I have booked a 7 day safari in kenya next feb which takes in the following;
shaba national park - staying at the sarova shaba lodge
lake nakuru national park - staying at the sarova lion hill lodge
and the masai mara game reserve - staying at the sarova mara camp
before heading back to nairobi (the stanley hotel)

Has anyone stayed at any of these or has information about them please?????

Also the tour company seem to be charging an extortionate price for hot air balloon rides over the Mara - anyone know whether you can book on site, and if so, does this tend to be a cheaper option???

Many thanks, Charlie

I think it was the sarova mara we stayed at last year, they are luxury tents and very nice, food was excellent and the bar at night is really cosy. There are monkeys in the trees at the resort and you may see the odd liki-liki (midget deer) running about. The Stanley Hotel in Nairobi was ok for the 1 night we had to stay there would have been at one time a very posh hotel but definately a bit tired now. We did a 3 day safari and spent the following 4 days in Mombassa. I have to say I really didn't think Kenya would be my cup of tea but we won a free holiday so you have to go don't you! well, I absolutely loved it and wouldn't hesitate to go back really beautiful. There is quite a lot of poverty especially in Nairobi but when you get on the trip to Masia Mara you will see lots of children from settlements running around that look poorly dressed but they all look well fed and happy.

I would double check. We did a similar thing last year stayed in the Stanley Hotel in Nairobi 1 night, following morning were driven to Masai Mara stayed in luxury tents for 2 nights then back to Nairobi to fly to Mombassa and then stayed at the Whitesands Hotel. We had to leave our big luggage at the Stanley from where the tour operators organised for it to meet us en route at Nairobi airport. There were no hassles with this with anyone in our party. We were worried but it all tuned out o.k. If I could give you one piece of advise. DO NOT BUY OWT ON THE WAY TO MAISAI MARA, if you stop off at any point as you will get ripped off. If you want souveniers you get them so cheap they virtually cost nothing when you get to Mombassa - honestly you will kick yourself if you buy anything before. If you want to play it safe in Mombassa the recepetion desk will ring you a taxi and the taxi driver will look after you wait while you shop for not a lot but if you want to make it even cheaper team up with other holiday makers and share.

Hello,

Regarding your query about the hotels, Sarova hotels are of a generally high standard. I have stayed at Mara Sarova which is very comfortable, even though you will be in a (luxury) tent. Food is good and plentiful from a buffet. When I was there, you didn't have to drive for miles to see the animals. If you can, get your driver to take you out at about 6 - 7 am, this is when you are most likely to see lions with their kills etc.

Unfortunately, the balloon flights are very pricey and as far as I know, they can be arranged once there if you are unsure. Overall, i think that you will get a better view of the animals from a vehicle as they are very used to them.

As for the Stanley, this is the oldest hotel in Nairobi, but not the poshest. Having said that, the standards are good. I havent actually stayed there, but have been to the restaurant. It is right in the city centre.

Kenya is a beautiful country - I hope you have a good time.

Regards

Rupert

Hello,

The weather should be good at that time, but depends where you are. I live in Nairobi and it is generally warm and sunny, but sometimes there are showers here and there.

Mombasa generally tends to be hot. August Sep is quite a good time as it can be slightly cooler then - cant comment on the seaweed! If you are visiting game parks, take something warm to wear as it can be quite cold in the evening and early morning (due to altitude).

Have fun!!

Where are they going in Kenya?

There can be security issues if you are not travelling as part of an organised safari and you must be careful. The following general tips might be useful:

Avoid travel by road after dark - accidents are much more frequent then. It is fine from the airport to Nairobi City Centre though.

Avoid walking about after dark, especially in urban areas - the risk of mugging/robbery is much higher. There is a lively nightlife in Nairobi and you are OK once at a venue. It is essential to get transport to venues preferably by taxi (although these can be pricey and you MUST haggle before the journey).

Don't walk around city areas with jewelry on display. It might be removed! As with any large city, you have to be alert to your surroundings to deter pickpockets.

There is quite a bit of poverty and you are quite likely to be approached by street kids. They will ask for money. If you give, then you can quickly be surrounded by a whole lot more. Buy them food instead.

Don't pay more than Ksh2000 to be taken from the airport in Nairobi to the city centre. It is better to arrange for someone to pick you from the airport.

Getting around: Most Kenyans don't have access to vehicles and travel by minibus (matatu). These are extremely cheap and can be an effective way of getting about. However, driving standards are not great and the ride at times can be hair raising. Urban centres are linked by coach or shuttle bus and the prices are low compared with the UK. Taxis and vehicle hire are pricey but these along with tour company vehicles are the safest option. Rail services are extremely slow, with a limited network. Then there is always flying!

