Thanks
I am going to Nairobi for a business trip and am contemplating spending one night in Masai Mara camp. As I am traveling on my own, female, I was wondering whether anyone has been there and would recommend and advise in terms of safety and disease risks.
You will be safe there, just don't wear flashy jewelry when walking around Nairobi.
Thanks Vegan Chef. How about the camps in the south. Any chance of malaria there'
I went there last year. I'm not female and wasn't on my own most of the time so it's hard to give an accurate opinion.
Nairobi is a busy, big city and I reckon you'll get the same amount of grief as any tourist - ie not much. Just ignore people trying to sell you package tours for safari.
It's very hard to get a permit and drive yourself in the Maasai Mara so you'll need to join a tour. I think, from having seen some of the people in jeeps passing us when we were there, that there are quite a few solo travellers going in a group on safari. The lodges are like up-market hotels and the main problem you'll have is boredom if everyone else pairs off.
I didn't take any vaccinations (but I'm at the tail end of some of the more useful ones such as dyptheria, typhoid, Hep A). Malaria isn't a problem in that area. Different if you hit the coast (eg Mombasa).
Some useful advice here, perhaps: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/kenya
Steps of precaution which any traveller should undertake is always good thing.
Don't shine jewelry and carry purse or any valuable electronics to be easy target in populated areas, avoid dodgy looking places and contacts with suspicious individuals. Consult doctor about medication prior visit few weeks before hand: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinat...ler/none/kenya
You should take malaria pills before you go there and for a few days after you leave Kenya they will cost you about 150CHF
Ask your local doctor
Thanks Adrian. That's useful. A friend of mine who had been there suggested to arrange the camp via a hotel and this hotel send me the package. It looks good but like you say, I wondered if I will get bored if the only thing you do is a game drive. That said, it seems like a new experience and as it's only one day, I thought I'd survive the boredom.
My main concern is the malaria. I got the proper vaccinations but not keen on taking malaria medications if I don't need it. The camp suggested is not on the coast. Its in Massai Mara.
Thanks everyone. Not an easy decision. The easiest and safe would be to go for the meetings and head back to Zürich but then the little voice says, why not, take the jump and enjoy the ride...
never taken malaria tabs in Kenya and been on safari there. You apparently get malaria side effects with them so.............
And only notable issue was the dead guy in the swimming pool. Pills and booze.
take lots of biros and notepads for the kids
That's comforting
don't worry, they took him out of the pool 16 years ago. You can do laps again now.
Over the last 15 yrs I have visited Kenya four times and always taken tablets as a precautionary measure against Malaria with very little side effects. Mosquitoes do not abide by border control.
On a happier note one thing I do suggest is to visit the Aberedare Country Club in which the Ark is part of the complex.
I flew with a DC3 from Nairobi to Masia Mara and stayed one night in log cabins. You are up before dawn to see the wild life.
I recommend seeing your doctor and getting every shot you can. I have been 3 times to Kenya since 1968, but would never go again. Each time was worse, with the whole country crumbling. The busses and taxis had bald tyres and no lights due to lack of money.
Be very very careful with hygiene. Do NOT drink the "boiled" water some hotels provide. I was seriously ill after my last visit and spent a week in isolation hospital on my return, was off work for 6 weeks and it took 6 months to fully recover from an "unknown virus" - and I was careful...
I spent 3 nights in the Masai Mara alone. I had my own driver and once I made it clear to him that I wasn't looking for a man it was fine. I'd go for it as long as it's arranged through an agent and you are accompanied all the way.
I went mainly to experience the Wildebeest migration, booked an all inclusive hotel for a week and then flew to the camp. I'd never do it again as I had a very lonely time at the main hotel, none of the other woman guests would talk to me as they thought I was looking for male company.
I was based outside Mombasa and this probably made a difference.
Thanks all. I am back safe and sound. I took the vaccines but did not take malaria medication. I decided against going to Masai mara but did go to lake Nakuru. I'm not a great fan of zoo but seeing the animals in their natural habitat was a different experience bu may be once is enough for me. Amazing scenery though and so far no regrets of going. [](https://www.englishforum.ch/attachments/general-off-topic/65541d1373480275-anyone-been-kenya-imageuploadedbytapatalk1373480273.714726.jpg)
Lake Nakuru is good, although I didn't manage to see the huge mass of flamingos I was expecting / told about.
I really enjoyed the island in Lake Naivasha, where you can walk around with the animals (no lions or other predators, for rather obvious reasons).