Meet the Team - eTrip Africa
E-Trip Africa
- Located In:
-
United States
- Size:
- 20-50 employees (Founded in 2012)
- Member Of:
- ATA, IATAN, IGS, KPAP & CODE
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $200 to $1,500 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Jonathan Small | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
There is no way we can do our trip justice in one sentence.
Words can not begin to describe the safari eTrip Africa provided for my family and me. From the initial contact 10 months prior to our departure date, to the selecting of the accommodations, to picking daily activities, and through the actual tour, eTrip Africa could not have been more patient and accommodating.
Our initial contact with eTrip Africa was with Aurelie. Aurelie made sure we understood everything from day 1. From help with accommodations (we ended up with a mixture of tented camps, luxury tented camps, and lodges), medical requirements, travel insurance (we ended up using Worldwide Travel Group), outfitting (we got outfitted by Tent and Trails in NYC), and mundane questions (like what type of electrical outlets are in Africa, is there wi-fi, etc), Aurelie was always there to assist us.
Our arrival in Kilimanjaro was our first exposure to Ben from eTrip Africa. He helped us load up our car (our car would become our mobile home away from home for the next 8 days), introduced us to our driver Yusuph (more about him later) and explained our itinerary to us on our drive to the African Tulip (a quaint boutique hotel in Arusha).
After a welcome night sleep and a filling breakfast, we headed out on our safari. Yusuph provided us with insight into the African culture and the history of the area. I can honestly say that without Yusuph our trip would not have been half as enjoyable. He is a wonderful tour guide (not to mention being unbelievable behind the wheel of our Toyota Land Cruiser)! My daughter recently got into photography and Yusuph never lost his patience while she waited for the "perfect shot" or "just the right angle". As a result, we have to wade through almost 11,000 pictures (that's right, 11,000 pictures in 8 days)!
Coming from a family of travelers, this African Safari was up against some pretty stiff competition. It was up against trips to Europe, Japan, Costa Rica, Mexico, Israel, and various Caribbean Islands. I can honestly say that my son and daughter have both proclaimed this trip as "the best trip of my life" and my wife is still saying she can't believe she was in Africa.
Our only regret is not being able to contact Yusuph to thank him again for making this trip truly a once in a lifetime experience.
US
Email CB | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing safari experience!
The safari tour and accomodations were beyond our expectation! Our driver/guide was very friendly and accommodating.
FR
Email Marc Pineau | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A superior safari for the 6 of us
A friend of ours found very affordable flights to Kenya for the Christmas break. Aurelie helped us organize the perfect trip (and she speaks French) so that was very helpful for our group. The objective of the trip was to see Wilddog and Rhinos, the famous Masai Mara and also Mt. Kilimanjaro if we could fit it in, but we only had 8 days of total time in Kenya to work with.
After quite a few emails back and forth speaking about what we wanted to see in Kenya and also what kind of lodges and camps we wanted to stay in, Aurelie presented us with an unbelievable custom tour. She combined a driving tour with some flights so that we could cover everything on our list. In our camp in Amboseli we were with a guide from the Tawi Camp, who was very good. We saw Mt. Kilimanjaro and plan to climb it in the coming years, and are happy to know that E-Trip also climbs Kilimanjaro. We did a night game drive here (as recommended by Aurelie) and would recommend as you get to see alot of different wildlife.
We then flew to Ol Pejeta Conservancy were we met the E-Trip Africa guide named John. He was very knoweledgable and also had an excellent sense of humor. We were very luck to spot a pack of wilddog, which I understand is not an everyday thing. We also saw our fill of Rhinos.
The trip then went by road to Masai Mara stopping along the way near Lake Nakuru. The Masai Mara was mroe than I could have ever dreamt. The luxury camp is located right on the Mara River, so we saw wildlife even when in the camp.
I must commend Aurelie and her team for a memorable safari in Kenya. Aurelie worked hard answering all of our questions and building the tour that met all of our needs. It was a perfect selection of lodges and camps, and she always gave us the choice with plenty of details about each of the options available to us, all while being very transparent.
The next trip will be to take on Mt. Kilimanjaro and then hopefully go to find some Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda if we can afford it.
AE
Email Kevin | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing adventure with a great guide from a well organized company.
