Kenyan Wildlife & Water

Re: Kenyan Wildlife & Water

Hi The Greens,

Thanks for your questions.

Swimming is sometimes also available at the campsites we use on this tour as well as at the final resort in Mombasa or Malindi. The rest of the tour is quite action-packed so there's not normally time for swimming until the final few days!

I hope this helps.

Regards,
Brendan

Re: Kenyan Wildlife & Water

Hey Brendan,
Could you say a bit more about the 'custom built safari vehicles' used on the tour? Are these also used for the longer trips between stopovers?

And one from my daughter:- for the '5 nights camping in large walk in tents', will there be a man with a gun to keep the lions away during midnight toilet trips?

Cheers
Andy

Re: Kenyan Wildlife & Water

Hi Andy,

Here's a little bit more about the safari vehicles typically used on this tour:

The vehicles are either Mercedes or MAN and they have a strong reputation for their mechanical excellence, durability and of course their safety, which is of paramount importance on all our tours. They've also been refined to meet the demands of tours along this route perfectly.

There are hard bodies and large glass windows for excellent all round viewing. There's also a comprehensive medical kit onboard as well as a wide range of tools and spares. Fresh water, lots of space for fuel, ample food supplies, a fully fitted kitchen and all the camping equipment are also all onboard. This helps the vehicle to travel off the beaten track a little and take the travellers to places where other companies aren't able to venture.

On top of the excellent vehicles is the knowledge that our local operators have staff and offices all over the region to provide backup and support throughout your journey.

In answer to your daughter's question, yes, there is normally a man with a gun who patrols the campsite throughout the night just in case any lions or indeed elephants take a fancy to little girls going to the toilet during the night

I hope this helps.

Regards,
Brendan

Re: Kenyan Wildlife & Water

Thanks for the info. ref. the vehicle.

Can you tell me some more about the camping.
As we would be a party of 3 - two adults and one 12 year old - I presume that we would have to split up as the tents are twin berthed. Can you confirm this?

Thanks Jane

Re: Kenyan Wildlife & Water

Hi Jane,

That's correct, the tents used during the camping are normally twin berth.

Regards,
Brendan

Re: Kenyan Wildlife & Water

Hi,

Well we're back! (See my review of the solar charger elsewhere in the Family section).

After travelling for not quite 24hrs we arrived mid afternoon 'Day 1', so the kids hit the swimming pool at the Jacaranda, to be hauled out for tea time. We ate in the hotel which had a good choice, including a fantastic buffet. (I can recommend the omlette with chillis at breakfast!)

Next day was an early start (virtually every day was an early start for us!) to board the truck for Nakuru. Climbing up out of Nairobi was a slog due to slow trucks & then the road surface deteriorated. This particular drive is apparently getting quicker each time as more of the road gets fixed. We paused at a viewpoint to admire the Rift Valley, and to get hassled by souvenir salesmen. My daugter haggled down to 800KSh for a purple Masai blanket (I paid pretty much the same for a red one when at the Mara). We also stopped at Nakuru town to get fours days water (and beer) supply from a supermarket, and to top up our KSh from an ATM. We had lunch at the entrance to Nakuru National Park, fending off Maribou Storks and the occasional baboon, followed by a drive into the park seeing buffalo, rhino, elephants, pelican & flamingos. The truck climbed to the top of the Baboon Cliffs (which was quite busy) for a grand view of where we'd been. Baboons & Rock Hyrax a-plenty. We needed to go back to Nakuru town to get some gas to cook the tea, and then to Chameleon Campsite (chameleons in the bushes all over the place) staying in a quite splendid chalet. (Though others stayed offsite due to overcrowding)

Next day at Naivashu where the chalets were much smaller (the bathroom door couldn't be closed without moving the bed!), but the site was right on the lake side and Colobus Monkeys chattered in the trees. It was from here the boat trip to Elsamere started, passing a few Hippo & lots of different birds. Tea & cakes at Elsamere was a strange affair, the food reminded me of a church hall fete somehow... Truck back to the campsite, and so to bed.

The next day's journey was long, and, towards the end, very rough (which I personally quite enjoyed). We picked up Alex (our Masai guide) up at Narok (which, co-incidently, was the name of a Masai I bought a spear off). The tents were erected on a wooden platform, shaded by a thatched roof on poles. Occasional baboon.

Three days at the Masai Mara comprising a morning & afternoon game drive separated by a short (Masai escorted) walk to a neighbouring site to go swimming, a full days drive to see the Mara river crossing with Hippos and a very large Croc, and an easier day including bush walk, Masai 'show & tell' and Masai village & school visit. There was much more wildlife in the park than I expected (including seeing the wildebeest / zebra migration), but I won't spoil it by going into detail...

Long long drive to Nairobi, arriving in time to spend an ample 45 minutes at the animal orphanage (ask to go in with the Cheetahs!). Quick pool dip for the kids, and that fabulous buffet for dinner.

Lie in (till 8am!) as our Malindi flight not until 10ish. Flight was 1.5hrs, Malindi was hot hot hot. The Turtle Beach had 1 pool, direct access to the shoreline, as much (very weak) beer, cocktails (inc non-alcoholic), food as you like.

Spent a day relaxing, a day exploring the rock pools + guided snorkelling trip (extra money), a day on & off the sea kayaks, attended a talk by the Bio-Ken Snake Farm people and another by turle experts.

Flight back to Nairobi was in an even smaller plane (which was over populated by one, so they had to sit in the cockpit with the pilot).

We hadn't booked any additional nights in Nairobi so we hung about the airport for ages until our return flight to the UK. In hindsite, it may have been cheaper (and certainly more convenient) to have the extra night and get a better flight back.

I think the guide Wayne said it was his last Kenya trip, but if you run into Ben (driver) or Wycliffe (cook) say hello from us!

Any more questions, just let me know!

Cheers
Andy

Re: Kenyan Wildlife & Water

FANTASTIC!! I would recommend this holiday to anyone!! Our boys loved it and we were so sad to leave! We experienced so much and we can honestly say it was the best holiday EVER!!!

Kate (went Arpil 07)