But that $15K is for both wedding AND honeymoon. Don't know anywhere one can get just a wedding for $2K, even if you have to come up with another $1K for photog, cake, flowers, etc. (unless you go down to the local Justice of the Peace)... cost of license.

Remember, if you want the ceremony in the Mara or other reserves/parks, you have to incur the cost of the photog to get there, their daily rate, cost of service/photos. Same for the person who conducts the ceremony - transport to/from, fee for them or contribution to their church.

I understand that and don't require anything fancy. $15k is still a lot of money. Since we are eloping we are paying for this ourselves. I am sure a wedding at home would be double that- but my parents would throw it. I work in the wedding industry and was hoping to avoid the craziness!
It is really traveling in africa, rather than the wedding part that is so much more than I expected.

Depending on where going, the distances are great and the roads not the best. Thus there are internal flights available and these aren't inexpensive. You don't find $69/round-trip fares.

If arriving Nairobi, the drive each way for the Mara is 5-6/hrs.
If going to Tsavo (Galdessa or Finch Hatton's) 8+/hrs to the former and 5+/hrs the latter).
If heading north to Meru, Lewa or Samburu... also long road trips.
If heading out to the Mombasa coast, there is a overnight train, but don't think you'd like that and they don't always keep to schedule.

Besides, August is peak-season - migration time - with the highest rates.

Why not post what is being offered - where staying, what's being offered for the wedding, means of transport and prices. Maybe we can put our heads together and come up with savings.

Thank you ! I had looked into Kenya as a travel destination in 2006 and have just been shocked by how prices have risen. I sent more specific requests to several operators, and am waiting for responses. I am also trying to pin down an exact budget so i can look at this realistically.
As soon as I get all of my replies, I will post some packages for comments. I really need help figuring out which lodges are luxury, mid range, or roughing it.

Cakegal,

Congrats on your upcoming plans. We are researching the same topic...I could have written some of your posts and I have the same concerns! We eneded up booking a few days at a Serna lodge and several days at a quasai luxury tented camp. In preperation I did a ton of research. Serena has a few safari packages (including air transport between parks) and some of the camps in the Maraare offering specials. Royal Mara and Kichwa Tembo tented camp were below $300 per person (per night) including 2 game dives and meals. Royal Mara was less expensive thank Kichwa and included some extras like bush walks and laundry.

Best and have a great honeymoon!

PT123

I'm starting to get some proposals back that look more reasonable. This just may work out.
One included Satao Camp, Fig Tree Mara, Ngorongoro Serena Lodge, and Shooting Star Lodge in Zanzibar. Does anyone have any feedback, or suggest an alternative?

One more question- our current plan includes Tsavo, Masai Mara, and Ngorongoro Crater. I think it would be better to pick 2 of the 3 and reduce travel time. Which would you eliminate?

If going to Tanzania and Zanzibar, know that besides transportation costs and the time needed, there is also another Visa fee (if US passport, it's USD$100/person; if others it's USD$50). You'll also require a Yellow Fever inoculation and proof of same for entry to Tanzania from Kenya.

If you go to Tanzania, the drive from JRO airport to the Crater is 6/hrs. From here to Zanzibar, is at minimum 2/hr drive to Manyara for a late-morning flight via Arusha to the coast, arriving about 2pm.

You can certainly stay only in Kenya, and have your beach option at Mombasa or at Lamu north of Mombasa which is remote and much as it was 200/yrs ago. Staying in Kenya, saves the extra Visa and YF jab.

Royal Mara Camp would be very nice for a wedding. It's a small camp with only 8/very large and beautifully appointed tents, all river facing... even with hair blowers; meals served al fresco, bush walks.

Tanzania tends to be a bit more expensive than Kenya if that's a consideration. By next August the Nairobi-Mombasa hwy should be completely resurfaced and it should be a 5-6 drive to Galdessa from Nairobi and a little farther to Satao.

HI Cakegal,much as I rely on this forum (sorry my keys are sticking)--
I wanted you to take a look at a camp I was checking out for next year -Cottars
They show a wedding and it looks lovely!

GoodLUCK!!!
FP

Cottar's though beautiful is also very very expensive.

I know something that will work within a budget and you can go all places you want to go.
Check out www.lakenaivasharesort.co.ke

If you are budge conscious have a look at ENTIM camp in the Mara:
www. entim-mara.com. That's an intimite camp within the reserve right on the mara river close to the crossing points.
Very reasonable and great value for money in East African terms.

Royal Mara has got a bad review by one of our friends who stayed there in second half 2008:
cheep plastic chairs, TV set running in the evening destroying the safari feel, very "robust" owner who not really fits into the safari type of experience.
The location is outside the reserve which means you have to pay additionally to the reserve fees their conservancy fees - easily adding up to 80US$pppd.

Here is a map of all the camps - well, almost all the camps
http://www.go-safari.com/Masai%20Mar...araApril09.jpg

We are soon to be married on safari. I can definitely recommend Born Free Safari's. Alana has been fantastic. She has had to double as a wedding planner and fits the bill. She asked a lot of questions and really, really listened. She totally understood the vision I had. We opted to go Gorilla trekking in Rwanda so, unfortunately, won't be able to do the beach scene. However, we'll be at Tortilis and Lelesha camp. If I am not too late, I highly recommend you consider Born Free. www.bornfreesafaris.com