HK
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Kenya by Sakshi Verma (www.sakshi.photography)
I've only been on one safari holiday in Kenya. This one lived up to all my expectations, and more!
vast and remote
4.000 km² and just a few guests... this is Khaudum NP. More or less impossible to travel in rainy season because of water and mud, deep sand in dry season and a mixture of both in between (March to May and October to November).
You will find 2 camps - Sikereti in the south, about 40 or 50 KM north of the southern entrance. Some shady places, 2 showers with cold water, 2 toilets - thats it. No electrical power, no comfort. It's for people who enjoy bush camping. Khaudum camp in the north, what means 100 KM south of the tar road will offer more - there is some building-work at the moment and in December 2014 travellers should find a new lodge and 6 or 8 campsites - offering some amenities.
Between these camps you drive some nasty tracks, deep sand, sometimes mud. Some of the tracks are overgrown with plants and bushes - so take care about the cooler of your car and clean it - the seeds will clog your Radiator!
Bring everything with you - if you have a problem with your car or if you get stucked there is nobody - think about water, food, recovery gear, GPS, maybe a Sat-phone to call help if you are in deep trouble. Fill up Diesel - you should be able to drive 500 KM on tar-roads to get through the deep sand of the park. Consumtion of the car at least doubles!
Best time to visit the park is the European summer - you might see Elephants Giraffe, Lions. Game leaves the park and trek to Botswana in the rainy season. To be able to travel the park you should have 4x4-experience and a reliable car - if you have the chance travel together to be able to help each other!
Until building-work is done the pad north of the Khaudum camp ist nasty to drive - the building trucks (huge and 6x6) make the sand deaper as it is normally. 3 days for the park are ok - first day to Sikereti camp and some game drive, second day from Sikereti to Khaudum camp, third day from Khaudum to Caprivi-camps. Ask the wardens at Sikereti - they might have some Information what tracks you can use and tracks that are not existing anymore. Try to find the water-holes and use the stands for game-viewing!
Khaudum is nothing for faint-hearted people but an adventure in a vast land!
NZ
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Small tour, excellent guide, and mix of national and private parks & experiences.
Exceeded expectations. Variety of accommodation always with ensuite facilities. Comfortable eight seater vehicle. Masihambe have good alliances with knowledgeable individuals and tourist operators. Any questions answered before and during tour. Good mixture of activities, parks, experiences, accommodation and meals.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing life experience in Kruger!
What an amazing trip. We were picked up at our hotel in Joburg and took the sightseeing drive to Hazyview. (Definitely stock up on the smoked macadamia nuts along the way!) Gods window and another great stop at a waterfall. Great sights. We arrived at Hippo Hollow and enjoyed staying in one of the garden chalets... it would have been nice to have a river view to watch the hippos at night and the elephants by day but all in all we were only 10 meters from the view so all was fine. We were picked up at 4pm for a night safari (it gets cold in April!) and actually saw a leopard eating an impala in a tree! Super rare and makes up for our not seeing a lion during the rest of our trip. The full day trips were very nice. less activity during mid-day but it was really nice to turn off the truck and soak in the sound and view from time to time. so peaceful.
What we did:
-1 night safari - Was ok but would not repeat. basically you shine a spotlight and drive slowly looking for eyes reflecting back at you. 99% are impala. we did a larger group with 10 people (strangers) and would not opt for that group size again. you lose all peaceful elements of the drive
-2 full day safari - definitely recommend a private tour or going with another couple you may know. its a long time to spend with strangers you may not care for
-1 1/2 day morning safari - this was fine as we were leaving for Joburg afterwards
What I would change...
-I would consider adding in a hike through the park with one of the trackers. This looks VERY cool!(and safe)
-I would consider staying at a camp inside the park. I actually would like to get deep into the [park and stray at one of the small camps... by camp I mean a small fenced in area with permanent tents and toilet. bare bones but very down to earth. May as well get very acquainted with the local beasts!
Ute and Roho Ya Chui did a great job and were very attentive of our needs during our trip. Its a fear that once you pay the broker is done with you but this was not the case with Ute. She is attentive and fast to respond during our trip. This is worth a lot and when we do another safari Ute will be receiving a call from us.
