steffid

Hi there,

after learning that our cross border-idea Tanzania/Kenya will be very complicated with a day of three flights, I was thinking of just staying in Kenya.

What do you think?
flight Nai - Shaba
3-4 nights at Joy's camp (Shaba)
drive shaba to lake nakuru (possible in 1 day??)
2 nights Flamingo Hill Camp (Nakuru)
4 nights Little Governors or Entim Camp or Naibor (Masai Mara)
3 - 4 nights Bushtops camp (Masai Mara) or other camp inside the parc
return flight to Nai

Thanks a lot.

Steffi

Patty

<i>drive shaba to lake nakuru (possible in 1 day??)</i>

Yes, probably 6-7 hours (Joy's Camp is about an hour from the Shaba gate).

steffid

what do you think about Joy's??

Patty

I stayed at Joy's in Dec 2006, the year the camp opened, and posted a report here http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34920145

Overall, I liked the camp very much. You don't find the same game density in Shaba as in neighboring Samburu/Buffalo Springs and the game is less habituated to vehicles. But you don't find the same amount of people density either I think it's a beautiful and underrated reserve, but whether you enjoy it really depends on what you're looking for.

Ignore the comments about flies in my report. I was there when they were having torrential rains. I don't think it would be an issue in the dry season.

steffid

flies are attacking my husband, not me;-))

I think this is what we are lokking for, small and quiet. We think about ist (my heart is still in tanzania and in sayari and I haven't given up this idea to have the migration on both sides, Sayari and Masai Mara...)

I will keep you posted.

What about flamingo hill camp? Is Nakuru worth to stay in august, any chance of seeing flamingos??

Patty

Good for you! Unfortunately, it's the opposite for my husband and me. I'm always the bug magnet

I believe there are flamingo resident all year at Nakuru though the numbers may vary. Flamingo Hill wasn't open when we were there. We stayed at Mbweha Camp which is about 15 minutes outside of the park.

steffid

Will have a look on Mbweha Camp.
I read your report from Joys. We will have to think about doing the sam than you did, fist Samburu (Bedouin camp?) and then Shaba and afterwards going down to Nakuru...

I will leave the office to go home now, we have already 8.20 pm in Germany.

sandi

Another thought for up north Samburu/Shaba, is Saruni Samburu (see: www.sarunicamp.com - scroll down page for either Samburu Saruni or latest news). Saruni has a camp in the Masai Mara and as June 1,is opening a similar camp on private reserve immediately adjacent to Samburu. There will be 6/canvas chalets and pool, night game drives. Game drives done on both private reserve and inside Samburu. Price should be about the same as Joy's Camp. Be aware that both are on the hi-end pricewise.

atravelynn

If you are going late July through Sept, I like all that time in the Mara and have done something similar myself. I can recommend Little Gov but don’t know the others.

I would not pick Joy’s for game viewing reasons, though I have not been to Joy’s and I think you would love the accommodations. I believe there is a bathroom that is the stuff of legends.

A 2-night stay at Nakuru is nice.

Patty

If you decide to go for a 2/2 split between Shaba and Samburu, in addition to Saruni Samburu which Sandi mentioned, two other small camps you could consider are Elephant Watch or Elephant Bedroom. I was under the impression that Bedouin is no longer in operation. Someone please correct if I'm wrong.

sandi

Bedouin, ain't no more. Believe there was mention of this a few months back. It's possible it's now SaSaab Camp, also offered thru Private Wilderness, as was Bedouin. I have no further info.

www.privatewilderness.com/html/sasaab.htm

sandi

Sorry, that link doesn't work.

sandi

Try this which sure looks like the former Bedouin.

http://www.privatewilderness.com/section.asp?ID=13

steffid

Hi there,

been very busy today.
Thanks for the additional infos.

SaSaab Camp looks very nice and in fact very much like to bedouin camp.

I need advice: what do you think, better do the cross border thing with Tarangire/Sayari/Mara or better stay in Kenya like visiting Samburu/Shaba, going south to Meru, ev Nakuru and then to the Mara?

In the Mara, which camp? Saruni seems to be too far away (like Olonana, where we stayed last time). Naibor looks like paradise, is it like that? If you had the choice between Naibor, Entim, Rekero tented camp and little governors, what would you do? We like it tented, small, a bit (;-))) of luxury, but we stay in the bushes mainly the whole day so we have just small breakfast and dinner in camp. And we want to be near the mara and the crossing ;-)))

Please help!!

Honestly, august is too far away...

sandi

Havent seen and don't know anyone who has been as SaSaab, nor who the managers... it's an unknown.

In the Mara if you are allocating 6/nts, I like to split the time with 3-4/nts inside the Triangle - Olonana, Explorer, Rekero (this might be fully booked already), Naibor; right outside to west of Triangle is Serian Camp. Then conclude remaining days via road transfer with camp on the group ranches, such as Saruni-Main or the Saruni Campi ya Tembo (3/tents only), Richard's, Royal Mara or Bushtops.

steffid

yes, we will split the time in the mara.

We need a camp where we can bring our own guide. I will try to ask for Naibor...

For SaSaaba it would be best to post a new message.

sandi

Steff -

If choosing the small camps in the Mara, be aware they probably don't have facilities to house a private guide. These camps are mostly booked on a GP-game package basis, using their guides/vehicles. The camps are small enough that rarely are there more than 4/pax per vehicle. If you want private vehicle, consider Serian Camp, otherwise, you can pay a daily rate (bet.$200-$400/day) for camp to provide, if available.

steffid

thanks sandi.

wow USD 400 is quite a lot considering the camp is aroud 600 pppn...

I will try Serian.

In the web, naibor offers full board without Game package for a better rate. That is why I thought we could have our own guide there.

sandi

The camps (all sizes) in Kenya mostly only list FB prices. Those camps that have sufficient room for guides are usually the lodges and some mid-sized camps with 20+ tents. Most visitors who stay at the small camps fly-in/out of the Mara, Samburu, Amboseli, etc.

Serian does provide individual guide/vehicle per tent, and their prices reflect this.

For the other camps of interest, you'll have to check with each camp of interest whether they will accommodate a private guide/vehicle and respective price... but you should have your agent do this. Besides, the agent gets better prices than booking direct.

MyDogKyle

I know you're mostly talking about the Mara now, but just wanted to second Patty's suggestion that you consider Elephant Bedroom camp if you decide to spend time in Samburu. We were there last September, and absolutely loved it. It's a small, beautiful, unfenced tented camp with very personal service and a great location on the river. I highly recommend it.