Camera PV 2007 » Digital Camera » Kenya & Tanzania Info please.
Kenya & Tanzania Info please.
Question:
Hello I am retired 66 year old and will be taking a Globus 2 week safari (1st week in Kenya, 2nd week in Tanzania) first two weeks in August. Will most of the wildebeests be in the Maasai Mara by then or will they still be arriving, judging from the late start of the migration as per several posts in this group. Also in order to cut down on land travel time the tour includes 2 travels by air. One from the Maasai Mara back to Nairobi. The other on the end of the Tanzania week from Arusha to Nairobi to catch the home bound return flight the day after. Could some one tell me what kind of planes are used for the trips ? Are they small 8 passenger Cessna type planes,or commercial short range Propeller type planes . In other words is this a regular commercial service or just for the safari crowd? I would guess it is a commercial run . I was thinking in a small plane flying lower, it might be possible to get some extra shots of the country side. Last question as Photography is a big part of taking a safari do any of the lodges sell digital camera storage media and supplies? I have bought a ImageTank to store my shots, but in case it got stolen or malfunctions I would by mighty upset if I had to wait four or five days to buy some extra cards. before we returned to Nairobi. Thanks Karl
Response:
>Could some one tell me what kind of planes are used for the trips ? >Are they small 8 passenger Cessna type planes,or commercial short range >Propeller type planes . In other words is this a regular commercial service or >just for the safari crowd? I would guess it is a commercial run . >I was thinking in a small plane flying lower, it might be possible to get some >extra shots of the country side.
Karl, my answers will be a bit vague, because I don’t know everything precisely, but I hope to give you a better feel for the situation. The planes used here go from small Cessna single engine six seaters through the very popular Cessna Caravan (1 turboprop, gear not retractable) to somewhat bigger planes like the Beech King Air (2 turboprop) and even the DC-3 in original form and also converted to turboprop. Smaller planes are more often used, with 8 to 14 seats. They don’t fly very low, except for takeoff and landing, so use these phases of flight for some photos. Low flying is not even permitted over nature reserves, minimum altitude there is 1,500 ft, rather than the normal limit of 500 ft. You could try to ask the pilot to climb out at a lower rate after takeoff. >Last question as Photography is a big part of taking a safari do any of the lodges >sell digital camera storage media and supplies? I have bought a ImageTank to >store my shots, but in case it got stolen or malfunctions I would by mighty upset >if I had to wait four or five days to buy some extra cards. before we returned to > Nairobi.
I don’t think the lodges sell much of this stuff. Don’t rely on it. Better bring an extra storage module. Perhaps you can borrow one from a friend. Hans-Georg (currently in Kenya) — No mail, please.
Response:
In message – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Hello I am retired 66 year old and will be taking a Globus 2 week safari >(1st week in Kenya, 2nd week in Tanzania) first two weeks in August. >Will most of the wildebeests be in the Maasai Mara by then or will they >still be arriving, judging from the late start of the migration as per several >posts in this group. >Also in order to cut down on land travel time the tour includes 2 travels by >air. One from the Maasai Mara back to Nairobi. The other on the end of the >Tanzania week from Arusha to Nairobi to catch the home bound return flight >the day after. >Could some one tell me what kind of planes are used for the trips ? >Are they small 8 passenger Cessna type planes,or commercial short range >Propeller type planes . In other words is this a regular commercial service or >just for the safari crowd? I would guess it is a commercial run . >I was thinking in a small plane flying lower, it might be possible to get some >extra shots of the country side. >Last question as Photography is a big part of taking a safari do any of >the lodges >sell digital camera storage media and supplies? I have bought a ImageTank to >store my shots, but in case it got stolen or malfunctions I would by >mighty upset >if I had to wait four or five days to buy some extra cards. before we >returned to > Nairobi. >Thanks > Karl
On the aircraft Karl, we went to both the Mara and Amboseli on light aircraft with Air Kenya. They are anything from four to twelve seaters, usually, but not always, twin engined. They are used for safari traffic and for other uses. For instance, we lived in a fairly remote area in Kenya for three years and had to travel up to Nairobi by light aircraft, mostly Cessna but other aircraft were also used. It`s well organised in Kenya and there is a separate airport, called Wilson, for this traffic. Someone else can probably tell you about the photographic side but I would say take what you need with you. The lodges don`t carry large stocks and you will pay a lot more. Pat — Pat Anderson
Response:
Hi, For the current migration you can have a look here http://www.wildwatch.com/sightings/migration.asp. If you are ready with that than you could have a look on my site http://www.outtoafrica.nl for a predepature look. Hope you will like it and have a great time. Regards Paul – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hello I am retired 66 year old and will be taking a Globus 2 week safari > (1st week in Kenya, 2nd week in Tanzania) first two weeks in August. > Will most of the wildebeests be in the Maasai Mara by then or will they > still be arriving, judging from the late start of the migration as per several > posts in this group. > Also in order to cut down on land travel time the tour includes 2 travels by > air. One from the Maasai Mara back to Nairobi. The other on the end of the > Tanzania week from Arusha to Nairobi to catch the home bound return flight > the day after. > Could some one tell me what kind of planes are used for the trips ? > Are they small 8 passenger Cessna type planes,or commercial short range > Propeller type planes . In other words is this a regular commercial service or > just for the safari crowd? I would guess it is a commercial run . > I was thinking in a small plane flying lower, it might be possible to get some > extra shots of the country side. > Last question as Photography is a big part of taking a safari do any of the lodges > sell digital camera storage media and supplies? I have bought a ImageTank to > store my shots, but in case it got stolen or malfunctions I would by mighty upset > if I had to wait four or five days to buy some extra cards. before we returned to > Nairobi. > Thanks > Karl
Response:
> Also in order to cut down on land travel time the tour includes 2 travels by > air. One from the Maasai Mara back to Nairobi. The other on the end of the > Tanzania week from Arusha to Nairobi to catch the home bound return flight > the day after. > Could some one tell me what kind of planes are used for the trips ?
