WAFLYGIRL
Apr 8, 03, 10:46 am
Hilton Honors SAF8 (Africa Safari Package)
Let me begin by saying thank you to Hilton. What a spectacular experience. I had great expectations for this journey, and so often, those personal trips we anticipate the most, end up disappointing. My journey to Kenya exceeded all expectations. Africa has never been high on my vacation priority list, and I likely would not have visited for many more years had it not been for Hilton’s SAF8 award. I write this hoping that someone from Hilton will read this message and recognize that my suggestions for improvement are intended in a positive – opportunity to be even better - frame of mind.
Flew from SEA to NBO via PHL and LGW/LHR on US Airways and Kenya Airways. Business class through LGW on US, then coach on Kenya. Pay attention to seat assignments on Kenya. I made the mistake of not participating in seat selection and ended up in the last (non-reclining) seat in the cabin next to the lavatory. The 8 hour LHR to NBO flight was absolute misery. Cabin service on Kenya was rudimentary and brusque, but about what you would expect in terms of content. Personal video screens, 2 meals, etc. 2 calendar days later, arrived in Nairobi, and transferred to the Nairobi Hilton.
Check in at the Nairobi Hilton is a lengthy process. I was torn between irritation at the delay and appreciation for the hands on personal service. I just told myself to relax – stop being so “American” and enjoy it. Anyway, arrived, went to the reception counter, then escorted to the club lounge, waited about 1 hour for room to be ready, and then escorted to room. Flowers, fruit basket, and personal note from the manager were waiting in our upgraded suite. Make use of the business center if you have any hopes of e-mailing home. No such facilities exist at the Salt Lick Lodge. Forget work, I just mean to e-mail the family or friends that you have arrived.
Hilton apparently contracts the transportation/game drives/logistics of the safari package to Utc (United Touring Company). A very old and well respected safari operator based in Kenya. They should reconsider this – we found Utc service very perfunctory. Utc strictly adhered to the provided itinerary, provided clean and reliable transportation, and were equipped to address most any contingency that might arise. However, our driver/guide was not interested in going much beyond the bare minimum. He was not a communicator. He spoke english well, but was inclined to one word responses when possible and would only grudgingly respond when asked what this or that landmark might be, and forget any thoughts or comments on socio-economics, culture, or area history. Happily, we had spent our first afternoon visiting the Kenyan National Museum in Nairobi. I highly recommend it. A quick 2 hour excursion that provides a great information grounding on the country. The museum provided free personal guides (tip at end if you desire) that will walk you through wildlife displays and tribal/cultural displays that are very informative, if a bit shop worn and dusty. Need a good charitable cause – give to the museum! Also, beyond rethinking Utc, Hilton, tone down the warnings around personal safety in Nairobi. I appreciated the advice to use caution in and around Nairobi from the Hilton personnel, but after repeated warnings up to and including the advice that I should not to wear earrings as they might get ripped out of my ears, and finally learning that one couple had been chased down in the hotel van after setting off on foot and brought back to the hotel as it “was not safe to walk around”, I began to feel fearful. A warning/reminder is good, but it went a little over the top. (Subsequent time spent exploring Nairobi on foot – in the day time, with no valuables on my person – was enjoyable… and I am glad I recovered my courage enough to experience it.)
Our Utc driver/guide met us on day 2, and we began the 6 hour drive to the Salt Lick Safari Lodge. The drive was interesting, the roads - horrendous. Mainly driving on the transafrica highway (Nairobi/Mombasa Road). Those with back problems, plan well for severe endurance tests. There are two Hilton properties in the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary. Salt Lick Lodge and Taita Hills Lodge. Upon arrival, you will check in at Taita Hills lodge, then drive on for 10-15 minutes to Salt Lick Lodge. The picture on the Hilton website of Salt Lick Lodge captures it well.. A dramatic and beautiful setting that is very satisfying to pull up in front of. The rooms were high end basic but very acceptable. Buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a variety of meats, vegetables, and fruits. Easy eating for any pallet. Each day brings an early morning and late afternoon game drive. Never having visited Africa before, our first 3 game drives ‘seemed’ amazing. We would drive around for several hours looking for animals. We saw 3 lions on day one, and a single giraffe and monkeys on day 2. Apparently there is a hippo near the dam, but we didn’t see it. That all seemed very satisfying until we began talking with fellow travelers that had visited other game reserves and were talking about HERDS of animals. We elected to take a side trip to Tsavo East game park. Thank goodness we did. Our driver didn’t want to go (there is a set fee for this optional extra… but he didn’t want to do it… but pushy Americans that we are, finally we prevailed). It was a wholly different experience. Wildlife abounds there. 2 hours from the Salt Lick. Massive elephant herds, giraffes, buffalo, zebra, etc. I could barely take the time to focus the camera before seeing something else photo worthy. Make sure and lunch at the Tsavo East Lodge. Spectacular hilltop setting with Elephant watering holes below. Easily 150 elephants grazing below us while we ate.
