Hi all,

You all have been extremly helpful so far for me to plan the honeymoon trip with my fiance. Thank you very much!!!

I do have some questions about lodging. I am tring to go by Tripadvisor, but all the reviews are so great and it's difficult to choose and thought I will come to you all for some opinion.

At Mara, which one will you recommend for us -- first time to Africa and on honeymoon for 3 nighs. These options hovers around the same cost $3000 total for 3 nights including Wilson to Mara flight.

1. Governor (the main one)
2. Kicheche
3. Karen Blixen
4. Impiripiri
5. Other in the same price range?

Also looking for recommendation on reasonable/cheap lodging at Nairobi and can you please tell me what the airport transfer would be?

Thank you so very much!!!!

Bostonwa

Tripadvisor is good - if all you want are great reviews of 4.5 by first timers who have never been anyplace else.

regards - tom

LOL Cary999, that's what I am afraid of... that's why I come here. =)

Given you all's experiences... thoughts on these camps?

Stayed at Little Governors in March. Game sighting very good but the tents are not fancy. Yes there are bidets, but not a comfortable chair. The theme seemed to be...too rich to be luxurious. The food was ok, not special. When we wanted a few snacks (peanuts, pretzles, somthing) with pre-dinner drinks, they were astounded. Finally came up with some children's cookies in the shape of ducks. Governors does not do sundowners in the field. In short, it's good but not for a honeymoon. Also no swimming pool which is not good if the weather is hot.

NBO--maybe Panari, I think it was just under $200 for roundtrip airport transfer and room for one person in high season. Panari is the closest to the airport and NBO National Park, in case you might want to pop in there. I'll be visiting the park before a noon flight.

I've stayed at Boulevard too. You could compare.

I think you get an extra outing at Kicheche or there was a deal with unlimited game drives.

The link below might help compare and contrast your options. If the map works, you can also see where the camps are located and an estimate of where the migration will be in relation to the camps. You may need to click the little button in the upper right of the map for "compatability view."

http://www.africatravelresource.com/.../mara/0/intro/

I liked Little Gov's even though I was not provided and duck shaped cookies. I liked the resident warthogs and eles and the boat to camp. For a honeymoon, I don't know how it compares to the other places.

I was at main Governors and Little Governors in March and both Kicheche camps last June. Out of the 4 I would rate Kicheche Bush Camp the best.

I was a little underwhelmed by Little Gov - the setting is wonderful, based around a marsh that attracts a lot of wildlife, but the food and service I found just 'ok' - actually better at main Governors. Also the tents are very close together. I enjoyed Main Governors more although it is a lot bigger - 30+ tents.

I love kicheche. The food and service are good at either camp and the whole experience I found very personal, with the management and staff keen to please.

No smimming pool at any of the camps I've mentioned although it didn't bother me in the slightest. Game is good around all 4 camps although the Governors area is particularly good. I don't think you would be disappointed by the game viewing around either kicheche or governors. Governors game drvie schedule is 0630-0900, 1030-1200 and 1530-1800. At kicheche it is 0630 until you want to come back to camp and 1600-1830 including sundowners (with snacks!)

Re Masai Mara Governors camps (Main, Little, Il Moran), is there a requirement of the Masai Mara Reserve that no game drives are permitted after sun down?

regards - tom

Kicheche (both)
- you pay 75US$/80US$pppd reserve/conservancy fees but have only every third day the "right" to visit the reserve itself which might have an impact if you are keen on visiting the crossing points on a daily basis.
- from Kicheche Mara it's quite far to get to the crossing points
- Kicheche Bush is quite close(r) to Talek gate and therefore to the place where Bella lives (leopardess well known from BBC's big cat diaries)
- both Kicheche allow game drives up to 20.00h because it's outside the reserve
- Kicheche Bush is where a Cheetah is "almost" resident bringing up her cubs.
- Kicheche Bush is in close proximity to cattle farming and had a TseTse fly problem 2 years ago. It might be better now IF the Massai have agreed on farming further afield.
- both Kicheche allow full day game drives with packed breakfast/lunch depending whether all guests in the vehicle agreed. Very flixible safari routine considering guest's wishes.

Governor's is within the reserve and
- therefore game drives are only allowed until 18.30h/sunset
- reserve fees are 60US$pppd
- does 3 game drives/day (early morning, mid morning and afternoon)
- very good location also to resident lion prides
- home base for the BBC crew/big cat diary. Lately there where 2 different film crews staying at governors for a couple of weeks each.

The other ones I cannot comment on.

Happy Choosing ;-)

SV

Thanks for all the comments! They are GREAT!

Someone told me living on the 'outside' of Mara will take longer to get to the animals. I am actually not quite sure what that means and can't completely understand what the issue is?

Sounds like you all have very high opinon of Governor and prefer main over little. It might seem like a better choice for a first timer like myself and my fiance since it has more animal viewing per africa_fan?

Walking Safari and night safari sound interesting but I guess that won't be feasible at Govenor due to it's location?

@spassvogel -- do you mean staying at Kicheche, one can only go into Maasai Mara every third day? What does crossing point mean?

