Travel Answers

I was hoping to do a 5d/4n Safari with my adult daughter Dec 30-Jan 3,2013. Safari is on my bucket list and since we will be in Ethiopia for wedding I thought it would be an ideal opportunity. I been communicating with Safari provider on Trip Advisor but recently have become concerned about two women traveling alone with driver/guide and about general safety in the region. Can Trip Advisor reviews be trusted? Is the risk worth the reward? Is there a better way to identify a safari co? Any words of wisdom? Suggestions ? Warnings? What percautions should we take in advance? Help! I'm working myself into anxiety.

Hello I posted previously and received some great feedback from members of the forum. Well it is now getting closer to the time of my travel so I look for some more recent feedback and reviews. Has the security situation in Kenya / Nairobi changed? I have timetables for travelling by bus now so this is all fine. I am staying at Meltonia Luxury suites in Nairobi. does anyone have any knowledge of this accomodation, its location and its safety? Is travelling overland by bus from Nairobi to Tanzania classed as safe for travellers and specifically white travellers? Is it safe for me to walk around Nairobi (using common sense approach to my image - no watches, jewellery and bags on display!) I am very excited to visit Kenya now and of course Tanzania. I will be making the return journey ten days later so advice both ways will be good. Is Nairobi expensive? is there anything I definitely should look to see and do and definitely not? Looked at the safari but I have three day safari in tanzania so this is not that important.

Can anyone advise if there is an airport hotel actually at the airport. I have a friend who will be transiting there en route to U.S. from Uganda, she is a young woman whose inbound flight arrives at 8:00 p.m. with an 8:00 a.m. next morning connection. She is very nervous about taking a taxi into town on her own. If there is no hotel on the airport site, would it be safe for her to wait overnight in the airport? Many thanks.

Hello, My wife and I have been working for the last couple of months in Nairobi. We've been able to get out of Nairobi on some weekends and have experienced Lake Naivasha, Umani Springs near Tsavo, and sites within Nairobi (Elephant Orphanage, Giraffe Center, etc). At the end of August (about the 22nd to the 28th) we are looking to see more of the country. My wife has done a safari in the mara in the past, so we are considering trying something new and hiking up Mt. Kenya. I'm wondering if 6 days is enough for Mt. Kenya. If so, is it better to select and pay for a trip ahead of time or is it better to purchase a trek upon arrival at the base? We heard that it would be less expensive to purchase a trip at the base. If 6 days is not enough, what would people suggest we do? Safari, a great beach somewhere, other hikes worth doing? Thanks for any info! David

Hi there, I'm new to VT and I did see this previous post about someone travelling from Nairobi to Arusha: lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/t... (I hope it's a good trip, because I'm going to be doing the same!) I'm looking to rent a car however, with pick up in Nairobi and drop off in Arusha. I'm having difficulty finding a good company to rent from -- I know I'll need a 4x4, but the main problem is finding a company that will let me do cross-border drop offs. Does anyone have any recommendations for a good rental company? Thank you!

Hi. I am climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in January and rather than fly direct, I have opted to be a little more adventurous. I am flying directly to Nairobi 5 days before the climb. Wondered whether it is worth doing anything in Kenya before heading to Tanzania. Also how easy it will be for us to travel from Kenya to Tanzania and the safety associated it with it. Been to many countires and cities but never any in East Africa. Thanks

Dear Vter's, I'm planning for a trip to Nairobi & Masai Mara in August. I need reply on following: 1) Masai Mara reserve fees is USD 70/night. Is it payable for each night of stay or one time online. we are spending 2 nights in reserve. I've checked website of Narok city council, as per that "Daily fees” means fee for one day/ twenty four hours or thereof continuous stay within a specified site in the Maasai Game Reserve. Is that means we've to pay total USD 70 for our stay, as we will stay inside Reserve and making only 1 entry. Please confirm. 2) We are group of 6 persons with 2 children, looking forward to arrange transportation facility by ourselves, instead of tour package, in order to do things as per our convinience. Any recommendations. 3) Our flight is reaching 2.30 am to Nairobi. Is it safe to start driving for Masai Mara around 4.30am/5.00am in the morning. Thanks in advance. regards Nilin

Stupid question but I'll be traveling to Tanzania via Kenya in July. I arrive in the middle of the night (3am) and will be traveling by bus to Tanzania leaving at (5am). Are the restaurants in the airport open at that hour or is anything open in town? Also, I'll have 2 days to spend in Nairobi on the way back, any suggestions on things to see while we're there? Thanks!

I am traveling solo in Oct for 22 days. I'll be flying into NBO then crossing the border to Tanzania. I was wondering if any solo travelers have had used a single Tour Operator on a combined Safari tour including Tanzania. I am having great difficulty trying to find a reliable tour operator that I could join a camping safari tour. I don't want to go on a private safari traveling only with a driver and a cook, too expensive and frankly I'd rather be around other people for the safari experience. I have been quoted private safaris because the operators told me they don't have a group at this time. I thought about waiting until I get to NBO to look for a Tour Operator, but after researching I opted out decided to pre book the safaris from the US. I have noticed that the majority of the tours are targeted to tourists that like to stay in lodges or high-end properties. I am tentatively planning to book a 3-day camping safari tour with a local tour operator from NBO, then return back to NBO and stay 1-2 days to break the trip. Then go to Arusha and go with a local tour operator for a 7-day camping safari to Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire. My other options was to go a 12 day camping safari from NBO and ending in Arusha, then fly to ZNZ for 4 days. I would like to know if anybody went on a combined or two separate safaris, and how was the experience. I am trying to decide what would be the most practical and cost effective

Hi, I plan on going there for the summer to do some voluntary work. How is the safety there? (considering is mostly a slum area) What are the main dos and donts? Anything else worth mentioning, please do!!!

