50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Thank you Richard, for a safe & fun expedience on the safari! He was also very knowledgeable.
This was my first safari and it was so much fun! Our tour guides on water and land did an excellent job of explaining and keeping us safe! The tour was a great way to end our visit to Africa. I would love to visit again someday! So worth it!
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
A Most Memorable Vacation
I’d like to highly recommend Priyal and her team at Savai. They have been exceptional in every way. We traveled with family and friends to Tanzania in September 2024, and our two-week journey was seamless from start to finish. Our itinerary included a four-night stay in Dar es Salaam to connect with family and friends, a four-night safari adventure through Tarangire, Ngorongoro, and Serengeti National Parks, and a relaxing four-night stay at a beach resort in Zanzibar.
Throughout the trip, Priyal and her team provided outstanding service, making the experience completely stress-free. Whenever we had questions or concerns, Priyal was just a phone call away, ready to assist. Meeting her personally in Dar es Salaam was a wonderful bonus, as she is clearly passionate about her work and dedicated to her clients’ satisfaction. Thanks to her and her team, we had an incredible journey filled with unforgettable memories.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome Safari Experience
The 5-Day Safari was a great experience. From the beginning we felt well taken care of and the communication with Meru Slopes was good. They organized everything really well!
The driver Andrew and chef Moshi were with us during the experience and it was lovely to enjoy freshly cooked meals during the trip. We were able to see the big 5, lots of other animals and the driver was awesome at helping us to spot them!
Thank you to the whole team for making this experience truly unforgettable!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing
This is the first time I've been on a safari and I was really amazed.
We visited the Tarangire, Leonard came to pick us up in the morning with my friend and gave us a tour.
When we arrived, we took the time to appreciate the incredible landscapes and the animals. Our guide was able to use his experience to see the animals up close and in their intimacy and to blend into the scenery. He was able to tell us about each animal and the flora with precision and passion.
I have an unforgettable memory of this day.
On the way back, we stopped in a Masai village and attended a livestock fair. It was exciting and truly authentic.
We then visited a reptile farm with all kinds of snakes.
I recommend Leonard and his team two hundred percent for this experience
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
7 Days Private tour 4x4 Minivan
We recently embarked on a remarkable 7-day private tour that took us from Nairobi to Ambroseli, Naivasha, Hell's Gate, Nakuru, and finally the renowned Masai Mara National Park before heading back to Nairobi. For our travels, we opted for a comfortable 4x4 minivan, which was perfect for the two of us. However, if you are traveling with a larger group, you may want to consider how everyone’s luggage will fit.
The roads connecting the parks primarily consist of one lane in each direction, often congested with truck traffic and occasionally in poor condition. As a result, expect a driving time of around 5 hours or more between parks.
Our accommodations were delightful. We particularly enjoyed the Sopa Lodge in Amboseli and Mara Kimana near Masai Mara, which stood out as top-notch options. The food served at the lodges was consistently delicious, except for the packed breakfasts and picnics. The Amboseli Sopa Lodge even features a restaurant within the park, offering meals that rival those at the lodge. It's worth noting that none of the lodges are located directly inside the parks, which necessitates a 20 to 30-minute drive to reach the park gates. This can slightly cut into your time for early morning game drives.
We scheduled our safari for the last week of October, just after the Great Migration had concluded, leaving only a few animals in the tail group heading towards the Serengeti. Nevertheless, we were fortunate enough to witness a diverse array of wildlife, with the exception of leopards.
Regarding the organization of our trip, there were moments of miscommunication between the office, our guide, and ourselves concerning the itinerary, activities, and special requests. This did leave us with a sense of disappointment. However, our driver/guide, Philip, was knowledgeable about the wildlife and local culture. He was also accommodating to our needs, such as arranging early game drives offering us his personal binocular (the company told us there were going to be binoculars available for both) and adjusting activities that had been unexpectedly canceled.
