Need help/suggestions for daughter's high-school graduation trip to Kenya.
 

Hello everyone. Bear with me, but I will be providing you with lots of information. I would appreciate your help and suggestions.

My only child (daughter) and the "apple of my eye" is graduating from high school next year. She is an animal lover. She has asked us to take her on an African safari to celebrate her graduation.

She graduates at the end of May 2009, so our trip would ideally occur in June 2009.

I did a lot of research on safari operators, and I found a great deal of positive reviews on Julius Safaris operating out of Mombasa.

Has anyone had any experience with Julius Safaris?

I looked on their website, and the following itinerary looks quite interesting:

Day One: Mombasa to Tsavo West.
"In Tsavo-West you will drive for your morning game drive through the bushes, great chance to see the big 5. You will be staying the night in Ngulia safari lodge and evening game drive to the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary before returning to your lodge for more viewing of the wildlife just closer to the lodge. you’ll visit Mzima Springs. Mzima springs is a fresh water lake famous for its abundance in Hippos, Crocodiles, and different Species of Fish Traditionally, just outside the lodge (about twenty yards from the lodge patio)."

Day Two: Tsavo West to Ziwani.
"Early morning game drive on you your way to ZIWANI TENTED CAMP."

Day Three: Ziwani to Amboselli.
"Game drive through Ziwani area viewing the nature to Amboseli National Park through Kimana gate We check in at the lodge for lunch. After lunch, there is time to relax in the lodge until 16.00hrs when we start our evening game drive. At 18.30hrs we come back for dinner and overnight at Oltukai safari lodge or Kibo safaro camp (build on the foot of mount Kilimanjaro)or Amboseli Serena lodge."

Day Four: Amboselli to Tsavo East.
"While we drive to Tsavo East we enter Tsavo East National Park through Voi Gate and start our game drive immediately, stopping briefly at Aruba Dam to see the animals come to drink water in the water hole. Our game drive continues until 12.30hrs when we arrive for lunch as well as check in at the famous Voi safari lodge (With the best view point of many animals and the waterhole where you can use the under ground tunnel or during your lunch you will be able to relax and see animals at the two water holes in this lodge. At 16.00hrs we start our evening game drive until 18.30hrs. then it is time to come back for dinner and overnight at Voi safari lodge or Voi Wildlife Safari lodge."

Day Five: Tsavo East to Mombasa.
"After an early morning cup of hot coffee, we embark on our game drive from 06.00hrs until 07.30hrs, when we come back to the lodge for full breakfast. At 10.00hrs we check out of the lodge, have a game drive enroute to the exit gate at Voi Gate or Bachuma gate. Then we start our journey back to Mombasa with a stop over for lunch at Voi Town, arriving back at your hotel at around 17.00hrs."

Any comments on this itinerary?

The price I was quoted is 465 pounds per person, including full board accomodations, mineral water, park entrance fees, all game drives, all government taxes and levies, and our own safari mini-bus with an English-speaking tour guide.

What do you think of that price?

Lastly, I need suggestions on the most economical way to fly to Kenya. We live in Orlando, Florida. I'm open to most any combination of routes.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Juan.

Juan,

I don't know this company and I haven't been to these places, but it seems to me that this company specialises in safari trips for people who have gone to Kenya for a beach holiday.

If you are flying into Nairobi you won't want to waste time and money by starting your safari in Mombasa.

Also, if living in US you will want to pay in US dollars not pounds.

Personally, I would also want to go to the Mara at that time of year/visiting Kenya for the first time.

There is a thread on here of East Africa trip reports which people have written. This will give you some more information to work with.

It's called:

NEW EAST AFRICA Trip Report Index

but I can't seem to link it!

What a lucky daughter! The only problem with sending her to Africa so young is that the Africa bug will bite her early in life and she’ll be wanting to return for college graduation or any other reason she can come up with.

I don’t know about Julius. I did not see them on KATO, Kenya Assoc. of Tourism Operators.
http://www.katokenya.org/katomembers.asp

Most trips fly into Nairobi (NBO) rather than Mombasa. I am wondering if this company caters to people who will be doing a quick safari after beach time in Mombasa. A Mombasa starting point would not seem to be the most convenient unless you were planning on going to Mombasa first.

This gets to your question of economical flights. You can check them out on kayak.com. American and British Air work together for flights to NBO via London.


<b>Day One: Mombasa to Tsavo West.</b>
Tsavo West is known for good elephants and walking safaris. It is not as common to visit Tsavo on a first safari for wildlife viewing as some other places.


<b>Day Three: Ziwani to Amboselli.</b>
Many itineraries will have either Tsavo West or Amboseli because both offer good chances to see eles. Together, it seems a bit redundant but it is easy to drive to them both.

