20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Ticked all the boxes and that little bit more... you can have confidence in EAS&TC!
So to try and keep this short and sweet (as I know the hours it takes researching the different Safrai operators, reading reviews etc.. it is almost a full time job!!
Planning the safari
- They say patience is a virtue and it is!! Thankfully Simon of East African Safari had plenty of it as we had questions, questions and more questions and never once did it become a big deal. He was even happy to provide guidance on the areas of our trip that we weren't going to be booking through him. His brochures and itineraries were not as high end as some of the other operators but it is simple things like that that allow him to be the most competitive Safari company, pricewise that I researched (I resarched 8 in great depth.) He provided really honest and solid advice on some other things like visiting an orphanage.
On the Safari
- We were really pleased with our itinerary and got to see everything - except the elusive Rhino but we were just unlucky with the weather and nature has a mind of it's own!!
Our guide
Jimmy looked after us so well over the 5 days went to great lengths on the last day to make sure we saw cheetahs and leopards. He knew everything and dealt with my million questions everyday very well.
Accommodation
We stayed in a mix of tented camps and lodges - all were great but Boundary Hill lodge at Tarangire was stand out - it was beyond our wildest dreams. The beautiful brick lodges, the outside dining and the amazing service made it one of the most special nights of our whole holiday - you actually need to see this place to believe. Our morning walk with the Masai gifted us with a leopard sighting which added to specialness of this gem.
Food
Really good everywhere and plenty of it.. Don't go on Safari expecting Heston style but be assured that you will get great basic food that is full of taste and you will never be left hungry!
The extra stuff that makes a difference
We were a group of three girls travelling together and unfortunately one of the our bags never arrived to Dar Es Saleem. When we explained this to Simon he invited us to his house the day of Safari to drop off the missing baggage form and to chase the bag when we were on Safari. Unfortunately due to the airline's mistake the bag didn't show up over the Safari but Simon had someone trying everyday. The day after we finished safari he organised for us to be collected at our accommodation to collect the form and had a cuppa waiting for us. It's nice to know that an operator will go that extra mile for you, even after payments have been made!!
I would highly recommend East Africa on all fronts!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Kilimanjaro climb and safari
I would absolutely recommend Afrishare! Ibrah, the owner, organized the most unforgettable trip for my friends and I. We started off with a safari to Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara. I couldn't believe all the animals we saw. Elephants were standing right next to our jeep and I couldn't even count all the giraffes, hippos, lions and warthogs we saw. I was nervous about the Kilimanjaro climb but Ibrah put me at ease. He made sure everything went smoothly and I was packed with all the items I needed for the climb. Kilimanjaro was challenging but an awesome experience. I was so impressed that I have recommended a few of my friends book their safari's and climbs through Afrishare.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic Service
We had the best service from all the staff at Somak. We were given really good advice to help us choose an itinerary to suit our needs. The staff in Narobi were all really helpful, our transfers were very efficient. We did a fly safari so didn't use their guides. On our last day we spent time at the head office, where they gave us a lovely lunch and we had time to relax, sleep, catch up on emails etc. we then had a nice shower so we were refreshed before our transfer to the airport. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone wishing to go on a holiday of a lifetime.
A Magic weekend
My boyfriend and I went to a three days Safari at Masai Mara last month. We stayed at the Mara Sopa Lodge. We found a great special offer with this safari tour company and the price for the stay was totally worth it. We had a great weekend, the organization was very good, our guide in the park was great, we saw most of the park and of the animals. The say at Mara Sopa was perfect, food was very good, personnel and waiters were very kind and helpful. The room was spacious very well decorated and comfortable. We had a great view of the park walking to our room and overall I very much recommend this tour company and the accommodation we stayed in!
IT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wonderful experience
We had a wonderful experience with KET around the main parks in Kenya and our guide, Jackson, a very practical and quite reserved man, has been fantastic, we managed to see the big five very close. Beautiful lodges with just a little lower vote for the Masai Mara lodge, the Sopa Lodge, which was very nice, but not at the same level as the other ones.
Also, but this has nothing to do with KET, we found the visit to the Masai village was too commercial, though expensive.
I would definitely recopmmend KET.
Safari Holiday
I checked out many companies before I decided to go with Kenya Bush Excursions. Communication was fast and clear, and Doris took the time to explain things via email. Our airport pickup was there when we arrived, and there were no unwelcome surprises. Our guide Pius was the best, and when we got to Serengeti in Tanzania after being in Kenya at Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara Game Reserve for a week, we missed his company. He was very friendly, and had a lot of knowledge to share with us. He also gave us advice on what to do and what not to do. All in all, we were (couple + friend) would really recommend Kenya Bush Excursions
HR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wild Root Safaris was most amazing thing in my life!
Mathew is great person. He will help you through tour, so you feel best. It will be a trip of your life.
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Action packed Safari in limited time
The trip was certainly a great experience and we enjoyed the wildlife and people very much. With only 5 days available we put together a nice itinerary and explored most of the big game parks in Tanzania – Serengeti was my personal favorite. The lodges and food was great.
A great trip was made fantastic with Sameco Tours
Our first trip to Kenya was stupendous, partly because of our travel agent, partly because of our van mates but mostly because of our driver from Sameco Tours. Knowledgeable, friendly, accommodating, and just as excited to start every day as we were, Daniel made a great trip into something unbelievable. You have to trust your tour company when you are in a foreign country and there was no doubt from the start that we were in good hands. Thank you Anderson, Daniel and Fred.
Fantastic - highly recommend Destinations Africa
Ken and I had a wonderful time and the wildlife exceeded our expectations. We were very impressed with the accommodation and guides that we had at all of our destinations. We had a number of flights and pick-ups, I was so happy with the smoothness of the changeovers as this can sometimes be very stressful. We would certainly be interested in doing this type of adventure again and will recommend your company to any of our friends. Thank you so much for making this trip more than we could ever have expected.