Safari Adventure
Big Time Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2006)
- Tour Types:
- Small & medium group tours (Budget & mid-range)
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $100 to $450 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
CL
Email Emilia | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great guides
I recommend the experience booking with Big Time Safaris. We were a family group of 5, with a preference to see as much of the Masaai Mara and Serenguetti as possible. Martha, our sales representative from Big Time Safaris, was very proactive, accomodating and patient to help us arrange for a private camping safari, providing several options and establishing a fluid communication through whatsapp to clarify doubts.
Once in Kenya, our guide, Zack Ouko, exceeded our expectations in terms of assuring a smooth coordination of lodging, meals and general logistics. Once inside the parks, he proved superior in spotting animals, providing us with detailed information (he carried zoology and picture books to help with our questions), which lead to some exclusive sightings and a very exciting experience. Once in Tanzania, our new guide, Ziggy, was also very helpful in navigating the parks and campings to focus all of our attention and time in the many animals we found in Serenguetti, Ngorongoro and Taranguire. Our cook, Simon, was superb, accomodating for a vegetarian in our group. Although the hotel in Arusha was below our expectations, the general experience was great.
The Absolute Best Trip EVER!
Big Time Safaris offers budget safaris but I cannot imagine a better tour company at any price. I am a traveler and have enjoyed many tours but have never received such caring, thoughtful service as I did with Big Time.
Martha in the office went above and beyond to help me with even the most minor details. Boneface, a delightful young man and great driver, welcomed me at the airport and then picked me up at my hotel to take me back to the airport for departure. And then there was James, our guide/driver throughout our safari tour. He was so outstanding that our group dubbed him James Bond for his prescience, thorough organizational abilities and talented leadership, and ultimately for his dexterous driving skills.
If you're looking for a true safari experience and don't expect frills or ostentation, Big Time Safaris is the only way to go!
Friendly, flexible and welcoming service
We spent in total 8 days in Kenya. Bigtime has assisted us during these days and provided attentive care throughout the trip. We planned to go to Tanzania but our visa was rejected on the border. However the crew was with us even to the border and tried to facilitate it by all means. When it turned out it was not possible, they immediately assisted us with alternative plans. Thanks to Bigtimesafari, we had the best trip in our life this yime in Kenya in masai mara, Naivasha and Watamu.
RU
Email Julia | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
My dream came true
It was my first safari in Kenya and I love it so much! I had a dream and guys from Big Time Safaris Ltd made it true. First I want to say thank you to Martha. She helped me in organization and was in contact every day. She is so kind and responsive. Secondly, I want to say thank you to the guide Patric. He made safari fabulous and funny. We saw so many animals and birds, I think we were very lucky:) And of course I want to say thank you to the whole crew of Big Time Safaris Ltd, guys you are awesome!
RS
Email lana | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
loved it:)
Just loved the Big Time safari in Masai Marai:) will always recommend them!
IR
Email Reza | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable trip
Everythings was good, only dinners at the camp was horrible.
I will be back to there at next year.
