CA
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Flawless arrangements for a fabulous, over-the-top trip
My wife and I had been booked on another company's group tour for 4 months, but a month and a half before we were to leave, it was cancelled, due to lack of participants. Since we had been really looking forward to a safari, we looked around for alternatives; contacting four other tour companies. Due to Chris' s intimate knowledge of Africa, his flexibility to work with various budgets and ability to deliver a great experience at good value, we selected Safari Partners. He explained the differences between national park safaris and conservancy safaris (there are less tourists in conservancies and the camps are smaller and generally deluxe tented). So in 10 days, with Chris's guidance we had pulled together what sounded like a trip that would meet our needs.
And we had an absolutely fantastic time in Africa. Everything worked out just as Chris planned it. We were met and chauffeured around at each destination without fail.
We were very spoiled in both camps in Kenya. Everything was over the top. From the invariably nice, helpful and very knowledgeable staff and guides to the deluxe accommodation, good food and excellent sightings on the game drives. It was very special.
In Samburu we stayed at the Elephant Bedroom Camp - aptly named as there was an almost resident group of seven or so, that wandered through the camp day and night. Staff would move guests to the main tent if you were eating at the riverbank as the elephants came through, and you could hear them wandering by your tent at night. It was very hot in Oct., so the plunge pool on the deck outside every tent was a great place to get cool. Buffet breakfast at the riverbank, lunch there or under the awning of the main tent and dinner was always very good food for the 3 days we were there.
We stayed at Encounter Mara in the Maasai Mara for 4 days and each day there were fabulous game sightings at really close quarters. For 2 nights we were the only ones in camp and and every day had Nabaala our Maasai guide to ourselves. He was very knowledgeable about every bird, mammal or reptile and amazingly we never got stuck nor had a puncture going down and up the rocky riverbanks. We had 8 game drives including a night drive over that time, and saw everything in mammals that we could have hoped to see except rhinos.
Typically we would be wakened with tea, coffee or hot chocolate and biscuits at 5:30am to be off on the drive at 6:15am. At 8:30 or 9:00 we would stop for a picnic breakfast of coffee, tea, juice, cereal, fruit, yogourt, muffins/scotch egg and jams looking out over the savannah at the nearby antelope, wildebeest and zebra. Then there would be a couple of hours in camp for reading, going down to the hide/blind at the river before a gourmet lunch at 1pm. Then a couple of hours for rest and relaxation before tea at 4pm and a game drive at 4:30. Another great dinner meal would be served after the game drive in front of a campfire at about 8pm, with a drink or two or three and then off to bed, and looking forward to what game would be seen tomorrow. The Mara is at a higher altitude, and despite the summer heat during the day, it could get chilly in the morning and evening zipping around in the open jeep. So we were especially glad of the supplied, quilted, waterproof ponchos in the jeep and the two hot water bottles placed in our bed every night. Nothing was too much trouble at Encounter Mara.
Then of course, feeding the beautiful Rothchild giraffes at Giraffe Manor in Nairobi was one of the major highlights of the trip for us. The Manor itself was very gracious and gentile, but it was truly wonderful to feed the giraffes as they poked their heads into your second floor bedroom windows or into the breakfast room windows. And if you were confident enough, you could have them slurp, with their long black tongues, a food pellet from your lips.
Five nights in Zanzibar gave us time to relax, snorkel and reminisce about the animals and experiences on safari. The Tembo House Hotel in Stone Town was charming and historic. Dreams of Zanzibar was a large all-inclusive that gave you what you would expect in a four star Caribbean-type hotel, but amidst the laid-back beauty and amazing colours of the Indian Ocean.
Safari Partners arranged a flawless, over-the-top, trip and we would totally recommend them to anyone thinking of going to Africa. We will use them when we return to Africa, as we had such a great experience with them the first time.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
10 Days Masai Mara Samburu and Bwindi National Parks
My Mum, brother and I went to Africa for our holiday. Being the tour leader I had to plan everything on my own. At first I thought it gonna be stressing and time consuming. To my surprise, when I contacted Kenya Walking survivors Safaris, all my burning questions were all answered and within two days, we had finalized everything! Kenya’s parks are all great. In Uganda we did the trekking and although my mum is aged, she managed it! It is not only fun but also, excersising .All our accommodations were budget but they were comfortable. Our cook-Sam made delicious food while in Kenya. Thank you Mr. Otieno for your good work .God bless!
