AKL LIVE - as I SEE it (quite literally!)

[jmom]

As promised a live update about AKL and the construction...first of all we only checked in today so what I write is based on a few hours...I will amend if necessary...

We are in a Arusha savanna view room which is absolutely wonderful. We are right near a watering hole and have already seen a crowned crane, blesbok, zebra, giraffe and a greater kudo. There are many animals and they appear to be very relaxed.

From our balcony you can hear some distant hammering etc. Not enough to send you in doors. From inside our room you cannot hear a thing although the CM who checked us in did go through the whole 'you may hear construction between 9am - 6pm during the week' AND he did ask if it were likely that our children would nap in the room as this may have been an issue.

He also said that (as we know) many rooms are not available due to the construction...this was said in the context of my request for bunkbeds...but he did find us a fab room with bunkbeds! Hurrah!

Boma was walkins only tonight..so I guess it's as busy as ever!

We went to the pool for a while...lovely!!!

Think that's it...from my experience so far, the construction is NOT affecting the ambience of AKL.

 

[Dis Ohana]

Thanks for posting!! How wonderful of you to take time from your vacation to keep us informed.

Are you on the Zebra Trail? I'm so glad to hear that they aren't working weekends, we're there Saturday and Sunday.

Have a wonderful time and I look forward to hearing more!

 

[clownfish1452]

Thank you for posting people were wondering if Boma was going to open.

Thanks
Sarah

 

[melanie18]

Are there noticeably less people? Do you feel like you're the only ones there at times?

 

[jmom]

Thanks for posting!! How wonderful of you to take time from your vacation to keep us informed.

Are you on the Zebra Trail? I'm so glad to hear that they aren't working weekends, we're there Saturday and Sunday.

Have a wonderful time and I look forward to hearing more!

Hi

Yes we're on the zebra trail...still fantastic this morning!! I was so excited last night I went shopping (leaving DH, DS & DD asleep in room) at Zawadi Marketplace at 11pm!!!

 

[jmom]

Are there noticeably less people? Do you feel like you're the only ones there at times?

Hi
I have never been here before so I have no previous experience to compare with, however it does bot feel busy (so far)...the lobby has been peaceful, there were plenty of spare sunchairs at the pool last night (6pm - 8pm) and we ate at the Mara which again wasn't busy. We just walked in with no queue. Hope that helps!

 

[racinjunkie]

Thanks so much for sharing.

(not to the OP just muttering to myself) WHY OH WHY OH WHY can't I stay there if it's really not that bad

 

[BuzzandAriel'smom]

I love Zawadi! One night I went down to get a drink and stopped in there for like an hour! They had the artist in there that paints the pictures and the place was a buzz with activity. Thanks for reminding me of that. We have reservations at Boma and we are planning on spending the afternoon enjoying the resort first. I love AKL!

 

[raven69david]

WHY OH WHY OH WHY can't I stay there if it's really not that bad

It may not be that bad now, but it may be next week when you're scheduled to arrive. I'm sorry you have to miss your opportunity to stay at AKL, but you can still visit if you get a chance so that you can at least check out the resort. The resort you've been moved to is a nice move and you will enjoy yourself there as i've had a friend who stayed at YC last year and had nothing but praises for that hotel. Enjoy your trip and dont forget to post about it when you return.

 

[SleepingBet]

Thanks for the live AKL update! I'm glad to know that at least someone is still staying at AKL and it's not actually closed completely. I so hope we get to stay there. So far, no call and we're booked standard club level on Aug. 17 - 24 with sunrise safari booked. One of the reasons I'm excited to stay there is to taste the African beer and wine that is available at the club lounge.

 

[Wendi2000]

I'd love to hear about how the transportation and activities are if you experience either. I am just wondering if they are cutting down on these things with fewer people staying in the resort or if service is just as high as it would be if they were full.

 

[jmom]

I'd love to hear about how the transportation and activities are if you experience either. I am just wondering if they are cutting down on these things with fewer people staying in the resort or if service is just as high as it would be if they were full.

Transportation - a bus has arrived within 5 mins of us waiting, both here and at AK to return.

Activities at AKL = on the daily activities board there must be 15+ things you could do. We have done the folktales (story telling) and the parade round the lobby. We also sat in on the cultural safari tour of S.Africa. There are then things like craft activities for the children, animal viewings and tracking...plus many more I can't remember the names of.

Hope that helps!

 

[Wendi2000]

Great! Thank you so much!!!

 

[dburg30]

I know you will, but let us know what it's like during the week, and during the week DAY if you are there during the day anytime..

 

[raterfly]

Fantastic - thanks so much for updating us here on the boards, especially those that are going soon (like me - 2 weeks today )

Enjoy your stay and I look forward to some piccies when you get back

 

[MUDisneyCouple]

Thanks for the updates! Glad that everything is working out well for your stay

I have to admit that I am jealous that you are getting to stay there...something else to dream about (again).

 

[jmom]

Daytime - Monday when we were there (in our room) for the morning we heard 'tapping' perhaps some would call it banging. It was in the background and we did not find it intrusive. When walking to our room you could hear construction worker talking up above...again not a problem.

That same morning DH tried to take DD and DS to the playpark next to the pool but it was closed due to the DRILLING. DH said you could not have relaxed by the pool at that time...too noisy.

Boma - the evening we ate there it was very busy (Saturday 5pm)

Boma - the morning we ate there for breakfast (Monday 9am) was very quiet - it was lovely!!

The Arusha savanna was brilliant the WHOLE time we were there!!!

We've now checked out of AKL and are on the third leg of our Florida holiday....still in Orlando! Hope that helps!!!

 

[disneyfan62]

can you check to see if they have Tusker Beer in Mara? we are headed down in October... Enjoy your trip!!

 

[jmom]

can you check to see if they have Tusker Beer in Mara? we are headed down in October... Enjoy your trip!!

LO. DH says he had a tusker beer in Boma and a Bud in Mara. He can't remember their being tuskers in Mara but there could have been. Hope that helps!!!

 

[Donald is #1]

can you check to see if they have Tusker Beer in Mara? we are headed down in October... Enjoy your trip!!

It probably does. In May, I got one of the African beers (not Tusker) at Mara. I know that they have Mara at the Lounge since that was where I tried it.