Despite teething troubles at the beginning it was really really fantastic!
All in all our safari was truly fantastic and we were very impressed by the amount of wildlife we saw. However, what was not so good was that our first hotel was changed. It was supposed to be upgraded but it turned out that we had actually been downgraded to a horrible Chinese owned lodge that was still in construction. Their was a distinct smell of open sewage from our terrace. Food was like being in a self service canteen. It was a TERRIBLE start to our holiday. We complained bitterly about this to the safari operator and in the end we got better hotels in compensation. So it worked out well in the end. What we also didn't like and I think is really worth saying is that we heard of some drivers being drunk on the job and turning up late for their clients. When you have paid a lot of money and flown half way across the world then you want to have a driver who cares and is responsible. The roads in Kenya are particularly rough and you need a good and competent driver to make sure you are all safe. Our driver was competent and always on time, however, he did have a bit of an attitude problem which was very unprofessional. However, all in all it was a fantastic trip and I can't thank Mr Othiellon of Kenya Walking Survivors enough for all his organisation. He was always very co-operative and answered any email queries I had straight away.
Email Ramona de Niese | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safari was amazing, but the roads were terrible!
We booked our tour through Skywide Tour and Travels, Nairobi, a travel agency recommended by Safari Bookings. We live in Melbourne and were a little bit nervous about using a company in Nairobi, but all our plans were listened to and booked and all went very smoothly.
The scenery on the way to the Maasai Mara was magnificent, especially the Great Rift Valley. The weather at this time of the year was quite mild and in fact we needed a light jacket in the early mornings and evenings. The accommodations range from 2 to 5 stars and there are plenty to choose from. We were on a budget so we used 3 star accommodation and it was quite satisfactory. The food was international and well presented. It is also good to try the local cuisine. The most unpleasant part of the trip was the roads. There is a sealed road for most of the way but the last 30kms is on a gravel rd which is so full of pot holes etc that you have to drive on the wrong side of the road to avoid doing damage to the car. If you suffer from car sickness, I would recommend that you take a small plane flight to the national park. The tracks in the national park are also very bad and you get tossed around all over the place! We had our own driver for the 2 of us and it was wonderful as you could ask him to stop for photo's or animal viewing as much as you wanted.It certainly is very exciting to see so many animals in the wild, and it was very exciting to see the lions just lying around. They are hard to find but your driver/guide is expert at finding animals. There are quite a lot of safari vehicles in the parks and they all keep each other informed of all sightings. We were lucky enough to see 3 of the big 5 in the Maasai Mara. We arrived just at the tail end of the migration but saw lines of Wildebeasts and Zebras, as far as you could see. We stayed at Ol Moran Camp which is a permanent tented camp just out side the national park and it was basic but nice. It was a surprise to us that all the places we stayed at in the national parks run on generators and the power is only on from 6-10pm and in the mornings 6-9am so make sure you take a torch! My husband uses a cpap machine so he was unable to use it. Always check the electricity availability if you need it overnight. I think all the lodges and hotels may have restrictions on electricity.
Skywide also booked the Tanzania and Victoria Falls component of our trip as well. All was perfect.
ES
Email Maite Sirvent | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
One of the best experiences I have seen in my life
We could see many wild animals,close and in a safe way.the food and accomodation was not bad at all.we had a van as our transportation and max as our guide and driver...dificult roads,but he drove well and gave us information about places and animals.very good in quality/price.mark,our assistant in Nairobi,helped us a lot....thank you very much.
ES
Email Asier Ximeno | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
wonderful
The safari was great.
We went 5 days (4 nights), 2 massai mara, 1 night lake nakuru, 1 night lagop naivasha. they respected the accommodations, less in massai mara, which was not the one hired, it was fine, but it did not have the views that the other camp had in description.
They changed the order of visit to the lakes, and we ended up doing more kilometers and time in the van. the visits to the lakes were in a hurry and very fast, but they were very nice places. Massai Mara is the king of the parks, but he deserves to see these two as well, or the Amboseli who spoke well of him.
be careful with the entrances to the park, we are supposed to pay 2 days of park, but we only use 24h, and better to talk about it with the driver. Beware, they are 70-80 dollars apart.
the time to make the safari great. We saw the big five, few elephants, only 2 male lions, but very well and up close, a show, the rhinoceros great but not too close. The driver wanted to show us the animals. It was a shame not to see the migration, the animals were ready to cross but we did not see them, we were looking but nothing, although the same day others saw it, our driver did not come back in the afternoon to see it (he was in a hurry to leave the park and pay only 24 hours) ...
otherwise everything is great, food is good, accommodation is good, price is great. 90 -100 dollars a day.
we would hire again
ES
Email Jorge G | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Watching the wildlife close but safety
National parks are amazing and something that should visit at least once in your life. You can see very close a lot of animals, bigs and smalls too. The weather was really good for travelling, some hot but not too much, and at night you can sleep without problems as temperature is nice.
Food is not varied and maybe is the weak point of this trip.
AE
Email Ankitha Rajendaran | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable four days in Masai Mara.
Great experience for our first time in Kenya. The safari was well organized and service was great. Joe, our guide from Right Choice Safari did a fantastic job of helping us see the BIG Five. The entire experience on Safari Bookings.com was flawless. Awesome job. Keep it up.
US
Email Michael Barniak | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safari was as expected. Booking and lodging was not managed well at all.
Kenya was worth the trip. We saw different environments, Lush farm areas, African Bush (including dust), and green mountainous landscapes. Food was good and most important..People were very hospitable.
Awesome wildlife against amazing backdrops
Our journey started from Nairobi and we were grateful enough to spend some time in the wilderness at various locations in Kenya. The great rift valley, Mt. Kenya, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, Hells' Gate, the famed Masai Mara, Amboseli, all provided mind blowing backdrops for the various wildlife. Transportation and guide was arranged by Lian Travels and the support provided during planning stage and throughout the trip is commendable. Few of the hotels worth mentioning in terms of their ambience, hospitality, are Sopa Lodge at Nakuru, Fig Tree at Masai Mara, Kibo at Amboseli. The weather was pleasant during our stay.
Email Anna | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Colourful and surprising
Excellent, knowledgeable guide. Accommodation was comfortable and food was good.
NL
Email Tim | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was very awe-inspiring seeing the wildlife and amazing scenery
Our guide, Mike of Right Choice Safari's, was absolutely amazing. He went above and beyond to show us everything and he is a great driver. On top of that, at the end of the trip he made sure we were set up correctly with the follow up accomodations. The safari to the Massai Mara itself was amazing. We were lucky to see the big 5 before 10 am and we had the whole day spotting great animals. There were very few dull moments.
