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Kenya - where should I go?! |
 Posted: Mon May 5, 2008 8:55 pm |
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| Heya,
basically I'm flying into Nairobi on the 6th August and need to be in Dar es Salaam on the 10th August (it was a bunch cheaper to fly to nairobi!) I could go there directly on a 13 hour bus, but I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions on where I could stop off in Kenya on the way? Anywhere south of Nairobi really worth seeing? I'd really appreciate any help you guys could give me! Ceri x |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 211 Posts |
| Posted: Mon May 5, 2008 9:45 pm |
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| Where are you going from Dar? Personally, I would go on a quick tour of either the Masai Mara from Nairobi or the Serengeti and Ngorogoro Crater from Arusha in Tanzania. Either is an amazing wildlife experience and well worth it even if you're going to be going on safari further south in Africa.
If you go to the Mara, you will probably have to go back to Nairobi but this will allow you to get a good express bus to Dar or Arusha. |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 2473 Posts |
| Posted: Mon May 5, 2008 10:37 pm |
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| Definitely head to the Mara - you can find many tour companies in Nairobi offering great value trips there, with camping and food included. I spent 3 nights there and it was one of the best parts of my trip. Make sure you have a good supply of batteries for your camera - you'll use it tons!
Another place to go, which sadly I didn't make it to, is Lake Magadi, where there are hot springs and some more great wildlife. To be honest, if you work your way down the Great Rift Valley, you will not be short of things to do and see. There's plenty of wild animals just wandering along by the roads - I saw more zebra and giraffe getting to Mara than when I was there! Have an amazing time! xxx |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 1537 Posts |
| Posted: Tue May 6, 2008 10:00 am |
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| Cheers for that guys! From Dar I'm heading to Zanzibar, then Arusha and the Ngorongoro crater or Serengeti. The great rift valley in kenya looks amazing though, would I be able to do a day trip or anything from Nairobi, or a 1 night stay? If all else fails I'm flying back from Nairobi so can see it on my way back.
Cheers! xx |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 211 Posts |
| Posted: Tue May 6, 2008 12:13 pm |
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Mara is AMAZING!! went on safari there, best thing i ever done!!  |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 516 Posts |
| Posted: Tue May 6, 2008 1:13 pm |
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| I'm not sure about daytrips. There's a wildlife park just outside Nairobi but I'm not sure it's much cop. I went and visited Lake Nivasha and the Hells Gate National Park for a few days, which I really enjoyed. I hired a bike and headed into the park, it's one of the only national parks you can go into on foot, I saw zebra, giraffe, warthog and the geothermal springs. By the lake I saw loads of birds and hippo.
There are other lakes further north that have huge wildlife populations and provide quite a contrast from the Mara and Serengeti. There's loads of tour companies that can take you to some of these lakes for a couple of days. A friend works out there with THIS tour company. I don't know how they compare with others but you may find their website useful for ideas. He's a photographer and you might be interested to take a look at some of his wildlife photos |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 2473 Posts |
| Posted: Tue May 6, 2008 2:09 pm |
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| hey there
I went with who M Garrat mentioned above (wild connection safari's) and would thoroughly recommend them - i went with them last aug/sept time for the migration and it was one of the best few weeks of my life! i wanna go back! |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 76 Posts |
| Posted: Tue May 6, 2008 2:38 pm |
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| Oh - while you're in Nairobi you MUST go to Carnivore restaurant!! It's near the Wilson Airport - the matatu number 15 should take you there.
It's amazing! I lived not far from there and went there twice. You will never forget your carnivore experience. And vegetarianism is no excuse - I went with a vegetarian who decided that it was worth trying it. While you're there you should try the Dawa (medicine) cocktail. It's delicious. There's also a great club there, so you can dance away all the meat you consume. |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 1537 Posts |
| Posted: Tue May 6, 2008 2:44 pm |
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| Cheers for that alexandra_q2, i'll check it out! What did you think of Nairobi? I've heard it's got a bit of a reputation, I've travelled quite a lot on my own but this will be my first time in africa. Will i get much hassle?
cheers! x |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 211 Posts |
| Posted: Wed May 7, 2008 9:41 am |
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| I found Nairobi quite like any other bustling city. Everyone is going about their business and not really veery interested in you at all. I stayed in Nairobi Backpackers, which is quite a nice friendly place, a little ramshackled but within walking distance of the city centre (about 3/4 mile?). The hotel/bar/brothel next door is a convenient place for a drink. I didn't walk into or back from town after dark, I always got a taxi to be on the safe side. The city centre didn't feel dangerous by day or by night, and generally felt like a pleasant multicultural place to be. This was in 2005, before any of the recent troubles. | |
| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 2473 Posts |
| Posted: Wed May 7, 2008 10:56 am |
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| I didn't have any hassle in Nairobi that was unpleasant or menacing. You will probably get lots of men approaching you and giving you their telephone number/email address. Be friendly about it. They don't mean any harm.
I wouldn't advise walking alone at night, but having said that, I ended up getting lost one evening and a nice lady offered to walk me to where I needed to be. I was offered to be escorted all over the place, which was really helpful at times! If this happens, and it is a man that you walk with, don't be freaked out when crossing busy roads, if he holds your hand. I'm not sure why, but it seems that Kenyans like to hold hands crossing roads - at least in my experience. 
There are some awesome clubs in Nairobi - my favourites are called Jam Rescue, and K1. The music scene is huge there, and you'll fall in love with the music. I was living in a house, not a hostel when I was in Africa so I can't give you much advice on where to stay, but if you meet some nice Kenyans who offer to have you stay, I would recommend you do so. With taking taxis, make sure you agree on a price before you depart. As a guide, it cost me around 1500 shillings to travel from the airport to where I was staying (around a 25 minute journey). If you want, check out some of the photos I took when I was in Kenya: Album One Album Two Album Three Album Four Album Five Album Six Album Seven |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 1537 Posts |
| Posted: Wed May 7, 2008 12:06 pm |
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| Beautiful photographs. I didn't know you were such an accomplished photographer. |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 5561 Posts |
| Posted: Wed May 7, 2008 12:11 pm |
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Heya,
basically I'm flying into Nairobi on the 6th August and need to be in Dar es Salaam on the 10th August (it was a bunch cheaper to fly to nairobi!) I could go there directly on a 13 hour bus, but I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions on where I could stop off in Kenya on the way? Anywhere south of Nairobi really worth seeing? I'd really appreciate any help you guys could give me! Ceri x Head to Masai Mara for safari. As it is August, you may be lucky to watch migration of Wildebeest and Zebra across Mara river. I am planning to stay 3 weeks in Mara from late August to mid September, just to watch migration. Another option is a short flight to Lamu - an uncrowded Zanzibar experience in Kenya. |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 5561 Posts |
| Posted: Wed May 7, 2008 5:48 pm |
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Beautiful photographs. I didn't know you were such an accomplished photographer.
Awww, thanks. I wouldn't call myself a photographer, but I like to take photos. |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 1537 Posts |
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