Anyone been to Kenya?

[Skywatcher]

Carpe Diem and all that....

Some good prices to be had at the moment.

Safaris, White sands, Coral reefs South of the Equator

All looks very nice - anyone been?

Interested to hear your opinions

[Keith]

Never been myself but always wanted to! Several friends have been and keep going back so they must enjoy it

[Skywatcher]

There is one all inclusive hotel with 3 pools and a lazy river that says ' caution swimming in the sea is limited due the extensive coral reef at low tide' see I don't really see that as a drawback :mental:

[arkvilla]

Does it count if you were born there???

Jai was born in Nairobi but left whe he was 4 so has only vague memories.

He has lots of family there and we intend to visit when we are not so tied down with the villa.

Sandra

[Claire]

You can see lions. Only in Kenya (http://www.weebls-stuff.com/songs/kenya/). :D

[Skywatcher]

:dozey: thanks for that :lol:

[lisaw]

You can see lions. Only in Kenya (http://www.weebls-stuff.com/songs/kenya/). :D

Claire how did you did you find that??! :laugh:

I would love to go to Kenya so if you can get a good deal it would be another great experience for the boys :yes:

[Britchick]

just do it! don't think just click, it will be a fantastic opportunity for you all :hug2:

[Dawn]

Are you beaching it or will there be a bit of safari thrown in?


HARAMBE!!!!! :laugh:

[lozzy]

My parent did a safari tour a few years ago and loved it,
It is something I would like to do once the kids are a little older, Maybe our next holiday.

[Skywatcher]

Tempting to be sure :unsure:

[Tink]

It's something we are planning on doing, as I've always wanted to visit Kenya. I would like to see Tanzania, Nigeria and Botswana too, but probably won't give Nigeria a try, given the political climate and all.

There were riots in Kenya a bit ago...

Africa is an incredible continent and we would love to see as much of it as we can (before we are too creaky to get around). :D

[Britchick]

i think when we go and do a safari we will go to South Africa, i had a physio work with me from there and he has promissed to show us round if we go, can't turn down an opportunity like that.

[Slowhand]

My DW and I went on holiday to Kenya a few years ago and really enjoyed it.
We had the first week "on safari", visiting the Masai Mara, Amboseli and Lake Naivasha which was followed by one week on the coast at Mombasa.

The Mombasa "bit" was a bit like at WDW where I always recommend a chill out after doing the parks because after all the activity you really need a rest.
The thing is that when on safari you go on a game drive very early in the morning [around 5.30 am!], returning to your lodge for breakfast.
You then do a second game drive in the afternoon, returning to the lodge in time for dinner and an early night in readiness for the follwing day!
[The animals tend to rest during the hottest parts of the day so most tour operators operate in this manner to give you the best chance of seeing them].

Driving between the various game parks is a bit hairy as the minibus drivers operate to a strict timetable. This, added to the poor state of the roads [mainly un-tarmacced], is more like a rally driving experience than a pleasant journey from A to B. [The wheel on our bus came off and overtook us on one occasion..but that`s a long story!]

When on safari we were told to only take around £50 with us for the entire week and we found this to be more than adequate as all meals etc. were included in the holiday.

Mombasa is great also...think of the Bahamas, but with a darn site more poverty around!

I`d certainly recommend giving it a go. We keep on saying that we will do another holiday in Kenya one day but a small thing called WDW has scuppered our plans of late! :lol:

[Slowhand]

but probably won't give Nigeria a try, given the political climate and all.

Very good decision there Tink. :thumbsup:
Nigeria is the most scary place I`ve ever visited. The corruption there is rife and this even extends to the BA check-in staff who have to be of Nigerian origin.

When I went I was fortunately met on the tarmac by a government official who escorted me through Customs and Immigration.
Every one of the other passengers had to open their bags and if one of the officials took a fancy to say a pair of trousers in the case then he/she would confiscate them.
No questions asked..no one dared! :jawdrop:

[Tink]

Oh gosh. Yep. That's a reason to not go there. I love the works of Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe and would love to see the areas they talk about in their writings.

I'm afraid though, that will never happen. :sigh:

[josh.p.]

