Maricus O Orao- C.E.O-Founder Great Horizon Trails
Great Horizon Trails
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2005)
- Tour Types:
- Small & medium group tours (Budget & mid-range)
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $120 to $850 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Brechje | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Reliable, experienced and great service!
We went with our daughter on a 4 days trip with Great Horizon Trails. The communication with Marcus was very easy and we received fast replies on our emails. A few days before our trip he phoned us that everything was ok and gave us the details of Viktor our driver. The first day Viktor picked us up at Kisumu, he was exactly on time. He informed us about our trip and drove us to our lodge (AA Mara). On our way he told us a lot about the environment and the country. Viktor is a really good driver and is well experienced. After a good lunch we had our first game drive in the Masai Mara. It was a great experience and Viktor knows a lot about all the animals. The second day we had a full day of game driving. Thanks to Viktor's efforts we saw 4 of the Big Five (except the Leopard). We really enjoyed the full day in the Masai Mara. The third day we visited a Masai village. It is a bit commercial but you get a very good impression of the Masai living. Our last day we went to Hell's gate; per bike where we experienced the beautifull nature and along the road you see the zebra's and Giraf's walking next to you. The viewpoints are magnificent. The way back is exhausting as the road is a little bit steep. So you need to have a good condition for this. At the end of the day Viktor dropped us at our hotel in Nairobi and we received a call from Markus if everything was ok. We could very much advice Great Horizon Trails; good service, reliable, always on time and you get what you agreed upon. Thanks to Markus and Viktor we enjoyed every moment!
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Email Shekila | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Not honest
Marcus started off being honest until the USD came in to play. Beware.
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Email Kelly | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing, tailored experience
Pre-trip planning and coordination with Marcus and the Great Horizon Trails team was fast, easy, and clear. I traveled to Nairobi National Park and Amboseli National Park and the driver Victor was informative, friendly, and kind. He was always quick to point out animals to see at both parks and was punctual, reliable, and a very safe driver. Great Horizon trails helped me book a tailored last-minute trip to Nairobi National Park and Amboseli, and it was an unforgettable experience thanks to Marcus and Victor. Would definitely book another trip/safari with this company if I were in Kenya again.
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Email Dave ONeill | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Custom Kisumu Safari Train Adventure: Ruma National Park, Rusinga Island Safari - Beyond Our Dreams!
Our daughter was on a college fellowship in the Masai Mara, so we decided to take the rest of the family on a three-week Kenya vacation. We planned to meet her in the Masai Mara during the great migration for a safari adventure!
TL;DR Great Horizon Trails and Marcus Orao were able to design a custom Ruma National Park & Rusinga Island safari around a roundtrip Kisumu Safari train adventure. Beyond our dreams! During our adventure to Ruma National Park and Rusinga Island, we were the only tourists we saw, even though we were visiting in mid-late July,. During July in high season.
We went about organizing our three-week Kenya vacation backward. First, we picked the days we would be in Kenya, and then defined an itinerary. Because of this backward approach, we needed safaris personally tailored to our schedule, not the other way around. Off the shelf tour companies with set schedules wouldn’t work. Instead, we were going to have to find a tour and Safari planner that could schedule activities that fit our itinerary.
Luckily, we found Great Horizon Trails (GHT) and Marcus Orao. GHT & Marcus had been in the Kenya Safari business for decades. Their office is in downtown Nairobi, We found them as a result of looking for Safaris in Kisumu, Kenya. We exchanged emails with Marcus and the email led to phone calls (WhatsApp). Marcus is extremely knowledgeable and was eager to use his expertise to create custom safaris tailored to maximize the activities and adventures for the amount of time that we had available.
Even though there were days of demonstrations in Nairobi and Kisumu during our visit, Marcus and GHT planned around them to ensure that our adventures were uninterrupted.
The guides that Marcus hired told us that Marcus knows many, many people in the tourism industry in Kenya, and that his nickname is “the professor” because of his knowledge. He is perhaps the most knowledgeable Kisumu and Rusinga Island tour planner and guide in all of Kenya . As Kisumu and Rusinga Island are his ancestral home. Once we were connected with Marcus, the planning process became a smooth exchange of email and phone calls to get the details just right. GHT was able to use their experience to shoehorn in the maximum number of activities for the time available.
Marcus came to the hotel to meet us the day we arrived in Nairobi. It was like meeting a long-lost family member. Marcus is warm and caring, and that comes through when you meet him in person. We had been very nervous about the entire Kenya adventure because we had been sending money to Marcus to make the arrangements for the Safaris and had never been to Africa, let alone Kenya. But once we met him all our concerns were allayed.
