Bush lunch in Maasai Mara National Reserve
Tazama Africa Holidays
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2012)
- Member Of:
- AMREF, Eco Tourism & Tour Operators Society of Kenya
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $200 to $1,200 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Nelson | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a lifetime thanks to Antony who is trustworthy, fun, and knowledgeable! Highly recommended!
My girlfriend and I booked an 8-day Safari to Amboseli, Lakes Nakuru and Naivasha and of course the great Maasai Mara during September 2020, just a week before leaving! I had been corresponding with over 5 companies who each had a great reputation and strong offers but I went with Tazama Holidays and could not be happier!
This was the best trip of my life! I have been to 25 countries for holidays/vacation but this was one of the most special. Antony is the main reason for this. As a small business owner and driver/guide, he made the trip special. First off, he welcomed us at the airport and took us to our hotel, despite our 8-day safari not beginning until the next morning. My girlfriend and I felt very comfortable and confident in him from our first encounter. He has a warm smile and a calm, confident demeanor. Throughout the trip he was respectful, knowledgeable, patient, funny, and also very attentive. He also possesses a good command of English.
Antony was knowledgeable of landscapes, culture, history, and most importantly – the animals! He had a vast knowledge of birds and mammals. There was no question that stumped him! He also has a funny and anecdotal education style which is engaging and memorable. Antony is also adept at providing great viewpoints of animals for photography by predicting their next move. Antony has a like-new 4x4 Landcruiser in excellent condition which he kept clean for us throughout the trip, equipped with a fridge full of bottled water and internationally adapted charging ports.
He drove well on the game drives and was skilled in finding animals. We were often the first vehicle in front of lions, cheetahs, elephants, rhinos, hyenas, etc. He is very familiar with all of the parks from his 13 years of experience. He even was familiar with several families of cheetahs and lions. Personally, we saw 3 of the big 5 in the first 24 hours of game driving and saw all 5 during the safari. He went above and beyond to get us a great shot of a leopard eating a gazelle carcass in a tree, drove tirelessly to get us close up shots of a rhino and its baby, etc.
Antony has a humble and serving nature that makes the guests feel very special and welcomed. He remembered little details from the day before and always checked in on us to make sure we were happy with our accommodations and extracurricular activities including bike riding through Hell’s Gate NP and our cultural Maasai village visit. He took care of all problems that arose throughout the trip without fuss. Antony was always early and waiting for us before the crack of dawn with great eagerness and enthusiasm to get started.
My one regret is not listening to his recommendations for accommodations. I went against his advice on one and was disappointed I did not listen to him. His recommendations are truly for his clients' best interests. He was the most responsive person to emails and very honest throughout and never set false expectations.
If you are worried about COVID-19 and your ability to go then rest assured that Antony has a fantastic policy to ensure your confidence in booking and the Kenyan government is strict about following COVID-19 protocols. I even witnessed local police arrest citizens on the streets who were not wearing a mask. I felt safe the entire time.
I highly recommend that you get a tour through Antony at Tazama African Holidays. He puts an incredible amount of effort into ensuring that you have a wonderful trip. You will not be disappointed!
PS Here is a list of animals he found for us –
Pride of Lions, Parade of Elephants, Tower of Giraffes (Rothschild, Articulated and Maasai), Tawny Eagle, Leopard Faced Vulture, Dazzles of Zebras, Coalitions of Cheetahs, Herds of Water Buffalo and Wildebeest, Eland, Topi, Jackal, Dikdik, Vervet monkeys and Baboons, Mongooses, Flamingos, Warthogs, Hippopotamuses, White Rhinos, Waterbucks, Cackle of Hyenas, Impalas, Lola bird, Grant and Thompson Gazelles, Egyptian Geese, Cape Teal Duck, Hartebeest, Iguana, Crocodile, and Bats.
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Email Nicole | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An absolutely amazing experience on an 8-day Safari in Kenya!
There is so much I could say about our trip to Africa and our experience with Antony at Tazama Africa Holidays in Kenya. I could go on for hours about how much I loved it, but if I had to sum it up into just one word…AMAZING is what comes to mind!! I went on a last minute trip to Kenya with my boyfriend in late Sep/early Oct 2020 (the midst of COVID times). I was nervous at first, but I could not have been happier, felt more safe, or enjoyed the company of our guide and the Kenyan people we interacted with more than I did. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget and a dream come true!
A trip like this starts with your guide. If you do not have a good guide, your trip will not be nearly as special, informative, or catered to your wants/needs. We started with an 8 day Safari to Amboseli, Naivasha, Nakuru, and Maasai Mara. Antony was our guide and truly went above and beyond to make our safari perfect. Antony is an expert Safari guide; he is able to find the animals you are most looking forward to seeing and get you to a spot where you can take breathtaking pictures, but more importantly, where you can feel like you are right there with the animals observing their natural behaviors (while also not disturbing them). He cares deeply about the animals and about our natural world. He is extremely knowledgeable about all of the animals you will encounter and we never stumped him with any of our many questions. We saw more than just the big 5, which is many peoples number one goal when on a Safari in Kenya. We saw every animal you can possibly imagine in this part of the world plus some that we didn’t even know existed! We saw lion cubs suckling from their mother, young zebras playing little games, baby elephants trying their hardest to feed on the grasses for their first time, a leopard dragging its kill up into a tall tree, 3 different species of giraffe, thousands and thousands of wildebeest beginning their migration across the Mara River, the 5 famous cheetahs you see in all of the nature documentaries (catching some shade from our car just a foot or two away from us), countless water buffalo, breathtaking sunrises/sunsets, and too many more extraordinary views to list here.
