josabermo

I wanted to thank everyone on the boards for all of their advice an help in planning my honeymoon. We have pretty much decided to go with Eastern Southern Tours (thanks for the advice Patti!) and are just trying to fine tune our itenerary. Can some one give us some advice? It is as follows:

Sept 29: Serena Mountain Lodge
Sept 30: Larsens Tented Camp
Oct 1: Larsens Tented Camp
Oct 2: Mount Kenya Safari Club
Oct 3: Sarova Lion Hill Lodge, suite
Oct 4: Ilkeliani Camp
Oct 5: Ilkeliani Camp
Oct 6: Ilkeliani Camp
Oct 7: Peponi Hotel, Lamu
Oct 8: Peponi Hotel, Lamu
Oct 9: Peponi Hotel, Lamu

Total is $3000 per person for a private 2 person safari including rt airfare for Lamu and Masai Mara to Nairobi. Does this sound right?

Sweetwaters Tented Camp was full so Sereh substituted it with Mt. Kenya Safari Club. Any thoughts on this location? Is it a good swap?

Also, the Mara Serena Lodge was full so Sereh suggested the Ilkeliani Camp but I couldn't find that much info on it. Any advice? The Mara Sarova was also available but I read some bad reviews on that location so I am not sure I want to book there. Keekorok and Siana Springs are also full. Kicheche Camp and Mara Intrepids work on a package basis only so we would have to drive back to Nairobi and fly in from there, bringing the cost to and extra $310 per person. Is it worth it to try one of these camps or is the Ilkeliani a good choice?

Also, we were hoping to schedlue some horseback riding and some walks. Are these activities available at the places we are staying at? If so, do we book them after we get there? If not, is there a place or a way to book them later?

Sorry for all of the questions.... just nervous about booking- this is a huge trip for us. I had to do a lot of convining on my part (my fiance wasn't that big on Kenya for a honeymoon) so I want things to go smoothly...

Thanks in adbance for all of your help.

santharamhari

Hi! Just want to congratulate you on the wedding....

As to the camps, dont know many of them so will refrain from any comments......

Hari

Pumbavu

Mt Kenya Safari Club is a wonderful place. Vary posh. I resommend room 56 for the view of the mountain first thing in the morning. There may be better rooms, but I don't know them!

I can't compare with Sweetwaters 'cos I haven't been yet!!

Patty

I don't have much time to write at the moment, but wanted to ask how important the horse riding and walking are to you. I don't believe there are any opportunities on your current itinerary for game viewing rides or walks if that's your interest, but maybe for non-game viewing ones.

Mountain Lodges offers a forest walk and Ilkeliani offers nature walks, both are short walks that take place in the vicinity of the camp and lodge. Mt Kenya Safari Club may offer horse riding, I'm not sure. Check www.lonrhohotels.com. You should be able to book these activities on arrival.

If you're interested in rides and walks that involve game viewing, I have some suggestions that would require altering your itinerary and would be better suited if you could add an extra day (don't know how flexible you are on this). This would of course also add to your cost.

You should still be able to catch the migration in early October. Ilkeliani will be better located for that than Kicheche which I think is too far north. Kicheche does offer more extensive walking safaris though. You may also want to look into Basecamp which is nearby Ilkeliani. I believe they offer more walking options (but may be booked too).

I posted some details and pics of Ilkeliani in my trip report - http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34719569

josabermo

Patty-

Thanks for all of your help. We are still pretty flexible with our itenerary as we haven't booked yet. Sereh will probably want to kill us though since we can't seem to make up our mind about our itenerary. My fiance and I were looking to visit some parks good for the time of year we are going which would give us a variety of environments. We were also hoping to get some horseriding and walking in to breakup all of the game drives. Maybe a cultural visit?

It seems that a lot of the accomodation id booking up so I don't know how flexible we can be. We were hoping to mix in some luxurious accomodation w/ some more "rustic" lodging/tents. Some of the smaller camps seem appealing to get off the beaten track....

Please help! I really hate to keep bothering Sereh....

lovetodiscover

Josabermo - congrats and getting close to finalizing! It's the operators job to work on and develop with you an itinerary that makes you happy - or don't use them. Took me several weeks, at least 4 weeks with a single operator speaking every couple days via email or by phone as needed.
And as always - the crowd here will help too.

There's a book I used for planning and learning by Mark Nolting called Africa's Top Wildlife Countries 6th edition. Stop off at a bookstore (guessing you are from US) and see if they've got it. Can look it over while enjoying a coffee or capuccino and buy if you really find it useful. There are descriptions and rating levels for the camps in the book. It's not comprehensive, but might give you some ideas on all ends of the spectrum.

Ile

Josabermo,

I undesrtand you so well... If you have time, read my post at http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=4 and you'll see we'are not in very different situations. All though I am going in august, so you have a little advantage here!

