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 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!
Amazing Kili Treak with E-Trip
We had an AMAZING trek with E-Trip. Ben was extremely helpful and responsive and made sure all of our questions were answered before we left. We stayed at the Stella Maris lodge in Moshi for one night before starting our hike. It is a non-profit that supports a primary school of the same name that mainly serves children who were orphaned in the area. Teddy and the whole staff was amazing and we were thrilled to be supporting such an important cause. Didn't hurt that there were so many adorable kids running around during the day.
The trek itself (7 day Rongai) went off without a hitch. Casper and Prosper, our guides, were knowledgeable, kind, and always VERY on top of our safety. They measured the oxygen saturation of our blood and listened to our lungs each morning, which I didn't see any other companies doing. All three in our group summited, and that was undoubtedly due to the AMAZING support of our team. They even carried our day packs near the top when we were truly struggling for oxygen, and were so encouraging.
The porters were also an incredible group and really made our trip outstanding. It should be noted that E-Trip is part of KPAP (Kili Porters Assistance Project) and YOU SHOULD NOT CLIMB WITH A COMPANY THAT ISN'T PART OF THIS ORGANIZATION! Our porters were happy, well treated, and carrying reasonable (though still large) loads. Some of the other companies we saw (Zara tours, in particular) had porters that were obviously not receiving the same kind of treatment. Although many of the companies that are not part of KPAP are slightly cheaper, in speaking with the porters, it became very evident that it was not worth it to save the relative expense given what you would be condoning in doing so.
We truly could not have been happier with E-Trip. They were well organized, knowledgeable, kind, enthusiastic, etc etc etc. I truly cannot sing their praises enough and would highly recommend planning a trek with them.
CH
Email Francesco and Eve, Switzerland | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very personal contact, very good value for money, price transparency,
Everything was perfectly organized. We had a special tour coming from Rwanda and starting a Safari at Mwanza endig in Arusha). And for ex. our driver Fred frisky, enjoyable and cautious (it's a must).
We specially appreciated two issues: price transparency (many other offers we asked for had just a price we couldn't comprehend) and the fact that etrip cooperates with small lokal providers. That made our trip at least a little bit sustainable. (There are f.e. huge Indian providers).
We even where helped by Ben (general manager), when our trip had already ended: the day after we had lost our connecting flight to Zanzibar we had booked by our self (let it book by Ben's at local partners!). Ben procured a convenient accommodation in Arusha and even spent with us the evening in a Ethiopian restaurant, very kind.
So we would book without doubt again with etrip.
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Email Don Snow | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Awesome Safari Adventure!
I highly recommend E-Trip Africa for your Kenyan Safari adventure. I have been to Kenya on safari many times and these folks were better than any other tour operators I have used before. Communication was excellent and timely. Adjustments were made several times to our itinerary due to changes I requested and all changes were made quickly and accurately. They put together a top notch safari trip with excellent lodging choices, guides and vehicles. No surprises came up with their pricing. We even got to meet up with one of the owners in Nairobi just so he could see how our trip was going. I highly recommend E-Trip Africa.
Jambo!
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20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Family Trip to Tanzania!
The trip I took with my family (4 adults) in 2013 was amazing! It was extremely easy to plan with e-Trip Africa's help. They were very knowledgeable about everything to see and do in the great parks of Serengeti and beyond. We also went to Zanzibar, which was a great way to end our trip. We loved our driver-guide and all the hotels and lodges matched our preferences and needs. I would highly recommend a tent camp experience at least one night! The next time I want to book a Safari, I will happily choose e-Trip Africa again!
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Email Julia Hubbel | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
ETrip gets ALL my Africa business - They are the BEST
Ben and Aurelie, Aurelie especially this time, put together a superb itinerary for me from start to finish for Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania (my second time there). ETrip knew me and my preferences from a previous trip in 2013 and did a terrific job of putting a smorgasbord of options from rafting the Nile to horsebackriding to gorilla and chimp tracking, and a return to do a longer camel ride with Mkuru Camel Safaris. Their guides speak excellent English, worked extremely hard to ensure that I got everything I paid for and that I enjoyed my trip. Alex, my Ugandan guide, took matters into his own hands when I got seriously ill and couldn't gorilla trek on the day I was scheduled. He worked diligently to make sure that I was able to go the next day- that's the kind of dedication that I truly appreciate.