If you are considering a trip to Kenya with Tazama Africa Holidays, rest assured that you will be in good hands. Antony comes highly recommended by us and he will handle every detail of your trip so you can relax and enjoy the ride! My biggest recommendation would be to listen to Antony’s advice. We requested one lodge against the advice of Antony because we thought it would be a nicer place to stay for us. Turns out, he recommended a different lodge for good reasons and we should have just gone with his recommendation…it would have saved us a lot of time when venturing out for our game drive as the one he recommended was much closer to where we would be going.
Email Tom60UK | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Excellent service, very knowledgeable, very accommodating, highly professional, competitively priced
Just came back from a Safari in Kenya of Amboseli, Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara, a fantastic trip with Tazama Africa Holidays, Kenya. We had a great driver in Antony, whose boundless energy and enthusiasm ensured we saw everything that was on our wanted list and more. We saw the Big5, Big9, countless antelope and birds and the Wildebeest Migration, despite being late in the season for this.
This is our 9th Safari and have to say one of our best, there is no doubt that when dealing with Tazama you are speaking with the people ‘on the ground’ who have an intimate knowledge of the parks and the inevitable daily changes within them. Their etiquette in relation to other park guests, whilst keeping us happy, was highly commendable.
We cannot praise Tazama Africa Holidays enough for managing all the arrangements, selecting excellent accommodation, inclusive of our request for a last minute holiday extension. Excellent communication, actually the best we have ever experienced. A special thanks to Anthony for consistently going beyond the call of duty and we highly recommend Tazama Africa Holidays, Kenya.
AE
Email Sergey | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing safari holidays
I am not good in writing reviews, but in this case I will do an effort :) Our guide Anthony did a great job and made our trip unforgettable:
- the tour was well scheduled and flexible for any changes we wanted (5 days tour: Masai Mara - Nakuru - Sweet waters);
- Antony chose very nice hotels/camps and advised how to save $ with no harm to quality;
- the jeep was new and comfortable with unlimited supply of water, face masks, sanitizer and even a fridge;
- everything possible was done so that we see lions, leopard, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffalos, rhinos, monkeys, antilopes and lots of others;
- covid testing was well organized and the result was delivered to our hotel in Nairobi.
- during the whole tour we never felt unsafe or unhappy.
Couple of advices to keep in mind in order not to blame anyone:
- early morning and late at night it might be chilly outdoors, so take clothes;
- during safari you will have to travel long hours in the jeep off-road.
- be patient when looking for animals :)
Book a flight, pack your stuff and go for safari !
UA
Email Ira | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was the best decision to choose Tazama Africa Holidays for our safari
While planning our trip to Kenya we went through countless number of reviews on different websites looking for a guide for safari. We were so lucky to choose Tazama Africa Holidays. All the experience - starting from prearrangements till end of our trip and departure back home was seamless - thanks to our best guide Antony, who made our trip unforgettable!
He proposed us amazing itinerary for 5 days safari and was flexible for any adjustments we could wish for, advised on the best places to stay while being mindful about the price. Our trip was perfectly organized and well planned, we didn’t need to worry about anything.
Antony made sure to pick us up at the airport despite a very early arrival of our flight. Safari land cruiser was new, super clean and comfortable. We started trip from Masai Mara -> going then to lake Nakuru -> and finishing at Ol Pejeta conservancy. We didn’t even expect to see so many animals: leopard, cheetahs, lions, elephants, buffaloes, hippos, rhinos, giraffes, countless antelopes, zebras and so many more... It was just unforgettable trip and we wish we could stay longer!
Despite the ongoing Covid 19 outbreak during our trip, we felt safe and confident about our wellbeing throughout the entire journey due to enhanced safety and disinfection measures. Although we were required to obtain a PCR Covid test prior to our flight back home, it was not a problem - Antony made sure to arrange it for us in one of the approved labs/ hospitals in Nairobi. We received our result in less than half a day and Antony delivered stamped test certificates right to our hotel.
Overall, the trip exceeded all our expectation. It was amazing once in a lifetime experience with the best guide who was extremely knowledgeable and professional. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!
ES
Email Mikel | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Excelent safari trip in Amboseli National Park. Exceed my expectations.
