Shanjoy Tours Team
Shanjoy Tours and Safaris
- Office In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2013)
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $50 to $250 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
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Email Divya Dhanas | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Masai Maara Safari - Shanjoy Tours
Pros:
- People within the Tours are reachable
- Excellent stay provided
- Safe driving
Cons:
- No Game Drive provided on the last day (while it was promised on the quotation). Basically, your last day of Safari is only transfer to Nairobi without any Game drive (even if promised)
- Full day Game drive ends super early. During our Day 2 of game drive, it started at 7am but ended by 4pm (while the park is open till 6pm and the sun would still be up till 6.30pm). Was disappointed to miss out the last 2 hours of Game Drive
- Was able to see only 3 out of 5 (Big5) while other Tour operators promises to shown all Big5
Reply from Shanjoy Tours and Safaris
Posted on Jul 16, 2024Thanks, Divya for your review. I appreciate you booking with us.
Typically, for a three-day, two-night safari, we do a full-day safari from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., giving our clients time to relax in the lodge, but this depends on how they want the game drive to go. You could have told your guide about this, as I had told you you would be able to arrange your timings as you are on a private safari.
For the morning game drive, I am sure you drove back through the park; the new rules prohibit doing a game drive after the ticket has expired after 12 hours. On the final day of the safari, there is no game drive; you spot anything on the way out. Martin, your consultant, specifically informed you that to do a morning game drive on the 3rd day, you would need to pay park fees. You hand only paid for 2 days' park fees, and all those game drives were delivered as promised.
It is important to appreciate that the wild is unpredictable, and the animals present themselves at will. This means that game drives can be rewarded differently. As such, we do not guarantee our clients specific sightings, especially of the Big 5. If another company had promised you this, we do not take responsibility for that.
We encourage our clients to visit at least two or more parks when they are looking to see all the Big Five to increase their chances. Additionally, express your expectations and inform the guide of what you are truly looking for. We try to deliver rewarding game drives, but it is important to note that in the wild, no sightings are guaranteed.
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Email CJJ | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exceeded Expectations!
Thank you Shanjoy Tours for the safari of a lifetime! There were 5 in our group, although there should have been 6, but one got the stomach flu before we left. So the trip started with a major disappointment.
From the minute we were picked up at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport we were well taken care of. We took the 9 day tour to Kenya and Tanzania. We had different guides in each country, but loved them both. Dominic was an amazing tracker, and navigated the bumpy, mud soaked roads, never getting stuck once and even rescuing another jeep. He was an expert driver. We saw the Big 5 in Kenya in one exciting day! Although each day was an adventure! Dominic was so good. We were amazed at all we saw from hyenas chewing through buffalo rib bones, to a leopard, to rhinos at a distance, and so many lions and zebras and giraffes. We transferred after a long drive (Dominic assessed a bridge and said it was not safe, 2 weeks before the Mara bridge had washed out, so we had to take a longer route.) The border would not take our credit card as we had planned, so we had to unexpectedly pay in cash, but we could only get $160 out at a time from the ATM, which was a bit of a challenge. The Serengeti with Ledgar was worth the drive. It is huge and open with so many animals. The roads there were just as bumpy but more dusty. Ledger was also a perfect guide and shared a lot of culture and animal information and answered our many questions. With both drivers we felt secure and knew they would keep us safe while giving us so many chances to see more animals than we had even hoped.
Each night we stayed at unique and beautifully well set up places. The food was plentiful and delicious; we couldn't believe all the selection. The workers at each lodge/camp were also just so friendly. The tents had their own bathrooms, and showers, and were more like spacious rooms than a "tent." All the beds had enclosed mosquito netting and each room was spacious and had bottled water for drinking and toothbrushing. (None of the places supplied cream rinse for hair washing, fyi, but had soap and shampoo.) Also, there were plenty of places during the game drives to stop to use the washroom (which you could also tip there.) We recommend bringing enough small/big bills to tip the driver, porters (coming and going, sometimes 2xs a day), the room staff, and the waiters. Bring extra money for souvenirs as at the park entrance are the Maasaai who really want your business. The jeeps were comfortable, had windows that you could open, places to charge your phone/camera, and a top that raised, as well as a cooler for supplied bottled water. We saw some open jeeps and we all appreciated our jeep being enclosed. (You spend a lot of time in that jeep! ) The itinerary was well planned. The cost to fly over to Africa is the most expensive part of the trip. From Texas it was 9 hours to England, and then another 9 to Nairobi with British Airways. We got our passports, our Yellow Fever Shots and mandatory YF certificates, and started taking our malaria pills a few days ahead of the trip, and while we were on the trip, and then for 7 days after returning home. We over-packed bug spray and sunscreen and never had a big problem, even with the TseTse flies in Tanzania. We thought it would be hotter being at the equator, but found the weather to be pleasant! We dressed in the hues of the safari landscape. We were glad to have packed light jackets for the early morning drives. We went a couple of weeks before the Great Migration and sometimes we were about the only people at a camp! There was also way less traffic to see the animals and we spent unhurried time watching the wildlife. (The Great Migration would have also been so interesting, but for us it was much cheaper to fly and safari in mid May, and we saw more than we had hoped to see.) The rain was not a problem! Shanjoy Tours did an outstanding job organizing the details, the park fees, the meals, and two "above and beyond" kind tour guides in Dominic and Ledgar.
We saw lions eating a Cape Buffalo calf, a hyena splashing in water, so many hippos, warthogs, topis, hartebeests, crocodiles, wildebeests, a cheetah and her cubs eating a gazelle, so many Thompson's gazelles, vultures, African Fish Eagle, flamingos, pelicans and on and on. The last evening Dominic got a tip on the radio, and sped us to the absolute perfect spot, just at the right moment to watch the Amboseli elephants amble slowly across the road right in front of us, one after another, after another, for over 7 minutes. The big bull elephant Michael was in the rear. After, two other smaller groups also crossed. At the beginning of the first herd a flock of white cattle egrets flew overhead right over the elephants. It was a moment that none of us will soon forget.
