http://www.porini.com/mara-serena-20.html

This link is for Mara Serena, but you can check other properties to the right.

Don't know how accurate or up to date this is, but I found it helpful

FWIW, I went there, porini, and looked around. Confused me at first, their pricing is for -2- nights. Also includes air to/from Wilson Nairobi and park fees.

regards - tom

The rates listed are fairly accurate, though some outfitters or agents can probably do better on a few of those shown. Also, any "specials" being offered by specific properties for upcoming 2010 aren't shown, i.e., extended stays {4+/nts], or "pay for #/nts, get ?#/nts free" But, this is a good guideline.

I agree with Sandi, good guideline and generally speaking you may be able to find a bit better pricing. On another note, I've heard nothing but complimentary things about Gamewatchers and the way they treat their staff.

I looked at the site and compared my pricing and I did get a lower price for Sept. 2010 for" Naibor "compared to what was on the site. I did not check the three others I was looking at as I have decided 4 nights Ngere Serian, 2 nights Naibor.as I also received what I thought was a good price for Ngare Serian which is high on rate lists on internet. There are several sites that post rates but unsure how up-to-date they are.
I also subtracted out my air and fees and it was still lower - so keep checking with operators.

I asked for and received a break down of costs - which was important to me; anyone who would not do it was off the list - and I know they want the biz...and guess what - I got it from most- so it is very easy to compare apples to apples.

My thoughts are there is so much info out there (thank you Patty for air sites) to check yourself that you can have pretty quick how fairly you are being treated price wise.Of course they need their profit; but no one needs to be taken advantage of because of their naivete'. So I belive my months of research, checking with the great fordorite gang and asking lots of questions really helped with my budget.

One thing I have found is transfers are absolutely overpriced. Why pay $80 for a trip to Sheldrick when you are staying l0 min.from it. I refuse that sort of charge; and my hotel will arrange it for me for $20!
Unfortunately there are people out there who accept any price given and don't check any further. That is fine, if they want to spend.I would rather spend the extra $60 on helping out by buying a handmade piece, or giving to a charity while there.

Everyone was so helpful to me, I just wanted to give you my "research" findings on pricing. Like Sandi said, you can get a better price!

Thank again for everyone's help - it's done and we are thrilled!
Fp

I was here a month ago and it is as nice as it looks.

Don't know about the pricing because we had a 16 day Safari Tour which included two full days here.

Maybe good deals are available because it seems like tourism is down.

Any TO has got different margins from different camps. That's the reason they don't like to break down the rates by camp(transfer/flight etc.. Doing so offers the opportunity to calculate not necessarily to the disadvantage of the client. But "mix and match" opens up the opportunity to calculate sharply without affecting contracted rates - rates which cannot be cheaper than the published rates by the camp/lodge operator. Easily understandable as most camps/lodges don't want to start any vicious circle.

Generally speaking the client should compare packages.

Insisting on breakdown of single rates is no guarantee the package price will be the most favourable and agreeing to a breakdown by the TA/TO should not be taken as a guarantee for being honest or cheap Jack in town!

Antravelynn
Thank you for posting that link. The rates seemingly are very close to the published rates by the camps.
And yes - the transfer costs are enormously expensive: e.g. Abercrombie and Kent charges roughly half of them.

SV

"(thank you Patty for air sites)"

Patty - did you post info about air lines/fares -within- Africa? The charter type carriers, e.g. General Air??? Could you repeat it for me please? Just a list of the intra Africa, charter, airlines names would be good, not actual rates/fares. I wonder, are there many serving South and East Africa, like 30 of them?

regards - tom

Tom, Patty sent me links to Air Kenya and Safari link (just in case she is once again traveling!) so I could check fares throughout Kenya.I knew there were airlines but did not know how to find costs, schedules,etc.
DO not know about the others, but she or Sandi might.

FP

Tom,
I only know the ones in East Africa but here are a few that fly within/between Kenya/Tanzania -

www.airkenya.com (not to be confused with www.kenya-airways.com)
www.safarilink.com
www.tropicairkenya.com
www.fly540.com
www.precisionairtz.com
www.regionaltanzania.com
www.coastal.cc
www.zanair.com
www.airexcelonline.com

And Eben's site has info on scheduled charters to camps in southern and western Tanzania like Nomad, Flycatcher, etc http://www.go-safari.com/safari_Tanzania.htm

Here's one for Namibia. It's a booking service site but lists rates between camps http://www.namibweb.com/sefofane.htm