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 Amy | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Worst experience ever, zero competent, zero respect to me, just for the money and tips
One star is for the animals! Don’t book with them, the worst tour guide ever!! The good reviews here are very short, most just says they are nice people, that’s not competent for a guide, you need an experienced guide to know where animals are. OMG where do I even start:
1> the tour guide Joseph, worst guide ever, he’s not even a descent human being. He’s constantly on the phone, talking to others, others calling him, and when we stop I take pictures of animals, he takes out his notebook, either writing down something or on the phone. First I thought he’s talking to others to know where animals are, so I asked him. He said no, he’s clearly doing something else on this side.
2> his knowledge for animal is just non-exist! He doesn’t know what the big 5s are, doesn’t know where cheetah is, he drives to the same area everyday. And you would expect a tour guide tell you a little history about the park, different animals, etc. NOPE, absolutely nothing, he drives quietly and when we see animals he stops, let me take pictures, go.
3> we would spend hours in the car just Joseph and I and there’s no talking at all! Can you believe it! And it’s becoming very awkward so one time I tried to make a conversation, so I asked him “hey what brand of phone people use here in Kenya?”, he goes, “oh you Americans use iPhone! You are rich!”, I was like errr no everyone uses iPhone it’s very common there, carriers give deals, you can get a 24 months contract for a phone. Do you know what he said, he goes "you should sign up for a new contract and give me your phone!" wow wordless… unbelievable. Another time, I told him I want to see cheetah, he goes “cheetah are hard to see, I want $100 tips if we see cheetah.” WOW after that I gave up, i dont want to talk to him at all.
4> and on the last day, his car broke. smoke came out of the engine, we wasted half day staying in a lodge fixing his car
4 days I spent in Kenya, didnt see much at all. last day, we finally found 2 cheetah, this guy refuse to stay longer because he wants to stay under the shade. and he doesnt want to move closer because he wants to stay under the shade.
I can go on, and on. this company and this tourguide ruined my Kenya experience. Please stay away! i will post the same review on other Safari platforms. I hope more people can see it. It’s not a cheap trip, please choose wisely!!
Reply from Shanjoy Tours and Safaris
Posted on Jun 24, 2024I do confirm that Amy booked a safari with us and I personally took her to the Mara and handed her to Joseph, one of our senior guides. We had a lot of communication before she came about her safari and choice of hotels, and since she was a solo traveller using high-end hotels that were very expensive, her safari cost was higher than normal.
Joseph spoke on the phone a lot; he admitted it, but some calls were necessary since her radio call was not working well.
Amy saw many animals, including a group of over 15 lions and two leopards, eating alone with no other vehicles nearby. This one is not mentioned anywhere. The reason she says Joseph was not going near Cheetah is because we have a 5-vehicle rule in Mara Triangle, and so the first vehicle had to leave and will go back when others have seen the animals. Joseph was going away to give others a chance, but she wanted to stay and not move.
It is normal to have car breakdowns or get stuck while on safari, and this is what happened. The car was fixed, but not for the half-day she mentioned.
She could tell me to change hotels for her, which was not possible at the time, saying there were no animals or saying she saw the same thing. She gave the two guides a difficult time during game drives, which was not good. We do game drives without expecting anything, as the wild does not guarantee sightings.
It is regrettable she felt that we ruined her safari. However, we must appreciate that the wild does not guarantee any animals to be sighted, and hotels cannot be changed at a minute's notice. Once an itinerary has been booked and the hotels paid, any changes come with additional costs, which the client must be prepared to incur. Amy did not want to incur the cost of changing the hotel, despite having recommended the hotel which we booked.
This is my first client to ever complain about us and I regret it. I wish to ensure that all our clients get the best from their safari.
DE
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.
Email Moche | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional tour guide with a knowledge on wildlife
If i was to travel again and again i will just choose shanjoy tours , excellent and professional tour guide
Email Anthony | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Fantastic Safari
The tour experience with shanjoytours was amazing.
From having a very friendly tour guide / driver to having in depth knowledge of all our stops.
