philw

Imelda.

The person at Serena who I booked through was called Aloyce Otieno. Email address is [email protected]

He was very helpful and always replied within a day or so...I went in late August which is the busiest time and boooked almost a year in advance. Early July should be a bit better.

Phil

OnlyMeOirish

Kimburu, You made me laugh so much last night with your posts - I had a vision of you cat attempting to type! But you have well and truely redeemed yourself because I have just e-mailed Let's Go Travel (The one in Nairobi - there are loads of different Co's of the same name). Hopefully they will get back to me soon. Where are you going to on your next trip?

Philw, I have also e-mailed Aloyce directly at Serena. Thank you very much for the address, I was begining to get very frustrated with Serena.

Thank you both so much for the information.

ANOTHER question - Anyone know if it is only Air Kenya who fly Nairobi - Masai Mara or are there other operators?

Thanks,
imelda

One more thing,I just got prices back from one of the TA's - he can get the Safari Park hotel for $90/person/nt ($3 CHEAPER than the Intercontinental rate he gave me!!)

Thanks again guys.

sandi

In addition to Air Kenya, Safari Link also flies NBO/Mara/NBO, also at 10am and 2:45pm. Prices about the same but for a few dollars +/-.

kimburu

Imelda .. the cat (kitten) was actually hunting the mouse - fine if it is not the one attached to my computer.

I'm going to Meru NP, Samburu NR, Aberdare NP and one other this time. Nearly got it decided - for December so I hope I don't get waitlisted again!
Glad I redeemed myself - teach me to post when half asleep. Check what you are getting offered by Let's Go - it was actually from them that I got the offer for bed and full board only, without game drives or anything else.

philw

Only downside of Safarilink (to me at least) is that they have smaller planes than Air Kenya !

OnlyMeOirish

Sandi - Thanks for that. By any chance do they have a website? I'm curious as to the type of planes they fly - I have a 'not so slight' claustrophobia issue and want to make sure I'm not going to be booked in a plane I won't be able to fly in..... so there's DH with his bugs and me with my claustrophobia - we don't make life easy!

Kimburu - Your kitten must have been so cute - I still have the vision in my head! Your trip sounds absolutely fabulous - I'm really envious. I so wanted to do some more parks in Kenya but DH can only take 10 days holidays this year (BIG sigh) and I really don't want to go and ruin everything by rushing around from place to place within that time. I will definately have to persuade him to go back to at least do Samburu and Lake Nakuru (if only to see the flamingoes). I haven't heard back from Let's Go yet and I will certainly keep an eye on what they quote for BUT I have gotten a reply from Aloyce in Serena and guess what.... they have availability for ALL 4 nights from July 24th to July 28th. I couldn't believe it when I read his e-mail, I'm on a high all day since then! Thanks again Philw for the address!

Now I have to start reshuffling again in order to do Rwanda first and then the Mara. I have a guy checking for ORTPN permits for me tomorrow so fingers crossed there will be no problem with the dates. I also have MORE questions (they really are never-ending!). so here goes:

1)We will be arriving in NBO at 7.25am on a British Airways flight . Rwandair have a flight from NBO to Kigali leaving at 9.45am - what are the chances of us making it bearing in mind that we will have to collect our luggage and check in at NBO? Will we have to change terminals etc? If we think we will not be able to make it there is another flight with Kenya Airways at 12.50am but it's a lot more expensive AND their return flight time is too late for us to make a connecting flight to the Mara. Any opinions?

2)On the way back from Kigali to Nairobi we would fly Rwandair arriving in NBO at around 9am. Our flight to the Mara from Wilson does not leave until 3pm leaving us 5 hours between flights - what could we do in-between??? Do we have enough time to do anything even if we organised a car?

3)I believe that the weight limits for domestic flights is 15kg and I'm sure that we will be over that (if my packing history is anything to go by), what do we do with our luggage? Is there anywhere we could leave some of it and collect it on the way back?
Also, anyone know the luggage limits for the Kigali flight - I'm assuming we should be OK because its international - right or wrong??

4) Can anyone recommend a company we could use to hire a car plus driver in Nairobi?

and finally (for now)
5) We have the option of flying home either early on Sunday 30th (our original plan) OR at 10.40pm Sunday night - would 3 days in Nairobi be too much if we chose the late flight?

Thanks again everyone for all your help and sorry to bombard with so many questions again. I really am indebted to you all for helping me out with what I hope to be a 'trip of a lifetime'.

Imelda