KW
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The best tour operator we have ever used
Amlana Safaris were the most fantastic company to deal with from start to finish. We booked this safari for our honeymoon and I can honestly say it was the best week of our lives and that is largely to do with Amlana Safaris, our tour guide Michael and the amazing places we were able to stay as part of our package.
I found Amlana Safaris through their great reviews online and after enquiring I was immediately contacted by Kelvin who was excellent at explaining the different accommodation, vehicle type, locations and activities we could choose from. The thing I liked the most was that there were 3 or 4 different accommodation options for each leg of our stay that ranged from more affordable to luxury so we could tailor our stay within the budget. There was never any kind of attempt to upsell us or get us to spend more money which I certainly appreciated. Kelvin was then always on hand from the point of booking to when we arrived on the tour to quickly answer questions for us. He was great throughout the whole process. My advice, if you are willing to pay the 5% charge, would be to pay by card as my bank would not release the payment when I tried to pay through bank transfer and the card option was much easier and gave peace of mind that your payment is protected.
When we arrived in Nairobi we were picked up at the airport and taken to our hotel ready for our safari to start the next day. This process was easy and worked well. The next morning, Michael (our tour guide) was waiting for us early to start the safari. Michael was outstanding from the start until the finish of our trip. We honestly could not have asked for anything better from him. He was well presented, polite, eloquent in his explanations, had great knowledge of anything we asked and went above and beyond at every stage to make sure we had the best possible safari. Right from the very start it was obvious how passionate he was to deliver the best service possible. He was always willing to tailor our activities and what we were doing around what we wanted to do but we were so confident in his ability to deliver the best service that most of the time we said 'whichever you think is the best option' and it always turned out just as we would have liked. Again, if your budget allows, I would recommend getting the 'private' vehicle so it is just your group in the vehicle as it makes the experience more intimate whilst also not having to worry about what other people would want to do on the trip.
The 3 locations we stayed in were the Kongoni Lodge, The Cliff and Amani Mara. Kongoni Lodge was our more affordable choice but we were actually pleasantly surprised at how good it was. We were only staying for a night stop and it was exactly what we needed. Very spacious lodges, comfortable and the food was good. The people taking care of us there were also very polite and we enjoyed our time there. The Cliff was our luxury option and it was spectacular. The view was incredible and we loved our luxury tent room. Do not think of it as a tent, I haven't stayed in many actual hotel rooms that were better! On request, the staff even come and bring the blinds up on the tent in the morning so you can watch the sunrise from your bed. It was just amazing. The staff here were also brilliant and the food was lovely as well. Our favourite place was Amani Mara - I do not think I have ever stayed in a more amazing place. You are right in the middle of the Maasai Mara and are surrounded by the animals and when it gets dark you even need to be walked to and from your room by the staff. It is completely safe but really makes you realise just how close you are to the wildlife. The views were stunning and the staff were out of this world. Sallie and William were particularly great and made our stay beyond memorable. Another thing we loved about Amani Mara is the amount of conservation work they do and my wife and I got to plant a tree on their grounds as part of one of the projects which I thought was a lovely touch. We paid extra to have a bush dinner and it was worth every penny. You get driven right out into the reserve, watch the sunset and then get served a lovely dinner surrounded by the zebra, wildebeest and the other animals settling down for the night. We even got visited by some curious hyenas but, again, we were perfectly safe as the staff were all there to make sure they did not get too close! I could not give Amani Mara high enough praise, they were just amazing.
I would recommend all of the activities we did - we did the Crescent Island walk, rode bikes through Hells Gate National Park and visited the Maasai Village. The Crescent Island walk was amazing and highly recommended. You are able to walk in amongst all the animals (avoiding the hippos!) and you get so close it is surreal. We had the giraffe's walking around us completely unbothered by our presence and it was just the nicest experience to kick start the safari. The bike ride was also great fun and a different way to experience some of the beautiful scenery. My wife and I are pretty active and found the riding great but I would caution someone that perhaps is not particularly active that it may be a struggle, especially if it is very hot. We were very glad we went to the Maasai Village to experience some history and culture. We were well looked after and we did leave with some goodies from their stalls. It is more expensive to buy stuff from their stall (make sure you negotiate hard as they will try and get a lot more from you!) but we were happy to do so as it was money going to the local villagers and we thought that was something worth paying a bit more for.
