anitavuyyuru

Hello everyone,

I am planning a safari for my family (2 adults and 2 kids..10 & 8) to Kenya in December. I heard really good reviews for Gamewatchers through this website and am working with them. Based on what I'd like to do they gave me the following itiniery. Would really appreciate your feedback. As a family we don't like to rush things to much and nor do we want to move too much from one place to another. Schedule wise this sounds perfect for us but I'm really worried about the price. I've been quoted $6350 per adult and $3800 per child without airfare which is 20 grand. We are using miles for our tickets but taxes thro Lhr are setting us back almost$2000. Is this really worth it...?

Day 1: reach Nairobi late in the night and GW rep picks us up and takes us to Machushle house.

Day 2: Nairobi

Day:3 drive to Amboseli NP and stay in Porini camp for 2 nights

Day 5: fly to Porini rhino camp and stay 2 nights

Day 7: fly to Porini lion camp and stay 4 nights

Day.11 drive to intrepids Mara and stay for 2 nights. Late check out and fly directly to Nairobi for flight back to Los Angeles.

Are we spending way too much time in the Mara, will be bored out of our minds. Please....I have till Friday to decide, PLEASE HELP!!!!





Day5: fly to Porini Rhino camp

jul_uk

Hi. Sounds lovely but this is just a thought. Apart from the occasional guided walk being on safari in the reserves can be very restrictive in terms of the amount of exercise you get whilst there. I would be a little worried about your children at their ages, especially if they are very active, not being able to freely run about and becoming tired of spending so much time in vehicles however wonderful the wildlife. You know them best but I am not sure that the camps you are going to have very many activities that might relieve this. In some camps children of this age will literally need to be at your side and not even move around camp. I don't mean that to sound scary but I know that on our first safari I didn't realise quite how restricted the oportunity to exercise can be. Get out of vehicle - walk to tent, perhaps having to be accompanied by staff - walk back to mess tent for lunch / dinner. Repeat two or three times a day but it doesn't add up to much "letting off steam". Post-safari waistlines often tell this story ! I would just try and get an idea of exactly what is on offer at each camp besides game drives or perhaps seek out a different type of camp. One that I can think of that isn't horribly expensive but you might want to throw into the mix is http://www.sosian.com/index.html or something similar where they have river activities, cattle ranch, camel treks, horses, tennis etc as well as game viewing. I am sure there are other places like this as well. Prices should be keen in early December.

Hopefully other posters will wade in later with views on pricing for your trip as it isn't one I have done.

julie

anitavuyyuru

Thanks Julie!! I honestly didn't think of that.

philw

Gamewatchers are a good company - I have used them three times before and you will a have great time.

My only suggestion is that, after Lion camp, you may find Intrepids (nice though it is) a bit disappointing. If you are wedded to these camps, my suggestion is that you visit Intrepids first and then Lion camp. I would also suggest you consider upgrading from Intrepids to Explorer as it is not that much more. As you are in the Mara 6 nights, you may also want to consider a different part of the Mara (Lion and Intrepids are only a 45 minute drive apart) for half the time, e.g. Kichwa Tembo (or Bataleur) or Serena.

Phil