IN
Email Amit | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
they delivered what they promised
I went to Kenya in September 2015 and booked a day tour of Nairobi with Big time. The driver and services were excellent and thus I booked a 4day Masai Mara plus Lake Nakuru tour with BigTime and I am glad that I made that choice. Martha in particular is very helpful lady . She attended to all my queries very patiently and gave me the best advice to choose among the various tour options. I was not having any local SIM card till we started the journey and I was looking to buy one. Manager John , ever energetic, instructed driver to help me get a local SIM card enroute and with the help of one local guy I could get that within the luch break itself. You can always make a call from the environs of Masai Mara as its a open grassland and signal coverage is pretty good (I wonder whether anybody has studied the negative fallouts of this heavy signal coverage on the wildlife of the park) .... I had chosen camp stay so the services in the camp were basic.. You just get one bulb in bathroom and one more in another partition of the camp used as space for two beds... Electricity was available for just three hours in evening ...from 7to 10pm. then lights would be switched off as the generator would be shut down. One can recharge his camera /mobile at a common dining space .. no TV (except at a place near common dining place) no radio, free Wifi which would work intermittently. Definitely that is not for luxury... but then I had not gone there for luxury. The chef tried his best to accomodate my vegeterain eating preferences. The place was very quiet in early evening...and when the lights were out it was really very interesting to feel like 1950s, something our generation missed completely. Safari itself was very good. We saw all the big 5 plus my darling-Cheetah (twice). We were lucky to see pride of lions crackling the bones of a fresh buffalo kill in early morning safari and then in evening we saw two male lions stalking a baby giraffe, their plans foiled by the head of giraffe family who came very close to two lions threatening them with dire consequences in case of any misadventure. There was only one nuisance... driver chatting ceaselessly on microphone with his fellow drivers. Sometimes it was for good as they gave each other directions of wildlife spotting, but certainly the chatting could have been bit lesser for same effect otherwise he was a braveheart ,taking his vehicle very near to the animal . Dont expect perfect peaceful watching of wildlife as shown on Discovery /NGC as drivers' microphones make noises continuously. Though it was a budget Safari , Stay in Nakuru was very comfortable, a pleasant surprise for all of us travelling together. Overall it was a nice experience with BigTime Safari. Special thanks to Martha and John.
CZ
Email Karel | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our expectations met
The trip met our expectations - organisation as promised, experienced driver, a lot of animals...
CA
Email Julia | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience with Big Time Safaris
Big Time Safari provide a wonderful service! We are always companied by someone from the company, from airport pick up till airport drop off. I am solo traveller. This makes me feel safe in Kenya. Same for other group member. A couple was taking a coach to Mombasa on the roadside when the trip finished and we were back to Nairobi. Our driver Patrick stayed with them and made sure they got to the correct bus before we left. Very happy and lucky to have Patrick as our driver. He is humorous, sharing us many animal stories and his experience, brought lots fun to the trip. He is also very caring, ensure everyone is good during the trip. Foods are fresh and tasty. At least better than what I cooked at home :). The price is really budget. the 6-day budget safari is $720, while total entrance fee paid to national parks is $400. It means remaining $320 cover everything from transportation, food, accommodation, driver's salary, cooker's salary..etc. Yet they still provide such great service! I will definitely recommend Big Time Safari and Patrick to my family and friends.
Here are suggestion based on my experience.
1. Choose a safari that include a full day in Masai Mara.
when we left Nairobi, some ppl in our group have 2-day Masai Mara safari. First day we arrived Masai Mara in the afternoon. We entered reserve at 4:15 pm and came back at 7:30 pm. The 2nd day, those 2-day trip had a morning safari for 3 hrs and head back to Nairobi. Most likely they went same far as the previous day. We spent full day in reserve, drove all the way to Mara River. I saw all Big Five except rhino, also saw Great Migration! in my view, it does deserve one full day in Masai Mara.
2. Avoid sleeping alone in a tent in Masai Mara camp site. bring a torch or put up torch function in cell phone
The camp site we stayed have power only from 7 pm to 10 pm. After 10 pm, no light. Try to find someone you are comfortable with to share the tent if travel alone.
3. bring after-bite in case got bite
Every one in our group brings repellent but no one has after-bite. Someone still got big bite under cloth. if sensitive to them, better bring after-bite as well.
EE
Email Karolin | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
My experience with Big Time Safaris was wonderful.
Our group bus was ok, even tough some of the road to reach Masai Mara was just awful. The camping place was good, we had warm shower and possibility to charge batteries. The guide was amazing and knew every bird and animal. As he had so good knowledge of nature we had a change to see almost all animals. We saw even leopard trying to catch a wild big. Really amazing. The contact from the Big Time Safari, who is doing the paperwork- Martha is just a wonderful and big hearted woman! All the collective was really honest and doing their work from their heart. I really recommend!