Andrew will take you to remote places
Wildebeest Safaris
- Located In:
-
China
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 1997)
- Member Of:
- ETT & TRA
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $100 to $450 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
PL
Email Piotr Poznan | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
6 Days Big Cats Safari pro and cons.
I have booked by them 6 Days Big Cats Safari Package.
2 nights Samburu National Reserve - Samburu Sopa Lodge.
1 night Lake Naivasha - Lake Naivasha Country Club.
2 nights Masai Mara - Zebra Plains Mara Camp.
Communication wit the company before the trip was fast and efficient. I made them full prepayment for the trip.
Before the trip I have informed that it is very important for me to start all activities just after sunrise and finish just before sunset as I am interested in photography. JUs before the trip they have changed the accommodation by Lake Naivasha for Kongoni Lodge. I have informed than that tis lodge have some negative comments on Tripadvisor and they answered that all lodges there have similar quality.
Samburu Sopa Lodge - Samburu NAtional Reserve.
I can only recommend this park and this lodge. On the first day we saw the pack of 7 wild dogs and leopard.
On the second day 4 leopards, 1 cheetah and 5 lions. Lodge was very good with good restaurant. In in the park however to the places we saw animals it takes 30 minutes of drive. Food at lodge was great. WIFI available only in restaurant area was slowly. In the rooms was available European plugin to recharge the batteries.
Kongoni Lodge.
First of all the drive from Samburu to Naivasha took 8,5 hours. Much more than planned. We arrived at 15.30.
I did not like this place. It is very remote place. Additional 30 minutes drive. They charged me 50 USD for the boat trip close to the lodge. In the itinerary they wrote me that the boat trip cost 25 - 30 USD. In this lodge they do not give food for drivers. So the driver did not get dinner and breakfast.
Lake Naivasha boat trip. However overpaid it was interesting 2 hours. I saw hippos from very interesting photography perspective. @ giant kingfishers, many pied kingfishers, Nubian woodpecker, many pelicans, spoonbills, African fish eagles and sandpipers. The trip was OK.
Zebra Plains Mara Lodge.
The place was nice. Restaurant good. WIFI available at the restaurant area but was slowly. Minus was that it takes up to 25 minutes to come to the gate of the park.
Masai Mare - very good plac to spot predators. In 3 days I saw 2 prides of lions with the kill. Once with wildebeest second with buffalo. First day 5 cheetahs and on the second day the same 5 cheetahs and one female. Disadvantage of this park is that there are plenty of tourist and if any predators are found immediately are many cars around.
David was very good driver and guide. He was able to find many of animals. He had the radio in the car so he easily communicate with others drivers if they found something. It was really pleasant to travel with him through Kenya.
Cons - on the second day in Masai Mara at 17.00 driver informed me that we must finish the safari for today. In fact he used the limit of petrol. I lost 1,5 hour of the day in the very good afternoon light for the photography. This was the question of refilling the car for additional 15 liters of petrol - 1500 schilling - 15 USD..... He solved the problem for next day and we started at 6.30 a.m.
Second small minus was travel time. The way from Samburu to Naivasha took us 8,5 hours. So we have been almost late for the boat trip. There were no issues on the road. So simply travel time was planned unrealistic.
Overall - the itinerary of the trip was very good. I saw and took pictures of all big cats and as bonus of wild dogs.
The driver David was very experienced and saved the trip. The company organized the trip with some minuses. I would suggest if you are photographer to underline with them how important is for you to be just after sunrise and before sunset in the park. If you simply want to see the cats it is enough to come a little later because thank to the radio the will find them all. Also do not agree to change the lodges from those which are in the original plan. If you ask me if I would book with them again I would answer yes. But confirm precisely all details.
NP
Email Ansu & Agya | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great service
My friend and I had a wonderful experience with Wildebeest. Right from the pick up from the airport to all the game drives and balloon ride that was arranged. We were very lucky and managed to see 31 lions! 2 cheetahs, 2 leopards and countless elephants, giraffs and hippos - this was mostly due to our guide/driver Daniel, who knew where to take us. This made a big difference. Overall a fantastic holiday and we would definitely recommend it!
Jeff's the man
Jeff was a friendly, informative and accomodating guide, making our trip really fun and memorable. No issues at all communicating with each other, and we agreed daily what time to start our day so everyone could be prepared and aligned with the schedule.
US
Email Richard | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent itinerary with knowledgeable guides and good accommodations made for a rewarding safari.
The requested itinerary for an 18 day photographic safari by professional photographers through parks in both Kenya and Tanzania including the Maasai Mara and the Serengeti met most of our expectations and was very rewarding, due in large part to the expertise of the driver/guides Dennis and Hamza. They were excellent in locating game and getting us into position to best photograph the animals after a little coaching on how to position the vehicles. It appeared however, that they were not always adequately informed regarding the details of the trip that had been committed to us. Not everything was as advertised, for example, the first day two planned activities were not included, and a lunch on the last day was missed.
For the most part, the accommodations were as advertised with some camps better than others, however charging electronic devices was difficult in a couple of locations. The food was adequate to good and again the quality and variety varied by camp.
Optional additional activities, such as a photo safari on water at a lake and a visit to a Maasai village were offered and taken, which were very good, but the additional cost should have been advised before embarking on the adventures.
As there were some long and very difficult road transfers between parks, adequate rest and washroom stops were not sufficient on some legs. A six hour transfer with no bathroom break planned for senior citizens is not acceptable.
The largest complaint was the timing and execution of our departure at the Nairobi airport. Instead of departing our last camp at a time that would have allowed the proper travel time, with lunch included as advertised, and gotten us to the airport at a time coinciding with airport checkin, we departed the camp in the morning, did not stop for lunch and arrived at the airport at 3pm with a departure at midnight, and we were dropped without any guidance regarding the airport or facilities for waiting for a checkin at 7pm. We felt abandoned.
Given the few issues, we were satisfied with our trip and experience and would use Wildebeest again with a better understanding and agreement on some of the details mentioned above. We didn't expect anything beyond what we contracted for, but we did expect to receive what we contracted for.
US
Email Kristine | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Some issues but guides went above and beyond
It seems like Wildebeest could have prepared better for our tour. I still believe it was a great value for the price. There were several small issues but the guides were very nice and the accommodations great.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tour guides very knowledgible and friendly.
We were two 50+ women travelling from North America. We were concerned with booking everything on line and not having TICO protection or personal contacts. Although it was tough at times to correspond thru emails with our questions Noah tried his best to answer all our questions. The guides were wonderful and we were lucky enough to see the "big 5" within the first few days of our trip. Noah took care of booking resorts, airfares, transportation and guides and although there were a few hicups the trip was more than we could hope for.
Packages are fairly cheap, tour guides good. Vans clean and reliable. Time keeping good
Communication was perfect, services throughout the safari was fine and hotels booked for my family was worth the amount I paid.
US
Email Mohammed A | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wonderful, fun experience!
We booked a 5 day Kenya safari via Wildebeest, and had a wonderful experience! Noah was very professional, was patient with our many questions, and provided the best price among all operators we've reached out to. Esty, our tour guide, was always on time, friendly, and very knowledgeable of the animals and parks. The jeep was in good shape, and had no issues during the tour. The only hiccup was at the hike of Mount Longonot. The hike (including going around the carter) took us 6 hours, and due to the lack of preparation we had no food, very little water, and when we got back to the car there were no lunch boxes either. It would have been a more enjoyable hike if we were better prepared.
Overall, we loved our vacation, took many many pics, and really enjoyed our time. Thank you Noah and Esty!
AE
Email Suzana & Lutz | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
It was a great experience and Iwould recommend it to my friends with pleasure.
Everything was great.
We managed to see 3 out of 5, but it was a great fun and excellent time all in all.
Email David Knight | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Professional and very knowledgable guide
Apart from being one hour late for pick up at hotel, it was a marvelous experience. We were well looked after.