Hotels FAQ

Question:

Hi: Maybe someone can give me some advice. I live in the U. S and would like to plan a 7 Day Safari trip to Kenya. This trip will be within the next year or two. I would like to know: 1.   What is the best time to go to Kenya on Safari? 2.   From the U. S, how can I book Safari tour? 3.   What are some of the Safe, dependable and honest Safari tour operators in Kenya? 4.   What is the best place to stay?  At a Hotel or Safari Club or Lodge? 5.   What health vaccination do I need before going to Kenya? 6.   What clothes is normally worn or appropriate for a Safari? 7.   I know I will need a Passport, but would I also need a Visa? 8.   Where can one obtain a Visa for Kenya before arriving in the country? 9.   What is the cost of a Visa for Kenya? 10. What is the average cost of a Kenya Safari? (Air Fair from and to the U.S. , Lodging    and accommodation, Safari, Food, Transfers, Airport fee or tax) Any information on Kenya Safaris will be appreciated.

Response:

>plan a 7 Day Safari trip to Kenya.

Pretty short, but better than nothing. >1.   What is the best time to go to Kenya on Safari?

June, but really any month except April is fine. >4.   What is the best place to stay?  At a Hotel or Safari Club or Lodge?

Safari lodges in nature reserves. My recommendation would be to visit exactly two nature reserves in one week, namely: 1) Samburu (Samburu Lodge) 2) Masai Mara (Fig Tree Tented Camp or another one of the many excellent lodges there) >5.   What health vaccination do I need before going to Kenya?

You need only malaria prophylaxis. Recommendation: Malarone >6.   What clothes is normally worn or appropriate for a Safari?

Normal summer clothes plus one warm jacket for cool mornings in the highlands of Masai Mara. >7.   I know I will need a Passport, but would I also need a Visa?

Yes. >8.   Where can one obtain a Visa for Kenya before arriving in the country?

At the Kenyan embassy, but it’s easier to obtain it after arriving in the country on the airport. >9.   What is the cost of a Visa for Kenya?

$50. >10. What is the average cost of a Kenya Safari? (Air Fair from and to the >U.S. , Lodging    and accommodation, Safari, Food, Transfers, Airport fee or >tax)

Perhaps $1,000 plus airfare should be enough, but I’m not sure of that. Keep asking. Hans-Georg — No mail, please.

Response:

Lots of your questions can be answered with a little research on the web. Can recommend Somak Safaris which are available on line in the USA. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hi: > Maybe someone can give me some advice. I live in the U. S and would like to > plan a 7 Day Safari trip to Kenya. This trip will be within the next year or > two. I would like to know: > 1.   What is the best time to go to Kenya on Safari? > 2.   From the U. S, how can I book Safari tour? > 3.   What are some of the Safe, dependable and honest Safari tour operators > in Kenya? > 4.   What is the best place to stay?  At a Hotel or Safari Club or Lodge? > 5.   What health vaccination do I need before going to Kenya? > 6.   What clothes is normally worn or appropriate for a Safari? > 7.   I know I will need a Passport, but would I also need a Visa? > 8.   Where can one obtain a Visa for Kenya before arriving in the country? > 9.   What is the cost of a Visa for Kenya? > 10. What is the average cost of a Kenya Safari? (Air Fair from and to the > U.S. , Lodging    and accommodation, Safari, Food, Transfers, Airport fee or > tax) > Any information on Kenya Safaris will be appreciated.

