Hi me again,
Is it essential to have soft sided bags?
We have just a regular everyday wheelie bag will this be a problem?
I know lots of people have mentioned softsided bags.
We'll be 3 only in a private safari vehicle, Sunworld Safari's, and have only 1 small plane flight from the Mara.

The thing about the soft-sided luggage is when it gets on the small plane flight. The "luggage hold" is small and they have to stuff the luggage in the small space. Much easier to stuff soft-sided luggage than the hard-sided luggage.

It is next to impossible to get the hard luggage into the small compartment under the plane. Imagine trying to put 3 pieces of hard luggage under your bed.

You can take soft sided with wheels and a handle but the pilot really has to squish the luggage to get it in.

would strongly advise you to take nothing but soft bags as your pilot might refuse to take suitcases like samsonites.
wonder your TA has not pointed this out...

Thanks for your help.

Sallysaab,

You mentioned you were going with Sunworld, was it you that was thinking of going with Kennedy?

If so, just wondered what happened?

Our agent in Oz advised us to use a local operator in case anything went wrong etc.
But we will, on our next visit, use him.
We have definitely learnt a lot about tour operators and I think in future we will do all our own bookings without an agent.
His quote was very reasonable, and the itinerary was great, and we will be going back.
Lynda,congratulations and a BIG thanks for all the great work you've done on the East Africa Trip Report,it's a wealth of fabulous info, greatly appreciated.