IT
50-65 years of age
Excellent trekking on Kilimanjaro
Our trekking on Kilimanjaro (6/12 January 2016) was a great experience, very well organized from Savannah explorers. The staff is friendly and professional, John and Nianda are excellent guides, the chef prepared very good food.
Roberto, always available and very kindle, found for us the best solution about dates, with suggestions about route and laggages.
Asante sana.
SE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Washington the great
The communications with big time holiday is quick and professional and to the point and questions are awnsered with speed.
The service was excellent Washington the driver i had was a real pro whom helped with everything.
Saw the whole big five in a day and a half awesome stuff. the tour the accomodation the whole package lived up to the expectations i had and superseeded them.
I didnt know there was going to to be a shower available so i didnt bring a towel so dont forget your towels people :) i could probably have gotten one but it didnt cross my mind to ask for one ;)
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The experience of a lifetime.....
From the moment we were greeted at the airport to be taken to our hotel in Nairobi with a huge smile, we could tell we would be in great hands for this trip which lasted 12 days. From that point on, every employee of Baisy Oryx Tours was an absolute delight to be with. Helpful, courteous, knowledgeable and most importantly, genuinely authentic..They lead us through deep slums of Nairobi to the savannas of Samburu, and Masai Mara, to the beautiful edge of the Menenge Crater. The rides from place to place over miles of African roadway were always wonderful as the guides knew everything about their country from the fauna/flora and geology to the political issues of the day, to the day to day lives of the people. We stayed at amazing lodges or tented sites adjacent to the parks, always comfortable, friendly , and with an abundance of delicious food. The guides were expert at locating the animals and allowing excellent view points while respecting the animals. The trucks were new and as comfortable as they can be given the nature of Kenyan roads and the open savanna. My wife and I travel quite a lot and we both agree that no trip will ever match up with this one and Baisy Oryx tours was a large reason for this.We cannot speak highly enough for the experience they created and the friends we made.
PL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
6 days Safari + Panorama Route
That was the experience of our life!!! Our family of 4 have spent 6 days in Kruger on board of Truck Norris. Everything was perfectly organised from the very beginning - Chris patiently and quickly responded to all my questions before making a final decision, than we were picked up from Jo'burg and the tour began. We were on camping safari, full equipment was provided by Chris - tents, sleeping bags, mattrecess, pillows, chairs, etc. Chris took care of us all the time - he was our guide, safari driver, excellent chef and storyteller. It was nice to sit at night near campfire and have a chit-chat on different subjects.
Travelling in Truck Norris was sooo comfortable - a lot of space, big windows, a fridge with stocks of cold beer, coffee machine and toilet. As we sit much higher than in standard safari vehicles we had better views. We saw so many animals! Chris has amazing knowledge of Kruger nature and he is happy to share it with his guests. Additionally our games were not strictly limited as in other safari operators, we spent at least 7 hours on games a day. I'm pretty sure that it is the best value for money.
I have to mention the delicious food prepared by Chris himself - that were home-made meals like pasta, steaks, curry, salads, etc. - quite different from my imagination of camping food (that was my first time sleeping in a tent :-)).
All in all - the only what can I do is to strongly recomend Chris ans his Armadillo Overland Safari & Adventure Tours. You will not be disappointed!!! Chris - once again I would like to thank you for your hospitality, patience and wonderful time we have in Kruger. Big respect for your hard work to satisfy your guests.
AT
20-35 years of age
Excellent, but beware of details
Kenya is incredible! No matter with which tour operator, airline or travel agency you go there you should be satisfied. You can have beach holiday, city trips, wildlife viewing, climbing mountains - all of it in just two weeks time. Regarding our trip to Masai Mara with Kenya Tour Budget Safari, which was supposed to be wildlife viewing tour. Definitely to be recommended, but with some observations. Why you should choose this or similar company which uses minivans for safari inside the national parks (Masai Mara and Nakuru) - because the roots are the same for everybody - you view the same animals and use the same infrastructure. There is really no sense to pay two or three times more just for riding a jeep. The majority of drivers are experienced and know where and when to go. If financial aspect is not important for you then you can choose a flight on a small plane from Nairobi. Thus you will avoid the quite bumpy road.