Response:

I went to Kenya in 1997 on a "highlight" tour.  Here goes: 1. I’d say August-September, when the wildebeest migration is at its peak in the Masai Mara. 2. Most large travel agencies have the ability to book you.  Ask the agent if they have booked Kenya trips previously.  They should be able to provide you with a wide range of itineraries/prices. 3. This can get confusing, because you may book with a tour company in the U.S. that works with an operator there.  That said, Big Five did a fine job for us. 4. This too will vary greatly.  Likely, you will end up doing something similar to our trip, one-nighters in several locations with varying facilities and finishing with 2-3 nights in the Masai Mara.  In the Mara. I’d say the "permanent tented camps" are generally better than the lodges, though I understand there are some outstanding lodges that surpass permanent tented camps.  Mobile tented camping is supposed to be a great experience, though also much more expensive. 5. You need vaccinations for more than malaria.  Call your doctor and see if they can recommend a "travel clinic" or some such thing.  They maintain databases on what vaccinations are needed for each country. Note: Many people, like me, have a terrible time with Larium, a malaria drug. There’s a new drug that does not share Larium’s violently hallucionegenic side effects. 6. Wear neutral/tan colors; very light and very dark clothes supposedly attract mosquitoes.  No dark green, the color of the Army.  I wish I had taken the pants with zip-off bottoms that convert into shorts.  Don’t over-pack.  You can get your clothes done no matter where you go. 7,8,9 You will need a visa.  Our travel agent took care of getting them for us.  You will need to send off your passport to get it.  I think it was around $50. 10. In ‘97, the grand total was about $3,800 each including air.  I understand that ours was a mid-range safari. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hi: > Maybe someone can give me some advice. I live in the U. S and would like to > plan a 7 Day Safari trip to Kenya. This trip will be within the next year or > two. I would like to know: > 1.   What is the best time to go to Kenya on Safari? > 2.   From the U. S, how can I book Safari tour? > 3.   What are some of the Safe, dependable and honest Safari tour operators > in Kenya? > 4.   What is the best place to stay?  At a Hotel or Safari Club or Lodge? > 5.   What health vaccination do I need before going to Kenya? > 6.   What clothes is normally worn or appropriate for a Safari? > 7.   I know I will need a Passport, but would I also need a Visa? > 8.   Where can one obtain a Visa for Kenya before arriving in the country? > 9.   What is the cost of a Visa for Kenya? > 10. What is the average cost of a Kenya Safari? (Air Fair from and to the > U.S. , Lodging    and accommodation, Safari, Food, Transfers, Airport fee or > tax) > Any information on Kenya Safaris will be appreciated.

Response:

>5. You need vaccinations for more than malaria.

For a one week trip through luxury lodges? Doesn’t make sense. Hans-Georg — No mail, please.

Response:

> >1.   What is the best time to go to Kenya on Safari? > June, but really any month except April is fine.

Why do you recommend June? Likely to still be wet? (although I know the rains have been anything but ‘normal’ for several years. I’d suggest February or August! (have actually been in November, Feb and early July, I think) —

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> >1.   What is the best time to go to Kenya on Safari? > June, but really any month except April is fine. >Why do you recommend June? Likely to still be wet? (although I know the rains >have been anything but ‘normal’ for several years. >I’d suggest February or August! >(have actually been in November, Feb and early July, I think) >–

Rita, I like September if I were going on holiday. It`s usually unlikely to be raining, there are fewer mosquitoes and it`s warm but not too hot! I was lucky to live in Kenya for several years and once we went to the coast in July and had rain for a week. June of course is low season so it`s much cheaper then, for airfares and hotel rooms. It`s for Hans Georg to answer of course but I`ve noticed for the last three years, since I joined this NG, he has gone to Kenya in June. He`s probably more intrepid than me! Pat — Pat Anderson

Response:

>> >1.   What is the best time to go to Kenya on Safari? > June, but really any month except April is fine. >Why do you recommend June? Likely to still be wet? (although I know the rains >have been anything but ‘normal’ for several years. >I’d suggest February or August! >(have actually been in November, Feb and early July, I think)

Rita, the rains have usually subsided, but it’s still off-season, so the prices are much lower in many lodges. I would hope that this carries through to package tour prices. With few tourists in June you don’t have the crowds of minibusses in the parks. Hans-Georg — No mail, please.

Response:

This is the current list of recommendations from the CDC in the US for travel to East Africa. I remember getting several shots before going to Kenya a few years ago. I think if you stayed in the urban areas, there was less or no risk, but more risk when you went out to game parks and other rural areas.  I figured since the shots were good for 5-10 years, they would serve me for other future trips as well. http://www.cdc.gov/travel/eafrica.htm I went on a tour operated by United Touring (UTC) and thought they did a good job. They had I think three levels of tours, from economy to midlevel to luxury.  They’re at http://www.unitedtouring.com .