Kisumu Overnight Safari Train Adventure – Ruma National Park, Ruma River Lodge and Rusinga Island
The Kisumu Safari Train is a 12-hour overnight adventure! Accent on the adventure. If you are looking for an authentic cultural experience and aren't afraid of a little discomfort, dirt or grittiness (the restroom is a hole in the floor), the Kisumu Safari Train is worth consideration. Please note that we found the Safari Train, and GHT and Marcus built custom safaris around the train schedule – filling every moment!
Great Horizon Trails arranged to have us picked us up in the afternoon to take us to the Nairobi train station. We would be departing at 6:30 pm on the Safari train from Nairobi to Kisumu. This is where GHT saved us! Marcus and GHT arranged for three different drivers to pick us up from the hotel and take us to the train station just in case the demonstrations halted traffic. The first and second drivers got stuck in traffic, but the third driver made it to our hotel, and as a result, we made it to the train station with plenty of time! Without this planning expertise, we would have missed the Kisumu Safari Train and spent the next three days in the Hotel.
Marcus, as far as we know, is the only tour planner operating adventures in the Kisumu and Rusinga Island area. The Kisumu Safari Train is not well known by people inside and outside of Kenya. In fact, even some people in Kisumu aren't aware of the train's existence.
Once we arrived at the Nairobi train station, the adventure really began. We were the only Mzungus on the train, in the train station, and around the train station. This began an adventure where we were the only tourists. Everyone working at the train station knew of our plans, and we obtained a sleeping car room for our party of three (first-class tickets are in the sleeping cars). One pro tip when it comes to sleeping on the Safari Train - try to obtain a room in the middle of the train car. Riding over the wheels on either end of the train car is a much rougher and noisier experience than the rooms closer to the middle of the car.
Interestingly, before you can board the train, you are lined up with all the other train passengers around everyone’s luggage in a line on the train platform. Police and dogs come through the line, examining the luggage and the passengers before you are allowed to board. It's also a wonderful way to travel in Kenya because you're sleeping for much of the travel time. Probably the only better way to travel would be by air between Nairobi and Kisumu – but you’d miss the adventure!
We ate food from the kitchen/dining car in our rooms. If you choose to travel by Safari train, we recommend bringing a couple of sanitary wipes packages. Both the beds and some of the surfaces in the rooms were very dirty and didn't appear to have been cleaned in a while. The toilet in the “restroom” is a hole in the floor with footpads for squatting. There is no bedding for the bunks, so we brought inflatable camping pillows. The sleeping car gets cold at night, so you’ll want to wear warm clothing to sleep in (dress for 40F). Very rustic, but worthwhile cultural experience and one of our fondest memories from our trip to Kenya!
We arrived at the Kisumu train station at 6:30am—the next morning. Marcus and our driver guide were waiting to transport us to the Ruma River Lodge with a stop for coffee in between The station and the lunch Java House coffee and Mexican diner in Kisumu is worth the stop. It was some of the best coffee that we had while in Kenya. period we then headed on to check into Ruma River Lodge. This was a long drive, well, not very long.
The ride to Ruma River Lodge was very scenic and took about two and a half hours. When approaching Ruma River Lodge, we encountered a large baboon family, signaling our entrance into a wildlife environment. We were welcomed like family to Ruma River Lodge, which was much more beautiful than we imagined. Our rooms were perched on the edge of a tropical valley that reminded us of Kalaheo Kauai. The rooms were beautiful and had windows and a porch overlooking the valley. We had brunch at Ruma River Lodge, and then set out for Ruma National Park Reserve.
Ruma National Park is one of Kenya's most rewarding but less well-known wildlife reserves. While we were visiting, we didn't see any other tourists! At the park entrance, we picked up a national park ranger, Grace, who served as our guide throughout the park . We highly recommend having a ranger guide, as she knew all of the park's best places to see wildlife.
While in Ruma National Park, we saw Rothschild giraffes, standing and laying down (which is very rarely seen), Roan antelope,black rhinos, and all manner of antelopes from the Hartebeest to Waterbucks to Eland antelopes. Returning to Ruma River Lodge at the end of the day, we enjoyed a true farm-to-table family-style meal. Everything was extremely fresh and easily digested by our American digestive systems . We enjoyed the sunset over the valley, listening to the wildlife, and got a good very night's sleep in our comfortable beds,
On the second day of our safari, we left room a River Lodge after a delicious breakfast and travelled for about an hour to Rusinga Island . On our way, we encountered an even larger family of baboons running across the countryside.
Rusinga Island was a change of pace from the Wildlife Safari we had enjoyed the day before. We visited the location of Marcus's ancestral home on Rusinga Island and met many of the inhabitants and learned of their lifestyle. And Marcus told us of his family history in that area.
We spent an hour or two at the Tom Mboya memorial on Rusinga Island, learning about the freeing of Kenya and his important role in the development of a free political system. From the memorial, we went to Rusinga Island Lodge on the shores of Lake Victoria. This picturesque tropical village stunned us with its beauty and expansive vistas of Lake Victoria. A table was set for us on the banks of Lake Victoria, where we enjoyed a delicious fresh caught tilapia lunch.
