IN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Jocky Tours - Very Good Value Budget Tour
After a lot of search for Budget Tours to Masai Mara, I chose Jocky Tours .I chose their 3 day Masai Mara Tour. I chose them because they were the cheapest tours available. I kept my expectations low. On Day one, We were picked up from a residence in Nairobi around 8am and was driven in a Toyota Van. The Van driver / Guide was an amazing driver. The roads in Masai Mara are a bit treacherous as they get very muddy during rain. Van is not a four wheel drive and one has to be an expert in driving in those conditions. We got to Masai Mara around 4pm and was immediately taken around for an evening game drive. Next day it was a full day game drive. On day three we left for early morning game drive and then headed back to Nairobi.
The Van: There was lot of mud in the seat. The tour company should clean up the van very well before picking up the guests.
The Camp accommodation: We stayed in a tent. It was clean, It had comfortable beds , mosquito nets. Electricity is available only for 4 hours between 6pm and 10pm and for about 3 hours in the morning. In night it is pitch dark. One should carry lights. The water in the camp is horrible. We were forced to skip shower for couple of days. Buy big can of drinking water from outside.
The Guide: The guide hardly spoke about the geography, the animals etc. However he showed all sorts of animals including a leopard which is hard to spot. All the drivers have radio and many tour operators share the information about animals with each other. The guy was very brave. He parked the van very close to cheetahs, lions as if he was parking them close to a dog. We infect took a selfie with a lion.
Food: Food was okay.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
From Lake Victoria to the Vic Falls an Excellent Safari, wildlife, culture and fantastic people.
Just a reminder we did our first trip with Eastco 2 years ago and it was also fantastic, so much so we convinced 2 friends to join us for a longer African Adventure, and what an adventure it was.
Our first port of call in Tanzania was Dar Es Salaam hot and muggy to Lake Victoria,ditto and then through the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Tarangire and an old favourite staying at Boundary Hill Lodge. New ground followed, Babati, Kolo, Dodomo and Ruaha before heading to Zambia, of course our aim was to see the two Victoria's. We did.
Eastco did an excellent job from start to finish, well planned, a well maintained 4 x4, great guides.
Lodges and camps exactly what we were looking for. Cold beer of course.
We loved Mbalageti a highlight and the crater.
The guest houses we stayed in while simple were spotless with great food.
I think we had a combination of luxury with the very simple.
The Victoria Falls after such a long trip with little mishap was a great place to relax and finish off a trip, that couldn't have run better.
Standing overlooking the falls and remembering all that history. I had recently read Livingstone's Missionary Travels in South Africa. The Vic. Falls were the perfect end to that part of our holiday.
I won't comment on the individual lodges and camps but enough to suffice Eastco did organize the trip of a life time, twice now.
Oh I forgot the wildlife, villages, small towns. historical sites I could go on and on.
But this trip was not so much about ticking off the boxes but taking in the sights, sounds and smells of Africa.
NL
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
We had a very interesting, perfect organized and not forgetting holiday like our wishes.
The communication bij mail was very fast and precise.
The description of our holiday in the photobook, we recieved before we started by the postman, was a complete surprise. We showed it our friends before we started!
Because all came through, we had a very safe feeling.
The guesthouses were perfect, the people very helpful. They tried to update our holiday as best they could do.
We appreciated the personal contact in St. Lucia on the end of our holiday.
We recommend Safaris op Maat by all our friends who think about a holiday in South Africa.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic Service!
Mark at Gondwana thinks of everything, and is very responsive if anything is amiss. We really enjoyed our time and were thankful for the pre-information, as well as the follow-up. He's VERY organized!
AE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent service
I loved how welcoming and helpful the staff were towards us. We got to see all the big 5 animals and the meals provided were excellent. I would definitely recommend this company. The only thing I would say is that if you are particular about your sleeping arrangements, you should opt for the luxury accommodations. The budgeted tents were fine, but I realized that I don't actually like camping lol
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Excellent , professional & good value for money !!!
The whole trip was excellent in ALL aspects of our stay. Management was very professional & always informative & accommodative.
Experience level: 2-5 safaris
best experience ever!!
I chose dancom tours over other tour companies in Kenya because of their prompt communication and great prices. I can say with confidence that i don't regret making that choice.
The whole tour was well planned such that i got to see and taste the best that Kenya has to offer.
If you're looking to travel to Kenya, dancom tour companies is your to go to tour company in Kenya.
EE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was a wonderfull experience!
My husband, friend and I have just returned home from a three week holiday in Kenya and Uganda. It was amazing experience and we could see so much animals. All the lodges was nice. A big thank to Mr. Otieno and very very big thank to our driver-guide Mooses, who made the best for us.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
New to the bush - choose Chobe Safari Lodge!
I'm a native Expat who was born and grew up in Botswana. Having left 20-years ago I was finally able to take my new family with me tonAfrica all the way from USA! Chobe Safari Lodge is a great spot to use as a base if you want to visit Moremi, Okavango, Vic Falls etc. The game drives are spectacular and don't forget the unbelievabe sunset river cruise! The staff is VERY professional and pleasant. I left my laptop at the hotel and they were able to find it, track me down and get it back to me with no issues at all (try that in a hotel in the USA...). Food is good, rooms are very comfortable and safari stylish. My kids loved waking up to watch the monkeys. A must stay!0
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Best Trip Ever!
We are a group of two moms and our three daughters, all animal lovers, who had been talking about this trip for years and finally decided to stop talking and do it and we are very glad we did, especially with Blue Crane and Derek.
There was a lot of back and forth with Blue Crane during our planning stages and they were very patient with all our requests, even when we decided to completely reverse the original itinerary. (Most of this was because we each had a daughter with serious motion sickness and we were trying to eliminate long drives).
Once we arrived in Namibia, Derek had arranged everything perfectly. The lodges we stayed in were way beyond what we had imagined and we can't stop talking about the food. None of us had ever eaten that much game before and we loved it. He even made sure our favourite beverages were in a cooler in the vehicle each day. Derek did an amazing job of dealing with two generations of crazy ladies.
The best parts though were the number and diversity of the animals we saw on our game drives. And the information about the animals Derek was able to give us. We were lucky enough to see everything from giraffes to warthogs and oryx to elephants and lions, and even the desert elephants and lions. No leopards though, so we will have to come back and will certainly book with Blue Crane Safaris. Thanks a million Derek helping us make memories with our girls that will last a lifetime.