US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing
I went on a day Safari while in Nairobi. Anthony was so kind. He is very passionate about making his customers feel the value for their money. He wants to make sure you see every animal in the park and he supplies adequate explanation about the park and the animals. He’s just amazing. I will do this again with him whenever I return to Nairobi.
AT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
This tour was simply fantastic - perfectly planned and realized - and with a wonderful team!
We travelled as a family (parents and 3 teenagers). It was a 15 day tour (starting at Maun, through the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Nxai Pans, Moremi Game Reserve, Okavango Delta, Khwai Concession, Savuti and Chobe National Park, transfers to Victoria Falls) in August 2018 – our first safari experience – suggested in a similar fashion on the company’s webpage but adapted (very flexibly!) to our own wishes. The communication with Lucky on behalf of the company was extremely friendly and efficient, without complications or misunderstandings. All services offered in the contract were realized to our full satisfaction.
The tour itself was absolutely amazing – exceeding all our expectations! We saw so many different aspects of Botswana’s amazing landscape and wild life and experienced it in various ways (game drives, boat and mokoro trips, scenic flight, bush walk) - unforgettable! The team that accompanied us (Ben, Wilson, Daddy; also Lucky and Gideon joined at some places) was wonderful. Ben is the best safari guide we could have imagined – he has a huge knowledge on so many aspects of the safari animals and nature, and his great experience and patience in searching also for the rare animals made us see essentially all of them!!! Wilson’s cooking over the fire was delicious! The tents and all infrastructure – up to the bucket showers – were nice and convenient. Sitting around the fire in the evenings – taking about God and the world – was exciting and a wonderful experience. The 15 days passed much too quickly; saying good bye was hard as we had all become friends.
VERRY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
FR
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wahooo
Good communicqtions, good organisation, the tour has done everything he said.Great tour
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
They have handled our teams in a very professional way,time conscious and go out of their way.
Aramati as earlier mentioned has handled our work teams in a very respectful way. Some of our teams have even gone out of their way to use them on separate private safaris. They have lived up to their name of being punctual,warm and pleasant to out clients. Our organization continues to use them and will always do over and time again.
SG
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Lifetime Adventure
It is a good company. They organized our meeting, accommodation and Kilimanjaro climb at the highest level. The guide and porters are very sociable and friendly. I am very happy to get new unforgettable impressions. My special thanks to my guide named Julius. He is very attentive and meticulous. He scrupulously watched my health and wellbeing. In hard time he shared his raincoat with me. He is a very good man!!! Due to him I improved my knowledge of English and overcame language barrier. I also want to thank all team that accompanied me: Samora, Amri, Andrew, Maziku, Richard, Abraham and Samuel. By the way, do not worry about food. The cook will note your wishes and cook meals that you want. The most important is not lose the appetite at an altitude. I would like to tell those who decided to climb that the main thing is to believe in yourself and properly count your forces. During all route you will be measured the oxygen level in blood and the pulse rate. Listen to the guide and choose the right speed. Good luck to everyone! And lastly I want to thank manager Janniken for the good tips and well organized work.
Highly recommend to Rupia Adventure and experience team
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
My safari with Letaka was beyond wonderful.
My safari with Letaka far exceeded my expectations. Matombo our guide was outstanding he was very knowledgable and respectful of the animals. He was an outstanding guide he has the amazing ability to find so much incredible wildlife. The food cooked by Pula our bush chef rivaled top restraunt fair. The other staff Puck and Message gave all of us incredible service. I saw so many amazing animals, birds, and some vegetation. I learned so much about all of them.Even the mokoro canoe guides were wonderful. I wish I could give this safari more stars.
PL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Africa is not Europe, you will love it or hate it:)
1. We had our 3 weeks trip to Kenya organised by Orongai in cooperation with Bonfire. We visited Samburu, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, Masai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo West, and Diani Beach.
2. Our first an owerwhelming experience: Africa is not Europe or US. Things work differently, and you must accept it or your trip will be ruined.
So for the things we were surprised with, and which could ruin our trip if we did pay too much attention to it:
- changes in the itinary which were not consulted with us. This was the major annoyment, but since we were 3 weeks in Kenya after a week we were used to it. To be fair: we had a hotel for each night, the hotels were between 3-5 stars, we had our Full Board meals, water and our guide to help us. The itinary kept changing from the first day till the last one, but we did not inquire why. Since everything was going rather more than less according to plan we were happy. However, for 80% this will be unacceptable, and Orongai must change its approach if it wants its customers to be satisfied.
