We MIGHT be going back to Africa this year after all!
Apr 22nd, 2006, 03:17 PM
#61
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,834
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Patty-
I was looking at flickr recently and came across a bunch of photos of Sand River...btw flickr is a great source for finding candid(real) pictures of lodges and camps.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ulal/10...7594065907929/
I was looking at flickr recently and came across a bunch of photos of Sand River...btw flickr is a great source for finding candid(real) pictures of lodges and camps.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ulal/10...7594065907929/
Apr 23rd, 2006, 12:20 AM
#62
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,252
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No Serah has not mentioned it at all. Good news, especially since Julius will be right up to date with where all the animals are having just taken you guys around. And yes, finish at Elsa's ... that would be great - but did you ask for a particular room? If so what's the bet we asked for the same one! But will it work out logistically? I mean, wouldn't Julius want a day or two off between trips? Or are you using the lodge transport at Elsa's?
Apr 24th, 2006, 11:13 PM
#63
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,411
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Lynda,
I'd love to meet for coffee if our routing stays the same (we're also waitlisted for AMS-ATL-LAX). As of now, we arrive YVR at 4:30pm and depart at 7:15pm. I'll keep you posted.
cruisinred,
Thanks for the link!
Paul,
Consider yourself unofficially notified
I didn't request any specific room at Elsa's, should I? We'll be using camp vehicles for our game drives there so I don't think there would be any logistical problems with ending our trip in Meru. Our order will be dependent on whether we do the riding safari or not. If we do, I think we'd fly to Meru first and work our way down (don't want to go riding when I'm all jet lagged). Julius can drop us off for the riding safari and head back to Nairobi at that point. I still have to ask Serah how many days break he needs between trips.
I'd love to meet for coffee if our routing stays the same (we're also waitlisted for AMS-ATL-LAX). As of now, we arrive YVR at 4:30pm and depart at 7:15pm. I'll keep you posted.
cruisinred,
Thanks for the link!
Paul,
Consider yourself unofficially notified
I didn't request any specific room at Elsa's, should I? We'll be using camp vehicles for our game drives there so I don't think there would be any logistical problems with ending our trip in Meru. Our order will be dependent on whether we do the riding safari or not. If we do, I think we'd fly to Meru first and work our way down (don't want to go riding when I'm all jet lagged). Julius can drop us off for the riding safari and head back to Nairobi at that point. I still have to ask Serah how many days break he needs between trips.
Apr 24th, 2006, 11:42 PM
#64
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,411
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
BTW I've been looking at flight schedules to get from Nairobi to Selous and I think I have the following choices -
Dec 12 NBO-DAR 1:15pm-2:30pm (overnight DAR)
Dec 13 DAR-Selous 8:30am-9:15am
OR
Dec 13 NBO-DAR 7:55am-9:10am
Dec 13 DAR-Selous 2:30pm-3:15pm
I was hoping to take a late afternoon/early evening NBO-DAR flight on the 12th, so I could spend most of the day shopping in Nairobi
but it appears that there are no later nonstop flights on Tuesdays. I could fly out of NBO later in the day and connect in Zanzibar or elsewhere but don't think I want to do that.
Given the above choices, which do you think I should go with? Or perhaps someone could come up with another, more efficient option (keeping in mind that I'd want as direct of a routing as possible).
Also not sure what I could do in Dar for 5.5 hours with the second option. Anyone have ideas?
Dec 12 NBO-DAR 1:15pm-2:30pm (overnight DAR)
Dec 13 DAR-Selous 8:30am-9:15am
OR
Dec 13 NBO-DAR 7:55am-9:10am
Dec 13 DAR-Selous 2:30pm-3:15pm
I was hoping to take a late afternoon/early evening NBO-DAR flight on the 12th, so I could spend most of the day shopping in Nairobi
but it appears that there are no later nonstop flights on Tuesdays. I could fly out of NBO later in the day and connect in Zanzibar or elsewhere but don't think I want to do that.Given the above choices, which do you think I should go with? Or perhaps someone could come up with another, more efficient option (keeping in mind that I'd want as direct of a routing as possible).
Also not sure what I could do in Dar for 5.5 hours with the second option. Anyone have ideas?
