FUN-photos: A&K Private Jet Wild Life Safari – Kenya

December 29, 2022 by · Comments Off on FUN-photos: A&K Private Jet Wild Life Safari – Kenya 

Rwanda to Kenya – 1.5 hrs – lose 1 hr – Angama Mara – 3 nights not 5*

8 am depart – 3 hr drive back down to airport – arrive Nairobi then board 45 min charter flight – 30 min safari jeep arrives camp at 4:45 pm – perched high atop the hill with breath taking views of the vast expanse of the Masai Mara

  • Day 1 – 4:30 wake up – 5 am drive for balloon ride & Champagne breakfast in the bush – game drive back 10:30

Opt out of afternoon game drive for a divine 90 min massage on our deck overlooking the Masai Mara

  • Day 2 – 7:30 game drive – overall disappointing with lack of animals compared to 2019

Take afternoon off and bush dinner is a disappointment as well.

Fun-fact: Our trip leader John, AKA SS Supervisor, lives in Kenya and his next-door neighbor runs Nairobi airport operations. Only handed passports to him and got them back on arrival at our camp.Kenya to Boston – 18hrs – Four Seasons – 1 night

October 27 – 5:30 am depart – more John airport connections so no immigration!

We had fuel stops in Malta & Shannon, IRE where the flight crew changed. We were so lucky! The new crew didn’t have the same energy.

October 28 – 8:30 pm – arrive Logan Airport – only short drive to hotel.

October 29 – Boston Commons is directly across the street from our hotel so have lovely stroll before taking a 5 pm non-stop flight back to San Diego.

  • Overview – Still had to go thru TSA but not main terminals – too much with all the time zones and felt like we jammed and slammed it.

Only place we had stayed before was Rathambore in 2016 and only saw a 1-pixel tiger – way, way ever so far away! Also, one of the hardest animals to get to see “up close and personal!” It’s pretty much a given that you will see the “Big 5” in Africa with four game drives.

WATC = What are the Chances! Xena clearly here with so many magical moments – Japan & the Macaques, seeing the tiger, feeding the lemurs, flying the plane, suite upgrade & easy gorilla trek with so many to see. Not everyone had it so lucky!

FUN-video: Amazing Africa – Movie Trailer

August 27, 2019 by · Comments Off on FUN-video: Amazing Africa – Movie Trailer 

 

FUN-photos: Amazing Africa – Masai Mara

August 27, 2019 by · Comments Off on FUN-photos: Amazing Africa – Masai Mara 

  • Hopped on bush plane for short flight to border…then after arduous chaotic Customs & Immigration Extortion…another short flight…before arriving for our next big adventure.
  • And saved the best for last…as this was a full service tented camp…complete with desperately needed deep tissue massages…AHH!
  • Four glorious days…with awesome animal viewing…including the Big 5…made for a truly Amazing Africa ending.

 

FUN-Travel: Amazing Africa – Trip Recap

August 6, 2019 by · Comments Off on FUN-Travel: Amazing Africa – Trip Recap 

Our international bucket runneth over! After India we said, “No more 3rd world countries.” Then arrive… only to realize… Africa is a 3rd world country… What was I thinking?

  • While safaris vary greatly in pricing…from basic to luxurious…

…they are not 3rd world…it’s the getting to and from that is.

Travel “Needs to Know”…that your travel agent should tell you…but ours didn’t!

  1. Check Departure Times…we booked months ahead…flight #s stayed the same…but times had changed drastically!
  2. Clean Newer Bills…the crispier the better…for Customs & Immigration…even better yet…get Visas on line…TZ costs $100 pp…KE costs $50 pp
  3. Yellow Fever Yellow Card…Kenya only…medical record proof doesn’t cut it…and they charged $50 pp.
  4. Passport Stamped…make sure upon arrival…they don’t give you a receipt…much confusion entering Kenya…mine stamped not Chris…nice ladies at Nairobi Intl let it slide.
  5. Bush planes – 15kg total weight including hand luggage allowed …means you pack ever so lightly…it is not a fashion show! Laundry service was included at Entim Mara…makes traveling much easier…you don’t have to check anything…and risk getting it stolen…if you want to bring more…than book another seat and get 30kgs…and lock everything not in your sight! Told Nairobi Wilson is strictest airport for departing…TZ only weighed checked bag…not hand carry…ours were only 9 kg each. Bought it bags from Amazon…only weigh 3.8 lbs!

  1. Guides Sense of Time…one said the airport was 45 minutes when it was 20…other said an hour and a half…when it took almost 2…only need to be there 15 minutes prior.
  2. Balloon Rides…cost $600 pp in TZ and $450 pp in Kenya. That’s just plain insane! Only saw one sunrise as heavy overcast skies & then rain in Kenya…which totally validated our decision.

FUN-fact – In Arusha, TZ they have the Clock Tower which is halfway between Cairo & Cape Town.

FUN-Travel: The 12 Days of Safari

August 5, 2019 by · Comments Off on FUN-Travel: The 12 Days of Safari 

(sung to the tune of the 12 Days of Christmas)

  • On the first day of Safari

the Mara gave to me…

…1000’s of Wildebeests Crossing…

…12 Giraffes in Grand Stance…

…11 Elephants a Foraging…

…10 Buffalos a Bounding…

…9 Hippos a Howling…

…8 Impalas a Prancing…

…7 Simbas a Stalking…

…6 Pumbaas a Prowling…

…5 Timons Truckin’…

…4 Cheetahs Chillin’…

…3 Leopards Leering…

…2 Kingfishers Flapping….

…and Reggie the black Rhino!

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