Maurice, Your Personal 24hrs Safari Consultant
Africa Safari Classics
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2008)
- Member Of:
- ATTA, ASTA, NTA & FTA
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $250 to $450 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 Karen D | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
African Safari Classics is a top-notch tour operator that provides seamless, personalized experience
I recently traveled to Africa for two weeks of Safari Bliss. Our group included a childhood friend and two of his friends I had never met. We only agreed to the trip because our mutual friend had been on two previous safaris arranged by Africa Safari Classics, and Maurice (who made all the arrangements) curated a personalized trip for us based on all the favorite sites our friend had visited, along with some new ones. I would have been very hesitant to "shop" for a tour company online without firsthand knowledge of the experience I might hope to have. WOW - was I ever amazed by our incredible safari experiences in Kenya, Tanzania, and our final few days of relaxation in Zanzibar. I appreciate all the effort that went into making my trip memorable.
The sequence and flow of our itinerary were excellent. We started off with a day of leisure in Nairobi at the Tamarind Tree Hotel to adjust to the time change. Tours were arranged for us at the Giraffe Centre, Karen Blixen Museum, and a bead factory. I enjoyed each of these immensely (don't miss the Giraffe Centre for some great photo ops). We set off the next day for the first of our five-day Kenyan safari drives in Amboseli, beautiful Lake Naivasha, and the Maasai Mara Game Reserve. For the next phase of our adventure, we boarded a small plane for a flight to Central Serengeti in Tanzania. Everything was ready for us, and we said goodbye to our Kenyan driver, Boni, to be met at the other end by our Tanzanian driver, David. We enjoyed four days of game drives in the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with a stop at Olduvai Gorge. The final part of our itinerary began with a flight from Arusha to Zanzibar for three final days of relaxation at the beautiful Next Paradise Resort. Each camp and lodge was unique and provided a different perspective of the region. The accommodations were comfortable and well-chosen, each with its own flavor, enhancing the overall experience. Maurice, our tour organizer, checked in daily with our drivers to make sure we were having a wonderful time, as well as checking in with me - I call that first-class service.
From the moment we landed in Nairobi, where our driver Patrick was waiting with a sign, to the arrangements at our final destination, everything was perfectly organized. The logistics were seamless and handled in true "Hakuna Matata" stress-free style. Africa Safari Classics will always be remembered by me as a "No Worries" company that embodies the true spirit of the people at every location I visited. I was able to thoroughly enjoy every moment of my vacation.
The food was delicious and varied, catering well to different dietary needs. We had a gluten-free member of our party and preferred more vegetarian options, which were available everywhere we stayed. The game drives were thrilling, with an abundance of wildlife sightings that exceeded my expectations. We had several, what I like to refer to as "National Geographic moments" that I will never forget. We were able to locate the Big Five must-see animals as well as many more varieties and amazing birds everywhere you turned. Each day brought new and exciting encounters. One week later, I am still sorting through hundreds of stunning photographs, trying to narrow down the best of everything that captured my heart.
Something to think about when you go on a safari: You will be spending hours and hours in your vehicles driving, from location to location and on the drives themselves. The drivers you will spend all that time with make all the difference in the world. We spent our first five days with the driver that our companion had traveled with on his two previous Kenyan safaris. His name is Kasimba Boniface, a.k.a. "Boni." He brings his 36 years of guiding experience and knowledge to your adventure, from finding the hard-to-spot animals and getting you up close and personal, to helping other guides get their vehicles out of the mud. All the other drivers call him "sir," and he is known and respected everywhere he goes. What he adds every day is a jovial spirit, a giant heart, and more laughter than our vehicle could hold - I haven't laughed this hard in years (don’t even get him started on the “Shewee”). He and Maurice helped make my birthday at Zebra Plains Mara Camp the most wonderful one I have ever experienced. If your excursion includes Kenya, you have to request Boni (and make sure to ask him to give you a demonstration of how hippos handle their poo). We had a wonderful driver in Tanzania as well. David was a gentle soul with a wealth of knowledge. He was fantastic about explaining all the facts about each animal, and he knew land sizes, populations, and so many details about everything we were seeing, like a walking encyclopedia. Boni and David were exceptional guides. Their knowledge, cooperation, and initiative greatly enriched the safari experience. They were attentive to our needs and provided excellent customer care, ensuring that every aspect of the trip was enjoyable.
Thank you, Africa Safari Classics, once again for organizing such a fantastic safari. I look forward to recommending your services to others and hope to travel with you again in the future. I left a part of my heart in Africa.
Best regards,
Karen
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Email Zach D | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great safari in Tanzania, Kenya & Rwanda
My wife and I hired Africa Safari Classics for our honeymoon to Tanzania, Kenya and Rwanda. We'd never been to East Africa or on safari so there was a learning curve to both. Maurice did a great job taking the ideal trip we described and turning it into an itinerary that worked for us. He took to heart that we wanted to prioritize time in the bush seeing animals and cared less about fancy lodging and amenities (this was hard to get through to other outfitters when we told them it was our honeymoon). Maurice's meticulous attention to detail put us at ease leading up to and during the trip. He was always available to answer questions, checked in about how things were going, and set us up with professional, smart and fun guides for each leg of our trip. I'd definitely recommend Africa Safari Classics to friends and family.