CA
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience
From the moment I started planning the safari for a group of fellow travelers I was smitten with African Big Five Safaris. My contact was Mary, as she was always very professional and open to our changing needs (we started off as a group of 4 and ended up as a group of 8) and dates. The reviews I read led me to expect a first class safari; that is what Mary promised and what I feel we got. I had read about the experienced and personable guides but we did not imagine just how knowledgeable and friendly they would be. Edmund and Hamid knew all about the wildlife and birds. They joined us for dinner on the second evening and taught us much about life in Uganda. All in all they made us feel very special and as if we were the best clients ever, which I expect is how they make everyone feel!
We had 2 vehicles as 8 would be too many for one, and were glad we did as 4 to a vehicle was perfect and gave us lots of room to move around while we were in the park. The seats were comfortable for the long drives to and from the park and there was a big cooler full of bottled water we could help ourselves to. On the way up to the park we stopped to pick up some fruit from people selling at the roadside, and had a lovely lunch near Masindi. Edmund and Hamid adapted our walk at the Falls to our needs. They made sure we saw some of the Big 5 on the way to our accommodation - Fort Murchison Lodge - which was excellent also.
On the second day we had a fabulous safri drive that lasted all morning, and our guides made sure we saw many animals including lions, and in fact we saw all the Big Five except for leopards. We could not get over how many animals we saw, and, as someone interested in birds, I was amazed at the variety of colourful birds. At around noon, we stopped in the park to eat our lunch near the various oribis and other antelopes. In the afternoon we went on the 3 hour boat ride up the Nile to Murchison Falls and back, which enabled us to see many of the same animals by the water's edge, as well as water birds, hippos and crocodiles. Day two was another full day which I will never forget.
The third day we drove around the north side of the park and to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary near Masindi, where we walked to find the rhinos after driving to the area where they were known to be feeding. The guide from the Sanctuary was very interesting also, and we were well protected by two guards who watched the rhinos at all times to interpret their body language and keep us a safe distance away. The guide made sure we were able to get photos of ourselves with the rhinos in the background.
On the way back through Kampala we learned a lot about the way of life in this fascinating country. It was a sad farewell when we finally reached our hotel in Entebbe where our conference was to be held. We will never forget the great time we had with Edmund and Hamed! Thanks to all at African Big Five for helping us have such a memorable time.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Armadillo Safari & Adventure Tours was fabulous! Chris is an excellent guide and chef!
The Armadillo Safari & Adventure Tour did an outstanding job! The safari experience far surpassed my expectations. Chris is a natural host! We'd spot an animal and Chris knew to stop so we could relish in the moment. The Tour was organized, pleasant, and by far the best vacation I have ever experienced! I recommend
The Armadillo Safari & Adventure Tours! Thank you again Chris!
IE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent safari holiday
My experience of dealing with Shadows Of Africa from start to finish was easy and stress free. From the initial consultation with Elijah over email to the drop off at Nairobi airport by our most excellent safari guide Ken, it was nothing but a pleasure.
The holiday we were delivered fit our budget nicely and delivered serious bang for our buck, from the 4 day safari to the coastal resort stay afterwards.
The safari itself which was the focal point of the holiday was amazing. We saw everything we could have hoped for and would go back in a heartbeat. I'd have no trouble recommending Shadows of Africa to anyone
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Kenya and Zanzibar trip
I took my girlfriend in Africa for an engagement surprise. Things really went down cool as we visited both Kenya and Tanzania. Among the parks that we visited were Masai Mara, Samburu, L.Nakura and Amboseli. After the long game drives and the bumpy roads, we flew to Zanzibar to relax. Generally everything was good, cant regret.
