US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Luxurious Safari
Thorn Bush Safaris was helpful from the get-go when I expressed interest in our travel plans to Madikwe. Michelle was very helpful in presenting a couple options to us, and ultimately went with Buffalo Ridge. Throughout the process, Michelle was interactive, attentive and informative. She answered all my questions, provided important information in a timely manner, was kind, and was able to hold my reservation as I had to check with the rest of my party before finalizing. The entire experience was above my expectations and I would recommend Thorn Bush and Michelle, to anyone wanting to experience an incredible, luxurious safari vacation. Thank you!
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Spicy
We did visit Stonetown and Maganga Spice Farm. The visit in Stonetown was well taken care of with a good and joyfull guide and a tasty lunch. The during time was correct. The visit at Maganga Spice Farm was good and interesting. The during time, specially with a larger group, took a little too much time. My advise: keep the groups small, maximum 10 persons.
PL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
the best moments on safari
That was the best tour in Kenya. We had excellent accomodation, service and security on safari in Masai Mara. Big car only for us and the driver was excellent tour guide, he fullfilled every our wish. The office took a good care of us in Nairobi and also helped us after safari with accomodation and travelling.
These are very helpful and good people. I highly recommend this office!
IT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
confortable and safe
we did the Kruger Park Safari Tour in September. The guide Susan is an excelent guide, very professional and kind. Generally speaking, we are not disappointed about the tour experience but we didn't like to change 2 restcamps in 2 days (SKUKUZA and PRETORIUS) and in particular, we didn t like PRETORIUS Camp (where we didn t find restaurants but just a WIMPY!). The price of the tour is too expensive for this poor options.
BH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It Started in Africa made a dream honeymoon come true
The overall experience with It Started in Africa couldn't be better, they've exceeded the high expectations i always had, it was definitely the key to make our honeymoon a dream.
The booking process perfectly handled by João Oliveira, always answering my questions extremely promptly. He understood quickly me and my wife's preferences, magnificent on tailoring our itinerary.
Airport pick-up and briefing given by Andrew, where all the details for the safari were carefully reviewed.
A special compliment to our guide Isaac, very knowledgeable, experienced and always friendly. We learned tons about all the fauna and flora of the parks
visited. Isaac is absolutely outstanding in detecting animals from far away while driving the 4x4, and yes... we got the BIG 5!!
It Started in Africa, thank you so much!
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Cosy family owned guest house in a quiet part of Arusha
I came to Arusha as a guest of Farm Radio, they organised my stay at Safariland Cottages. But what a great choice they made at that, you are a true guest of the family while staying there. Mama (Csilla) is the most caring motherly figure I've had as a host. Rehema (her daughter) showed us the Arusha night life. And the staff is super friendly. I spent most of my work hours in the lovely garden they have, between the palm trees and small chickens roaming around. The rooms are comfortable, with a little desk at the window that I could sit down during the night to write a little.
BE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The cherry on the cake during our 30 days Namibia/Botswana trip
A charming, dedicated and professional staff (thank you Kenson, Mavis and Lesley) has provided us with a four days safari in the Okavanga/Moremi area we will never forget. A tailored programme, excellent guides, a logistic team who did miracles on the cooking fire and in the camp, in sum a fantastic expierence, flavoured with détails which really make the difference between Naga Safaris and other companies. I can highly recommend Naga Safari and I will take all opportunities to forward this message to others as the Naga Safari team really deserve this. WELL DONE
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Once in a lifetime adventure! Accommodations were great! I travled alone. Never felt in danger.
Sweet Waters was the best all around stay. It did not disappoint.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic safari with ISIA!
Choosing a safari company on the Northern Tanzanian circuit is not an easy task, as there are MANY companies!
From the beginning I could tell that It Started in Africa is a company with a difference ... from the great website, and Joao's attentive and prompt email responses which puts one at ease regardless of your type of query.
The good experience continued upon arrival in Arusha and meeting Baraja (Director) and other ISIA staff.
I was travelling solo through Tanzania and wanted to join a group of travellers to do the 5 day safari with - ISIA helped with linking me up with a group.
And as for the safari itself ... its hard to go wrong with destinations like the Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater - but ISIA certainly made the trip a whole lot better through a fantastic guide (Dickson) and the food which was well prepared by chef Roman.
IT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
wonderful experience!!!
The decision to rely on Kenya Expresso Tours And Safaris (Ket Safaris) was the best we could do!
We are lovers of nature and photography and by the time we were curious to see the great natural spectacle that is the wildebeest migration in the Masai Mara park (crossing the river of the same name).
After careful research on the internet about the program that we wanted to do, we sent multiple requests for quote .: Ket Safaris offering excellent lodges (all parks and stations: 2 nights Lake Nakuru Lodge, Sarova Mara Lodge 1 night, 3 nights Ashnil Mara Camp), Land Cruiser sunroof with private driver exclusively for us (we met vans packed with people!) and the best price (all inclusive).
Certified agency in Kenya, Paul (owner of the agency) and 'immediately proved to be very helpful and answered our questions (and doubts) within a few hours. Posted advance, we made the balance directly to our arrival at the airport where (arrived at 4 am!) We met Paul, and together, the one who will be our guardian angel: Francis, the best guide we could hope to meet.
Always friendly, smiling, in order, available in our every request and requirement, Francis has great experience, he knows every path of the parks and (importantly) the best stalking. Nicknamed by his colleagues "who found the animals" and in continuous contact with Mr Jackson and Pascal (also excellent guides Ket Safaris), with intuition and patience, we are back in ambush after everyone had left and we were able to assist in two stages, crossing the Mara is a huge herd of wildebeest .. in two phases because interrupted by the attack of a lioness in the first and not 'failed (the baby wildebeest and' saved by the intervention of the mother), while the second has attacked and killed a wildebeest adult. The scene is set and 'turning a few meters and I guarantee that, in such a context, the unfolding of Nature has not horrified ns. sensitivity ': kill to live and to continue the species (shortly after and' came another lioness that clearly showed signs of lactation). In addition to this we have seen a short distance herds of lions, buffaloes, zebras, gazelles of each species, hippos, crocodiles, elephants, rhinoceros, leopard (anche'esso hunting but failed), the cheetah with 4 wonderful puppies.
All this thanks, again, to stalking intelligent and patient during which the dear Francis never showed impatience or fatigue ... ..Anzi in the most 'heavy always has a ready smile, a good joke, a contagious laugh.
At the end of the journey Paul, the owner of the agency, greeted us wondering how it had come and offered us a wonderful dinner in a good restaurant in Mombasa!
Continue to describe what we saw would take too long but I hope I have conveyed a little of the enthusiasm with which we returned.
It 's not the first safari we do (always arranged by us, we visited South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana ... .adesso and' added the Western Kenya Safaris and thanks to Ket., Paul, Francis and indirectly in Jackson, Pascal and 'was a unique experience that has allowed us to "unplug" from our wonderfully daily routine and come back with so many beautiful images in the heart and the mind.