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We stayed at the Mara Intrepids Club on safari in the Masai Mara in April of 2000 -- it was part of an extended East African trip (all interline, of course) that included Shimba Hills Lodge (pygmy elephants in the forest), Diani Beach (snorkeling off Wasini Island) and Mombasa (stayed at the lovely Tamarind Village Hotel -- recommended).
While we were always vigilant on health and sanitary concerns, we were really surprised when we both got sick from food poisoning at Mara Intrepids, which is rated among the top safai camps. Another guest told us that it happens more frequently than you'd think, since many of the camps have open-air kitchens, and any passing bird or monkey can deposit who-knows-what into a cooking pot or onto a plate of fruit.
I wonder if anyone else has had this problem while on safari, and whether there is any agency in Kenya that monitors and rates the camps on sanitation issues?
Stephen
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Hello!
I have to admit that in all my years (I'm the grand old age of 33!) of being in and travelling to Kenya/the Mara I have never had food poisoning from any of the lodges etc... (The only time I did get food poisoning was after coming back from NBO on a BA flight!!).
There are some ground rules.... Never drink water from the taps... take care even when brushing your teeth! There is plenty of bottled water you can buy for a few shillings from grocery stores in Nairobi (Uchumi etc.) which is 100% safe. Avoid ice in your drinks (ask for your drinks to be brought to you 'baridi, lakini hakuna baraffu' - Cold, but without ice).
As a post script, I was once out in Kenya on business with KQ when I started to get a bit of a runny tummy... On returning to the UK I went to my doctor who told me that I certainly did not have any form of food poisoning... rather that my body was just 'enjoying' the fresh chemical-free vegitables and fruit from the Kenyan farms etc. Vegitables and fruit without the addition of chemicals/pesticides etc is a new thing for our 'western' delicate digestive systems and the result is often... well, enough said...
Enjoy Kenya everyone - and don't worry too much about food issues.
Mark
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... just as a post-script Stephen:
The Kenya Tourist Board does check the camps very carefully, as do reps from the big tour companies who service Kenya.
Camps/hotels also have to come in line with international legislation in order for foreign operators to be able to sell them.
In fact, when I worked with KQ in Lodon, our sales guys would visit the hotels/camps regularly to make sure that the accommodation we were offering as part of our passenger's packages were up to scratch.
Cheers, Mark
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