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
BE
Email Toby A | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Overall, the trip couldn’t have been better!
Overall, the trip couldn’t have been better!
It was exciting, fun, really, we obviously had a lot of different adventures on the trips and the flooding was quite unique.
The sequence of the trip was really good! Totally good timings and the pace was nice, not too busy, not too slow.
The Safaris were excellent, and given our unique time there, we were very lucky with what was around but also just the car etc.
On the logistics, totally great and you guys did a great job with organizing our trip from Mombasa and Diani.
One thing that would good would be to have local numbers of taxis or drivers in different locations like Diani, as an extra help when you land there, even though this is slightly outside of your core trip.
Last but not least, Tony - He’s a legend! I think having him as a driver made the trip and helped us have such an excellent experience with you guys. He’s an excellent driver, cautious and flexible. Took great care of us and frankly, I couldn’t have been happier with him. He’s also very funny and had the right balance of quiet time and funny conversations. He’s also a very good spotter so that helped a lot.
Genuinely, we have now some very fond fond memories and will likely return!
US
Email Brett | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A solid safari experience with a personalized touch
I traveled to Kenya in June 2019 specifically to visit the Maasai Mara and after much research and outreach to 5 or 6 tour companies, I decided to put my trust and investment with Maurice at Africa Safari Classics. I made this decision based on the many positive reviews for Africa Safari Classics, as well as the personalized response and engagement I received from the company. I also found the price and value to be more competitive than another tour operator I was considering.
From the time of my outreach, Maurice was very attentive and we spoke over the phone via WhatsApp a few times and exchanged several messages leading up to my departure. What I really enjoyed about my booking experience was the ability to customize every detail of my trip - from the local sightseeing in Nairobi, to the types of camps I wished to stay in out in the Maasai Mara.
While I enjoyed visiting the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, Giraffe Center and Kazuri Beads (all great places to include in your Nairobi tour), of course the big highlight was my time out in the Mara. Maurice set me up with an operator called Basecamp Explorer and I opted to stay at two of their camps - (1) Basecamp Masai Mara (Fun Fact: Barack Obama and his family stayed here in 2006) and (2) Wilderness Camp. Both camps were incredible and the staff were very attentive, polite and welcoming. The Wilderness Camp was also more of a nostalgic tribute to the safaris of the early explorers as guests sleep in an individual and spacious tent on the plains of the Masai Mara. During the night, you can actually hear the hoofing of zebras, wildebeest and perhaps other animals passing by your tent. It was exhilarating and yet a bit scary, but the local Masai who run the camp are close by to step in if needed.
Wildlife Highlights: My best sightings included lions (including a majestic male lion with a large mane), elephants, hippos, hyenas, cheetahs, zebras and of course the Great Migration itself.
I also recommend adding on a visit to the local Masai village. It's a fun 1-2 hours and the community comes together to welcome and celebrate your visit with dancing. TIP: Be prepared to purchase some souvenirs during your visit. I wish I knew this in advance. Since I was the only person from the Wilderness Camp to participate in the village tour, I felt even more obligated to buy something as I was the only person visiting the village that day. Luckily the souvenirs aren't super expensive. I bought a bracelet for $10 USD. The Basecamp Masai Mara also has a nice gift shop and I purchased an authentic Kenyan belt. It's absolutely beautiful and I was able to negotiate the price a bit.
Huge shout out to Maurice for all of his help! Not only did he personally meet me in Nairobi (and provided a complimentary gift I could use out on my safari), he also met up with me again once I got back from the Mara to gather my feedback on what went well and what could be improved.
I told Maurice my only regret was that I did not stay longer in Kenya to explore more of the parks and wildlife. I'd love to hire Africa Safari Classics again and hope I can return in the near future. Great job all around and definitely recommend to other travelers considering a visit to Kenya and the Masai Mara.
Email Ignacio | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wonderful Second Trip!
Once again, Africa Safari Classics exceed my expectations. We traveled with them to Kenya in 2017, and last December they organised our trip to Uganda. Maurice did a fantastic job from day one, tailoring the itinerary to our needs/request.
Whilst in Uganda, our guide was amazing, very knowledgeable and very patient with us so we could always get he best out of the day.
I would definitely recommend Africa Safari Classics, they team is supportive and responsive and they make sure you definitely get the best value for money!
Well done Maurice and thanks! Looking forward to our next African trip with you!
US
Email Michael | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience. Budget friendly
Africa Safari Classics was an excellent and help us create a safari of our dreams within budget.
Booking Process: Maurice was extremely helpful and gave us different options that fits our needs. After seeing what options there is and what to look for, i was able to customize our safari with Maurice. Which is an excellent because there is so many different options you can choose from (which part, which hotel/camp, how long). I would start on their recommendations and then start researching which hotels/camps to stay at, Maurice will then give you estimate on your preference.