DO IT! :yes: Failing that... Hong Kong :yes:

[ukwdwnut]

friends of ours went a few years back and liked it, only downer was they had quite a few TC's stolen from there room, by hotel staff

[Tink]

TA's?

[ukwdwnut]

TA's?

tc' sorry lol

[Tink]

Oh! Not cool. Seriously, way not cool. I hope they had the sort that were replaced without too much trouble. :unsure:

[ukwdwnut]

Oh! Not cool. Seriously, way not cool. I hope they had the sort that were replaced without too much trouble. :unsure:

they took so many they didnt realise they had gone until they got back, they were taken from different parts of the stash, shouldnt have left them around to be honest

[Tink]

Wow! That's a bunch of TCs!

I'm one of those paranoid types that keeps a close count of them, and keeps them either locked up or with me.

[Skywatcher]

Its difficult as the indigenous population are so very very poor :sigh:

[Slowhand]

TA's?
Now if that was in Nigeria, it is conceivable that even a TA would get stolen...or at least abducted!

[Dawn]

We're looking at an overseas holiday for next year but not Floriday *gasp*. Want the boy to see what else is out there. The whole of Africa is pretty much crossed off for one reason or another. Except maybe Morocco or Tunisia. :unsure:

[Slowhand]

We're looking at an overseas holiday for next year but not Floriday *gasp*. Want the boy to see what else is out there. The whole of Africa is pretty much crossed off for one reason or another. Except maybe Morocco or Tunisia. :unsure:
Egypt is highly recommended for a holiday.:thumbsup:
I`ve spent almost as much time there as at WDW! :lol:

[Dawn]

Yeah but there was that whole terrorist attack on tourists at the pyramids a while back. I remember things like that. :sigh:

[Slowhand]

Yeah but there was that whole terrorist attack on tourists at the pyramids a while back. I remember things like that. :sigh:
I think you are referring to the attack at the Valley of the Kings Dawn?
After that attack, the Egyptian security was hightened considerably.
To be honest, I reckon that WDW is also high on the list for nutters like this, but it sure doesn`t deter me from visiting there.

[Dawn]

Yeah you're right. I'm just a paranoid parent. And Egypt is on the Red Sea. :thumbsup:

Bit of snorkelling would be in order there methinks. :D

*adds Egypt back to "possibles" list*

I just don't want to take Steven to a "Costa" resort to sit by the pool for a week. If we go somewhere I want him to learn about where we are, see it, eat the food, even try a bit of the language. For some reason I have Denmark on my list of must-visit places. :unsure:

[Slowhand]

Yeah you're right. I'm just a paranoid parent. And Egypt is on the Red Sea. :thumbsup:

Bit of snorkelling would be in order there methinks. :D

*adds Egypt back to "possibles" list*

I just don't want to take Steven to a "Costa" resort to sit by the pool for a week. If we go somewhere I want him to learn about where we are, see it, eat the food, even try a bit of the language. For some reason I have Denmark on my list of must-visit places. :unsure:
I`m sure that you and Steven would love the various historic sights in Egypt Dawn, so long as you can turn a blind eye to all the poverty etc. which is quite a culture shock when you first witness it.

Oddly enough I`ve never been to any of the Scandinavian countries, however that will be put right later this year as the DCL cruise will visit Denmark and Sweden as part of the cruise.
[That reminds me, I`d better start sorting out a mortgage in case I fancy a beer there! :lol:]

[ukwdwnut]

lauren went to egypt last year and loved it, pix look awesome, she didnt go to sharme tho, it was a bit south of there....id luv to see the pyramids...wow

[Tink]

What about places that used to be behind the "Iron Curtain?" I have a couple of people I know who have visited countries there and had a grand time!

Food was really nice, people were very friendly, prices reasonable, and depending on when you go, of course, the weather was pretty decent too.

[josh.p.]

*cough* Hong Kong *cough*

[Skywatcher]

Greece is awesome Dawn, Not touristy, phenomenal history and not crazy money.