It was my third safari in Africa and I can only say that it has turned out to be a great experience. Antony is an excellent guide. He picked me up on time and even apologized during the trip to Amboseli because there was traffic in Nairobi ... 00
The tour was perfect. He did not mind adapting the itinerary to my travel needs. He booked me accommodation in a lodge that was way above my expectations and the three days of safari went very well. He asked me what I was interested in seeing and did his best to get it. I decided what time I wanted to go out. In the end we spent many hours looking for animals and the best views of the park so it was a perfect experience. I have no doubt that Antony will be my guide when he returns to Kenya on safari.
Email DW | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best holiday ever!
I did the 8 day safari with Tazama, guided by Henry for two days and Anthony for the remainder. It was the best trip ever! Kenya is a beautiful country.
The trip was really well curated. After pick up, we set off for Samburu, central Kenya, and we worked our way towards the Masai Mara, stopping at Ol Pejeta and Lake Nakuru on the way. Each destination was unique and had something new to offer. I cannot convey how rich and varied the wildlife of Kenya is and the itinerary gave me an excellent opportunity to sample this with great success!
Ensuring you have an excellent guide is essential and my advice would be to trust them - Anthony and Henry know their stuff and were able to tap into their network of other guides to help you spot animals. If they suggest a 6am departure time, go for it and you’ll be the envy of the camp! We saw 10 cheetahs in the Masai Mara on one day when other groups saw none and similarly with a majestic leopard at dawn in Samburu. Their spotting skills and animal knowledge were fantastic and all my questions were answered. It’s worth noting that Anthony considers proximity to animals when suggesting accommodation.
The big 5 are a major draw and I was lucky to tick them all off but there’s so much more to safari! I also saw majestic ostriches, Masai and Somali, Grevis zebras and common zebras, large towers of giraffes, honking hippos, packs of lions feasting and the list goes on. Kenya’s birds were a big and very pleasant surprise. Vultures, secretary birds, crested cranes, eagles, hawks etc were fantastic to see in their natural habitats.
The accommodation and food were fab - absolutely no complaints. I was super comfortable and extremely well fed with delicious food throughout. My favourite though was BaseCamp Masai Mara which is right by the Talek river. I was lucky to be upgraded to the tent Obama stayed in as a senator but regardless, I have amazing memories of lying in bed listening to hyenas howl and lions roar in the night. The camp is kept secure by super friendly and helpful Masai people who also escort you around the camp after nightfall. In the evening, the camp was lit with oil lamps which was very very atmospheric. I felt so relaxed and peaceful there.
Tazama Africa are extremely professional and not pushy. Their aim is to help you have the best safari experience you can have. My last tip would be get a Land Cruiser if you can afford it. The terrain in the Masai Mara can be a little muddy and you might get stuck...
Email William | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic trip with excellent operator
We booked a private safari 7 days/6nights with Tazama Africa Holidays. From the planning stage, Anthony was very responsive and was eager to help us. He offered a great itinerary and managed to make everything work.
A week or so before departure I had to push the departure date back due to work and Anthony made no fuss and within an hour or so had the trip rebooked for the new dates. By that stage we had been in touch by whatsap.
We arrived in Nairobi and were met by Anthony and Andrew at the airport and soon after we were on our way to central Kenya. We selected the 4x4 option and looking back we did see a few people in the van from other tours and it seems that you would be limited due to the condition of the roads in the parks.
Andrew was our guide and he was friendly and kept us entertained on the long drives. During the game drives we felt very fortunate to be with him. A combination of sharp eyesight, 6th sense and being resourceful got us very close to all the animals we wanted to see.
The lodges suggested were all great. We did some research and specificaly request one hotel and Anthony made it happen swiftly (planning stage)
We chose to spend a few days in Nairobi and Andrew came to pick us up the following day to take us to hospital (Covid test) which was really well organized. We got the results in 24hrs and Anthony followed up to make sure we had received them. On our last day, they both came to meet us at our hotel in Nairobi and Andrew drove us to the airport. Just great service and a friendly team who knows what they are doing!. We are planning on returning with our famillies next year and will be planning it with Tazama.
SN
Email Stephane | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Three-day safari at Amboseli
I highly recommend Tazama Safari. What a great time we had!
We had a wonderful experience at Amboseli thanks to Antony and Tazama Safari. Antony was right there at the airport for pickup, with plenty of water bottles available to rehydrate us after a long flight. Prior to our arrival, Antony had upgraded our hotel booking to Oltukai Lodge, inside Amboseli and right in front of Kilimanjaro. Our game drives were great and Antony was really adroit in spotting where we should go to see animals, including lions. Anotny was courteous and friendly, and full of knowledge about the park. Our departure also went smoothly and we arrived back at the airport right on schedule. Next time we'll do the Masai Mara!
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Email Randy A | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable 3-Day Maasai Mara Adventure!
I am so thankful to Tazama Africa Holidays and my guide Gedion for an unforgettable safari experience! It was my first ever safari and I was privileged to see an abundance of animals, despite visiting during the off-season. I was very impressed with Gedion's eagle-eye vision as well as his driving abilities. He could spot rare, elusive wildlife from impossibly far distances and negotiate the muddiest of terrain with relative ease. I highly recommend choosing the Land Cruiser over the safari minivan. It costs a bit more, but is well worth the upgrade!
