Kenyan Safari - what is a realistic cost? (Long ramble - sorry!)

[Milliways]

I have been hoping for a really "special" holiday for the last 5 years, when we celebrated our 20th Anniversary. I wanted it to be with DDs GCSE year, then A level year etc etc, but circumstances (redundancy etc) conspired against us. I dare not spend money we may need for Mortgage etc.

Next year is our Silver wedding and DS will have taken his GCSE's. I also have almost £8k saved in a "holiday" account and can probably get another 1-2K by next summer. I now really want that holiday.

Every quote I get, DH says "No way - too expensive". He thinks we can do a holiday of a lifetime for sub £7k for 4 adults! Bear in mind we go French Eurocamping every year.

We can go the first 2 weeks of July, before schools breakl up but after GCSE's - so not the best time of year to visit Hong Kong, or similar parts of the world.

African Safari is my dream. I had quotes from £14k but now have some for £8.2 - £8.3k, for a Virgin Masai Mara Safari and a Beach stay in Mombassa. The safari is only 4 nights - so not massive, but ticks the big 5 & other boxes. Then 4 or 5 nights on the beach. Probably because I know we could pay this I wnat to do it. DH thinks it is still waaaay to much for not a very long holiday. He wants more nights on safari for less money - in July, for 4.

Is he realistic? Have you been & what did it cost? (I have to do the research here, I do all holiday booking every year!)

Or, any other suggestions of an amazing trip that is not just beach sitting, in July?

Thanks

We looked into safari and reckoned about £14K for something really good at the right time of year.

Thank you - that is over our budget though.

Did you go? Have you been on any other "recommended" trips?

what about south africa - better value for money imo and has it all - fantastic beaches, great safaris, great wines/food and very high standard of accommodation. the flight costs are very similar to kenya but obviously a bit longer. imo Virgin are very overpriced for everything! If you don't want to go independently (and you would save £££ if you did) then I would try Trailfinders - they don't just deal with backpackers!

we did this one for our honeymoon, we saw all the animals.

We also did a week on hte kenyan coast which was not so good, maybe go to Mldives?

Thanks - will check them out.

I am not averse to S.Africa, but have been told the cape is NOT the place to go in July, so would be the Kruger & then on for beach/something else. I need a few hours with a goo Travel Agent really..

You could have a wonderful safari and beach holiday here in Kenya on your budget. I am happy to recommend a fabulous agent here in East Africa, very reputable. You would just have to book the flights yourself.

July is a little 'cold' and grey in Nairobi and the majority of the big game parks, so you wouldn't see the sun. But the beach would be good as it wouldn't be mega hot.

travel agents.

Thank you for that :)

Wow - you live in Kenya, if we ever get there I will wave at you

Slight wobble here - they are bonded to all sorts of schemes but not ABTA. Would a UK booking be protected in case of disaster?

I have been looking at This Neilson Adventure which is affordable, but no beach. However, you do seem to see a lot more of the "real" africa. As someone who lives there - how does that sound? DH likes it but wonders if it is "right" to visit villages etc if we are just looking/being nosey and not really helping - although I suppose the tourist money all helps.

I can understand you wobbling about them not being ABTA, I would certainly book my flights direct with Kenya Airways/BA/Virgin/Emirates and I would do the local stuff with them. They are a huge operation and an institution in these parts.

However, saying that, your Neilsen trip idea looks quite fascinating. It is certainly more 'real' than a lot of other safaris offered. Naivasha, Nakuru are both great spots that we go to often. Kakamega is a wonderful rainforest, we had a great trip there. The Mara is the Mara, a must really for it's huge open savannahs and rolling hills.

The homestay element sounds perfectly do-able and not too much like tourists come to gawp at African scenario. Actually I should think the community benefit from it enormously as it is probably a community run project. What I would say though about this trip, is it's not for the faint-hearted. It's quite a lot of miles in a short space of time and the home stay may be an eye opener in terms of facilities and hygiene. It also doesn't say what the other accommodation is. So you may have to prepare yourself for 'rustic'.

What I do like about this safari is that, yes, you do get to see Kenya and elements of what make it a great country, rather than flying in and being bused straight to a game park and fancy lodge, busing straight back to another hotel then bused to the beach. So overall I'd give it the thumbs up.

Hope that helps a little.

Thank you - that is very helpful!

