35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The best week on Safari, exceeding all expectations!!!
We - a family of 3 adults and 2 children- planned our trip to Kenya at very short notice (less than one month), so used this website to select Jocky Tours based on their great reviews, itineraries on offer and budget. Minneh helped us to build a 6 night / 7 day tour that covered all the places we wanted to go (Masai Mara, Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli). Jocky were great on the emails in the planning phase and quite patient with me while I adjusted the itinerary a few times. At times after that the communication was a bit more "relaxed" which made me start to worry a bit, but all was well in the end.
Being from Australia and booking directly with a tour operator in Kenya I was apprehensive about making payment online, and Jocky allowed me to make a small deposit and then pay the balance in person on the morning of departure from Nairobi. We were collected from our hotel and driven to the Jocky office, where payment was made and we set off. It all went really smoothly so I was relieved! We were advised at this point that a small change in the itinerary had been made (Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha nights switched around) due to accommodation availability. I had expressed that we wanted to stay in a particular brand of lodge in one place as opposed to another that was offered, and as this was not available at short notice the nights were swapped around. Whilst this wasn't particularly a big deal, it did result in a few hours of extra driving as it was not the most efficient circuit between the parks. If we'd been advised a little earlier we may have chosen a different lodge that would have meant we didn't need to do this swap.
Our driver was Yasin, and he was UNREAL. He was friendly and accommodating, and with almost 20 years of driver experience, really made our tour so wonderful. I highly recommend you request Yasin if you book with Jocky! Yasin knew the names of every tree, plant and creature that we came across. His knowledge was next level, and there was not a question we had that went unanswered. We learned so much about the animals and habitats we visited just from driving with him. He knew where to go to find the more elusive animals and was always chatting on the radio or phone to other drivers in order to get us right to the action. We knew that when Yasin put the pedal down without warning it was time to sit and hold on because we were headed for something very special! He got us to lions, cheetah, rhino and even a leopard! Having an experienced and enthusiastic driver is definitely a must for a trip like this, and he absolutely was both of those things.
We stayed in Sopa lodges in Mara, Naivasha and Amboseli. Naivasha was a highlight- there are giraffe and zebra just wandering through the hotel grounds! The pool and kids play area was also excellent, and the rooms large and comfy. Mara and Amboseli were a little more tired in the room department, and there was quite a bit of trouble with electricity going on and off at Amboseli in the rooms. Bathrooms are tired and showers a little unreliable with water pressure and temperature but overall more than comfortable enough for a night stop between big safari days. There's lots of choice at the buffet and the staff were always really lovely. In Nakuru we stated at Lake Nakuru lodge and again the staff were wonderful, and the view from the pool and restaurant is fabulous. Wifi is quite sketchy in most places unless you're in a public area. Some resorts have no wifi at all in the rooms, nor a phone in the room to call reception, with is a bit tricky when the power goes out at night and you're a long long walk back to the front desk!
Lake Nakuru is definitely worth the visit as that's where we saw the Rhino and the Leopard. Amboseli was a long drive (6+) hours so we spent a whole day just getting there, but we particularly wanted to see Mt Kilimanjaro, and the large herds of elephants. We did see both of those things and they did not disappoint! I can highly recommend splurging on a hot air balloon ride with Kilimanjaro Balloon Safaris, it was so so beautiful and peaceful, and a nice change of pace from safari by road. It is also a good way to see the mountain if there is early morning cloud cover as sometimes the pilots will pop above the cloud layer for the view of the peak.
If you're not fussed on seeing the mountain, I'd probably not bother with Amboseli if coming from Mara/Naivasha/Nakuru though as it really is quite a trek to get there, and another 4 hours back to Nairobi at the completion. Spend an extra day at one of the other stops instead.
Other optional things we did were: Lake Naivasha boat ride (definitely do this, we saw so many hippos and beautiful birds), and a visit to a Masai village (also very cool, albeit a bit of a tourist trap but amazing to see what a village is like).
It was quite sad seeing our week come to an end and saying farewell to Yasin. It was the most wonderful week and it wildly surpassed our expectations!
SE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Well organized. Super service.
This safari trip was absolutely amazing. The nature, the animals and the adventure overall was great.
Suricata arrangerad everything very well and the people we interacted with was so nice. Our guide Amiri was really knowledgable, a great driver and super fun. The chef Pius made us happy with great food. We also had a briefing and debriefing before/after the trip with Musa which was just a great add to make sure everything was clear.
Great Experience!
HK
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Reliable agency for the Gorilla experience in Uganda
Overall a good experience.
Michelle is absolutely fantastic, she organized a memorable trip for us, always very quick replying to us, great service.
Our tour guide was Godfrey, he did the basic things.
I recommend Eco Adventure Safaris as a reliable agency for your trip to Uganda for the Gorilla experience.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Provides exceptional service!
From start to finish, this company exceeded all expectations. The planning was seamless, and their attention to detail ensured every aspect of our trip was stress-free.
The guides were knowledgeable, personable, and always willing to go the extra mile to make our experience unforgettable. I highly recommend this company for anyone seeking an organized, professional, and memorable adventure!
PL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic adventure.
