We are planning a safari to Kenya (Masai Mara 7 to 10 days). We would have our own vehicle and guide. I understand that many of the smaller camps do not have accomodations for guides. What lodges/camps could we use? We would split the time between several camps. Thanks.
cj

kiboko
pls give some more basics in order to respond accordingly:

- time of travel?
- budget pppn excluding parkfees
- within the reserve or also outside in one of the surrounding conservations - as you are willing to split?

as you say you have your own vehicle and guide i assume you have already focused on a dmc!?
didn't he propse already camps or are you just hiring a car incl. guide?
which company?

- are you going to other parks/reserves as well?

This is an interesting question that cannot be answered 100% correctly on a public board due to the numerous exceptions and private arrangements.

Many camps have "no driver" policies unless the guide pays a "tour guide" fee that is more than many want to pay.

Many times it is possible for driver/guides to drop/meet clients at the camps while staying outside in a Talek guesthouse for example.

It is also possible to have a special arrangement whereby the driver/guide can park the car at the camp (normally hidden from view) while staying in camp staff accommodations. Clients do game drives in camp vehicles.

Many camps have "special arrangements" with Nairobi-based outfitters - they allow some driver/guides to stay at camp despite the "no driver" rule.

This question can only be answered by your outfitter who should give you a list of camps they can use for drive-ins. This list will differ between outfitters.

Thank you Eben. We do not have an outfitter yet and were waiting for the 2009 rates. The safari will be planned for January. I understand your answer and will contact several outfitters. The intent was to have our own driver/guide for game drives thus allowing the freedom to choose when and where we go. Do the big lodges like Serena or Intrepids have facilities for guides?
cj

The lodges and most of the larger tent camps have facilities for guides/vehicles. It's generally the small tent camps, i.e., 4-10/tents (though Bateleur with 19 would be included) that don't have facilities if you BYOG!

FWIW, Intrepid's does do 3/game drives daily, 6am, 10am and 3:30pm and as you'll be visiting outside migration season, this might work even using the camp services. Unless, of course, you want the guide/vehicle to yourselves.

As Eben mentions, your outfitter will have to advise which lodges/camps meet your needs if other than the usual properties.

@ sandi
where did you get the info about "out of migrating season"?

that is not always the case! some of the smaller camps care for this clietele. e.g. residents who travel with their own cars/chauffeurs from mombasa, malindi or nairobi!

@ climbhighsleeplow
"It is also possible to have a special arrangement whereby the driver/guide can park the car at the camp (normally hidden from view) while staying in camp staff accommodations. Clients do game drives in camp vehicles."

in that case kiboko cannot do when and what he wants and that is supposed the reason for the rented car incl. driver - as far as i understood...

what would be the point in renting a car incl. guide and leave it unused for the duration of camp stay?
wouldn't it be much better to fly in and make SUV?

"This question can only be answered by your outfitter who should give you a list of camps they can use for drive-ins. This list will differ between outfitters."

that question can only be answered by the camp which is in the focus!

kiboko just in case you care ;-)
if you are focused on a rented vehicle with guide just contact akorn or abercrombie+kent in nairobi and ask them which camp allows own vehicle/driver and what they charge for that (camp bights and car/driver). that then can compared to the costs of fly in safari plus SUV which is at kicheche camp close to 200US$/day which offers you all the freedom you want!

pippa -

>>@ sandi
where did you get the info about "out of migrating season"?<<

Kiboko will be traveling in January which isn't the migrating season in the Mara. Now, if he were traveling to Tanzania, that would be a different with migration at Ndutu/S.Serengeti.

KIBOKO -

FYI! Akorn, a division of A&K and A&K themselves are on the high-end when it comes to budget. Unless budget isn't an issue, if wishing a private safari with own vehicle/guide, I'm sure you can find an outfitter within your means to accommodate your wishes.

Thanks Sandi and pippa for the information. We are interested in a mid range safari not A&K. Do you have any suggestions for reliable outfitters with good guides in Kenya. There is always the possibility of using a US based agent.
cj

kiboko
you might give http://www.goingplaceskenya.com/ a try.
they do all categories - budget to high-end.
fly-in as well as car/driverguide.

Hi KIBOKO,

I can highly recommend Eastern & Southern Safaris in Nairobi (also used by a lot of other people on this board -- that's one of the reasons I booked with them). We had a fantastic trip with them last September, and thought they were a great value. Our guide, James, was wonderful.

Although we didn't end up booking with them, we also thought Africa Serendipity was very helpful. They offered a very reasonable price for a good 10-day itinerary.

Both of these companies have websites, and are easy to deal with via e-mail.