NZ
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
More than We'd Bargained For
We come from New Zealand and are in our late fifties and early sixties. When booking, we were wanting some adventure without backpacking, and we were wanting to deal with African owned companies so that the money we spent in Africa, would stay in Africa. Our aim was for middle of the road comfort and top of the range adventure.
We found KWSS along with a number of other possibles and after speaking with Mr Otieno, decided to give them KWSS our business for a 12 day tour of gameparks in Kenya and Tanzania. You can imagine we were very pleased to find them waiting for us at the hotel and for our adventures began.
But the thing that makes me vote a big five stars to this company, is the last adventure we had with them, when at 4pm, after a great game drive in Serenghetti National park in Tanzania, and making ourselves comfortable in our overnight hotel, we discovered to our dismay, that we had made an error and booked an airflight for the next part of our trip, such that we were due to fly the following morning, early, from Nairobi – in Kenya!
Changing the airflight was not possible due to the irregular nature of flights; we had to get to this flight!
We got the hotel to ring our KWSS guide who had dropped us off, and the next thing the whole organisation had swung into action to help us. Our guide drove us to the border where another guide from Nairobi had driven down to meet us. We were whisked through the night to a Nairobi hotel where we arrived a little after midnight, then picked up again in the morning to get us to the airport on time. We don’t feel you could have done what we did anywhere but in Africa, with a special company like KWSS.
When I asked Mr Otieno how much we owed, he wouldn’t hear of payment! “All part of the service,” he assured us. Amazing.
A word to those who are booking, like us, a mid priced tour. We discovered that our expression that we wanted mid range, meant that at times we got far better accommodation than expected, and sometimes, a little less than expected, as it all depends on the park you are visiting, how wealthy it is, and what mid range means to them. We would suggest you send Mr Otieno some indicative pictures of what sort of thing you think you’d like as accommodation, as it will make it easier for you and them to get it right. Also on the ‘power of words to convey meaning’ theme, be aware that ‘en suite’ and ‘private bathroom’ do not necessarily mean the same.
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The best trip of my life!
Where do I begin? Chris was amazing at helping me plan this trip. I started in Tanzania and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and then a safari in Kenya at the Encounter Mara camp. This was the best trip I have ever been on and Chris really helped to ensure everything was planned perfectly. From the shuttles from the airports, to the climb to the safari everything was planned perfectly. All I had to do was show up :)
I will be using Safari Partners again no doubt about it.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Unforgettable Safari
The overall experience with Global Insight Safaris 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 Baraka, 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 Emmanuel, very knowledgeable, experienced and always friendly. We learned tons about all the fauna and flora of the parks visited. Emmanuel is absolutely outstanding in detecting animals from far away while driving the 4x4, and yes... we got the BIG 5!!
Global Insight Safaris, thank you so much!“UNFORGETABLE SAFARI”
The overall experience with Global Insight Safaris 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 Baraka, 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 Emmanuel, very knowledgeable, experienced and always friendly. We learned tons about all the fauna and flora of the parks visited. Emmanuel is absolutely outstanding in detecting animals from far away while driving the 4x4, and yes... we got the BIG 5!!
Global Insight Safaris, thank you so much!
IN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Smooth, Courteous, Hassle free
Of course wildlife citing is a matter of luck and everyone know about it, but our (seven of ours) safari through the major wildlife regions in Kenya was simply a matter of fulfilment to the max. degree of perfection possible. Filled by excitement of rare sitings (Cheetah’s twice, leopards more than thrice, wild beast migration – crossing of Mara river, breathtaking view of Kilimanjaro at Amboselli National Park with elephants and more than forty Ostriches, about 35 mammalian species in ten days). Our safari team was blessed by the company of Mr Peter, the dedicated guide-driver who is gentle and no-nonsense by disposition, and highly experienced in safari and wildlife regions with a significant degree of understanding of the wildlife especially the birdlife of Kenya. He picked up us from the Nairobi airport and left us back to Nairobi after 10days of wonderful safari was take us to right locations. Mr. Otieno - the key safari itinerary planner with Kenya Walking Survivors Safari made our trip a glitch free event. I would recommend services of this team and would-like to plan another journey soon.
Our travel plan was roughly like this:
Day1 (20-08-2015 ) : Arriving to Nairobi on 20-08-2015 and overnight
at Hennessis Hotel.
Day2 (21-08-2015 ) : NAIROBI-SAMBURU
0600am Breakfast
0700am:Driving to Samburu
1230hrs:Arrive for lunch and check inn
1500hrs: Afternoon game drive
1800hrs Back at Samburu Game Lodge
Day3 (22-08-2015 ):SAMBURU
0600hrs breakfast
0630 Proceed to Morning game Drive
1200Hrs lunch at the lodge
1530hrsAfternoon game Drive
1800hrs Back at the Samburu Game Lodge
Day4 (23rd -08-2015 ): SAMBURU GAME RESERVE TO LAKE NAKURU
0600hrs breakfast
0630 Proceed to Lake Nakuru
1100hrs :Stop for Thomson falls
1400Hrs lunch in the park
1500hrs Arrive in Lake Nakuru park and Evening Game drive to see flamigoes
1800hrs Back at the lodge Lake Nakuru sarova lions hills.
Day 5 (24-08-2015) : LAKE NAKURU -MAASAI MARA
06oohrs Breakfast
0630am Morning game Drive enroute,
0715am we proceed to Masai mara.
