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)
Reviews
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Email Harry and Clark, Albany, Oregon USA | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
November was a great time of year to go on a safari in Kenya!!
We have been back home in Oregon for six weeks now following our remarkable and completely satisfying Kenya safari experience, which we had booked with Africa Safari Classics last spring. It marked our first trip ever to the African continent, and we have returned home determined to venture back to Africa at some point in the next few years, as we clearly would like to see more! All along, we had consistently pleasant, timely, helpful and highly professional communications with Maurice, the company's sales director, over a span of several months. We chose one of the company's exciting 9-day set itineraries ("Wildlife in Style"), which began and ended in Nairobi and took us to five national parks and game reserves. This company had some of the most affordable rates for their package tours that we have seen in more than ten years of keeping an eye out for such a travel experience. Maurice even upgraded one of our bookings, due to low season special rates, to the Maasai Mara Basecamp, where the Obama Family had stayed ten years earlier!
As others have shared on this site, we could not have been happier with our driver, Boniface (a.k.a. Boni). He was an absolute delight the entire nine days we spent with him. He had incredible vision, which led to numerous animal sightings that the untrained eye would easily have missed! We covered great swaths of the country, including a few 5- to 7-hour days of driving, and Boni answered our many questions about various cities, tribes, and Kenya in general. He also has a great sense of humor, and our days with him were filled with multiple rounds of hearty laughter. He apparently has been a safari tour guide for nearly 20 years, and he clearly knows what he's doing and where to take his passengers in each park and game reserve. When we make it back to Kenya, we definitely hope to have Boni as our driver and guide once again!
We had little idea that traveling to Kenya in November was an absolutely ideal time of year to visit! It marks their “short rains” season, following the long, hot dry season. It was like a spring-time trip, with temps in the 70’s or 80’s F, intermittent rains generating new greenery everywhere, and new water holes for the animals to play in. Most days started with brilliant, blue and sunny skies, puffy white clouds floating by, and occasional singular afternoon thunderheads floating over the plains. No problem for us rain-battered Oregonians, as we only wore our raincoats ONCE, for about an hour, the entire trip. It’s considered low season in November, so there were relatively few fellow tourists to contend with; usually no more than 10-20 other guests staying at each lodge we visited. (During our night at the Treetops Lodge in the Aberdares, we were the only registered guests, and got the full royal treatment of the staff!) We had not understood that many of the animals bear their newborns in Sept., Oct, and Nov., so we got to see LOTS of babies in every park we visited. We also did not know that Kenya has outlawed hunting of wildlife all across the country, which seems to generate a climate where the animals are not particularly bothered by safari vehicles and tourists. We had more “close encounters” than we could count, getting to within 15 or 20 feet of many animals, without them being spooked, including one instance of being right in the path of a stampeding herd of wildebeests. Boni took us out on anywhere from one to three game drives per day. We had countless opportunities for great photos and videos of the animals, likely getting enough footage and material for generating a new, amateur National Geographic documentary! We could not have been happier with the animal sightings we experienced, despite being in Kenya officially outside the annual migration season.
I should also add that we were extremely pleased with ALL the lodges and accommodations Maurice had booked for us throughout our time in Kenya, in Amboseli, Aberdares Treetops, Samburu, Lake Nakuru, and Maasai Mara. The food was consistently good and tasty, and the service was consistently outstanding. We had no stomach problems at all. I might add that most of the lodges we stayed at were a good distance off the major highways, often a good hour or more down fairly rough and poorly maintained dirt roads. Boni warned us of when we would be getting "good back massages" from the bumpy, bouncing drives along the way. This was the only aspect of our trip that was a bit of a downside. In all other ways, our trip to Kenya exceeded our wildest imaginings!
On our last night in Nairobi, before starting our long flight to Seattle (via Dubai), we insisted on taking Boni out to dinner, and Maurice was able to join us as well!. It was a very fitting and pleasant ending to what was likely the single greatest adventure my partner, Clark, and I have ever taken together! We have spoken so highly of our trip to many friends and family members, and we hope to be able to generate some more travel clients for Maurice as a result, in addition to making a return visit ourselves in the next few years!
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Email Romina Bella | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Kenya by Kenyan
The trip was organize by Kenyan who love their beautiful country. It was an amazing trip, an experience that will always remain in our hearts. I recorded the sounds of Samburu and Masai Mara during sunrise and I have played them every morning since we left. Maurice and his staff from Africa Safari Classics was extremely kind as well as the safari drivers. I am definitely recommending them I am already talking with my friends and family to encourage them to visit Kenya with Maurice and his team.
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Email Daniel Taillant | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Once in a Lifetime Experience (or twice!)
Wonderful experience. Maurice (from Africa Safari Classics) helped us out from beginning to end. Waited for us upon arrival in Nairobi, ensured we got to our hotel safely, picked us up the next day and took us to the plane waiting for us to go to the Savanna! We did a 5 day safari to two camps (Ashnil and Il Moran) in Samburu and in Masai Mara, respectively. They were both great, and complimentary. We saw all kinds of animals, except the elusive Rhino (which gives us a reason to return!). Food was great, sunsets spectacular, service stellar. Make sure you take binoculars and a good, high resolution camera. Don't rely on cell phone zoom or live shots, they are horrible and you'll regret it on your return when you want to blow up that awesome picture of the Lion eating a Giraffe! We went in March, and if we return we'll definitely aim for June-August for the big migration. You may want to take a few electrical adapters to charge equipment. Remember to tip your guides!
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Email Nathan N | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Flawless planning for trip of a lifetime!!