Apr 25th, 2006, 12:46 AM
#65
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,252
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for notification Patty. There's no special reason I know of for requesting specific rooms at Elsa's - but I know you often do request rooms and I actually did this time, although I was unable to identify a number (I sent a photo!!). This is to do with my wife wanting to go to Borana on teh basis of a photo on the AfricanMecca Safaris web site and a description in the Fieldings Guide. I really wanted to visit Meru and so I showed her a picture of one of the rooms at Elsa's. She agreed we could do Meru instead if she could have THAT specific room or its twin. Since I suspect there is only one room that looks exactly like that, and I do not have a number for it, if you do Elsa's last (although I am sure you are right about not doing the horse riding right off the plane!)the first time you see me could yet be bouncing off a rock and disappearing into the bushes at the foot of Elsa's Kopje ;-)
By the way are you thinking of doing the riding at Sangare Ranch? I noticed it was included in the price, which is pretty cool if you are a rider.
By the way are you thinking of doing the riding at Sangare Ranch? I noticed it was included in the price, which is pretty cool if you are a rider.
Apr 30th, 2006, 10:29 AM
#66
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,411
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Paul,
Now I really want to know which picture you showed her. I don't think that the place formerly known as Sangare offers multi day riding safaris, so I think we'll either arrange it through Petra at Olea Africana or Tharua Safaris which conducts them on Ol Pejeta ranch.
Anybody have an opinion on the flight options or what to do for a few hours in Dar? I looked through the old Dar threads here and they didn't look very promising. Most of them seem to say "there's nothing to see in Dar"
Does anyone know the cost of a one way charter between Dar and Selous?
Now I really want to know which picture you showed her. I don't think that the place formerly known as Sangare offers multi day riding safaris, so I think we'll either arrange it through Petra at Olea Africana or Tharua Safaris which conducts them on Ol Pejeta ranch.
Anybody have an opinion on the flight options or what to do for a few hours in Dar? I looked through the old Dar threads here and they didn't look very promising. Most of them seem to say "there's nothing to see in Dar"
Does anyone know the cost of a one way charter between Dar and Selous?
May 1st, 2006, 08:38 AM
#69
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 1,790
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Patty:
What is the situation with the airports? ie arrival airport from Nairobi, departing airport for Selous? How much transportation time between them?
No personal knowledge but with option 2--perhaps an early lunch at the Sea Cliff? shoppping at Sea Cliff Village?
Sand River is a kind of splurge end to your trip, yes? Perhaps you want to give up the extra time in Nairobi for the earlier arrival at Sand River.
What is the situation with the airports? ie arrival airport from Nairobi, departing airport for Selous? How much transportation time between them?
No personal knowledge but with option 2--perhaps an early lunch at the Sea Cliff? shoppping at Sea Cliff Village?
Sand River is a kind of splurge end to your trip, yes? Perhaps you want to give up the extra time in Nairobi for the earlier arrival at Sand River.
May 1st, 2006, 09:42 AM
#70
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,411
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
bat,
I'm unsure of the airport situation in Dar Es Salaam. I thought that intl and domestic flights operated out of the same airport but from different terminals (unlike in Nairobi where there are separate airports), but I could be wrong. You flew Zanzibar-DAR-AMS, right? If so, what airline did you use from Zanzibar and did you have to change airports to connect your KLM flight?
Is the Sea Cliff a hotel? Do you know what kind of shops are there? I've also heard of a shopping center called Slipway. Did you spend any time in Dar? Coming home, we're going to fly Selous-DAR and DAR-AMS on the same day and get a day room in Dar between flights.
Looking at the schedules for DAR-Selous/Selous-DAR, I was originally going to do a morning departure/morning return or afternoon departure/afternoon return giving me approx the same amount of time at Sand Rivers with either option. Are you saying I should do morning departure/afternoon return to maximize my time? I'd have to find out the extra cost for this (I assume there's a fee for staying later?).
I'm unsure of the airport situation in Dar Es Salaam. I thought that intl and domestic flights operated out of the same airport but from different terminals (unlike in Nairobi where there are separate airports), but I could be wrong. You flew Zanzibar-DAR-AMS, right? If so, what airline did you use from Zanzibar and did you have to change airports to connect your KLM flight?
Is the Sea Cliff a hotel? Do you know what kind of shops are there? I've also heard of a shopping center called Slipway. Did you spend any time in Dar? Coming home, we're going to fly Selous-DAR and DAR-AMS on the same day and get a day room in Dar between flights.
Looking at the schedules for DAR-Selous/Selous-DAR, I was originally going to do a morning departure/morning return or afternoon departure/afternoon return giving me approx the same amount of time at Sand Rivers with either option. Are you saying I should do morning departure/afternoon return to maximize my time? I'd have to find out the extra cost for this (I assume there's a fee for staying later?).