US
Great Value for our money
My family and I have just returned home from a long holiday in Kenya. It was the best safari that we have ever witnessed. The co-ordination between Mr. Otieno, the driver and all the lodges was amazing and great. All the food served in all those lodges was great. The rooms were also classic and comfortable. Though our budget was abit low, we ended up getting the best rooms and services we had not imagined. All the parks that we visited had almost all the animals. The driver did not hustle much looking for them; I would say we were just lucky. My family really appreciates KWSS tremendous effort to make us happy...
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Everything went like clockwork
We were met by at the Kilimanjaro airport by Godfrey - who was our excellent guide for the next 6 days in Tanzania. He was very well educated in all the relevant sciences - botany, zoology and geology - and so could provide in-depth information on everything that we saw during our time in Tanzania.
The transfer to Kenya, while complex (flight from airstrip to airstrip, driver to border, another driver to airstrip, another flight), went very smoothly - always a driver waiting for us.
And our time in Encounter Mara was phenomenal - including seeing the rescuing of an elephant that had been shot with a poison dart.
In all - great guides, great accommodation - well organized - and it was clear that those dealing with us in Africa appreciated Chris and the work he does behind the scenes from Vancouver.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Planning, lodging, game parks/reserves and guide knowledge/friendliness all exceeded our expectation
E-Trip worked with us to plan the trip we wanted, often going the extra mile. With their experience, they offered suggestions to enhance.
Upon arrival, everything ran like clockwork. The knowledge of each country's guide was much appreciated. Each worked to find animals and situations where we would see all of the natural splendors of East Africa.
Lodging per our preferences was also very good. Each site staff was pleasant and accommodating. Food was ample and tasty.
We are so glad to have selected E-Trip as our coordinating company. Not being fond of tours, we hoped instead for a personal experience - one not burdened with boilerplate activities and unenthusiastic guides. E-Trip delivered a trip of a lifetime with great memories of people we met, lodging to remember and experiences that were just awesome!
IN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
they delivered what they promised
I went to Kenya in September 2015 and booked a day tour of Nairobi with Big time. The driver and services were excellent and thus I booked a 4day Masai Mara plus Lake Nakuru tour with BigTime and I am glad that I made that choice. Martha in particular is very helpful lady . She attended to all my queries very patiently and gave me the best advice to choose among the various tour options. I was not having any local SIM card till we started the journey and I was looking to buy one. Manager John , ever energetic, instructed driver to help me get a local SIM card enroute and with the help of one local guy I could get that within the luch break itself. You can always make a call from the environs of Masai Mara as its a open grassland and signal coverage is pretty good (I wonder whether anybody has studied the negative fallouts of this heavy signal coverage on the wildlife of the park) .... I had chosen camp stay so the services in the camp were basic.. You just get one bulb in bathroom and one more in another partition of the camp used as space for two beds... Electricity was available for just three hours in evening ...from 7to 10pm. then lights would be switched off as the generator would be shut down. One can recharge his camera /mobile at a common dining space .. no TV (except at a place near common dining place) no radio, free Wifi which would work intermittently. Definitely that is not for luxury... but then I had not gone there for luxury. The chef tried his best to accomodate my vegeterain eating preferences. The place was very quiet in early evening...and when the lights were out it was really very interesting to feel like 1950s, something our generation missed completely. Safari itself was very good. We saw all the big 5 plus my darling-Cheetah (twice). We were lucky to see pride of lions crackling the bones of a fresh buffalo kill in early morning safari and then in evening we saw two male lions stalking a baby giraffe, their plans foiled by the head of giraffe family who came very close to two lions threatening them with dire consequences in case of any misadventure. There was only one nuisance... driver chatting ceaselessly on microphone with his fellow drivers. Sometimes it was for good as they gave each other directions of wildlife spotting, but certainly the chatting could have been bit lesser for same effect otherwise he was a braveheart ,taking his vehicle very near to the animal . Dont expect perfect peaceful watching of wildlife as shown on Discovery /NGC as drivers' microphones make noises continuously. Though it was a budget Safari , Stay in Nakuru was very comfortable, a pleasant surprise for all of us travelling together. Overall it was a nice experience with BigTime Safari. Special thanks to Martha and John.