Hallmark Travel Planners
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2006)
- Member Of:
- ASTA & KATO
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $150 to $800 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
amazing experience
On our very first visit to Kenya we experienced an amazing safari. Our driver Anthony was knowledgeable , timely, accomadating and very congenial. We could refer to him as Simba because of all the lions,lionesses and cubs he found. Our accomadations and meals offered were beautifully presented and delicious, everyone was extremely friendly. Thank you and would highly recommend this service to all . We had 2 grandsons with us 12 and 8 in our small family group. It was wonderful!!!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
3 night 4 day safariin the Masi Mara.
My first safari and I was delighted. Communication from the very beginning of planning to final drop off at the Nairobi Airport was excellent. Our driver and guide, Anthony was delightful and knowledgeable. He was very accommodating to myself and my travel companion, both female over 60. If I were to return I would definitely book with Hallmark Travel Planners.
US
Email Kathy and Sam | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent planning and follow through = amazing experience
We worked with Levis Omondi at Hallmark Travel Planners to plan a custom 18-day itinerary for our group of 6. He was a pleasure to work with, prompt in responding to questions and keeping us informed of issues and changes. He worked with us to organize bringing donations for school kids. He met us when we arrived and stayed in touch throughout to make sure everything went as expected. I highly recommend him and his company.
The tour itself was extraordinary. The accommodations Levis selected for us were great, primarily tent camps that were each unique and fun, with a couple of very nice lodges as well. We had separate guides in Kenya and Tanzania. Paul in Kenya is an excellent spotter! He really knows his animals and birds and can spot them easily while driving. He was a great guy, very personable and informative. Elisha in Tanzania is a wonderful tour guide with a great sense of humor. He was also very knowledgeable and a natural at reading the group and what we needed and wanted. The Land Cruisers in Kenya were definitely more comfortable on the terrible roads, but the Toyota 4-wheel drive vans in Kenya were pretty standard there and actually had better viewing from the seats.
The animals were incredible. We were there to see the wildebeeest migration in the Masai Mara, and the sheer size of the landscape and the numbers of animals was awe-inspiring.
All in all, it was an amazing trip, very well planned and managed. It was an excellent value and I'm glad we worked with a local African company rather than go with a canned tour from one of the major American tour operators. Again, I highly recommend working with Levis Omondi and Hallmark Travel Planners.
US
Email Denise Selleck | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Arrangements were all completed as advertised, guides were knowledgeable and professional.
I was an attendee of the tour and not the planner, however, all arrangements were as advertised. Some of the distances were further in time than we expected, not an issue but should be more accurate. Many of the hotels did not take credit cards either due to web, electricity or knowledge base of employees.
US
Email Mark | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wonderful safari, great guides, smooth logistics
The responsiveness and attention to detail during the initial planning over email was representative of our experience to come in Africa. Great service, great people, and very organized. Very professional. Highly recommended.
We travelled on a 17 day safari through Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda. We were met at the airport in Kenya and taken care of from the beginning. Guides were fun and freindly and spoke English well. In travelling to a new destination every day or two, and navigating through various parks and flights to different countries we always were properly escorted to ensure we arrived were we needed to be. The individual guides catered to our day to day needs and amended our itinerary and schedules to accommodate us.
Levis was patient to answer all of my numerous questions during the planning process and I was pleased to awake every morning is the US to his email to my latest question as he was diligent to respond quickly the same day.
I was a bit nervous to wire funds ahead of time as I wasn't able to find much on Hallmark online, but everything went as well as I could have hoped.
Email Lisa Williams | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Hallmark were accommodating with our requests. More insight into our tour would of been helpful.
