Lead guide Rufus preparing for a night of camping
Gametrackers K
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 1981)
- Member Of:
- KATO & Ecotourism
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $100 to $1,000 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
HK
Email Wilda | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable trip to Kenya
After researching many local safari companies we settled on Gametrackers because they provided a very detailed itinerary which had incorporated all the places we wanted to visit in Kenya. The response from Judy who helped us organise everything was very quick. We had to modify one of the dates which meant adjusting other accommodation but that was also done without hassle and very quickly. The payment went smoothly and we received acknowledgment of receipt and everything was conveniently done online.
We spent 4 days in Masai Mara, 3 days at Lake Naivasha and another 4 days in Amboseli which in hindsight was two days too long and we should perhaps have travelled to Tsavo for two days. We saw 4 of the big 5. The leopard eluded us being nocturnal.
We were picked up from our accommodation in Nairobi on time to take us to the airport for our flight to Masai Mara. There we were met by our guide/driver, George, who would spend the next 12 days with us. On the way to the Sopa Lodge, we were already being introduced to zebras, wildebeests, giraffes. Everyday on safari we experienced something new and George had a wealth of knowledge about the wildlife (especially birds), habitat and a network that enabled us to find sleeping lions in the bush and cheetahs who were hiding.
The drives between the parks were long and dusty but George took us from A to B, B to C etc without any problems despite heavy single lane traffic along Mombasa Rd. Off the road, George joined us on a hike in Crater Lake and also a bike ride at Hell's Gate and all the while sharing his knowledge with us about the animals we saw and the landscape. In our group of three, we had an elderly lady in our group and George took good care of her when we were negotiating some slippery slopes.
The customer service was exceptional at all the lodges that was arranged for us. The lodges were clean and comfortable and all the meals were buffet style for most of the three meals.
I would highly recommend Gametrackers to anyone who was planning their first trip to Africa if you want peace of mind. We had the best time and the safaris exceeded all our expectations. The 12 days went by very quickly and we ended the trip with more knowledge about Kenya, its super friendly people, wildlife conservation. Kenya left me with this intangible feeling of freedom that is hard to describe in words but it can only be experienced having been there. We said farewell to George with a heavy heart but I think it will not be the first and only time we visit Kenya. Asante Asante to Gametrackers for such a memorable heartfelt African experience.
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Email Debbie Desrochers | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Gametrackers helped us have an amazing custom adventure!
Our custom 16-day safari with Gametrackers was excellent. They helped us create an itinerary for the 8 of us that was off the beaten path. The office was good with correspondence and our guides Daniel (Kyalo) and Joseph (Karissa) were fabulous. They stayed upbeat even when we knew they were exhausted and they could spot animals as if they had binoculars inside their eyes! Our chef Bernard (Kimwele) was hardworking and talented keeping us fed even in adverse conditions. I couldn't recommend a better team than the three of them. I miss them and their hardworking, positive energy as well as their love for the animals and environment.
Email SMalak | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome Experience with a perfect Host
Dealing with Gametrackers was smooth and straight forward. The whole experience was amazing mainly because of our driver/host. He was attentive, he ensured to meet our needs, he was passionate about his job, and he was fun to hang around with. He know where all the great animals were and ensured we saw the BIG 5 which was truly amazing.
Gametrackers catered to our needs, and glamping was fun. I will definitely be using these guys again in the future. I am already planning another trip with my husband and I will be using this company and hope to get the Zack our good host :).
IE
Email Oisin | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Rufus was a great guide. Entertaining and knowledgeable.
Communications were hassle free and my (many) emails were responded to quickly and professionally. CVery easy to book the safari we wanted inside the budget we had. Very accommodating in terms of a pick up point at the start of the safari and Rufus, our guide, was very friendly and entertaining. The transport is a little old but it does the job and it is not uncomfortable. Think it may have been a bit of a squash if there were 6 of us though. Thankfully, there were only 4. We ran into a bit of a disaster on our first night as there was a massive thunderstorm and, for some bizarre reason, there were no tents at the campsite we had booked. I am still unclear if there were actually no tents or if the rain had made the tents uninhabitable. In any event, Rufus scurried about in the rain for about an hour and fixed the problem for us. Nice little bonus was that, as a result of the mess up on night one, we were upgraded to the big fancy tents with electricity, a bathroom and real beds for night two. Nice touch. The food was very good considering the basic kitchen available to the chef. Rufus was a great guide on the actual safari. He knew all the good spots to try and find certain animals and never rushed us when we wanted to take the 800th picture of the lion cubs or the baby elephant we had just seen 5 minutes before that! He was also very experienced at judging where certain animals would be at certain times and when certain things would happen. As a result, we got to see a mini crossing of the wildebeest on our last morning. We had a great time and, while the accommodation may be basic, you know what you are in for if you choose to sleep in a tent. And, in any event, who goes on Safari to sit in a room? Would recommend the company and would go with them again if I got the chance. Thoroughly recommend a safari though. While we have all seen those animals 1000s of times on TV, there is nothing that will prepare you for seeing a lioness with her cubs about 2 metres from you. Or seeing lions mate in front of you. Or being so close to a cheetah that you can see him mark his territory. And the ongoing hilarity that is warthogs. Thumbs up.
