While Sept is a great month to catch the migration in the Masai Mara, are you planning to spend a full-week here? If so, where (lodge/camp)? Granted return visitors to Kenya might choose to do so, for first-timers which it appears you are, you can certainly fill up your 2/weeks with visits elsewhere in Kenya.

This can include one of the 'elephant' parks as Amboseli in the south with possible views of Kilimanjaro (located in Tanzania), or Samburu in the north with species not found elsewhere. Also can include a stop at Nanyuki/Ol Pejeta Conservance, Lake Nakuru, Lakes Naivasha and then conclude in the Masai Mara.

Suggest you pick-up a tour guide for Kenya to read up on these various areas and also likely to find a list of suggested tour operators.

Otherwise, for tour operators besides reading various posts here where you will find names of those used by others, check the KATOKENYA.Org site for the many outfitters who belong to this association.

Select 5-6, send same but individual emails to each detailing: when traveling, # of days in-country, # of people traveling (ages if any children as they might be eligible for discounts), where you wish to visit, type of accomm (lodges/tent camps), whether you wish a drive only, fly only or combo drive/fly routing; estimated budget... then await their replies and compare offerings.

Good luck!

On a budget of £25, the 1st location that comes to my mind is Lake Naivasha. For that price you can get a decent room or camp.

Naivasha is a lovely little tranquil lakeside town. Things to do are boat rides to see hippos, Crescent Island, Longonot trekking & Hells Gate.

Have a look Carnelly's Camp & Fishermans

http://www.campcarnelleys.com/

http://www.fishermanscamp.com/

I would just say at this point, with a year to plan, try your hardest to get a budget of more than £50 a day between you. That won't even cover park fees for any of the major parks which are all in the £40–£60 per day per person range. A super low-budget organised camping safari won't cost less than £100 a day per person, and most that are any good start at around £150–200 pppd.

Kenya is poor, but it's certainly not cheap.

Richard

We have just returned from a 7 night safari + 2 nights in Nairobi with Glorious safaris who are based in Mombassa but will pick you up from the airport. They were amazing, replied to our many e-mails promptly and Patrick our driver/guide was excellent. We went to Tsavo West, Amboseli, Lake Nakuru and the Masai Mara. In Nairobi we visited the elephant orphanage twice (11-12am and if you foster an elephant you can visit from 5-6pm but you do have to e-mail them if you want to go 5-6pm). This is definitely worth a visit as they do amazing work. We also went to Kazuri bead factory, also worth a visit to see how they make the necklaces etc from making the clay to putting the necklaces etc together. The tour is free, we just tipped the guide and then they have a shop if you want to buy things. We also went to the giraffe centre- ok to say you fed a giraffe but not much more to do and I wouldn't go again and the crocodile place - same as the giraffe place- it killed an hour or 2 we had spare but I would not go again. Hope this gives you some ideas. I started planning our holiday 12 months ago so I know what its like.

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Brad & Chris does your £50 a day include accommodation? Or have you budgeted separate for that?

If you want to get up close to some monkeys the monkey park is free....u can feed monkeys get pictures while they climb all over u....just pay 50 shillings for a bag of peanuts or a banana....just something to do for an hour or so...I thought it was a cool experience...I think its in Westlands area, the westgate mall is closeby too and every tues and thurs there is a massai market at the mall...

Hi,

for a low budget try local in Nairobi.

There is an excellent museum in Nairobi with African heritage which you will definitely enjoy.

Also there are small facilities animal related where you can enjoy a few hours of animal interaction (like Giraffe centre - for giraffes, Mamba village - for crocodiles, and other animals, Elephant orphanage..) these are very good especially if you are travelling with children

You can try out the shopping in Nairobi, it is better that you would expect

You can try the Karen Blixen museum.

there is the Nairobi national park, which is very good for a safari

For a good experience you can try with "Rhino Safari", for a safari or other type of activities.