In the States you can contact:

www.2afrika.com

to put together an itinerary for these countries - while generally considered a budget tour operator, they can arrange itineraries at moderate and expensive if you wish. They can also provide trans-Atlantic airfares thru their consolidator air department.

Another company for airfares would be:

www.premiertours.com

which is also a tour operator and you can inquire of them for an itinerary as well. Their air consolidator department is also excellent and offers competitive prices, in fact the company I have used.

For an in-country tour operator you might want to contact:

www.essafari.co.ke *
*I'll double check this site, and post again if it is incorrect.

What you don't mention, however, if you're talking Jan/Feb '04 or '05, nor your budget. As there are many tour operators who can meet your needs at every price level.

Thanks Sandi, there appears to be a good number of tour operators, and I will look into those you recommended, but what I was questioning is the ability of dealing with the guide directly and not through an agent or tour operator.

lecisin -
Not that I know of, are there independent contractor guides. Maybe someone else on the board would have a name, but most guides work through tour operators. And with unemployment so high and tourism down some 90% in East Africa, qualified guides are only too glad to have a job with a tour operator.

What type of itinerary are you thinking of that you would need an independent guide. If you don't want to go on a tour with a group, I can well understand, but you can go on an independent tour, just yourself and maybe another (travel partner, or not). We've always traveled independently with our own guide/driver, through a tour operator.

You do realize if you can find an independent guide, you have to pay for their vehicle, gasoline, sleeping accommodations, meals, their time/hours, etc. And if by chance you need to fly between destinations, are you going to pay for the guide? Not to say that if working through a tour operator these costs aren't included in the price they submit to you, but tour operators have a better ability to spread the costs out, so one individual doesn't take the full hit.

Hi Tom:

In October '02 we did a private safari through Sun Trek Safaris (www.suntreksafaris.com -or- safaris@suntreksafaris.com) and they were excellant. They are Nairobi based we first contacted them via e-mail in July '02 for a departure 10 weeks later & did everything with them from Canada via e-mail. They provided us with a custom itinery and everything went flawlessly.

Hope this is what you are looking for,

Z

Sandi, thanks for your further comments. Sorry, I did not reply earlier, but have been away. It is helpful to know that the tourist count is down, and I now have a better appreciation of the reasons to book through a tour operator. The difficulty I have is perhaps fanciful thinking of East Africa.

This is a summary of my current thinking and reasons for going to East Africa.

Principal Reasons for going to East Africa: (1) Experience, learn and gain a greater appreciation of indigenous culture, and (2) Visualize African flora and fauna in close proximity as possible in a natural setting.
Reasons for Not Going: To be pampered, to laze idly around, to be part of a large or structured tour group, to be herded into and bounced around in a tour vehicle rushing from place to place - except to the extent absoloutely necessary, to do things by the number, to stay at the best lodges, and generally to be treated and interacted like a consummate tourist.

As to my preferences, although from what I read and am told this is no longer feasible (except for perhaps in Selous, which I understand will be too hot and humid when I arrive), I would prefer to hire an English-speaking, native guide, together with any necessary porters, who has a great understanding, appreciation and love of local fauna and flora, and, as I am physically fit, to go by foot into the bush witness it. I believe only by walking the terrain in the absence of human induced noise and visual impact is one fully able to relate to the land and its inhabitants. I would also like to do this privately for the flexibility it provides with respect to time and environmental interest. (Going by horse is another possibility but it can become uncomfortable riding for an extended period and the necessity of feeding and carrying for the animal can be too burdensome). Assuming I am unable to go by foot on a private safari, then I would like to approximate it as closely as possible by basic tent camping in as remote as possible camp sites that would provide good access to the wildlife. I would welcome the opportunity to participate in any camp chores and have no objection to fly-in campsites.

As to where I would like to visit, the Serengetti, the Crater, Mara, and other recommended comparable sites, are of primary interest, as well as possibly exploring northern Kenya. In addition, I have a great interest in interacting with the gorillas and chimpanzees. I would also like to experience local culture by visiting villages off the tourist circuit where, if indeed possible, I may relate to the villagers and they to me as a person and not solely as a preconceived tourist. Zanzibar and the other coastal communities are of secondary and relatively minor interest.