So, at the Salt Lick, you will be well fed and enjoy the setting, but don’t look for anything else. Bring something to entertain yourself in the long afternoons and evenings. Brainstorming over dinner one night resulted in the following ideas for Hilton:
1) Consider implementing a book exchange (just a shelf somewhere)
2) Some type of evening entertainment would be fantastic. A naturalist lecture, a video, speaker from the local tribal community, something. I would have happily paid a fee if asked simply to experience a new source of activity.
3) Consider creating a TV room and/or providing a computer with e-mail access. You feel pretty isolated as you can not walk anywhere on the property and are basically stuck in the hotel or in the safari vehicle for 4 days.
4) There is a pool at Taita Hills Lodge, but our driver was not available to take us there, so we did not experience that. Consider a shuttle van to take passengers on the 15 minute drive to the pool so that reliance on the individual driver/guides is not necessary.
5) Consider stocking the game reserve. Anyone intent on seeing wildlife will not be satisfied with the experience in Taita Hills. To be fair, this may be a seasonal thing and we just hit it wrong, but, more animals, or even the proactive suggestion to visit other nearby game reserves would be nice.
Week 2 (Lonrho Hotels – Amazing)
We, based upon previous FT trip reports, elected to defer our last night at the Hilton Nairobi (night 6 of the package) for one week, until the end of our second week in Kenya. Thanks to Hilton for accommodating this request. I had not made travel arrangments for week two. We planned to bargain/arrange something locally hoping to find more attractive pricing than found on the internet. However, after our visit at Salt Lick (lack of wildlife), the challenging roads, and the trip through some pretty economically depressed and just plain depressing areas, we were considering an early return to the USA. This is unheard of for me. Heeding advice from a family friend, we elected to visit the well known and respected “Norfolk Hotel” in Nairobi on our first night after returning from the Salt Lick. We bargained. Rack rate was 400 USD per night. We got $160 including breakfast. Fantastic property. Part of the Lonrho Hotel chain. Travel and Leisure best hotels of the world 2003. It is. The in house travel agent at the Norfolk works for Express Travel (A division of American Express Travel). On one trip through the Norfolk lobby, we sat down and shared our Salt Lick Lodge experience with her and our intention to return home early if we could not find a better alternative (more animals, more entertainment, easier travel). We quoted a price ($1000 each for transportation, lodging, meals, and activities) and asked if she could make a suggestion for week two. We hit the jackpot with that one! Amazing. She appeared at our hotel room an hour later with a fully planned itinerary that fulfilled every fantasy I ever imagined for a visit to Africa. We left the next morning on a 3 hour drive to the Mount Kenya Safari Club (Nanyuki, Kenya - Lonrho Hotels – Travel and Leisure Best Hotels in the World 2003) where we spent 2 nights. 2 of us and one driver/guide in the safari/transport vehicle. We had a suite, game drives, golf, pool, lawn bowling of all things, extensive multiple acre grounds protected by electric fence enabled one to walk around, a TV room, a book exchange, an internet connection, 7 course dinners (no casual attire please), complimentary evening entertainment, etc. Amazing. Stretched my ingenuity at making one pull over jumper/dress and one pair of slacks look dressy though. Very British colonial atmosphere. Also, our Express Travel guide was great. We learned so much from him in the 3 days we spent together. I highly recommend Express Travel.
