The Destination Consultants
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2013)
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $70 to $1,000 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Boris Popov | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Incredible Africa!
It was not our first African adventure but probably the best. We mostly stayed in small comfortable lodges right in the national parks or very close to them. The guides were very friendly and professional and we had an overall feeling of being taken care of. Their knowledge of where and when to go was incredible. We have never seen so many lions, leopards, cheetahs, hippos, elephants, you name it ever! And one more thing - buy from the locals! They are an African company - you don't pay to intermediaries, all the money goes to those who deliver and you also save because you pay less and get a better price/value ratio. Highly recommended! If we ever decide to get back to this part of Africa we will use the services of the same company. Thank you guys!
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Email Melanie Phelps | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Most amazing wildlife adventure of my life.
I traveled on a safari with my family in 2016 with Destination Consultants and returned again in 2018 bringing my university class of 19 people with me. The highest recommendation is to journey with the same company again. Every link was perfectly organized. Even with the 2018 floods and needing to change some of our accommodations, Niko and Susan are filled with the joy of living and a passion for the wildlife and ecology of Kenya and Tanzania. The guides are the highest quality with great senses of humor and deep knowledge of the area. We asked to visit a school in Tanzania as an extra component of our trip. Susan even delivered the school supplies herself. I have learned so much about the animals, the geology, the ecosystem and the culture of Kenya and Tanzania. I give this company the highest recommendation and plan on bringing back another university class in the near future. Niko and Susan are some of the most delightful people that I've ever met. The safari exceeded my dreams in every way.
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Email Eileen | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exceptional tour company who covered all areas perfectly!
Our 21 day trip To Kenya and Tanzania was amazing. Susan had planned out and took responsibility for every detail of our trip. Niko, aka DB,was the head guide. All of our guides were extremely knowledgeable and answered the many questions we had about the animals, the people and culture. No question was too small. Thanks for the joy filled education,our trip of a life time!
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Email Beth Roop | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Life-changing experiences
Without a doubt, this was one of the best life experiences ever! Between the almost twice daily safaris, the luxury resorts, the excellent food and service, not to mention the great companionship, one could not hope for more. I kept thinking that the next day could not possibly be as good as the present day, but was always pleasantly surprised. Our skilled guides were excellent in finding animals for viewing and never disappointed. This was true in both Kenya and Tanzania. All the guides were knowledgeable and had great senses of humor.
Susan is a great coordinator in organizing such a large trip, even with the recent floods prior to our visit. Everything ran smoothly and seamlessly. Wonderful experience all around!
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Email Mary Fuller | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
East Africa: greatest adventure
I am a teacher who has led students all over the world on adventure trips. On this experience, I was the student in a teacher enhancement course. I have been to Africa 5 times and this is the most memorable. 19 people assembled flawlessly in the Stanley hotel, coming from varied destinations in the US on several different airlines. Eliud and Niko made sure each of us arrived safely at our own arrival time to beautiful , historical, accommodations.
Then the true adventure began, 21 days of animal encounters. Each guide, Niko, Eliud and Stephen had a different personality and set of skills to get us where we needed to be to see the best up- close and personal African animals.
Teachers have the most questions of any group of people I have encountered. These guides never once missed a beat answering all of our questions. They had such a sense of humor when whoever was sitting next to them repeated for the rest of the van the answers. We didn't always get the facts straight, like interpreting perfume into bubble gum. They corrected us with a smile and a repeat of the real fact.
We saw so many animals of every variety. It was breathtaking to sit among the migrating wildebeest and zebra. They was never a hurry, unless we were finding cats climbing in trees or mating or feeding. When the message was received and the van took off in a different direction, you knew something even more special was going to happen.
I was prepared for tents, but what we got were accommodations fit for royalty.
This company is a small family run business who knows how to expand their family with their clients. I feel I have left my sons and daughter in Kenya to continue this adventure for others.
I highly recommend Susan, Niko, Eliud and the rest of their staff.
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Email T. E. Bennett | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
"magical, soul-stirring journey with joyful professionals"
Imagine all you’ve dreamt about East Africa’s magical Endless Plains and breathtaking sunsets. Now, add open hearts, smiles, vast knowledge, and expertise. To top off your Safari days, mix in unparalleled comfort and abundant yummy eats in eco-lodges of luxury and tent camps surrounded by grazing wildebeest with a symphony of birdsong. Finally, imagine it all completely arranged to the last detail for you! You step off the plane into the caring professional personable warm hands of Susan and Niko and your life is forever touched.
Destination Consultants planned and executed all logistics for our group of 19 – mostly educators on 22 days of Safari in Kenya and Tanzania for our graduate course extravaganza which they skillfully facilitated. They did the same for two of us as we continued to Rwanda and Uganda to trek with Mountain Gorillas. My refrain for a month: wowowowow!
Guides led by Niko have unparalleled in-depth knowledge that they share with expertise and humor, enjoying – and answering! – our 1001 questions an hour, and expanding our minds and hearts with depth and joy; logistics arranged by Susan were perfection as she constantly and flawlessly monitored every detail, including multiple game drives each day, national park entries, lodging, re-bookings due to the floods, and a school visit; smiles and giggles were abundant and hearts open as they led our soul-stirring journey. These memories and friendships are made for life.
Even to begin listing our daily experiences is too much for this review space. Instead, know this: If East Africa is calling you, let your call be answered by Susan and Niko at Destination Consultants, the people who can make your dreams come true - even if you don’t yet know what they are!
