Buck

I will totally disagree with your report on the driving from camp to camp. It was most enjoyable as we would have a nice breakfast and then depart for the next camp about 9 am. Would be at the next lodge before lunch time. Have a nice lunch and then a swim before our afternoon game drive. We would stop at local shops and interact with the locals and met lots of Kenyans and made some friends. Of course they are trying to sell. <BR>Who wants to hassel with (airports) everyday, you get enough of that just getting there and back?<BR>We had a great trip and enjoyed every aspect of it. We paid about $3200 with air from San Francisco, all meals,just as you say bar bill. Also we had a massage at most every lodge. A 45 minute session for about $12 us. What a great bargain. People were warm and friendly and treated us with respect. Any one who takes a trip to Africa will be well rewarded for their effort. Hope all who go have an experince as great as ours was, Buck

TC

Karen; Your three camp - one week trip, in and out of Arusha, sounds nothing at all like the luxury - three week trip we made to both Kenya and Tanzania. Therefore, I think its unfair of you to compare the pricing as if they were similar. Naughty, naughty trying to sell your product with misleading information. I know one thing, Grumeti River Camp is no comparison to the wonderful camps we stayed in. After a brief visit while waiting for our plane to land on the nearby airstrip, we couldn't wait to leave. It is unfortunate that many consultants feel a need to over exagerate in order to sell. If the product is really good, it will sell without the hype.

Top

For George:

ttt

ttt

noeleen

I just got back a week ago fom safari in kenya. We took the road safari and although sometimes the journeys were long and bumpy I would not have changed a thing. We stayed at Serena lodges and although maybe the word luxurious is overstated they are of a very high standard and service and food were excellent. We went to the Carnivore in Nairobi for dinner and found it a fun night out. I would do it again if I were to return. We were in mini vans on our drives (3 vans for our group of 18 and we all had a window seat.) and our driver got that van everywhere a four wheel drive went. It was unbelievable. I think as you say it depends on the travel company as to how professional they are.<BR>We had radio contact all the time while we were on the road and did not have any problems. We had not been lucky enough to see any male lions on safari but on the last day as we left the Masai Mara our driver spotted two male lions in the bushes. So that was the perfect ending for us. Two couples from our group who had chosen to fly back to Nairobi missed out. We caught up with them in Nairobi where they were waiting for us to join them. Personally unless I had back problems I think I would stick to the overland way of doing a safari. But that is just my opinion.

TC

Topping for Pat

dterrell69

Buck:<BR>With what company did you book your safari?

TC

Topping by request.

TC

Topping for Leslie's gift basket ideas.

Lucretia

Buck,

You said your trip cost $3200. Could you tell me which tour company you used.

Lucretia

travellinbug

What a wonderful report!

Took down lots of tips!

Thank you for taking the time to share your &quot;safari&quot; with all of us!

TC

Topping for Lana123

TC

Topping for rlngstn. Enjoy!

TC

Topping for the Ohio Boys.

TC

topping

JFlorides

TC - thanks a million for this great report full of practical tips even 5 years on. We are heading off to Kenya in a couple of weeks and found your packing tips invaluable.

TC

Thank you. Glad to have been some help. Have a wonderful adventure.

voramar

my congratulations TC
Wonderful report!! thanks to share with us your experience. You are really given lot of important detalis, so I found it very very helpful.

I'm going there next JANUARY!!!, there is not to many people traveling at this time of the year, and as I know I'm not going to see the great migration, but we are also very very interested to see the nice landscapes in africa, so I would like to hear from you some details.

I'm totaly agree with you in every thing, my idea is also very near to your styl trip, and, of course, to make transfers as easiest as possible, so I'm looking also for the flight transfers too. Even with it, to cross from kenya to tanzania is not so easy as I thought, because one must go every time for the international airports at every country, that's why I'm thinking about to join NGORONGORO and MANYARA or SERENGETI in Tanzania, or traveling only around KENYA.

If I may, I would like to ask you some questions about it.

Once you have been there, what of the places that you visited would you like to go back for sure?

do you think it is worth to visit ngorongoro and serengeti in JANUARY, are the crater green?? I was also thinking about the ngorongoro crater lodge but it doesn't looks be the better for you, so what do you think about it TC?

I like a lot the little governors too, and altrough I was thinking to go to cottars, I'm deciding that for JANUARY the best option is to stay just inside the reserve, as little governors is.
Do you really recommend it? Are the jeeps at governors good for safari?

That's all TC, would like to hear from your opinion, as your styl and concept of this trip it's closer to my idea. and also you were there in JANUARY!!

Anythink you could tell me, will be great!! thank you very much.

voramar

Sorry! there is another thing I forgot it, you explained that after arrive to arusha (kilimanjaro airport I guess) did you driver from there to serengeti?¿ if it is right, could you tell me how much time does the driving take?

sueinla

TC, you are off the scale after all these years of helping us first-timers. My husband and I are celebrating 25 big ones next month in Tanzania and Kenya - 12 safari days. Has anyone travelled with Born Free? We are staying mostly at Sopa Lodges. How are they? Thanks for any thoughts or further safari advice. This is THE best thread.