I am traveling alone and expect to arrive in Kenya in early to mid-February on a specific date that I will subsequently determine. I will be arriving from South Africa where I intend to visit from January 19 onward. I have no time constraints except to the extent of my interest.

Travel Master
Thanks for the information, I intend to contact them

Lecisn:

You might also want to check out the website of "Tropical Ice". Iain Allan is a Kenyan who runs the company and does both walking safaris and also climbing safaris. He is regarded as the most experienced mountaineer in East Africa. I recently read a book "The Shadow of Kilimanjaro" by Rick Ridgeway telling of his and Iain Allan's climbing up Kilimanjaro, down the other side and across Tsavo to the coast on foot. Really a fascinating story. Were I younger I might consider it myself. He does have some trips planned for 2004 and you can see them on the Tropical Ice website.

Jan

Jan beat me to it, but I was also going to suggest Tropical Ice!

lecfisin - I just checked the Tropical Ice site - great information. For the things you detailed and would like to accomplish during your time in East Africa, there are various operators on the TI site who can handle your requirements. Now you've got to contact them and see what they can arrange. It should be an interesting and different type itinerary. Do tell us what you decide. Lots of luck!

JanGross and others:
The Tropica Ice site is terrific and I e-mailed the firm and waiting response.
Thank you for the suggestion and to all others who responded.
I would be pleased to reciprocate by informing of future developments by posting on a new thread called Lescisin African Travel, for lack of a better name, as this thread may be getting too long and possibly outdated.

Lecisin:

Glad we could steer you to something you think would be great for you. If you decide to go on Iain's safari try to read Rick Ridgeway's book and also that of Philip Caputo called "Ghosts of Tsavo" - both super books - before you go. It will give you a taste of what a walking safari is like.

Please be sure to keep us up to date on your plans, and when you get back do a trip report so we can all enjoy your travels.

Planning is almost as fun as the trip itself and we know you'll enjoy it. If you have questions please come back to the Fodors site as there are many African lovers here who would be glad to answer questions you have.

Jan

Jan
Thanks, will do.
Tom

Lecisin,

It sounds like you are wanting to take the same kind of trip I intend to take in May. I look forward to hearing about your plans as they develop. I want to see the chimps and gorillas, too. When King was here, (I sure miss him), he helped me develop an itenerary including Kenya as well as the chimps and gorillas. I'll send you that if you email mariacallas@yahoo.com.

To see Chimps you may want to consider Mahale Mts. National Park in Tanzania. They will begin direct air service from Arusha this spring. We just returned from Tanzania and met an Aussie couple that had visited the park. They said it was awesome!! They had to take a flight to Katavi National Park and then a one hour boat ride up the river to reach the park. With direct flights coming in from Arusha this would be a great trip with animals that have not seen lots of tourists -YET!!

Hi,..
Is your name Lecisin,..or Lescisin ?

Thank you,

www.villagelifesafari.com or www.villagelifesafari.com offer very good private safari starting from Nairobi.

O.

Dealing with a tour company is better, considering the The safety of the tourist. Especially in Kenya and Tanzania, though there are a lot of private Tour guides around.
Last Year i came across a Russian who was damped by his guide at Namanga, the border of Kenya and Tanzania and i had gone to pick up tourist from Syria who were transfer d to our tour company in Tanzania. I was shocked wen She came to me speaking in Russia asking me where in Peter,she have been there for almost 3hrs I could not speak Russian but my gust could, so they translated and thats how she realized she was DOOMED.
She was heading to Nairobi For another three days. I asked the guide from Kenya who came with my guest from Nairobi to go with her back to Nairobi, and see how they can help her, luckily she had all her stuff except the non-nonrefundable bookings which were for the last 3 days in Mombasa and Lamu.

So when you are booking with a private Guide BE SURE AND THINK TWICE before attempting.

Who the heck dug up this 10/yr old thread with initial post in '03 and replies in '04... then a post in '12.

The info is dated and of little use to anyone now... things do change over the years.