Email Ignacio | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Another excellent Experience with Maurice and the team!
We have just completed our 3rd trip to Kenya with Africa Safari Classics.
As ever the quality of service is outstanding in each and every aspect.
Maurice was always on top of all the details and organized our trip exactly to our expectations.
Peter, our driver (for the second time), did an amazing job. He is so patient and willing to share his knowledge of the park and wildlife. Constantly making sure we spend enough time at the sighting and also searching for unique opportunities for us.
I can't recommend Africa Safari Classics enough. Simply amazing!
PL
Email Jakub | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Tanzania with Zanzibar - best trip in my life
I had the great pleasure of taking a private, two and a half week trip to Tanzania, safari and stay in Zanzibar, organized by Africa Safari Classics. The safari included the National Parks: Arusha, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Conservation Area and additionally Olduvai Gorge. Accommodation at Venus Premier Hotel, Tarangire Osupuko Lodges, Migunga Tented Camp, Robin Safari Camp Serengeti was very good, close to the entrances or in the parks itself with delicious food and excellent, very friendly service. In particular, Migunga Tented Camp very close to Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Kuhama Camp – both tents very clean, without any insects. What's more, from the lodge in Osupuko Camp at Tarangire National Park, I had the pleasure of observing a herd of waterbucks in the morning and at evening, and in the Migunga Tented Camp - Marabou storks. The internal As Salaam Air flight from Arusha Airport to Zanzibar and the transfer to the Nur Beach Resort Hotel went very smoothly.
Staying at the Nur Beach Resort right on Jambiani Beach on the east coast of Zanzibar was also a perfect choice. I had my own hut, the food and service were excellent, and thanks to the complete silence around the clock, I could relax. It was also difficult to find a better location on the whole island (during my stay in Zanzibar I was also on the beaches of Nungwi and Kendwa – very nice but relatively small and very crowded with tourists) – from the hotel I could go for many hours long walks along the beach, because in this part of the island individual beaches form a several-kilometer-long series of beaches – the longest in the whole of Zanzibar. I also had the opportunity to take tours of the island, which allowed me to explore Stone Town, Prison Island, Jozani Forest, spice farm, and Mangapwani Cave.
Maurice, Sales Director deserves special recognition for the excellent organization of the entire trip, including the choice of accommodation, professionalism, excellent contact, daily support and commitment to ensure that the program is done in the smallest detail and with safety. I am no less grateful to the guide and driver Ally, who constantly provided me with a great deal of knowledge about the country, the characteristics and customs of the wild animals observed. Thanks to his excellent commitment and perfect daily cooperation in spotting animals, I had the opportunity to see many animals, not only: elephants, lions, buffaloes, zebras, giraffes, wildebeest, Grant and Thomson's gazelles, hippos, ... but also many for the first time in nature – with the leopard at the forefront in the Serengeti Park.
All this makes the trip to Tanzania and Zanzibar organized by Africa Safari Classics an unforgettable experience for me and without a doubt the best trip I have made so far in my life. I highly recommend Africa Safari Classics!
Email Ruth | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Would Highly Recommend
Every aspect of the service provided by Africa Safari Classics was outstanding. Starting from our initial contact with Maurice right through to the very last day of our trip when he took the time to meet up with us in Nairobi to hear about our adventure. He was always courteous, very responsive and genuinely invested in ensuring we had the best experience we could.
We had a wonderful safari taking in Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru and the Masai Mara. Our driver and guide Tony was great, very knowledgeable and fun to be with! We were incredibly lucky and saw all the "Big Five" thanks to Tony!
All the camps chosen for us by Maurice were above and beyond what we had expected on a safari. They were incredible in terms of quality, location, facilities and such fabulous staff!
Huge thanks to Africa Safari Classics for making our trip all that we had hoped for. Xxx
Email Sue | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent!
I‘ll be honest, I’m not one for writing reviews, but this time I found myself wanting to share my experience of the excellent service from Morris and his team and the great care he took to make sure our group of four women, had the best time possible.
It all started with Morris taking the time to meet us on day 1, which was a great opportunity to ask questions about the trip and Kenya in general.
The 5 night/6 day safari was expertly planned and executed. The flow was spot on, with stays at three different lodges and entry to four parks/reserves. We were very lucky to see all of the Big 5 and so so much more. I would say most of this rested with Tony ( or Lucky Tony, as we called him) who was without exception, polite, flexible and incredibly knowledgeable about the animals and areas. His enthusiasm and determination really made the trip.
This was all supported by outstanding accommodation, each lodge with slightly different offerings, but all absolutely delightful and so friendly, it would be hard not to enjoy. Without exception, the food was amazing, with lots of choice and so tasty.
I would have no problem to recommend Morris and his team to anyone.
