Anyone been to Kenya

Now I know how much we all love Florida, but has anyone been to Kenya.

I am off there in 5 weeks time. We are going on a Safari and then onto Mobassa for some R&R. Any hints and tips would be gratefully received:D

never been looks lovely, have a great time Karen, hope we get to see some photos?

Sounds wonderful Karen, hope you have a great time, haven't been myself though.[msnsmile2]

We had lunch with friends of ours yesterday and they were telling us all about their trip to Kenya, they said it was absolutely marvelous. The accomodation was out of this world, they stayed where the elephants and giraffes came right up to the place they ate and would go back again ( they have already been twice ) I'm sure you will have a wonderful time.

You will be expected to pay about £1 per suitcase at the airport for the porters to carry your luggage about 5 yards. On the return to the airport, again you will be asked for £1 per suitcase for a very short distance and then again for them to be lifted onto the x-ray machine. Just be aware of these things, the locals are very poor and trying to make a living.

Take a high Deet mosquito spray and make sure you visit your travel clinic at your local GP (if they have one) for advice on jabs and malaria tablets. Again, be warned, the malaria tablets that are usually prescribed for us are VERY expensive. The last lot cost over £100 for two of us for two weeks supply.

Take some of the hand sanitising gels, now available in handy pocket sizes. There are often no facilities for you or other people to wash their hands.

Take plenty of medicine for upset tummies and some re-hydration powder.

Take plenty of film for the camera, or storage for your digital pics if you have a digital camera.

I am sure you will see some wonderful sights and some not so wonderful ones when in the towns. The wonders are truly that, wonderful but the poverty is something I will never forget. In saying that, I have seen worse in Madagascar.

Overall, an experience not to be missed.

Pat

Some very useful advice - many thanks

Jabs are now up to date, malaria tablets bought (almost had to re-mortgage for those!) and got a case of Imodium!!

Really looking forward to the trip and will post some photos here when I get back.

Hi Karen,

We visited Kenya about 19 years ago now. Had a brilliant holiday and one day we hope to go back. We stayed in Nairobi for the first night then went on safari for the rest of the week. We did the Samburu safari which included staying at treetops - what a lovely experience. The lodges, as somebody has already said are out of this world and the food is superb. They all have swimming pools and at one of the lodges we played crochet. We then went onto Mombassa for a week to relax at the coast. We were a little disappointed with Mombassa but the hotel which was 5 star was fantastic.

The next year we did Tanzania for a week and the Seychelles for the second week. The animals are probably better in Tanzania but the lodges and food are definitely not. The guide in Nairobi told us that if you want to put on weight go to Kenya and if you want to loose it go to Tanzania.

I am sure you will have a great holiday!!!

Hi Karen,

Went about 16 years ago now!! Stayed in Mombassa in a nice hotel on the beach. The hotel had security guards on the perimeter wall to stop the locals from hassling the tourists and staying guests.

We didn't mind walking on the beach but beware because you could get pestered to buy wood carvings of elephants, giraffes, hippos etc!
They're not that bothered for money either and will gladly exchange their handywork for items of your clothing!!!
We set off one day in T-shirts,shorts, flip-flops,and swimsuits and arrived back at the hotel in just our swimsuits!!! in exchange for an armful of beautifully carved animals![msnsmile2]

Went on a safari but came back with mild food poisoning!!!...the cause was undercooked meat ( I used to have mine cooked medium rare) Always have your meat cooked very very well done at any BBQ's you attend.

I'll see if I can find a photo of the beutiful "Hilton" hotel which was situated all on its own, with some fantastic scenic background with wild animals seen roaming in the distance.[msnwink]

It can be a bit rough and is quite desperate in places so just take the normal precautions, although these sort of places should will not be on the average tourist trail. Mr CDV lived there when he was younger and has some great tales to tell. I guess that new African programme on Sunday night, what's it called Young at Heart or summit, will increase the Safari interest.

Have a great trip.

Pepsi

We too are spending our first night in Nairobi and our second night at Treetops - really looking forward to this as I have heard very good reports.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Cruella DeVilla
It can be a bit rough and is quite desperate in places so just take the normal precautions, although these sort of places should will not be on the average tourist trail. Mr CDV lived there when he was younger and has some great tales to tell. I guess that new African programme on Sunday night, what's it called Young at Heart or summit, will increase the Safari interest.
Have a great trip.
[/quote]
"Wild at Heart", I'm really enjoying it and didn't expect to. It's quite light and fluffy, doesn't take too much concentration which is just what I need after a few glasses of wine with Sunday dinner[msnwink]
Must remember to sky + it whilst in Florida:)

Take citronella with you it is much better than all the jungle spray. It is only about 69 pence. We stayed in a hotel on the beach in Mombassa, lovely hotel, but a pain when you go on the beach. We did 2 safaris, one to tsavo and stayed in a hotel overlooking a water hole. And went to another one where we stayed in tents, carn't think of the name of that one. Had a brillant time.
Barbara

My eldest daughter went on a school trip a few years ago. Had a wonderful time and it really made her appreciate how lucky and rich we are in the west. She stayed in a very small hotel and then in a tent on safari, which she didn't enjoy so much due to the small visitors - the ones with many hairy legs!! They went in October and needed to take clothes to cover up in Nairobi (think a crowd of 17yr olds need I say more, and jumpers and long trousers for the evening on safari as it was quite cool then. During the day very hot. She was thrilled to get home and have a bath! They had to take a duffle bag with them rather than suitcase as they were travelling in minibus which couldn't take large suitcases. Roads were full of potholes and tarmac was not seen very often.

She did comment that they were desperate for western magazines and she wished she had taken more with her. Also biros and sweets - they are very poor. But if you are going with a tour operator I imagine it will be much more luxurious than she found.

we stayed in mombasa last october, as has been said before the hotels have security on the perimiter fences to keep out the locals, you will get pestered by them every time you go to the beach. Never tell them your name as they will make a bee-line for you every time they see you, take some cheap t-shirts,flip flops,socks or even a cheap watch or two to trade with.we came home with some fantastic carvings.theres a reef just off of the shoreline which we snorkeled off a couple of times, saw some amazing fish. also did a safari in the tsavo park and stayed at the salt lick lodge, wow what an experience, our room looked right over the water hole.make sure your rooms have mossie nets over the beds as not all hotels supply them. you will have a fab time, i cant wait to go back.[msncool][msncool]


Dave

that is where I had my marriage proposal!!
Good idea to take pencils and paper for the children.
Had a loely meal in a restaurant I think called carnivore in/near Nairobi if still there but we are talking 15 years ago[msnembarrased]