Archive for General

Conservancy Versus Reserve : You Decide ! - by Jackie Sheehan

Posted on 29/07/10, filed under General, Kenya, Kenya Safari | No Comments If you havent been to Kenya or indeed on safari before then let me tell you that when you do take the plunge and book your trip of a lifetime , you are sure to fall in love with one of the most breathtaking and memorable  experiences you are ever going to have . If like me you are not an avid game watcher or you are not sure what… read the rest of “Conservancy Versus Reserve : You Decide ! - by Jackie Sheehan”

Kenyan Safari Experience -Brendan Prendergast

Posted on 22/07/10, filed under General, Kenya, Kenya Safari | No Comments From the time we hopped off the plane I knew we were in good hands. Ben’s smiling face welcomed us at the airport and soon we were weaving our way through Nairobi’s busy streets … soaking in the atmosphere from our 4x4. We couldn’t believe our luck as when we literally entered our first game park, a pregnant cheetah was relaxing in the shade! Another  highlight of our safari was one particular “sundowner”. The guides set up… read the rest of “Kenyan Safari Experience -Brendan Prendergast”

Porini Camps -Yvonne Fitzgerald Knott

Posted on 19/07/10, filed under Customer Feedback, General, Kenya, Kenya Safari | No Comments On the 15th of June myself and 5 of my colleagues flew to the Masai Mara as part of our trip around Kenya. We flew from Wilson airport in Nairobi to the Mara in just 1 hour where we were met by 2 masai Warriors in a safari vehicle ready to transport us to mara porini camp. The transfer took about an hour. On arrival we were greeted by David… read the rest of “Porini Camps -Yvonne Fitzgerald Knott”

Lake Nakuru and the Lodgings - Karen Andrews

Posted on 15/07/10, filed under General, Kenya, Kenya Safari | No Comments We arrived into Lake Nakuru National Park in the evening after a long but scenically fascinating drive and were barely through the gates when we came across a lion kill. A lion, with cubs, had killed a zebra and we got close for an excellent photo opportunity. I had heard so much about the lake before my visit and I was not disappointed, the flamingos on the lake are an amazing… read the rest of “Lake Nakuru and the Lodgings - Karen Andrews”

Etosha National Park, Namibia

Posted on 15/07/10, filed under General | No Comments Namibia is a safari with a difference; it offers more than just your 'normal' safari with animals around every corner at every destination you visit.   Namibia's signature destination is the Namib Desert which offers some amazingly different, contrasting landscapes from towering dunes in the South-West to ancient volcanic and metamorphic mountain ranges in the North-West. If animals are your priority, where can you go in Namibia to see herds of herbivores… read the rest of “Etosha National Park, Namibia”

Namibia -Part 2 by Warwick Blow

Posted on 02/05/10, filed under General | No Comments Most of the roads leaving Windhoek quickly turn from tar to dirt and within a few short miles the city slicker becomes a pioneer. Namibia is a country that perfectly fits the old adage of “life’s a journey, enjoy the ride”, for here the journey is as important as the destination. � Of the 26,000 miles of roads in Namibia , only 3,400 miles are tarred. The rest of the roads are… read the rest of “Namibia -Part 2 by Warwick Blow”

The Likone Ferry and how to avoid it …

Posted on 11/04/10, filed under General | No Comments

If you are travelling to the beach resorts of Diani south of Mombasa, you can either fly into Mombasa usually by charter or into Nairobi and south to Mombasa. Alternatively, you can choose an internal Kenya Airways flight. It was the latter route that we took.

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Walking Safaris ….

Posted on 11/04/10, filed under General | No Comments

A walking safari is a great experience in Kenya. We enjoyed two on our last trip to the Masai Mara where we stayed in two excellent Porini camps. The first walk was just the four of us at Mara Porini, the second was a group of 8. We had two Masaii guards, a game warden who has a gun, but

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Useful information for Kenya

Posted on 13/01/10, filed under General | No Comments
  • Currency used is mainly shillings, you can take GBP or Dollars to exchange. They no longer accept travellers cheques but cards are fine. If you use Dollars then make sure the series number is after the year 2000 as anything before then will not be excepted.
  • Tips: 100-200 shillings for porters etc and 300-500 shillings per day for Game rangers that take you on safari.
  • All pools close at 6pm in the big
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Shanti Holistic Resort

