Tech stop in Tanzania or Kenya

[cambioso]

We will be routing through Kenya or Tanzania (it's up to me ?!!) on the way down to SA in May.
Any tips and recommendations on where to nightstop and which handlers can be good and trusted?
We will have the Boss plus 5 of his mates to put up in a posh hotel somewhere.
Thanks Guys,
Jez

[atpcliff]

Hi!

How long of a stop?

Sounds like you are probably looking at Dar-es-Salaam or Nairobi as your only 2 realistic options.

cliff
NBO

[cambioso]

It will be for one night out and probably one night back a week or so later.
Must be reasonably safe, and have a posh hotel in town.
Thanks,
J

[atpcliff]

Hi!

The "Posh" hotel thing is a problem. In my opinion, there is not one anywhere in Kenya or Tanzania. I guess it depends on your definition.

Dar IS safer than Nairobi. It is also a lot more hot and humid. It will be quite hot and muggy in Dar, so that may sway your decision. Nairobi is never too hot, and usually pretty nice. NBO and DAR are both definitely 3rd world.

The best hotels in each city are downtown, not too far from the airports, but traffic is a big ??? If traffic is horrible, it takes a LONG time to get from downtown to the airport, in both cases.

NBO:
It sounds like this IS the best choice in NBO, and if you get a suite, does sound actually "Posh"
Tribe - the Village Market Hotel (Nairobi, Kenya) - Hotel Reviews - TripAdvisor (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g294207-d1158294-Reviews-Tribe_the_Village_Market_Hotel-Nairobi.html)

The Village Market area is the ONLY one that I've seen that I would say is really, really nice. I was actually shocked when I went there at how many Mzungus were there. It seemed like I had gotten lost in NBO, and somewhere fallen into a crack in the fabric of space-time, and had been instantaneously transported to Europe. It is very close to both the US and Canuckian embassies.

I do NOT think they would like the Stanley Hotel, which is very famous. Old and small rooms, like a typical big-city hotel that was built 100+ years ago.

Oh, and before I forget, I would NOT waste my time at the Carnivore restaurant. It is very unique-looking, but their exotic meats include Turkey and Ostrich...I can get WAY better than that in KGRB. The food is not prepared that well, and it is a huge waste of money. They are resting on their laurels from 50 years back.

I would recommend Haandi, a great Indian restaurant, or the Blue Nile, which has great Ethiopian food, if they want to try something a lot different than they normally experience.

Dar:
After thinking about it, I would stay stop in NBO. It is THE best African city between Cairo and South Africa. Unless they want the beach and hot weather....or you could stop at NBO one way, and DAR the other. NBO is bigger, and is THE main transportation hub for central Africa.

Don't know about the handler situation...NBO U can fly to Jomo or Wilson. Clinton, and top gov't people fly into Jomo Kenyatta. Wison is the old city airport, and is much closer to downtown. I am 90% sure that security is a lot better at Jomo Kenyatta. Oh, also, Wilson has no approaches, and to Jomo you can get radar vectored to the ILS 06.

cliff
NBO

[Carrier]

Consider a stop in Mwanza HTMW, staying at tilapia (http://www.hoteltilapia.com)

[flyhardmo]

Stop in in Zanzibar (40nm NE od HTDA) and stay at the serena hotel in town or one of a hundred resorts along the coast. Alot more fun than Dar.

[captabcd]

Tanzania :ugh:well most hotels there will defiantly charge " posh " rates, but be sure to place your order a few day's ahead as they mostly will not have 90% of the choice provided on their menu:hmm:. Oh and the service will be exotically slow as well :{. This even if it's a five star hotel.
Kenya will be a better choice :rolleyes:.
Safety:\, well as far as that is concerned. Both these places are in the heart of Africa. Make sure you are well armored and have armed escorts.

[atpcliff]

Hi!

You do NOT want to stay in Mwanza, or Zanzibar, either, unless they are up for an exotic (read: VERY third world) adventure. I really like Mwanza, but if they want something very nice, Mwanza is like going to Haiti, and Zanzibar is not far behind. For example, Mwanza's airport does not have toilets, and the airport bathrooms in Zanzibar are the worst of anywhere we go. Yesterday, I just found a toilet with a toilet seat in Zanzibar, and I was SHOCKED! It was upstairs near the restaurant. It WAS cracked, but it was a toilet seat. Wow!

Zanzibar was the happening place to be in the 1800s, but not today. Now, if I was coming with my CEO (the wife), we would LOVE Zanzibar, as they have great beaches that are out of the way, and we don't mind roughing it, but it doesn't sound like your group is in to "roughing it".

Our restaurant experiences at Serena is that they are vastly over-rated. Don't know about their hotels around here.

cliff
NBO

[cambioso]

Thanks for the replies guys.
I'm sorry I've been "Off the Air" for a bit but had to fly for my living (Casablanca 3 days Cannes 3 days).
Very interesting, and much appreciated, sounds like Wilson it is then.
Silly question, but are a/c safe left overnight at Wilson?
I guess "posh" has to mean safe, and clean then?
Thanks again,
Jez

[hercrat]

Check out the Fairmont Norfolk Hotel in Nairobi. Friends stayed there last month and really liked it. 15 years ago it was the best hotel in NBO(in my opinion) and has since been upgraded by the Fairmont group.

Cheers

[Vialengai]

I would go to Dar es Salaam. I would use Tanzanite Jet Centre for Handling and stay at the Kilimanjaro Kempinski Hotel, its 5* and world class by any standards. Dar airport with decent handling is far easier to operate in than Wilson with no Handling. At Wilson you will have to arrive at the customs bay, but you wont be able to leave your aircraft there overnight, which will now facilitate a tow or a restart and find parking elsewhere! If you coose Kenya, land at Jomo and use Tradewinds for handling. Have fun, its a great part of the world.

[heliace]

Why not try Kigali, Rwanda? Easy stopover, aircraft will be safe and the Serena in town is 4 star at 5 star prices if thats posh. Mutzig, the local beer is good and cheap.

[atpcliff]

Hi!

I think Kigali is too much like Mwanza or Zanzibar (or Bujumbura), and not enough like Europe for your guys. We go to Kigali a lot. The Chief Pilot here used to live there (and everywhere else in Africa!).

cliff
NBO

[Habari]

Would recommend Entebbe in Uganda.
No handling required and very easy formalities at briefing office. Very cheap landing, parking and nav fees. All international fuel companies represented at airport.
Good quality hotels in town and within 5kms of the airport.

[atpcliff]

Hi!

Entebbe is THE best airport in Eastern Africa. It is small, and I know nothing about the city, but the airport is great!

cliff
NBO

[samjetblaster]

Really??:eek::confused: