So after more than a year of planning, hubby and I are off to our big East Africa Trip. This is our third visit to Africa (we honeymooned in Mauritius at the Oberoi and spent our first anniversary in South Africa). Not bad for someone who hasn't even celebrated her 30th birthday yet! LOL!

Anyway, I am looking for your expert opinions....anything I should know before I leave? What tips or factoids do you brilliant Fodorites have for me? How small are the Kenya Airways planes? I hate small planes.

Here is the itinerary:

JFK to Amsterdam to Nairobi on Delta and KLM. We will be in Business Class (thanks Delta Amex for the miles).

O/N in House of Waine.
Then off to Rwanda on Kenya Airways where we will be spending three nights at Virunga and doind two gorilla treks. Then O/N at the Kigali Serena Hotel.

Back to Nairobi on Kenya Airways and a private charter to Bateleur at Kichwa Tembo for three nights.

Then off to Zanzibar for O/N at Zanzibar Serena Inn. Then off to Mnemba Island for three nights. Then back to Nairobi for our return trip home (cue sad music).

Give me some fun stuff to think about! I especially want to hear from people who have stayed at Mnemba, Virunga or Bateleur!

THANKS A MILLION!!!!

"Anyone???" She asks sadly.....

Hi Dr_Andrea-

I havn't stayed at Bateleur, but I have eaten all our meals there and I have toured their tents - it's incredible!

We were on the 'other side of the hedge' at Kichwa Tembo (sister camp to Bateleur), but they were having a chef & server training thing going on, so we ate all our meals at Bateleur. The meals were incredible, they are served family style. We had lunch out on the lawn overlooking the Mara - it was really nice.

The tents are really large, they have lots of little extras like a jar of jelly beans, lots more amenities in the bathroom, exercise work-out equipment in a little basket, comfy chairs on the deck that overlooks the Mara. A huge king size beds with lots of comfy cushions. I do have pictures, I could put some up for you on my p-base sight if you like?

Thanks! Yes, please do!!! How were the anima sightings?

I have set up a quick gallery at
http://www.pbase.com/lyndas/bateleur_camp_
for you. I don't have many pictures (thought I had more!) but they may give you a good idea of what to expect. It really is a first-clss camp, although mind you I like their poorer-relative (Kichwa Tembo) just as much!

The animals are plentiful and incredible there, mind you I don't think it matters where you stay in the Mara, they have such a good variety of animals! But Bateleur is in a good lacation - it's not central, but getting to somewhere like the Serena area only takes an hour or so & who really notices distances when there are animals to find!

When do you guys leave? I'm looking forward to your report already!

THANK YOU!!! It looks lovely! What is the Serena?

www.serenahotels.com

Dr.Andrea : They are lodges in East Africa

Oh.....is there better game viewing in that area?

I would love to see hyenas, cheetahs and wild dogs at Bateleur. What are the chances of seeing those animals? We did not see any when we were on safari in South Africa.

Hyena and cheetah, absolutely yes. Wild dogs, I doubt. There were a few spotted in the northern private group ranch area about 2/yrs ago, but none recently. There have been dogs spotted in Laikipia, northwest of Nairobi; even in the Sambura area. Also in some southern areas of Tanzania.

I wouldn't put wild dogs on my list, but be pleasantly surprised if they show up anywhere.

The area where Bateleur does their game drives is as good as any for travel in January.

Dr_Andrea,
I stayed at Bateleur's camp several years ago and it was fabulous. Here's a link to the thread I posted with photos for another fodorite asking about Bateleur's.

I was there in July, 2003. I loved everything about the camp. The tents were magnificent, the food absolutely wonderful (George was the chef then), my guide (David) was great, and the manager (Milka)was just wonderful. But, my favorite part of the Mara wasn't Bateleur's at all, but the incredible wildlife, and views from the Oloololo (sp?) escarpment. Breathtaking. This was near the beginning of my first trip to Africa, and I was spellbound.

That said, Bateleur's is still one of my all time favorite camps. I liked the fact that I could go out in the morning and stay out all day. I am not sure if they still do this, but George was happy to pack me breakfast and lunch, and David more than happy to leave early in the morning and not arrive back until late at night just in time for dinner. We had sundowners on the escarpment, and then went on night drives, which were also very enjoyable. I was the only guest in the camp during my stay, so I may have gotten special treatment

My last night the staff surprised me with a Masaai presentation followed by a wonderful dinner on the veranda of my tent. They put candles in the trees and George made one of his wonderful meals. I will never forget my experience there. Have a fantastic time! You will adore it.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...na_M&fid=4

Let me know if you have any specific questions.

Dana