As for your questions:
- horseback riding: from what I know it's possible to ride at Mt Kenya Safari Club! there are many ranches/farms where you can ride in Kenya, but this means you should spend at least 1 day there. I think you still have time to change a little bit your itinerary and accommodation places, if this is what you want, of course. Here is a short list with the places where you can ride:
1. El Karama ranch in Laikipia - http://www.horsebackinkenya.com/ranch.htm
2. Sosian Ranch, also in Laikipia; check on google for their web address, I don't have it!
3. Loldaiga Hills ranch
4. Borana Ranch
5. Kisima Farm
6. Rutundu Lodge.
Around Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha are also a lot of farms where you can ride and Patty is going to ride at Olea Africana.

It depends on what are you looking for.

As for you itinerary, I couldn't understand very well why do you spend 2 days at mt Kenya. What do you plan to do there, or it's just a stop over between Samburu and Lake Nakuru? Because you'll probably spend a short time at Nakuru, because from Nakuru to Mara it's a long drive.

You'll see that once you've booked your trip, you'll feel more relax and you'll enjoy reading and discoverind new things about all these places you're going to visit!
Good luck!

kimburu

I am guessing you have stops around Mount Kenya both ways because four really long drives are too many for a honeymoon. I think that is a good idea but it won't give you much time for horse riding, which you'd need to do on your Mount Kenya Safari Club day - I wouldn't try to mix too many activities into your Mara section because the game viewing alone will keep you more than happy and busy. Patty will give good advice about horse riding when she gets back to this post but I think she sees the same thing I do - if you want to do horse riding you may need to think about dropping something - and there is nothing obvious to drop without dropping excellent game viewing or doing some long drives. If you drove straight to Samburu you would have two nights to spend somwhere there was riding, but Mountain Lodge is a very nice place to spend your first day on safari in Kenya (hmmm..I'm sure Larsens is too). You could combine horse riding and northern game (so you could drop Larsens) at Borana but it is expensive by any standards.

You need one more day to make it all work with the riding too! You haven't got a spare day to drop from Nairobi have you?

Other alternative...

Mountain Lodge
Ranch (riding and walking)
Ranch
Larsens
Larsens + Fly to the Masaai Mara
...then the same

Serah would have to arrange two different drivers for you and so you would probably find it more expensive (also the flight would add to the cost) but you could do everything you wanted, except Nakuru.

No easy answer. Have fun pulling your hair out - it'll be a great trip.

Patty

You've already received some excellent advise and ideas on how to alter your itinerary and recommendations for areas/properties to consider in order to add opportunities for riding and walking.

I should've also asked yesterday if you're both fairly proficient riders as that would be a requirement for game viewing rides.

My suggestions are similar to lle's and kimburu's. One area that might work well into your itinerary is Laikipia.

Here, El Karama ranch is a very reasonably priced option that offers both riding and walks. They have 4 new stone cottages that are rustic but comfortable. They prefer advance notice for riding which Serah can arrange for you.

Neighboring Segera Ranch provides many of the same activities. A bigger step up in cost is Borana, but perhaps you could consider it a splurge for your honeymoon.

There are many more ranches in this area than the ones I've listed. This map http://www.laikipia.org/map-of-laikipia.htm details their locations and provides links to websites. El Karama doesn't have a website for their cottage operation, but you'll find description and pics in my trip report link above.

If you decide to stay at one of these, I'd spend at least 2 nights.

My suggestions for altering your itinerary if you could add another day, might look like one of the following -

Laikipia ranch
Samburu
Mountain Lodge
Nakuru
Mara

or

Mountain Lodge
Samburu
Laikipia ranch
Nakuru
Mara

Another possible location for riding and walking is the Lake Naivasha area. Some of the accomodations here offer these options, usually on private game sanctuaries. See this map for locations http://www.kenyatravelmaps.com/naivasha/map.htm and use this site for web links http://www.safari-portal.de/Lodging....tValley.d.html

Walking is also possible on Crescent Island which has giraffe, zebra and other antelope species.

Hope this helps. Good luck with your plans. I wouldn't worry too much about making changes. Serah is used to me and kimburu

waynehazle

josabermo:

Ilkeliani is AWESOME! In all my stays of places all over the world it ranks as one of my very favorite. The food was great. The service was wonderful, friendly helpful staff.

The tents were clean with huge beds. they brought us hot water bottles each night with turn down service. The location is right by a river and you can hear hippos in there at night.

We spent our first 2 nights of safari at Ilkeliani and it was my favorite place in Africa. My first morning waking up there, I zipped open my tent and saw a family of giraffes walking by on the other side of the river! What a way to begin. Quite a nice romantic spot for honeymooners.

See some pictures of the food:
http://waynehazle.com/eastafrica/Mas.../index003.html

More pictures at night:
http://waynehazle.com/eastafrica/Mas.../index005.html
http://waynehazle.com/eastafrica/Mas.../index006.html
http://waynehazle.com/eastafrica/Mas.../index007.html

I also keep advertising video on my site

If you choose the Masa Mara video from my main Africa page you will see when I spotted the giraffes and get a vide inside the tent. You need a high speed connection

Does your fiance know that this is a tented camp?

waynehazle

http://waynehazle.com/eastafrica/son.../DSC00224.html
clothes hanging outside the tent.

