On Safari in the Mara
The Safari Partners
- Located In:
-
Canada
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2010)
- Member Of:
- IATA, ACTA & TOPAC
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $300 to $1,000 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Michelle and Sam | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
One of those lifetime trips which kept our priorities and budget in mind.
We have just returned from the most amazing travel adventure through Rwanda, Uganda and South Africa, including a gorilla trek and safari, all of which was organized by Chris and team.
This area of travel was new to us, nor are we experienced travellers, and we had a specific budget to be met. We gave Chris a very long list of things and places we wanted to see and do. Somehow he found a way to meet and exceed every expectation.
From the day we left to the moment we arrived home, it was like someone was always there to ensure we were at the right spot, at the right time. The accommodations, the transfers, and the people were incredible.
Thank you so much for the advice and guiding our trip in such a way to achieve what we wanted and understanding our priorities. It was definitely memorable for all the right reasons.
Now.... if only Chris could do something about the snow we came home to!
CA
Email Danielle and Lee | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing introduction to East Africa!
We can only echo the very positive comments in the other reviews of The Safari Partners.
After informing Chris that we wanted to visit the mountain gorillas ( in Uganda ) and explore the Serengeti and Ngorongoro area, he put together a wonderful trip that fulfilled all our hopes and fitted our budget well. We spent nine days in the Serengeti, staying at three different camps which allowed us to explore the whole area in more depth. The wildlife and endless plains were spectacular!
The transfers were seamless and the accommodations and all the staff including guides, mostly provided by Asilia, were excellent. Spending three days with each knowledgeable guide enabled us to also learn more about African culture. The fact that Asilia also supports the local communities by different and numerous means was appreciated by us. On the last night of the trip, we were treated after dinner to an unexpected but thrilling Masai Warriors dance at the lovely Highlands Camp in Ngorongoro!
As we were flying from Vancouver, Chris suggested that we use KLM which he also booked. We decided to spend two nights in Amsterdam to help us with the jet lag which was a good decision. There is a lot to see and experience in Amsterdam even if it rains everyday…
We would not hesitate in recommending Safari Partners (and have already done so a few times ) for such a trip.
Thank you so much Chris and Jen!
CA
Email Marion | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Just use these guys. They're top notch
This was the ultimate trip of a lifetime and it was obvious that our trip was very well considered for both our safety and ultimate enjoyment. The accommodation, the food, the guides, the staff, the people, all of it was very well planned.
We did the 12 day Kenya/Tanzania safari and I wish Ijhad stayed longer to visit more countries. If I go back to Africa, I won't shop around. I will just go back to Chris and crew. They know what they're doing.
CA
Email Shannon & Jamie | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We had a great experience researching and booking through The Safari Partners!
This was the most AMAZING trip! What an beautiful part of the world! What an adventure! My husband and I traveled to Kenya & Zanzibar for our honeymoon and it was the experience of a lifetime! We highly recommend booking through The Safari Partners! Chris was extremely knowledgeable and had great recommendations for Africa. He worked closely with us on what we were hoping to experience and had many suggestions within our budget. Jennifer was also a great help in getting all of our documents organized before our trip. From the moment we landed in Kenya, everything was organized from airport pickups to hotel, Safari and airport check-ins. Everyone we met along the way was so friendly! We HIGHLY recommend the Safari Partners and hope to be able to book with them again soon!!
Perfect trip.....made possible by meticulous planning of Safari Partners!!
Chris and Jen provided excellent service for us in planning our two safaris to Kenya. As our first safari adventure we had many questions, and each one was answered diligently, thoroughly, and knowledgeably. Every detail....from beginning to end, travel arrangements, transfers to hotels, choices of hotels, camps we stayed at and enjoyed our safaris, and excursions in and around Capetown, South Africa. The entire trip (one month) was wonderful and meticulously planned. The two safaris were amazing (Samburu, staying at Elephant Bedroom Camp; and Maasai Mara, staying at Entim Camp on the Mara River, site of the big migration).
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Email Jim K | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Tanzania Safari and introduction to Africa
Just read all of the other reviews! Not much more to add. Look no further than these guys!
In the planning stages I communicated with several operators. After a couple of emails with Chris, the choice was obvious!