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Email Chris & Kay Edwards | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Family trip of a lifetime!
Our trip to Kenya with Destination Consultants was simply incredible, & exceeded our expectations in a number of ways.
As context, my wife & I are seasoned travelers having visited over 50 countries in the last 25 years, including 2 prior African safari's. For a number of years we talked about taking our children to Africa to experience the wonders that it has to offer, they are 16 & 13, & this year we made it happen.
Choosing the right safari operator is critical. We looked at a number of US-based companies, & they all provided very glossy professional proposals, however we disliked the fact that they outsource the safari itself, & basically they take a cut for marketing / planning. After going through the planning process, we are so glad that we worked with a local company & not a intermediary. Susan was wonderful with the detailed planning, we didn't get glossy slides(!), but what we did get was 1st-hand knowledge, endless patience, & ultimately the exact itinerary that we wanted for our 14-day trip.
On arrival in Kenya we were met by both Susan & Niko, & it was clear from that moment that we had certainly opted for the right safari operator : Destination Consultants could not have been more professional or welcoming.
Niko drove lots of miles (never a boring moment), we stayed at some incredible locations that they recommended (including small luxury tented camps), saw lots of amazing wildlife, & our children had the experience of a lifetime. We are glad that we entrusted this special trip to Destination Consultants.
At the end of our safari, we flew to Diani for a few nights & the DC team took great care to ensure that our internal connection logistics & transfer to our international return flight worked smoothly.
All-in-all, we can't recommend Destination Consultants highly enough, they offer deep experience, a professional service, detailed attention to what matters, & all done with a smile!...... "when can we go back?".... thats what the children are saying!
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Email Agnes | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The trip of a lifetime!
Taking an African Safari was a bucket list trip for me. Susan and Niko planned an incredible memorable trip. Every detail for our pleasure and comfort was considered-we were treated like family. Our guides knew everything-they answered questions ad infinitum-about the wildlife, the environment and the myriad cultures. Susan, Niko, Eliud and Stephen shared their country and their hearts. The national parks we visited, as our accommodations, were varied and showcased the rugged beauty of the country. My favorite was the KatiKati Serengeti Tent Camp. We slept to the sounds of the wildebeest amassing for the Great Migration. Every day brought a new setting, a new experience and a new memory. This was a trip of a lifetime created for us by The Destination Consultants. I will always be grateful.
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Email Vicki | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Friends for Life
Thank you Susan, Niko, Raymond, Emmanuel and Stephen for a magical two weeks. Destination Consultants planned an incredible adventure for us that will always be remembered. Asante sana!
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Email Nancy C | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Niko/Susan both have college degrees, speak six different language. Fun,smart,and a joy to be with!
I have just experienced the most amazing trip of my life, traveling to Kenya and Tanzania, experiencing such awe-inspiring wonders of Africa as the Masai Mara National Reserve, the Serengeti National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, and many, many more places indelibly impressed in my memory.
One might have qualms about venturing out on safari into the wilds of Africa, but from the time we landed in the heart of our destination to the time we departed, we were safe and well taken care of in every respect. Thanks to Niko at Destination Consultants, our trip was scheduled out each day, starting with a huge breakfast and then off on a new part of our safari to see one jaw-dropping sight after another, then an amazing lunch and a little nap, off to another safari, before stopping during the evening for good food, a shower, and surprisingly comfortable sleeping accommodations.
Our Land Rovers were driven by guides (Niko, Elliot, Jackson, and Raymond) who had a great breadth and depth of knowledge about the incredible sights in front of us. They shared their knowledge about the massive, thriving ecosystem that lay before us. There was so much to see, but plenty of time to observe and discuss and photograph every aspect of the fauna, flora, and rugged geography. We were also taken to an old tribal village, where we discovered features of the lifestyle of the tribal people of the area – defensive stone walls, sturdy huts to house the tribesman’s wives and children, as well as food sources, cooking utensils and techniques, and means of obtaining water.
But animals! So many animals in their normal habitat! Huge, large, normal, and tiny! Land, water, and sky! Monstrous, powerful, ugly, graceful, beautiful, peaceful herbivores and hungry carnivores! When speaking of African animal life, though, one must see the spectacle called The Great Migration (sometimes called The Great Wildebeest Migration), where millions of wildebeests and thousands of plains animals trek in a huge clockwise circle, from the Serengeti Plains of Tanzania to the Masai Mara in Kenya and the return, searching for lush grazing grounds and life-giving water. It is their cycle of life. And we had a front row seat to their struggle!
The last day of our safari experience, we spent time at the Gebra Memorial School, a struggling educational institution serving the Maasai children from the Meserani village of Arusha, Tanzania. These children are very thankful for the schooling provided for them there. Our group gave some useful gifts and money to help the school and its students, they had gifts for us as well. The children were very sweet, singing songs for us to show their appreciation. We left feeling very good about our visit.
Our group was made up of three generations, grandparents down to an eight-year-old, and all were enthralled in what appeared before us each day. We loved every moment of it. We grew closer together as we came to understand that our journey was part of a larger journey taking place on a massive scale. This journey and the effect it had on us will remain with us forever. Our thirteen days of the safari were unforgettable, and we would not change a thing.
And again, I must give great thanks to Niko at Destination Consultants for the special care he took to provide our group with everything we needed. For example, the airline lost the luggage belonging to my roommate and me, and Niko went out of his way to track it down and see that it was delivered to us.