Jan 3, 2008
At least temporarily, Kenya has been eliminated as a destination for African safaris
As you would expect, all the tour operators to Kenya are downplaying the dangers posted to tourists from the outbreak of violence over disputed elections. "It's all hoo-haa." "It happens every time they vote." "It doesn't affect the safari areas." "You are met at the airport and immediately transferred to a lodge outside Nairobi -- there's no danger."
I'm not so sure. The violence in Kenya seems of a special order that hasn't ever been experienced at that level of civil warfare. It has thus far claimed hundreds of lives, and reflects ancient ethnic enmities between the dominant Kikuyu faction and the less powerful Luo tribes (like Sunnis against Shiites). Mobs of young men have sallied forth from their communities to club opponents and destroy property. And the government's clumsy effort to steal the election seem so obvious as to insure a continuation of the violence for weeks to come. I presently would not go to Kenya.
And that's a shame. Because Kenya offers the best wildlife viewing at the lowest-prices for safaris in all of Africa. Currently, a weeklong safari in Kenya is on offer for about $2,399 per person (from companies like Lion World Travel of Toronto, www.lionworldtravel.com), including round-trip airfare from New York and several days of all-inclusive arrangements in the games parks of the Maasai Mara.
So what's your recourse? Botswana offers similar wildlife viewing, but Botswana is an unusually expensive destination, and has been kept that way by the tour operators, who have never offered an affordable air-and-land package there. Tanzania has the same giant migrations of wildlife crossing its territory as Kenya does, but there are no inexpensive group tour programs known to me that go directly to Tanzania without first passing through Kenya.
The one, near-budget alternative is a quick-trip to South Africa that combines a several-day stay in Cape Town with a two-night excursion within wildlife-viewing areas nearby. This one is called "South Africa in Style," it's operated by LionWorld Travel, of Toronto, and has an opening price of $1,999 plus tax in May. The program includes roundtrip airfare on South African Airways from either New York City or Washington, D.C., four nights at the five-star "12 Apostles and Spa" in Cape Town, including breakfast each morning, two nights at the Jackalberry Private Game Reserve on a full-board basis, all internal flights, all transfers, and a half-day tour of Cape Town. That's an absolute wow of a price for such comprehensive, quality features.
A variation on the "South Africa in Style" program is also available in May at $2,399 plus tax, which includes four nights at the Cape Cadogan Hotel in Cape Town, and two nights at the Lion Sands Private Game Reserve in the Sabi Sand region, with all internal flights and transfers.
Until matters calm themselves in Kenya, this is about the only affordable way to enjoy a safari-like experience (as short as it is) in Africa. For more information, either go to the Lion World website (see above) or call them toll-free for more details at tel. 888/722-4872.
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I'm not so sure. The violence in Kenya seems of a special order that hasn't ever been experienced at that level of civil warfare. It has thus far claimed hundreds of lives, and reflects ancient ethnic enmities between the dominant Kikuyu faction and the less powerful Luo tribes (like Sunnis against Shiites). Mobs of young men have sallied forth from their communities to club opponents and destroy property. And the government's clumsy effort to steal the election seem so obvious as to insure a continuation of the violence for weeks to come. I presently would not go to Kenya.
And that's a shame. Because Kenya offers the best wildlife viewing at the lowest-prices for safaris in all of Africa. Currently, a weeklong safari in Kenya is on offer for about $2,399 per person (from companies like Lion World Travel of Toronto, www.lionworldtravel.com), including round-trip airfare from New York and several days of all-inclusive arrangements in the games parks of the Maasai Mara.
So what's your recourse? Botswana offers similar wildlife viewing, but Botswana is an unusually expensive destination, and has been kept that way by the tour operators, who have never offered an affordable air-and-land package there. Tanzania has the same giant migrations of wildlife crossing its territory as Kenya does, but there are no inexpensive group tour programs known to me that go directly to Tanzania without first passing through Kenya.
The one, near-budget alternative is a quick-trip to South Africa that combines a several-day stay in Cape Town with a two-night excursion within wildlife-viewing areas nearby. This one is called "South Africa in Style," it's operated by LionWorld Travel, of Toronto, and has an opening price of $1,999 plus tax in May. The program includes roundtrip airfare on South African Airways from either New York City or Washington, D.C., four nights at the five-star "12 Apostles and Spa" in Cape Town, including breakfast each morning, two nights at the Jackalberry Private Game Reserve on a full-board basis, all internal flights, all transfers, and a half-day tour of Cape Town. That's an absolute wow of a price for such comprehensive, quality features.
A variation on the "South Africa in Style" program is also available in May at $2,399 plus tax, which includes four nights at the Cape Cadogan Hotel in Cape Town, and two nights at the Lion Sands Private Game Reserve in the Sabi Sand region, with all internal flights and transfers.
Until matters calm themselves in Kenya, this is about the only affordable way to enjoy a safari-like experience (as short as it is) in Africa. For more information, either go to the Lion World website (see above) or call them toll-free for more details at tel. 888/722-4872.
Write and read comments about this post.
Fifty years ago, 
Arthur Frommer is generally acknowledged to be the nation's foremost travel authority. He is the founder of the