Safari: Our guide was excellent, his goal was to shows us as much animals as possible. Which is definitely shown on how active he is (he listens to the radio and ask drivers that drive by, we can definitely see the effort). He got us up and close to animals but at the same time we felt completely safe. We heard something on the radio and then he rushed over to give us an unforgettable view.You can tell he had many years of experience and know what to look for. I would highly recommend a private tour (max 4 people per minivan or keep); this allows you to have room to move around and to fully see animals. Mini van vs jeep, as long as you have 4 or less people it doesn't matter. The jeep looks more comfortable if its full(7 people), but it looks very pack and would not recommend. Overall guide makes a big difference and this company has the best. We saw other tours and they weren't as active as we are.
Hotels/ Camps: Don't skip on the hotel/camps it makes the trip so much better if you choose the right one. We stayed at the following:
The Ark Forest Lodge (highly recommend)- Hotel in middle of a park. Hot water: Yes, Wifi: Yes, Clean: Yes. You don't stay here for the luxury hotel rooms, but for the view. Its next to a water hole and we saw ton of animals and was extremely close (overnight). The experience itself was unforgettable.
The Cliff - THE MOST AMAZING place ever (5 star). The luxury tent was overlooking a the lake and the tent was a luxury (bath tub, clean, hot water, high class). Food was amazing and staff was excellent. I would stay here again in a heart beat. Only ten tents so i would book in advance.
Mara Serena Safari Lodge - It was not bad but compared to other place i wouldn't recommend. Food was a buffet (which is not that good honestly); we ate because we were hungry but lacking in flavor. The view is nice, but after you see it, it gets old. Rooms are nice, i would call it 3 stars.
Locations: honestly part of it is to be lucky and the other part is a good guide (that listen to the radio and communicate with other tours to see where the animals are)
OL Pejeta Private Wildlife Conservancy(1 day) - saw a giraffe cross the road up and close. Park has a private rhino (you get to pet a rhino) and chimpanzee area , which is very nice to get up and close.
Lake Nakuru National Park(1 day) - saw a rhino up and close. We were debating between Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha. I would recommend to Lake Nakuru and ask to add the $30 boat ride of Lake Naivasha (thats all you really need). Best of both worlds. Since they are close its doable to do both.
Maasai Mara Game Reserve (2 day) - excellent park but huge. If you only have one/two days i would go here cause it has all the animals, but we had so much fun at Ol Pejeta and Lake Nakuru. Most of the time the animals was in the distance and a lot more tour groups.
Tips: Bring binoculars (and a monocular with phone adapter) we got amazing pictures with the monocular with phone adapter. A light jacket in the morning game runs is helpful. Bring bug spray (70-100 deet; i recommend) Pick good hotels/camps (The Ark and The Cliff i would recommend). Look into the extra things you can do (night game drive, hippo breakfast) if its in your budget. Do your research and let Maurice know what you want (he can tell you a cost estimate). Trust me we got everything we wanted and more.
Email Daria | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Highly recommended operator
Highly recommended. We went to Kenya with Africa Safari Classics in 2017 and when we decided to visit Uganda recently no other options were even considered. Everything went as smoothly as the first time and I have since recommended the company to friends. The itinerary is tailor made so we were able to enjoy the activities we specifically asked for. Our guides were always super knowledgeable, fun, experienced, and above all patient, always making sure we got the best views and the best shots. The hotels and camps were amazing (in fact, some of the best I’ve even been to) and our special meal requests were always considered. Overall, the company is fantastic and I will continue going to Africa with them.
LU
Email Nicole | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Christmas in Kenya - Safari & Chale Island
During the 2019 Christmas holiday, our family of 4 (kids ages 8&9) spent 12 nights on a Kenya safari and Chale island holiday. We traveled with another family with kids similar ages. We all made memories to last a lifetime!
We stayed at 3 very different camps (Sweetwater's, Mbweha and Mara Safari Club) and ended our trip relaxing in the pools and beach on Chale Island. The Fairmont Mara Safari Club was our favorite camp. We saw ALL of the animals - leopard, cheetahs, lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalo, zebras, giraffes, hyenas, and so much more. I recommend the hot air balloon ride in Masai Mara!
Maurice helped with every detail of our trip. He met with us in Nairobi at the start of the holiday and stayed in touch to make sure everything was going well throughout the trip. He was always easy to reach by phone and quick to respond.
If you love animals and are up for an adventure, I recommend contacting Maurice to help plan your safari and beach holiday.
IT
Email Simone | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing Experience!
We found Africa Safari Classic on safaribooking.com and, since one of the tours matched perfectly with what we had in mind, we decided to contact Maurice.
From the first moment to when we returned home everything was perfect and superbly organized.
Abdul, our guide, was extremely helpful and very kind throughout our trip, giving us lots of interesting information about what we saw and satisfying all our requests.
Shifts and lodges were truly incredible and we had the chance to stay in fantastic places surrounded by nature.
For all these reasons I can only recommend Africa Safari Classics because it will surely give you an extraordinary experience!
