ian
if you are staying at the Voyager Hotel - the dive school there is buccaneer a 5* IDC centre, who have there own website, dived with them back in sept 2002 and will be diving with them in 10 days time, They are very good. Whilst it is the start of the rainy season you can find more info on the weather sites on the internet -

Hi,

We're planning to go to Kenya for our holiday in August. We've seen the First Choice offering of a beach holiday (near Mombasa) but with a 2 night family safari to Tsavo.

Anyone done this? Our boy will be 6 when we go, will this be suitable for him? Like most kids he can get irritated if he gets bored!!

I've read the hotel/resort reviews and most of the hotels look good. Anyone able to recommend any good child orientated hotels (choice is Sun n Sand, Bamburi Beach, Voyager, Diani reef, Severin, Whitesands, southern palm, Boabab & travellers)?

On some of the reivews people mentioned that sometimes it wasn't possible to go in the sea. Why would this be? and which resort is the best for the beach, sea and a bit of snorkelling?

sorry for all the questions, but thanks if you can help!!

Cheers,

Paul

Paul, the Tsavo safaris are usually of the "drive one way, fly the other" variety - the problem is that this can mean a LONG road journey (10+ hours) albeit with a few stops on the way. Only you know how your sone will react to this.
As for the beach, I don't know the hotels you mention, but we swam in the sea more than once when we were there. The only problem may be the beach "boys" (traders) who can be quite persistent in some cases.

I may not help much here as I havent done this type of safari.

I took my children last Feb daughter was aged 8 at the time. We had a week of safari and a couple of days being in the van 10 hours or more. I thought they would get irritated and bored but just like children do they accepted it because they loved the safari ( i thought i would go mental but surpirisngly the time passed ).

I had a book my children had charged nintendo/game bots which helps pass some of the time.

Its such a great experience its worth it and my children didnt moan once about the long journey time a few shouts of when are we there but as everything out the window is all so new and different they just got on with it.

Kind Regards
Stewart

Hi Derby Paul
My wife & I took a Thomas Cook / Thomsaon beach package at LTI Kaskazi Dianni Beach last March. We booked locally a Tsavo East / West Safari with Gibran guide Ringo. Yes there was a long drive to get there (I wrote a review of hotel here and Safari at Trip advisor). They charge an extra £40 if you are "sole" party.
We found paradise on this trip and are going back this March. We are both past 50 and were worried about the travel / journey. There is so much to see along the way a child might be more mesmerised than just interested. We were amazed how many animals we saw in Tsavo during the 2 days there. If you can trust your child to stay in the SAFARI Mini BUS then go while prices are good. A few years time I fear Kenya will be too expensive for us.
If you want more info contact us.
Dariusdave

Thanks for the replies, much appreciated. We're probably going to book this afternoon 2 weeks at either voyager or sun n sand (depending on availability/quotes), with the 2 night family safari to Tsavo West

The little one shoud be fine we should be able to keep him excited about where we're going when on the move, and get him looking out the window.

I suppose the only reason I was a bit worried is because he was a bit of a pain when we were looking round grown up things on hols last year, but then again I don't think I found cathederals and the like very interesting as a 5 year old!! Give him the sea, swimming pool, mountains and wild animals and I'm sure he'll be amazed!

One more question, I like running, is it safe to go out of the hotel grounds for a run? After all Kenya is the home to long distance running it'd be a shame to not get the chance for it to rub off on me!!

Dariusdave,

Just found and read your safari review on Tripadvisor, all I can say is wow!!! I think it's time to stop typing and time to go book a holiday.

Have a great time when you go back in a couple of weeks!!

Managed to book something, had a few probs, but all sorted. First Choice didn't have any availability for the hotels we wanted on the dates we wanted, offered us some other hotels but we didn't really want to compromise (when you pay that much why should you?).

Went to Thomas Cook they were a waste of time! Then went to Thompsons, they actually managed to come up with a good price for voyager but couldn't offer safaris for a 6 yo (but I was sure we could book something locally).

We then went to a local travel agents, they managed to find the Sun n Sand hotel with a safari called Tsavo Explorer with Somak. Very good price (only slightly more than the Thompson deal).

