IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Highly recommended! Beautiful safari with reliable and well prepared guide!
We booked a private jeep safari for 4 nights. The vehicle was perfect and the driver/guide David was fantastic: great driver, full of information and anecdotes, he speaks excellent English.
We recommend choosing the jeep that allowed us to cross even the paths where the vans had to stop.
We loved the tour between Tsavo East & West and Amboseli, they are very different parks and the variety of landscapes is fantastic.
Some uncertainties, however, during the negotiation: the tour has changed compared to what was initially proposed because the camps were not available as budgeted and we had to renegotiate both the tour and camps and we had to return to Mombasa by train instead of jeep. A few days after our arrival they had to change again one of the accommodations.
Very convenient to pay both the deposit and the balance with PayPal.
Overall they are super recommended and reliable but we suggest to start booking your safari in advance (at least 3 months) especially in high season to make sure you have the best choice of accommodations.
MX
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our first safari experience, good relation price-services.
Comunication could be better. On the beginning we are little lost, cause we don't know how was the restrictions. Edward is very good person, we felt very safe with him, but in the begging he don't speak so much, I think that is part of your personality. We tell him that please explain us and he change his attitude. For the rest very good company, we forgot our computer in one of the camps and they help us to take it back. I think was necessary that the company can mantein the comunication with the client. The safari was perfect, food and luch good, transport very good.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Robert the owner, is a very honest, helpful tour operator.
Our experience was positive with Karibu safari. Robert was very helpful and honorable. Our driver, Edward, was a very competent driver and knowledgeable about safari driving. We always felt safe. The accommodations were modest but adequate for the price. I would recommend this company.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Excellent
The communication was okay and proper transfer arrangements were in place. The hotel booking was also appropriately done
GR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Good service and flexible to accommodate our schedule
Face of Africa provided good services, good food and was generally well organised. On time and definitely has a good selection of drivers, they were high caliber and made huge efforts to make our experience unforgettable. Any issue we had was solved either during or after the safari ended. All in all very satisfied.
MT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
An awesome experience.
With the exception of one minor booking mishap, the overall service, lodgings and especially tour guides were fantastic. All three guides were knowledgeable in both the wildlife aspects as well as culturaly prepared. This was my third visit to Kenya in as many years and I believe that is testimony enough of my ratings.
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good relation and services
We have plan gorillas tracking and rent a car for 3 weeks . Phionah was really close to our expectations and sympathic. We got a big 4x4 and the car was great regarding African road it as definitely what we needed ! Thanks phionah
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Experts, prepared and reliable
We booked this Safari after viewing other tour operators on safari bookings. For the entire period before the departure, Back to Africa was available for all our explanations.
Moreover, they were on time in every appointment respecting the travel program.
During the safari, we didn't miss anything, we were always safe on the move and the guide was very experienced and reliable.
For another similar experience in future, I would return to them.
Thanks for the experience.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing wildlife, people and food - an unforgettable experience
Loved every minute of the Safari with Walking Stick Safaris. We saw heaps of Wildlife and had a good time with our guide, cook and other camp staff. We stayed for two nights in the Boro area of the Okavango Delta.
My reason for 4 stars rather than 5 stars is that the company and the guide were not always good at communicating and explaining risks. We were on a walking tour so wanted to know exactly what would happen if animals were aggressive or if there was an emergency and these things we not clearly communicated. I have every confidence that the guide knew what they were doing, but guests need to be reassured of what safety measures are in place.
Overall I would recommend going with this small and new company which supports Philimon and his new business, and a whole community through the place that you camp and the other staff.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trustworthy and responsible booking company
Communications were efficient and excellent. We always received very speedy replies and confirmation of any further information we sent. Regarding our service, I think we got a little spoiled by our last international tour company who handled all of our Visa requirements before our arrival. With Hallmark, however, we had to handle them all on our own. My ideal set up would have been for our itinerary to include the Visa requirements, types of Visa needed (single journey vs. multiple journey in Kenya), and prices that would let us know the amount of USD we would require. We had brought cash for tips and more than 60% of that cash was quickly used in Visas. We appreciated that our guides took us to ATMs in each country to help us bridge our spending, but it was a general point of concern and stress. Additionally, we had counted on being able to use credit cards at the hotels. We wish we had been informed ahead of time that credit cards were not accepted in Tanzania- requiring more cash. After spending so much on our trip, we just felt like there were too many pricey unexpected expenditures and we could have been better prepared by Hallmark. Our guides were good- some are just drivers but we had two guys who acted more like guides and were knowledgeable about the animals. Many of the roads (even main highways and thoroughfares) are not paved, especially in Tanzania. We were much more comfortable in the Land Cruisers than in the Toyota vans, but apparently the land cruisers are more expensive. Most of our lodging was as expected, except for the AA Lodge that was not as nice as we had hoped. However, it was near the Amboseli park and the animals were worth it.
As for our safaris, we feel so blessed to see everything we wanted, including the Top 5 and the Wildebeests migration. We could not have asked for a better safari!
My only other small complaint was being treated to a local restaurant that did not cater to tourists- although we appreciated the attempt to seek a local experience, within 24hours, both my husband and I were ill and required using our emergency antibiotics to recover. That was a bit of a damper on our vacation and honeymoon!