US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Beautiful country, wonderful people and incredible wildlife
Bottom line up front: the best trip EVER. That is a bold statement because I have been to over 50 countries (including 8 African countries). The accommodations, the people, the country, our guide and the animals defied all expectations.
To start with Kosen (the owner of the tour company) arranged the trip to be exactly what we asked for. No detail was spared. It was our 30th anniversary and there was a special touch at every stop. More importantly, they sponsor schools in the bush to make sure the kids get a chance for education. They have recued young girls and built dormatories so they can get an education and autonomy. Furthermore, they sponsor soccer teams in the slums of Nairobi for impoverished urban kids and create academic support and tutoring programs to help lift them out of poverty. If you book with Kosen, you make a difference and have oppotunities to directly give back to the warm and wonderful Kenyan people.
I will go into detail.....the most important point is above.
Robert, our guide was with us the entire time. He picked us up at the airport and was with us until he dropped us back at the airport. Just the 3 of us the entire time.He is incredibly knowlegable about the history, tribes, culture geography and of course he knew everything about the animals. He has an uncanny sense of where to go away from the crowds to find the best stuff that the others miss. He emphasises patience and knows where to wait for the animals while others are rushing around. there wasn't a question or a topic he could not explain in depth.
We started out at the Ermara Ole Sereni hotel with a balcony overlooking the Nairobi National Park. We saw giraffes and ostriches from our balcony. We spent a day in Nairobi visiting the national museum (Robert set us up with a docent from the museum for a personal tour). It was amazing to learn about the tribes, culture and history of Kenya. The exhibit on the origins of man is stunning. We also went to the Rothschilds giraffe breeding center and the elephant/rhino orphanage.
The next day we drove to Lake Elmenteita over the 9800 foot escarpment the borders the Rift Valley.The Serena Camp was 5 star all the way. Our tent looked out over the lake and the flamingos. You wake up to Impala and zebras right outside. We rode horses on the lake and then into herds of Water Buck and Zebras.....a once in a lifetime bucket list experience. The next morning we drove to Lake Nakuru where we ate breakfast surrounded by white rhino. We saw too many kinds of animals to recount here to include black rhinos and rare Rothschilds giraffes. Back at camp we were pampered to the extreme.
The next day we drove to the Maasai Mara national park. On the way we stopped by a school they sponsor in the bush. Kosen had arranged for us to donate desks for the school because not all students had a place to sit. We also brought school supplies and soccer balls. It was incredible to meet the headmaster, teachers and students. Our next stop was a visit to Kosen's mother on the farm where he was raised. Then we proceeded to the Mara.
We stayed at the Keekorok lodge in the park. There is no fence, so the animals are right there. the first night there were hippos grazing behind our room. the next morning there were impala on the lawn and elephants walking by. At night there were lions roaring out side our back porch and we woke up to Vervet monkey hanging from the trees by our front door. The lodge is little old (it was the first lodge inside the Mara built in the 1960's) but you come for the nature not the house. The employees were sweet and friendly. By the way, because there is no fence, at night they escort you to and from your cabin for safety. The hippo bar was fun and we met some great people there.
Twice each day Robert took us on game drives but also took the time to show us the different areas and ecosystems in the park. He knows the park as well as I know my back yard. We saw more animals and birds than I can list here. This includes 4 different prides of lions, a herd of mother elephants and their babies, a lioness with her baby cubs, a cheetah with her babies and family groups of Maasai giraffes.The highlight was watching 2 huge herds of Wildebeests and zebras crossing the Sand River to complete the final phase of the Great Migration. We actually found the Sand River pride right after a crossing and they had just taken down a zebra that was crossing.
When we finally bid farewell to the Mara, we drove back across the Rift Valley to Nairobi. Kosen had booked a day room back at the Emara Ole Sereni overlooking the Nairobi National park so we did not need to hang out at the airport. Robert picked us up in the evening and took us back to the airport. It was a little sad because we were now saying goodbye to a close friend.
The trip was as close to perfect as it could get. If you are going to go to Kenya (and you definitely should) book it with Kosen. It will be a highlight of your life and you get the chance to change the lives of others.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
“An amazing safari experience from start to the end!”
Me and my husband went to safari in Tanzania (Serengeti, Tarangire and Lake Eyashi) in last November organised by The Story of Africa, and we had an amazing experience. From seeing the big cats and the big five were really fun and wonderful. Tuma our guide made a real effort for us to see as many animals as possible, including the hunting and samba mating! He also guide us with the story of those wildlife animals.
The chef Marko also very skilled and what a fun company - good food and we love his spaghetti :) Thank you also to Elizabeth who has been replying our emails back and forth in preparing our customise itinerary. We love the suggestion to visit the bush man and learn how they live and visit the iron process making by Maasai tribe in Lake Eyashi. I would suggest to The Story of Africa to improve their website or social media by uploading more client's pictures. But, overall we love to comeback and go safari again with The Story of Africa. Cheers!
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible
Every part of the trip went very well, everything was laid out very well. From the planning , drivers, facilities! Very impressive.
One of the last great wilderness region ..... i could go back there again and again !
I had always wanted to visit Etosha ao i finally decided to do it. It was everything i expected and will keep the memories forever. Im a keen photographer and we saw plenty of wildlife on the wide open spaces. If i could, i would go back to Namibia and Etosha year after year.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The journey of a lifetime
This was a lifetime dream and we could finally go to Kenya and see all the animals in the wild!Our guide Castro went above and beyond to make sure we saw all the big 5 plus cheetah, vultures,eagles, flamingos, mongoose, and many others.
He was friendly and happy to give us fun facts about the animals.
All the places we visited were amazing just like everywhere we ate and slept.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Hell's Gate National Park by lindafiona92
The crater is everything. Breathtaking.
LT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing wildlife
It was amazing to see wildlife from so close. The nature is beutiful and each park is different. In some you can come close to animals. Diani beach has whote sand and blue sea. One of the best adventures I had
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
It was an enchanting experience worth going on several occassions.
The only park in a capital city Kenya, Africa.. Beautiful scenery,blossoming flowers around with humming birds. Such a great experience under the sunny weather with cool breeze.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Friendly, Safe and Natural
Just a few hours from a major city Dar Es Salaam is an oasis where there is an abundance of animals, beautiful lodges and kind people. I arrived in Zanzibar for a beach break but couldnt resist heading to the mainland for a safari and I'm so glad I did!
RO
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing safari
We had an amazing safari experience - we had the chance to see a lot of animals, like lions, giraffes, elephants and others. I fully recommend Kenya as a safari destination. The accommodations and the food were great.