US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing for animals, unbelievable for birding, friendly--everything is great
We did a quick 5 day safari with Arusha, Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, and Serengeti national parks. We were in lodges 3 nights and campgrounds 2. It was pretty much perfect. We saw every major mammal, except leopards, and we had great views of everything--including a lion killing and eating a baby wildebeest and zebras in one of the campgrounds. And the birding was truly fantastic. We had over 200 species and many of the coolest birds imaginable. Also, our guides were great, the lodges and campgrounds were nice, the food was better than expected. I couldn't recommend it more highly.
DK
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Not so Manu animals
Ok place,but we dont se so Manu animals. The food was good and varios and the room Ok .
IL
Destination of rare beauty
Let me start with saying that the Ngorngoro crater to me - was the highlight of our entire African experience. And this includes the Serengetti reservation and a few days on the beaches of Zanzibar.
We stayed at the Simba camping ground at Ngorongoro national reserve, which offers decent commodities - fair amount of bathrooms and showers for the amount of people that stayed there with us, also providing streaming water throughout the entire day. Another important fact - the water at Ngorongoro is said to be drinkable, since it's pumped from mountain-side springs. We did use the water for drinking and experienced zero side effects.
The beauty of the crater is built from several aspects - it being a high ground (allows experiencing night sky like never before and having chilly weather throughout the year), covered in green vegetation at the peaks and naturally surrounding a marvelous open area within.
It's great to watch all the animals inside the crater, walking freely, slowly moving from one source of food to the other. While in the Seregeti you'll encounter mostly savannas, in the Ngorongoro crater you can cross various types of terrain within a couple of hours - from high mountain peaks covered in green vegetation, to salt lakes, streams, river, fresh lakes and savannas.
I wish I'd have stayed several days at the Ngorongoro crater instead of just a single day.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A dream vacation, extremely well planned and executed
Our agent was helpful, considerate, very interested in what we wanted to do and organized our trip accordingly. Everything met or exceeded our expectations, accommodations were wonderful, guides friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating and the safari experience was incredible.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Once in a lifetime experience, memories that will last a lifetime. Kenya is amazing!
Our family of three had a great time in Kenya. I really wish that we had more time to get a bit off the beaten track, but we made the most of our 9 days and visited Nairobi National Park, the Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, and Hell's Gate NP with the help of a safari tour operator, and Mombasa via the SGR train both ways. We could easily have spent at least another whole day at each of those destinations. They were each quite different in terms of landforms an ecosystems, and we really enjoyed the wildlife, the birds, and the scenery. Our daughter's favourite animal was, wait for it... the rock hyrax! In early February it was much greener than we expected, and nowhere near as hot. The weather was lovely, with refreshingly cool mornings and nice breezes most of the time in Nairobi and the Rift Valley. Mombasa on the coast was hot when you got any distance at all from the beach and sea breezes.
We chose a fairly budget safari with Daylight Adventures and Safaris who did a great job helping us plan and taking care of us while we were with them. Many of the costs are fixed such as park entry fees, fuel, etc, so much of the difference in price comes down to standard/style of accommodation and the vehicle, and whether extras such as alcoholic and other drinks are included. So think about what you want and need, and talk with your safari operator about your options and preferences. We had no need for the 'sundowners' I read about so often, so it didn't bother us that they were not included. The camps and lodges we stayed at had everything we needed, and a couple were even fancier than expected for the price. Meals were plentiful and good, coffee in sachets left a fair bit to be desired, but the ubiquitous African tea is a winner. Everywhere we stayed had hot water for showers, but it seems like many toilets don't always flush particularly well. Be prepared for very rough roads once you leave the main highways - they really give you a good shaking up. We're surprised none of us sustained minor head injuries in the vehicle. Seriously, if you suffer from osteoporosis or have a bad back, think twice about going on a driving safari - the roads can be that bad. But the views and the wildlife are magnificent. The massed pelicans and flamingoes at Lake Nakuru are breathtaking.
I am a birder, and this was my first (probably only) time in Africa, so the sheer quantity and variety of new birds was almost overwhelming. Before this trip to Kenya, all my birding experience was in southeast Asia and Australasia. The homework I did beforehand to become somewhat familiar with what to expect really paid off. We decided on a 9yo-friendly general safari rather than a specific birding tour, so I was pretty much on my own for IDing the birds, but I still logged over 130 lifers with the help of photos taken by my husband. Would easily have been well over 200 with an experienced birding guide and a clear birding focus.
