Is this a good itinerary?
 

We are seriously considering a safari through Easter & Southern which has received good reviews on this board and would appreciate any comments anyone has. Safari is for July/Aug. 07.
Day 1-Nairobi Mountain Lodge Serena
Day 2 Samburu Serena
Day 3 Sweetwaters-tented camp
Day 4Lake Nakuru Savora Lion Hill
Day 5 Naivasha-Sopa
Days 7,8,9, Masai Mara-Savora Mara tented Camp.
Day 10-14-Zanzibar at Breezes.
Except for getting to & from Maasai Mara the driving times aren't bad which we like.
The cost is about $3000pp not including the airfare to Zanzibar which will be almost $500pp.
We think this is a fair price.
We are also considering another safari ESS offers which looks about $700 more which includes flying to Amboseli and back and then driving to Sweetwaters, the Ark,Lake Nakuru and Maasai Mara.We are very tempted to see Mt. Kiliminjaro but have been told it will likely be under the clouds. We will spend two nights at Amboseli though so maybe we will see it. Any comments from the knowledgeable poeple on this board will be appreciated. Thanks. P. S. Both Safaris are 14 days and day one you are actually out on safari(not arriving in Nairobi.)

is this a set tour? If not I would spend at least two nights at Samburu. (We spent three) You really need the full day there to properly enjoy (for example to go on a game walk or go to the village.)

Also, I would recommend you consider Lamu instead of Zanzibar. Not going between countries. But I have not been to Zanzibar.

I would skip Amboselli. Not too much great said about it here.

I would also consider driving from Navaisha to Nairobi and flying to and from the Mara. I understand a long, tough drive otherwise.

Kevin

Hi MPH,
I’d skip Sweetwaters and spend 2 nights in Samburu and I too recommend Lamu, but better than going to the coast would be using those nights for longer stays in Samburu and the Mara. If going to Amboseli I’d NOT fly and I’d continue to Tsavo instead of going north. After that I’d go back to Nairobi and to the Mara.

The best time to visit Amboseli is in April, soon after the rains have begun. The scenery and game-viewing can be spectacular, especially if you like elephants!!! It turns in to a lush green oasis with groups of elephants up to 300 strong. It's like a mini elephant migration with many herds making up very big groups.

But Amboseli is nothing special at the other times of the year.

I would also try to spend more time in Samburu. I have had good experiences in Sweetwaters, including witnessing my first kill during a night gamedrive (lions), leopards, black rhinos and a striped hyena!!

I would also avoid going from Nakuru to Naivasha and spend 2 nights at Nakuru instead. You really need a whole day to see Nakuru properly - but most people do an afternoon gamedrive and then move on, the following morning.

That's a long way to go for 1/nt Samburu. Add a night here. The stop at Sweetwater's is good for night drive, the chimps and breaks up the long drive from Samburu to Nakuru.

You can take the night from Naivasha to add to Samburu. If you wish to spend another day at Nakuru, you can take a day from Zanzibar (you have 5/days there).

As to seeing Kilimanjaro and a reason to visit Amboseli, often the flight from Nairobi to Zanzibar flies right over Kili. It has everytime I've flown into or out of Nairobi. That's an amazing sight.

Sorry but I made a mistake on the itinerary and the correct itinerary seems to follow everyone's advice. We actually arrive at Samburu for lunch on Day 2 and have all of day 3 at Samburu.We won't consider Amboseli- it was really the view of Mt. kiliminjharo that was the attraction for us. This is a private tour so I will ask them about flying to Masaai Mara-their itinerary says 5-6 hour drive. We are at Nakuru for one afternoon and again the next morning. Thanks everyone for all your advice and please keep it coming if I haven't understood your comments.

Are you chartering a flight from the Mara to Zanzibar? Or is that flight from Nairobi? If it's from Nairobi, that seems REALLY high.

The airfare NBO/ZNZ/NBO should run about $450-475/person. But there are taxes and departure fees so depending on how fare is quoted it can vary. One-way fare ZNZ/NBO is close to $300, plux departure taxes.

Amboseli was wonderful. It was our first stop and there were animals everywhere. We saw lions feasting on a recent kill. Their faces were soaked in blood. Elephants in the swamp, wildebeest and zebra everywhere. Standing on Observation Hill at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro was fantastic. Amboseli Serena was a nice experience and the guide was wonderful.

Hi MPH
i'd change day 3 ! instead of SweetWaters i'd go to Lake BARINGO then continue to Naskuru etc'....

Baringo is a hotspot for birds even for non-ornithologists as u can have the Fish-Eagle ("cousin of Bald Eagle)
come near your boat for a tilapia meal.
visit NJEMPS (correct name seldom used Il-Chamus) - a Maa speaking group that has broken the taboo against eating fish, See their smoking "oven" peculiar boats with an oar concept u cannot find elsewhere. Maybe take a lodge on an Island...
Rift valley observations - beautiful vistas, a road "off the beaten...",
& what i consider one of the most fantastic tribes of Afrika - the POKOT. u cannot find a Pokot touristic village, but u meet on the way man with with mud caps painted brown & blue with ostrich feathers stuck in... finger-knives... Women still wearing leather skirts )uncomparable to Maasai, Samburu etc')
belts made of Dik-dik bones, ornaments made of ostrich egg-shell's pieces

just another idea, (though not common around this forum)

aby

day 4 (since day 3 y r still in Samburu)

Nakuru of course & not Naskuru