Maurice planned a flawless trip for my wife and I in Tanzania that included a 6 day safari and 5 days on the beach in Zanzibar. From the second we landed until being dropped off at the airport to leave, we did not have a single worry as all transportation, food, and lodging was taken care of! Would recommend Africa Safari Classics services to any friend. They allowed my wife and I to plan a perfect trip at gorgeous accommodations and we saw the big 5! Zanzibar was amazing and the resort where we stayed was unbelievable! Thanks Africa Safari Classics!
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Email Ken | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Three days in Kenya's Maasi Mara National Park
I've been on Safari in several countries across different continents, and this was the most like a fairy tale. From the moment we touched down on that remote grass airstrip I was amazed to see - through the single prop airplane window- giraffe sauntering up to feed on the treetops, and elephants grazing alongside the ubiquitous Wildebeest.
Kenya's free-range safaris are reputed to be the best in the world, and of Kenya's parks, the Maasai Mara to be the most diverse. The Serengeti ecosystem of Tanzania is much more expansive, but during the dry season migration, the animals follow the green grass up into Kenya, crowding themselves into the "Mara".
In our three day excursion we witnessed non-stop animal activity: A herd of Wildebeest crossing the Mara River, a pack of five cheetahs run down a juvenile Wildebeest, a Leopard, three Lions resting in the shade, hyenas galore, troops of baboons, and flocks of every kind of hoofed animal. We literally were driving through herds of beastly cape buffalo, scores of Zebra, Topi, Tommy Antelope, etc. At times the herds were so vast they dotted the Savannah as far as my 45 year-old eyes could see.
We never saw a rhino, but hey, it gives me something for which to return.
It was difficult to choose a booking company. From my computer screen in the 'States every company promised the best. There are many operators as this is big business in Kenya. Through a friend of a friend we stumbled across Africa Safari Classics, and they delivered the goods. They set us up in a great camp that was within our budget. Our luxury tents overlooked the Mara river. So after our morning game drive we would return to camp for our Noontime meal - only to observe more game! From the camp itself we could watch Hippos staying cool in the Mara River while a baby and a giant crocodile sunned themselves on its muddy banks.
After the sunset game drive we returned to a buffet meal which always satisfied. Our rooms were spacious and comfy. A system of window screens and bed netting calmed any fear of nighttime mosquitoes.
Mr. Maurice was only a phone call away when we needed transit hotels in Nairobi, ATMs, and flights in and out of the bush. I can't wait to bring my wife and kids next time.
Email Michaela, Sharon & Trish | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The Trip of a Lifetime!!
Words can not discribe the unbelievable Safari we had and it's all thanks to Maurice for organising a great itinerary and Jones (Muli) our Guide/Driver for not only meeting, but by far exceeding our wildest expectation of what our first African Safari would be like! We especially went in SEP to witness the great Wilderbeast migration in the Maasai Mara, and what a spectacle it was! What we did not realise was that we would see mating Lions, Cheetahs chasing and killing a Wilderbeast, a lone Waterbuffalo charging 4 Lionesses with their 12 cubs and the list goes on! Driving to several different areas and parks in Kenya was great, as they were all quite different from one another and we got to see the beautiful countryside and got more of a feel for the country and it's people. We fell in love with Africa and hope to be returning in the next few years to explore other parts and will definitely be asking Maurice to once again organise another awesome and epic adventure for us!
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Email Alain Campagna | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
over than we expect
we just comeback from a 11 days safari in Kenya with Africa safari classics ltd and everything go so well from the start to the end Maurice is perfect he book for us the better lodges with the better room. Everything was perfect, our guide Felix and Jones was the best, we see the big fives closer than 20 feets for each . They work hard to make my dream come true and i remember them forever. Asante sana Maurice , Felix and Jones and hope the best for you.
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Email Linda & Ben | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Life long dream come true!!!
Just got back from our dream trip. Thanks to Maurice for his excellent service in planning the 12 day safari. His professionalism made our trip so wonderful. Everything was top notch!!!! A special thank you to our 2 guides Felix and Jones for 12 awsome days . You made sure we saw lots of animals and taught us about the animals and life in Kenya. You took great care of us. We have souvenirs in our heads and hearts. We already miss you all and hope to be able to go back and visit more of Kenya one day.
Thank you again and big hugs to all of you
Email Nacho | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Bespoke Safari, exceeding our expectations
We spent 10 days in several reserves and national parks (Samburu, OL Pejeta, Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara). The trip was a bespoke affordable safari perfectly organised by Maurice who was on top of everything from day 1, not only in the communication flow before arriving but also once we got to Nairobi and started the Safari. He even drop by our hotel on the last day to have a chat and spend some time with us on a Sunday afternoon.
The trip was beyond any expectation we had. The camps were unbelievable, all the best locations within the reserves, we always got the best tents/rooms, the service and the staff was kind and willing to help if need be. Vegetarian/vegan food was organised for us as well.
Tony, our driver, did a fantastic job. He is very knowledgeable of all the areas and was very patient with us. He always found the way to get the best angle of the scene for us to witness and take photos.
I’d definitely recommend Africa Safari Classics to anyone. High quality at affordable prices.
Email Daria | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic trip
We had a great trip with Africa Safari Classics. The itinerary was tailored to our budget and places we wanted to visit and it ended up exceeding our expectations. We had an excellent guide, Tony who had an impeccable knowledge of all areas we visited, provided lots of interesting info, was very patient on road and with us taking photos. He also got the best angles every time we spotted an animal and drove around so we could get different snaps. Needless to say, we saw the Big Five (including two leopards in one day) and we saw two cheetah kills. Maurice organised the trip perfectly, we got the best tents everywhere we went and everything worked out smoothly. It was a trip of a lifetime and I hope to go back soon, I'd definitely use the company again and would recommend to anyone.