Hi Fodorites,
I have been researching many accommodation options over the last 2 weeks and have narrowed it down to the following based on my budget and dates I intend to travel. If you have stayed at any of the semi-permanent tented camps below please share any of your feedback re. distance to main areas, food, comfort, safety. I wanted to cover Amboseli, Lake Nakuru and Mara over 6 days. All options are will be for just the 2 of us in a minibus.

Also for all of you veteran safari travelers, are the quotes below reasonable. I'm just trying to gauge whether it is too cheap of whether it's just about right given the accommodation choices.

My main interest besides seeing the beauty of Kenya is photography.

F. Kings Tours and Safaris
www.fkingssafaris.com
1200USD per person
Overnight details
Lake Nakuru at Nakuru lodge- 1 Night
Masai Mara at Mara Sentrim- 2 Night
Amboseli at Amboseli Sentrim- 2 Night

MICS Tours & Safari
www.micssafaris.com
1205USD per person
Overnight details
Amboseli at Sentrim Amboseli - 2 Night
Flamingo Hill Camp – 1 night
Masai Mara at Olare Camp - 2 Night

African Magical Tours
www.africamagicaltours.com
1050USD
Overnight details
Amboseli at Kibo Safari - 2 Night
Lake Nakuru guest house – 1 night
Masai Mara at Mara Sidai camp - 2 Night

Steenbok Safari & Care hire
www.steenboksafaris.com
980USD
Overnight details
Amboseli at Kibo Safari - 2 Night
Lake Nakuru WCK guest house – 1 night
Masai Mara at Enchoro camp - 2 Night

Thanks in advance for your feedback! ;-)
Anna

Forgot to note that the safari is for Jan 10 - Jan 17.

Jan 10-17 year 2011 I presume
You are going all the way from USA East coast for only 6 nights in Kenya, surely not?? Knowing where else you are going perhaps, might, help with other (?) suggestions.

regards - tom

Tom,
Unfortunately, unlike many of the folks that post of their safari experiences I don't have the luxury of 2 - 3 weeks for Kenya. I wish but with the demands of work I can only get a little over a week at a time.

My travel is for Jan 2010 and my airfare from NY - London - Nairobi is already sorted. Due to traveling lots for work my NY London flight was pretty much free and London Nairobi on the Virgin, premium economy was 1400USD.

So I am just trying to get the safari sorted at this point. As I said I love photography and would love to go to Amboseli in hopes of seeing the beautiful Kili but I am wondering whether it makes more sense to just do Mara and maybe another park that is closer to the Mara.

Looking forward to any feedback you can provide Tom.

Thanks,
Anna

First of all Freebird, I can't resist:

"For I must be traveling on now,
Cause there’s too many places I’ve got to see."

Do you commence and conclude all of your travels with the above phrase, accompanied by some air guitar?

Then enroute in the plane,
"Won’t you fly high free bird, yeah!"?

The short vacations are a curse of the American work schedule that most employees are shackled to. Just moments ago, I read this from another travel expert: "We are the only prosperous democracy to possess not a single statue (on either the federal or the state level) establishing the right of every person to a minimum amount of annual vacation time--at least three weeks."

I would think Vermont might be the first to rectify this abysmal situation.
----------------------
For the companies you have chosen, Freebird, I wish I could provide personal feedback, but I have none. Can you ask for references?

I would end in the Mara because that should be the highlight as far as wildlife goes. Are you driving back to NBO or flying back? If you were to fly back, at a greater cost, and take the afternoon flight, that could extend your time in the Mara.

Since you mention you love photography, you want to see/photograph Kili, and you are going in January when rains clear the skies, I'd make a stop in Amboseli.

The properties that I have heard about are Flamingo and Olare. How much more would Ol Tukai in Amboseli cost? That location has nice views of Kili as well as resident wildlife, providing a 2-for. It may be worth the extra money to stay there to increase your photography subjects.

I looked at MICS website and 17 years in the business is good and it appeared professional and responsible. I'm sure you've checked the comments section. I did not see an affiliation with Kenya Assoc. of Tour Operators, (http://www.katokenya.org/katomembers.asp) which would have made me feel better. But I've had several Kenya agents respond to me stating they don't feel it's important to belong and it is not a guarantee of quality. The Kenya based agent that I have used, Eastern and Southern Safaris belongs. The US agent I have used, The Africa Adventure Company, does not belong.

One other thing that is reassuring is if the agent is mentioned in any guidebooks such as Fodors, Frommers, Lonely Planet, Bradt, Rough Guide, or if there is any independent press on them. For example, Africa Adventure is in Fodors and Eastern and Southern is in Lonely Planet.


I think you are making good use of your employer-provided transportation to London by tacking on some Kenya time. You'll probably be hooked and then someday return to Africa when you have some more time.

A thread I started a while back posed the question, "What's the least amount of time you'd be willing to spend on the ground in Africa?" Several of us agree that even only 4 full days of safari would could justify all that flying.

Have a great time and please report back.

With only 6/nts, it is what it is and since you don't indicate flights an any of the itineraries, be aware of:

Nairobi/Amboseli - minimum 4.5/hrs (2/days = 3/game drives)
Amboseli (4.5) via NBO (lunch) to (2.5/hrs) Nakuru (1/day = 1/game drive)
Nakuru/Mara - minimum 5/hrs depending on where camp sited.
Mara/NBO (5+/hrs) (2/days = 3.5/game drives)

While taking flights:
to/fr Amboseli
at NBO drive to/fr Nakuru
from Nakuru drive to Mara
fly from Mara to NBO
will add to cost and not necessarily anymore to game drives, your bottom will appreciate it and you won't find the schedule as hectic.

Not personally familiar with the companies above, but MICS gets good reviews on Trip Advisor.

Good luck!


Just goes to show

... beats me where that last few words came from? sorry!

If I may, what sandi is noting (I think) is that getting from camp-to-camp takes significant time which very much negatively impacts your time on game drives seeing wildlife. Wonder if it would be better to eliminate one camp and thus have perhaps two more game drives??? But I'm not able work out such details and thus can offer no specific ideas, sorry.

regards - tom

Freebird
personally i would go to Samburu instead of Amboseli

though i've been lots of times in those parks, can't comment on accommodation or companies - simply am not familiar with

Safari njema

aby

Thanks all for your feedback.

@ Tom, yes freebird is the soundtrack of my life right now.

I have decided to go with F Kings and Tours Safari http://www.fkingssafaris.com/

They had many favorable reviews on TripAdv and Farid was very very responsive to all my questions.

My road safari itinerary @ 1285pp is:
2 nights @ Kibo Safari camp in Amboseli - www.kibosafaricamp.com/

1 night @ Kembu farm in Nakuru area - http://www.kembu.com/component/optio...ery/Itemid,104

2 nights @ Siana Springs in Maasai Mara - http://www.heritage-eastafrica.com/t.../accommodation

I wish I could have more time but I will take what I can get and make the most of it. I am really excited and look forward to reporting back.

Thanks again.
Anna

Have a wonderful time!