May 1st, 2006, 10:08 AM
#71
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,411
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
On another topic, have you come across this bat? http://www.bolin-web.com/2005/09/mah...anganyika.html
May 1st, 2006, 02:05 PM
#72
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 1,790
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, duh! I guess I should know the answer about the airport(s) because you are correct that we flew into Dar from Zanzibar and then flew out on KLM. It sure felt like two different airports--walked directly from the puddlehopper onto the tarmac to a terminal with no shops visible vs large two story ceilinged terminal with quite a few shops, walk through typical covered gateway to the plane--but maybe it was two different terminals--or maybe even a domestic end of the same terminal.
We arrived from Zanzibar around 6pm and I was mainly focused on whether we would have transport because I had pre-paid cash to our driver in Zanzibar at the last moment. We then drove to the Holiday Inn for a day room (really an evening room at that point) and then drove to the airport for the KLM flight after a shower and dinner.
Sea Cliff is a hotel and Sea Cliff "Village" is an area of retail shops by it. I don't know if it makes sense for a 5.5 hour layover. I remember that traffic was pretty congested on our way into the Holiday Inn from the airport.
http://www.hotelseacliff.com/
Yes, I had in mind an early arrival and late departure from Sand River. If you were out of the room, they might only charge you for the extra lunch.
I had not seen the Mahale blog. Thanks.
We arrived from Zanzibar around 6pm and I was mainly focused on whether we would have transport because I had pre-paid cash to our driver in Zanzibar at the last moment. We then drove to the Holiday Inn for a day room (really an evening room at that point) and then drove to the airport for the KLM flight after a shower and dinner.
Sea Cliff is a hotel and Sea Cliff "Village" is an area of retail shops by it. I don't know if it makes sense for a 5.5 hour layover. I remember that traffic was pretty congested on our way into the Holiday Inn from the airport.
http://www.hotelseacliff.com/
Yes, I had in mind an early arrival and late departure from Sand River. If you were out of the room, they might only charge you for the extra lunch.
I had not seen the Mahale blog. Thanks.
May 1st, 2006, 02:17 PM
#73
Guest
Posts: n/a
Patty - Thanks for that blog link. Great family trip report to Mahale.
If you stay later at Sand River for the afternoon flight, you'll be charged extra for the lunch, but I'm not sure whether you'll be entitled to any activities. If not, you may want to pass, but then it might just be worth it to "chill" (with early sundowners) before heading to DAR and the homebound flight.
If you stay later at Sand River for the afternoon flight, you'll be charged extra for the lunch, but I'm not sure whether you'll be entitled to any activities. If not, you may want to pass, but then it might just be worth it to "chill" (with early sundowners) before heading to DAR and the homebound flight.
May 2nd, 2006, 09:59 AM
#75
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,411
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
BTW that blog has more Tanzania entries that just the Mahale one. If you look through the archives, you'll find entries on their Kili climb, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti.
bat,
How was the Holiday Inn? Did you have dinner at the hotel? How long was the drive to/from the airport?
bat,
How was the Holiday Inn? Did you have dinner at the hotel? How long was the drive to/from the airport?
May 2nd, 2006, 10:27 AM
#77
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 1,790
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Patty:
Sorry, I can't remember how long the drive was--stopped taking notes at that point! Traffic was not bad at that time of night. Holiday Inn was fine, room nothing special--we ate in the bar at the restaurant (same menu)--food was asian influenced. More distinctive was the music--US rock oldie-goldies!
I would check out the Kempinski though. If I had alot of day time, I might look at the Sea Cliff because of the water view.
The snake in the water at Mahale spooked me too--plus the description of the chimp hunting behavior.
Sorry, I can't remember how long the drive was--stopped taking notes at that point! Traffic was not bad at that time of night. Holiday Inn was fine, room nothing special--we ate in the bar at the restaurant (same menu)--food was asian influenced. More distinctive was the music--US rock oldie-goldies!
I would check out the Kempinski though. If I had alot of day time, I might look at the Sea Cliff because of the water view.
The snake in the water at Mahale spooked me too--plus the description of the chimp hunting behavior.
May 2nd, 2006, 10:45 AM
#78
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 246
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Patty
We flew from Sand River to Dar and stayed at the Kempinski in late January, and I would highly recommend it. If you go to the Kempinski website and then look for the Kili rates, there is usually a bargain rate. Last time I checked it was $150 per room per night including a fabulous breakfast.
Leann
We flew from Sand River to Dar and stayed at the Kempinski in late January, and I would highly recommend it. If you go to the Kempinski website and then look for the Kili rates, there is usually a bargain rate. Last time I checked it was $150 per room per night including a fabulous breakfast.
Leann