<b>Day Four: Amboselli to Tsavo East.</b>
Tsavo East is not known for abundant wildlife. It appears that it is just easy to get to logistically.


<b>Any comments on this itinerary?</b>
My comments will appear to be very critical, but this seems to be a good option for people on a beach holiday who just want a couple of days of safari experience, who cares if you go to the best wildlife viewing places. If safari is your goal, I would not do this.

<b>What do you think of that price?</b>
The price looks good, but how many people are on the trip, what kind of vehicle is it, and does everyone have a window seat?

For 5 nights in June, I’d consider Tanzania:

1 Arusha
1 Manyara
2 Serengeti
1 Ngorongoro Crater

or in Kenya:

1-2 nights Nakuru and 3-4 nts Maasai Mara, or just go to the Mara and stay put.

I see Wingi has responded too. I'll look for the link mentioned.

Here is the link.

I don't think you'll see East Tsavo as part of the itineraries. I believe it offers some good volunteering opportunities, but is not a big wildlife destination.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34860283

Concur with the others. Itinerary is designed for those who choose a beach holiday on the coast and want to add a few days safari. Tsavo East/West and Amboseli are closeby (as the crow flies).

Can I presume you'll be joining your daughter? How many total in your party? Do you only have 5/days? Or more? What are your/her interests? What type of accommodations - lodges or tents?

If flying from the US, more flights go into Nairobi, from where you can visit Amboseli (elephants and views of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania), or the park many prefer - Samburu, up north also with ellees, but with the added unique species not found elsewhere - reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, gerenuk antelope, Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich. Of course, the Masai Mara.

However, during June, the migrating herds can be found in Tanzania, in the central and western Serengeti, which is in demand. It's easy enough to fly from (or via) NBO to Kilimanjaro (JRO) and do a Tanzania safari. Or using KLM, direct into JRO via Amsteram.

I know, too many choices! But you have time to research and review the East Africa Safari Index (as link above). Then, feel free to come back here and you'll find plenty of comments and added input to help with your plans.

Many European charters fly into Mombasa but coming from the US, it'll be easier to fly into Nairobi. Unless you were also planning to spend time at the coast, it probably makes more sense for you to use a Nairobi based operator and start your safari from Nairobi.

Tsavo West/East isn't as commonly visited but there are some reports in the trip report index linked above if you want to read them. I have one from Jan/Feb 2005 that includes Tsavo West and Amboseli and there should be several from JanGoss that include Tsavo East and Amboseli. Not in the trip report index yet is my Jan/Feb 2008 trip report that includes Tsavo East and West http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35112503

Tsavo East can also produce good elephant sightings and there are gerenuk present which I've only otherwise seen in the northern parks.

Contrary to the Mara-philes on these pages I love Tsavo. I like it more than the Mara and it's great for wildlife. The Mara is great too... you can see the wildlife spectacular of 30 Toyota vans surrounding a kill. Tsavo is less crowded and you have a variety of habitats, from the open plains, rocky outcrops to low scrubland and the lava flows. Mzima Springs is a great spot too! You wont get a better view of hippos!

Mombasa is also a great spot for your daughter to take a scuba diving course and see some of the other wildlife that often gets overlooked. I suggest www.buccaneerdiving.com as a great start.

No experience of the safari organisers you mentioned... but also try Eastern and Southern. They will give you a quote and I think that if there's more than 2 of you the price should come down. Especially since June is low season.

Thank you all for your responses thus far. I do appreciate your critical comments as well. We want to make this a memorable trip!

We are definitely flexible on the dates, and on the time we spend in Africa. The only thing restricting us is economics, of course. We could go anytime in June or July, and we could stay longer if need be. There will be at least 3 of us traveling, and my daughter may bring along a friend to make it 4 of us.

For what its worth, the thought of &quot;30 Toyota vans surrounding a kill&quot; is not very appealing!!

Hope this helps!

In June, Kenya prices are at mid-season rates, few visitors, rarely do you see &quot;30-vehicles&quot; - though there is plenty of game, especially in the Mara, and also Samburu, Amboseli, Lake Nakuru and the chimps at Sweetwaters.

In June, Tanzania prices are at peak-season rates, many visitors as the migration is taking place in the Central/Western Serengeti. Here you will find more visitors and probably 30-vehicles at sightings.

If the migration is not on the top of your list (as above, your daughter will be bitten and can then return when she's graduated university, is making tons of $$$ and pay her own way :) )... then Kenya is ideal.

If time and budget allows, you can visit mostly Kenya and then pop into Tanzania to visit the Ngorongoro Crater.

More research and then do return here for further input.

Also, since the airfare is going to be expensive, it is actually more cost effective to stay longer (isn't that a wonderful rationalization?) because the cost-per-day works out better.

Your daughter is SOOOOOO LUCKY!!!!

I'm sure she will have a wonderful time.