One particular activity we experienced but probably avoidable was a walking safari with the Masai Warriors, which began in a traditional Masai village located along the main road to Masai Mara NP. Here, we were provided with insights into construction techniques, cultural practices, and the local way of life. While there were attempts to sell artisan crafts (including a stick and a piece of wood used for old fashioned way of starting the fire for just 20 USD), we found the experience somewhat lacking in terms of genuine information and wildlife encounters. The walking safari took us through an area behind the village where we primarily observed Masai cattle, a few rats, and wild chickens, along with brief lessons about two plant species and a chance to use a traditional Masai bow and arrow. If you’re hoping to see zebras or giraffes during this activity, you may want to manage your expectations.
Lastly, we spent only one full day in the Masai Mara. Our guide did offer us the option to extend our visit for an additional half day before returning to Nairobi, which would require a new entry fee of $200 USD each.
In conclusion, our safari experience was indeed wonderful. With this review, I aim to highlight a few key points for future travelers, ensuring they have a clearer understanding of what to expect when signing up for such an adventure.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
6 night Masai Mara from Nairobi
Julius and our driver Dominic provided another amazing safari. This is the fourth time I have booked with Julius and it never disappoints. We stayed at Ashnil Mara and Zebra River camp, both were fantastic. The process from booking right through to departure is very straightforward when booking with JT Safaris, I highly recommend. Very much looking yo planning the next visit!
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Fabulous
From beginning to end Derek and his team worked professionally and tailored our trip from beginning to end to accommodate whatever we wanted. They did not try to change our minds but made sensible suggestions that would make our stay in Namibia run smoothly and without hitches. The whole team were pleasant, polite and respectful. They were very patient when I changed my mind a few times and never, ever made me feel I was being a nuisance. The service was excellent, the car they provided was in tip top condition and the itinerary was all printed out in detail. What we really liked was that they gave us maps to find our way around. We love maps. We would definately use Blue Crane again to plan our next trip.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Good but problem with payment and price
We booked in 2019 with them for a safari in Tanzania and everything was perfect. This time, it was for a safari in Kenya. The safari was perfect too, but we deal the price severals months before the departure and 2 weeks before the safari, they said that we will need to pay more money. They said it was because of troubles with the municipal council and the payment of taxes. They were supposed to return the extra money we paid, but since now we lost 1400$. I don't recommend Kiliholidays since you will not be sure the price you will pay at the end.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Exceeded all expectations
A lot of safari comes down to luck, and thankfully we had a lot of it when searching for animals. But regardless of whatever you may see out in the Bush, you can rest assured that Jocky Tours will have you covered. My wife, her sister, and I booked the 6 day trip from Nairobi to Masai Mara, then Lake Nakuru & Naivasha, then on to Amboseli. Our guide, Alex, picked us up promptly when we had arranged. For the next 6 days, Alex was an outstanding guide, answering all of our questions and sharing lots of insightful information and great stories about his experience being a guide. We always felt safe, never hungry, and "the good kind of tired" you get after effectively doing a cross-country Kenyan road trip for 6 days. We saw the each Big 5 multiple times over (yes, plural Leopard), and never got sick or had any major disruptions to our itinerary. The rate came out to about $300/day for lodging, food, water, and private, non-group transport, and the quality of our accommodations were incredible value for the money and felt like luxury. Mind you, every single time I travel internationally, I'm praying to the porcelain god at some point, so this is a glowing review of the quality of our dining and lodging.
I would strongly recommend anyone to take this safari. However I would advise bringing lots of small-mid size bills of Kenyan shillings for tips. Regardless of whatever operator you pick, the lodging will have people asking to carry bags or buy small souvenirs, and it's nice to show some love to the locals. Yes, I am an American.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
A professional approach to nature tourism
We (my husband and I) were the most satisfied with Harilala and his team. We received all necessary information before our arrival, and Harilala met us personally at the airport. All transportation services and our schedule were arranged in advance so we do not need to waste any time. We especially love the accommodation that Harilala selected for us - very charming places and a good value for money. All specialty guide were extremely knowledgeable, and as a result we learn a ton about the fauna and flora of Madagascar.