Finally, the game drives. They were all fantastic and Michael could not have done more than he did to maximise our experience. We did game drives around Lake Nakuru and then in the Maasai Mara itself. Michael was so patient and expertly navigated his way around to make sure we saw everything that was possible to see. We saw 4 of the 'Big 5' and despite everyone's best efforts including the other tours and even Sallie from Amani Mara, we did not get to see a leopard because they decided to take a few days off and hide. Literally nobody saw them for that few days but this did not take away from our experience in the slightest. It is nature and nature does not always go how you intended. We saw so many lions, giraffes, elephants, rhinos, hippos, wildebeest, cheetahs and every other kind of animal you could imagine. It shocked us how much you would get to see them as we thought you might be lucky to see a few here and there but we got to see so much of them we felt extremely lucky. I could have driven around for 8-10 hours a day just taking in the scenery and wildlife and been completely happy. We really did feel so lucky to be there and experience what we did.
Michael then drove us to our hotel in Nairobi to end the tour. Although booked separately from Amlana Safaris. We also visited Sheldrick Trust elephant orphanage and it was incredible!
All in all, this was a 10/10 experience and Amlana Safaris/ Michael could not have done more for us. I would recommend them 100% and if we were to do the same or something similar again in the future they are the company I would go for without a doubt.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
A superb vacation
We booked for 6 days at Masai Mara and 6 days in Serengeti, including 2 days at Gnoronoro.
We are seasoned travelers, have travelled to 110 countries, all continents, sailed all oceans and been nearest to both poles. Never before we had such a well organised Safari in the world. It was very well micro-managed, followed up consistently with regular interactions to ensure that there were no gaps or issues.
Phone calls were promptly responded and issues swiftly resolved by a lovely young lady called Charity.
The guides who also drive the vehicles were very knowledgeable, eager to take you to the right spots for the desired sightings and were expert drivers. The Toyota Landcruisers are far better than any other vehicle on the offer. Another trip is to pay a wee bit more and do not have more than 5 people in the Land cruiser. This allows more space and enables better sightings. 7 passengers become more than one could be comfortable with.
Also go with a group which has a common itinerary. If not, it could mean frequent vehicle and group changes to make sure that you are able to proceed as per your itinerary. In our case we had frequent vehicle and group changes as ours was an extraordinary long Safari trip. However we did not feel the pinch or any level of discomfort, as Charity co-ordinated the vehicle changes and guides, very well. There were no hiccups.
The accomodations was extremely good. We slept safely and most comfortably. The accomodation managers went beyond their call of duties to ensure that we were absolutely pampered and well looked after.
Food was freshly made and especially in Serengeti, our chef was fabulous, dishing out freshly salads and great dishes. We had tummies full like the male lions.
Another highlight was, once the payment for the two weeks safari was done, there isn't any place where another dime is required.
Lastly, the cost - extremely economical and transparent. I had deeply researched several many tour operators, but found Super Eagles very very economical. They were also recommended by a friend and colleague, Dr Shah from the US. We have found excellent value for what we paid vs what we had experienced.
We plan to repeat our trip in another couple of years. We have no doubt in going for repeat Safari with Richard and Charity of Super Eagles again.
I definitely recommend Super Eagles. This review is nearly after 6 months of our Safari as we travelled extensively across 11 countries in Africa. Hence the delayed review.
One last additional fact, one can never be sure when the actual migration takes place. I recommend that one should first do Gnoronoro crater, followed by North Serengeti in end 3rd week of July, and followed up by Masai Mara in the 4th week of July / 1st week of August. This will help you to understand the migration better and is the best chance to observe the famed Mara river crossings.
CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
This trip was absolutely perfect, all the staff were very enthusiastic and serious, it was a truly u
This Kilimanjaro climb and safari were recommended by a friend, and I chose Nafika for the climbing activities, including guides, service staff, and porters. Everyone was very enthusiastic and constantly ensured my safety, explaining the scenery along the way and the history of Kilimanjaro, allowing me to not only enjoy the joy of climbing but also gain a deeper understanding of the mountain's history. The safari guide had excellent driving skills and was great at spotting animals, showing us all the wildlife and explaining their history and origins. I am very grateful to Nafika for this unforgettable experience and thank everyone for their hard work during this trip.
LT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great guide and wonderful hotel selection
We travelled to Amboseli with Kameraz for just one night. The whole experience was great, our guide Sam was incredible, he did not only drive us around but told us of a lot if very interesting facts and stories about the animals. We were very lucky to see almost all the big animals you can see in Amboseli as well as the Mount Kilimanjaro. Sam has a great eye and spots all the animals immediately! Also, staying at the Ol Tukai Lodge was definitely the right choice as we not only did not need to waste any time while driving to the park but also could see Kilimanjaro while eating breakfast!
AE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Incredible safari experience
My husband and I We had an incredible safari experience! We witnessed the magnificent migration in Ngorongoro and Ndutu, including the Kalvin season. It was a dream come true for us, as we had been planning this safari for a long time. The lodges were perfect – with comfortable beds, cleanliness, and delicious food. I highly recommend Uncensored Safari for your dream safari. We truly enjoyed every moment of it!
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best trip ever!!
We chose African Big Cats Safari because of the excellent reviews – and our expectations were exceeded on the very first day!!! We spent five days with our guide Khaled, traveling through two national parks and, of course, the Serengeti, and we were simply overwhelmed by the nature. So many different animals, plants, and landscapes!
Khaled knows all the animals and can tell fascinating facts about each one, from the red-billed buffalo weaver (a bird) to the elephant. He also knows exactly where to find them and whether they are in the mood for visitors. I never expected to get so close to the animals, and yet they didn’t seem to mind our presence at all. Elephants walked right past us, we watched a cheetah hunting, and Khaled even managed to show us the Big Five. The black rhino even made an extra round!
The Great Migration is absolutely breathtaking, and the sheer number of wildebeests and zebras is beyond imagination. If you're looking for a perfectly organized trip with great accommodations, knowledgeable guides, and the chance to sing your way through the Serengeti, then ABC and Khaled are the perfect choice!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Friendly and informative, nothing was too much trouble
Henry and Jon were early on the day we were due to set off on our safari. Unfortunately Henry could not take us on our safari but he brought his friend and assured us Jon would take good care of us. The value for money was fantastic and I don't think we could have got a better price than what Henry gave us. I would recommend booking direct instead of going via a third party agent. The game drives were incredible and Jon knew where to find lots of animals. He also provided us with facts about the animals that we saw. Jon was friendly, punctual and helpful. I would definitely recommend using him as a tour guide. The only downside was the amount of travel we had to endure, some journeys taking seven hours. However Henry made us aware of this prior to booking and it was our decision to fit so many different locations in. I would definitely use dume Africa for another safari. Thank you for an unforgettable trip.
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Mtinangi is a very good guide. He can communicate very well and tell a lot of interesting things.
It was a very big adventure, especially the three nights in the tents where buffalo grazed around the tent at night. Or there were hyenas around the camp. We saw at least 50 lions and also rhinos, hippos, elephants, zebras, antelopes, cheetahs and a baby leopard! Lots of young animals in general, ideal travel time in February. The food was wonderful. A fantastic landscape, lots of birds too, a wonderful experience.
(automatic translation from German)
FR
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Unforgettable days
Une super experience avec un guide génial.
Cerise sur le gateau, il parle super bien français. Le decor est grandiose mais c'est la nature et voir des lions, des rhinocéros ne peuvent etre certifié et Ztefa a tous donné pour cela. Un grand merci pour ces deux inoubliables journées.
A great experience with an awesome guide. The icing on the cake (feench expressions) is that he speaks French really well. The decor is amazong but it is nature and seeing lions and rhinoceroses cannot be certified and Ztefa gave everything for that. A big thank you for these two unforgettable days
RU
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Gorilla and Chimpanzee trekking
Price was good, service middle range. Robert trued to solve problems like broken wheel fast. Chimpanzee are very cute. Gorillas are great.