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Email Kris & Mike Weir | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Better than we could have ever imagined.
Ben from eTrip Africa did a great job of customizing our trip for our family of four. Everything about our trip was absolutely fantastic. The wildlife and scenery were incredible. We stayed in accomodations which varied from glamping to renting a whole cottage and every place was clean, tidy and safe. We thought, given the remote conditions, that food quality would suffer and we would be eating alot of granola bars but that couldnt have been further from the truth. Food was excellent... even the box lunches!
Our guide, John, was incredibly knowledgable and kept us close to the action but did not disturb the animals’ behaviors. The vehicle was a well-maintained truck with a popup top which we were very happy to have after seeing some of the other vehicles in the parks (old beat-up vans; trucks with completely open sides which would provide NO PROTECTION from animals that might get frisky and held shivering occupants in the mornings and evenings; vehicles with no pop up, etc).
Hard to pick one highlight: was it standing in our truck in the silence while 10 giraffes quietly munched on tree leaves just feet from us? Or maybe watching a leopard make its way out of the grasses to climb a tree where it had stored its kill, while the sun set on the savannah? The hyenas fighting for a piece of a downed zebra? Two bloodied rhinos fighting over an observing female? A male lion protecting his kill from a pack of hungry hyenas? What will YOUR adventure yield?
This was our first trip to Africa and we were a little nervous about our safety, however, we felt safe on our entire trip. Ben met us the first day, which was reassuring. Everywhere we went, the people were friendly and eager to show us what their beautiful country had to offer.
I highly recommend Ben and eTrip Africa. They made our Trip of a Lifetime one to truly remember.
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Email Ranjit Mittra | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
The best Safaris and lodges to suit all budgets
Just completed an unforgettable 2 week trip to Kenya.
Started off with the Masai Mara, stayed at a camp. Spent some time on the amazing coast at Diani beach. Visited Tsavo, stayed at some amazing lodges.
The game drives at the Mara were spectacular. Tsavo was good too, with an abundance of elephant herds.
Diani beach was stunning, fine white sand, spotless beach, clear waters.
It's probably the best I could hope for as a tour. I enjoyed it and thought it was well worth it.
Kenya is a beautiful, geographically varied country. It was much more easy-going and hassle-free than I was originally expecting. Visiting Kenya was a great experience!
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Email Emma | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Good safari in Masai Mara
This was not our first time in Kenya. We booked a 3-day trip to Masai Mara (leaving on a Sunday and coming back on a Tuesday evening). In the park: lots of driving, lots of cars in the same place giving it a slight "mass tourism" feel and lacking "bush feel".
Although there during the peak time for wildebeest migrations, we saw very few. We were told that this is because of the Tanzanian burning off land to avoid wildebeest crossing the border. They are afraid of "loosing the business". Shame really as this man-made factor is not really mentioned on tourist safari websites.
Otherwise, everything was splendid in terms of organisation, driver, accommodation (camp right outside gates of Masai Mara), vegetarian food options... Amazing sceneries. Good value for money and very smooth.
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Email Kristin | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The safari was an adventure for live!
Kenya was an experience for live. The wildlife and nature are amazing. We enjoyed the knowledge of a very nice guide. Our family of five enjoyed very much a four weel drive car with an excellent and calm driver just for over comfort, that also made the program flexible. Over all a Journey I would recomend.
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Email Piyachat Chuawongboon | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It is awesome.
The safari itself was really great but the road on the way there was very bumpy.
For the driver, overall he is very nice and friendly. He worked so hard in the Safari to find the way for us to see the animals that we wanted. However, one thing that he can make it better is to be ready and be on time once agreed. There were several times that Isaac was a little late and we have to wait for him.
Suggestion: If we agree to leave the hotel at 7 AM the driver should be at the car by 6:55 AM to wait for the customers.
For the food, it was great in every hotels but the service in Carnival restaurant is very bad. We sat on table number 20, it was in the corner and it seems that the waiter did not care about us at all. We wait 15 minutes for the menu. We ordered extra drinks and they forgot to give it to us. Furthermore, we asked for bill and have to wait more than 15 minutes. The food was great but the service was poor on that day. It was the only place that we did not give any tips in Kenya for the service.
Suggestion: You might want to reserve a table where the waiter can reach us
To be honest with you, we are very happy with this trip but those I have mentioned, you may improve it for better service in the future.
Email Emma Deards | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Perfect tour!