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->5. You need vaccinations for more than malaria. > For a one week trip through luxury lodges? Doesn’t make sense. > Hans-Georg > — > No mail, please.

Response:

>This is the current list of recommendations from the CDC in the US for >travel to East Africa. I remember getting several shots before going to >Kenya a few years ago. I think if you stayed in the urban areas, there was >less or no risk, but more risk when you went out to game parks and other >rural areas.  I figured since the shots were good for 5-10 years, they would >serve me for other future trips as well.

Jenniann, strange, because the risks are just the opposite. The highest risk of contracting a disease (like malaria) is when you’re among people who carry the disease. Out in the wilderness your risk of contracting such diseases is low. The best way to contract malaria in Kenya is to visit an open air restaurant in Mombasa at night. The risk of contracting any of the rare diseases on a one-week trip through nature reserves is extremely low. Hans-Georg — No mail, please.

Response:

I just followed the doctor’s orders.  One thing, we did extend down to Zimbabwe, so maybe that’s what did it.  Anyway, I remember getting a DTP shot and one or two other shots.  What seemed odd was that, since we were almost always at around 5,000 feet, I don’t think I ever saw a mosquito on the whole trip. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->5. You need vaccinations for more than malaria. > For a one week trip through luxury lodges? Doesn’t make sense. > Hans-Georg > — > No mail, please.

Response:

> Hi: > Maybe someone can give me some advice. I live in the U. S and would like > to plan a 7 Day Safari trip to Kenya.

Like Hans-Georg said, 7 days is really too short. It’s a long flight and if it’s at all possible go for two weeks minimum. > This trip will be within the next or two. I would like to know: > 1.   What is the best time to go to Kenya on Safari?

It depends. If you want to see the migration in the Mara, late July – September. That’s also the most expensive time (supply and demand) July-August are the coolest time, and dryest. > 2.   From the U. S, how can I book Safari tour?

Either through a travel agent or directly through a safari company in Nairobi. > 3.   What are some of the Safe, dependable and honest Safari tour > operators in Kenya?

I’ve done five journeys with Express Travel Group, but there are plenty of others. Generally you don’t get what you don’t pay for. > 4.   What is the best place to stay?  At a Hotel or Safari Club or Lodge?

A luxury tented camp is very nice, the lodges are more than good and generally less expensive. > 5.   What health vaccination do I need before going to Kenya?

Consult a medical practitioner. There is quite a list. > 6.   What clothes is normally worn or appropriate for a Safari?

Not white or pale clothes. Not camouflage. > 7.   I know I will need a Passport, but would I also need a Visa?

Probably, I think others have answered this. > 8.   Where can one obtain a Visa for Kenya before arriving in the country?

The Kenya Embassy. > 9.   What is the cost of a Visa for Kenya?

Others have answered this. > 10. What is the average cost of a Kenya Safari? (Air Fair from and to the > U.S. , Lodging    and accommodation, Safari, Food, Transfers, Airport fee > or tax)

How long is a piece of string? It depends whether you join a group safari or want to have a private safari. It depends where you stay and how many miles you are travelling. FWIW, I agree with Hans Georg that if you’re really only able to come for seven nights, just go to Samburu and the Mara for three nights each, but I’d also take a night at one of the night lodges in the Central Highlands. > Any information on Kenya Safaris will be appreciated.

You can check out my website if you like – it’s totally uncommercial. Hans-Georg has lots of useful info on his site, also uncommercial the last time I looked. Also check out http://www.kenyalogy.com Liz — Website: http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/lizleyden – Safaris (Kenya & Tanzania), Seychelles & India (under construction) Image manipulation and some basic computer calligraphy.

