Anyone been to Kenya....

Hi Sarah,

What part of Kenya are you staying at?

We went there in 1990 (before it became really touristy). Stayed at a Mobassa resort. Did the safari in Tsavo East and Tsavo West and stayed the Buffalo Mara Lodge. We saved two days worth of driving by flying in a small plane, to the lodge (had an airstrip nr it).

Started the safari at 6.30am each morning and lasted until about 5pm (with stops for lunch, etc, of course)

I don't want to put a dampner or anything as I am not sure what is like there now but would recommend you to stick with your tour organisers and take advise about venturing out on your own.

It was a once-in-a -lifetime experience that I am glad I did.

Hi Bob,

We are going to a place just north of Mombassa to a place called Sun N Sand resort. We have booked our safari through a travel agent and this is for 3 days with a tour guide and a lodge each night.

There are some guys apparently that sell trips on the beach so not sure if we should just wait and see whats there. We wont be going anywhere on our own as I dont trust anything,

Thanks for the advice!

I'd love to go to Kenya but we got married at the wrong time as May/June is the rainy reason. Will be good to hear what you think of it and what you end up doing.

x

Hey Lynsey, we already have the 3 dat safari booked and have looked into a place that you can feed the giraffs and stuff but going to wait till we get there I think x will defo let you know though!

Would def recommend doing Safari (book through travel agent or holiday rep), if you are going to Mombasa Tamarind night cruise a MUST. You get a 4 course dinner (food was fab), they have a live band. Is very romantic. We did that when we went to Kenya 2 years ago, last year we wanted to do it again, but were on a tight budget. Last year we also did a trip to a conservation centre, was good. It is worth wearing proper walking shoes for that!!! Also not to put you off, but if you go onto the local village town, you will get loads of people trying to get you to buy stuff you might not want (and trying to rip you off!!!). If this is going to bother you, save your souvenir shopping for the airport. If you fancy haggling with the locals bring t-shirts, paracetamols, plasters, baby wipes (useful practical stuff). We did that this last year and got some great bargains with the beach boys. The reason they prefer these to money, is that most Kenyans are very poor and these things are expensive over there so they value it over money. Also tipping....At the hotel (we have stayed at Club Sun 'n' Sand and Bamburi Beach Hotel) it is not too bad, however the person who carried your bag to your room will expect a tip and so will anyone who offers to help you (except the serving staff at the hotel bar/restaurant). Be careful at the airport and don't let anyone carry your bag unless you are happy to tip them.

As I said before don't want to put you off.....Kenya is an AMAZING country to visit, we love it there and had a fab time on both of our trips there. So have a great time.

Thanks Littlemissnaughty, did you book the others when you were there? We have already booked the safari with First Choice and we are staying here http://www.firstchoice.co.uk/holidays/kenya-holidays/kikambala/sun-n-sand-beach-resort/

I really want to go to one of their schools there. What was the conservation centre like? x

We did 7 nights travelling safari in Kenya and then went to Zanzibar....but to be honest, we both would have preferred to do a longer safari as it was amazing!

Hi again,

I forgot to mention we went to Amboseli National Park safari as well. It was fantastic, watching the herds of elephants making their way to the watering hole. A lion having breakfast (Zebra) and of course lot's of other wildlife.

I' ll try to dig out a photo, if I can, to put on here.

One thing, I wasn't expecting, though (don't know why?) was that one day, just out of nowhere, a troop of monkeys (not baboons, thankfully) decended on the hotel grounds. They were initially, perched on the roofs and then came down to the gardens and started to help themselves to guests' drinks and snacks. It was a sight to watch as one poor lady, did not dare to move from her sun lounger (she was facing down) until a female monkey and her baby finished off her cocktails and left about 20 minutes later!

Oh, then there were these hugh (12inch diameter) spiders on webs on the trees just outside our room. They never left their positions but just waited to catch bait.

There was a local nature reserve nearby, I think it was in Bamburi. They had a variety of snakes, a really old, giant tortoise, amongst other creatures.

Enjoy.

Oh dear, I didnt want to know about the gigantic spiders, haha!! Thats the things im not looking forward to is the bugs!!

Im hoping that we will get to see a lot of wildlife while there. I really want to go to a tribal village along with a school. Have been told to take a lot of supplies to barter with too so hopefully will get some inside knowledge when there for the best places to go.

Yes we booked all of our excursions through the rep, they were great and could not do enough for us. If you want to visit a local school or do anything that is not offered on the excursions you can ask your rep about it. Last year one couple at our hotel did a fishing trip and diving trip. XOXOXOXO

We went too the conservation as well. It was really good, you can feed the giraffes and there were lots of monkeys. You will see lots of monkeys at the hotel as well.