We then visited way Wayando beach Eco Lodge to see how some ecologically friendly safaris are being developed on Rusinga Island .
We traveled from Rusinga Island and Mbita via the Luanda Mbita ferry. Seeing the sights and watching birds swimming underwater, looking for fish . The drive from the ferry terminal back to consumer Kisumu railway station took about two hours with a few stops along the way.
We arrived with about an hour to spare before leaving on the Overnight Safari Train for Nairobwe. Once again the train ride was from 6:30pm to 6:30am. We slept better on the return trip than we had before because we were used to it and we got a room in the middle of the car. Suffice it to say, being the only Mzungus on the Safari Train caused some surprise among other passengers and inhabitants. The Safari Train really was a unique experience that, if you're adventurous enough, we highly recommend!
Marcus was able to tailor a safari to our personal schedule and our level of value. Based on our conversations, he guided us to the right level of accommodation and the right level of transport for us - not to rustic and not to luxurious - just right. Marcus is so experienced and knows so many people in the Kenya tourism trade that he's able to arrange for almost anything. He was able to take our unique itinerary and pack it with unique experiences in Kenya.
Marcus is and our driver guide drove all night to meet us at the Nairobi railway station the next morning at 6:30am. Marcus had insisted on transporting us from the Nairobwe railway station to the Safarilink airport terminal to ensure that we made it to our Diani Beach flight in time. Although they were exhausted, their service was a comfort and much appreciated. We can't express how much we enjoyed the Safari Train adventure and Safaris through the Great Horizon Trails. WE don't believe any other Kenya travel company could have organized the trip better.
Indeed, we often found ourselves to be the only tourists in sight, which really added to the experience we had in Kenya . Marcus developed relationships with us and was able to tailor the safaris to our values and to something that fit us perfectly. We were definitely off the beaten path, having a unique experience that will always remember.
Email Paul | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience, coordination and well informed drivers/ guides
I did the safari in Masai Mara as part of a bigger group. Very impressed with the positive energy emanating from all the drivers, cook and the team. Very switched on and well informed team - had a good chat about animals, conservation but also culture and current affairs which adds a great context to the experience.
And great commitment from the drivers to make sure we had many sightings of the animals. GHT coordinated minor hiccups with the accommodation in the campsite at Masai Mara swiftly. It's evident that it's a business with customers at the very top of their priorities making great overall impression and experience.
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Email George Relyea | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic Safari Experience
This was my first visit to Kenya, but won't be my last. I was part of a medical mission group that has been using Great Horizon Trails for at least five years and I now see why. Our drivers met us at the exit from customs at the airport and took care of everything from that moment until they dropped us and our luggage back at the airport. When eight of our bags didn't make it to Kenya with us they made all the arrangements to get our bags to us as quickly as possible.
They were involved in every aspect of our trip. The drivers were very friendly and helpful, answering every question asked of them along the way and accommodating every request made. Their suggestions and assistance were always correct and helpful. They quickly went from being guides and drivers to friends and important members of the team. Moses and Maina, thank you!
I highly recommend Great Horizon Trails for all your travel needs!
Email Ina | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
excellent trip
Good communication between tour operator and me.Transfers and all went as hoped.Safari driver and guide was professional and experienced.Buss was new and clean.We see a lot animals.We was very happy be in Kenya.Cook was excellent.Wish I will go back to Masai Mara ,to Kenya.
Email Herbert | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great safari
The tour was great, ask for Joseph as a driver. Great to see the migration in Masai Mara. The animals obviously don't care how much you pay for your tour. Lake Nakura was a little bit boring after the visit to Masai Mara, rather spend a day more in Masai Mara then going to Lake Nakuru National Park. Organisation at Great Horizon Trails is a bit poor, as I had to pay an advance which was claimed that they did not receive it, so i had to pai it again in cash. I had to wait for over 2 month to get my money back and it required many phonecalls. But tour was still great.
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Email Larry | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Flexible, accomodating, personable, efficient, relational, professional unforgetable experience.
Communications included every last detail. No unpleasant surprises. I had used Great Horizon Trails previously and my wife and I had an excellent experience all the away around. This time there were four of us and again the service was top notch, accommodating to our schedule, personable, and again unforgettable. The accommodations were what was expected, the sites and animals beyond expectations, as was the food. Could not have asked for a better experience all the way around.
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Email Martha Robinson | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A fantastic way to visit a fantastic country.
This was my first visit to Kenya and a country on the continent of Africa. I did this as a mission trip and was accompanied by my husband and 5 others. It was only 17 days, not nearly long enough, but, even in that short time I felt I saw a good sample of the country. I felt cared for and welcomed. Having the same two drivers for who were genuinely friendly people added an immeasurable quality to the trip. I would recommend this company to anyone based on this experience.