Enjoy your trip!
** Oh, one more thing. If you choose to do everything bay car/truck you cont need to buy all the safari gear listed on various sites. a tan shirt is more than enough. the animals cant see your legs in the truck and there are so many people moving through the park that you could have a flashing light on top of your head and the animals wouldn't care. okay, maybe that's an exaggeration but you get my point.
Enjoy!
Arusha to Serengeti in 7 Glorious Days
We experienced the adventure of a lifetime during our 7 days travelling from Arusha in the east to the Serengeti in the west. Erasto Mollel was a fabulous guide who is well educated in the culture, wildlife and flora of Tanzania. He arranged the itinerary and accommodations for our private tour but we modified it to see other interesting things that we discovered or to adjust timing in a location. We were there at the beginning of the rainy season (low season) and Erasto knew the best spots at each location to find animals. It took some time but with Erasto’s persistence, we saw three black rhinos at Ngorongoro Crater, which was high on our list of animals we wanted to see.
We stayed in clean, upscale lodges with good food and traveled in a Land Cruiser, which is much more comfortable for the dirt roads than a van. We often took different paths than tour operators traditionally take and were well rewarded. If you are open and adventurous, Erasto will introduce you to Africa in a unique and personal way.
I recommend E&H Blessed Safari's for the trip you will remember for a lifetime.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A wonderful combination of scenery, wildlife, accomodations and personality.
We haven't been home but a couple of days and are already planning a new expedition with Thinus Blaauw of CrissCross Namibia Safaris. Our almost 3 week tour of Namibia hit all the highlights we had read about as well as a few places we never would have found on our own. The camps and lodges suited us well, even though we booked late and Thinus had to scramble to reserve all the places we needed. Pretravel communication included a complete description of possible itineraries as well as a an effort to get to know our small group of four early elderly travelers. Thinus led us deftly but never with a heavy hand and there was always opportunity for aimless wandering and picture taking. But his strongest suit may be a sense of humor that cushioned even the rockiest gravel road.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Namibia and Thinus Blaauw constantly amazed us
We spent 3 weeks traveling the length of Namibia with Thinus Blaauw in May just after the "rainy" season in a 6 person 4WD van. Every day was a new adventure and Namibia had a new surprise for us from beautiful desert dunes and open skies to canyons and moonscape to unique quiver trees and fossils to minerals and ghost towns to waterfalls and animals. The mix of cultures and peoples was wonderful too. Thinus put together an ambitious itinerary at our request and made it all happen. European dining and lodging in a remote setting. What's not to like? The best part may have been Thinus himself, a native and veteran of the many changes that have occurred in Namibia; he is a wealth of information, not to mention kindness, realism and optimism for the future of his country. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would gladly travel again with CrissCross Namibia.
From big 5 to big 500
Following a succesfull trip in 2011 this year again I joined Nick and Freya from Tailormade Safaris on a Safaritrip with a focus on birdwatching to the Kwazulu Natal coasline and inland to Wakkerstroom and the Drakensberg. Their knowledge of the region is outstanding and thanks to their enthusiastic guiding we managed many exciting bird species to the trip list. We ticked elusive larks, magestic lammergyers and saw many of the enigmatic mammals too, turning our safari in a big 500 adventure! Highly recommended!
FI
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trustworthy Company
Terminal Tours is very trurstworthy company. They will do what they promise. The staff is very professional and they are ready to do everything that you will enjoy your holidays.
Kenya is great place to do Safari, enjoy national parks or go to visit in lake areas. There are great views, good camping opportunities and you really can see wildlife!
When you are dealing with Terminal Tours you will get the best places to go. I can recommend them!
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a lifetime...Fantastic Company
Before booking with It Started in Africa, I did a lot of research to find the perfect mix between a high quality safari tour in Tanzania and value. ISIA met all my requirements, providing a tailor-made, wonderful experience, with the absolute highest quality of service, responsiveness, efficiency, comfort, informed and competent guides, and security. From the beginning contact with ISIA to the very end of our safari, covering four national parks, my experience was nothing short of excellent in every way. I highly recommend ISIA for a trip of a lifetime.