Our guide Jackson was fantastic! He was helpful and professional the whole time, and we felt very safe with him. He was also very knowledgeable about all the animals and birds we saw, and he made sure we had a great time. The food and accommodation was also excellent, it was the trip of a lifetime! Maggie was helpful and responsive when it came to answering our questions, could not have asked for a better trip!
Email Wendy | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unique experience and wonderful scenery but need to pay premium price to enjoy it
The geological location of Kenya made it an ideal place to travel during norther hemisphere summer time(July,August). The weather is neither too hot nor cold. Most of accommodations(lodges) have good food, tasty grilled vegetables and meat. Coffee and tea are superb! When you travel among those developed countries, sometimes you might need to find a good coffee/shop so that you can enjoy a good quality cup, but in Kenya this is something that most lodges would serve. I don't like the transportation honestly. The roads are powdery and ridiculously bumpy. Even in good road condition i.e., from Nairobi to Navasha where we need to cross a mountain, once there is a conjunction many drivers keep on jumping the queue and we all end up stuck into a total jam and no way to get out of it. However, good news is that there are many roads under construction by Chinese companies. For example, the way to Masai Mara is half completed during 2018 summer. Imaging going there next year would be much better. A good guide is somewhat a lucky one, he is the person that critical to the whole experience. Hot air balloon over Mara is an unforgettable experience. You will enjoy the quietness and the beautiful savanna sunrise, though a bit cold in early morning generally but that warmness from the balloon make you feel like sitting next to a living room fireplace.
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Email Marleen Sommers | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The safari was very nice, kind driver and good views.
We did a three day safari, which is enough. It's very lovely to see all those animals, and we saw the big five.
The weather was okey, which is good to go in winter, because then it's not too hot.
The accomodation was fine, but we didn't really meet other people.
We are from Holland, and the most of all those people on these accomodations are from England.
The food was good. Our gide was a nice guy. We are happy with this Safari!
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Email Dan | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Kenan Travel and Tours was first class for our once in a lifetime African Safari!!!!
This was our first family trip to Kenya. Traveling from the USA we wanted to use a Kenyan company that was reliable of course it is hard to find a lot of information on companies but was able to research Kenan Travel and Tours and note that they were part of KATO. Still until you actually take the trip it seems like a "leap of faith." Well let me tell you for anyone considering going to Kenya-- Kenan Travel and Tours is the way to go!!
From the beginning Geophrey was extremely easy to get in contact with and responded to emails very quickly which was a great start. When we arrived in Kenya after a long flight Geophrey was there at the airport to greet us and get us to our hotel in Nairobi. We were a group of nine and Geophrey handled all details leading up to our arrival to Kenya. Our trip was customized to include the things we wanted to do unlike the USA travel companies that required so many days in certain areas this personal touch was something that allowed us to go to the places we wanted not the places that the "USA tour companies" required-- Kenan delivered on a first class private tour.
The following morning in Nairobi we met in the hotel lobby and our itinerary was reviewed and we were escorted to our six seater Land Cruisers. Since we were a group of 9 we had two four wheel Land Cruisers that had plenty of room with comfortable seating--two to a row with sliding windows and a roof that popped open. The drivers were first class with incredible knowledge of the parks. Our driver was James and he did an absolutely incredible job of driving through the many bumpy back roads and national parks of Kenya. Our trip was 12 days and we traveled to Samburu, Lake Bogoria, Lake Nakuru, Maasai Mara, and Amboseli. James was absolutely incredible as a tour guide---and for a point of reference we have travelled extensively across the USA, Canada, Europe, South America, and now Africa. He had extensive knowledge of the parks and animals-- he was an like an encyclopedia when came to the many various animals--- everyone knows the big animals but his knowledge extended even to the small wildlife I don't there was a bird that I asked about that he was not able to educate me on. Of course we saw all of the Big 5, but we saw so many of the other mammals and birds and James was able to get us in a position to take pictures of a lifetime. The places that we stayed were extremely nice the food was excellent and the staff was very enthusiastic. Of course you can customize your trip with Kenan to stay at different levels of hotels. We found the Sopa lodges to be very nice. Everyone has their own level they desire and would encourage all to read about hotels booked and where they are located in the parks but we enjoyed our stays at Sopa and then Kibo at Amboseli. I would encourage anyone who is considering going to Kenya that they use Kenan Travel and Tours you will not regret it!! They will give you that personalized experience and allow you to customize things that you want so that you can have the level of luxury that you desire. I would give a big thanks to Geophrey, Shem (who drove the other Land Cruiser for other family members and he to had an extensive knowledge of Kenya!!) and James. James for my family you created an absolutely incredible once in a lifetime African Safari. James we hope to see you again in the near future!!!!