When we flew from Nairobi to Arusha and back a couple of years ago it was on about a 12-seater – we got superb views of Mt Kilimanjaro but too high to see any game. —
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Also in order to cut down on land travel time the tour includes 2 travels by > air. One from the Maasai Mara back to Nairobi. The other on the end of the > Tanzania week from Arusha to Nairobi to catch the home bound return flight > the day after. > Could some one tell me what kind of planes are used for the trips ? > When we flew from Nairobi to Arusha and back a couple of years ago it was on about a > 12-seater – we got superb views of Mt Kilimanjaro but too high to see any game. > —
Thanks so much for every one that replied, I will keep your recommendations in mind. Guess I will buy a 4th 256 MB memory card to safeguard against problem with the ImageTank storage unit. Hans-Georg you mentioned DC-3 s, don’t those things ever die? Last and only time I flew one was around 1962 on a short flight from London to Berlin-Tempelhof. Got the greatest shock when after takeoff the top of the wing developed many wrinkles, due to bending of the wings, I doubted it would make the channel crossing. LOL I only hope the current knee-jerk reaction of BA to not fly to Kenya is lifted by July 31. As I am booked with BA from Toronto to Nairobi , their website is not specific but mentions passengers to Kenya would be rerouted via Tanzania. Using Kenya Airways would be a better choice. Thanks Karl Quies
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > Also in order to cut down on land travel time the tour includes 2 > >travels by > > air. One from the Maasai Mara back to Nairobi. The other on the end of the > > Tanzania week from Arusha to Nairobi to catch the home bound return flight > > the day after. > > Could some one tell me what kind of planes are used for the trips ? > When we flew from Nairobi to Arusha and back a couple of years ago it >was on about a > 12-seater – we got superb views of Mt Kilimanjaro but too high to see >any game. > — >Thanks so much for every one that replied, I will keep your >recommendations in mind. >Guess I will buy a 4th 256 MB memory card to safeguard against problem with >the ImageTank storage unit. >Hans-Georg you mentioned DC-3 s, don’t those things ever die? Last and only >time I flew one was around 1962 on a short flight from London to >Berlin-Tempelhof. >Got the greatest shock when after takeoff the top of the wing >developed many wrinkles, >due to bending of the wings, I doubted it would make the channel crossing. LOL >I only hope the current knee-jerk reaction of BA to not fly to Kenya is >lifted by July 31. >As I am booked with BA from Toronto to Nairobi , their website is not >specific but >mentions passengers to Kenya would be rerouted via Tanzania. Using >Kenya Airways >would be a better choice. >Thanks >Karl Quies
Karl, The DC3 looks pretty impressive sitting at the airport. I haven`t been on one but a friend flew to the Masai Mara on one. I didn`t realise Hans Georg had already posted. He is a pilot so knows best. I`m in Britain so I`m aware of BA`s decision not to fly to Nairobi. It will probably be back to normal by the time you go. Kenya Airways is also a good airline. We flew London/ Nairobi with them the last three times we went. Pat — Pat Anderson
Response:
>Hans-Georg you mentioned DC-3 s, don’t those things ever die?
Karl, no, never. 
Some years ago they had a flying contest at Wilson Airport (Aero Club of East Africa, of which I’m a member), where they had, among other tasks, to hit gas balloons with a Cessna 152. After watching for a while, some diehard pilots decided to fire up the DC-3 and take part in the competition. I still remember the big bird coming in at low level. Don’t think it ever hit a balloon, but it was great fun for everybody. Nowadays most of them are converted to turboprop, perhaps sadly. Hans-Georg — No mail, please.