Have you heard of MADUKHA TOURS? They have the Head Office in Africa but a UK office, and have also just given us some competitive quotes for safari + beach, but I am now quite taken with the Neilson tour....

No I have not heard of them sorry, but there are so many nowadays. Somak is an oldie but reliable, you could try them. We are at the beach right now and it is rather incredible even if I say so myself.

We went with the Travel Collection a fair few years ago for 1000 each all inclusive - it was on a deal though obviously but they have some really good deals for safari + coast sometimes.

TheMasterandMargaritas: I sooo envy you that beach! We have just been given a quote from a local agent using Somak. I had never heard of them before, but the safari looks amazing. Now I just have to polish up my persuading skills to get DH to agree to us actually spending this sort of money

BTW - are Kenyan Airlines good to fly with?

Thanks Zombishambles - I will go check out their website too :)

We went to Kenya with Neilson this summer - although it was a beach/sailing/windsurfing holiday which we broke up with a three day safari.

Can't remember the cost, but I'm sure it was nearer to 10k than 14k!

Tbh, I found the safari rather too long - very tiring and you spend hours getting to and from the park - fantastic, though.

This sort of activity holiday was ideal for us as we also can't sit on a beach for two weeks - and your DCs are old enough to make the most of the instruction and facilities available.

for your money you could go to Zambia and Malawi!
I live in Malawi
You could fly to Livingstone in Zambia and see Victoria Falls then go to Lower Zambia and canoe down the river for a few days and get very close to wildlife, the hippos and elephants come right next to the canoes.After go to South Luangwa National Park which is one of my favorites in Africa if you want to see lions and leopards. Then go to Malawi and have some time on Lake Malawi having a few days in a lodge and a few days on a private catamaran visiting some of the islands in the lake for snorkelling.

We went for our siolver wedding anniversary special holiday 2 years ago, and Basecamp Tanzania booked everything for us. We had a private safari in Tanzania, staying in good quality lodges, 3 days in Zanzibar and 4 days on Chumbe Island - heaven on earth, that cost us just under 7K - Basecamp Tanzania is run by an amazing man called Ahmed Phillips who is a German/Brummie and married to a Tanzanian lady - see their reviews on Trip Advisor. they do camping safaris too if lodges are over budget and our driver, Thomas, was lovely and an absoloute fountain of knowledge about the animals and birds.

Well, we have booked!

With a lot of shopping around and negotiating we have a 7 night safari taking in the Aberdares, Samburu, Lakes Nakuru & Naivasha, 2 nights at the Masai Mara, all in 4*+ camps & lodges, follwed by 5 nights All Inclusive at a beach resort in Mombassa, for £2028pp, :)

Now I just have to sort vaccinations, Visas and Insurance.

Yay, I am soooo excited

NannyAfrica: We did look at Victoria Falls etc, as I had seen canoeing trips. They look fab and may be something I try another year when it is just DH & me, as paying for 4 of us made it out of out budget.

Our relatives also rave about Tanznia.

The world is just sooo big!

I am just so glad we have been able to book to see part of Africa.

How fabulous. I'm sure you will have a lovely time. Let me know if you have any questions closer to the time.

Tanzania is wonderful, in fact there is so much to see and do in Africa, that is the beauty of this continent.

Thank you - I am sure I will have loads of questions :)

Just heard the Kenyan Visa is going up from $25 to $50 in January, but we cannot buy more than 3m in advance so will just have to pay that. Although, in the overall cost of the holiday that is very small. Suppose they too have a budget deficit to manage

Hi the best way is to get your visa at Nairobi airport when you arrive rather then get it before you go.You just hand over the form that they give you on the plane and your $50 you don't need passport photos

Actually nanny, to be honest it is much better to get it in advance because the queues at immigration are horrendously long. If you already have your visa it really takes the pain out of a long wait after a long flight!

They reduced the price from $50 to $25 to encourage more tourism then got annoyed that it wasn't reciprocated by the brits in terms of visa payments for UK entry, so it's going back up again, frankly it's highly likely to go down again so I wouldn't apply for a visa too early on....

I was at Nairobi airport 2 weeks ago and the people that had already got visas had to queue with the people who did not. It took around 20mins.
You all have to wait for your luggage anyway which took 50 mins to arrive.
I dont like sending my passport in the post and having to pay for passport photo if I get it before I go. Photos are not needed if you get it on arrival.

Hope you have a great time - it sounds like a fabulous itinerary!