US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Spectacular
If you are reading this, you are likely surveying dozens of tour options in East Africa, which can be overwhelming. I found Kenya Walking Survivors through a third party web site that described various tour itineraries in detail. From the time I arrived at Nairobi airport mine was a seamless experience. On Day 1 I recuperated from my 33 hour trip from the U.S. at Eka Hotel, which was clean, quiet, secure and featured excellent food (particularly the breakfast buffet). On Day 2 I was picked up in the early morning and set out on safari at the Masaai Mara Reserve. I was very fortunate to be paired with Marcus as my safari guide. He has a whimsical, laid back personality. He is also professional and highly sensitive to customer needs. I had extreme good fortune over the next 2 days in terms of wildlife observed. Among many amazing creatures we witnessed to separate lion prides that walked within a few feet of our vehicle. The service was impeccable at Osero Lodge during the 2 nights I stayed there. Their food was decent. The Sopa Lodge at lake Navaisha is completely enchanting. If you have any appreciation for nature, animals, photography or pure aesthetics then go there. I would have loved an extra day at Sopa Lodge to take in the animals (which roam freely there) and the surroundings. Kibo Safari camp was magical. I would have loved to spend an additional day here also. Amboseli National Park was not as impressive at the Masaii Mara Reserve, though I did get some good wildlife spectating there. For me, the Kibo Camp was a perfect spot to slow down, have a swim and meditate on my general gratitude for this incredible experience. I spent 3.5 days on Paje Beach in Zanzibar and would have loved to spend 2 additional. The Dhow Inn is a European boutique resort with everything one needs to completely relax and unwind. Meals that are not included within the tour can be charged to one's room tab and the food was good. They have self service laundry, which I desperately needed following multiple days of safari. There are a barrage of activities for one to participate in, though I elected to spend my days in the water and under the shaded umbrellas of the Dhow private beach. I knew and accepted that venturing to Africa would not be inexpensive, but this excursion was affordable for me. The pricing was completely reasonable given it's incredible value (including meals, a private driver from morning to dusk, round trip airfare to Zanzibar and very desirable lodging). I love to travel and am quite savvy in my trip choices. I highly recommend this company for your East African adventures. Thank you, Mr. Otieno and your wonderful staff!
DK
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Brilliant service from the moment you make the reservation until you are home from your holiday :-)
Robert did make a perfect programme planned out from our wishes. And he gave us the best driver/guide we have ever had - John.
I always got a very quick reply from Robert and from the very first moment I knew that I could rely on him. Very proffesionel.
I can only recommend Cheetad Safaris Uganda.
A visit to Uganda will affect your mind and heart and will put your life into another perspective
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The most amazing ,life-changing experience
I booked a 3 day tour to go see the gorillas. It has been a childhood dream to see them and Frank tours made it more than I expected. Frank went to so much effort to show, teach and share his experiences with me as we travelled. He is an amazing, warm, friendly and professional man! He communicated with me so well. I really enjoyed the individuality and personalized experience that he brings to his tours. He is also so experienced in the field and everyone along the journey knew him well. Thank you from the bottom of my heart Frank for everything! I will be sure to spread the word about your company and highly recommend you. Wishing you every success.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent Service
We Booked our trip with Everbased Tours and Travel after a recommendation, From the start they were efficient and responded promptly to my many questions. It was well coordinated and planned trip from Airport Pickup late at night. We had a private Tour with highly experienced guide which included the incredible Gorilla Trek, Chimp Trekking and other tours. We visited Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth and Mburo National Parks. Prices were very reasonable and the accommodation and Food were excellent. The Driver, Simon, was extremely helpful and knowledgeable. We highly recommend Everbased Tours and Travel
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Scam Alert. Francis Otieno (Holgger) is a 1 person tour company with a fake website. He scammed me!
We just concluded a wonderful 7 days in Kenya. Its a beautiful country with amazing wild life - but I want to raise a scam alert in case you run into the same tour operator/rental agency. We chose to rent a 4x4 with driver in Nairobi to have a 6 day Safari to the Masaai Mara and Naivasha before returning to Nairobi and flying back to the USA. I worked via email and phone to book a Toyoto Land Cruiser from a guy named Francis Otieno (Holgger) from "Adventure Dragon Safaris". I later find out that "Holgger" (a 1 employee owner) also shows up in Trip Advisor as @holggeropondo faking to be a traveler!
But I took a look at the website below, and since there were no alerts I went ahead with the booking.
Here's what happened:
- Francis (Holgger) was proactive and (overly) friendly via email and whatsapp phone convincing me he was legitimate.
- He requested a 25% advance payment for the rental of a 4x4 on booking via PayPal (that I paid)
- When I landed in Nairobi, at the time of getting the 4x4 he revised his price and requested an extra day of payment AND also requested a $150 "insurance deposit" that he said he will pay me back on return of 4x4
- Being in a new country, I trusted him and paid up BOTH incremental $ requests.
When I finished the Safari, he conned me from paying back the $150 deposit. (He kept telling me that he had initiated deposit return via Pay Pal, but he was lying). He also lied about the 4x4 being a newer vehicle with AC. Infact, I later find out he doesnt even own any of the vehicles on his web site - that he rents the car and driver from a different company/3rd parties, fronting himself via a fake website.