1400hrs Lunch at AA lodge,
1530hrs:proceed for the first game drive at Masai mara.
1800hrs back at the lodge Mara AA Lodge
Day 6 (25-08-2015): MAASAI MARA
0600hrs: Breakfast
0700hrs:Full day game drive at Masai mara with packed lunch boxes.
1800hrs :Back at the Mara AA lodge
Day7 (26-08-2015): MAASAI MARA
0600hrs: Breakfast
0700hrs:Full day game drive at Masai mara with packed lunch boxes.
1800hrs :Back at the keekrok lodge which is inside the Park
Day 8 (27-08-2015 ) MAASAI MARA TO LAKE NAIVASHA PARK:
0600hrs Wakeup early and Morning Game drive
0800am Drive out and Proceeding to Lake Naivasha .
1400hrs Lunch at Sopa lodge and check in te lodge
1500hrs Evening walk at Crescent Island and stay at
Naivasha Sopa Lodge.
Day9 (28-08-2015 ): LAKE NAIVASHA TO AMBOSELI
0600hrs breakfast
0630 Proceed to Amboseli park via Nairobi
1200hrs :Drive for lunch
1530Hrs Afternoon Game Drive in Amboseli
1800hrs Back at the lodge Kibo Luxury Tented Camp
Day 10 (29-08-2015) AMBOSELI TO NAIROBI
0600hrs Breakfast
0630 morning Drive to NAIROBI
1030hrs Arrive at the airport.
The tour ended at the Jomo kenyatta Airport
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Excellent
It was a great experience, all tour were we well organised. Hotels books in the mara, were excellent. I would use them again.
AE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
That was real
Thanks for the Global Insight Safaris to make our Safari a loving experience. I was so happy with my wife to get fabulous surprises beyond our expectations .
Big up for the entire team and hope to come back with our many friends
Cheers
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Don't trust him
Unfortunately my review cannot be positive... Faustin let us down before the end of our holiday... We had agreed a package safari to Ruaha and Mikumi but he was everything but professional. He was very superficial about the actual time needed to reach Ruaha and he didn't keep his promises about the agreements made. On the way back, we were supposed to visit Mikumi but he stopped answering the phone and we had to pay extra money because he had disappeared. Luckily our driver stayed with us until the end, though we decided to report everything to the police. After coming home, he wrote us promising to refund us the extra money we had to pay. But, up to now, he hasn't sent us any money.
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Venture Safaris: well organized visit to amazing parks in Kenya
Organzied by Venture Africa Budget Safaris, we had an unforgettable 4-days trip to Masai-Mara and Lake Nakuru. Both parks were amazing beatiful, the weather was great, making the trip a huge success. Price-quality ratio was perfect, also the drive to both parks was well organized. At the start, we departed from Ngong (1-hr from Nairobi) to Venture’s office. Prior, it was quite unclear were to meet Venture’s employees in Nairobi. After many questions to the organization, it became more clear where they wanted to meet. Hostels and food was good. During our drive, the car crashed. It took many hours before we continued our trip to Nakura, that was a pity and required a lot of energy. Overall, the organization was well done and really enjoyed the trip. Afterwards, we were a bit spammed for writing this review, so be prepared ;)..
CL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience!!!!!
The Kruger Tree House Safari was great!!!! Everything was as they described it!!
The Tree Houses were awsome!!! very cozy but at the same time make you feel like you where in the middle of the bush (you were in the middle of the bush hahaha)
I really enjoyed been there, the people was very very nice! Food was incredible! Just good vibes around and all the game views were amazing!!!
Its an unforgettable experience and highly reommended!!!
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Phinda must offer one of the finest guided game viewing experiences available in South Africa.
Our stay at Phinda in one of the beautiful game lodges in the Sand Forest section was an amazing experience. Phinda has a fascinating variety of attractive bushveld landscapes including mountains, forest, vlei and open grassland. There is an abundance of wildlife, including the Big Five and many rarer and less easily spotted species, such as cheetah and rhino. The bird life is also a big draw card.
The accommodation is of five star quality and unique. Each couple had their own secluded lodge in the forest a short walk from other lodges, the swimming pool and restaurant but hidden from them. The on-suite bathroom had windows looking out on the forest allowing you to leave the blinds open while taking a bath or shower watching Impala browsing in the forest outside.
Our stay included all meals, two professionally guided game drives each day with a separate vehicle, ranger and tracker allocated for our group of 6 guests. Apart from the first day, the same ranger and tracker handled all our game viewing trips. On several occasions our ranger and tracker joined our group for the evening meal, which provided the opportunity to discuss the days viewing experiences with very knowledgeable experts. It also allowed them to get to know us and helped in planning and personalising the next days outings to suit our particular interests.
The quality of the food was excellent. Apart from the three main meals, snacks and drinks were provided in the bush during game drives and during the afternoon break between lunch and the late afternoon and evening game drive. On two nights the evening meal after the game drive was in the form of a barbecue in an open-to-the sky boma. A highlight was the champagne breakfast in the bush organised for us on our last day.
Weather during our stay was superb. During the early morning game drive it was crisply cool and sometimes misty making the mid-drive coffee break very welcome. You must try Amarula Cream in your coffee instead of milk. The misty landscapes were a photographers delight. The days were warm and very comfortable. We had a few short showers, which added to rather than dampened the experience.
All the staff are very professional, knowledgeable and friendly. They interact with you throughout your stay giving a new meaning to the word hospitality. If it fits within your budget, Phinda is an experience no one should miss.