxi, lens)?

Thanks!