What was not ok in our trip: you pay not too much, therefore you live two nights in a tented camp just outside the Masai Mara national park. A real tent would be fine for me, yet the owners of the camp have decided to use (in their opinion) improved tents - with the shower and toilet inside the the tent! Each tent is for several people, so unless you are a group of close friends or a family, it becomes really uncomfortable. And there is no alternative - like a common shower or toilet somewhere else in the camp. The shower is with cold water only, but if you are in good health it should not make problems.
Next negative point - all flamingos from lake Nakuru have left, yet the organizers did not inform us about it. And finally - the small business of the tour drivers - "optional" boat safari in lake Naiwasha. One hour for 30 USD :) In the beginning nobody wants to go there, because there is nothing to see except malaria mosquitoes. However the driver speaks with everyone individually and says that all the group wants to go to Naiwasha. And of course you are expected to join the group. So, speak among yourselves and beware of such practices.
In general - I want back to Kenya!
DK
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Friendly, efficient and everything we hoped for
The main reason for visiting Uganda was going to Bwindi to see the mountain gorillas (which was amazing). Since it involves a lot of driving we decided on a five day tour including also a chimpanzee trek.
From beginning to the end we were very pleased with Encounter Africa Safaris. Good and efficient communication with the head office through email - and a very competent and punctual guide/driver. Everything ran very smoothly. When one guesthouse mixed up the reservations (T.I.A. - this is Africa), we were upgraded to a better place before we found out there had been an issue. As a foodie I even quite enjoyed making stops on the long way back to Kampala to buy different vegetables.
Would we do anything differently if we could? Maybe spend an extra $600 for an extra day at Bwindi ... Seriously, the only thing we were talking about was wanting to go back. Or arrange a little longer tour that went into Rwanda to do one more day with the gorillas and a volcano trek. I'm sure Encounter could set that up.
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
I was really amazed by the quality of their service and their professionalism.
They were open, friendly and attentive to my requests. I was sincerely satisfied with the service I received. The only thing I regretted was not being able to stay longer!
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience
We did the three day safari to the Selous game reserve. excellent staff, very helpful. the Italian-speaking guide is very good. We stayed at hippocamp, in a unique experience. Africa we miss you very Much!!!!! Thank you very much Kanuth
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
My experince wa great i enjoyed their care and services
I am told its a new company, they are coming up very well with excellent customer services, friendly staff they all make you feel very comfortable and every minute enjoyable. I would recommend them anytime.
The trip to Manyara and Ngorongoro was so wonderful. Being met and welcomed from Kilimanjaro Airport and driven to Arusha Town made us feel secured.
TH
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Exciting Tour Experience with Africa Remote Safaris
"I have travelled all my life. I've combed much of Europe, from the arctic north in Norway to the streets of Seville in Spain, the beaches of Cannes and Nice in France and the medieval heart of Bologna in Italy. I've been on two African safaris (one tented, one not), both "luxurious." I've been on more than a dozen jaunts to India, some guided, others not. Over the years I have discovered that I had rather be lost and disoriented in a foreign country than submit once again to the unbending schedule of a guided tour. Hence I had given up tours of any kind, until Becky Anderson, an American travel agent, suggested I might want simply to list the places my friends and I wished to see in East Africa then let Africa Remote Safaris make accessing them in an orderly way not only possible but thoroughly enjoyable as well. And this Africa Remote Safaris did. They pulled our disparate destinations together and designed a far, far better route than we could ever have done on our own 4 Days Gorrillas Rwanda 5 Days Kenya 5Days Tanzania. They satisfied all our requests and threw in delicious additions, areas of interest we had never considered or even heard of. Our accommodations were well within our means and wonderful. Our guide and driver, not to mention our 4x4 Landcruiser with Hamza Nyelo. Could not have pleased us more. In other words, thanks to Becky and her recommending African Remote Safaris, we had a sensational holiday."