The safari consists of, day 1 to Tsavo East with lunch on the way, followed by an afternoon game drive. Staying overnight at Voi safari lodge.
Day 2, drive to Tsavo West, up into Chyulu hills and Pare mountains. Lunch, then afternoon game drive and a visit to Mzima Springs. Overnight at Ngulia Safari Lodge.
Day 3 Early breakfast game drive then back to Mombasa.

I'm getting quite excited now, only got to wait until August!

Derby Paul
I suggest you put each lodge eg Ngulia Safari Lodge. into Google.
I recently rec'd a list from Gibran for this year. Even their economy lodge in Masa Mara Mara Hippo Safari Lodge looked fantastic. It is amazing that these Safari Lodges have far better Web sites than most British hotels.
I have read good reports of Somak Safaris If you want more info then send a message and we can phone.
Don't forget the Medical Preparations you need to see you GP /Practice Nurse about injections and Malaria protection

I have photos you can see best at http://s41.photobucket.com/albums/e279/dariusdave/?start=0

Hi Dariusdave,

Great photos there thanks for sharing them.

I started looking at the lodges as soon as I got in from booking last night, they look great.

I think my OH is going to be on the caae for the medical stuff this week.

Would it be safe to go running out of the hotel grounds (obviously not while on safari!)? The hotel has a treadmill, so I could use that, but going running while on holiday is great to see things you probably wouldn't normally see.

Hi Derby Dave
I felt far safer in daylight around Dianni beach than Amsterdam!! We walked from Kaskazi Hotel to local shops & church, we walked along the beach. I would take advice at the hotel you may find a member of the animation team appointed to run with you, (and at Kaskazi they were fit) as duty and body guard.Or you may well find fellow Joggers from Germany. A Kenyan Asian friend tells me if I go to Nairobi to hire a "guide / guard" but Dianni Beach is the Tourist Industry there are Police Checkpoints and I can't imagine too many problems other than the very persistant beach sellers.
Darius Dave

Thanks again DD, I'm sure I'll be able to sort something out. I've survived Amsterdam a few times so should be ok

Hi just got back from 2 weeks at Travellers Club Hotel at Bamburi , 2nd time to Bamburi Beach. We didn't do any safari's done them. But we did go to Haller park which is a park near bamburi (500 shilling Taxi each way) or try the local matutus We spent the whole day walking round no hassle and you can see antelopes and small game plus Giraffes, also opposite the entrance to Bamburi Hotel is the Nature trails which cost 200 shillings, plenty of butterflies, birds, a running track, cycle track and a children's adventure park so you might be interested. Also the Marine safaris are fun we used Pippi Pilla but there are lots to chose from.

Hi

We are staying at the Sun 'n' Sand resort in Kikumbala in kenya mid-April. We haven't got a clue where to start about booking a safari.
(We only wanna stay one or two nights and want to spend as little as possible!)

Should we book our safari beforehand or while were there?
Whilh is the best company to book with? Whats the cheapest deal?

HELP!

Cath and Matt.

we are staying at the sun and sand in july and are going with first choice,we stay at the hotel for three days and then go on safari and then back to the hotel,we have booked the safari before we go,though i have since been told that it would have been cheaper to book safari when we get there,will be interested to hear what you think of the hotel when you get back

We're also going to the Sun n Sand (August), so too would be interested to hear your feedback.

From reading other threads it's very easy to book safaris while your over there either from the hotel or off beach boys (apparently there are some who act as official reps of some reputable safari companies). Also it is supposed to be cheaper too.

We decided to book ours in advance as part of a package similar to the First Choice one, only with Somak.

Hello,

I'm thinking of going to Kenya in June, staying at the Dolphin Hotel on Shganzu beach. Does anyone have experience of this?

Also, I want to book a safari but would prefer to do it when I am there. Is it easy to book safari when you are there and is it cheaper?

Hi,
I'm going to Kenya in August I have been given mixed information on power sockets. Do I need adapters or are electric sockets the same as UK if I do need them what kind do I need to get?
Thanks Karen

Looks like they're the same as the UK according to THIS

luci