In Nairobi we also went to the National Museum of Kenya and the adjoining Snake Park. These were worth the visit and quite interesting and informative. Everybody we came across in Nairobi and on safari was friendly and kind, except for one guy who accused us of taking photos of him and other people without consent when we went for a walk outside our accommodation. The visit to the Maasai village was interesting and informative, with a stange and slightly uncomfortable mix of feeling both staged and overly personal and intrusive. The men danced for each small group of visitors in their full traditional costumes, showed us their village and fire-making skills, and took us into one of their own homes. We felt kind of obliged to buy some of their jewellery. The local school serves 1000 students from kindergarten to Grade 8, many of whom stay in dormitories on site for weeks at a time since their homes are far distant. The oldest students were learning about subatomic particles that day going from what was written on the blackboard, and the walls of the school had diagrams of the structure of the heart and circulatory system painted on them. Again, we felt a bit pressured to make a donation at the end of the tour. No-one gives you any idea of what an appropriate amount is, but they did write everything down in a ledger in the interests of transparency.
In Mombasa we spent the morning on Nyali beach and our daughter enjoyed playing in the sand and exploring the rock pools as the tide went out. There was the option of camel rides on the beach, and we could have taken a guide to show us around the rock pools and mud flats and find some of the creatures that live there. In the afternoon we visited Fort Jesus as we wanted to understand and appreciate some of the long trading history of Africa. I'm not sure the guide we had there was worth the $20 - a bit rushed and spoke very fast so hard to understand. But some of the other guides seemed to be doing a good job. He also 'offered' to take us around the old city. It was a Sunday and all the traders were closed, but he still asked for an extra $20 which we declined since we had not realised that was not part of the original deal with him. Overall our impression was that people in Mombasa were not as friendly as most of the people we met in the other parts of the country that we visited, but we were still glad we went, and it would have been nice to have time to try a trip on a dhow or visit the marine parks.
Overall I would heartily recommend Kenya as a travel destination, and I would love to go back one day. My dream holiday in Kenya would be a camel-assisted walking safari in Laikipia, but it would put more of a hole in our bank account than we could justify. It was a great experience just to drive through the towns, villages and countryside, watching herds of both domestic and wild animals roaming across the savannahs, catching a glimpse of the red-draped Maasai herdsmen in the distance as they watched their flocks, and gaining the beginnings of an understanding of how they live side by side with large and dangerous wild animals. The Great Rift Valley is spectacular, and its well worth seeing and experiencing this major continental-scale geographical feature. We met some wonderful and fascinating people, and overall had an adventure we will never forget.
MT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolutely beautiful country with scenery that leaves one breathless.
I recommend the scenic routes, drive to the Cape, Hermanos. visit the beautiful vineyards in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. Also a must do is a couple of nights in a reserve to see the animals up close. We stayed at the Inverdoon reserve and it was super.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
South Africa is rich with wildlife, the best country to visit.
This was my first safari, and the trip was fantastic. Everything was up to standard. Big ups to Andre and Heidi for being helpful from day 1 until the last day. Perfect!
DK
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A troubled country
Our tour with safaribookings went on very satisfactory - we saw almost all the animals we came for.
Regarding tourism there is a long way to go before we can walk freely in the streets and that’s a shame. Get that fixed
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Stunning and unforgettable experience
Me and my mother went on a 16 day trip visiting Cape Town, driving along the garden route and ending on a lovely safari experience at Nambu Camp. We had the pleasure to have one of the best guides in South Africa, Terence. I recommend this experience to anyone who is looking into it. Defines the best way to end your trip is by doing a safari. You will enjoy the calmness and nature of the area, and you’ll have nothing else to worry about.
BE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Nature at its best!
This was our first safari. We did first Lake Manyara, then Serengeti, and finally Ngorongoro. I think this is the best sequence.
Serengeti is huge! Distances are long, so if you are expecting a zoo-like experience with an animal at any corner, you will be disappointed. We spent two full days and spotted lots of lions, zebras, wildebeests, antilopes, elephants, buffalos, ... No rhinos, but I don't think they are present in the Serengeti. On top of that the scenery ("Serengeti" means "large plains" in Swahili) is absolutely wonderful. Spotting a lion atop a "kopje" is unforgettable!
More crowded than Lake Manyara, but much, much less than Ngorongoro.