Every detail from beginning to end was meticulously detailed and very informative. Every question I had before and during the trip was answered immediately. They really made my first trip to Africa easy and I felt comfortable the entire time.
The Air and ground transfers were seamless and the accommodations , guides, and other staff were top notch!
The price was also very reasonable!
Also want to mention that the Tanzania Covid-19 restrictions changed just before I left which was a bit unsettling . Chris and Jen made sure I had everything I needed and arranged all testing and paperwork before I left which really helped when I arrived and left Tanzania
Will definitely use the Safari Partners on my next trip to Africa!
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Email Jonathan | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Outstanding
Absolutely love this tour operator. Chris has a detailed knowledge of African Safari destinations. He also reassured us that we could travel and enjoy during COVID. He was right, we had an amazing time! Prior to travelling, Chris fine tuned our itinerary to ensure we could get all the requisite testing done in a way that didn't interfere with our enjoyment of the trip. A lot has to do with the really wonderful hotels he booked along the way. If you are wondering whether you can enjoy yourself during COVID, it definitely is possible and worth it. It was actually nice having the crowds cut down a bit. We felt safe the entire trip. The local guides the team booked were top notch and very experienced. I think having experienced guides is one of the most important parts of a successful African Safari vacation. Why? Because they know the routes, they have relationships with other guides to ensure you see the Big 5 and many other animals. Chris can also book trips to Uganda for the Gorilla trek, highly recommended, perhaps the highlight of our trip. I won't hesitate to book with Chris and his team again for our next adventure to Africa.
CA
Email Eddy | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Perfect in all respects
We travelled to South Africa and Botswana in October 2021 and Safari Partners did an excellent job setting up all our accommodations, flights and COVID 19 tests. Every step worked out perfectly and Chris was exceptionally helpful answering questions, making suggestions and accommodating changes. Traveling now is a bit challenging due to COVID rules but Safari Partners was up to the challenge and did a great job. We had an amazing trip and we were well looked after every step of the way. Looking forward to working with Chris on our next African adventure!
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65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Everything went seamlessly, even the Covid tests
My husband and I just came back from a month in southern Africa that included four countries, South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana Okavango Delta. Our consultant Chris Ronneseth of The Safari Partners was extremely helpful in planning this fairly complicated itinerary that included 9 internal flights and four Covid tests. Everything happened as planned with no major glitches. I am here to tell you that I felt safer in Africa with regard to Covid than I do in my own home state of New Jersey. Covid is taken seriously in all the countries we visited, with daily temperature checks of all personnel and travelers, mask mandates indoors and outdoors in a group, and sanitizers provided and required at the entrance of all stores. Many of the people who interacted with us had been vaccinated and some were eagerly awaiting their vaccines. Everyone took precautions as required by the laws of their countries. We felt very protected on this trip. The lodges and hotels were amazing as well!
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Email Leah | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The most seamless and incredible experience in turbulent times!
After starting this booking process pre-covid in 2019 we FINALLY got our dream honeymoon and it was totally worth the wait!! Chris and his team successfully assisted, guided and navigated us through the most uncertain and turbulent travel planning times right up until the day before we left! From the first conversation with Chris where he provided extensive knowledge, insight and advice we knew we would be in good hands and did not hesitate to start the booking process. Although our itinerary changed multiples times through the 2+ planning years the finally itinerary was still just as incredible as the first one we had to make sacrifices on. Our itinerary was narrowed down to just visiting Kenya and we spent 1 day in Nairobi, 4 days at the Elephant Bedroom Camp in Samburu and 5 days at andBeyond Kichwa Tembo.
We could use every word that positively describes an experience like wonderful, outstanding, amazing, incredible, ect. and it still wouldn't do our first trip to Africa justice. We aren't lying when we say that we had zero issues or negative experiences throughout the whole planning and travel process, everything was absolutely seamless. In fact, we felt guilty talking about how wonderful our experience was compared to the honeymooning couple from the UK we were paired with that also used a travel agent for the first time and had nothing short of a nightmare experience.
It was our first trip to Africa and it most certainly won’t be our last nor will this be our last trip we book with The Safari Partners. Huge shout out to Chris and his team for making our dreams come true!!!