Posted on 13/01/10, filed under General | No Comments This hotel has just been taken over by the same guys that run Gazi and The cove.  At the moment it is more of a single ladies getaway but from 2010 this hotel is going to be another great addition to this group of retreats. It will still offer free Yoga in the morning and evening and the Spa will still be available for use at an extra charge but it will… read the rest of “Shanti Holistic Resort”

Currency Exchange

Posted on 26/08/09, filed under General | No Comments
Planning a vacation and the currency exchange
The yearly vacation is an event everyone gets excited about, but planning a holiday in another part of the world can be overwhelming at times unless you’re organized and have done some research. The travel budget is always a challenge. Getting a handle on the various costs of things can be an exercise in patience. The currency exchange system is a bit of a
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When is the Best Time for Safari?

Posted on 10/08/09, filed under General | No Comments circular_migration The annual migration of wildebeest and zebra in Kenya and Tanzania has been properly called one of the last great migrations on earth.  It takes place each year beginning in the Ngorogoro area of the southern Serengeti of Tanzania.  It’s determined by the availability of grazing and generally starts around February (although being driven by natural events, the exact timing can… read the rest of “When is the Best Time for Safari?”

Kenya Cuts Entry Visa Costs

Posted on 18/03/09, filed under General, Kenya, Kenya Beach, Kenya Safari | 1 Comment Kenya is halving the cost of entry visas to encourage tourism to the country..... The visa cost is being reduced from $50 to $25 and with no cost for children under 16 from April 1 until the end of 2010.  A family of four will now pay $50 for the two adults, giving a saving of $150.  Tourism minister Najib Balala said the measure was to help make  Kenya even more… read the rest of “Kenya Cuts Entry Visa Costs”

‘Z’ Hotel

Posted on 16/02/09, filed under General, Zanzibar | 1 Comment This hotel is amazing, I have to say that during my stay in Zanzibar this was my favourite hotel that I stayed in. It does exactly what it says, it's a boutique on the beach! when you arrive you are greeted by the happiest looking staff you've ever seen and they are so welcoming, you feel right at home from the off… read the rest of “'Z' Hotel”

Fumba Beach Lodge, Zanzibar

Posted on 12/02/09, filed under General, Zanzibar | No Comments Exquisite and beautiful this hideaway is known for its peaceful and secluded beaches that set the scene for this romantic getaway. Situated on the South-West of Zanzibar, this tranquil and relaxing resort offers everything you need for a much earned break. With the average stay of 3 nights, combining this resort with a tanzania safari will make an ideal holiday. The friendly staff make your stay at Fumba Beach Lodge extra special… read the rest of “Fumba Beach Lodge, Zanzibar”

Safari Holidays: A Brief History Part Two

Posted on 02/02/09, filed under General, Kenya Safari, Lamu, Namibia Safari, South Africa Safari | No Comments In this post we’ll examine how the Safari Holiday evolved into something that began to take conservation seriously and what makes a Safari Holiday today.  Why some of the most important features of the Safari Holiday have remained constant – the stunning scenery, the wonderful wildlife and above all the African people themselves... The Safari gradually began to change as the hunters began to consider themselves as naturalists and experts… read the rest of “Safari Holidays: A Brief History Part Two”

Safari Holidays: A Brief History Part One

Posted on 29/01/09, filed under General, Namibia Safari, South Africa Safari | No Comments “Safari Holidays”.  Adventure, excitement, spectacle or romance? Here at Africa Sky we’ll tailor make a Safari experience that will include all those elements if you wish.  To us, a Safari Holiday is a journey of the mind and body.   It’s a kaleidoscope of sights, sounds and emotions that should leave indelible memories.  But how did it all start? Safari has it roots in Arabic via Swahili and means “to… read the rest of “Safari Holidays: A Brief History Part One”

Chobe Chilwero Lodge (Chobe National Park, Botswana)

Posted on 11/12/08, filed under General | No Comments If you’re a fan of Elephants then the Chobe National Park in Botswana is a must for you.   This north eastern region of Botswana is renowned for its large population of Elephants that congregate here during the dry season; it has been estimated that around 90,000 to 100,000 live within the Chobe/Linyanti ecosystem!   I lost count of the number of Elephants we… read the rest of “Chobe Chilwero Lodge (Chobe National Park, Botswana) ”