Hiking Mt. Kenya and an African Safari

[Deleted]

Anybody been/done either? Any recommendations for tour guides?

I'm aiming for the fall of this year.

Thx for your help!

[Artemis Windsong]

What kind of safari?

For hiking, you could reference Outside Magazine or National Geographic travel.

[Deleted]

Animal sight-seeing. Not a hunting safari!

[Artemis Windsong]

Try searching for photographic safari and hiking Kenya.

If you can find out which airline flies there, their website might have suggestions on package deals.

Be sure the check any travel advisories for countries you will be going through.

[pinkbow832]

Strangely enough, I've seen a few groupons for safaris lately. I even read an article (I think in NY Times) about a company that offered safari groupons and interviewed people that bought/used them. They all agreed that it was a great trip and pretty good deal. I'm not sure if that's what you're looking for, but the same companies probably do other tours for reasonable(ish) prices as well.

[Opti]

Jan 27, 2013 19:14:20 GMT -5 @bonnap said:

Anybody been/done either? Any recommendations for tour guides?

I'm aiming for the fall of this year.

Thx for your help!

Sounds very cool. Haven't done either but visiting Kenya has
been on my massive travel list since 2010. Speaking to yet
another man from Kenya he recommended going with a Kenyan.


Not sure if he was flirting or not, but he did suggest finding a good tour or tour guides with the best being going with a Kenyan local
to your area. Translation: Since I am in the NJ/NY Metro area someone originally from Kenya living and working here would
have great insight on how to plan a trip that I would enjoy possibly
better than something I would create myself after lots of research.


(Lots of folks from Africa at my PT job including one of the male RNs.)

[mmhmm]

It's been too many years since I've been there, I'm afraid.  I don't even remember the name of the guide service we used, but I sure couldn't complain about it.  It's a great trip and I know you'll really enjoy it.

[Deleted]

I have no help but I do want to say what an awesome adventure I think it would be! Congratulations and I hope you have a wonderful time!!!

[thyme4change]

A guy I used to work with went on a private hunting trip. His pictures are amazing!

[Deleted]

Thanks for the feedback guys!

Part of the reason for taking the trip is that our wonderful friends whom we met in Bonn (actually they rented the house we wanted out from under us; that's how we met! ) are now part of the embassy detail in Nairobi. I'd like to kill three birds with one stone; see them, climb (really trek) Mt. Kenya, and do an African Safari. Turns out their son's 9th grade class just hiked Mt. Kenya last week and I can't wait to hear all about it.

I started this thread because some of the posters here have gone on some fantastic trips. I'll get my Lonely Planet guide too but I love hearing about first hand experiences!

 

[unrepentant_spendthrift]

I grew up less than 20 miles from the base camp for climbing Mt Kenya, and worked there in high school as a guide /porter. Climbed to the lowest of the three peaks several times and definitely one of the best experiences of my life to date.. I haven't been back in over 20 years but I still have family that work for/ with the tour companies there and they offer packages that include a two/ three day climb with a three/four day safari at Tsavo National Park or Maasai Mara. Sounds like exactly what you are looking for. You could include a couple of nights in Nairobi at either the beginning or end of the trip and meet with your friends. I'd avoid the big tourism companies with their fixed packages coz one size does not fit all and find one of the smaller but reputable companies that are more willing to tailor the trip to your individual needs. Currently there is a State dept advisory against traveling to the area because of upcoming elections in March and the associated risks of violence but in the fall you should be just fine. The warning from the Embassy is very mildly worded, more like "hey, keep your eyes open" than anything else. Hope you have fun if and when you do go..

[Deleted]

Unrepentant,

Thanks for your post! I sent you a PM.