We highly recommend Shanjoy as being reputable, dependable and for the lodging and meals, the price cannot be beat. At the Ashnil Tented camp the workers sang and danced a goodbye to us as we headed out. You just don't get that in America! Our expectations were met and exceeded! We appreciated Shanjoy Tours and highly recommend their services.
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Email Beth Wilson | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very thoughtful tour operator, excellent value for money, great driver/safari guides
Patrick was very good in communicating with me and my friend before and during our safari. Our driver in Kenya, David was always prompt, provided us good info with the wildlife and always did his best that we get the best from each game drive. Same thing with our Tanzania driver, Abuu.
My friend got sick during our trip and our drivers always accommodated her requests to find a pharmacy and a local doctor. Abuu took her to the hospital when we were in the Ngorongoro area.
Patrick and Mama Savannah were so considerate of my friend's health issue that they upgraded our accommodation while we were in Serengeti so she had access to a doctor. Extremely thoughtful of them!
During our game drives, it was very easy for us to take good shots of the wildlife we were seeing since there were only two of us in the jeep. We were moving around freely so that we could take our best shots.
Accommodations were also great especially in Lake Nakuru, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro. The Kibu Camp in Amboseli was also nice. The only accommodation that I don't care about is the Enkorok camp in Maasai Mara. The tented camp was fine but the food left a lot to be desired for. The restaurant was kind of dark and just didn't have that great vibe to it compared to all the other accommodations we had. I probably would not call it as a mid-range accommodation.
Thank you Patrick and mama Savannah for a wonderful safari experience. I have already recommended your company to my friends!
AR
Email Betina Berney | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Shanjoy manage to balance experience, quality and costume made approach a
We loved Patrick and his experienced guides. They made us feel safe while having a great adventure. All the lodges and hostels were excellent and he chose the best places to visit following our request. Shanjoy manage to make us feel at home. Thank you!!!
CN
Email Zhou | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable honeymoon in Kenya
This is actually our honeymoon trip. It was really an unforgettable experience for both my husband and me in Kenya. Our guide Dominic is a very experienced, talented guide and reliable person, always on time and fulfills all his commitments. With his guidance we gathered the Big Five within two Safari Days!
I will definitely recommend Shanjoy to my colleagues and friends in China.
AE
Email Pooja Singh | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exceptional experience
We came across Shanjoy at Safaribookings and they were by far the most approachable, flexible, and proactive to create the perfect itinerary that we needed for our Safari in Kenya and Tanzania. Martin proactively helped us with the entire booking, and their guide Sam was the most amazing guide you could expect on the trip, knowledgeable and committed to making the entire game drive the most rewarding experience. Thanks to the entire team for making our experience memorable with their top notch service - the team ensured everything and we didn’t have to bother for anything during our entire trip-be it the hotel bookings or lunch boxes or pick and drops to airports or border crossing - everything was arranged seamlessly. Thank you once again team Shanjoy for making it the most hassle free fun and memorable trip for our lives!
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Email Melvin Davanzo | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
A misfortune turned out to be a good fortune!
I had the misfortune of having Bells Palsy during our 8-day Kenya-Tanzania Safari with Shanjoy Tours. Patrick and his Tanzania partner were so concerned that they moved us to Serena Lodge (a 4-star hotel in Tanzania) where a doctor is on call. The doctor attended to me and gave me medication. I stayed in the hotel to rest the next day and then proceeded to Serengeti for the game drive. Because there was a hospital in Karatu where we were billeted the next day, I went to the ER where the doctor ruled out anything serious. Our driver Abu was such an angel driving me to the hospital and the airport. I flew to Nairobi the following day where Patrick personally picked me up to drive me to my hotel. My misfortune turned out to be a good fortune to have our Safari with Shanjoy. Patrick went out of his way to deal with my medical issues as a “person”, not just a transaction with a “customer”. He was hands-on every step of the way and I truly appreciate it. I will always remember the kindness and concern Patrick and his Tanzania partner extended to me in my hour of vulnerability. Thank you so much!
Email Abbie w | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience!
Amazing once in a lifetime experience, we booked this trip as a young couple the company are fab and organise everything for you coming up with an itinerary for each day and sorting our accommodation.
On arrival our tour guide Patrick picked us up from our hotel and we set off for our week long trip. Patrick was really knowledgeable and we managed to find the big 5 within the first few days! His experience of the reserves was great he knew where to find the animals, Very friendly and informative tour guide I would 110% recommend.
We specifically looked for a company that provided a car with canvas windows to roll up for a better view, before our arrival the company had the car in the garage to arrange this for us, great customer service giving us the best experience! Thankyou very much!
NL
Email Rita | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The Best
Value for money, well organized, I highly recommend. I really enjoyed the lodges and camps I stayed in, the food and the people.
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Email Yan | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Dedicated reliable professional services
We contacted Shanjoy tours and safari by email to have a private tour itinerary for a very reasonable price. They replied our questions in detail promptly every time. Patrick picked us up at Nairobi airport in person. We had Steve as our driver/guider at Nakuru, Maasai Mara for 4 amazing days, then picked up at board by its partner, Mama Savanna, in Tanzania. We had Isaya as our driver/guider at Serengeti, Ngorongoro crater, Tarangire for 5 perfect days. Then we were back into Kenya to tour Amboseli. At last we were transferred to Nairobi for dinner then airport. Every accommodation is wonderful. What an unforgettable lifetime experience! Thank you so much!
