kenya safari - tips and hints wanted

lonelyinlondon

I have been thinking of holidays next year and Kenya sounds great from this thread! I would like to know an approximate budget for 14 days in August with a 3 day safari. I have been looking in the first choice brochure. Has anyone one stayed in Bamburi beach hotel?

Treacle_2-2

I've stayed at Bamburi - it was a few years ago now, but I enjoyed it. For some reason I'm sure it's now been updated (someone I know must have been more recently!) I had a really good time there. Sorry to say can't remember how much the safari was but if I remember rightly I booked the 3 day safari to Tsavo when I was at Bamburi, I didn't book it before I went.

The last trip there I stayed at Shelly Beach. Enjoyed it there too, it was an all inclusive. Was one of those hols when you meet a great bunch of people. Still in touch with some of them!

Joannekerry

Shelley Beach is now closed and has been for some years. Bamburi is a nice hotel and the Somak Rep is Paul, he's a howl! I would advise going all inclusive as going out at night is a bit of a no no, but also as with all cheap countries a lot of the prices are based on what you would pay at home. A bottle of Tusker beer will cost you anything between £1 to £1.50 in hotels and in the Safari Lodges.

xueta

Joannekerry wrote:

...A bottle of Tusker beer will cost you anything between £1 to £1.50 in hotels and in the Safari Lodges.

Yeah. Tusker beer's great! But does anybody else remember having to buy it from the police station in Nairobi? (Something about their licensing laws IIRC :rolleyes: ).

al_yrpal

Went with Kuoni travel Collection to Kenya in September. Visited Samburu, Masai, Treetops, Lake Naivasha etc. Fantastic Holiday, Fantastic Company, fantastic people. Kenya Airways are the tops. Did the baloon trip with champagne breakfast. Saw 4 of the big 5 on the first afternoon. All the places were great. Didn't enjoy 3 days trapped in a beach resort - boring.... If you want to see some photos and get other stuff PM me

theloft

I have posted a couple of "Thanks" on these threads for grumpyoldgit and joannekerry as they took time & trouble to post useful and detailed information. Well no one else bothered !!

grumpyoldgit_2

theloft wrote:

I have posted a couple of "Thanks" on these threads for grumpyoldgit and joannekerry as they took time & trouble to post useful and detailed information. Well no one else bothered !!

I'm grateful for that - it takes a lot of time to answer queries like that and to not even have them acknowledged by the OP is to say the least frustrating.
I've returned the compliment :T

albalad

grumpyoldgit wrote:

I'm grateful for that - it takes a lot of time to answer queries like that and to not even have them acknowledged by the OP is to say the least frustrating.
I've returned the compliment :T

Firstly.........
Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to reply to my questions !
I hadn't realised there was a time limit on when to "thank" someone for their reply , but as i have been away from home on business since 21/11 without access to my pc ...and hadn't read most of the replies until tonight i wouldn't have been able to thank anyone anyway.
thanks for your input lofty :rolleyes: .


one other question , if anyones still talking to me ............. is it easy enough or cheaper to book a masai mara balloon flight once there ? most of the travel agents want between £250 - £290 for an hours flight , which seems dear to me.TIA

theloft

Albalad - Good of you to acknowledge the contributions - Your dates don't quite tie up though, - you posted a general 'Thanks' on 20-11-05, which was after grumpyoldgit & joanne kerry had posted their information. No harm done, all rectified & everyone happy! Hope you enjoy your Kenya trip!!

Joannekerry

Personally I think that the balloon trip is over priced and over rated. Last Christmas for a group booking of 10 people it worked out to £220 each, I'm afraid thats the going rate. It's easy money for them. I much prefer going out on a game drive and having breakfast on a little hill looking over the plains of the Mara or you can go to for the Sundowner where you are looking over the Mara drinking your cocktail, you cant explain the experience it's amazing. My problem is that once Ive been on one safari I start planning the next one before I am even back at the hotel! You either get the bug or you dont and I always get the Safari Bug!!!!
Please feel free to pm me if you have any other questions.
p.s. thankyou for the thanks, it was very kind.