Response:

But I think most of the diseases that we were vaccinated against were either contracted through water/food (hepatitis A, typhoid), through dust in the air (meningitis) or through insect bites (malaria).  Also recommended were boosters against tetanus and polio. Yellow fever if traveling outside the city. I figure it’s better to be safe than sorry, though

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->This is the current list of recommendations from the CDC in the US for >travel to East Africa. I remember getting several shots before going to >Kenya a few years ago. I think if you stayed in the urban areas, there was >less or no risk, but more risk when you went out to game parks and other >rural areas.  I figured since the shots were good for 5-10 years, they would >serve me for other future trips as well. > Jenniann, > strange, because the risks are just the opposite. The highest > risk of contracting a disease (like malaria) is when you’re > among people who carry the disease. Out in the wilderness your > risk of contracting such diseases is low. > The best way to contract malaria in Kenya is to visit an open > air restaurant in Mombasa at night. > The risk of contracting any of the rare diseases on a one-week > trip through nature reserves is extremely low. > Hans-Georg > — > No mail, please.

Response:

>But I think most of the diseases that we were vaccinated against were either >contracted through water/food (hepatitis A, typhoid), through dust in the >air (meningitis) or through insect bites (malaria).  Also recommended were >boosters against tetanus and polio. Yellow fever if traveling outside the >city. >I figure it’s better to be safe than sorry, though

Jenniann, there are two considerations here, side effects and money. The main question is whether the same money you spend on vaccinations for a one week trip to Africa could buy you more health if spent elsewhere in your life. The other question is whether the side effects of the drugs are worse than the risk of infection. To give you a concrete example—I have lived in Kenya for several years without using any malaria prophylaxis (can’t take the stuff for such a long time). I never contracted malaria, partly because I took other precautions like always travelling with my own mosquito net and always using it at night, unless I could convince myself that the room was insect-proof. If you now compare the number of people dying from, say, yellow fever to the number of people dying from, say, traffic accidents, you may well find that the yellow fever risk is so ridiculously minuscule that you could ignore it on a one week trip. The risk of dying from a traffic accident on your way from the airport to your first overnight accommodation is so much bigger that you should rather spend your efforts on means to lower that risk instead. To give just one example, just sitting next to the taxi driver, looking out, warning him of impending risks and telling him to drive more slowly may reduce your overall risk by much more than all vaccinations taken together. Eating less fat (ideally throughout your life) is another example, not to mention not smoking. In fact, the traffic accident risk is by far the highest for travellers to Kenya, followed at a long distance by disease, followed by an even longer distance by animal attacks. Of course, when you go to a doctor and ask him about protection for your trip, your doctor may well not make such risk calculations. Instead he will do what he has been trained to do and what he earns his money from. I hope I could make myself understood. People, including medical doctors, are notoriously incapable of performing low risk and low chance calculations. Better ask a good mathematician. Hans-Georg — No mail, please.

Response:

