65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
The best ever !!!
My family has known Benson for over 20 years long before he owned Ngoko. He has always been an outstanding guide and we have taken at least 6 trips with him. Every time we go we think that the last safari cannot be as good as the last one and EVERY time it is even more wonderful. We all cannot say enough about him and his company, Since Fiona's entrance our booking has become a real pleasure. Thanks to you both.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
This has been a crazy year, we had to do something to loosen up a little bit.
Called up the squad after we realized that the curve was flattening and decided to take a little trip out of town. Having interacted with the secretariat at Hyrax Safaris on previous tours, we decided to try out with them and they never disappointed. From the planning, payment, hospitality and travel, everything was just wonderfully done. I was on this trip to blow off steam coz of work so I missed out on seeing the elephants at Amboseli but let's just say I'll be redoing the trip again with them coz they were amazing. As soon as the next trip is up, am sure I'll be joining coz you can never get enough on the road.
So Hyrax, tag me along as soon as COVID allows us to travel again.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Wonderful - and varied - safari experiences with a first-class guide
On a recent trip to Nairobi we booked a trip to Naivasha with Gametrackers which was so good we booked a trip to Amboseli for the following weekend. On both occasions we were really lucky to have Adrian to guide us. He has a degree in wildlife conservation, and knows a remarkable amount about the birds and animals, and about conservation and the ways in which the human environment is encroaching on the wildlife. Adrian also has quite remarkable eyesight, with an ability to spot and recognise animals in the distance that we could hardly see, which hugely enhanced our experience of the trips.
I would also recommend all of the trips we took.
The boat trip on Lake Naivasha was wonderful, not just seeing fish eagles, king-fishers and hippopotamus on the lake, but also seeing game onshore from the lake.
We took the cycle tour of the Hells Gate park, just near Naivasha, which is an extraordinary trip. Not only the freedom of being able to cycle through the park, past warthogs and buffalo, zebra and wildebeest, but also the geography of the park, with dramatic cliffs and gorges.
The the second weekend we went to Amboseli - a four hour drive but well worth it. The Amboseli reserve has a range of environments from marsh and swamp to dry savannah, all under the enormous presence of Kilamanjaro. We saw lions after a kill, elephants walking past the camp at breakfast, and most memorably, when Adrian spotted some bat-eared foxes with cubs, a Martial Eagle flew down and took one of the cubs.
I'd strongly recommend Gametrackers for putting together a custom tour to meet your needs. We had tremendous trips.
PL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Safari
Amazing safari. We saw more than we expected. The guide - Ezekiel - was very helpful, punctual and stopped when we wanted to take some photos. He showed us animals that we would not notice. Great knowledge! I look forward to visiting Tanzania again, along with of course Tanzania Roadside Expeditions.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Epic Safari
My family and I planned a migration safari to Maasai Mara National Reserve. We started communicating with Phyllis and she was very reliable, patient and quick to answer all our questions via email. She was very professional and timely and gave us a very good package for 3 days to Maasai Mara where we had our accomodations at Jambo Mara Safari Lodge. The rooms were very neat and their food very delicious. Our driver George, enaured that we had an opportunity to spot all the Bigfive. We highly recommend anyone looking for a Kenyan safari to engage Millennium Tours and Travel.
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
very good support and implementation of our individual safari
we (2 girlfriends 50 years old) had already planned the safari in April, because of Corona we could not fly to Kenya. The communication with Isaac was without complications. He offered us directly, as soon as we knew a new date, he would ask for our desired lodges.
We were able to book a flight at short notice in October and again Isaac was always there to help us and could confirm all bookings. Several changes had to be made to the schedule, but all were quickly implemented.
We suggested our own lodges and the price was ok. Our driver Mike took good care of us and fulfilled all our wishes. He was a very pleasant attendant.
It has to be mentioned that we have already done several safaris with other operators and Mike was the first driver who also changed clothes every day and was very polite to us.
We will definitely plan and realize our next safari again with Isaac and his team.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Christmas holiday!
Last year l booked a Christmas safari for myself and my young children and what a life changing journey it was! Our guide Omary was always happy and full of knowledge and he went above and beyond for my kids - no request was too hard for him. I wanted a slower pace so booked a 7 day tour and it was amazing. We saw so many animals, met so many people and had the Christmas of a life time! We loved the Sound of Silence Tented Lodge in the Serengeti National Park and dream about going back. Thank you Sunset Adventure Safari for a fantastic Christmas holiday.
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was a unique experience
the tour, overall, was amazing. We are Spanish and we were accompanied by a guide who knew Spanish so that we did not miss any detail. Both he and the driver are lovely people who gave us a tour of the most beautiful places in Kenya. they made sure we see all the animals and we did. We came from another city and we were a bit lost when it came to moving around Kenya and they helped us with everything we need. I recommend it 100%, I leave this safari experience very happy, it has exceeded my expectations.
My Safari Was Beyond My Dreams
I've been waiting almost 60 years for this trip. I'm so glad I didn't wait any longer. This was the GREATEST trip of my life! Every day brought new adventures, animals, and smiles. My guide, DANIEL, was a perfect fit for what I was looking for. He knows where to find the tough-to-find animals, has eagle-eyes, and he knew his birds. He was personable and thoughtful of my special situation. He was a joy to be with for our 14 days - not easy to be for 2 weeks all the time. He went beyond the call of duty to make sure I was happy. I HIGHLY recommend Daniel Mkojera for your guide/driver. The other guides follow him. 14 years experience and always bright everyday.
