CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent Value and meets N. American expectations
The short of it is: They recognized North American standards, and were able to provide great insight and value for our tour without the mark-up of the big brands operators. I also found they provided some excellent input about timing to hit the less busy times and areas.
When I booked my honeymoon, I wanted to make sure the money I was spending went to the local economy instead of foreign agents. Given I was spending thousands of dollars to do this, anybody would be hesitant of the quality of service they're going to get from locals in the developing world. I spent dozens of hours doing the back and forth with several agencies and outfits from N. America, Europe and East Africa in search of that elusive combination of Exclusivity with the perfect variety of activities and great value for my money.
Wild Destinations was recommended to me a co-worker who grew up in Kenya but had lived in Canada his entire adult life. I chatted back and forth with Shaheen, the Principal of Wild Destinations on Skype and email, and found her communication to be detailed and thorough (and patient because I know I'm a difficult customer).
Over several Skype calls we started from a broad description and worked our way down to what ended up being an ideal itinerary specific for our needs. Choosing parks and camps is only the beginning of the equation. I'm an experienced traveller, even in Africa, so I had strong ideas of what I thought I could get for my money if I booked things on my own. Shaheen delivered great points on what I should consider and introduced options that were easily overlooked when you are dependent on online reviews.
This back and forth was super helpful when you are trying to avoid the crowds because the local agents have a better idea of locations that aren't as busy, and since they don't operate to the same scale as major operators, they craft a much more personal connection to the lodge owners and managers.
In the end our itinerary was Samburu, the Mara, and Tarangire at the end of September.
I already felt good about what we decided on. It was about the same as what others offered and included accommodations with great reviews. The extra bonus was the execution. Wild destinations may be a small operator, but they delivered like they were a bigger one. Being met at the airports and lodges, etc are expected, but they added several personal touches to our honeymoon, that including meeting us herself at our hotel both at the beginning and end of our trip, giving us her cell number to call at any time if there was an issue (never had to use it), we were comfortable working through our guides, and they followed up with any nuance even after we returned home.
The best part was that anywhere we went, they booked us into areas where we were treated well, and weren't with the masses if we didn't want to be. Overall, the end to end service left us knowing we'd go with them next time we go on Safari.
You often worry about what your trip will be like on African vacations, but with Wild Destinations, it was hassle free. I do wish I booked with them on the beach part of our vacations as well.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Experience
My wife and I had a great experience with Seka and Taste of Afrika Tours. The staff was very knowledgeable and provided excellent service. Highly recommended.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Gondwana Tours and Safaris understood our passions and developed a perfect custom itinerary for us!
This trip, put together by Steffi, who immediately understood our passions and expectations, was absolutely, positively the best travel experience of our life. I’d rate it higher than 5 stars, but I guess there is no such astronomical rating. But the trip and her advice and booking does certainly rate in that category.
Of special notation are several things . . .
1 — All the accommodations recommended were superb! The transports to and from were perfect, flights beautiful and convenient, always taking into account our wishes for as many game drive opportunities as possible, and various transfers and border crossings easy and without incident.
2 — The choice of Kwando for most of our trip was exactly right for us, because of their deep and intense focus on wildlife and all of the resultant knowledge, tracking and photo opportunities then available because of their staff’s expertise.
3 — The pristine wilderness of especially the Tau Pan (CKGR) and Kwara (Okavango Delta) areas was mindblowing! I took night sky photographs from our deck at Tau Pan, leaving the room’s door open for possible escape since there were lions roaring in the background!
4 — We experienced amazing wildlife at all locations, and I’ll take months and months to go through all of the photos. I’m certain I have some great shots, and several are good enough that I’m going to enter the Kwando Safaris photo contest — and, regardless of that result, we are sure to be back!
