Page 1 of Holiday Advice - Kenya ?

Thinking about booking a Kenyan Safari. Anyone been ?
Any advice ? Most importantly IS IT SAFE ??

HI there.. I went to Kenya last yr but went to Shimba Hills safari (which was totally CRAP)..
After speaking to other travellers on the trip they all recommened Tasavo East ( i think it was) its basically the main safari park in Kenya and the best. These people paid about £250 just for the safari but all said its worth every penny. So if your going to the safari make sure you go to the main one (Tasavo East) and you will have to spend big too. But only at this park will you be able to see all the animals, tiger, lion, hippo`s to zebra`s..
When i went to Shimba Hills safari park all i saw was 2 Elephants from a distance and couple of other animals.. Oh and also make sure you go to the park via plane from your hotel and all the roads in Kenya are very bumpy and will end up an umpleasant trip going via car or coach.
What City in Kenya are you going to.? I travelled all of Mombasa and the spice Islands too.. If you need any more adivce just ask.. Arsenal Henry.

Quote:
tiger, are you sure i dont think they are native...



`I am going to live forever, or die trying`...

Im sure they are.. ? or are they not. :o

It was East and West Tvsaro parks and also a few days Bombari( sp ! ) beach.
Thanks for your help.

Went to Kenya-umm 14 yrs ago so not v up to date but then it was the Masai Mara, Samburo(crocodile infested river-nice)Lake Naivasha(see the hippos graze at night) and Baringo Lake (flamingos ).

Was struck by the poverty and don`t suppose it has improved much. If you decide to go try and spend money in the country itsel because most of the money seems to go to foreign tour operators.

The roads between Nairobi and the game reserves are either non-existent or tarmac that was put down 60 years ago and never replaced! V painful on your rear.

Can`t comment on whether it is safe but you are advised not to walk around either Nairobi or Momabasa unaccompanied(we did walk round Nairobi beofre we realised!)

everybody wanted my trainers and i was offered a very nice wooden elephant set for them but as i only had the one pair I reluctantly declined. Got very pestered on the beach for a `glass bottom-boat ride`. Was quite nervous all the locals live behind compounds -or they did.
South Africa is considered to be better for the animals but probably similar security concerns.

Sue Davies

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I quite like the Helpdesk people in a benevolent (as opposed to malevolent) way as they do some valuable work in preventing us being inundated by every halfwit who can work a phone.

Me and my partner went several years ago, it was an eye opener. The poverty was quiet a shock and this was on the bus from the airport to the resort in Mombassa.
We booked a safari once we were there so maybe we spent more than if we booked before leaving but it was amazing:
1.Camping in the nicest tents I`d ever seen in the foothills of Killimanjaro next to a lake with resident fish eagles.
2. Tsavo Park (can`t remember if it was East or West).
3. The fantastic game lodges - with panaramic views of the landscape dotted with all types of animals.
4. Salt Lick - you know the one on stilts next to the watering hole. Beautiful. Saw many different animals here and saw a cheetah take an antilope. Brutal but fascinating.

We had an incident when we came back from Safari, we`d already been into Mombassa unaccompanied so we didn`t think anything of taking a bus to the crocodile park. Unfortunately the bus stopped before the park and we had to walk the last 1/4 mile. Well two men aged in their early 20`s shadowed us and before I knew it one had grabbed my bag. Stupidly I fought him off and he grabbed my girlfriends Australian bush
hat - very nice hat she got in `95 when we visted her family over there.
We were a bit shocked and upset but we were ok, the Kenyans were very nice about it and they blamed a Somali camp nearby - interesting they didn`t point that out before hand. I guess we were a bit new to travelling then and were not scared but suffice to say we`re much more aware of our surroundings now.

This isn`t meant to put you off - I`d definately go again but just like anywhere use your common sense. Dont flash money around only take what you need for the day, dont leave any valuables in your room, dont on any account wear any jewellery outside. One of the highlights was an arranged visit to the local school - don`t take sweets tho, take something practical. We took loads of biro pens for the school.
cheers
Dave

Tip.. If ur going to be staying in Nairobi, don`t go out after 6pm.. Very dangerous.