The Land Cruiser vehicle had plug-ins for charging, a cold electric cooler, comfy seats, pop-up roof, and of course a hot lunch each day. West Kilimanjaro, Tarangire, Manyara, Eyasi, Ngorongoro, & Central/Northern Serengeti were the parks plus 3 villages: Maasai, Datoga, Hadzabe. I wouldn't leave out any of it.
We were in very special moments among the animals. Highlights: I saw the Big 5 and some of the Little 5: Cheetahs & lions hunting, all kinds of baby animals, elephants doing all that they do, my visits to 3 different less touristy tribal villages and the Great Migration to mention the highlights. My favorite memories: a baby white rhino (on my separate day trip in Kenya to Lake Nakuru arranged by Luis), 2 lionesses spreading out to trap their prey, zebras lined up in a defensive posture, listening to a lion sleeping, hunting with the Hadzabe, watching giraffes run, seeing a serval cat, and having my own stampede of wildebeests-zebras-giraffes in front of my final camp on my final night.
Every part of my trip starting with my arrival in Nairobi airport until my departure from Zanzibar was taken care of - even the various transfers. Every part was detailed so there were no surprises. I asked PLENTY of questions before the trip & ALL were patiently answered by Luis, my safari designer. Pretty much from when I arrived until I left - my days were all laid out according to MY plans and each day had flexibility to small changes. I traveled solo so I could have the flexibility that I needed. Soul of Tanzania has no problem setting up private safaris for just you & your family. I loved my standard lodging/tent camps - it was hardly "standard". The food at each place was very good - nothing was skimped. Everywhere we went - the staffs were outstanding. I am hard-pressed to find a complaint - other than that it had to end.
For someone who had never been here I have no hesitation to recommend Daniel, Luis and Soul of Tanzania to design your own dream.
If your dream is to go on safari then please do it now. Tanzania relies on tourism and every worker needs us badly for their livelihood.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Do not book with Safarihub
I do not recommend this company for many reasons.
1) They are not very good at responding to emails (this should have been my first sign to go with another company).
2) My safari experience (6-Day Kili Safari) guaranteed a 4x4 Land Cruiser. Instead, for my 6 day safari I was in different dilapidated, falling apart 4x4 vans.
3) I was given hardly ANY information on my safari. So little information that when I actually arrived in Kenya, instead of going to Amboseli, then Naivasha, and then Masai Mara, they reversed the itinerary. Not a big deal except I sent my detailed itinerary to my employer (for security) and my family so they knew how to contact me. I did not realize the change until I was literally in the van on Sunday morning driving to Masai Mara. Although I was picked up at my hotel early Sunday morning for the start of my safari, I was never, ever given any information on the safari, the itinerary, the drive times, lunch plans, etc. I can't iterate enough how in the dark was at all times. I would attempt to ask the guide but he always seemed clueless as to what was happening.
4) Although I booked with Safarihub, a Kenya subcontractor actually handled my safari. Although they weren't terrible, they weren't great either. On one day I was shuffled between 3 different vans and 3 different companies to try to get me from Masai Mara to Naivasha. When I booked this safari for a good amount of money, I assumed I would be dealing with one company and one guide the whole time. I was very mistaken. Had I been given a heads up, I would have been better prepared. But on one of the days, I kept being shuttled between different people and different vans and it made me very uncomfortable, especially as a solo traveler. The guide could not even tell me how I was getting to Masai Mara to Naivasha the day before I was supposed to go there because he said his boss hadn't figured it out yet!
5) The morning I was picked up to begin my safari adventure, I was told we would all meet at Somak Lounge. Wrong! Instead I was taken to a street in downtown Nairobi and put in another van. No briefing, no food, no drinks, no lounge, just straight into a random van to start our journey. I was already pretty apprehensive due to the recent terrorist threats. Having me driven to a random street in downtown Nairobi without any check-in or anything was pretty scary. Basically, everything that was promised to me did not happen, except the lodging and parks (which were all amazing!!!).
6) I had been provided a detailed itinerary with the plans each day. That was complete BS. We never once followed the itinerary - in fact, the sub contracting company said they were never provided with my itinerary so had no idea I had been promised certain things. For instance, I was supposed to make it to Amboseli in time for an evening game drive - never happened. I was supposed to have early morning game drives followed by breakfast back at the lodging - never happened, not once. In their defense, two of the 6 days we had 10 hour game days so didn't have time to come back for breakfast or lunch but it would have been nice to know that was the plan beforehand. Communication is key. Why promise me something if you don't intent to honor it?
7) My contract specifically states "We also take pride in our safari vehicle fleet, which is young (less than 3 years old) and well maintained; consequently, breakdowns and other mechanical complications while you are on safari will be rare." This is a complete lie. The vans we were in were extremely old and falling apart. On the drive from Naivasha to Amboseli, our van broke down and we were stuck on the side of the road for over an hour. It would have been longer but a nice driver from another safari company (Jockey - the guests in that van recommended their company) gave me a ride to Amboseli Sopa Lodge (2 hrs away). Also, while on safari in Masai Mara our van broke down but I think they may have had something to do with stopping so much to look at animals so I can't fault them for that.
8) Each morning (except for the last 2 mornings) the guides were at least 25 mins late to pick me up. As mentioned above, I had so many different guides and van drivers that it was hard to keep them straight. However, my last guide/driver (Francis) was AWESOME and the highlight of my whole trip! The rest were not good at all.
9) In conclusion, I do not recommend Safarihub. I spent about $1,500 on this 6 day, 5 night Kili safari for a single traveler but it was such a logistical nightmare and communication was so bad with Safarihub, I do not recommend them. I do realize if I had paid more money, I probably would have gotten a better company, so if you are short cash, then I will say that nothing takes away from the animals and the Sopa Lodges - they both were fantastic. But you might want to think about looking at other companies if you can.