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