Ecobushman International Expeditions
- Located In:
- Size:
- 20-50 employees (Founded in 2000)
- Member Of:
- EAWLS, ETT & NK
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $100 to $800 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email John Ansell | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Unbelievable wildlife and cultural experience with Ecobushman.
Isaac has an in depth knowledge and understanding of things natural and cultural in his native land along with the skill and enthusiasm to pass these on. We have been lucky enough to have enjoyed two expeditions with Isaac and would be back now given the opportunity. Don’t expect the ordinary - be prepared for experiences beyond those of the commonplace supermarket quality expeditions to see the big five if he organises your tour.
If you are fortunate enough to travel with Isaac, this might include such memorable experiences as:
stopping to right an upturned leopard tortoise, taking a detour to a lake formed by witchcraft and dancing like a sarus crane to teach children the value of the wildlife on their doorstep, giving a handshake with heretofore unknown significance to a man selling a cow in a remote market town – (Isaac sorted out my error with the greatest of good humour; I didn’t know that I had sealed a bargain to purchase the beast – he warned me there and then not to shake hands with the man stood with his three daughters!), adding a few pages to your bird book, eating the best fried tilapia in East Africa, hobnobbing with friends on a remote hill tea plantation, cooking eggs in a geyser to an audience of the entire Nairobi Girls Choir, enjoying an outdoor sauna over the “wife burner”, learning the subtle differences between the river nilot and the plains nilot, pausing to phone someone because a “new” bird just moved in to the region, getting up very early at least once to experience a breathtaking sunrise on the savannah, being forced to wait for your barbecued goat whilst the cook’s boy chased your supper down the road, having the opportunity to take that iconic fish eagle shot – (Oh well there’s always the next time to get it perfect!), sitting around the camp fire late at night with a couple of Tuskers curing each of Africa’s problems in turn and if you are very fortunate having the chance to meet his wonderful family and making a lifelong friendship.
SE
Email M.C.A. Stockholm | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Finally, coming home..
IIn march 2014 I went for my life's first 10 day African Safari, guided by Isaac Ouma.
My expectations were on a moderat level as I know how hard it is to deliver optimal experiences in any natural environment, BUT......
Eco Bushmen/ Isaac Ouma surely delivered and this in a overwhelming way.. Isaacs passion and knowledge perfectly balanced with care and flexibility gave me an experience that ended up with me asking him to show the remote control he was using....
To meet the wildlife, culture and the people of Africa together with him and his associates is nothing less than a "Mindblower".
This gave me the feeling of "Finally coming home"
I want to thank Ecobushmen for this gift !!!
P.S.
I will return in a few months..just cant get enough !!!
D.S.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
So good I went back three times
I first met Isaac on a family holiday over the 2004 Christmas. He was our guide for only one day, but I was struck by not only his knowledge and passion about African wildlife and particularly birds but also his intelligence and understanding of the broader political and cultural context in which it all sits in Kenya particularly, and East Africa more generally. The first thing I did when I got home was email Isaac and organise a second trip.
I have been on three trips since then, all of which Isaac organised and which combined voluntary work teaching in a primary school that lacked the teachers for all their pupils, helping with his environmental outreach projects with local schools, and going on safari. While most young people (I was in sixth form and university at the time) organise such trips through established voluntary organisations, I trusted Isaac with the organisation and believed he would organise a more genuine and useful trip for me, rather than the conventional ‘Gap Year’ short experiences the larger companies organise. He did exactly that, and the experiences I gained on those three trips were fantastic and I knew I was genuinely performing a useful role.
The safaris I have been on with Isaac have been phenomenal. While many of my friends have been on safari and said by the end of a week they were getting bored and they hadn’t seen much, that has never been the case with Isaac. His knowledge and respect for the wildlife, combined with his patience and intuition, have led us to see some amazing experiences, from lions mating and then the lioness walking up to the vehicle and sniffing it in the Maasai Mara, to walks through the wildlife reserve at Crater Lake, visiting the hot springs in Hell’s Gate National Park, and going to some of the lesser known but very enjoyable national parks in Western Kenya.