We then flew in a 9 passenger Cessna to Lonrho’s Mara Safari Camp (part of the Masai Mara and beginning of the Serengetti plains – Also a Travel and Leisure best hotel) with Air Kenya. Amenities on the 45 minute flight? Definitely. They passed a candy dish! The aerial view was fantastic. Skip the$300 balloon safari and take a flight! A luxury permanent tented camp with bathrooms ensuite. All the tents sit on the banks of the Mara river which is brimming with Hippopotamus. Afternoons and evenings on the porch in front of our tent were well spent with a cold cocktail consumed to the bellowing honks of the hippos. A memory I will cherish for the rest of my life. 3 game drives a day from Mara Safari Camp. Lots of animals. Our driver/guide was fantastic. I never knew that a vehicle could traverse some of the terrain we tackled. He had a knack for finding animals and at one point we were surrounded by a pride of lions, that actually sauntered over to enjoy the shade created by our vehicle. They were so close, my camera would not focus. Again, the camp offered an activity every evening, a library room with lots of information on local wildlife and tribal customs, pool, internet, etc, plus lots of fenced acres to facilitate pedestrian exploration. So, 3 nights in Mara, followed by another Cessna flight back to Nairobi. We even took a walking safari accompanied by 2 armed guards and a naturalist and came within feet of zebras and giraffes.
So, our last night in Kenya, back in Nairobi. At the Hilton. It was almost like coming home. I felt out of my depth with the luxury of the Lonrho Hotels, but very relaxed at the Hilton. Equally luxurious, but in the heart of a bustling city, you expect it. Maybe just more business oriented, probably just simply comfort in knowing exactly what to expect. Hilton sent us out with a bang. We were upgraded to the Presidential Suite. Really really amazing. The room has a guest book full of comments from the many heads of state that have stayed there. I was flattered to be deemed worthy, but too intimidated to actually sign the book myself….
In closing, thank you again Hilton. The trip would not have been possible without you. I continue to be a loyal customer and cheerleader and will work diligently to earn my next Hilton Vacation!
I would be happy to provide more info to anyone that wants it – if this post has not exhausted your need for minutia. By the way, got exit row seats on Kenyan Airways NBO to LHR which was a dramatic improvement, but was happy to hit business class on US Airways at the end (gotta luv those ff points).
Submitted with many smiles and fond memories - Amy
Let me begin by saying thank you to Hilton. What a spectacular experience. I had great expectations for this journey, and so often, those personal trips we anticipate the most, end up disappointing. My journey to Kenya exceeded all expectations. Africa has never been high on my vacation priority list, and I likely would not have visited for many more years had it not been for Hilton’s SAF8 award. I write this hoping that someone from Hilton will read this message and recognize that my suggestions for improvement are intended in a positive – opportunity to be even better - frame of mind.
Flew from SEA to NBO via PHL and LGW/LHR on US Airways and Kenya Airways. Business class through LGW on US, then coach on Kenya. Pay attention to seat assignments on Kenya. I made the mistake of not participating in seat selection and ended up in the last (non-reclining) seat in the cabin next to the lavatory. The 8 hour LHR to NBO flight was absolute misery. Cabin service on Kenya was rudimentary and brusque, but about what you would expect in terms of content. Personal video screens, 2 meals, etc. 2 calendar days later, arrived in Nairobi, and transferred to the Nairobi Hilton.
Check in at the Nairobi Hilton is a lengthy process. I was torn between irritation at the delay and appreciation for the hands on personal service. I just told myself to relax – stop being so “American” and enjoy it. Anyway, arrived, went to the reception counter, then escorted to the club lounge, waited about 1 hour for room to be ready, and then escorted to room. Flowers, fruit basket, and personal note from the manager were waiting in our upgraded suite. Make use of the business center if you have any hopes of e-mailing home. No such facilities exist at the Salt Lick Lodge. Forget work, I just mean to e-mail the family or friends that you have arrived.