Email Corin | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Best company for northern Kenya
I traveled with Gametrackers on their 10 day northern Kenya trip, the first itinerary on their website.
I had been told that if you want to go to northern Kenya, they are the company to use. This advice without question was spot on.
Everything was very smooth and professional eg. superb food, top quality vehicle, good campsites and tents etc.
But what was most important was the intimate knowledge our guide clearly had of the very remote locations we were visiting. I felt that this enabled us to get the best out of the region, and make each day a highlight on its own, whilst feeling totally safe in an area that has a bad reputation.
I feel that more people should travel to Kenya's north, and Gametrackers are the perfect company to use.
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Email Jason Kerr | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Everything we thought Kenya would be....and more.
Our family of four (mother, father and two middle school boys) went on the 13 day Kenya Wildlife Trail Safari in December of 2016. Our planning and dreaming took months. Gametrackers was always quick in reply and we had no problem with communications.
This trip was everything that we hoped it would be and so much more. We saw most of the major geographical regions of the country. We saw all of the animals that a person would come to Kenya to see....after only five days! The Gametrackers staff was great. Our cook, Alfred, prepared great meals. Our favorite ones were the traditional Kenyan meals. Our guide, Zack, was incredible. Since we were on this trip for so long we had the ability to see the difference in a trained, certified guide and budget safaris with a driver who did not know what they were doing. Fortunately, our guide was the first type; we saw the less desirable type in other vehicles. Gametrackers guides have earned a strong reputation by hard work.
We camped in several types tents: stand-up, semi permanent tents with cots; tents we helped set up for camping; and permanent cabins. All of these were fine. Our family likes to camp and this was not a hardship. They did offer nights in lodges, too....but we chose to camp.
Alfred and Zach became close friends on this trip. At the end of journey, it was hard to see them go. At the end of our time, it was hard to leave Kenya. We fell in love with the scenery, the animals....but most of all the people we met and spent time with along the way.
Our family recommends Gametrackers to whoever would like to: have a great journey, eat good food, see incredible wildlife, and spend time with good friends.
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Email Carlisle | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Outstanding service
I can't give a score that is too high for Gametrackers! I highly recommend them! I have made four trips to east Africa and have used Gametrackers each time for organizing our safari. Stacey organized a three week trip for my university group through Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. Our trip included visits to Murchison Falls NP, Jinja, the Masai Mara, Hells Gate NP, and Amboseli. Stacey did a terrific job of communicating with me before the trip. She was very patient in answering all of my questions and was responsive to our needs and requests. During the trip, every detail was covered. Overall, the entire organization including the guide (Rufus), driver (Joseph), and cook (Nicholas) were very professional, courteous, personable, and attentive. One aspect of safari travel is that plans constantly change. The Gametrackers staff was terrific in communicating with me about issues and coming up with good solutions for our group. I would not travel to east Africa if Gametrackers wasn't involved. Again, I highly recommend Gametrackers and I plan to use them again for my next trip.
FR
Email Diva | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing wild safari thanks to professionalism authenticity and commitment
The safari was great. Guides were great. We discovered a really authentic Africa, with a great service.
I do recommend Gametrackers, especially if you want to go in the north of Kenya.
EG
Email Joseph | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience with such great guides, especially Rufus!
Just about everything was as good or better than we expected. We recognize this was a mid-range safari but it felt better/higher than mid-range, much of the time.
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Email Craig Anderson | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic safari adventure that created a lifetime's worth of memories!
My two college-age sons and I selected Gametrackers based on the reviews here and could not have been more pleased with every aspect of our 10-day Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Ngorongoro, and Serengeti camping safari. From our first email contact with Stacey Bisley through our final goodbyes to our guide, Rufus Kimani, and our amazing bush chef, Charles, every aspect of Gametrackers' handling of our safari conveyed care and professionalism. If you are reading this and considering whether or not to invest in this trip of a lifetime, just do it! Rufus has an intimate knowledge of each destination and often positioned us to experience the majesty of African wildlife in ways that other guides simply could not match. Charles was a magician with the campfire, cooking delicious hot breakfasts and dinners every day, and providing fresh fruits, vegetables, and sandwiches for lunch. We never went to bed hungry, and always had energy for full days of going face to face with the world's most spectacular wildlife. The highlights of this safari are way too many to remember, but we took over a thousand photos to help spur our memories! Thank you, Gametrackers, for giving us such an intimate look at your beautiful East Africa. By the way, if anybody has questions about our safari, feel free to email me and I will be glad to help you plan your trip.