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!
DE
Email Tino | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
great 7 days/ 6 nights Safari
Hello,
we (me and my girlfriend) did a 7 days/ 6 nights Safari with Africa Safari classics and had a great time (last week in September 2016). we visited Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro.
the game drives have been really good and we had enough time for the observations of all different kinds of wildlife. we never had the feeling that we are in a hurry and also took ways offsite the crowds of jeeps. our driver guide (Athman) was telling us many things about the animals and also about the cultural background of the people of Tansania.
All accomdations have been clean, in good coditionts and with friendly staff. we stayed in Lake Burunge Tented Camp, Manyara Wildlife Camp, Serengeti Tanzania Bush Camp, Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge and Migunga Tented Camp.
the only thing we would change: spend more time in Ngorongoro crater. We just had half a day there and would recommend to stay there for at least a full day.
best,
Tino
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Email Darla | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
African Safari to Kenya and Tanzania with a stop in Zanzibar
Service from Africa Safari Classics was excellent, I never had to wait long for a reply and no question was too small to get an answer. The booking and payment were also easy.
I can't say enough about how great our safari experience was! We loved all of the accommodation, food, game drives and abundance of wildlife. We saw the big five in each country, and each country had very special moments (baby elephants in Amboseli and a leopard close up in Serengeti). Accommodation at the Dongwe Ocean View hotel in Zanzibar was beyond excellent! The staff took such great care of us and the food and room were wonderful, definitely want to visit there again!
Boni and Saidi our safari guides were both fantastic, we really bonded with Boni in Kenya and he went out of his way to find us the big cats, even staying out later than the majority of other guides, so that we could find the leopard in Maasai Mara. We really enjoyed Boni's sense of humor and he fit in so well with our family. We'd love to do another Kenyan safari with him.
Saidi, our guide in Tanzania was excellent too, he was very friendly and knowledgeable and was excellent at finding the animals, he took us out an extra time to see cheetahs after everyone had left so we could get better pictures. Both drivers were very security conscious and took measures to make sure we were safe at wash room and banking stops and Boni went through the border checkpoint to Tanzania with us to make sure we were safe.
We are already planning our next safari since we had such a great time on this one, we're thinking of Uganda and Kenya for next time. I would definitely book through African Safari Classics, we felt so taken care of. It was so great to see you, Maurice, at the hotel and talk to you at points throughout the safari, we knew we could reach you at any time if we had a problem, although we had no issues.
I would highly recommend Africa Safari Classics for your safari. I always include the excellent service we got from you in my safari stories. Book your trip with Maurice at Africa Safari Classics and sit back, relax and enjoy your safari!!
Email Luke Sadler | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The safari was far above and beyond what we had expected
Hi Maurice,
I just wanted to say a big thank you for everything, the trip was amazing and I couldn't say a single bad word. In relation to the different aspects you mentioned:
The service provided by yourself prior to the safari was of the highest quality from the moment I sent the first enquiry. You were always very quick to reply, extremely helpful with anything I had enquired about and managed to put together the perfect itinerary based on our requirements. The payment process was nice and easy and you confirmed payments had been received very promptly.
The safari experience - The safari itself was an amazing experience. We had expected that it would be exactly this, and that we would see some amazing wildlife, but it was far above and beyond what we had expected. We saw too many amazing sights to list but I have to mention getting to catch the end of the annual migration was a particular highlight. The accommodation was of the highest quality and the staff at each property made sure we had a great time and we had everything we needed.
Our Driver - I could not express just how happy we were with Tony and how much he made the trip for us. From start to finish he was absolutely brilliant. He couldn't have been any more helpful with anything that we asked for and his knowledge of each of the areas we visited meant that we were able to visit certain places and see things that others we had talked to did not get the chance to see and we are extremely grateful to him for this. He was always polite, friendly and happy to talk about anything with us. He was also very considerate of the fact I had my elderly grandmother with us and always made things as easy as possible for her. In terms of initiative he was excellent - quite a few times he made small changes to the itinerary that allowed us extra time in places we were particularly interested in visiting.
I definitely intend to return to Kenya - I would like to visit Tsavo & Amboseli next time - and would not consider booking with anyone else as I had such a great experience.
I would most certainly recommend your service to anyone I knew he was interested in visiting Kenya for a safari trip and in fact my sister has actually recommended you to someone looking to organize a trip soon so they should be in contact shortly.
Thanks again for everything and please pass on our thanks to Tony.
BE
Email Evelien & Erik | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A lovely holiday
We just got back from our holiday in Kenya and are still smiling from the wonderful experience this was...
We contacted several companies to arrange a safari but had the best feeling with Maurice from Africa Safari Classics. Every question/demand we had, he answered and gave suggestions, ending in a 9 day safari which was completely adapted to our needs. Especially his professionality and speed of answering, as well as his competitive price got us to choose his company.
Arriving in Nairobi we got the sad news that one of our bags had not made it with us on the plane. When Maurice heard about this, he took over all the communication with the carrier and arranged for my luggage to be waiting for us in one of our lodges along the safari, which was great (thanks again Maurice!)!!
Our driver and guide Boniface had years of experience and that was very clear from day 1. He knew the parks like the back of his hand and when an animal was spotted by one of his colleagues he made sure we would be able to see it as well by finding the shortest route. He gave us information about the different animals along the way and tried to answer every possible question we had. We visited different parks on our trip and Boniface tried to spot as many different animals for us as he could. He also looked for the best angle to take our photos of all the wildlife :) The accomodations during our safari were great, from a tent next to Masai Mara, to a fancy hotel room next to lake Naivasha, we liked all of them, as well as the very helpful staff there.