Please BE AWARE.
I have benefitted so much from Trip Advisor that I feel obligated to inform my fellow travelers so you can be carful. Like I said, 99.9% of Kenyan are GREAT people - and I tried not to let this one bad seed spoil my wonderful vacation! I am also reaching out to the Kenyan travel association authorities to let them know so they can take appropriate action again Adventure Dragon Safaris and Francis Otieno (Holgger).
Good luck and Happy Safari'ing!
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An experience we will treasure forever!
Our 7-day, 6-night safari to Tarangire, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti with Danford (aka “Dannyboy”) as our guide was the most memorable and spectacular experience of our lives. After weeks of thoroughly researching our options for a relatively affordable safari (not camping, but also not high-end luxury), we chose Worldwide Safaris and requested Danford.
Danford was an extraordinary guide! He not only had an uncanny ability to spot wildlife from a distance, but also could knowledgeably answer nearly every question about the animals that we threw at him (and we indeed had many questions). Danford navigated the dirt roads in the parks like a pro and knew his way around the vast landscapes, at times offering help to other less experienced guides. Moreover, he was simply a pleasure to be around and his sense of humor and jovial personality raised our level of enjoyment to new heights. We experienced many long laughs together and had many interesting conversations sharing our cultures with each other. We still keep in touch with him. Do yourself a favor and make a request for Danford to be your guide. You will not be disappointed.
In Tarangire, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti, we saw lions, prides of lions, lion cubs, leopards, cheetahs, cheetahs eating their kill, giraffe, elephants, baby elephants, rhinos, hippos, wildebeest migrating, zebra, buffalo, and much much more. I’ve attached photos of wildlife that we took while on our trip. Our vehicle had charging ports for our camera batteries, an adjustable open top which was indispensable for wildlife viewing, and was well stocked with bottles of water. Danford also brought along a superb pair of binoculars that we were able to use whenever we desired.
As for making all of the arrangements, Ernest was quick to reply to our messages and willing to work with our many requests to come up with the perfect itinerary and accommodations combination. For example, since we were arriving at Kilimanjaro Airport mid-day after having overnighted at a hotel in Addis Ababa, we figured we would be well-rested enough to make the 2-3 hr drive from the airport to the Tarangire area even though most travelers overnight in Arusha first. Ernest had no problem modifying the itinerary.
We stayed at Sangaiwe Lodge (Tarangire), Tloma Lodge (Ngorongoro), Mbugani (Serengeti for 2 nights), Mbugani Ndutu (Serengeti) and Olea Africana (final night). All were great (I will review them separately).
Again, this was an incredible experience made possible by our guide Danford and Ernest with the logistics. If we go back to Tanzania, we will be using Worldwide Safaris.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Kilimanjaro trekking
Not only does GideonTanzania Safari organise excellent safari experiences, they will also facilitate trekking on Kilimanjaro, through their connections with Kili Heroes. We cannot fault their service and support: their communications were always quick and the information provided comprehensive, they provided attention to detail. We had an amazing time and an experience we will treasure, but we could not have done it without the team of people who were right behind us. And when one of us had to go down early, they were there with their support all the way. Thank you for a fantastic time!
CH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safari camping tour
We are a couple and went on a 5 day safari - 3 nights camping. We were accompanied by four other people in the car + driver and cook (knowing that we spend a lot of time in it, the place was a bit limited). The safari was definitely worth it, we saw all the animals of the "Lion King" as in this movie. We were amazed every day!
Regarding camping, it is very basic and the facilities are rudimentary. The kitchen was not always up to standard (sometimes not enough, the lunches to be absolutely reviewed and the nonchalance of the cook). The guide is obviously more of a driver than an experienced guide but he was very kind and attentive.
Overall we enjoyed Safari for everything we discovered, nights spent in the savannah with the starry sky and beautiful encounters.
Good value for money.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
I cannot say enough positive things about E&H and Erasto: the best experience of my lifetime
Erasto and E&H were well prepared, well planned, fluent in my language, helpful, full of interesting information and stories to enhance the safari experience, polite, savvy, sophisticated, kind, skilled and always accommodating, nimble in adjusting to circumstances with the goal of making it better and better, and the best tour operator I've ever had. I'd do another tour with him any time!
FR
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
it was just perfect efficient professional and kind
Everything was perfect ,we were upgraded to Rattley's .
The food was really good,the staff was great ,the accomodation wonderful
The safari was unforgottable
We jusy had a big problem with Fereral Airlines because we were late for the plane,they knew perfectly our arrival time and they pretented to wait for us...and they did not.
We were obliged to take a small plane for30000 dollars and ,they refuse to give us any amount of money back.
Andy Saidi did much more than his best but they refuse.With Andy we found someone very professinal ,caring about the customers just like if we belonged to his family.So I asked Andy to organise the trip of our son who is now flying to SA.
I must say that the organisation,the accomodations the itinery,alorsthe things he did for us was just PERFECT!!
he was so nice and helpful that even with our bad experience(and expensive!!) with Federal Airlines ,the memory of this trip is great !!Thanks to him!!