Everything dried quickly

kimburu

Idea for alternative conceived in crush of people on the skytrain this morning:

29 Nakuru
30 Laikipia
1 Laikipia
2 Larsens'
3 Larsens
Fly to Mara and then the same (and you could then take advantage of the fly-in packages of course)

Only long trip would then be back to Nairobi from the Mara!

aby

CONGRATULATIONS josabermo

"Sweetwaters Tented Camp was full so Sereh substituted it with Mt. Kenya Safari Club. Any thoughts on this location? Is it a good swap? "

IMO it is a good swap for a honeymoon

# u can still do the game drive in Sweetwaters, touch Morani (probably the only touchable black Rhino on earth) etc' but sleep over at MKSC

It is a special property .
MKSC used to b on the "leading hotels of the world" list, maybe it still is
It has this william Holden & Holywood stars plus ministers princesses etc' PR
# I don't know about no. 56 but make sure u stay in one of the River cottages. Do not stay at the main building or the "Garden Suites" (when entering the main building those unwanted "suites" r behind u across the road)
they r a bit far but u can "hitch" a landrover for dinner (phone call from your room). These r beautiful Log-Cabins style with a huge bath (don't mind the colour of the water it is silt not dirt). & so romantic at night with the fire place - i've had the best sex (allowed to mention in Fodor's?) in my life there...
i think u can contact them & ask for the best room for a honeymoon (some r more isolated from the others) - 56 ??
anyhow, when u come, move around & ask to change if u wish - the place is rarely full !

# come in time to see the place during day light: as the car is parked move a bit forwards, stand in front of the main building watch the extensive green horizons... (hug or hold hands
possibly see the peaks of Mt. Kenya, the birds nearthe pond...

# How many on this forum have seen Bongo? (west african) Pygmy hippo ? a Zebroid (half Grevy)? - all can be seen here - allocate a few minutes to the sanctuary! Hand feed a Bongo - one of the hardest-to-see antelopes on this planet ...

# u can horse ride out of the gate to the river (get someone with a key)

# not very suitable to a honetmoon: excellent early morning birding

good luck

aby

josabermo

Thank you so much for all of your help.....I really am ripping my hair out! Too many choices. I want to visit so many places but so little time and more importantly, not enough money. We are stretched pretty thin...Argh.

Sereh is ready to throttle me...as is my fiance. I haven't even been to Kenya yet and I am already planning my 2nd trip....

We will just stick to our original itenerary since you guys seem to give our accomodation choices a thumbs up.

Now the question is, is adding a trip to Amboseli worth it? It is adding an additional $500 per person to our sarfari cost. Ouch! Pretty tight for us- my fiance is going to kill me if he knows I want to add more money to our trip! People say it is a small park and that it is pretty crowded but there is Kilimanjaro and Oct is supposed to be a good time to go... Or do you think it is better to relax spend a night in Nairobi before flying out to LA- we are not staying there at all this trip.

kimburu

You've seen Mount Kenya ... you can't have everything. If you really want to spend more money spend it on accommodation in Nairobi - better still, save it for the next trip.

josabermo

I guess you are right kimburu... I am getting greedy. Thanks for the advice. I need a smack in the head every once in a while.

aby

josabermo

before any other discussion about Amboseli - IT is out of your way - long drive IN & OUT.
better add sth closer by, without too much driving, like Laikipia...

If you ask me "what to add"?
i would add something DIFFERENT
like a fresh-water lake namely: Naivasha with a boat ride seeing hippos & birds plus lots of other things i've written about in the past
(search "Naivasha&quot

aby

Patty

aby or anyone else that migh know - can anyone visit the animal sanctuary at MKSC or do you have to be a guest? How much time would you need to allocate for a visit? We'll be passing through Nanyuki a couple of times. How did the animals arrive at the sanctuary (rescued orphans?) and what's the story with the zebroid?

Kavey

Joseabermo,
No advice to add but another congratulations on the upcoming wedding.

Aby,
I think that may be a first on Fodors - I am not sure we've ever had anyone assess camps before on that basis but it did make me smile!!!

aby

Come-on Patty !! This IS Africa !
Can anybody stop u from seeing the animals in the sanctuary??
{ I'll tell u once how i needed an Xray at night, did not want to wait till 9:00 the next morning, & opened up the X-ray room of a district hospital...}
First of all, it has fees (think $10 pp), even for residents (which means they r happy for every paying visitor)
If "Jambo" & "Habari" will not help at the MKSC gates, tell the guard something like u have come to see the reception (travel agent on vacation getting an impression, planning a honeymoonfor someone...)
at the reception introduce yourself, even ask to see the place. the "zoo" is a short walk to the right of the main building.

The Bongos r part of a conservation project - reproducing herd which can help in future reintroduction. To quicken reproduction, transplanting of an embryo into an Eland's ovum & womb - has been successful method of reproducing Bongos
If the bongos r not in - they r taken like sheep to the pastures - ask where can u see them

The zebroid was crossed by a hunter (forget his name) who needed resistence on the semi-arid environment
(or maybe just an excuse ...)

have fun

aby