Hi, hope someone can help!! I'm off volunteering in Nairobi area in may and need some advice on what to take! I know to take long trousers and tshirts for the days when on the project, but what is acceptable to wear if we go out in the evenings? Some sights say its very casual but others say really dress up!!! Any help/advice would be HUGELY appreciated!!! Many thanks! From a very confused welsh woman!!!!!! :)

Could anybody recommend me a good relaxation spa (for female and male) and hairdresser (for asian / western hair) in Nairobi?

I have a free day in Nairobi prior to joining a safari. Anyone recommend a reputable company I can hire a car and driver for the day? If you have an email for them thats even better. Thanks. Jim

Hello, I was just on the government site that has a warning about traveling in parts of Kenya. Should I be worried for the students, they are there to help build a school. They will be traveling from the airport stoping over for one night then off to thier destination-Nairobi. Thank you so much for any information you may be able to offer.

can i get a morning bus from nairobi to kitale,mu flight arrves at 7 so i should be good for 10 o clock and after been to nairobi last year for 4 days and only fly in there thanks benen

CAN ANYONE SUGGEST AN ACCOMODATION OPTION IN THE SUBURB OF KAREN, NAIROBI?? IF NOT, SUGGESTIONS FOR A NIGHT'S PRE SAFARI ACCOMODATION PRIOR TO DEPARTING FOR SAFARI

Hi everyone. I will be in Nairobi for a business trip in November and will have a full day off after the meeting finishes. I would like to utilize that day and visit Nairobi National Park. I googled a bit and found a few operators. But none of them are quoting prices for one-day safaris. And I obviously also don't know, which ones are reliable. Would appreciate your help.

Finding conflicting information for if we need the Yellow Fever Vaccine certificate. We are flying from the United States with a connecting flight in Addis Ababa Ethiopia and then on to Nairobi Kenya. It is only 2 hours between flights and we are not leaving the airport. Will this count as visiting a Yellow Fever area before arriving in Kenya? Has anyone else arrived in Kenya this way and did you require a certificate? Thanks for any help you can give us.

How long will it take to self-drive from Mombasa to Nairobi?

My husband and I are planning a safari the end of Suptember 2011. Does anyone have any input on Liberty Tours. We are planning on taking their 7 day safari. Thanks

I want to send some money to a friend in Mombasa via M-pesa. I live in the UK and have searched and searched to register my mobile phone. I even contacted the provider. Does anyone have any ideas or information on how to register? Thanks a bundle.

Hi We're coming to Nairobi in a fortnight and would be grateful for recommendations on a nice restaurant for an evening meal on a Thursday evening. No particular preference for type of cuisine and it doesn't need to be excessively upmarket: we're looking for nice ambience, great food, icy cold beer and good value for money. We'll be staying at the Upperhill Country Lodge, so anything reasonably close would be a bonus! P.S. Not The Carnivore please - we've already got one of our own in Johannesburg! Regards Cathy

Hi My turn to ask a question (rather than answering them)! My husband has to go up to Kenya on business in the next few weeks, and as one job has expanded into two, he has suggested that I do some research on what we could do as an 'adults only' long weekend from Nairobi. We are superannuated budget travellers at heart, but are prepared to push the boat out a little for this one. We love being in the bush - game spotting and spectacular landscapes really light our candle - and were wondering how feasible it might be to get to Ngorongoro in that time frame? However, that's only one idea, and we're open to all sorts of other suggestions in the region. The floor's yours ... so suggest away! Regards Cathy

Hi All, We ( a team of 4 adults and 2 children) are planning for a Kenya trip this Aug end. I would like to have a safari trip originating at Nairobi for Masai Mara and ultimately ending at Mombassa. Is this possible ? Has anyone have similar experiences? If so, can you kindly provide me the link/contacts for the organizer? We have about 4-5 days for this trip and would be going on luxury terms/ but with mostly basic comforts. All suggestions are welcome. Thanks in advance.

I would like to travel from lusaka to nairobi by bus,Is there a service that plys this route.And if so how much do they charge?

Hello. My travel companion and I had the misfortune of having a trip planned to Egypt the 1st two weeks of April. Current events speak for themselves. Our main focus of the trip was to participate in a Habitat for Humanity build. Obviously they have thrown in the towel on that and are offering to move the team to Kenya. I believe it will be somewhere outside of Nairobi. From what I understand April is the rainy season but what does that mean? Short bursts of rain with nice weather inbetween or am I destined to work in the mud? I need to make a decision soon whether to join this team or look into another location in the world. Thank you for any help you can provide

Hi, is anyone traveling to Nairobi anytime in October from Southern California?

Can you suggest good/honest tour operators to Nairobi's National Park?

I will be in Nairobi for 42 days between Dec and Mid Jan 2011 and would like to rent a car for the period of my stay. Does anyone know a reasonably affordable company within Nairobi area? Thanks in advance

I wonder if anyone has ever tried the "Two Star Safaris" company. Has anybody been to a safari with this company? How satisfied were you? I cannot find any information on TripAdvisor but I want the opinion of somebody who has really been on a safari with them. Please don't give me names of other safari companies. I have many, but I just need to know about this specific one. Thanks so much