5 -- Due to the expertise and sensitive quality of the guiding, Cheryl often had the opportunity to sketch from the vehicle the scene in her journal, even those events involving wild painted dogs(!), cheetahs and leopards.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic Tour, the best experience
We had a fantastic experience from the 1st email to the last day of our tour. Everyone that we spoke to or met were extremely helpful and did everything possible to give us what we wanted. We were very lucky that we had a small group of ten and from day 1 we all hot on so well. Our tour was fantastic and we saw all of the main attractions of South Africa plus more. Our guide was very professional but but joined in with all our silly game's. The extra tours were fantastic and we were lucky in the safari's that we saw 4 of the five big animals. We visited some beautiful places and would thoroughly recommend booking with Kruger Park Travel.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect Wildebeest Migration Safari
Our safari to Kenya was very nice. I thank Flotish Tours for a such wonderful wildebeest migration safari they planned for us. We enjoyed and we can recommend to all our friends from USA to use Flotish Tours & Travel when planing any safari to Kenya. Thank you Flotish Tours & Travel.
IL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Experience
I travelled with Easy Travel for 9 days visiting the northern National Parks of Tanzania (Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, Ndutu, Serengeti and Arusha NP).
Most group members were photographers and the trip was perfect for us since we were taken to see lots of the wildlife animals and birds in the region, allowing us close access and unlimited time.
The drivers were all very knowledgeable, friendly and were very flexible to our (sometimes weird) requests. I was in Emmanuel's car and he became more than just our driver and guide, he's now part of our family.
The safari cars were in a very good condition and well equipped with a refrigerator full with cold bottles of water, chargers for phones and WiFi internet (although there are regions where there is no signal receptions).
I strongly recommend using the services of Easy Travel. And if you do that, ask to have Emmanuel as your driver and guide. I can guarantee that you won't be disappointed.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Nairobi National Park Safari
I recently enlisted the services of African Sunset Safaris to do a safari of the Nairobi National Park with two colleagues during a recent business trip to Kenya.
Haroon, our driver was an excellent tour guide. He arrived promptly at our hotel and got us to the National Park with ample time. He arranged our tickets and entrance to the park - it was a very hassle free experience. His knowledge of Nairobi National Park and the animals within it was extensive and he knew exactly where to go to have the biggest chance of seeing a variety of animals. We saw 8 lions, 3 rhinos (including a baby!), 2 hippos and a multitude of zebra, giraffes, buffalo, ostriches...the list goes on!
Although we had only arranged to go the National Park, Haroon kindly offered to take us to nearby Mamba Village where we saw a number of crocodiles (including getting to hold a 5-year old crocodile!), tortoises and ostriches.
Overall it was a fantastic day out and I cannot thank Haroon and African Sunset Safaris enough! Highly recommended!
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Well planned tour
I and my wife took a 4 days safari to Kenya. We searched for a tour operator which we could use and we came across Flotish Tours & Travel. We requested them to send us a quotation and Titus sent us a very well planned itinerary and the cost. We took like 1 week discussing with my wife and we decided to use them. We did our full payment to them without any doubt after seeing some nice reviews in their wall. On our arrival dates, we meet Flotish Tours driver waiting for us at the airport. He took us to the hotel where we were booked and slept there. The next day, we meet Titus early in the morning waiting for us to say hi before we go to Masai mara. The trip to Masai Mara was very wonderful. We enjoyed everything till we started regretting why we booked only 4 days and not more. Thank you a lot Flotish Tours for the wonderful job you did to us.
SE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Marvelous trip ever
I booked a trip with Flotish Tours & Travel early this month. It was superb. I like their service mostly their hospitality. I like how they work, how organize everything. I thank their support team. I enjoyed everything they planned for me. Their online payment is wonderful too. Thank you 3G Direct Pay to.
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
6-Leopard-safari, provided for by Amini.
We would like to thank Karibu for the most wonderful safari, from 27th of February till 7th of March 2016.
It will always be rememberd as the trip of the six leopards. Our pleasant, kind and experienced guide Amini promissed us one leopard, if he could help it, we saw six!
Amini, Geoffrey and Julius took us to the migration, which was very impressive. There's nothing we didn't like, everything was perfect! Thank you very much!