We'd rather take your smile to the bank!
Lush Africa Safaris
- Offices In:
-
United States
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2004)
- Member Of:
- Association of Uganda Tour Operators
- Tour Types:
- Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $100 to $1,000 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
US
Email Kristy | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best experience ever!
We did an 11 Kenya and Tanzania Safari. Abbey tailored it to exactly what we were looking for including a hot air balloon ride over the Masai Mara and a visit to a local village. We were able to see the big 5 and our Guides, Sammy in Kenya and Joseph in Tanzania, were excellent. They were always on time, drove safely and knew the roads very well. I was so impressed with our entire itinerary and the accommodations were exactly as advertised. Everyone with Lush was quick to help us when we were delayed getting into Nairobi. Can't wait to book another trip with Lush in the future!
US
Email Sabrina Reed | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best trip!
I had such a wonderful time in East Africa and can't wait to go back! I worked with Abbey to help plan my trip and since I was starting as a solo female traveler, I had a lot of questions and he completely put me at ease! He was incredibly responsive and was flexible in helping me to build a trip as I made a lot of edits to the original itinerary with no problem at all! He was a great communicator the entire time from planning through the end of my trip when I arrived back to the US. I started in Uganda and was pleased to meet Derrick who is a gem- incredibly professional and kept me safe the entire time. We had some experiences with long drives and he was a great driver on some complicated roads. He is on top of absolutely everything and a wonderful guide. Uganda is not to be missed on your trip for sure- among the nicest people I've ever met in any of my travels. I next went to Kenya and had the pleasure of doing my own itinerary for a couple of days and then meeting Sammy who made our time in Masai mara very enjoyable. He was funny and enjoyable to be around and was so good at communicating with other drivers to ensure we saw so many animals. I seriously got the most amazing pictures during my time here. I ended in Tanzania + Zanzibar where our guide Joseph proudly took us around his home. I'm still amazed how one can have the entire Serengeti memorized- but he knows it like the back of his hand and was so kind and genuine wanting to make our time amazing which it was. Zanzibar was relaxing and a nice way to end the trip. If you are on the fence, I would definitely recommend this trip, you won't regret it!
US
Email Cody | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Trek through East Africa
Lush Africa Safari was a superior safari company to work with. I planned my East African adventure with Abbey to get the ideal experience I was looking for. I am a solo traveler. I had booked a “15 day “Big 5” safari and Zanzibar beaches” and traveled to Kigali, Rwanda and Uganda to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to trek with Mountain Gorillas with my guide Cyprien. We did a city tour of Kigali and had an amazing day! He was so kind and friendly.
Next, I flew to Nairobi Kenya and met my guide Sammy. He was an excellent driver and guide. We ventured into the Masai Mara to get photos of the “Big 5” and more. He navigated the dirt and muddy terrain like a professional! He was fantastic ! We then drove through the Rift Valley and then I crossed the border into Tanzania. That’s where I met Joesph my Tanzania guide. Joesph was safe driver and professional. He navigated the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater and conservation area with ease. I did the Serengeti Hot Air Balloon Ride with Miracle Safari with Moses and he was great also! Mid way through my safari I decided to make a slight change to my itinerary with my hotel to stay at in Arusha and Abbey was happy to see that I had an amazing time and he made the change I requested. After Arusha, I flew to Zanzibar and stayed in a Beach front bungalow that Abbey arranged for me on Nungwi Beach. The waves literally crashed right under my deck! The beach was absolutely beautiful.
Thank you so much Lush Africa Safari for a wonderful experience of a lifetime through East Africa!
Abi was proactive when organising our travels to Africa, answered all questions promptly
Our safari through Kenya and Tazania was 10 nights, and during our stay our local tour guides were absolutely fantastic. The local guides in both countries made our group of 4 girls very comfortable and we felt safe and well looked after at all times. The guides were patient with all our questions, definitely seemed very knowledgeable and went above and beyond to make sure we had the best Safari experience. Based on this customer service, and how well all the hotels and transport was organised, I wouldn't hesitate recommending Lush Africa Safari's to anyone out there interested. Living through a safari was a life highlight!
Email Mev | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable Safari
My recent safari with Lush was extraordinary! Our tour guides Sammy (in Kenya) and Joseph (in Tanzania) were very knowledgeable, comfortable accommodation, every detail was impeccable. The open-roof vehicles provided stunning views of wildlife, went above and beyond to get us the perfect angle. If you're looking for a top-notch safari with a responsible and authentic touch, Lush is the one to choose!
CA
Email Ed | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful, and everything on point
we booked with Lush because of the wonderful itinerary we were given. This was our first trip to Africa, so their was some hesitancy, but the reviews and feedback from other travelers was invaluable to planning the trip. We were not disappointed!. Initially we were looking at Tanzania and Kenya, but after talking to Abbey we extended to Uganda, as being Ugandan, he knows that country particularly well. Abbey offered many helpful suggestions and insights.
