DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
One Day Safari Nairobi National Park
My fiancée and I had a wonderful one-day-trip to the Nairobi National Park. Our tour guide was very friendly, told us a lot about the animals and brought us safely back to the hotel. It's great to have such a nice park that close to the city. Inside the park we saw three of the "big five" plus many other animals. It was definitely worth it.
IT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Justus has been a friend for our family. We self drive and he has booked for us gorilla permits
Uganda is a true country, the nature is uncontaminated.
The gorilla and chimpanzee trekkings have been a wonderfull experience
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
great holiday family safari
I took my parents for a December holiday in Kenya and opulent Africa did all the arrangements and it was great,we all enjoyed the services of our driver guide fancies who was part of our family.we saw a kill in masai mara,he was very patient and a leopard in samuru and it was unbelievable African experience.thanks the whole team and we will e back.
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Really nice people
We took a 3 day safari with swahili paradise tours. They were very helpfull when it came down to being picked up oustide arusha (no additional costs!). everything was just really personal, wich to me is really nice. One of the owners even called us afterwards to aks if everyting went ok en if we like it. I can really recomend this company! The price was one of the lowest compaired to other companies, but the whole trip doesnt differ much from the others.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible experience
Saso Uganda were brilliant.Wilson was really helpful and arranged for me to go on a gorilla trek with only 2days notice! Everything went very smoothly and everyone was very friendly, helpful and professional. The gorillas were amazing- a real trip of a lifetime-so many thanks to Saso for sorting it all out so quickly and efficiently
BE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Simply the best!
Our first trip to Africa, with the kids in 2014 was full of wonders. Luckily we had a great guide, Kobus. He knows all the stories, also some fun anecdotes and is very entertaining. Since he is a ranger too, we got to know all about the wildlife on our trip to Kruger where he managed to show us a large variety of animals.
As Kobus says:"you may leave Africa, but Africa never leaves you", so we started dreaming about going back the minute we got home. This time we were a bit more demanding and had a customized trip made for us. South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, .... all in a 16 day trip. The organization was impeccable, the guide (again) super, the trip a journey never to forget.
Kobus has become a dear friend and we hope to be back with him soon!
BE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
a brilliant jewel of africa
Jewel of Africa safaris: a jewel in the crown of south-africa!
great program, fantastic safaris, awesome sightseeing, all adapted to our own needs.
"springbokkie", a drink with mint and amuralla however, - only tastes good in Africa :)
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
EarthLife made our safari my favourite part of our honeymoon!
My wife and I finished off our 2 month around-the-world honeymoon with a safari through EarthLife Expeditions, towards the end of the dry season last August for 8 nights.
Spoiler alert – our safari with EarthLife was my favourite part of the honeymoon too and was genuinely sad to leave!
We went through Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Serengeti Mara & Ngorongoro Crater.
From the beginning I thought Deo’s explanation and route planning was the best out of the half dozen operators that I contact, he countered my own ideas with great explanations and reasoning whereas other operators were just happy to agree with my suggestions. Why would I pay for an expert if not to get their opinion and input?
All of the accommodation he recommended were just perfect and beyond our expectations. We had a mix of luxurious lodges and tented camps, all of which had their charm. I wouldn’t hesitate to stay in the same places again next time I go! He knew exactly what my wife and I were after, I felt he was always on the same page as us.
Our guide was Agrey who was fantastic, had humor and sharp eyes. We saw the Big 5 and also multiple leopard and cheetah sightings, getting up and close with a few leopards and a cheetah too!
Did I mention that we also caught two Mara river crossings? Deo had the best instincts and he decided to go separate ways from the other two vehicles, which meant we were the only ones to catch that first crossing… amazing!
We did encounter a slight mechanical issue with the land cruiser but the roads are so rough and we weren’t stopped for more than 10 minutes as Agrey was practically a mechanic too! We always felt safe with him. Because the roads were very tough, we passed many other cars who had issues such as flat tires or had engine issues which meant they couldn’t move (Agrey stopped to lend them a hand, and we were glad to see that he’s such a gentleman and so helpful). All in all, our small breakdown that took only 10 minutes was not a big deal as it may just be down to luck.
Deo and Agrey made sure the lodges knew of our honeymoon so we received amazing service and special dinners with private fires! All staff at all lodges were simply amazing and we were so fascinated with their culture. Before our honeymoon ended, I was already planning our next safari! Looking forward to our next trip with EarthLife!
AE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Miscommunication or misunderstanding?
Having read the other reviews I must say apparently Kruger Park Travel just had a few bad days when organizing my trips. I am happy nobody had to go thru the horrors I had experienced!
In short, written confirmation of trip details were not held and I had to pay extra to meet my expectations of private safaris, once I faced the situation. When I complained about this, the first reaction was immediately to threaten me with the company lawyer! I presented all email communications to them, but nobody bothered to give me any fair explanation of how this could have happened.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Dishonest and Disorganised
We booked with Bonfire Adventures for a 3 day trip to Mara Maasai and after our experience would not recommend Bonfire Adventures for the following reasons.
1. Disorganised.
Bonfire were highly disorganised. I felt as if I was doing most of the organisation and I was trying to organise their agent to book things for us. I had to repeatedly follow up with them about if they had made the booking and what time we would be collected to start the Safari. They only confirmed who was collecting us at 7pm the night before we were due to leave at 7am the next morning. They asked us to let the driver know where to collect us from even though we had already provided them with that information more than a week in advance.
2. Dishonesty
We asked them for a quote as to the cost, which they provided to us. It wasn't until after we paid that they informed us that they had quoted us the residents rate rather then non-residents rate and would have to pay more money. I have a very English first and surname so I have no idea why they would assume that I was a resident. They then said that I should have known that it was the residents rate as they had charged us in the local currency rather then US dollars. I asked them to return my money to me as I did not want to pay extra as this would make the safari significantly more expensive. It was only at this point they said that they could actually offer it to us at the residents rate.
Perhaps more disappointing was that they were dishonest with money. I sent them the money for the Safari and paid the bank fees. According to my calculations I unintentionally underpaid them 700 KES (Approx. 7 USD) due to the different the conversion rates. However Bonfire said that I had underpaid them by 5,600 KES (Approx. 53 USD). When I questioned this they said the difference must be due to bank fees. I went back and checked that and in fact I had already paid these fees. I asked for further proof of exactly how much they received in the transfer but they only provided an internal spreadsheet, but nothing from their bank. I have asked them to provide me with a way to pay the remaining 700 KES and am waiting to hear back from them.
3. Driver
The driver was also disappointing as at the end of our Safari we were dropped off at Lake Naivasha. He put pressure on us to pay him to drive us back to Nairobi after we were finished at the lake in a few days time. He asked us to pay him $120,000 KES and told us that we wouldn't get anyone to drive us back to Nairobi for less then $100,000 KES. We phoned a great driver we had previously used in Nairobi who immediately suggested a much more reasonable price of 70,000 KES and didn't pressure us at all to go with him.
They also ask to do a client feedback form which you then return to the staff who you are assessing so its difficult to give honest and open feedback in these circumstances.