3 month Kenyan visas can be obtained on arrival at Jomo Kenyatta Airport (or Mombasa) for $50 fee. If you want longer than this, then apply through the Kenya High Commission in London. Application forms and procedures available online.

Dont bother to obtain Kenya Shillings in the UK - rubbish exchange rate. Keep most of your money in £cash or travellers cheques and change on arrival. The best rates are published in 'The Standard' financial pages.

Forget the travel agent for booking flights. ba.com, kenya-airways.com and lastminute.com have all come up trumps with reasonable airfares.

Let me know if you have any other queries.

Sorry, forgot to say that anti malarial medication is strongly advised - especially for the coast. Malarone is supposed to be a good one. Arrange this early

Also as regards food, avoid salads or foods that have not been cooked in order to avoid stomach upsets (or worse). Try not to be tempted by foods sold at roadside kiosks. Drinking bottled water is by far the safest option. Avoid ice in drinks as you cannot guarantee the quality of the water.

Hi there.
Thinking of going to Bamburi beach hotel in november/december. We have 2 children (9+2). Does anyone have any advice or anything. Is it ok for kids. I read there is a kids pool and club and the beach looks nice. Any advice would be great,
Thanks

I also have a question,

Is it true that branded soft drinks (Coke, Sprite etc.) aren't included in the all inclusive?

Looking to book the Bamburi beach hotel for nov/dec. Have 2 kids aged 9 and 2. Is it safe to take small children to Kenya. A few years ago my friend told me someone tried to buy her daughter out there. Dont think I'd get much for mine though!! Lol !! No seriously, is it safe and is there enough to keep them entertained (and me migraine free)?
Also what is the weather like nov/dec time?

Coke and Sprite were the logos on the drinks machines, tasted ok to us - they sometimes cake out flat because the machine has gone to pot, but was soon sorted out. You can pay separately for bottles of Coke, Sprite, etc, but we never felt the need.
We found the hotel to be very central - great entertainment on offer, very good value for money, food very varied and nice. Same old story though - you end up eating too much !!
Beach is nice but you get pestered - don't bother buying from the beach boys at all - go to Bombolulu Cultural and Craft Village - better quality, biggger items and a lot less money.
Don't tell the beach boys you'll go back tomorrow, later, etc. They will remember.
Day time activities are varied, evening entertainment was fantastic, but repeated each week - but worth seeing again.
Let me know if you need to know anything else.
The 2nd pool is also great - a lot less crowed, there's also a little kids pool next to this - like a paddling pool.
Snacks from the bar near the 2nd pool are nice - pizzas, burgers, chips, etc.

There shouldnt be a problem taking children to Kenya. As with anywhere else, they must be supervised. You will need to contact the hotel to check for childrens activities etc.

The weather at that time of the year is HOT at the coast and you must be careful to avoid burning, dehydration etc. This is approaching the hottest time of the year in Kenya.

Oh yes, there might be some rain at that time of year too, but this shouldnt be too much of a problem.

Whilst in Mombassa in January we flew up to the Mara Safari Camp. Beautiful tents overlooking the hippos, only problem the hippos make loud noises during the night, we thought this was brilliant.

Staff very helpful & food a very high standard in comparison to hotel in Mombassa. The game drives were excellent, seen all different animals to when we went to Tsavo East three years ago.

Well worth the money but be prepared for a long plane journey as these small planes are used like a bus service, dropping people off & pick people up in the middle of the mara. The journey from Mombassa to the camp took approximately four hours due to this but still enjoyable as beautiful scenery.

Enjoy your trip

I will post a reply regarding our safari at the weekend, I believe in people rectifying their mistakes - mistakes do happen - but I've had enough of being messed around by the David Livingstone now.

Thanks for the information!! Really looking forward to Kenya.....

Hi,

We're thinking of booking this hotel for Christmas 2005. Has anyone stayed here? or can anyone recommend any good all inclusive hotels in this area?

Thanks

Tills.

Hi. We are off to mombasa at the end of november. Does anyone have any advice (especially as we are travelling with our 2 children aged 2 and 9)? Also any "must do" trips while we are there. I think we may be quite limited as to what we can do with kids but I'd love to hear about all the different things to see and do.
Thanks

We are thinking of booking to stay ay the Bamburi Beach Hotel in February 2006. Will we be able to buy our visa when we arrive at Mombasa airport? If so, is this any easy process or would it be less hassle to get our visa's from the Kenyan High Commission before we travel?
Also, I've never taken any anti-malarial medication before. How soon before you travel must you start taking it?
Thanks.