I'd definitely do another tour with shanjoytours some time in future
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Email Anna Daley Laursen | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Shanjoy + Basecamp Masai Mara Trip
Beth and everyone else at Shanjoy were quick to respond and very communicative in the booking and preparations for my trip. I was booked at the Masai Mara Basecamp during my time in the Mara - the grounds and tents were lovely, staff was very friendly and helpful, and the food was delicious.
CA
Email Michelle S | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A tour operator that you will not regret choosing for a wish list vacation
I can honestly say we were extremely happy with our choice of using Shanjoy and would totally recommend them and use them again.
Patrick the owner delivered in all areas and our accommodations exceeded expectations for almost everywhere.
Our personal tour guide was another Patrick and he was very knowledgeable, flexible and did everything he could to please and ensure a fantastic vacation experience, and with complete success. His experience was evident. The only thing he ‘could not order’ was for us to see a kill or a close up feeding of a kill, but knew we would have to be lucky for that.
TH
Email CR | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing tour, wonderful help with food allergies
Our family of 5 had an amazing experience on our Masai Mara tour with Patrick. He helped us arrange hotels that would be a good fit for my daughter's gluten-free food needs (celiac). She never got sick once, which is quite a difficult thing to accomplish when changing locations so much. We appreciate Patrick's attention to detail and help in booking the best options for our needs. The tour itself was all we hoped for and more, he helped us take in so much more beauty then we could have ever seen on our own. Thank you, Patrick!
CN
Email Peiyu Lin | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very thoughtful, great experience
The entire itinerary was arranged very well and had a great experience. The hotel, vehicles, and guides were all very good. When we encountered problems, they actively helped us solve them. We hope to have the opportunity to experience Africa again. Thank you very much
Email Steve and Caroline Pitcher | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
This trip was everything we could have hoped for, thank you Shanjoy Tours!
We booked with this company because their communications were excellent and they offered a private tour. We felt we got good value for money as our game drives were longer than those offered by many competitors. All 3 of our driver/guides were extremely knowledgeable. We honestly could not have asked for more. Happy to recommend this company to anybody thinking of booking.
IN
Email TB | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Shanjoy delivered a superbly memorable family trip, exceeded expectation and value in every way
We just had one of the most memorable safari trip to Africa covering Kenya and Tanzania over 11 days with my family, from end Aug till mid Sept.
My Mom just turned 70 recently, she always wanted to visit during great migration in Africa. And I wondered whether I could make that happen this year, a family trip with my Mom & Dad, along with my Wife and I. And do it without breaking my bank.
It was kind of overwhelming initially, when there are so many tour companies and national parks to visit. Then reached out to Shanjoy tours amongst and few more. I was impressed by the effort put in by Patrick the owner, on detailed itinerary which clarified a lot for me given my first time planning a safari. Patrick was very open to customizing whenever I enquired, was very prompt on his responses, and gave good suggestions/recommendations on places to stay, to make it easy/comfortable for my parents, this gave me peace of mind given both my parents are in their 70s.
All the recommended places turned out excellent during the trip. Through out the trip punctuality, professionalism and along with coordination between Tanzanian Partner Mama Safari’s, could not be faulted. Everything just happened smoothly like a well oiled machine.
Patrick received us in the airport along with our guide Patrick (both happen to share the same names) and gave us a complete briefing, we liked and appreciated this gesture a lot. We were little disappointed to know that migration was unexpectedly short this year which nobody could have predicted, however what we saw in the coming days, just made us not regret at all.
Kenya part of the trip
- Nothing prepared us enough for Kenya, the abundant wild life everywhere, the ability to get very close sighting, and frequent big cat action. It just felt surreal.
- Patrick our guide just made it so much better, very knowledgeable, good sense of humor and temperament, kept all our family engaged. He ensured that all my Mom’s wishes were taken care of. My family just loved him throughout the trip, and I must say it won’t have been as enjoyable without him. He was the best part of the trip, and all of us kind of miss him. (My Mom has even followed up with me checking if I have mentioned him well in the review, it has never happened before :-)). Also we appreciated his professionalism in his job, he respected nature and wildlife, in Masai Mara sometime seeing aggressive guides getting too close to the animals can be quite a put off. He turned out to be adept with repairs as well, we ran into engine issue in Amboseli with our safari vehicle, and he was able to resolve the problem quickly and got us safely back to our lodge in time.
