Lamai Serengeti Camp

We did have a fabulous safari, thanks in no small part to your fine work. This was sooo different from my sojourn in East Africa a couple of decades ago when my then-girlfriend and I rented a Land Rover and camped in our little two-person tent, cooki ng our own most basic meals over a little one-burner petrol stove. This time, it was delightful to sleep in plush tent-cabins and dine as gourmands. More important, the naturalist/drivers were superb. Best of all, Ann's health was largely good enough for her to take 7 of 8 game drives in Samburu and 16 of 20 in the Mara. I really recommend that your clients pay a bit extra to go to both the Samburu and Masai villages. These are eye-opening experiences. I was surprised to see the Masai have changed but little over the past two decades and saddened that the corrupt Kenyan government (as is true in most African countries) has provided little in the way of education and medical care for either the Masai or Samburu since I first visited East Africa. Because they are not members of Kenya's two largest tribes, the goverment by and large couldn't be bothered with them. One somewhat amusing note: our Masai guide noted that some of his village's cattle had be rustled by a neighboring tribe. When asked if he was going to report it to the authorities, he just shrugged his shoulders and said, "No. We'll just send some morani (warriors) to spear the thieves." Ah, African justice! Lamu was as wonderful as I had heard and I recommend it over either Mombassa or Malindi because of its unique Swahili/Arabic architecture, lack of cars (only two on the entire island), and little tourist hurly-burley. I do recommend that your clients have their hotel hire a guide for Lamu town (although he will doubtless take them in a plethora of shops where he gets commission--they should just tell him, "Enough shopping, thank you"). Yes, I recall that Mombassa and Malindi do have splendid beaches but Lamu's architecture and cultural heritage, along with its lovely sands do make it advantageous over the other two sites. Our accommodations at Banana House were splendid--the entire lovely upper floor of the guest house overlooking the Bay. Nonetheless, I suspect what the agencies and thus clients are changed for lodgings at Banana House may be a bit dear. The family running the guest house, however, is delightful and it certainly is well-located on the beach. Go2Africa sent me your profile and both your photo and bio fit quite well the bright, witty, lovely in every way woman I deduced from our phone conversations you to be. Certainly I will refer others to your exceptional offices and should you ever need a superlative recommendation, please don't hesitate to contact me. Finally, should you ever venture to the wilds of the San Francisco Bay Area, please call on me to play tour guide for you. It would be my delight to do so.