US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Outstanding in all ways
We did Astralken's 18 day budget safari for two people. The wide range of locations from the North to the Tanzania border allowed us to experience a broader range of Eco systems, animals, cultures and topography. It included less visited locations while still visiting the more famous parks. Did you know that there are zebras and giraffes in the north with different markings than those in other parts of Kenya? We visited Riff lakes, waterfalls, rivers with hippos and crocodiles, watched hippos coming on shore after dark to eat, from our veranda and saw an incredible range of animals. A high point was visiting a group of nomads in the North who build no shelters and speak no Swahili.
What really made this trip so fantastic were the Australken people.
Chuck and Barb
Zippy managed all communication before and during the trip responding quickly and following up almost daily asking for our feedback. Of course she set the fantastic itinerary with unique places and experiences that made the trip. She met us at the airport when we arrived and took us to the airport when we left.
Moses was our guide and driver. He was a calm and very safe driver in a land of dangerous drivers and roads! He was an uncanny wildlife spotter with full knowledge of the local habitats and animals in each of the diverse areas we visited. He enjoyed every day of the trip, always up.
John was our cook providing good meals. He was always upbeat, quick to laugh (even at my jokes) and added to our trip in so many ways.
Moses and John made this a very happy experience, beyond just a standard game drive. We were all sad when they dropped us at the hotel at the end of the trip.
We can't imagine having a better safari than we experienced with Zippy and Australken!
PS: WE are in our upper 70s and had no problems, you can do it too!
Chuck and Barb
IE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Exceptional
Southbound Tours did an unique and diverse itinerary in Namibia for a group of 10 people. The service provided was very good and reliable. Moreover, it was very easy to communicate with Marco and everyone involved before and during the trip. Our transfers, flights and accommodations were well prepared upon our arrival and we had no issues (always on time). I would say that it was a very good value for money for the type of trip that we had as a group. Marco was even able to help me getting my drone permit to be used during the trip (however, there are very limited places to use it). Only improvement to be appointed is the safaris in Etosha (there is a need for better cars and different hours, not in the peak of the heat). Besides that, I would love to book another trip through Southbound Tours.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Honest, on point, dedicated and friendly!
My girlfriend and I recently had an unforgettable safari experience that far exceeded our expectations.
We were fortunate enough to see every animal we had hoped for, making this one of the most remarkable adventures of my life.
Our guides, Darnford and Saloniki, were incredibly dedicated, going above and beyond to ensure our experience was exceptional.
Their passion and effort truly made the journey special. Without a doubt, this won’t be our last visit.
Thank you so much for such an incredible experience!
35-50 years of age
Unprofessional and overall bad services
I can't say I got value for money. Because I paid for a tour to the Mara for July for 3 adults 2 kids but got a family funeral which made me postpone...I communicated and the lady "Mary" told me she would communicate with the hotel. I reached out when my schedule opened up in November and Mary gave me a date...only to arrive in the hotel and apparently they didn't have a booking for us. And then we were kept starving with kids in the cold and in the dark coz apparently no payment was made. So we were abandoned by the travel agency and made to pay for the rooms ourselves so that the generator can be switched on and the food be made. Even after making payment to the Agent in full.
Use them at your own risk.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Excellent!
I had an incredible experience with AfrimountTours and Travel! The communication was great and professional, making every step of the booking process stress-free. Their service was amazing, with a friendly and knowledgeable team that ensured everything went smoothly. I was impressed by the value for money, as the tour offered exceptional experiences at a reasonable price. The reliability of their pickups, guides, and planned activities gave me complete peace of mind. The tour itself was beyond amazing, showcasing breathtaking known central island of Turkana creating memories to cherish forever. Highly recommended for anyone looking to explore Kenya in comfort and style!
PT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Southbound Tours and Marco make our trip unforgettable, ranking the top 5 of our trips!
I came into contact with Marco, around 6 month ago, when I was googling in search of a local agency to provide travel services in Namibia. The first contact with Southbound Tours, was very quick in answering, and since the beginning very helpful regarding the overall aspects of a trip through Namibia, the support was so efficient that and I ended up booking my entire trip with Southbound Tours. Marco provided excellent service throughout the entire trip. He took care of every details including booking activities, Restaurants reservations, transfers when needed, lodges recommendations and booking, a private fly-in plane, with an exclusive pilot (YahYah) all the travels routes along Namibia, who did our more extravagant experience together with the amazing sceneries from the air.
There is no words to thanks to Marco and his team for ensure this unforgettable lifetime experience in Namibia. The trip was fascinating and unexpected in what regards the sight and spots, almost unreal especially in the Desert, but also Sandwich Harbour, Walvis Bay. The scenery flight between Sossusvlei and Swakopmund was really top. Also our congratulations to the pilot, professional and ensuring safe flights all the time. Etocha Park was great, the Lodge was wonderful and at the arrival we were astonish by Rhinos, just there around the pool to welcome us! Last not least Marco did a great job, attempt along almost 6 months to all my doubts, questions and changes of the plan, giving suggestions and improving the final program. The last day he was really gentleman and kind. He met the group last night dinner at Joe´s Beerhouse, one of the most popular Restaurants in Windhoeck, for a toast and say goodbye! I wish you Marco, a prosper business and I bet we will be with you for a new adventure in Botswana and Zimbabwe, for sure.
HK
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
It’s safe for me to travel with my guide.
I think my guide is average.
It’s my second time doing safari in Africa.
I paid quite a lot for a private tour this time as the designated dates and duration of group tour are quite hard to match my own schedule. But I feel a bit disappointed as I didn’t get better service than last time. I feel safe to be with my guide. But he definitely needs rooms of improvement for photo taking skills as the photos are often tilted for no reason.
Also my guide always asked me to help him take photos in my phone and then send him back. I think it’s an inappropriate action. It’s like a few times per day but not one or two times. I sometimes feel a bit annoyed about it as I’m not supposed to be his photographer. I’m the one who paid!
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible
The tour was beyond our expectations. The value for what we received was amazing. We stayed at beautiful lodges with incredible hospitality, enjoyed delicious food (and they were very accommodating toward the dietary restrictions in our group), and learned so much from our knowledgeable guide. The planning phase was extremely detailed and hands on, and our guide also allowed us to make adjustments to our trip as we saw fit while we were on it. We appreciated the flexibility and customization. We saw so much on our safari game drives, from wildlife to beautiful flora and scenery. Our guide was great at spotting animals and teaching us about animal habits and their habitat. Our trip to the desert was equally as exciting and we got to enjoy hiking in the beautiful dunes of Namibia. I know that if we had tried to attempt any of this trip on our own our experience would not have been nearly as nice. The coordination from our planner and our guide truly made this trip so incredible. I also believe had we tried to do this experience on our own, we probably would have ended up spending more. Will definitely be exploring with this company for future trips.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very interactive and they ensure that you have the best service
I had fun at amboselli national park and playing with the elephants and seeing them made my experience very interactive i will definitely travel with them again
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great, friendly and definetely a vibe.
I went to Tsavo with my friends and it was definetely worth it! Nice views and we had a very great and dedicated team. Really enjoyed the game drives and the stories and photos we took. Can't wait for next time✨️