Well, the vaccinations are good for 5-10 years in most cases, so they wouldn’t necessarily be just for a one week trip.  The vaccinations I got from my doctor were covered by health insurance – she didn’t charge me extra. I think I only paid for the yellow fever shot because that had to be done at a special office. The recommendations were from the CDC, not the doctor. I agree with you about the other ways we can make our life healthier, but I’m not sure how they come down to a question of spending money. Telling a taxi driver to drive slower is an expense of mental energy, not money. Stopping smoking and eating less fat might even save you money.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->But I think most of the diseases that we were vaccinated against were either >contracted through water/food (hepatitis A, typhoid), through dust in the >air (meningitis) or through insect bites (malaria).  Also recommended were >boosters against tetanus and polio. Yellow fever if traveling outside the >city. >I figure it’s better to be safe than sorry, though > Jenniann, > there are two considerations here, side effects and money. > The main question is whether the same money you spend on > vaccinations for a one week trip to Africa could buy you more > health if spent elsewhere in your life. The other question is > whether the side effects of the drugs are worse than the risk of > infection. > To give you a concrete example—I have lived in Kenya for > several years without using any malaria prophylaxis (can’t take > the stuff for such a long time). I never contracted malaria, > partly because I took other precautions like always travelling > with my own mosquito net and always using it at night, unless I > could convince myself that the room was insect-proof. > If you now compare the number of people dying from, say, yellow > fever to the number of people dying from, say, traffic > accidents, you may well find that the yellow fever risk is so > ridiculously minuscule that you could ignore it on a one week > trip. The risk of dying from a traffic accident on your way from > the airport to your first overnight accommodation is so much > bigger that you should rather spend your efforts on means to > lower that risk instead. To give just one example, just sitting > next to the taxi driver, looking out, warning him of impending > risks and telling him to drive more slowly may reduce your > overall risk by much more than all vaccinations taken together. > Eating less fat (ideally throughout your life) is another > example, not to mention not smoking. > In fact, the traffic accident risk is by far the highest for > travellers to Kenya, followed at a long distance by disease, > followed by an even longer distance by animal attacks. > Of course, when you go to a doctor and ask him about protection > for your trip, your doctor may well not make such risk > calculations. Instead he will do what he has been trained to do > and what he earns his money from. > I hope I could make myself understood. People, including medical > doctors, are notoriously incapable of performing low risk and > low chance calculations. Better ask a good mathematician. > Hans-Georg > — > No mail, please.

Response:

>I agree with you about the other ways we can make our life healthier, but >I’m not sure how they come down to a question of spending money. Telling a >taxi driver to drive slower is an expense of mental energy, not money. >Stopping smoking and eating less fat might even save you money.

Jenniann, yes, some things to make ourselves more healthy do not cost money. Obviously every rational person will always employ these anyway. But some others do have a cost, and there are even quite effective, but very expensive ways to reduce your risk, for example hiring a body guard or an expert driver. The rational way to go about this is to rank the risk reduction methods according to their cost to risk ratio, then decide how much risk reduction you want to afford. Then you reduce your total risk using those methods that have the best ratio of risk reduction to cost and forgo those that are too unfavorable. This is the optimal strategy. To forgo a specifically cheaper method in favor of a more expensive one would worsen your overall result. Your remaining risk would be the same, but the contents of your wallet would not. This is not immediately obvious to non-economists and non-mathematicians, therefore people tend to make irrational mistakes here. Sorry for the theoretical discourse, but I don’t know of any simpler way to explain it. Hans-Georg — No mail, please.

Response:

Well, I guess I will dare to be irrational and pay more attention to medical experts than economists when it comes to preventing the contraction of a serious disease. My mother was a mathematician and I do believe she would have followed medical advice rather than perform theoretical calculations. In my case, as I have mentioned, the cost of vaccinations was low, I was going to be in a high risk area, so it was a no-brainer.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I agree with you about the other ways we can make our life healthier, but >I’m not sure how they come down to a question of spending money. Telling a >taxi driver to drive slower is an expense of mental energy, not money. >Stopping smoking and eating less fat might even save you money. > Jenniann, > yes, some things to make ourselves more healthy do not cost > money. Obviously every rational person will always employ these > anyway. But some others do have a cost, and there are even quite > effective, but very expensive ways to reduce your risk, for > example hiring a body guard or an expert driver. > The rational way to go about this is to rank the risk reduction > methods according to their cost to risk ratio, then decide how > much risk reduction you want to afford. Then you reduce your > total risk using those methods that have the best ratio of risk > reduction to cost and forgo those that are too unfavorable. This > is the optimal strategy. > To forgo a specifically cheaper method in favor of a more > expensive one would worsen your overall result. Your remaining > risk would be the same, but the contents of your wallet would > not. > This is not immediately obvious to non-economists and > non-mathematicians, therefore people tend to make irrational > mistakes here. Sorry for the theoretical discourse, but I don’t > know of any simpler way to explain it. > Hans-Georg > — > No mail, please.