Hilton apparently contracts the transportation/game drives/logistics of the safari package to Utc (United Touring Company). A very old and well respected safari operator based in Kenya. They should reconsider this – we found Utc service very perfunctory. Utc strictly adhered to the provided itinerary, provided clean and reliable transportation, and were equipped to address most any contingency that might arise. However, our driver/guide was not interested in going much beyond the bare minimum. He was not a communicator. He spoke english well, but was inclined to one word responses when possible and would only grudgingly respond when asked what this or that landmark might be, and forget any thoughts or comments on socio-economics, culture, or area history. Happily, we had spent our first afternoon visiting the Kenyan National Museum in Nairobi. I highly recommend it. A quick 2 hour excursion that provides a great information grounding on the country. The museum provided free personal guides (tip at end if you desire) that will walk you through wildlife displays and tribal/cultural displays that are very informative, if a bit shop worn and dusty. Need a good charitable cause – give to the museum! Also, beyond rethinking Utc, Hilton, tone down the warnings around personal safety in Nairobi. I appreciated the advice to use caution in and around Nairobi from the Hilton personnel, but after repeated warnings up to and including the advice that I should not to wear earrings as they might get ripped out of my ears, and finally learning that one couple had been chased down in the hotel van after setting off on foot and brought back to the hotel as it “was not safe to walk around”, I began to feel fearful. A warning/reminder is good, but it went a little over the top. (Subsequent time spent exploring Nairobi on foot – in the day time, with no valuables on my person – was enjoyable… and I am glad I recovered my courage enough to experience it.)
Our Utc driver/guide met us on day 2, and we began the 6 hour drive to the Salt Lick Safari Lodge. The drive was interesting, the roads - horrendous. Mainly driving on the transafrica highway (Nairobi/Mombasa Road). Those with back problems, plan well for severe endurance tests. There are two Hilton properties in the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary. Salt Lick Lodge and Taita Hills Lodge. Upon arrival, you will check in at Taita Hills lodge, then drive on for 10-15 minutes to Salt Lick Lodge. The picture on the Hilton website of Salt Lick Lodge captures it well.. A dramatic and beautiful setting that is very satisfying to pull up in front of. The rooms were high end basic but very acceptable. Buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a variety of meats, vegetables, and fruits. Easy eating for any pallet. Each day brings an early morning and late afternoon game drive. Never having visited Africa before, our first 3 game drives ‘seemed’ amazing. We would drive around for several hours looking for animals. We saw 3 lions on day one, and a single giraffe and monkeys on day 2. Apparently there is a hippo near the dam, but we didn’t see it. That all seemed very satisfying until we began talking with fellow travelers that had visited other game reserves and were talking about HERDS of animals. We elected to take a side trip to Tsavo East game park. Thank goodness we did. Our driver didn’t want to go (there is a set fee for this optional extra… but he didn’t want to do it… but pushy Americans that we are, finally we prevailed). It was a wholly different experience. Wildlife abounds there. 2 hours from the Salt Lick. Massive elephant herds, giraffes, buffalo, zebra, etc. I could barely take the time to focus the camera before seeing something else photo worthy. Make sure and lunch at the Tsavo East Lodge. Spectacular hilltop setting with Elephant watering holes below. Easily 150 elephants grazing below us while we ate.
So, at the Salt Lick, you will be well fed and enjoy the setting, but don’t look for anything else. Bring something to entertain yourself in the long afternoons and evenings. Brainstorming over dinner one night resulted in the following ideas for Hilton:
1) Consider implementing a book exchange (just a shelf somewhere)
2) Some type of evening entertainment would be fantastic. A naturalist lecture, a video, speaker from the local tribal community, something. I would have happily paid a fee if asked simply to experience a new source of activity.
3) Consider creating a TV room and/or providing a computer with e-mail access. You feel pretty isolated as you can not walk anywhere on the property and are basically stuck in the hotel or in the safari vehicle for 4 days.
4) There is a pool at Taita Hills Lodge, but our driver was not available to take us there, so we did not experience that. Consider a shuttle van to take passengers on the 15 minute drive to the pool so that reliance on the individual driver/guides is not necessary.
5) Consider stocking the game reserve. Anyone intent on seeing wildlife will not be satisfied with the experience in Taita Hills. To be fair, this may be a seasonal thing and we just hit it wrong, but, more animals, or even the proactive suggestion to visit other nearby game reserves would be nice.
