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When did you fly out to return to the states when tour ended?
We are going on the great Migration in August….we are working on flights but did most people leave the day the tour ended or add on a day in Nairobi? Probably depends on when flight home is…thoughts? Advice?
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I would not want to stay around in Nairobi Did you say you want to go on to CapeTown? There is so much to do there!
Nairobi is not a safe place. They will tell you not to leave the hotel without an ‘escort’. I would not stay there any longer than necessary.
Totally agree with British and Sealord. When we were in Nariobi 25 years ago and staying at the Norfolk (I don’t know if it’s the same name currently), an escort took us to a very nice high end gift shop. It wasn’t suggested we go without an escort. I’ll also never forget the vommfnr that if we were to meander from the hotel grounds, they said “don’t look conspicuous”. In other words, we have light skin. I wanted to see other sights, but it wasn’t advised.
Agree about Nairobi; in my view the only reason for a visit would be the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. You will be much safer in Capetown.
Agree to a certain point about CapeTown as long as you keep in the tourist areas in daylight. If you go further, enlist a guide through your concierge. We have stayed at the One and Only and the Cape Grace hotel, both good for service. It’s easier to blend in as far as color of skin is concerned. Avoid travel showing expensive jewelry/ watches, designer bags etc or displaying money
When I was in Capetown, I stayed in the city center district (Taj Capetown). The location was great - in the early evening, there were city workers with yellow vests who would escort you around the area (I.e. to and from shops, green market, restaurants etc). We felt very safe.
Thanks all yet again for your input….currently we thinking that we will do Capetown first, before the Safari starts and so was wondering about the end part of the trip…Hopefully we will get the plane tickets and all arrangements made in the next few days….I appreciate your feedback about Capetown…and being cautious about the areas we go to….Everyone in this Forum is SO helpful….I really appreciate the Tauck community…
NancyCohen - Do the city workers provide their chaperone services as a community service? I would certainly offer a gratuity but do not know the protocol. Thanks in advance for your guidance.
Yes. It was their paid city job. Since we were there for about a week (mostly just 3 women), we often had the same escorts. If I remember correctly, they refused a gratuity. I know we offered! After our day’s touring, we left the men at the hotel and went to our favorites spots: the green market and Tribal Collection, Tribal Trends etc. - all within walking distance of the Taj.
Thank you!
The GM tour ends with a day room at the Hemingway hotel. We flew in from the last lodge in the morning, then stopped at a major gift shop on the way to the hotel. Got to the hotel a little before lunch (included, at own time). One person on the trip decided to skip the gift shop and was taken to the hotel while others shopped; he was headed for Israel and his flight left earlier than those flying back to the US, him leaving the hotel after lunch. Most of us left the hotel around 7/8 in the evening after dinner, as our flights to the East Coast were all after 11pm (last official day of the tour). The last day is mostly downtime at the hotel: relaxing, eating, and packing.
One person on our tour stayed extra days as she wanted to go to the Karen Blixen Center and an elephant sanctuary, which she was able to do in one day with a hired driver. If you had something specific you wanted to do in Nairobi, you could likely pre-arrange to do so on the last day of the tour rather than spending it around the hotel.
One of our TD’s on our last K&T lived in Nairobi near the Blixen house. We were interested in going there, but he said the place was ‘unremarkable’ and not worth the time and the effort to get there. I have always been told that getting out of Nairobi quickly is a good idea.
I’m with you SeaLord
One man's trash is another man's treasure. I went to the Karen Blixen Museum and found it fascinating. Having said that, I couldn't wait to get out of Nairobi and went on to Zanzibar on my own after K&T.
20+ years ago we dined at the Carnivore Cafe in Nairobi. I have an ever so distant relative whose father built the synagogue in Nairobi, Imre Rozsa (1911-1991).
We did extend our Great Migration Tour with a 3 day stay in Capetown. We would have preferred going to Capetown first but flying that way added more time to the trip, so we went from Nairobi. After so many safaris we chose to skip those in Capetown.and hired a driver to see the penguins, table mountain, Cape of Good Hope,etc and then another driver to visit the wine country and Stellenbosch. We hired taxis for dinners at the Wharf. IF you have the time, do it, you are right it is a long way from California.
Thanks Sherry for your thoughts and the things you did in Capetown….sounds like a good itinerary…also appreciate understanding more what the last day of the tour looks like…thanks everyone!
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