I have nothing but positive things to say about eTrip Africa. From the initial planning stages Ben and Aurélie were very helpful in providing guidance; first with a number of sample itineraries and then working with us to customize our route and hotel choices. Upon arrival, everything was in order and the trip begin without issue. Our guide Yusuph was amazing. He made the trip very easygoing and enjoyable by working with us to chart out the best routes each day and being flexible to our schedule and what we wanted to see. His greatest strength was his knowledge of the area and his sharp eye. He seemed to be able to just where the animals were.
I highly recommend eTrip Africa to anyone who wants to experience an amazing trip along with the peace of mind knowing that there is a great team behind the scenes ensuring everything runs smoothly.
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Email Merrill | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Experience of a lifetime -- gorilla trekking in Uganda!
E-Trip Africa put together a perfect gorilla trekking experience for six women of "advanced age". Although I'm an experienced hiker, I had been nervous about trekking through jungle foliage and steep terrain. The advice we received from E-Trip Africa was detailed and thorough, so that I travelled fully prepared. The guides and porters made sure the trek was safe and comfortable, even though it was strenuous. The lodge was top class, with excellent food and our every need was accommodated. E-Trip was able to arrange a discounted price for our group, making it more affordable. Our flights to/from and the transfers to the lodge were easy and smooth. E-Trip arranged for us to leave our excess luggage at a lovely hotel near the airport during our gorilla trip, and then we were able to use the rooms at the hotel to relax and refresh before our late night departures for the return to the U.S. Visiting the gorillas was a most incredible experience. We were able to observe them from a close distance for an hour; at one point, a female wanted to move from one side of our group to the other. We were instructed to remain still; she just pushed her way through us, as though we were harmless paparazzi -- which, in fact, we were. We visited the gorillas two days in a row, seeing two different families in two different areas. Each experience was different and remarkable. It's an experience not to be missed! I have been on other safaris, confined to a vehicle, observing elephants, lions, giraffes, etc. But a visit to the gorillas is active, rather than passive -- challenging, interactive, and thereby so much more rewarding!
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Email Kendra | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great experience!
My experience with eTrip was amazing. The crew was incredibly supportive, I felt completely prepared by the pre-trip communications, and while the trek was challenging, the experience was simple. They made it possible for me to feel capable of summiting and also enjoy the journey to get there. The supplies they provided were effective and the food was great - delicious, filling, warm and gave the energy needed to keep going. You could tell the porters we're proud of who they work for, happy, and willing to do anything necessary for my trek to be successful. I highly recommend eTrip to anyone considering this experience! I would even consider going again if eTrip is putting together my experience.
IN
Email Shailesh | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent tailor made safari tour for a solo traveler
E-trip Africa arranged an excellent 15 day tour of Kenya and Tanzania. Ben Jennings and Aurelie (managers/owners) communicated with me in a timely manner and provided me with a tailor made itinerary that stayed within my budget. They were always receptive to any changes and made great suggestions for the trip.
The guides/drivers were knowledgeable and very professional and the lodges were superb. It was a great and memorable trip to East Africa and I would highly recommend them
US
Email larry/cheryl | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Planning, lodging, game parks/reserves and guide knowledge/friendliness all exceeded our expectation
E-Trip worked with us to plan the trip we wanted, often going the extra mile. With their experience, they offered suggestions to enhance.
Upon arrival, everything ran like clockwork. The knowledge of each country's guide was much appreciated. Each worked to find animals and situations where we would see all of the natural splendors of East Africa.
Lodging per our preferences was also very good. Each site staff was pleasant and accommodating. Food was ample and tasty.
We are so glad to have selected E-Trip as our coordinating company. Not being fond of tours, we hoped instead for a personal experience - one not burdened with boilerplate activities and unenthusiastic guides. E-Trip delivered a trip of a lifetime with great memories of people we met, lodging to remember and experiences that were just awesome!
CA
Email Merle Milligan | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was everything we wanted to do & see
Communications were good. service good, very happy with guide Amiri who went out of his way to assist.
Food was good, accomadations good.
US
Email Tom | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Provided wonderful planning assitance with thorough and timely respones all at a very fair price.
Working with Ben and Aurelie was a great experience. As independent travelers, we had specific ideas about where we thought we wanted to go and what we wanted to see. Their on-the-ground knowledge and experience gave us relevant insight and guided us through the whole process. Their suggestions were spot on and made for a great trip. Timely responses and detailed info was routine. And, the price was better than most packaged options.