Response:

So, Jenniann, you have now experienced a rec.travel.africa approach to assisting those who ask questions. Some respondents will post responses in which they: 1. acknowledge that they have never been where you are asking about, but still have an opinion 2. acknowledge that they have never even heard of what you are asking about, but still etc., etc. 3. suggest that you are truly naive to be asking the question at all 4. go off on a completely different tangent (i.e. – the Toronto mayor, larium, economics, etc) 5. tell about their experience in 1988 as if that somehow might be helpful 6. get belligerent with another respondent who has the nerve to disagree with them 7. or, sarcastic (see #6) —–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–==  Over 80,000 Newsgroups – 16 Different Servers! =—–

Response:

>Well, I guess I will dare to be irrational and pay more attention to medical >experts than economists when it comes to preventing the contraction of a >serious disease. My mother was a mathematician and I do believe she would >have followed medical advice rather than perform theoretical calculations. >In my case, as I have mentioned, the cost of vaccinations was low, I was >going to be in a high risk area, so it was a no-brainer.

Jenniann, I just read an article about a simple test some statisticians did with some medical experts. They asked them a simple statistical question that they should really have been able to answer. The question circled around a medical test with certain typical rates of false negatives and false positives and a traveller returning from a low risk area with a positive test result. Nearly all of them failed, quite a few by one or more orders of magnitude. So much for medical experts. But I agree that a non-expert, who may understand neither the medical facts nor the statistical ones, is in an even worse situation. Fortunately erring on the apparently safe side doesn’t create any high risks, so one can still do whatever one likes and will still most likely survive Humans understand high risks quite intuitively, it’s only the low risks where they keep getting into intellectual trouble. Thus our topic is a good thinking exercise for the mathematically inclined. Hans-Georg — No mail, please.

Response:

I wouldn’t write off the entire medical community based on an article written about "some" medical experts. I was a psych student and recall how faulty results could be obtained in experiments by biased selection of subjects,  leading questions, bias on the part of the experimenter. And how statistics can be twisted to suit multiple points of view. I’ve lurked on this newsgroup on and off, and have always had a high opinion of your postings. But I really find your tone here arrogant and off-putting. I’m sorry to have provoked this in you.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Well, I guess I will dare to be irrational and pay more attention to medical >experts than economists when it comes to preventing the contraction of a >serious disease. My mother was a mathematician and I do believe she would >have followed medical advice rather than perform theoretical calculations. >In my case, as I have mentioned, the cost of vaccinations was low, I was >going to be in a high risk area, so it was a no-brainer. > Jenniann, > I just read an article about a simple test some statisticians > did with some medical experts. They asked them a simple > statistical question that they should really have been able to > answer. The question circled around a medical test with certain > typical rates of false negatives and false positives and a > traveller returning from a low risk area with a positive test > result. > Nearly all of them failed, quite a few by one or more orders of > magnitude. So much for medical experts. > But I agree that a non-expert, who may understand neither the > medical facts nor the statistical ones, is in an even worse > situation. Fortunately erring on the apparently safe side > doesn’t create any high risks, so one can still do whatever one > likes and will still most likely survive Humans understand > high risks quite intuitively, it’s only the low risks where they > keep getting into intellectual trouble. > Thus our topic is a good thinking exercise for the > mathematically inclined. > Hans-Georg > — > No mail, please.

Response:

>I wouldn’t write off the entire medical community based on an article >written about "some" medical experts. I was a psych student and recall how >faulty results could be obtained in experiments by biased selection of >subjects,  leading questions, bias on the part of the experimenter. And how >statistics can be twisted to suit multiple points of view. >I’ve lurked on this newsgroup on and off, and have always had a high opinion >of your postings. But I really find your tone here arrogant and off-putting. >I’m sorry to have provoked this in you.