With Isaac you feel less like he is the guide and you are the visitor, and more like you are a group of friends on safari together. This creates a much more relaxed and trusting experience and means you have some great conversations over cold beers. I consider Isaac a close friend and we stay in regular contact even though I have not been able to get back out to Kenya for a few years due to work commitments and lack of funds. Now that those two issue are clearing, I am already planning another trip next year.
I recommend Isaac to everyone I know who is even thinking about going to Africa. Not only is he incredibly knowledgeable about wildlife, but he is also respectful of it too, something unfortunately lacking among many guides. With Isaac you will see amazing sights, have thoughtful and insightful conversations over cold beers and be introduced to the magic and majesty of Africa. And you know you will be doing it all in a way that minimises your impact on the environment and maximises your enjoyment to leave you with memories that will last a lifetime.
FR
Email Patricia & JJ 's family | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
unexpected good experiences
We are a French family and four years ago, my husband and I wanted to go on a trip to Kenya with our 3 children; 6/12/15 years old.
We decided to contact about a dozen of African tour guides and we sent them our tour plan. When we received their answers it was easy for us to choose Isaac.
Before meeting him in Africa we only sent few emails to each other and we trust him right away .So we planned together a nice tour in Kenya for a fortnight.
Isaac asked us what we most wished to see in Kenya and he asks for our likes. He took particularly care of our young daughter and he considered carefully our expectations and our limited budget.
During our tour, he was very helpful and he showed us a lot of things and he was full of surprises during the day as at night....
For example, when we discovered for the first time Kakamega Forest or Masai Mara we had a FANTASTIC ADVENTURE.
He was very skilful, he could see animals from a long distance or even if they were hiding in the jungle and he could spot their presence from their smell or their tracks.
He shared with us his knowledge of many animals life’s like birds, mammals, insects etc...
We also admire his commitment to the presentation of natural environment; we like his engagement with local communities to inform them about pollution risks. He is always trying to find a pacific solution to protect nature from intensive farming.
We also share some fabulous moments with many different African people: for example we played a volleyball match with a group of African teenagers, we went to African hairdressers with my daughter, we visited a nice young couple and their new baby at their little house made of cow dung, we visited rice and tea cooperatives and we especially enjoyed the walk and the safari with Masai community.
In conclusion, we were happy to be guided by him and we recommend him to anyone who wishes to visit Kenya or other countries.
Isaac is more than a fantastic and creative and engaged tour guide, he became a friend of all my family and he helped us to give a new sense to our life:
My son Yann, 19 years old, is studying class to become a veterinary in Africa. ...Good way for him...
My son Alexis, 16 years old, is opening his mind and he wishes to find a job that allows him to travel around the world.
My daughter Lylou, 10 years old, hopes to see Isaac again.
My husband discovered a new way of building houses.
And I enjoyed creating my photo book of that wonderful life experience and I always dream of discovering different parts of the world with my husband, my family and Isaac.
SE
Email Niklas Talio | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Lifechanging experience for me
I remember the moment like it was yesterday. The dark dark clouds were moving fast towards us, the Gazelles new what was coming, thousands of them were infront of us, preparing for the coming rain. We stepped out of the car and walk out into the tall grass. The rain dropps started to trickle down, I took off my shirt to feel the sensation over my skin. The grass tickled by legs, all my senses increased, I felt the smell from the earth being dug up by the heavy raindrops. I watch the gazelles, not through binocoulars, but though feeling.
I had returned to the land were we humans come from, and found the original feeling of what it means to be human, feeling fully alive.
The first time I went on a safari (which means journey in Swahili), my life changed. I've been with Isaac and Ecobushman on several safaris after that. The safaris opened up my eyes to the incredible beuty of the world. Discovering how tradional people in east africa still relate to the natural world inspiered me beyond what I thought was possible.
Isaac is a very knowledgable person, who has alot to share, but being a true guide he helped me to experience the wilderness directly rather than sharing just knowledge about it.
