Need bathrooms on safari

I am going to Kenya with my husband in December and will meet up with our daughter who is volunteering there for 3 months. We all want to go on at least one safari. I have had to have my whole colon removed due to Inflammatory Bowel Disease. I do very well, however, I do have to have access to a bathroom, particularly in the eve/nights and mornings. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what safari might be best suited for someone with my needs? I do not need plush, by any means, but I DO need facilities. Also, are there particular places that you would recommend visiting around Kenya that would also accommodate these needs? Thanks so much in advance for your help.

By bathroom, are you asking specifically if you can have a Western style toilet instead of one of those holes in the floor? All of the places we stayed did have Western style toilets. Even the "tents" in the Masai which proved to be permanent structures with stone bathrooms, despite being classed as "tents." However, during the day, in some of the parks, there might only be those squat type holes. Or there might be places where it would not be safe to leave the vehicle because of predators. But if you just need Western style facilities at night and in the morning, I don't think it would be difficult. My tour was for birders though, a specialty tour, and it might be considered "plush" by thorntree standards. It would probably be safest if you asked in advance to be sure, but I think you'll be OK. Many of the parks seem to be full-fledged resorts with all the trimmings.

To be blunt--do you need access to a Western toilet because you do not do well squatting? Or do you need complete modern facilities in order to deal with a colostomy? Some safari tents will have a hole in the ground with a Western toilet seat on a sort of camp stool. There will not be a sink with running water. More permanent (and more expensive) camps may have a full Western bath (toilet, sink,shower) inside a tent.

Lodge safari will be suitable for you and the cost will be determined by which lodge you would like to stay. In principle, most of the lodges in National parks are self contained meaning you can access toilet and bathroom all the time while you are in the lodge ( room)

I agree with #3, do a safari where you're accommodated in lodges as opposed to camps and they will have regular, western bathrooms!

Thank you all so much for your emails. I am OK with a sit on the toilet whatever the destination may be (hole in the ground, latreen or sewer)...the key being able to sit on a toilet. It is not a particularly ladylike subject to discuss, but is certainly critical to the trip planning for me. I'm game (excuse the pun) for anything, and this is not a comfort type issue...just necessity. Fortunately I have an internal pouch and don't have a colostomy. It remains a frequency dilemna. when the vehicles go out for the day, do you stay out traveling for most of the day? how many hours generally?

Thank you so much for your understanding. Means a lot. Really want this trip to work for me (us) but also don't (can't) spend a fortune on luxury accommodations.

Thanks again. Tracy

This may sound silly, but perhaps you could bring your own camp stool toilet seat. It's like this.

Although you don't have to go on an $8000 Abercrombie & Kent safrari, you may want to choose one that is not rock bottom. A good safari company has heard it all and will be willing to make some sort of accommodation. They might even supply the camp stool themselves. Don't be afraid to explain your issues up front. If they laugh, ignore you, or say they can't help, they are probably not the company you want.

It rather depends on the safari, but most that I have been on have been rather dependent on trees and bushes during game drives. You may or may not be given a little spade to cover things up.

The duration taken highly depends with the itinerary you have chosen. The driver guides always stops at designated areas for touritsts to stretch their legs and go for a short call etc ( mostly in the bush).

In your case, I would suggest you take a private safari. This will enable you to stop as many times as you wish, spend much time where you think its interesting to you, can leave earlier or later for a game drive....you will just be on the control of everything.

I know you can do this without breaking your bank since you will be 3 persons travelling together. You can check on a local tour operator who can cater for your needs with a reasonable price.

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<hr>when the vehicles go out for the day, do you stay out traveling for most of the day? how many hours generally?<hr></blockquote>

On the ones I've been on, you generally go out early, leaving around 6:00 and coming back late morning, around 11:00. You stay in camp for a few hours then head out again at 3:00 or so and come back around 18:00-19:00 (6-7pm).

I would say the most you would be out at a stretch would be 5 hours.

Funny, I've only had "to go" once on safari. My guide pointed to a tall stand of trees which I went to, and walked right into a huge giraffe. We looked at one another for a couple of seconds (will never forget how long his eyelashes looked that close up), then he ran off. Pretty memorable bathroom break!

Thank you all again for your input. I'll just need to do some research on this. Bringing my own campint toilet is an idea...thank you for that!

Tracy