Both Ben and Aurelie stay in very close touch during the planning process. One of the things I love about working with them is that they ask for a budget number and your days in country. They do their best to stay inside your number, but you also have to be realistic when you have desires, preferences and a lot of time to fill. I ask a lot of them and I also give a little when they send me their numbers back, and we end up with something I can't say no to. I also appreciate that they give me tipping guidelines so that I come prepared.
As for the tour itself, this was my fifth trip to Africa, so I'm no stranger to many of the challenges and issues of African travel. My expectations are very realistic, and I do a lot of reading in advance. Its important to balance what ETrip does for you with your own research and commitment to being open to new cultures and experiences so that when you run into bumps that inevitably happen, you aren't disappointed.
Aurelie was very open to my requests for less expensive places to stay, and also made sure I had a nice hotel waiting for me when I really needed one after a long time in the bush. There were times I think I can handle more time in a tent than I think I can and they plug in a nice place, and invariably I love them for putting me into a place with a fine bathroom and good food. They listen carefully, respond quickly, and after that it's up to us to make the most of our experiences.
This time I tracked gorillas, chimps and golden monkeys. I was also provided multiple opportunities to do village visits which were rich experiences in understanding the culture, language, and interaction of people/forests in the areas I visited. In some cases these ended up being as emotionally valuable as seeing the gorillas and chimps.
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20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The Lemosho Route: An Amazing Journey!
Embarking on a journey as daunting as Mt Kilimanjaro took a degree of level headedness in almost every stage, from choosing a travel company to gear selection to final summit night courage, but the reward of Uhuru Peak and the view from the Roof of Africa makes every test more than worth it. The best piece of advice I could give anyone contemplating the climb is to have confidence in every decision you make let this carry you to the top!
The keys to building this confidence are gained by doing thorough groundwork before you reach Tanzania in the areas of physical conditioning, gear selection, and guide company selection. While I was going through this process I was interning in South Africa where I did not have a lot of time or the available resources to devote to training or finding the right gear, so in hindsight I learned that tour company selection is one of the most important choices you make, they end up being the glue that holds what training, gear, and confidence you have together and if you make the right choice they’ll help you make up for any area in which you’re lacking.
That being said, the company I choose was E-Trip Africa and I could not have been happier with my selection. From my timely pick-up and conversation with Ben at Kilimanjaro International to our thorough pre-trek team meeting, I had full confidence I would make it to the top. Our lead guide, Caspar, was heavily suave with experience and led us through a detailed examination of all our gear making sure we had was up to par, with a convenient rental company representative there to offer any needed supplies at a very reasonable rate.
As we set out along the Lemosho route my team of six trekkers quickly realized we would be rubbing elbows with several other groups as we had chosen a full moon hike (still definitely recommend this despite the crowds, they thin out closer to summit). This close proximity to other groups for the first few days allowed us to eye the other amenities offered by other companies and we quickly realized how lucky we were in comparison. Our “dining hall” tent (A.K.A. the Jack O’ Lantern) allowed us to enjoy our frequent warm beverages and near gourmet meals in protection from the elements, and our team consistently surged past on the trail, always pausing to say jambo, to have camp set up for us at the next site.
The unique dynamic energy that each and every member of our team brought to the journey became essential in trying times of fatigue, sickness, and hardship. Caspar quickly adapted to any unforeseen circumstances ranging from impromptu birthday celebrations to accommodating a team member who felt the affects of AMS. An important aspect I hadn’t thought about in a company was how well they are able to adapt to different fitness levels within a group, something that Caspar and his team did very well. Summit night he timed our ascent perfectly to watch the sunrise from Stella Point. Definitely recommend!
