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Message: <blockquote data-quote="kitefarrago" data-source="post: 3169021" data-attributes="member: 91670">Nick, there isn't much to breaking down the costs in my case. I flew into Nairobi, transferred to Wilson (where all the small planes to `safari destinations' depart), flew to the Mara, spent two weeks, and then did it in the opposite direction on my return to the UK.The way Freeman's camp works, his prices are inclusive of the transfer between the two Nairobi airports and the flight into the Mara he'll also organize for you. Once you get there his prices are all inclusive. You can see his booking page with prices for 2015 <a href="http://www.freemansafaris.com/enquiries/" target="_blank">here</a>. The page is misleading since it suggests you have to book one or two weeks at a time, arriving on specific dates - but in fact, they have a per day pro rata price and so actually they are much more flexible regarding departures and arrivals than suggested there. On top of the corresponding fees given there my internal flights were 237UKP (paid directly to him and he organized that as well as the transfer between the aiports), and then there was a 18UKP compulsory insurance fee for the flying doctor service (which he insists on).However, the Kenyan government has recently decided to raise VAT on all aspects of tourist-related income and the webpage linked to above indicates that this means both, a price increase as well as a different billing system. The government's action is incredibly short-sighted, since the Ebola crisis has left all African countries with fewer tourists coming in (it's not really logical, but in people's minds avoiding all of Africa makes sense). You'll have to go to the page linked above to see the consequences this has from June onwards.On Brian's Facebook page he's offering various discounts, in particular: "As long as you book via the Internet and pay the deposit by the 1 June 2015 I willFor Anyone who has ever been on safari with me I will give an 8% discount on the daily safari fee plus I will pay your park fees of £67 per day. I will further discount the safari fee by 5% if you have already been on 3 safaris with me or you make a booking for a party of 4 or more.To new clients I will pay your park fees which are £67 per day plus an additional 5% discount of the safari fee for a party of 4 or more."He's doing this because he's worried about being able to employ his staff for the season. The way the tourist industry works in many African countries, the drivers/guides and camp staff are seasonally employed, and if there aren't enough guests around they're effectively laid off for that period.You can indeed pay for the exclusive use of a vehicle - see the webpage linked above for detail. Brian's landrovers only have four seats for clients (almost all other vehicles I saw had a longer wheel-base and were equipped to carry more people), and there is certainly room to move around. Because the vehicles are open you can look in all directions, so there's no fighting over a window/roof hatch space. If you're a small party you'll thus effectively get a private vehicle in any case. He did say in his original email to me that were people not travelling together share a vehicle he makes sure that they have shared interests.I was very lucky in that when I arrived there were very few guests. I ended up with a private vehicle for the first few days by default (the other two guests may have paid for a private vehicle, I don't know - they were certainly were single-minded, one only wanting crossings and one only wanting leopards and you couldn't have put anybody else in there with them), and the next guests who arrived were a family of four who also had their own vehicle. I think Brian originally planned to put me together with guests who arrived into my second week, but once he realized I was a bird watcher, and I was very happy with his most inexperienced guide because he was also into birds, he just left us be. (His inexperienced guy thus got some time travelling all over the Mara, and we both really enjoyed our time with each other.) His most highly rated drivers are those who know how to create the best photo opportunities. I had one and a half days with one of them, and I must say some of the mammal shots I got with him were very good. Everybody who was there praised their driver/guides during meals. (The local term is `driver', but it seriously undervalues what they do.) I was very lucky that I visited in what was high season in the Mara, but low season in the camp, but also because the way the camp is run is more about everybody's enjoyment (and keeping local people in their jobs) than running a cut-throat business.I wouldn't want to comment on other camps because I have no personal experience. There's a largely forum-based website, Safaritalk.net, where there is a lot of expertise regarding the different camps on offer, including when one might get special deals and how. There seems to be a greater distinction between high and low season in other camps. Also, most camps will quote their rates in dollars (Brian's are in UKP), so fluctuations in the exchange rate can contribute to the overall price for those of us who live in the UK.I was originally attracted to Brian's camp because he does not charge a single supplement, because I liked the description on his webpage, and because I liked the idea of open vehicles (I'd been to Southern Africa before where vehicles were open as well and I didn't like the idea of roof hatches or windows - what's a bit of dust when you're in the bush?). I also liked the fact that his rates are all-inclusive, so you know exactly what the costs are (and you don't have to carry any serious cash). He responded in great detail when I emailed him with a few questions and I was running out of time to book something, so I took the plunge. I was extremely happy with this holiday, and I wouldn't consider another camp on a return visit (and I'm sure there will be one eventually).On top of that you have the flight to Nairobi. Flying in August and booking comparatively late meant there were no good deals on offer (but I'm getting the impression really good deals are harder to find when one has fixed dates to work with). I'd be quite happy to answer more questions about this. Given that I do sound like an advert in this mail I should probably stress that I have no connection with Brian Freeman and his camp other than being a one-time very satisfied customer.Andrea</blockquote>

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