Hi

We are going to Mombasa in September 2006.
During our stay we are doing a 3 night safari.
What clothing do most people wear, and what footwear?
Is hiking boots or trainers the best?
Thanks
Steve & Karen

Hi,

Have you checked this thread?

Mark

I am taking a group out to Tanzania, Kenya and Zanzibar from Toronto via London in June of this year. I have just sent out an email to let members know what to remember to pack, and because we have some internal flights, to try and pack very lightly. Don't know if that applies to you?

Anyway here's a modified list which might help you decide:-
On safari desert/chukka boots are comfortable and protective (Clarks have brought back the old traditional light weight suede pair but they're expensive!). As you're only going for 3 days trainers should be fine. Wear comfortable and slightly longer socks. (cotton mixture for easy drying) Take a couple of pairs of long pants/trousers and cool tops, a hat (the African sun should be respected), mosquito repellant containing DEET, underwear that dries easily, and one long sleeved shirt/cotton cardigan for protection in the evenings. Take a bathing suit, a pair of shorts and sun tan lotion, at least SPF 15, and sunglasses. I suggest people take a small first aid kit....anti diarrhoea pills (?Imodium), aspirin, plasters for sore feet, malaria prophilactic etc.
By the way the "protection" I mention is against mosquitoes and malaria; remember it only takes one bite.
,

Hi we went on safari to Kenya in June 2005 and stayed in Mombassa, at Diani beach. The safari is fantastic and Kenya is wonderful. On safari we bought zip off safari type trousers but ended up wearing shorts during the day with cool tops. During the safari the insects weren't a problem but they can be at night, so we took along fine cotton shirts/tops (linen type) which were cool. As for shoes, we purchased walking boots but ended up in sandals or flip flops. It is very warm in the jeeps, and as long as you can keep your balance you are fine, if you are a bit unsure a pair of trainers will suffice but make sure you wear socks as it is a bit sticky and the time of year you are going it will be hot. Beware of the beach boys when you get to your destination after safari (or before), they will hound you, don't worry about this they are only trying to get you to buy from them and they are friendly, just stick to your ground and if you want to buy just barter with them.

If you want any more info, or pictures of the safari let me know, but you will have a fantastic time - one other tip try and get really small change for tips, we spent most of our money on tipping and on safari the bell boys are waiting outside your room just to carry a bag, so ask your bank for the small denominations as well as the normal.

Bev

Could anyone tell me what is the weather like in Kenya in June,and has anyone stayed at the Diani reef beach resort?Any help would be much appreciated

Hi,

You can find a review HERE

The hotel has a slightly different name in our review section that the one you mentioned in your post, but I believe these two to be the same. If this is not the case, please let us know so that we can add your hotel to our database.

Mark

April to June is the period of the long rains which means that in Mombasa you are likely to get some rainfall occasionally in the afternoons - if you are staying on the beach it really wont matter, the rain is warm and refreshing as you walk along the beach.
We visited the north of Mombasa a couple of years ago in June and had a great time.

OK so this review may be a bit out of date, but my family and I did the overnight train journey from Mombasa to Nairobi in 1992. It was very different from any other experience and remains so in my mind!

The dining car was hot despite ceiling fans spinning overhead at strange angles. The silver service dinner was very reminiscent of 1950s British cooking - Brown Windsor Soup, a roast meat etc - but I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

I remember waking in the night and seeing people just walking alongside the train tracks in the middle of nowhere with baskets on their head, also at dawn seeing giraffes. Magnificent.

Do take enough water with you for the overnight and perhaps a snack as breakfast does not tend to happen!

Incidentally, Kenyan centipedes/millipedes are known as Mombasa Trains! They move slowly but with deliberate purpose!!!

Can someone shed any light on this:

I have been told by Thomas Cook that the Masai Mara safari does not take place between July and October.

And having spoken with First Choices, I have been told that their safari's are totally booked up through August and September.

We are desperately looking to book 2 weeks in Kenya, staying in a hotel for 11 nights and doing a 3 night safari and don't have a preference for which month we want to go.

Please help?!

hi there
we booked our safari with virgin world wide,just 8 weeks ago and we fly out to kenya in two weeks time.its worth having a look at ,we are doing the serengeti safari followed by a week in mombasa ,we had a look at there masia mara safari and it looks great we decided on tanzania in the end as we really wanted to go to the ngorongoro crater.good luck and hope you get something booked.
rkaty

Hi rkaty

Is the Serengeti Safari a week long safari?

Sam

hi sam
yes our serengeti is a week long safari staying at 5 lodges these are serena and sopa lodges on full board and a week all inc. in diana beach mombasa however there were other option on the web site

http://www.virginholidays.co.uk/worldwide/tours/index_safaris.shtml .

hope this helps we started off looking at the masai mara,but maybe next time ,we only have a little over two weeks to go and our kenyan airways tickets should arrive any day so we are very excited,one word of advice shop around for your malaria tablets the prices vary from one chemist to another .we found the co op was the cheapest in our area ,you can order them on line as well at a good price from,
boots.com
good luck ,i will post a report and hotel review when we get home ,but i hope you find what your looking for
rkaty

Wicked - thanks so much for the info!

Have a fab time and let me know what it's like when you get back

Sam

Alsacienne
Wonderful report, delighted about the menu, just hope it is still Kenyan run this March.
I am tempted to travel from Nairobi to Mombasa so one might see more animals after dawn.
Thanks

If i were you, the period to have a fantastic safari is mid July to early Augast. Why?
This is when the drama unfolds at Maasai Mara as the beests moves to Serengeti to look for greener pustures. It is usually a very high season during this period and i geuss thats why Thomas cook are having excuses since they are full. Check out with some travel agents in Kenya whom am sure will offer you a good deal.

11 days is quite a lot and i would advise you to include Maasai Mara, Lake Naivasha/Nakuru, Samburu, Tsavo and the coast.

Am not an expert but i got all the info from Ultimate Safaris, they were very helpful to us. We (I & my GF) are heading for a 6nights/7 days tour to Kenya on 14th feb which includes Maasai Mara,Lake Nakuru and the coast for some sun. Unfortunately, i'll miss the Mass Migration which i understand is a must for Safarians. You can contact Ultimate safaris at ** email address removed **. I'll post more when am back.

** Email address removed by MarkJ to avoid spam **

We are lookng at going to Kenya January next year and was wondering if anyone could give some advice on:-

Is the weather good at this time of year?
A good hotel with nice beach?? We don't mind which resort.

I've heard varying reports on here so if anyone could help then that would be great!

Happy Holidays!!

I suspect the reason it only runs 3 nights a week is that they have only one set of carriages and that it runs in the other direction on the other nights....

Hello!

Have a trip planned to Kenya in March, wanted to go to Maissa Mara but looks like i will have to go to Tsavo instead. I've been told Tsavo doesn't comapre to Maissa Mara at all. Is this true?

Can anyone give their opinions on Tsavo Natl park (east and west) in comparison to Mara? Will I see the big 5 in Tsavi?

If I did end up trying the Mara safari independently is easy to get there are back?

Is this area a Malaria and Yellow fever hot spot?

Also, how far is the Sun N Sand resort from the airport?

Thanks!

Hi,

We got married in the Sun n Sand Beach resort last April and will be returning beginning of April this year. Transfer takes about 45 minutes from airport to the hotel (from what i can remember).

We went on safari to Tsavo East and West for 2.5 days, but did not manage to see the big five. We heard there is more chance at the Masai Mara, but it was a trully amazing experience! We did manage to see elephants, giraffe, wild dog, buffalo, cobra, lion, hippo, ostrich, wart hogs, crocodile, loads of different species of deer/antelope, zebra, birds of prey....and more. I would highly recommend going and we stayed in wonderful once in a lifetime accomodation, Finch Hatton and Ngutini Lodge.

To get to the Mara from Sun n Sand would require a very very long road trip or otherwise a transfer back to the airport and a small plane to the Mara airstrip. The road trip to Tsavo is incredibly bumpy too due to the very poor road conditions and takes hours, so I'd advise taking a travel pillow or something with you which might help slightly.

We took Malarone malaria tablets last year, although I didn't take too kindly to them myself. I shall be trying Doxycycline this year, although my parents had no problems and will be taking Malarone again.

Any other questions please feel free to ask and I shall help out all I can. What dates etc are you going?

Sarah