US
Email Matt | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic Honeymoon
We just returned from our honeymoon trip with Africa Safari Classics and we had an amazing experience.
When we first looked at going on a safari trip to Africa we quickly noticed how many operators and different options we had to choose from. It seemed like a very difficult task to decipher what was going to be the best option for us, but luckily we found Maurice at Africa Safari Classics.
Maurice is the most helpful person we have ever worked with in the travel industry. He helped us plan and customize the perfect honeymoon experience for us, and then once the trip started he made sure he checked-in with us several times to make sure that everything was going well. We were lucky enough to meet Maurice in person in Kenya at the beginning of the trip, and he also took time out of his day to meet us again at the end to make sure that we were happy with how things went.
Maurice set us up with Joseph who was the perfect safari guide for the type of animals and birds we wanted to see on our trip. Joseph was such a great resource in pointing out all of the various mammal and bird species, and he always made sure that we were safe and had plenty of time for photos.
The attention to detail and level of service that we experienced with Africa Safari Classics was amazing. After we confirmed our flight details we didn't have to lift a finger. The airport transfers, luggage handling, hotel/lodge reservations, transportation, park fees, etc. were all handled by Maurice and his staff, and everything was made extremely easy for us. Basically all we needed to know was what time we would start the game drives each morning!
We give Africa Safari Classics our highest recommendation, and whenever we decide to take our next trip to Africa we fully plan on contacting Maurice again!
US
Email Steve | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Magical Africa Experience
I contacted Maurice from Africa Safari Classics along with several other Aferica adventure tour companies. From the start, Maurice provide clear, insightful information. I wanted to customize this trip and Maurice provided me with an itinerary that exactly met my wish list. We (my daughter and I) experienced a Kenya multi-day safari, a Uganda mountain gorilla trek, and a visit to Victoria Falls. Maurice not only laid out the perfect schedule, but he provided us with superb accommodations, outstanding guides, and complete, quick response to all questions I had prior to the trip. He also did everything within my price constraint. During the trip, he was in touch every day to make sure everything was up to speed and met our expectations. This 11 day trip exceeded all of my expectations and is one I will never forget. My daughter (age 19) and I take one trip together each year. We've been across the US, through Europe several time, and in South America. Her simple response of "Dad, this was by far the coolest trip ever" summed up our entire experience. I give Maurice and Africa Safari Classics my highest possible recommendation.
CH
Email Robert | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Unforgettable
We celebrated our 10th anniversary with a 7 day safari (Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Western Serengeti, Lake Manyara) followed by a 4 day stay in Zanzibar. Visa, return flight and excursions in Zanzibar we organized ourselves. All transfers, safari incl. Camps and Lodges as well as hotel in Zanzibar we booked via Africa Safari Classics and were more than satisfied with our choice.
In comparison with other providers, Africa Safari Classics offered us a fair price-performance ratio. The care by Maurice was extremely competent. The journey could be adapted to our wishes. The travel documents were informative and complete.
Arrived at the airport Kilimanjaro everything worked like clockwork. The tip to get the visa already in Switzerland, was worth gold and saved us a long wait on entry. In front of the airport we were greeted by a well-tempered Abdul, who introduced himself as driver and guide for the safari. Of course, he first congratulated us on our anniversary and immediately handed us a snack against the small hunger. During the following, four-hour drive in the comfortable safari jeep to the first camp, we had ample opportunity to get to know each other and get first information.
During the following safari days, Abdul turned out to be a safe and very good driver and, thanks to his 12 years of experience as a connoisseur of national parks and excellent animal spotters. Often it was us who could inform the other drivers about an animal sighting. An invaluable advantage as these are usually the best photo opportunities. So we were the first who had a cheetah mother with her cup, a leopard or four lions close up in front of the lens. But the highlight of the trip was that thanks to Abdul we were able to experience the Big Migration. Watching the 8th Wonder of the World in the midst of an estimated 100,000 to 150,000 animals is an incredible experience. In addition to this highlight, we have seen tons of cape buffaloes, zebras, elephants, giraffes, flamingos, pelicans, storks, hypos, crocos, impalas, antelopes, monkeys or pumbas. Of course, there were also encounters with other lions, hyenas or jackals.
Thank you Abdul, that you transported us safely (over partly long and mostly bumpy routes), patiently and in very good English, you answered to all our questions and you made possible sensational animal sightings.
After the safari, Abdul took us back to Arusha. There a plane to Zanzibar awaited us. After another unforgettable days with picturesque sunset, long beach walks, snorkeling excursion with dolphin sighting and a romantic beach hotel with great food, we were safe, healthy and all around happy again dropped off at Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Thanks Maurice, for the excellent advice. The proposed camps and lodges all exceeded our experience. Facilities and standard were up to luxurious, the staff very friendly and helpful and the food including lunch boxes always excellent and well-tolerated. Also we were always surprised with nice attentions to our anniversary. Of course, this was a great pleasure for us and it was definitely a "hint" on your part. You did an excellent job!