This is not a normal tourist safari, Isaac deeply cares for the natural world and his african people, aswell as for his clients, or friends I should say.
Later I have lived in East Africa for a year, and have seen many other safaris and safari guides. None of the other safaris I've been to or meet is anything like this.
I am deeply thankfull for this experience, journey, safari or whatever you want to call it. My only whish is that my children will also get to have such an experience in their lifetime.
Thank you Isaac and Ecobushman
Niklas from Sweden
Email Jill Matthews | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Passionate about wildlife. Superbly knowledgable. Excellent company. Fun. A real conservationist.
I am a professional conservationist but Isaac is the true expert in African wildlife. I have travelled with Isaac many times in different countries. We met over a decade ago and I am priviledged to call him my friend to this day. We enjoy watching and being together with wildlife, we are kindred spirits. Together we have watched awestruck as a herd of graceful impala drink from a waterhole while 20 elephants emerge silently from the bush to fill their empty tanks, we've had to brake suddenly to avoid hitting a lioness who killed a warthog directly in front of us, we've walked silently with dewy-eyed giraffe, we gazed in amazement as an eagle stole a snake in a successful mid air attack on a rival raptor, and we've reversed away at top speed to avoid being a charged by an elephant in must. We've milked Himba cows and shared Maasai milk and we've shared many a beer at sundown. So many stories. My most memorable wildlife experiences have usually been with Isaac. Forever friends. It is up to us to make sure there is always space on this earth where wildlife can live in peace. It is up to us to make sure we greedy humans do not trash our beautiful planet. Isaac is doing his bit. Travel with him and learn. You will not be disappointed.
NO
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Jaw dropping experience
We spent three weeks in Kenya of which two were spent in the company of Isaac Ouma in the Naivasha and Kisumu area. This were the most exciting weeks in my life. In the Kisumu area we explored the northern part of lake Victoria with its enormous areas overgrown by water hyacinths and enjoyed bird watching by boat.
In Lake Naivasha National Park we experienced fantastic nature, geothermal activity and the crater lake with its health bringing water. We saw the wild life as close as you can get and were privileged with more bird watching, flamingo watching to be precise, in its most spectacular form. A tour with ecobushman will touch you and give you experiences for life, but you will also leave with a more educated and open mind.
SE
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An unforgettable experience
A one-week safari with Isaac Ouma became an unforgettable experience. He shared his knowledge in a personal as well as in a professional manner. Isaac was excellent at solving small and big problems that emerged during the trip, but most of all, he listened to our requests and was the best travel companion we could have had. Some of the highlights durig the safari was Samburu, Buffalo Springs, Lake Baringo, Lake Naivasha, Menengai crater, Great Rift Valley, Kisumu, Lake Victoria and the meeting with students at Ombeyi primary school.
We carry with us unforgettable encounters with people, animals and nature.
For those who will be visiting Kenya, and needs a good, experienced och highly qualified guide, we highly recommend Isaa Ouma.
NL
Email Anke | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Amazing, you will come back!
Isaac is proud of the African nature and you can feel this in all his stories and explanations.
He is one of the most enthousiastic-responsible-passionate guides to travel with.
Very flexible, very humble, very active, very open for suggestions, very creative in giving all you need on your travel!
You will not regret this adventure!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fabulous
The organisation of the whole trip was faultless, we were well looked after at everystage and all our little anxieties thoughtfully managed. Isaac's touch was always in the background and he was at the end of the phone to help us when it looked like our flight was going pear shaped. We finished the trip with a wonderful evening of traditional food and dancing with Ken and all his admnistration collegues. We were sorry when the trip was over and we had to say goodbye to our new friends. We are already thinking of another trip to Kenya and there are no prizes for who will ask to organise it for us. This trip opened our eyes to lots of beauty and the challenges facing wildlife and their habitats no wonder Ecobushman has been used by a number of film producers in conservation. Best wishes to everyone especially Robert the guide and Ken.