Please comment on the following itinerary for August 2007 safari trip and quoted cost. Thanks in advance.

Day 1:Arrive Nairobi.
PanAfric Hotel (BB)

Day 2: Nairobi.
Visit Karen Blixen and Giraffe Center; lunch at Carnivore (not sure whether these are included).
PanAfric Hotel (BB).

Day 3: AM Flight to Amboseli.
Shared game drive en route to lodge. Afternoon game drive.
Amboseli Serena (FB).

Day 4: Amboseli.
Early morning and afternoon game drives. Amboseli Serena (FB).

Day 5: AM flight to Samburu.
Afternoon game drive.
Sarova Shaba Camp (FB).

Day 6: Samburu.
Early morning and afternoon game drives. Sarova Shaba Camp (FB).

Day 7: AM flight to Masai Mara.
Afternoon game drive.
Mara Serena Lodge (FB)

Day 8: Masai Mara.
AM hot air balloon safari. Afternoon game drive.
Mara Serena Lodge (FB)

Day 9: Masai Mara
Early Morning and Afternoon Game Drives.
Mara Serena Lodge (FB)

Day 10: Masai Mara
Early Morning and Afternoon Game Drives.
Mara Serena Lodge (FB)

Day 11: Masai Mara
Shared game drive, lunch, afternoon flight to Nairobi.
PanAfric Hotel (BB)

Day 12: Depart Nairobi.

Base Price: $4,244 USD pp. Hot air balloon safari additional $434 USD pp.

Includes meet and greet services, airport assistance, 1 safari bus w/English speaking driver guide (Amboseli), shared transfers plus shared game drives (Samburu and Masai Mara), accomodation and meals as specified, one bottle of mineral water per person per day during game drives, domestic flights with airport taxes and airline surcharges. Does not include trip insurance, int'l flights, tips, visas, etc...

Anything I should know prior to booking?

A longer stay in the Mara and changing your accomodation there to the Serena are good improvements to your previously posted itinerary.

BTW Sarova Shaba is a lodge not a camp, just so you know. If you're primarily interested in game drives in Samburu, you may want to consider staying at a lodge or camp in Samburu/Buffalo Springs instead. The Sarova is located in Shaba which is a different, nearby reserve. If your interest is to see both Shaba and Samburu, then either location is fine.

I am trying to bump this to see if anyone can advise as to whether the cost sounds reasonable.
Thanks in advance!

One more try....
Unless someone tells me otherwise, I;m going to book this trip next week--I trust your feedback--please don't let me make a mistake!

I am in the process of booking a trip for next August, going to some of the same places as you and same number of days. Take a look at my posting "Booking a Kenya safari trip with ESS", I've detailed my pricing from ESS. Hope it helps.

Pat

Since you asked, the pricing does seem high to me. You might want to get a few comparison quotes from other Kenyan operators that have been recommended here.