Madhu Hegde

Hi,
We (two of us) are planning to visit Kenya from Sept 29th to Oct
10th. We requested quotes from different providers for 10 day Safari
and the lowest quote is $1690 per person (airfair to Kenya not
included) and the itinerary attached below. Please ket us know if the
price is reasonable.

Thanks and Regards,
Madhu

DAY 1 NAIROBI, THE STANLEY HOTEL
DAY 2 SAMBURU GAME RESERVE, SAMBURU SERENA LODGE
DAY 3 SAMBURU GAME RESERVE, SAMBURU SERENA LODGE
DAY 4 ABERDARE NATIONAL PARK, THE ARK
DAY 5 LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK, LION HILL LODGE
DAY 6 MASAI MARA GAME RESERVE, SAROVA MARA LUXURY TENTED LODGE
DAY 7 MASAI MARA GAME RESERVE, SAROVA MARA LUXURY TENTED LODGE
DAY 8 MASAI MARA GAME RESERVE, SAROVA MARA LUXURY TENTED LODGE
DAY 9 AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK, OL TUKAI LODGE
DAY 10 AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK, OL TUKAI LODGE
DAY 11 HOMEWARD BOUND

Tour is inclusive :
1. 1 nights' bed & breakfast accommodation.
2. 9 nights' full board (lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and breakfast)
accommodation.
3. Pick up, drop off from, to Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International
Airport.
4. Transport in and private use of a 7 seater safari vehicle for the
Kenyan safari sector.
5. Services and allowances of an English speaking driver guide.
6. Game drives as indicated.
7. Park entrance fees for the clients.
8. Park entrance fees for the vehicle and driver guide.
9. "Welcome to Africa" lunch for 2 pax at Anghiti Restaurant,
courtesy African Bush Excursions.
10. 1 liter of mineral water per person per day while on safari.
11. All ground handling and representation.

Dave Patterson

At first, I was tempted to believe that you (Madhu) might be
connected to the Tour Operator who put together your trip,
putting this in the newsgroup to stimulate some business.
It is a very, very low price for such a comprehensive itinerary,
even considering that it is an all-driving trip. I still think
this may be what this is all about. May be.
Sorry if I am truly wrong and offending you, but it does happen.

Then, I did the costing for your itinerary, as if I were providing
the trip - since I happen to be a Tour Operator, too. And it is
possible to sell it at that price and make a little (very little) if
they
basically figure their van & driver cost at about $90 a day.
Which is so unrealistic that I find it all very hard to believe.

I guess my comment would be, that if you do indeed have this trip
as the terms and conditions suggest, that no other clients
will be traveling with you:

    > Transport in and private use of a 7 seater safari vehicle for the
    > Kenyan safari sector.
Then it is remarkable. I couldn't be surprised if they add others
to your van, but perhaps this is a special itinerary that they are
not offering to others. I don't see it among the itineraries they
show on their web site.

As for the properties involved, all are just fine. I use Lion Hill and
Mara Sarova and Samburu Serena and the Ark in itineraries.
The Stanley was refurbished a few years ago, very comfortable place.
Ol Tukai is also OK.

I suggest a minimum tip for your driver of $300 (total for the 2 of you)

and more if you can afford it. This is really how driver/guides earn
enough income to make it.

Madhu Hegde

Dave,
Thanks for your suggestion. I am a full time computer engineer in US
and have zero knowledge/intention of running a Safari operation in
Kenya. The quote is from a local operator in Kenya and probably his
profit margins are much lower than US/UK based tour operators. I will
go ahead with the booking :)

Thanks,
Madhu

Dave Patterson

wrote:

    > Dave,
    > Thanks for your suggestion. I am a full time computer engineer in US
    > and have zero knowledge/intention of running a Safari operation in
    > Kenya. The quote is from a local operator in Kenya and probably his
    > profit margins are much lower than US/UK based tour operators. I will
    > go ahead with the booking :)

And you will have a fantastic trip. That's a great time to visit Kenya
and I promise it will be more rewarding than you could ever imagine.
Your operator has created a very good itinerary - be good-natured
about some of the long drives between lodges and you should have
absolutely no problems.

Rita Daggett

<> wrote in message ..
    > We (two of us) are planning to visit Kenya from Sept 29th to Oct
    > 10th. We requested quotes from different providers for 10 day Safari
    > and the lowest quote is $1690 per person (airfair to Kenya not
    > included) and the itinerary attached below. Please ket us know if the
    > price is reasonable.

snip
    > 6. Game drives as indicated.
Just a warning - check how many game drives ARE included, and also whether
you have any flexibility (if you really are on your own) about when you take
them.