Classic Journeys Africa
- Located In:
-
United States
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2010)
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $280 to $600 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
NO
Email Sissel | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Safari by road to 3 different tented camps. Wonderful landscape & wildlife & good driver/guide.
I travelled with my 18 years old nephew and we both had a great time. Our guide Felix, was always on time, helpful and informative. He was also a good driver and made us feel safe. The general road condition in Kenya is not good and in parts really bad but we saw a lot of local life and beautiful landscape because we travelled by road. We went first to Ol Pejeta conservancy and the Sweetwater camp. It is located on the equator around 1800 meters above sea level. The conservancy is known for their rhinos but we also saw many other animals including elephants, lion and jackal. We also visited the chimpansee sanctuary and heard about the work they do. Thereafter we went to Lake Nakuru and the Flamingo Hill camp. We drove through lush and green landscape and the area around the lake itself is beautiful. Again we saw many animals including rhinos, buffalo, some flamingos and Vervet monkeys. The last camp was in Mara, the Loyk Mara camp. The savanna was teeming with life and we saw so many different animals, big herds of wildebeest, topis, zebras, buffalos and other species. Elephants, hippo, a pride of lions, a big male leopard, cheetah, hyenas and more. It might have been good to have had a 4x4 as a safari vehicle because we got stuck a few times. On our way back to Nairobi we visited a traditional Masai village. We spent an interesting hour with them and was shown around by a young Masai warrior who spoke English. Our last day in Nairobi we were picked up by a driver and taken to the Giraffe center, David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage and the Karen Blixen museum before being driven to the airport. All those places were worth a visit and we also had a nice lunch in the Karen Blixen Coffee Garden. All the camps we visited during our safari were really nice and also quite small with Loyk Mara as the smallest, and maybe also our favourite. In Nairobi we stayed at Eka hotel which can be recommended if you are staying a night in Nairobi at each end of your safari, as it is located on the road to the airport and have all the facilities you'll need. We also used their car service one evening and went to Carnavore for dinner which was a fun experience. We ate a lot of really good food during our stay in Kenya and the service was great everywhere. All in all we had a wonderful time and can highly recommend both visiting Kenya and using Classic Journeys to help organise the trip.
NO
Email Robin Chester | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Friendly and trained personell
Ok, but 7 hours drive in a car with no AC and uncomfortable seats should be mentioned when booking. The safari was great, but when the car limits our trip around the park (crossing of river not possible), it's a pity, and we didn't get to go all over the park. The stay at Loyk was awesome, and the food great!
NO
Email Arild Moen | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Trustworthy, good educated, knowledgeable and Serviceminded operators and staff.
My trip to Kenya was an interesting journey. I had bought a trip with a travel group consisting of 20 other people. We flew from Norway in the afternoon around the border of Ukraine, over Baghdad and the Persian Gulf to Doha in Quatar, from where a new plane took us to Nairobi where we landed early in the morning. The first day was spent relaxing at the hotel and a trip around Nairobi to a Giraffe park and the Karen Blixen estate. Dinner at the Carnivore restaurant. The following two days we drove to Naivasha and Nakuru with birds and animals. Then to Masai Mara where we stayed in a luxurious tent camp operated by the Masaii and we saw lots of animals. Then we travelled back to Nairobi and flew to Zanzibar where we stayed in a luxurious beach hotel. Had a day trip to the center of the island where we visited the Slave-market, the Spice market and the old town with the fort. Crowded and People everywhere. From Zanzibar we flew back to Oslo via Doha. I regret that I did not stay any longer. So many other places to visit.
The tour operators in Kenya did a good job to transport us around, they were service-minded and did their utmost to show us around and to keep the schedule on roads of different standards.
My main impressions after seeing my beloved Kenya again after 40 years were the following:
- lots of People everywhere. The population had tripled on 40 years, from 16 million in 1980 to almost 50 millions today. They get a double whammy: With 3,5 % birthrate increase every year and lots of refugees from the neighboring war-torn countries.
- Almost all houses/huts had tin roofs now. 40 years ago I estimate 2/3 had thatched straw roofs. I recon that is a very good development for the public health?
- There have been some big electrical projects. Power is derived from hot springs in the Rift Valley. There was very little - almost nothing - charcoal burning now. That was very common for cooking 40 years ago. Also less smoke is positive for the public health.
- the roads were improved and better now. New roads with more asphalt. But also lacking maintenance on dirt roads.
- thank you to the old English colonial masters who set aside vast marginal land areas for national parks. Without the dispositions they did 1945-1963 I do not think we would have the parks we can enjoy today.
- I did not study the sanitary situation closely, but at the luxurious hotels where we stayed, we had hot and cold water in the shower and there were cold Tuskers (beer) in the bar. I am sure that if I had gone into a study of the local sanitation Companies, I would have found many faults. So I did not drink tap water.
- Another interesting feature was the new high speed Chinese Standard Gauge Railroad. I never saw any trains running on it. It is a lot of controversy around the Chinese investments and the payback of loans. Presently the SGR-line ends in Naivasha where containers can be transferred to the old “lunatic line” narrow gauge railway that still operates from Nairobi to Kampala.
UY
Email Rafael | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very responsible operator
Very good and reliable in general. We expected more from the driver, he used his mobile a lot and we initiated the Safaris too late (around 7.30)