Jenniann, I apologize. This was not my intention. I hope that the content of my messages was still factually correct at least. My intention is to help in making the right decision, although I sometimes find joy in theoretical discourse. My first objective is truth. But I’m obviously not good at conveying it. Let me quickly bury this thread then and stop arguing in ways that put anybody off, because that’s the last thing I would want. Hans-Georg — No mail, please.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hi: > Maybe someone can give me some advice. I live in the U. S and would like to > plan a 7 Day Safari trip to Kenya. This trip will be within the next year or > two. I would like to know: > 1.   What is the best time to go to Kenya on Safari? > 2.   From the U. S, how can I book Safari tour? > 3.   What are some of the Safe, dependable and honest Safari tour operators > in Kenya? > 4.   What is the best place to stay?  At a Hotel or Safari Club or Lodge? > 5.   What health vaccination do I need before going to Kenya? > 6.   What clothes is normally worn or appropriate for a Safari? > 7.   I know I will need a Passport, but would I also need a Visa? > 8.   Where can one obtain a Visa for Kenya before arriving in the country? > 9.   What is the cost of a Visa for Kenya? > 10. What is the average cost of a Kenya Safari? (Air Fair from and to the > U.S. , Lodging    and accommodation, Safari, Food, Transfers, Airport fee or > tax)

Here are some links to pages on our Web site that can get you started: * http://www.freshtracks.com/trips/af.htm * http://www.freshtracks.com/support * http://www.freshtracks.com/support/pg_kenya_tanzania.htm Making all the arrangements yourself can be a significant chore. You may prefer to save some time and concentrate instead on learning about the animals you’ll see, the environments they’re in, and the culture/history of the country for a more fulfilling experience. The wildebeest migration, for example, is a fascinating natural phenomenon that can explain a lot of what you’ll see in the Serengeti, if that’s where you choose to go. Regards, Rick. — Rick Green Fresh Tracks Adventure Travel Centres 1847 West 4th Ave.  Toll Free: 1-800-627-7492 Vancouver, B.C.  Phone: (604) 737-7880 Canada V6J 1M4  Hours: M-F, 9.00am-5.30pm; Sa, 10.00am-5.00pm PST

Response:

Best time:  We went in February – weather was perfect and camps were not crowded Tour operators: We booked through Gametrackers online and highly recommend them.  We spent 4 weeks on safari with them in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.  We booked an 8 day safari in Kenya that was great – Samburu, Lake Baringo, Lake Borgoria, Lake Nakuru, & Masai Mara Best place to stay:  In Nairobi -Boulevard Hotel.  We did a camping safari and were very pleased with the accomodations. Visa – US citizens no longer need a visa Cost – our safari in February 2001 cost around 600/person for 8 days.  This included all park fees, meal, tenst, etc.  We paid for our extras and water. Airfare was about 1500 per person. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->1.   What is the best time to go to Kenya on Safari? >2.   From the U. S, how can I book Safari tour? >3.   What are some of the Safe, dependable and honest Safari tour operators >in Kenya? >4.   What is the best place to stay?  At a Hotel or Safari Club or Lodge? >5.   What health vaccination do I need before going to Kenya? >6.   What clothes is normally worn or appropriate for a Safari? >7.   I know I will need a Passport, but would I also need a Visa? >8.   Where can one obtain a Visa for Kenya before arriving in the country? >9.   What is the cost of a Visa for Kenya? >10. What is the average cost of a Kenya Safari? (Air Fair from and to the >U.S. , Lodging    and accommodation, Safari, Food, Transfers, Airport fee or >tax) >Any information on Kenya Safaris will be appreciated.

Response:

>We >booked an 8 day safari in Kenya that was great – Samburu, Lake Baringo, Lake >Borgoria, Lake Nakuru, & Masai Mara

Please allow me one little question. If this was the actual itinerary, on which route did you get from Samburu to Lake Baringo? Just curious, because I still drive the direct road, but never see any tourist minibusses on it any more. The most well known lodge along this route, Maralal, has recently been expanded, but now seems to die from exhaustion. Hans-Georg — No mail, please.

Response:

> 4. go off on a completely different tangent (i.e. – the Toronto mayor, > larium, economics, etc)

Dear Dave: I made the comment about the Toronto Mayor, and it was in keeping with, and on a separate page, with Liz’s comment to someone who said, basically, that there was no reason to visit Africa. Aren’t you the prissy little thing!!  She has now experienced ..your wisdom? Cheers, Craig

Response: