Contact Africa Serendipity. Sandi is an expert on East Africa and could plan something nice for you. BTW, I think that August would be better for seeing the Migration in the Masai Mara.

I agree with ShayTay - Sandi at Africa Serendipity will look after you well.

I'll make it a threesome - contact Africa Serendipity.

regards - tom

I agree with you that July is a perfect time for the spectacular wildebeest migration in the Maasai Mara game reserve.
Please view below camps;
Maasai Mara:3nights
Explorean camp or Olonana Camp-sanctuary retreat.Both are located next to the Mara river.
Amboseli National Park.2nights
Kilima camp;perfect for viewing Mt.Kilimanjaro and elephants.
Tsavo West National Park.2nights
Severin Safari Camp.Located at the heart of the park very close to Mzima Springs.

All game viewing open sided vehicles can be arranged.Please contact an outfitter to advise as well.
I have been to the camps and did like their services.
Cheers.

Thanks for the info pody22 and for spending the time to detail a possible itinerary. To Cary999,KathBC and ShatTay, we appreciate your recommendation of Africa Serendipity. They have an awesome website and look like a very professional outfitter. We are still exploring all options and hoping that we'll get additional input to our post. Thanks to all for sharing your expertise-

Just a point on the vehicles. I am also used to the open vehicles of Zambia/Botswana but have recently visited Kicheche's camps in the Mara conservancies. They have vehicles that are somewhere between completely open and "pop up top"- see photos here http://www.kicheche.com/activities.shtm

I actually found this sort of vehicle better for photography, as it is still very open whilst providing more surfaces to rest a bean bag on. One of the owners of Kicheche is a professional photographer (Paul Goldstein) so the vehicles were probably carefully selected with photographers in mind.

Kicheche probably aren't quite the level of luxury you're looking for (try Mara Plains- owned by Great Plains Conservation who own Duba Plains in Botswana) but I wouldn't fixate too much on open vehicles.

We were in Masai Mara from August 8 to August 13 2007, stayed two nights in Mara Sarena and 3 nights in Little Governor Camp. We saw migration twice, high lights of our trip. We were told that it was still early for migration, it would've been better in another week or so. So I agree that mid August will be better for migration.

Pat

Note that prices for 2013 have yet to be published. Probably not before mid '12, from June forward. You'll still have more than sufficient time to plan.

Look at Samburu Saruni in Kenya...www.sarunisamburu.com

Just magnificent and an amazing experience in the middle of no where!

I was thrilled and surprised it was part of my itinerary.

Enjoy, Max

Hi James. I may get shot by saying this, but I am yet to have found a camp in Kenya that would be the likes on Mombo or Vumbra plains. Kenya tends to offer a more classic safari experience. If you had a look at Little Vumbra, that is more like what you would get in Kenya.

Open vehicles - try Mara explorer, Naibor, Rekero?

Let us all know how it goes.

Again, Thanks to all for your informative posts. Most especially, the information from roadwarriorafrica is most appreciated!

Have you figured it out yet? I'd like to hear what you settled on. Make sure to keep us posted!

So what did you decide James?

James, We are all eager to know if you have made a decision. I have been looking to do a similar trip and have done extensive research on camps. Our benchmark camps are Jongomero, Selous Safari and Sand Rivers in S. Tanzania. Some of the camps that I am considering for Kenya/N. Tanzania are as follows:

Elsa's Kopje - Meru, Kenya
Rhino River Camp - Meru, Kenya
Mara Plains - Mara Olare Orok, Kenya
Rekero Naboisho - Mara Koiyaki & Ol Kinyei, Kenya
Serian Camp - Koiyaki Northwest, Kenya
Nomad Lamai Camp - Serengeti Mara, Tanzania
Sayari Mara Camp - Serengeti Mara Triangle, Tanzania

I was to Kenya last year and stayed at Bateleur Camp and Little Shempole. Bateleur Camp had amazing, amazing game drives. Little Shempole had a gorgeous pool. Reminded me of Greece in the middle of Africa.

I'd head back to Bateleur for the game drive and just do Little Shempole for some relaxing.

I have more details and pictures at http://bombasticlife.com/place/kenya/

bonbasticlife - sadly, the Shompole properties are closed and have been for at least the past year... something to do with the local community. However, have to admit this was one of my favorite stops in Kenya.

We stayed at Loisaba and Mara Explorer in 2007. Loisaba had the most wonderful Balloon Experience and Star Beds. Great game drives (though nothing compared to Botswana/Tanzania).
Mara Explorer was beautiful too.

For a luxury experience in Masai Mara I will recommend you the following camps& Lodge :
Olonana Camp
Bateleur Camp
Ngendere Island Lodge

The above properties are small and they provide high quality services with personal touch.