Safari help - possible 1 week in Kenya

[gtkim]

I know there are several people here who have been on safari so I'm looking for any and all suggestions.

DH is likely going to have a business trip to Kenya late May or early June. A safari has been #1 on my list since I was very young, so if this trip happens I am going to meet him and we are going to vacation afterwards. I just don't even know where to start. If you had 7-10 days in that area how should we spend it? Also, any travel agency recs are welcome.

TIA!

[Brit]

I would look at hopping over the border into Tanzania. You can get cheap flights or arrange a driver. Look at the Serengeti and Masai Mara. I think June is a good month for Tanzania safaris.

We are kicking around a safari in June or July, likely in Ethiopia. We visited Tanzania a few years back and it was incredible. Seize this opportunity!

[mpc]

I haven't done this but it sounds like an awesome opportunity. I hope you get to go!

[Deleted]

I'm more familiar with southern Africa, so I don't have specific advice for Kenya. But I wanted to chime in to say if you have 10 days, I would probably either do 2 countries or 1 country with only a few days on actual safari and the other days exploring a city/town nearby.

There is so much to see in Kenya (and Tanzania) that I wouldn't want to "waste" a week on safari. I've only done 2-3 day safari trips in countries in southern Africa and it's really fun and exciting, but I'm kind of over looking at animals by the end of the 2nd day. I've heard the same thing from a few of my American friends when I was living in Cape Town. 

That's just my 2 cents. Kenya and Tanzania are both on my list and I'm sure you'll have a great trip!

[sunshinedaydreams]

I second the Fodor's safari guide. It has a great comparison of several countries, lodging recs, tour operator recs, etc.

With 7-10 days, I would probably do 4 on safari and the other 3 on a beach somewhere - either Zanzibar if you're willing to pay for another visa to go to Tanzania, or maybe Mombasa.

I highly recommend going through Julian Harrison at Premier Tours.  He was fantastic.

[definitelyO]

We also used Africa Adventure Consultants like RockNVoll and had a great trip. we did more than just drive around and look at animals. We went canoeing on Lake Manyara and visited some sort of Elephant reserve... we also visited the Masai and a few other villages. It was 13 years ago so I don't really remember every detail. But loved everywhere we went - camping in the Serengeti, Ngorongoro crater and saw a black rhino, Zanzibar for beach time and one other place that escapes me...

adventuresinafrica.com/

they work with every budget and timeline

[soso]

We did the Serengeti and the norognoro crator via g adventures based on a recommendation and loved it. Comfort version.

[Waytob]

Hi there, I live in Kenya and have pretty much been to every park there is in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

My suggestion would be to do a 2 night/ 3 day safari and then spend 3-4 nights in Diani beach. For best possible Safari's you should stay in a camp that is outside of the main parks, you will see alot more and the game drives get you much closer to nature without the commercial crap associated with the in-park tourist traps. Use a local travel agent to get better deals and rates and a more personalised service as well as to find camps that are off the beaten track and unique.

Also be particular on budget...you can have the whole gamut from super luxury to budget, so knowing your price range woudl make it much easier to find you camps that would neet your needs.

Just to give you some ideas, please see links www.maasaimara.com/entries/mahali-mzuri-safari-camp for luxury and www.exploreans-mararianta-camp.com/getting-to-exploreans-mara-rianta-camp.html for mid range as examples

Kenya is really stunning, I hope you make it out here and get to see a couple of places

Bee

[gtkim]

RockNVoll

definitelyO

Can either or both of you PM me with your names?  We finally got some dates for DH's trip and I had my initial conversation with Africa Adventure Consultants and would like to let them know that you referred me.  I am excited to see what they can work up for us.  It might not be exactly what I had envisioned for my first trip to Africa due to some time constraints but I'm starting to really get excited about it all.