BTW, I see references of CC Africa and Chile Peacock when it comes to hotels. Can someone enlighten me what they are?

Thanks!
Bostonwa

Hi Boston - pls read in between your lines............

Someone told me living on the 'outside' of Mara will take longer to get to the animals. I am actually not quite sure what that means and can't completely understand what the issue is?

- That is not true - generally speaking! E.g. close to Kicheche Mara camp lives a leopardess for years now bringing up her litters in a LUGGA (dry river bed) as well there is the Kicheche pride of lions in the vicinity - therefore the name. You even witness the migration (parts of it) there.
The reserve has IT ALL - but the concessions surrounding the reserve have great wildlife as well - as long as there are not too many massai villages around


Sounds like you all have very high opinon of Governor and prefer main over little. It might seem like a better choice for a first timer like myself and my fiance since it has more animal viewing per africa_fan?

- Governors without a doubt is a great destination and it's within the reserve. So the variety of wildlife is wonderful: migration plus all the big cats and plains game. And the parkfee issue might be a "winning" point.


Walking Safari and night safari sound interesting but I guess that won't be feasible at Govenor due to it's location?

- Right! Within the reserve bush walks are not allowed. Also driving after sunset is a NO NO!


@spassvogel -- do you mean staying at Kicheche, one can only go into Maasai Mara every third day? What does crossing point mean?

- YES that's company's policy. They charge you 75US$pppd: 40US$pppd for the concession fee alone! Making it 75$ means a mix calculation (and an additional profit) but the guest won't have access to the reserve more often than every third day.
CROSSING POINTs mean the spots/location where the wildebeest and ebras cross the Mara river back and forth during the "great migration" (roughly: July - October/annually)

BTW, I see references of CC Africa and Chile Peacock when it comes to hotels. Can someone enlighten me what they are?

- CC Africa standing for Conservation Corporation Africa in the earlier days (NOW andBeyond: www.andbeyond.com) is an extremely reputable company which operates and markets lodges and camps in Kenya (Batelleur and Kitchwa Tembo), Tanzania and Southern Africa, India and South America. AndBeyond is focused on to environmentally sensitive safaris under incorporating community/children/society responsible safaris/projects.
Their website says it all...........and it's not just "marketing" - it's true!

Cheli + Peacock is a company which markets camps and lodges in Kenya: www.chelipeacock.com

SV

atravelynn, That's a GREAT website. It makes researching lodges so much easier. Thank you so much for posting it.
Jane

If you're looking at Governor's stay at Il Moran. By far, the nicest camp we've ever stayed at. We've stayed at Little Governor's, and we liked it, but it can't compare to the tents and service at Il Moran.

As far as sundowners, I didn't even think that was allowed in a national park. The only place we've ever had sundowners was Botswana (because it's private land).

What detailed info on Kicheche!

JaneB,
I've just gotten word from a map guru that the ATR site may have some problems with accuracy. But if you found something on it you like, you could double check the location.

The rates may also not be exactly what you'd find elsewhere, but they give a ballpark.

It's one of the few sites that will state anything negative about properties they are selling.

Going into the reserve every third day was not my expereince at Kicheche Bush Camp at all. Was in there every day and so was everybody else at the camp.... whatever the policy. Spassvogel is not necessarily wrong, though - Kenya can be very 'fluid'.

kimburu
presently it's even stricter than last year. Now it says 75pppd ONLY FOR THE CONSERVANCY and at the website it states clearly if one wants to visit other parts of the mara or other conservancies one has to pay that fee as well.

SV

We saw BBC/Big Cat crew everyday when we were at Little Gov. FYI...Big and Gov just a little down road from each other so game sighting the same. You pass entrance to Gov when leaving little Gov on game drives. IMHO two or three nights enough unless you are really serious about particular species or life bird lists. Of course some people have stayed weeks and/or gone on many, many safaris. All places you are considering are really good.

The Nairobi Serena hotel is not cheap but what a scene!! The most interesting group of people in bar/lobby/pool I have ever seen in all my travels. Try to get a deal thru LHW or whatever...it was great fun. Also the massage is worldclass. Really liked this hotel. It is your honeymoon!!

look at Kichwa Tembo & Beyond camps are excellent

I see you've decided on Governor for the Mara but in case you're still looking for hotel/transfer info...

There's www.countrylodge.co.ke that's associated with the Fairview. www.aeroclubea.net/facilities.htm is also an option if you've got a morning flight out of Wilson. Those aren't the cheapest options but if you give us a dollar amount we might have more suggestions.

I'm paying $30 for a transfer from NBO to Runda which is a northern suburb of Nairobi. A transfer to the city center or Wilson should be a little less than that and a taxi should run about 1500 shillings.

Thanks Patty,

Yes, we did opt for Governor with their honeymoon suite (Justus Suite). Too many options, so we just went with this and hopefully it's nice and special. =) But from what I read so far, it really will be a special trip in Kenya anyway.

In terms of the hotel in Nairobi, those are very nice hotels!!! I would put some thoughts into it. So far we have booked for Wildebeest camp. But I still have time to change my mind. =)

THANKS!