1. Our guide Anothony was an okay guide but not very accommodating at times. To start, he invaded our privacy at Lewa after the night before (our 1st night on tour) he made bad remarks about the company and that he personally wouldn't stay there as they were set in there ways & not accommodating to other safari companies like Hallmark. The next day he informed my husband & I that he was coming with us for the 2 days. I asked him why & how? He told me he told Lewa that we wanted our guide to join us. this wasn't the fact all. Quite the opposite being frank with you. We paid the big bucks so we could get a different perspective from another guide & also have our own privacy for the next 2 days. He came with us on our game drives as well after we requested we get at least one game drive on our own to enjoy the expeiernce one on one with our guide. 2/ After requested from the start our planning with Levis that we wanted to do the Hells Gate. Anthony was not thrilled he had to take us there after our night in Nevashahs. We informed him days out that's what we wanted to do. We ended cycling the Hells Gate which in fact was a highlight for us & declined going on the boat ride to see the hippos. 3/ Our last leg of the trip - Rwanda was in fact organised by Magic Safaris, not Hallmark Planners. this was not mentioned to us at the time of booking. however, our guide was outstanding!! 4/ Overall, we are glad we paid the extra $'s to have most of our game drives in a four wheel drive truck as to a van with various guides. Having the same guide & van for the entire trip would of been terrible. 5/ Apologies on being so direct, however it is best you know as I am in business myself & would like to be informed rather then not so it doenst happen to somebody else. Anthony didn't do himself any favours by bad mouthing another company to us, especially on our first night after shouting him a drink at Opejeta for his B'day on our arrival. His attitude did not sit well with us, especially after just meeting him. He did in fact apologise after our 2 days there that he was wrong with his judgment. Lewa was outstanding & highly recommend it. 6/ We felt secure with our booking having Safari Bookings as the reprensative of the company & made the booking so much more reassuring. 7/ Also a note, we never received a questionnaire at the end of our trip with Anothony, hence me informing you. Magic Safaris on the otherhand did. I highly recommend them & will to others.
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Email Becky | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
4.5 star - Great safari holiday with only minor hiccups
We really enjoyed working with Levis to plan our safari holiday. He is super responsive and flexible. We planned an itinerary in Feb for end of May travel, but my father got sick and we had to delay the trip. Levis was very supportive and flexible in helping us to replan the trip for an August travel within a very short period of time. He also helped to reduce the cancellation penalties as much as the policies allow.
The hotels and guides of the trip were quite good with only minor hiccups, which is completely normal in a 5 country long trip (3 weeks). Levis has been actively working with us to address them as they came up.
Looking back I wish we should have communicated our goals better to Levis and our guides early on (eg see all Big 5 in game drives). Hope this helps other users in their planning.
Overall it's a great experience, thanks to the Hallmark team.
DE
Email Benjamin and Jeanne | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very friendly and spontaneous help
The Hallmark Travel Planners reacted very spontaneuosly on our request to plan a tour to the Loita Hills/ Maji Moto and booked a affordable, nice place to stay there (we got an offer only a few hours after we called him so we could start our journey the next day). Levis, who managed everything for us, was very friendly and flexible in helping us to plan our tour. Also we felt very well advised, which tranports to take. The tour itself was very beautiful and special, as due to our little budget, we didn't end up in the most touristic spot but in a little village called Ewaso Ngiro, close to Massai Mara, where we felt very much wellcome by the staff of the camp as well as by the people living there.
AT
Email Franz | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
very good experience 3 days Masai Mara
We ( 3 pax) booked a 3 days Safari to Masai Mara from Kisumu. Organisation was flawless with very quick responses to inquieries and in finding solutions. Everything went smoothly and was well organized. The driver/tourguide Lukas was an excellent driver and we never felt insecure even in crowded traffic. In the park he had an excellent knowledge of wildlife. He was also very interested in showing us as much as possible. The safari vehicle provided was the only thing which was not to our full satisfaction. For the safari it was fine, as it was an old but very robust 4WD bus with a push up roof and a very hard suspension. Which was the big disadvantage for the 6.5 hours road trip to and from the park. It would be wise to consider providing a better transport - including one with a fuctioning air condition - for the long distance drive and swich to the safari van only for its purpose. In total we had a nice experience, saw a lot of animals - of course the agency cannot be credited for that - but it must be credited for the very good organisation and the selection of the excellent driver-guide.
SI
Email Sonja & Storey Lindsay | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Looking for a special East African safari?
Looking for a special East African safari?
Having been to East Africa before, we knew what we wanted to see and do. Hallmark Travel Planners had an existing program that could be modified to meet our desires. Working with Mr. Omondi via e-mail was pleasant and hassle-free and we did indeed experience the trip of a lifetime.
Hallmark Travel Planners utilizes experienced driver/guides knowledgeable in the wildlife, geography, people and cultures, of their respective areas. These guides treat you with consideration and respect and are anxious to ensure your safari is pleasant and fruitful. You want to stop in the middle of the road to take a picture and they will stop in the middle of the road while you get that perfect shot. You want to see a specific animal, they will find it for you, often “up close and personal”.
The accommodations selected for us ranged from an isolated tent camp to unbelievable African luxury with each location providing a unique atmosphere enhancing our safari experience. There were no bad choices, nothing second best. We thoroughly enjoyed each and every location.
We highly recommend Hallmark Travel Planners to anyone contemplating a trip to East Africa.