Scary driving though

Italy - ditto plus lovely grub

[Skywatcher]

*cough* Hong Kong *cough*

*cough* £££££££££££££££££££££££££££

[Tink]

Grub? Grub? You call the CUISINE of Italy GRUB???? :eek: :lol: :hug2:

[Skywatcher]

OK Nop nosh then :thumbsup:

[*Bambi-Belle*]

Yeah but there was that whole terrorist attack on tourists at the pyramids a while back. I remember things like that. :sigh:


I agree Dawn we took the boys to Egypt when they were 10 and 6. They had an amazing time especially in Ciro. It is one of the most fascinating places I have ever been to both the ancient and modern aspects. However 4 days after we returned there was a terrorist attack in a tourist market area where I think 6 people died. When it was shown on the news it was next to a shop that we had spent ages browsing in only four days before. I had quite a few sleepless nights after that. Although on saying that we were on holiday in London 2 days after the tube bombings so really terrorism can happen anywhere in the world. I do understand your anxiety though.


Regarding Kenya, my FIL holidayed there with his wife for many years. They just loved the place but he said that their last visit after the riots just wasn't the same. There were security issues both inside and without the hotel complex. He said the poverty was much worse and that the police had lost some of their authority and they were losing their control over the gang culture. He said that that it wasn't so much the robberies that they feared but the violent crimes that were taking place within the hotel grounds and on the hotel's private beach. They have not returned. They now holiday in the south of Egypt and just love it. They are both keen snorkelers and apparently the coral and visibility is fab.


My 14 year old is off to Tanzania this year and I must say I'm a little jealous, I would love to go on a proper Safari.:embarassed:


For a cheaper holiday we love Cyprus, we don't do the beach/pool thing very well. We hire a jeep and head up the mountains. There is the tomb of the kings, The ancient mosaics. The amphitheater with all the ruins of the Roman baths Ect... It's not as cheap now they have the Euro though.


We have also had fab cheap holidays in Amsterdam – Van Gogh museum and the Anne Frank house. Germany is beautiful in the south – The black forest with it's stunning Castles. Edinburgh is one of our favorite places to go too. Camera obscura is ace fun lol Oh! I can go on and on. :lol:

[Dawn]

Scrap Egypt - apparently you need injections to visit there and no way will Steven visit the "needle nurse" just for a holiday. :lol: That rules Kenya out too.

Hong Kong too far away.

Greece possible. Italy expensive. Portugal definitely possible as aunt lives there.

[Britchick]

non 'costa' Spain is beautiful too if you get off the beaten track. I know someone with a nice 2 bedroom villa with pool :thumbsup:

Jon went to Denmark recently with work and thought it was very expensive, i will have to go and see the little mermaid statue at some point though and toast Hans!

[josh.p.]

Kenya believe it?!

[josh.p.]

Dawn, Seville is a really nice 'all Spanish' place :yes

[Britchick]

or Sevilla Josh :tongue: you're almost on the border of Spain and Portugal there too. We plan to tour Spain and Portugal when the rug rats have left home

[josh.p.]

'Un billete por portugál, por favor' :yes:

[Britchick]

'Un billete por portugál, por favor' :yes:

how do you do the accents and the wiggly bit over the n Josh, i don't think we had computers when i studied Spanish!

[Tink]

Tilde Brit. :) It's a tilde (the wiggly bit). :wink: :D Which I cannot do either. I used to know all the commands for the keyboard to make the accent marks for French (and some Spanish) but no more! :embarassed:

[uscwest]

Don't know if you have windows or not, but if you do there is a language bar. You can go into it and download different language fonts. For example I have English (US), English (UK) and German on mine. If you need to type a word in a different language you then click on that language bar, type the word and then click on your default language.

For example if I click on the German I can then type all of the umlaut letters:

üöäÜÖÄ

[Britchick]

that's it Tink, thanks :thumbsup: was 20 years ago when i last studied Spanish!!

thanks John, will go and have a look :thumbsup:

[Tink]

At least you studied it! :yes: I never did, and struggle mightily today because of it. Spanish is very much a presence in this country, and I've actually been at a loss for inability to communicate. :(

[josh.p.]

Press alt & then the letter for accents :yes:

áéíóú

[Britchick]

didn't work for me :unsure:

[Tink]

Nope, didn't work for me either. Brings up the book mark menu (A add to favorites)...

[josh.p.]

:macwave: