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
Email Suvarna | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Dedicated and a really cool guide!
I went with a group to the Masai Mara in August and contacted Wildebeest Safaris. I communicated with Noah who was very helpful and accommodating. The entire experience was wonderful and we didn’t have any hassles. Dennis, our guide, was punctual and super friendly. The trip was amazing and definitely one to remember. It was well planned, and everything promised was delivered. I would definitely recommend them!
CN
Email bonnie | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The entire journey exceeded expectations and it was wild and exhilarating.
The journey exceeded expectations, offering unique and thrilling experiences, unlike many places I've been to. It was wild and exhilarating, and having been to Kenya, other destinations didn't seem as captivating anymore.
We were extremely pleased with the Safari company we chose. They assisted us throughout planning the itinerary and selecting hotels/lodges based on our preferences and schedule. We highly recommend OL TUKAI LODGE. The arrangements for airport pickups and drop-offs were spot on.
Our guide, Dennis, must be the most handsome in all of Kenya. Tall with a great physique, he gave us a strong sense of security! The vehicle was kept clean and tidy every day. Ultimately, we each tipped about $120 for the seven days. Having a competent guide during a safari is crucial. Dennis has a keen eye and was always the first to spot signs of animals in the plains, leading us to lions, leopards, and other creatures. Whenever he received notifications from others, he would rush to the location immediately!"
Here is some advice for safari：
The sand is so thick it feels like suffocating in the dirt.
I wake up every day between 4 and 5 AM.
I set off at 6:30. Before 6:30, it's so cold that I have to wear a thick fleece hoodie.
The car ride is extremely bumpy. Sitting in the last row, I could even bounce off my seat and land back down, haha!
It's very sunny at noon. Wearing just a tank top isn't too hot, but don't forget sun protection.
The sun sets around 6:30 PM, and by 8 PM, the temperature drops.
Amboseli isn't cold. You can even shower, put on makeup, and apply face masks inside. However, in the Masai Mara, it's so cold in the evenings and mornings that I didn't feel like showering or putting on makeup. You can hear various animal noises at night.
The stars are stunning, and you can even see the Milky Way with the naked eye. If you're interested, bring a tripod.
It's worth bringing a telescope to see animal expressions and actions up close.
Sunglasses and contact lens solutions are essential, especially when there's a lot of wind and sand which can dry your eyes.
I wore long pants, but some of my companions wore shorts/skirts. Two of the four of us developed rashes, possibly allergies, or perhaps from mosquito bites.
I wasn't bitten much by mosquitoes (probably because they were all after my travel mates, haha!).
Bring vitamins or immunity boosters since the daily early starts and late returns can be exhausting, potentially lowering your immunity.
From 6-10 AM and 5-6:30 PM, you'll see more animals and they are more active. During other times, they mostly sleep. It can be frustrating at noon when it's scorching hot and animals are hard to spot.
The gift shop at the Amboseli Lodge has the most variety, including T-shirts. I regret not buying more to take home.
You can usually see all the animals. When one vehicle spots animals, the guides quickly communicate via radio, and everyone rushes over.
A long-focus lens is essential. A 70-200 lens might not be enough for enthusiasts, but it's okay for amateur photographers like us.
I exchanged $300 in cash before the trip, and after tips, there wasn't much left.
Even though they say it's not a tipping culture, tips are always accepted. For services like helping with luggage or walking safaris, tipping is customary.
It's a good idea to bring earplugs and a neck pillow. The ride is so bumpy that your ears will feel it's too noisy.
My total expenses were around 3.5-4k (not sure of the exact amount), including cash and card payments. I found the safari group on XHS.
Masai is safe, and so is Nairobi. There was a disturbance during our trip, so the last half-day of our safari was canceled. We left for Nairobi at 4 PM to rest. Once back in Nairobi, everything was fine. Without the disturbance, it's a safe place with a mature tourism industry.
It's a good idea to bring snacks. You won't feel hungry often, but sometimes you'll need a bit of energy during long drives.
Good eyesight is a real advantage! One of my travel mates with 20/20 vision often spotted small animals. For those of us with myopia, spotting animals felt like an exciting game, collecting sightings.
After buying a SIM card, don't restart your phone. Keep the PIN card safe, because if you restart your device, you'll need to re-enter the PIN. Without the PIN, the SIM card becomes unusable.
Email Ranjna | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent organisation, guide superb
This was my second time with Wildbeest Safaris. And i was very well looked after. We did 2week safari doing masai mara, Serengeti, Manyara, tarengire and Amboseli park (usual safari circuit). We were supported by our guide Peter who crossed is to Tanzania and handed us to Humza for the Tanzania part of the safari. We were transferred back to Kenya and handed over to Ben. Each drive cum guide had unique abilities. Peter: perseverance, Humza: eyes better than binocular and Ben is simply hilarious and kept us laughing. all guides understand photographer's need and get in the right position for photography
We saw lion every day of two week and not just saw them , we saw them in action, a kill. The lodges selected were excellent. Food choices and quality was good. Noah has a great team and we had fabulous time.
Noah: please be ready for Rwanda!Show less
Date of stay: July 2023
Top tip: Whilst it is a nice idea to do national park hopping, I think it is better to spend few nights (rather than just one or two) in two.
IN
Email Rohit | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent safari exp. But don't deal with noah
I booked the safari experience from Wildebeest from aug 11 to aug 15th. Nairobi airport pickup - amboseli - Nakuru - mara and back to nairobi.
Our guide was dennis.
I had an amazing time, thanks to Dennis , the vehicle we were in was very good and Dennis made sure we felt safe. He made sure we had a great safari experience and we were lucky to see the migration crossing as well.
I would recommend the experience with Dennis to everyone.
The 2nd part of our journey to diani was riddled with troubles and we had to waste an entire day of our expensive trip because of Noah the owner/manager. Noah is the unprofessional manager who left us high and dry on 3 occassions -
1. He messed up our train tickets and we ended up wasting an entire beach day because of an early bus (our last resort) because of his unprofessionalism.
2. He messed up our mara hotel itinerary and we had to travel 3 hours extra late in the night and had the audacity to blame us for his goof up.
3. He tried to charge us extra park fees - 160$ for his own mistakes.
Notably, we got really bad seats in the train that he did book, his delay in payments for the park fees made sure we waited 20 mins min each time outside the safari gates.
Never once did he ever make an apology that was genuine.
Although my experience with widlebeest was amazing, I have a sour taste because of noah, would strongly urge folks who deal with Noah to document everything on email as proof.
5/5 for Dennis our guide.
10/5 for Kenya and the experience
-5/5 for Noah the owner/ manager.
3.5 for wildebeest, still one of the best experiences of my life minus the issues we had to deal with because of noah.
Go for it but be careful and document everything.
DE
Email Janine | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic Safari
This was our second booking with Wildebeest Safaris and we can absolutely recommend this company. They always responded very quickly via email and WhatsApp. We did a 3 day private tour and took a flight to Muslara Airstrip, where we were picked up from. Also our camp (Mara Crossing Camp) was amazing! Overall we had a great safari experience even though we did not see all of the big five, so we will have to come back for that.
CN
Email weailo | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Roaming with the wild
Wildebeest Safaris in Tanzania provided an exceptional and immersive wildlife experience. From the moment we set foot in the Serengeti, the professional guides ensured our safety and satisfaction. The sight of thousands of wildebeest and other animals during the Great Migration was awe-inspiring and truly a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle. The accommodations were comfortable, blending seamlessly with the natural surroundings, and the culinary offerings were a delightful surprise. The knowledgeable guides not only showcased their expertise in the local fauna but also shared insightful stories about the ecosystem and conservation efforts. Witnessing the predators in action and the harmonious coexistence of different species was both thrilling and humbling. Wildebeest Safaris in Tanzania delivered an unforgettable adventure that exceeded our expectations.
Email Naz | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Unreliable
After reading the majority of positive reviews about Wildebeest Safari's, I decided to book a three day safari to Masai Mara with them. Two years ago I went on a combined Kenya&Tanzania, and having had a very positive experience on the Tanzanian side and not a great one on the Kenyan side, decided to try again.
Warning bells sounded when noah tried to charge me extra for an airport pick up and drop off, when pointed out the ad on safari bookings stated it was included, he relented and said it would be complimentary.
I was aware of the group joining tour strategy, ie various tour operators book guests that get put in a pool and divided on the morning of travel to various vehicles. I was allocated to a vehicle driven by josh.Josh, although new at the job( 2 months ) was lovely, professional and very helpful in what was a difficult situation regarding accommodation. I had previously stayed at a budget camp and requested an upgrade to a mid range lodge ( Simba and Oryx) with an amount agreed on. At lunch, it was apparent this wasn't communicated. Josh called Noah, who I believed confirmed the booking.The first evening,I was dropped off there .Sadly it became apparent no booking arrangement was made. They could not make a last minute booking either as they had full occupancy. Josh had to drive back and pick me up at 8pm. He managed to make a last minute arrangement at a camp that hadn't even been discussed as a budget option.Josh attempted calling Noah repeatedly with no response(he later stated he was in Tanzania). Sadly a night without hot water after a long drive was not fun
The following night , the manager of Simba and Oryx, James, also got involved. He contacted Noah to pay the fee for the one remaining night( this was more than Noah had quoted and i believe why the booking hadn't been procured- i paid the amount quoted).
The vehicle unfortunately developed problem with the steering wheel ( rotated 180 degrees) which necessitated being transferred to a taxi in the CBD to take me to the airport.
This review is about Wildebeest safaris. Josh, James, Simba & Oryx and the Masai Mara were all wonderful.
US
Email Karl W | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Noah worked well with me to provide a wonderful experience for my group of 21 friends and family.
Our tour included the wildebeest migration in Kenya and Tanzania. The lodges were beyond our expectations in the Mara and Amboseli. In the Serengeti we had a tent camp that was closer to our concept of tenting. Their power is solar based so we lost power during our two nights there.
We visited Ngoragora Crater which was on my list to see. Fabulous experience.
Amboseli was our last park to visit. It was beautiful but the mountain did not show herself.
I would like to commend our drivers in Kenya and Tanzania. They carefully drive us over bouncy roads and safely deliveeed us to our destinations.
We spent two days tracking the wildebeest for their crossing. We got close once but the backed away. The next day we witnessed the crossing. It was several thousand wildebeest. Quite an experience.
From start to finish we had a great time. Everyone agrees it is a trip of a lifetime. I’m so glad we did it.
Thank you Noah for your hard work and attention to details.
I would highly recommend Wildebeest Safaris for your next trip in Kenya and Tanzania.
SA
Email Anirudhan | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Excellent service
Excellent service provider, expert driver / guide and well organised. Immediate response for any queries and totally satisfied service provider. Mr. Dennis, he’s an expertise in wildlife safaris.
NL
Email Johanna | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic tour operator that caters well to the wishes of the customer!
We did a 7-day safari with Wildebeest Safaris in Northern Tanzania exploring 4 different parks. Our booking was relatively last minute, however, the operator took time and effort to cater the safari to our needs and wishes - providing an excellent itinerary with wonderful lodges and tented camps. They were extremely reliable and communications were excellent. This is the third safari I have done with this operator (a different driver/ tour guide this time) - and I have always had a fantastic experience. The guides are extremely knowledgeable and friendly and ensure that the entire experience is very memorable. We cannot recommend Wildebeest Safaris enough and would do another safari with them any time in the future.