Jambo Altaf,

I want to let you know that both Dorothy and I found our two week trip to Kenya to be an absolutely wonderful experience. Our booking through AfricanMecca for our trip in August 2009 delivered everything we hoped for and more. We were met on arrival at Mombasa airport for the minibus journey to Leopard Beach Hotel with loads of local information provided by our driver on the way. The hotel was excellent in all respects, from the welcome with chilled towels and drinks to the helpful and cheerful service from every member of staff. Large comfortable air-conditioned rooms overlook the Indian Ocean, as does the main Horizon restaurant where the meals were lacking neither in variety nor quality. We stayed two nights at Leopard Beach initially before going on safari and then a further six nights on our return. Our first safari began by road to Tsavo West, staying one night at Kilaguni Serena Lodge. The restaurant, open to one side overlooking the water hole, provided a wonderful lunch and dinner with tremendous views of elephant, zebra, giraffe and buffalo, to name but a few.

Following an afternoon game drive which included the enchanting Mzima Springs and ended with the first of many fantastic sunsets, we had a comfortable night before an early start next morning. We moved on to Satao Elerai, overlooking Amboseli with Peter, our driver for these three days, pointing out many items of interest along the way. Our room at Elerai was in fact a self-contained cottage and while it was reminiscent of the Flintstones in style, the facilities were far from stone-age. We were lucky enough to witness two young male elephants at the water-hole while we had lunch, before Peter took us down to Amboseli for another fascinating game drive. After an excellent dinner and a nightcap in front of a roaring log fire, we were up next morning for another early start. At seven hours, we found the drive back to Voi Gate into Tsavo East to be rather tiring but we still made it to Satao Camp just in time for lunch outside, under the tree. This and a short siesta set us up for our afternoon game drive which culminated at close quarters with a cheetah. What a beautiful animal!

A busy day and a fine meal sent us to bed where we slept like logs, only to be told next day that we had missed a visit from a couple of lions at four in the morning. Our neighbours in the next tent showed us the paw-prints in the dust outside to prove it! With a good breakfast inside us, we were on our way to Buchuma Gate where sadly, we had to say farewell to Peter, our driver, guide and companion for the last three days. We were tremendously impressed, not only with his detailed knowledge of his country and its flora and fauna but also with his enthusiasm in sharing it all with us. We hope to see him again.

The air-conditioned shuttle bus took us back to the coast then for an overnight stop at Nyali Beach Hotel. It is old colonial in style having been opened in 1949 and while we enjoyed our brief stay and had no complaints at all, on balance we preferred Leopard Beach. After another early breakfast we were collected for the short trip to Mombasa airport for our flight to the Masai Mara and a two night safari. Arrangements for the internal flight on an eighteen seat twin-prop aircraft where rather more relaxed than is international flying these days; quite a refreshing change. The views of Kilimanjaro from 11500 feet were stunning. The landing on an airstrip in the bush was amazingly smooth and we were soon on our way to Karen Blixen Camp for lunch. On the way, Pius, our driver took our open-sided six-passenger safari vehicle off the main route and diverted into a small coppice of bushes. To our delight, we were soon within a few yards of a pride of four or five lionesses, stretched out in the shade. This time we were awake!

Our three days in the Mara were truly magical. The location of Karen Blixen Camp on the eastern bank of the Mara River is absolutely beautiful and we could not fault the accommodation and service although some of the catering would benefit from improvement. While you Mombasa team handled all our other ground arrangements (and more about them later) Karen Blixen Camp arranged everything in the Mara. Their modern Toyota 4WD open vehicles were great for game viewing and their drivers and guides were excellent. We remember particularly, Pius, David, Nixon and especially Peter, our Masai guide. Not only did we value his expertise on our game drives but also one evening he gave a fascinating insight into Masai culture to the assembled company before dinner. On our second day in the Mara, we were given the opportunity to take a full day game drive into the conservancy to the south. As this was the right time of year for the Great Migration, if we were very lucky, we might see 'the crossing'. We approached the river slowly, passing thousands of wildebeest all heading in the same direction. The leaders stopped some hundred yards short of the river bank as the rest of the herd formed up behind them, some zebra and gazelle mixed in with them. They moved forward some distance then stopped again; and again; and again. Eventually, the decision was made to cross and they galloped en masse for the water, plunging through and up the river bank on the far side. More followed and still more until we were convinced that every wildebeest in Africa was in this herd. The crossing was incessant for over half an hour until finally the last stragglers made their way up the far bank. Our driver, David estimated anything up to 10,000 animals had crossed. We had lost count after about 5,000!

This sight was absolutely magnificent and undoubtedly the highlight of the holiday.

After an early morning game drive on the third day, we had to take our leave and fly back to the coast. We were met at Ukunda airfield for the short drive back to Leopard Beach where we settled in for a more relaxing week. We were amazed at how much we had packed in to such a short time. However, we don't hang around swimming pools for long so a couple of short trips had to be taken as well. We had a great day snorkelling off Wasini Island with dolphins and a hump-backed whale accompanying us on the way out and a fine late lunch on the way back. Two days later, dinner in Ali Barbour's (sic) Cave restaurant near Leopard Beach was also most enjoyable. Then on our penultimate evening we saw Mombasa by night. A sunset dhow trip in Tudor Creek and under New Nyali Bridge took us to the old harbour. A short tour of the old town ended at Fort Jesus for a sound and light show followed by a wonderful dinner under the stars.

The ground handling by your Mombasa team was excellent throughout our trip. All their drivers and staff were friendly and helpful and their punctuality was impressive. Harry, their representative at Leopard Beach was tremendous in ensuring that everything ran smoothly. We valued especially his advice regarding all aspects of our visit from safaris to local trips to departure arrangements. 

We were extremely sad to leave Kenya, its animals, its vast open spaces, its stunning scenery and especially its charming, polite, happy smiling people.

Asante sana a thousand times!

John Lowry
United Kingdom