Sandi, you are most amazing!!! I am grateful. I have learned so much from you!! I have taken much of your advise. I am going it alone and am working with 4 separate outfits. So far Go2Africa is in first place.

Day 1-2 Amboseli Porini Camp
Day 3-5 Samburu Nat'l Reserve, Elephant Bedroom camp
Day 6 Nairobi in am, Karen Cottage for lunch, sight see a bit, then fly to Arusha, Tanzania one night at Kia Lodge
Day 7-9 Serengeti Nat'l Park, Olakira tented camp
Day 10 fly home to US

ok, what do you think? for under $7300

$7300 divided by 9 is $800 per day.
Does that sound about correct? Appears to be several flights which add up.

regards - tom

Maxine -
On Day 6, what time do they have you arriving NBO from Samburu that you have sufficient time for lunch and sightseeing? And, when do you fly to Kilimanjaro/JRO (not Arusha which is domestic airport and no immigration here)?

Note, the flight comes into Wilson from Samburu late-morning and flight from here to JRO departs latest 1pm. So unless you have a later flight from JKIA, won't have time for lunch and sightseeing.

Personally, I'd do the sightseeing day after arrival, then head to Amboseli, Samburu (two elephant parks?) before heading into Tanzania.

And tom, for solo traveler, staying where Maxine is and with all those flights, the price is spot-on.

Sandi,
Is the visa expiration date applicable for one's entry in to the country or exit as well? Asking cos I entered TZ on Jan 29th, 2010 on a 1 yr visa. Am going back on Jan 26th 2011 now. Need a new visa ?

:-)

TP.

Sandi..Day 6 leaving 11:50 to Nairobi, arrive at Wilson Airport 1315, met and transferred to Karen Cottage for lunch. After lunch musseum, the times are not listed after that but I am then transfered to Jomo Int Airpot to Kilimanjaro Airport met there and one nite at KIA lodge.

I have not booked this yet, waiting for yet another one or two comparisons. I am feelong a bit of pressure as it states ..'just two tents left' on 2 of the places! I leave one month from today!!!! Will book Friday.

Max - Ok then Day 6 makes sense. A later flight (believe last maybe around 7pm) out of JKIA into JRO and KIA Lodge is right outside the airport.

I hear that Karen Blixen Cottages for lunch now has a fusion menu... should be interesting. And, makes sense at this late date space is filled or filling with last-minute folk as you.

TP - Funny you should ask that question. Only last night I was thinking about my dates for 2011 and checked my passport to see when I entered TNZ in 2010; might as well get 2:1 for my USD$100 :).

In your case, my guess... you'll need a new Visa as what you've got left from the earlier trip won't cover for the duration of the entire upcoming one. Sorry!

Sandi, ok,Thx !

(Did some digging) As for the U.S, at least, the visa expiration date means the date until which you can travel to the port of entry of that country( and get granted ...and get approved for a stay (which can be beyond than the expiration date).

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/info/info_1298.html

Let's see... I will ask at the counter before giving away my precious $100 to TZ authorities.

Sorry for the typos...ugh

10 days until we leave for Kenya!! One question. Is cash or money orders better/easier/ to use?
Thanks

I only take cash and credit cards. If you've pre-paid your safari expenses I wouldn't see a need for anything different. Not quite sure what a money order is, is it similar to travellers cheques?

I meant travellers cheques! Too much going on in my head right now..

Looking into medical evacuation ins. any thoughts on who to go with? Also I have read about a guide here on these posts to use in Nairobi, I believe his name is Kennedy. How do I contact him and arange a few hours with him?
Thank You,Max

Hi Mkude,

Glad you are able to go ahead with your trip as planned. We were in Kenya in July and had a great time. I am sending you a quick note because I had 2 thyroid operations (for cancer) a long time ago (1975) and find that my scar is still a bit more sensitive to the sun than the rest of my skin. You may want to take a high spf sunscreen with you. Have a great time!

Sapphire

PS I included the year of my surgery to let you know that the prognosis for those with thyroid cancer is very good indeed!

Sapphire, good point on the scar. I also have a thyroid surgery scar and it is more sensitive so you are right to take extra care.

Folks mentioned Tilley's products with a glancing reference to the hats. I never go on a trip to Africa (or Florida) without my Tilley's hat and find that it serves multiple uses. You may already have one - or something very similar - but thought I would mention that if you get one with a relatively broad rim, it helps protect one's face and neck from the sun and rain. It also comes in handy for filtering the air you breathe when traveling on a dusty road. I am often traveling with a local host and this is more discreet than using a scarf or mask. I didn't use the hat as much when we were in the safari vehicles, but still pulled it out when we stopped to have breakfast along the way. Looking forward to hearing about your trip when you get back!

Mkude,

Are you back? How was your trip? How are you? Please post some tidbits and/or photos.