Maldives & MSE - not your usual combination!

jtr2803

There is a Manta conservation project that runs out of Mozambique, I've looked into it quite a bit

According to the latest Travel Health updates, Yellow Fever are no longer required unless you start crossing borders! We def need Malaria and I need to see what else but we had a few jabs before Cuba so think we should be pretty much covered. We will also need Visas so am hoping the change pot can cover all of that!

Kepp

I had to have yellow fever as I stopped in Kenya on the way to Zimbabwe so that might be it.

Think Kenyan holiday visas are only around £20 so not too bad. Better than Zimbabwe where you have to bribe your way in!

jtr2803

QUOTE=If My Pennies Were Pounds;44799118]Wow Jody that all looks amazing!

OH and I have already discussed this as a honeymoon option! (Quite amusing since we're not even engaged! )

I wouldn't even know where to start though!

If you don't mind me asking, how much are you budgeting for it? So that I can get an idea for future planning![/QUOTE]

Hi hun,

Well breaking it down.......

The hotel I have picked is quite typically one of the most expensive! I picked this one because it is in a Marine Park and they have the turtle releases etc and some nice reefs nearby. It is also quite far out of Mombasa and the Mombasa/Diani beaches suffer terribly from beach Hawkers whereas Watamu is much quiter. We are going in March which is peak season and for 10 days it is £1240 each with flights on Kenya Airways. That's All Inclusive.

The 3day/2night Safari in Tsavo East & West staying at the two 'nicer' lodges and with a private van is £383 each including all meals at the lodges, water in the van and checklists etc. We just need to buy drinks on top but I don't know how much they are. Kenya is still on the poverty line and most people recommend tips of 50p so everything else will be fairly cheap.

Does that help?

If_My_Pennies_Were_Pounds

That's great thanks hun, I actually think that is really reasonable for what you get, it's pretty much a once in a lifetime sort of thing isn't it?!

At least you are all inclusive and I'm sure it will be lovely!

So did you start planning it all yourself or go to the travel agent first?

Like I said I wouldn't know where to start but to really get the OH on board I need to know what I'm talking about

Kepp

Africa is so cheap for most things, so you shouldn't find that drinks add up too much.

Some things I found though varied wildly between counties - 200 cigarettes would set you back £3 in Zim yet £20 in Namibia. Yet a chocolate bar in Namibia was about 10p yet closer to £4 in Zim! A lot depends on how hard they find it to source the products.

Kepp

Who are you flying with Jody? Wouldn't recommend Kenya Airways if you have any connecting flights x

jtr2803

If_My_Pennies_Were_Pounds wrote: »

That's great thanks hun, I actually think that is really reasonable for what you get, it's pretty much a once in a lifetime sort of thing isn't it?!

At least you are all inclusive and I'm sure it will be lovely!

So did you start planning it all yourself or go to the travel agent first?

Like I said I wouldn't know where to start but to really get the OH on board I need to know what I'm talking about

Trip Advisor is your friend! Seriously, I picked some nice hotels and then went through loads of reviews to get names of safari companies, then I compared prices of UK tour operators packages to doing it seperately (which often works out much cheaper). Then I messaged some people and voila!

beccie wrote: »

Who are you flying with Jody? Wouldn't recommend Kenya Airways if you have any connecting flights x

I think the whole flight will be with them unless we decide to do 2 weeks with Thomson but that costs a lot more! Only annoying thing is flying from Heathrow!:( Gatwick is much easier.

Kepp

Can you book your own flights separately from the rest of the holiday?

For the actual plane/service on flight etc I had no problems with them (apart from the drunk man and singing lady I was sandwiched between, although that's another story) and my connections were fine. It was more the stories I heard from other people while I was there about delayed flights/missed connections and no help offered that would make me a bit wary of them.

Kepp

Unfortunately I think all African flights leave out of Heathrow

jtr2803

I did look into book seperate flights but it worked out more expensive that way although I will try again, not sure who else flies down that way!!