Week 2 (Lonrho Hotels – Amazing)
We, based upon previous FT trip reports, elected to defer our last night at the Hilton Nairobi (night 6 of the package) for one week, until the end of our second week in Kenya. Thanks to Hilton for accommodating this request. I had not made travel arrangments for week two. We planned to bargain/arrange something locally hoping to find more attractive pricing than found on the internet. However, after our visit at Salt Lick (lack of wildlife), the challenging roads, and the trip through some pretty economically depressed and just plain depressing areas, we were considering an early return to the USA. This is unheard of for me. Heeding advice from a family friend, we elected to visit the well known and respected “Norfolk Hotel” in Nairobi on our first night after returning from the Salt Lick. We bargained. Rack rate was 400 USD per night. We got $160 including breakfast. Fantastic property. Part of the Lonrho Hotel chain. Travel and Leisure best hotels of the world 2003. It is. The in house travel agent at the Norfolk works for Express Travel (A division of American Express Travel). On one trip through the Norfolk lobby, we sat down and shared our Salt Lick Lodge experience with her and our intention to return home early if we could not find a better alternative (more animals, more entertainment, easier travel). We quoted a price ($1000 each for transportation, lodging, meals, and activities) and asked if she could make a suggestion for week two. We hit the jackpot with that one! Amazing. She appeared at our hotel room an hour later with a fully planned itinerary that fulfilled every fantasy I ever imagined for a visit to Africa. We left the next morning on a 3 hour drive to the Mount Kenya Safari Club (Nanyuki, Kenya - Lonrho Hotels – Travel and Leisure Best Hotels in the World 2003) where we spent 2 nights. 2 of us and one driver/guide in the safari/transport vehicle. We had a suite, game drives, golf, pool, lawn bowling of all things, extensive multiple acre grounds protected by electric fence enabled one to walk around, a TV room, a book exchange, an internet connection, 7 course dinners (no casual attire please), complimentary evening entertainment, etc. Amazing. Stretched my ingenuity at making one pull over jumper/dress and one pair of slacks look dressy though. Very British colonial atmosphere. Also, our Express Travel guide was great. We learned so much from him in the 3 days we spent together. I highly recommend Express Travel.
We then flew in a 9 passenger Cessna to Lonrho’s Mara Safari Camp (part of the Masai Mara and beginning of the Serengetti plains – Also a Travel and Leisure best hotel) with Air Kenya. Amenities on the 45 minute flight? Definitely. They passed a candy dish! The aerial view was fantastic. Skip the$300 balloon safari and take a flight! A luxury permanent tented camp with bathrooms ensuite. All the tents sit on the banks of the Mara river which is brimming with Hippopotamus. Afternoons and evenings on the porch in front of our tent were well spent with a cold cocktail consumed to the bellowing honks of the hippos. A memory I will cherish for the rest of my life. 3 game drives a day from Mara Safari Camp. Lots of animals. Our driver/guide was fantastic. I never knew that a vehicle could traverse some of the terrain we tackled. He had a knack for finding animals and at one point we were surrounded by a pride of lions, that actually sauntered over to enjoy the shade created by our vehicle. They were so close, my camera would not focus. Again, the camp offered an activity every evening, a library room with lots of information on local wildlife and tribal customs, pool, internet, etc, plus lots of fenced acres to facilitate pedestrian exploration. So, 3 nights in Mara, followed by another Cessna flight back to Nairobi. We even took a walking safari accompanied by 2 armed guards and a naturalist and came within feet of zebras and giraffes.
So, our last night in Kenya, back in Nairobi. At the Hilton. It was almost like coming home. I felt out of my depth with the luxury of the Lonrho Hotels, but very relaxed at the Hilton. Equally luxurious, but in the heart of a bustling city, you expect it. Maybe just more business oriented, probably just simply comfort in knowing exactly what to expect. Hilton sent us out with a bang. We were upgraded to the Presidential Suite. Really really amazing. The room has a guest book full of comments from the many heads of state that have stayed there. I was flattered to be deemed worthy, but too intimidated to actually sign the book myself….
In closing, thank you again Hilton. The trip would not have been possible without you. I continue to be a loyal customer and cheerleader and will work diligently to earn my next Hilton Vacation!
I would be happy to provide more info to anyone that wants it – if this post has not exhausted your need for minutia. By the way, got exit row seats on Kenyan Airways NBO to LHR which was a dramatic improvement, but was happy to hit business class on US Airways at the end (gotta luv those ff points).
Submitted with many smiles and fond memories - Amy