The vehicles were relatively new, and got us threw some pretty rough roads, with an "African massage". Joseph was a wonderful guide and got our African trip off to a great start. Peter was a master tracker and driver, and had a nose for finding the animals. Robert went out of his way to be helpful. Lake Navaisha was a wonderful addition particularly for Christmas, and Amboseli turned out to be another highlight, as Peter got us close to a lion family near dusk. Every day was wonderful, and the safari ended far too quickly!
US
Email Maricel | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Deceiving, not professional, stay away!
Abbey from Lush African Safari responded to my Safari booking request for a quote with a very expensive package for a 14 days Kenya and Tanzania safari. The quote had places’ names and pics of cars and accommodation included. Upon arrival to Kenya I found out none of the places he quoted were actually available at the time he sent me that quote. In fact, he did ask me to pay immediately to book everything, which I did, but it was just a scam since the places weren’t available. And he hired local companies that book something else. He even tried to put me in a minivan instead of a landrover in Kenya, which at least at last minute the local company was able to fix. In Amboseli, he sent me to a tent instead of a nice 3-4 start hotel I paid, I was scared for my life there. Not a joke. Solo woman traveler I paid more to him, a company based in USA, to guarantee that this situation didn’t happen :(
In Tanzania he tried to send me to another tent and I was literally crying that day contacting the Safaribooking team begging to please not to be sent to a tent. I paid for a nice hotel, he was making up all sort of reasons why me going to a tent was best for me, among them so I can see the great migration.
He didn’t even know I already saw the great migration in Kenya!
Finally they sent me to a hotel, not like the one promised but I was so grateful for having walls and feel safe that I didn’t mind. Both local tours realized what was been done and were very sympathetic. I’d strongly recommend to use those companies directly, they will be honest and not lure you with some pics. I paid thousands of dollars to stay in the nicest hotel with great food and they sent me to a tent without electricity, shower outside that actually didn’t work, he gave me a $300 refund which felt like an insult, but I was powerless.
When I told him he couldn’t just go against the client wishes and going to a tent instead of nice accommodations I booked were not my wishes he said: “we are going to have to agree to disagree”. So he feels he is in power to sent you wherever he wants regardless of what you paid for. Here is another, when I send the pics he sent me of a fancy place that I paid for and the ones of the horrible tent he was sending me to, his response was:”some places take deceiving pics”. We have internet and the local tours were honest so they did told me how wonderful the other places I had in the quote were and how they didn’t compared in location food quality and overall with what I was given.
Email Nusrat | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Trip of a lifetime!
We had a wonderful experience on our Kenya and Tanzania safari with Lush Africa, thanks to our fantastic guides Sammy and Joseph, as well as Abbey for catering to all our requests and creating an excellent itinerary for us. We felt assured that we were looked after by Lush and stayed in great lodges and both guides went above and beyond to ensure we saw all the wildlife we could dream of seeing, including multiple big 5 sightings. Our itinerary had a lot of long drives due to the locations of the parks we wanted to visit, in hindsight I would have enquired about doing an air transfer from Masai Mara to Serengeti as the road transfer is a very long and bumpy drive.
Overall we had the BEST time and I highly recommend Lush Africa and Abbey to plan your safari.
Email Maliha | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A great safari experience with Lush Africa Safari
We were a group of friends on safari and Lush Africa Safari exceeded our expectations. Lush were flexible, accommodating and responsive to the group's preferences as we were all interested in different things.
Both of our guides were excellent (Sammy in Kenya, Joseph in Tanzania), they went above and beyond to ensure we were comfortable, engaged and informed. We were very lucky to have enthusiastic and knowledgable guides who were always respectful to wildlife and the environment.
We were fortunate enough to see the big 5 a few times and our guides always kept an eye out for our favourite birds and animals.
Absolute musts are: Amboseli, Maasai Mara and Serengeti.
US
Email Reenie and Kent | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Personable and profesional
We had never been to East Africa before. Our youngest son introduced us to Abbey and the Lush African Safari folks. Abbey planned a great trip for us beginning in Nairobi and ending in Arusha, with Stops at Lake Naivasha, Masai Mara Conservancy North, Serengeti NP and Ngorongoro Crater. We were there 15 days with 4 nights in Nairobi, (due to flight schedules from Austin), 3 nights in each camp or lodge, one night at Lake Naivasha, and ending with one night in Arusha. We were on teh trip by ourselves and if I had it to do again , to save money we would invite two more couples or four family members. The luxury of a private vehicle and safari wasn't lost on us, though. The trip was well paced, and our guides, Sammy, and Joseph couldn't have been more accommodating or considerate. They were willing to make detours and accommodate minor changes in activities for us. Abbey checked in with us several times during the trip. We stayed in 2 tented lodges and one cabin lodge overlooking the Serengeti. November was a perfect time to go although since we were gone over the American Thanksgiving holiday, the hotels started to thin out of American guests around November 20, and we were able to meet more guests from Germany and Britain. We highly recommend Lush African Safaris. The one suggestion I have is that the more research one does prior to planning your trip the more you are going to get out of it, from lodging to activities, to rest. As a 66 year old, I appreciated being able to be in each location for three days so that if I wanted to take a day of rest and lounging around, I could and my wife could go out on a drive and we each got to do exactly what we wanted. We will use Abbey and Lush African Safaris again.