- We started the trip with lake Nakuru staying in Nakuru lodge, beautiful location specially during sunset and sunrise. We got to see some of the big cats and rhinos up close on the very first day.
- Masai Mara is truly a safari paradise, the open fields and low grass makes it an ideal location for sighting big cat action in addition to all the other wildlife. We got to see multiple cheetah encounters along with hunts, lion prides with cubs and leopard sighting up close. Our stay in Pride Inn mara lodge was equally memorable, Patrick (owner) ensured that we got cottage rooms, which was luxurious and very comfortable for my parents. The service, food, location was all remarkable. All the staff ensured my family were comfortable and taken care of, and enquired often. Masai Mara and Pride Inn lodge remains the highlight of our trip.
- Amboseli is very different landscape to the other parks in Kenya, it means dusty place in local language, and you kind of get it once you are there. It’s a place to see large elephants and it doesn’t disappoint. It kind of has its own ecosystem. We were lucky on our second day weather cleared up and we could see Mt Kilimanjaro in all its glory. The diminished snowcap reminds us all of the climate change we are causing. Our stay was both in camp in Tulia and lodge in Kibo, both places were very good. My family liked Kibo for the wide buffet options. Just to mention the road from border to Amboseli is quite bad, and gives you the max African massage experience.
- The only feedback that we have given Patrick (owner) is to upgrade the vehicles, the very bad road conditions makes it necessary. Which he mentioned he will be changing to new soon.
Tanzania part of the trip
- We did not see much wildebeest in Mara, however while on the way to Sarengeti post crossing the border, we came across thousands of them grazing. They were on their way back. My Mom was super happy to see the migration on its way back.
- What surprised me about Tanzania is how landscape changes within half a days drive, each area has its own ecosystem. Within Sarengeti there is section with denser bushes & shrubs, then there is a section with endless open grassland, then in Ngorongoro is different ecosystem and similarly lake Manyara is completely different with dense tropical like forest. Quite amazing. However due to the density of vegetation, big cat sighting is not as frequent as Kenyan side, and unlike Masai mara it is not flat land where vehicles can go off-track hence the sightings are from a distance.
- Mustafa was our guide in Tanzania, which we were also very happy with. He was very knowledgeable as well and of calm temperament. He always gave us a good explanation on each of the parks and what to expect. Must mention that in the first day of game drives in Serengeti we were not able to have as many interesting sightings in spite of him covering a lot of distance, he ensured the next day we got superb sighting of leopard with a kill on the tree and the biggest male lion duo we came across the entire trip. And thanks to him we got to see black rhino in Ngorongoro, which is kind of difficult in a short visit. We just got to spend less time with Mustafa compared to Patrick.
- In Serengeti we stayed in Osinon camps which was comfortable and right within the park, though my family found the food options limited for asians, however we all found the staff to be super friendly and always helpful. Our stay in Manyara was in Jungle pearl, in traditional style houses, and my parents loved it, also the food was superb and the chef really took care of my family. Lake Manyara is different in terms of density of trees, its an easy half day game drive, with more birds and primate population, it was a welcome break from the long and bumpy game drives, and gave a required back-rest day to my parents.
- Also must mention that the quality of vehicles provided was really very good during this part of the trip, understood that Mama Savanna and Patrick(owner) tried to ensure that my parents were comfortable, given more distance to be covered on road along with dry/dusty climate. This made the journey really comfortable for my family and we appreciate both for this.
As we look back, we cant help admire the natural beauty of both these countries, their landscapes and wildlife, and how they have been able to conserve them. And above all the people, cant say enough, their humility and sincerity just won us over. They have many things to be really proud of.
For me and my family, we do look forward to a visit again, and it has to include guide Patrick + Masai Mara + Pride Inn.
This trip exceeded all our expectations. And as guide Patrick always said ‘when Mama happy, then everyone happy’, he couldn’t be more right :-). Thank you to both Patrick the owner, Shanjoy team and Mama Savanna teams for making this a reality.