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Email Julia Hubbel | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
From the Southern Circuit to the top of Kilimanjaro
Looking out at Kilimajaro from my hotel window this morning is like an otherworldly experience. Ben Jennings, the owner, was grilling me (as is his habit) last night about the service, food, if I was being pressured to summit. He's constantly improving, pushing to get better, and in all ways trying to take E-Trip Africa to another rung higher. My experience of them began back about June through a Trip Advisor referral and it's been top flight ever since. To keep this relatively short and sweet, the first thing that Ben does is spend a fair bit of time understanding- how much experience (this is my fifth trip to Africa) what do you want to do (adventure, out of the way, totally cool stuff, already saw the animals), and basically getting a sense of who you and what you want to spend. The parameters set, he gets to work. In no time I had some options that I grabbed: a camel trek, a Kili climb, and he was able to negotiate a trip to the Southern Circuit which fit my preference for fewer tourists and more bushcamp experience. Ben fought hard for me in terms of cutting costs, and I accommodated where I needed so it was a two way deal. On Kili, since I was going up solo, Ben sent me with his wife, who was excellent company.
The Kili trip deserves extra mention because this is his team. He has top flight guides, and a crew of porters and cooks together for six years. They earn a living wage so that they don't have to maneuver for tips, and that means they are happy, friends, and work well together. This makes for an excellent experience on the mountain for all involved. August, his top guide, and Ignas, the assistant guide, were fun and funny, but also highly attentive to medical issues, very focused on safety, extremely well informed, and when I had a knee go wonkers on the way down from the summit, they helped me down safely.
Contrary to popular lore, we got no hardboiled eggs on our plates. The food was flat out delicious. Ranik the cook spoiled us with his changeups every day and once he learned I loved his soups, I was treated every day with zucchini, leek, I can't recall them all, but I got every last drop out of the bowl, and begged for seconds and thirds.
I am already planning a month with E-Trip Africa in January 2015. From now on I will use them many times over.
Email Laura M | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An excellent experience overall
Our Tanzania safari was an amazing experience. We saw so much wildlife, it's hard to describe!
Despite all of the wonder of Tarangire, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti, the thing that really made our trip special was our incredible guide Elisha. You spend so much time with your guide - for us up to 10 hours a day for 8-9 days - so if you don't get the right guide it could really impact the whole trip. Elisha was knowledgeable, patient, warm, friendly, and a genuine joy to be with each day. We came away feeling like we'd made a wonderful friend, a somewhat strange feeling after only knowing someone a handful of days and given you likely won't see them again! I hope the management of E-Trip Africa realise how much of an asset he is to their company!
The organisation of the trip itself was very good. We really appreciated Ben's support and patience as we considered all the options available to us. His advice on accommodation was very valuable, including some insider knowledge on the ins-and-outs of each property which really helped influence our trip and ensured we could stay in line with our principles by supporting the best companies and people. We really appreciated his frank and insightful feedback which meant we ended up in 4 properties we were ultimately very happy with!
The only point of feedback we'd have for management was that it felt like once we paid up in full, the level of communication really dropped down. We ended up having to chase them up a week before departure for all the relevant details (with a holiday of this complexity and cost, earlier contact would have been nice). We'd also originally requested a specific safari guide based on a recommendation, and that was changed last minute, but we had to ask why we'd not been given the guide chosen. The change wasn't an issue (and clearly as above very happy with the alternative we were given!) but proactive comms on this would have been appreciated.
Once we were on the trip we heard nothing more from them, and had no follow-up on our return to ask how the trip was. It wasn't a huge issue as we had a great experience, so nothing to really follow up on, but that extra care and service to check in with how our trip was going / went was something I would have expected based on the excellent reviews, and at least for us personally it felt a little lacking.
Overall though, I would definitely recommend E-Trip Africa, especially making sure Elisha is your guide in in Tanzania, you will have a fantastic time! Despite the minor communication shortcomings, I would still give 5* overall! :-)
CA
Email Kevin Medland | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Ben was like a family member or friend who just happened to run this tour;
had two weeks with e-trip; did 8 day Mt kili climb and then remaining days on safari; every part was outstanding; ben and his staff were amazing; i was in a group of 18 and everyone was more than pleased with accommodations, food, travel, guides, porters, drivers...all of it
highly recommend travelling with e-trip Africa
prices were competitive but not over priced