PT
Email Antonio Silva | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Experienced, and an unbeatable quality/price ratio
Excellent operator led by Maurice, always available and with lots of experience in organizing Safaris! This is the fourth time you have organized a Safari for me and it keeps getting better. This time it was around Mount Kenya, passing through the Aberdares mountains where we stayed in the excellent lodge surrounded by animals, then the beautiful plains of the Samburu reserve, then the Meru national park of impressive beauty between the mountains with its fabulous rhinos, to finish at Ol pejeta conservancy where we easily saw the big 5, and we enjoyed ourselves at the Serena lodge admiring Mount Kenya! the car used was new and comfortable and our guide had a lot of experience and knowledge about wildlife
(automatic translation from Portuguese)
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Email Steve Z. | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Kind, courteous, highly organized, personal touch.
This was my second experience using Africa Safari Classics. This time I traveled with my wife and in her words this "was the trip of a lifetime." The personal touch from owner Maurice along with his organizational skills was exactly what we were looking for and what we received. Our itinerary was logical and diverse and our guides were simply the best. The camps at the park sites we visited were at the highest standards with kind, courteous staff and top level dining. The safaris were personal and our guide was always there for us. With no guarantees on seeing any of the special animals, we managed to see them all. And all were up close and the no rush approach made for an extremely moving experience. We could not be more satisfied with Africa Safari Classics. I brought my teen daughter over in 2019 and now my wife in 2023. I hope to return again and without a doubt will utilize Maurice and his company.
Email Paul Cody | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The Holiday of a Lifetime -
What a fantastic time we had. It just couldn’t have been any better. I was lucky in that this was my 4th safari, but it was the best, by far.
Maurice did a brilliant job in the organisation and selection of game parks and game lodges each one was outstanding in its own right. The vehicle was comfortable and allowed great views as we travelled around. Our Driver/Guide, Tony, was amazing. His knowledge of the area and the wildlife allowed us to learn and enjoy at levels we hadn’t expected.
If your thinking of a Safari then based on my experience I’d say book with Africa Safari Classics, then make sure you get Maurice to plan it for you, and finally get Tony to drive and guide you around. You will have the holiday of a lifetime.
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Email Shauna Ryder | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Maurice M Nzwii was wonderful, thoughtful, thorough and listen to what we wanted and delivered.
If you're looking for an incredible safari experience in Kenya, I highly recommend booking your trip through Africa Safari Classics, Maurice our travel agent was fabulous. He made sure all the places we stayed new it was our 25th wedding anniversary. They made each place stay so special. Our trip to Kenya, which included stays in Nairobi, Amboseli, Samburu, and Masa Mora and Diani Beach was nothing short of unforgettable.
Firstly, to Nairobi. The highlight of our trip was definitely visiting the Sheldricks Elephant Orphanage and witnessing the feeding of the adorable baby elephants. I also had an incredible experience at the Giraffe Center where I got the chance to feed these majestic creatures and learn so much about them from the knowledgeable guides. Another highlight was visiting the Kazuri Bead Factory where I learned about its inspiring mission to empower single women and observed the intricate process of bead-making.
Next off to Amboseli, we stayed at Tortilis Camp that overlooked the stunning Mount Kilimanjaro. The views from our room were breathtaking and the lodge was well-equipped with all the amenities we needed. The highlight of our time at Amboseli was getting up close and personal with the elephants during a game drives well as a pride of Lions with babies. We were able to watch them play and interact with each other in their natural habitat, which was a truly special experience. We also visited the local village of the Masa tribe. the people were so friendly and you could see the importance of community with in the village. It truly was inspiring.
Then to Sumburu, which was another amazing destination. We stayed at Samburu Saruni Villa. The scenery from our suite was breathtaking, with the mountains in the distance. During our game drives, we were able to spot a wide variety of animals, including zebras, giraffes, baboons and a three sibling cheetah eating a resent kill.
The last of our safari's we ended with Masa Mora. It was an absolute highlight of the trip. The Entim Mara is stunning and the staff are incredibly friendly and accommodating. We went on multiple game drives during our stay and were lucky enough to see a whole pride of lions with cubs, a herd of elephants with babies, hippo's, cheetah and hyenas to name a few. The food at Masa Mora was also exceptional, with a great variety of dishes that catered to all dietary needs.
Finally, we ended our trip at Diani Beach in Kenya. It was absolutely unforgettable! We stayed at the Almanara Resort, which was nothing short of breathtaking. The view from our room was simply stunning, with a picturesque view of the beach and the sound of the ocean providing the perfect backdrop for our stay. The accommodations were top-notch, with every detail thoughtfully considered - from the comfortable bed to the air conditioning that kept us cool while we herein the room. One of the highlights of our stay was spotting monkeys on the resort property. Overall, Diani Beach is the perfect destination for anyone looking to relax, unwind, and soak up the natural beauty of Kenya's stunning coastline. I highly recommend the Almanara Resort for anyone looking for a luxurious and unforgettable experience.
Overall, I highly recommend booking your trip to Kenya with Africa Safari Classics. The guides were knowledgeable and passionate about the wildlife, the accommodations were top-notch, and the overall experience was truly unforgettable. I can't wait to book another trip with them in the future!