- the car: at first we felt that the car is a mistake - a very old Toyota. We have seen a number of newer and better cars on the road and for the first few days we were a bit upset. However and it is a big however, the car was very comfortable. When you are on a safari you will get dirt, you will be tired of the road, you will want to just throw you things wherever you want to: this car was very good for this, and quite frankly, we think that for this trip it was much better to have it than a brand new Toyota Land Cruiser.
- hotels on the Diani Beach - don't expect that a 4 star hotel in Kenya is really a 4 star hotel. But it's not Orongai fault.
- Terms and Conditions, Agreement, Invoices..... well this is Africa, don't expect any of this, we had seen and signed none. However, the trip cost almost exactly the same amount as indicated when we booked it. No hidden costs or tarrifs. Find me a European tour operator which does that:)
- One more set back - for 22 out of 23 days our car was always on spot when we needed it. It is a pity, on the last day somebody forgot to arrange our transport to the airport (sic!):) It cost us 30 USD, but we made it:)
3. What was amazing and why we loved it:
- The driver: a real game-chaser + Formula 1 master. I could never have expected that a car may go to and through places and things ours did. We would only hope he spoke better English. But except this, he did an amazing job.
- Communication: Martha was always there to help us. Sometimes the issues needed time to be resolved, but all of them were and that's what counts.
- The trip: well planned. Animals amazing, parks even better, weather - Kenian:)
- Safety: from time to time, we noticed that safety is an issue in Kenya. All of our drivers/guides were very vigilant for any suspicious behaviour and did not allow anything bad to happen to us.
- All the things we described in point 2, for as constituted a specific "African flavour" - and this is a part of the experience. It was our first time in Africa, and it exceeded our expectations. We are happy that this was a case and not the other way around.
4. Conclusions
- first timers in Africa, we have no comparison.
- Africa is not Europe. This is why we gave Orongai 4 stars. If the trip was done the same way in Europe by a European tour operator we would rate it 3.
- our best advice: when things don't go the way you planned, try to relax and go with the flow:)
5. Tips and tricks
- Safari: buy yourself a good pair of binoculars 40x40 or 50x50. Its much more important than a photo camera. In other case, don't go at all.
- If the sacurity in your camp say you are forbidden to go out of the tent at night - they are right. You're lucky if it's only a Zebra feeding grass next to you tent and not a Hyena or 10 of them.
BR
M&M
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible Honeymoon in Kenya
My wife and I chose Amazing Memories Safaris for our honeymoon in Kenya. The experience was incredible and far exceeded our expectations. Our trip started with a pickup at our hotel in Nairobi. We were given a quick briefing about the safari as well as safari hats which was a nice touch. Our guide/driver Joseph was very knowledgeable and had a great ability to spot animals in the wild. We first visited Lake Nakuru where we saw many beautiful animals and birds. We stayed a the Lake Nakuru Lodge which was okay but not amazing. We then traveled to the Masaai Mara where we spent the remaining 3 days of our safari. While there we stayed in a beautiful lodge, the Mara Simba. We had the opportunity to see the crossing of the wildebeest thanks to Joseph as well as rare animals such as cheetahs, leopards and lions. Overall, my wife and I were very satisfied with Amazing Memories Safaris including the quoting/booking process, the guide, the vehicle and content of the safari.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome!
We booked safari tour with pride of Africa couple of months ago. Steven helped us create a type of safari we had in mind. We did 2 nights and 3 days @ Masai Mara Sopa Lodge. Steven was always communicating with us thru emails and whatsup to make sure the process was going well. When we arrived at Nairobi airport, we were warmly greeted by the team and had lunch at a nice cafe in Nairobi. Although the roads to the lodge were bad, they took all the appropriate care and precautions to get us there safely. We had a great driver, Jacktone, who took us out for game drive next day and surprisingly we were able to see more than 20 animals including the big five and atleast 6 species of birds during the 1st 6 hrs of our game drive!!! Impressive!! We only did one day of game drive and we returned back to Nairobi on our 3rd day of our trip. Great team of people at pride of Africa! I will consider coming back w kids in the future.
Btw, Mara sopa lodge was great!!
FYI: you may need to take with you a picnic blanket to eat lunch when u go out on a game drive.
TH
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Beyond my expectation
First of all, I'd like to say thank you Robert and his team that my dreamed vacation made fantastic.
He responses all of my questions promptly, and arrangement was perfect.
All of my guide/drivers, Ambrose, Gene and Stanley are very professional; they won't miss anything with their eagle eyes and excellent communication skill together with driving skill yet very safe driving technique.
I could see Big 5 together with migration at Masai Mara!
Lake Nakuru and Amboseli shouldn't be missed; I'm so glad to be included on my itinerary.