It was such an overwhelming and beautiful holiday and we are very happy it was organized by Africa Safari Classics! We would highly recommend contacting them if you are looking to go on a safari holiday!
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Email Jonathan WashingtonDC | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A Well-Run Safari Outfit That Surpassed Expectations
Traveling with my parents and a friend to celebrate my dad's 60th birthday, I wanted to make sure the Tanzania safari part of the trip was perfect. Africa Safari Classics Ltd ensured that every detail was fantastic, that our trip went smoothly, and that everyone had an epic trip of a lifetime. They surpassed my expectations and I highly recommend the company for anyone looking for an adventure on safari.
From my first outreach to the company, the sales director, Maurice, was very professional and quick with replies to tailor-make the trip to the parks in Tanzania we wanted to visit. When the airline lost my friend's on the way to Tanzania, we assumed we would never see it again. Imagine our surprise while on a game drive in the middle of the Serengeti, another vehicle popped up and handed over the bag! This is the kind of customer service that made Africa Safari Classics stand out!
Our driver guide Athman was exceptionally knowledgeable and professional. He went out of his way to make sure that we had an amazing experience and anticipated our needs before we even needed to ask for anything. He's also a really good and kind person, with a great sense of humor-- which is really important when you spend a week with someone. He knew the parks like the back of his hand and where to spot all the animals we were searching for. His knowledge of the animals and information about the parks was extensive, and he also told us a lot of interesting information about the people and towns that we drove through between the parks.
We saw the Big 5! We visited Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire parks-- all filled with so much wildlife. Highlights included a cheetah playing with her four baby cubs, hippos wrestling, and a herd of buffalo standing down a pride of lions. Tanzania has some really beautiful national parks, and, having visited the parks in Kenya before, I highly recommend visiting the parks of both countries.
The accommodations we stayed at in each of the parks exceeded expectations with beautiful views, incredible wildlife, and amazing customer service. We particularly enjoyed the un-fenced tented camp in the middle of the Serengeti.
10 out of 10, I would highly recommend Africa Safari Classics Ltd to organize your safari!
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Email Lynn & Andy | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very professional & organized safari operator
When looking to book a safari in Kenya I reached out to several different safari companies. It became evident very quickly that Africa Safari Classics was in a different class. Not only was Maurice extremely responsive, he also understood exactly what I was looking for & catered the proposal to my request. Before we left, Maurice came to our apartment to give my family a rundown of what to expect on the safari & answer any questions that we had. He also was there the next morning to introduce us to our guide/driver and make sure everything was good before we left. This was not something that I expected but it was much appreciated & showed a high level of customer service. The safari was amazing - we saw more animals than we thought we would, had a very knowledgeable guide & stayed in really great camps. If I was to book another safari, I would absolutely book with Africa Safari Classics.
Massai Safari
What a great experience we had which started with a warm greeting at the airport and continued with each interaction we had at Basecamp. We were thrilled to be able to stay in the same tent that President Obama and the First Lady Michelle Obama stayed in. It really started the trip off on a high note.
Sam are driver was an amazing guide and provided us with an experience we will never forget as we were able to see a Lion, Lioness (2 sets), Cheetah, Elephants, Giraffe, Impala and Buffalo to name a few.
In the short time we were there it was great learning a little about the Masai Tribe and their way of life. We can't wait to get back home to California and share our experience with family, friends and colleagues.
As we reflect on our trip once we return you may see more glowing reviews on social media for sure!!
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Email Jocelyn and Claude | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
A Truly Memorable Safari Experience in Tanzania
We decided to contact Africa Safari Classics because their website (www.africasafariclassics.com) was easily available, the client comments were most positive, and the company was based in eastern Africa where we wanted to go. Maurice Nzwii, the very professional sales director of the company, recommended a custom-made safari in Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, and Lake Manyara National Parks just for the two of us. Maurice was efficient during the entire planning stage of our trip. His tact and expediency in responding to our emails are truly commendable. Because our excellent guide Abdul knew all the back trails and places to find hard-to-see wildlife such as leopards, cheetahs, and rhinos, we felt privy to the entire parks.
We highly recommend Africa Safari Classics.
Email Leanne | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Dream Kenyan Safari
I originally located Africa Safari Classics through the Safari Bookings website. Subsequent email communications with Maurice at Africa Safari Classics then increased my confidence in pursuing a booking. Any concerns or questions I had raised throughout the booking process were answered promptly and confidently.
Accommodation recommendations made by Maurice enhanced our safari experience & itinerary changes were made easily
The 4x4 was comfortable and enabled great game viewing. Game drives were enhanced by the experience, driving skill, driving care and knowledge of our Driver/Guide Nicholas. He, amazingly, seemed to know his way around all the game parks and his game observation skills and dedication to finding us the best sightings possible was most appreciated. Our safari was unbelievable in every way, largely due to the quality of Nicholas’ guiding.
Would most definitely use ASC if we ever returned to East Africa and have no hesitation in recommending ASC to anybody…in fact I would strongly recommend anybody use ASC and am happy to communicate this to any future clients.
I believe the entire safari experience is dependent on the organisation of the safari company and the quality of the guide. Africa Safari Classics surpassed expectations on both counts, resulting in a dream safari for my parents and I – they still haven’t stopped talking about it and I cannot thank Maurice and Nicholas enough for that.