I highly recommend - the customer feels 100% taken care of.
We were impressed by the knowledge imparted by guide Dawid.
2 days of beautiful nature. Communing with interesting people.
We RECOMMEND to anyone who ends up in Tanzania
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Phenomenal!!!!
From the moment we booked the safari until we landed back in the States, I had the experience of a lifetime! Vera was very kind and patient, answering all of my questions, through prompt responses to my emails. When we landed in Nairobi in the middle of the night,, I felt very safe and secure. The next morning we were met by Vera and our guide, Chris. They both were very knowledgeable and welcomed all questions.
I can't explain the next 10 days other than to say it was absolutely the best experience ever. I was going to be happy if I got to see a lion or elephant, but we saw every animal imaginable. Chris was phenomenal in every way, from being extremely patient with us when we wanted to stay in the same place just to capture the "right" picture to explaining the culture and geography of Kenya, right down to the plant life.
I was worried about the food and if I would like it, but, like the rest of the experience, the food was outstanding! I thought I would lose weight, but I think I gained some. They even made me a birthday cake, as we were there on my birthday!!
I am planning on returning to Africa soon. I will not use any other company. I cannot say enough good things about Peaks and Safaris!!!!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional, knowledgeable, experienced, accommodating, personable
Fabulous locally owned tour operator! (Grew up near Arusha with Maasai background.) Good communication through Whatsapp. We were 10 hours late due to a flight delay, but our driver was waiting for us when we landed. We visited Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Jackson has been guiding for 16+ years and has even trained other guides. He handles the road conditions well, and somehow manages to get you to great viewing spots despite congestion with the other tourist vehicles. He is very knowledgeable regarding the area, as well as the animals and their territories (and even the many birds). He can help plan your itinerary based on your interests, and will also take your interests into account when you are out sightseeing. He is familiar with the accommodations and can recommend the best value. We stayed in some tented camps with beds, hot showers, and wifi, which we thoroughly enjoyed. Great variety of food: I don't eat much meat and am fairly picky, unlike my husband who loves meat and is much more adventurous with food. Both of us were very satisfied with the included meals. When we were informed of an outbound flight delay, Jackson was able to maximize our sightseeing time. The scenery and animals are amazing, but our trip was made even better because of the detail and organization provided by our tour operator!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Outstanding Safari Experience in Kenya and Tanzania
I have visited Kenya and Tanzania with my wife and 15 years old daughter during the year end holidays, and we had a wonderful experience using Morning Star Tours & Travel services to organize our safari. Starting with Alice, who was our travel consultant and was very engaging and patient since the first contact. She helped me go through multiple iterations to create the perfect itinerary that would meet our expectations within the time and budget we had available – our itinerary started in Nairobi, went through Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara, crossing then the border to Tanzania to visit Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Arusha. Alice help us find outstanding lodging options for a very fair price. During the trip she was always very responsive, regularly making the point to contact us through WhatsApp and check if everything was going as expected.
We also had a fantastic experience with all the guides we had during the trip: starting with Justus, who was right at the airport waiting for us after a late night arrival to bring us quickly and safely to our hotel in Nairobi. That was followed by an incredible time with Chacha, who was our guide throughout Kenya starting the next day. Chacha shared his energy and passion for the work he does to help us have a great experience in the wild, as well as a safe journey in-between the parks all the way from Nairobi to Tanzania. We changed vehicles upon crossing the border to Tanzania – Jackson was our new guide at that point and did an outstanding job in helping us notice everything along the way, and I will always be grateful for his determination to help us see all the big 5 in Serengeti. Lastly, for our last day from the vicinities of Ngorongoro crater to our departure in Arusha airport, our guide Prince did way more than just drive us to the airport: given we had a bit more time, he went above and beyond and drove us through the main points in downtown Arusha and shared his knowledge of the city he clearly loves, what allowed us to learn a bit more from that important hub in the region.
Overall, I am extremely satisfied with the safari organized by Morning Star both in terms of quality, price and punctuality. I will keep fond memories from our trip for a long time to come, certainly recommending their services to all my friend and family. A special thanks to Alice, Justus, Chacha, Jackson and Prince for doing everything they could to make the experience even more memorable!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Responsive
We had a wonderful 6-day safari experience with Destiny Explorers and our guide, Denis. The company was responsive and had consistent communication from initial inquiry, through payment, and during our travels. Issa and his team made excellent accommodation selections that provided opportunities for rest during the adventure of a lifetime. As a driver and guide, Denis was engaged, proactive, and safety-minded. I appreciated how Denis encouraged questions not just about animals and the environment, but also about culture, language, and customs. We were better travelers and guests because of his leadership -- plus we saw all the animals on our list and had moments of absolute wonder. Cannot imagine a better trip for the price. Destiny Explorers, Issa, and especially Denis, are just fabulous.
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Outstanding from all points of view!
Went on safari in October 2024. I communicated from Australia with the Afromaxx office based in Moshi.
The administration from pre-booking to booking was outstanding - all perfectly streamlined.
The driver and driving ( no speeding like some other companies that drove past) was excellent as was all the accomodation in the parks and outside. The travel companions were excellent too!