Hi
i'm gonna stay at 2 places i've never set foot in - soon Feb 2010...
please tell me all about them
like exact location of Kempinski (?)
thanks
aby

There are two Masek Camps (or seems similar names). Is this the camp owned by TanganyikaWilderness or that of by Serian. Either are in the Ndutu area, but different rates, good for time of year when mmigration is in Ndutu/Southeast Serengeti.

Bilila Lodge is located the Mid-northern Serengeti (between Central/North) and while lovely, for February it's a long way to go for game viewing. Not to say all the game has left, but you might have long drives seeking out animals. Would best be visited in July/Aug-Sept.

Please tell us about it when you return.

I guess there is a reason for the the travel warning to Kenya not being lifted by the US government. .... Security. Until Kenya can control this sort of thing, it won't be lifted. Very sad.

Sorry; I posted this in the wrong thread. How do I delete it?

Bilila Lodge is a totally different product to the "usual" safari venues.
It's managed as a hotel in a safari destination.
They don't conduct game drives as such. They obviously cater more for the self-drive tourism or for safari companies who do safaris with their own vehicles.

It's totally depending on what you expect or which kind of safari you are looking for.

It's definitely not to compare to a tented camp - therefore lacking the typical "safari feeling".

Just my opinion.........

I don't know anything about Masek. Sorry.

Happy Planning!

SV

We stayed at Bilila in Oct 2009.

Location is on this map - note the main entrance road is from the west and not from the east (the approach road closest to Mbuzi Mawe is not used for clients).

http://www.go-safari.com/Serengeti/S...JPGNov2009.jpg

Pictures of the lodge are here:
http://www.go-safari.com/Serengeti/Kempinski.htm

Unfortunately the information given in the previous post is wrong! We flew in and and were assigned one of their safari cruisers. The extended Landcruiser was very nice and we liked our guide. Cars even have fridges! See pictures of the vehicles in the link above.

They do most of their game drives in the central and western Serengeti.

climbhigh
OKAY ......- I posted exactly what Kempinski sales rep told us. Thank you for clarification.

Now I checked their website and yes - could have booked game package.
Somehow the rep was not pretty much encouraging for a "true safari experience" regarding their game drives....
He explicitely told us it's a hotel-experience and by far not a bush experience as the whole concept is different.
That's the reason we did not even think of staying there for our Feb trip.

Now I had a look at your pics - THX for uploading.

The vehicle indeed looks good - fridge top can be used for cam equipment which is excellent as well.
I am concerned about the last row which has no access to the pop-up roof.
Have you got some info on the max number of people? If they pack it to capacity it's a rotating thing for photographers

Thx in advance for any additional info on the game drives/vehicle.


SV

Thanks for the info! i was off for a couple of days
and was happy to get responses from such honourable fodorites...

I understand Lake masek is rather new, so i may become the fodorites' reconnaissance unit on this subject

<b>Sandi</b> thanks for the info. i looked up TanganyikaWilderness and confirmed this is it (i had been told Masek is owned by owners of Ngo Farmhouse and Tloma etc)
as for Serian: they have a property at Maswa - that private area to the west - which is also suitable for the calving season. is this the one you meant?
<b>SV</b>
what i expect? as long as i'm in serengeti, i don't give a damn about accomodation - except for the accommodation's LOCATION (OK, i would care to get some Elephant action through my room's window just like eben had)... my old bones would be just as fine in a small army-like tent without a mattress as long as the stars of Serengeti are above my head.

<b>Eben</b> thanks for the info, invaluable pap and pics!
guess i should expect a lodge with a much heavier 'écological footprint' than solar-powered Masek

asante

aby

pap = map (the new aby's dictionary)

yes aby - Maswa for Serian!

btw - there's another Masek Camp - Nomad's

Maybe that was the one I was thinking of when mentioning two Masek Camps.

Let's sum

<B>Bilila Lodge Kempinski</b>, 74 rooms opened in June 2009
<i>"Bilila Lodge Kempinski, which opened in June 2009, has brought a new level of luxury to the Serengeti National Park"
</i> http://www.traveldailynews.com/pages...s-Anantara-Spa

<b>Lake Masek Tented Camp </b> 20 tents Opened November 2009
<i> "A luxury tented camp located by the shores of Lake Masek in Ndutu, situated between the vast plains of the Serengeti National Park and the northwest side of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area" - Tripadvisor

"Game drives in open vehicles with Maasai guide, Maasai guided walking safaris, Sundowners, <u>Night game drives</u>, Aperitifs at fireplace, Special arrangements for Honeymooners."
"The lodge is <green>eco-friendly</green> as all power is
supplied by solar electricity and water is harvested during the rainy season and collected for use. All products used are biodegraded to ensure that the environment is kept pristine."
</i>http://www.tanganyikawildernesscamps...sektentedcamp/

factsheet: http://www.tanganyikawildernesscamps...-Serengeti.pdf

Aby, let us know how it goes. I hope you see dogs!

Leely honey - <b>tell this to the godess of luck</b>

i have not seen dogs (lycaon) since the eighties...
(even in Selous i spent a week without seeing any, while in the week before they've been spotted 4 times)

i'm not passing Piaya/Gol mountains (loliondo)
but i'll pay a short visit to Tarangire (got a report there are "off-season ellies" there!) where the 'mba mwitu' are seen occasionally...

asante sana

aby

"Off season eles", indeed! I saw 200 in one day in February a few years ago.