Kenyan Schilling is fine, but USD$ or UK£ in cash (not Traveller's cheques) is as good and easily converted at fairly good rates.

Kind Regards,

Mildred

I'm on this trip with you and am planning on taking local currency with a credit card back up. We won't need much cash - just enough for drinks and souvenirs.

Jules / Elisa / Mildred (aka 'The Mods') can you let us know if a TM has been appointed and what are the numbers (and m/f split and age range).

Only 5 weeks to go. Soooooo excited!

Thanks

Sally

Anyway........

Hi Salband

I'm on this trip with you and am planning on taking Kenyan schilling. We shouldn't need much as all meals are included so just enough for drinks and the odd souvenir. I always take a credit card for emergencies. I'm really lookng forward to the trip, just over four weeks to go now.

Hi Jules / Elise / Mildred aka 'The Mods' - could you please tell us if a TM has been appointed yet and the usual numbers, m/f and age range.

Many thanks

Sally

I tried replying to this post on Monday but as its the only one out of the three that I did at the time that hasn't appeared I assume it has got lost in the ether.

Anyway........

Hi Salband

I'm on this trip with you and am planning on taking Kenyan schilling.  We shouldn't need much as all meals are included so just enough for drinks and the odd souvenir.  I always take a credit card for emergencies.  I'm really lookng forward to the trip, just over four weeks to go now.

Hi Jules / Elise / Mildred aka 'The Mods' - could you please tell us if a TM has been appointed yet and the usual numbers, m/f and age range.

Many thanks

Sally

Good Morning Sally,

I have responded to your previous post.

Kind Regards,

Mildred

I tried replying to this post on Monday but as its the only one out of the three that I did at the time that hasn't appeared I assume it has got lost in the ether.

Anyway........

Hi Salband

I'm on this trip with you and am planning on taking Kenyan schilling.  We shouldn't need much as all meals are included so just enough for drinks and the odd souvenir.  I always take a credit card for emergencies.  I'm really lookng forward to the trip, just over four weeks to go now.

Hi Jules / Elise / Mildred aka 'The Mods' - could you please tell us if a TM has been appointed yet and the usual numbers, m/f and age range.

Many thanks

Sally

Good Morning Sally,

BIG BIG apology for the giant misunderstanding. This tour has not been cancelled!

I have spoken to a member of my team and I have been told that this tour will be going ahead as planned.  

So sorry again for the scare.

Kind Regards,

Mildred.

For anyone interested there are seventeen people on this trip and Damien Stent is our TM who will be travelling out with us.

Salband - looking forward to meeting you in less than four weeks now.

I am very glad that this has been sorted out and your tour is still going ahead.

And as for poor Mildred, I hope you have had a strong coffee by this stage...!

All the best,

Bob

Does this mean that we have to ring the office now to find out numbers, and TM, Mildred?

The contact centre will not be giving out that information either but I am able to give information regarding the tour manager.

Kind Regards,

Mildred

I have just received my Final Information for the Kenya safari trip which states:-

"On arrival in Nairobi this morning there’s time to freshen up after meeting up with the rest of the group. We’ll then travel by road through this bustling city and out into the peace of the Great Rift Valley"

Research suggests that it is approximatey a five hour drive to the Lodge. Could you please find out exactly what is meant by 'time to freshen up'? Do we have access to a room in which we can wash and change or should we consider doing so on the plane.

Also the initial documentation said we would have the use of an Airport lounge however there is no mention of a lounge pass.

Many thanks

Sally

Sorry, my colleague was out of the office so I needed to wait for a response. I have been advised that you will be transferring to the Lodge and you should have access to the room before heading out.

Kindest regards,

Julia

Also could you please find out an answer to my question about the missing Lounge pass.

Thanks

Sally

I posted a question last week which hasn't been published yet which included a question regarding a lounge pass. I am delighted to say that said pass arrived in the post today, however I would be grateful for clarification on my other point.

Many thanks

Sally

Sorry Julia for any confusion but my question isn't about the time between arriving at the lodge and going on a game drive but on the time between arriving in Nairobi from the night flight and starting the five hour drive to the lodge.  As stated the paperwork says there will be time to freshen up but doesn't explain how or where.

Also could you please find out an answer to my question about the missing Lounge pass.

Thanks

Sally

Good Morning Sally,

I am very pleased that your lounge pass arrived today.

In regards to your first point, when your flight arrives, you would go to the Somak Safari lodge where you can freshen up before you start the journey. 

Kind Regards,

Mildred.

I have been to Kenya twice with JY/TS. The first time in 2007  my friend and I had booked the JY holiday which was subsequently cancelled so we transferred to the TS version which was exactly the same departing the same day too. It was absolutely wonderful, my friend and I were in a safari vehicle with 2 very friendly couples and I have never giggled so much on a holiday. That's without mentioning the wildlife! The 2nd time I went in 2009 I booked the TS version with a friend. It was fun but the JY group which we saw a couple of times and which had Barbara Eastlake as their TM seemed to be having more fun than the TS group.

I'll stop digressing the Somak Safari Lounge is actually in a big tall building a short drive from the airport.It may be Somak's Kenya HQ but I can't remember for certain. The lounge is very big and quite often there are other people there who are on Somak Safaris. The facilities in the Lounge include showers and you are provided with towels should you have time to use them. We were also fed and watered there. Fish and chips were provided.

At the Lounge we were all allocated our safari vehicle and driver whom we had for the whole holiday.

 Hope this info is helpful, Sally, hope you have a great time. Would love to go to Kenya again, but one word here, a friend who has just returned from the TS Kenya holiday (after the JY September holiday was cancelled) had one of her rooms trashed by monkeys,monkey faeces even on  her bed, as well belongings damaged. She had failed to secure her windows when she went out one afternoon. Don't know whether the lodge is one of the JY lodges though.

Happy travelling Di

Your friend's unfortunate experience reminds me of the advice we were given in Zambia to make sure windows and doors were secured.  We were told that the monkeys would make a right mess but if a baboon got in, it would have a party - even opening up toiletries and squirting toothpaste and other creams around the place!!  Perhaps your friend got off lightly!!

All the best,

Bob

Re monkeys - Just to add - one morning at Victoria Falls last month the monkeys completely trashed the outdoor breakfast area! Despite the usual local "guards" with big sticks and catapults (this is absolutely 'normal' for lodges) there was an obviously pre planned attack by a squad of monkeys who caused a lot of mayhem, scattered food, spilled drinks, broke crockery - whilst making off with fruit, bread and sugar! Cue lots of screaming! I had watched from afar and subsequently had a peaceful breakfast. 🙂  Seriously though - be aware - monkeys BITE!

Looking forward to the reviews on the Kenya holiday. Could be one for me. Although I have spent around 3 weeks on a private safari in Kenya I desperately want to see Mt Kilimanjaro and even more elephants! Can no longer visit my adopted elephant orphan Kihari at the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi (not on your itinerary?) as she has graduated to the big-girls school in Tsarvo National Park - I pray for her safety in these challenging times.

Have a super Safari!

Have a great tour Sally and fingers crossed for a certain large cat...

All the best,

Bob