SE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Competitive budget prices but some money trouble
We did the budget safari 12d Kenya + Tanzania. Good value for money. Better accommodation than we expected.
Good communication before, during and after booking via WhatsApp. Good communications during the safari until there was money trouble, then harder to reach which was stressful. Make sure to get multiple numbers where you can reach them. Pesapal for deposit payment when booking worked very well.
As for reliability.. We suffered some money trouble. When we were already on our long journey to Kenya we received wishes about paying in cash which is a ridiculous amount of money. This because our tour started on a Sunday which caused some problem with banks, but they knew this for 6 months in advance. We ended up having to go extra to an ATM with them to take out as much cash as possible and pay the rest by card like we were supposed to.
Yet the worst part was that they had trouble transferring our money to the tour operator they cooperated with on the Tanzania side, and no one informed us about this until one day before heading to Serengeti the guide tells us we can't come because the money hasn't come to them. They wanted to leave us there and I had to try to mediate the communication between the companies who didn't seem to have good relations at all. Horrible stressful experience where we ended up taking a chance and desperately paying for the rest of the safari AGAIN by ourselves directly to the Tanzania tour operator. In the end the money ended up where it should and we got a refund from the Tanzania tour operator so we didn't have to pay anything extra. Allegedly this was all due to a public holiday and some kind of global transfer issues, but at least the holiday they should have planned for and done the money transfer in good time.
In general; beware of the nature of the joining safari (not special for this company), we didn't understand this before we went. Especially if you travel solo this can be good to know. It means that both the group, guide and vehicle can change everyday of the safari. The itinerary can change anytime and you rarely stay at the accommodation that you are promised in your quote. You have to be very Hakuna Matata about it.
We ended up having only one guide in each country but this seemed rare amongst the others we met (our group changed multiple times and we often stayed at different camps). We were satisfied with both Charles K in Kenya and Tony in Tanzania!
As for the tour; if I were to prioritize I would pick the following national parks: Maasai Mara, Nakuru, Amboseli, Serengeti and Ngorogoro. I would skip lake naivasha and lake manyara. If only one country I would pick Kenya and go for the three first mentioned ones!
I can recommend booking with Beast Spoor Safaris as I have faith they will learn from our money trouble and not let it happen again. However if I did it again I would book the Kenya side with them and separately book the Tanzania side with a Tanzania based tour operator.
DE
under20 years of age | Experience level: first safari
He is a nice and funny guy!
He tried hard to show us the big 5 and more. It was very interessting, since he provided us with some extra knowledge.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Small family owned tour company specializing in private affordable tours.
Our tour was overall quite nice. We were able to customize it to our liking, and taking the train to Morogoro is highly recommended. The game drive was the highlight for sure. The guides were knowledgable and catered to what we would like and our needs very well. The only negative was a logistical mix up on the return trip that resulted in us missing the train, however Asante Bibi put us up in a nice hotel and paid for it and the extra meals until we could get back to Dar Es Salaam the next day, showing their commitment to good customer service. Overall would recommend Daudi and his family.
IT
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.
AR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Funny
The guide gave funny explanations along the way. What I would recommend is that they give details about the itineraries.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Tour
15 Days Best of Kenya & Tanzania Safari
This was a wonderful trip with sighting of so many animals that we were continually amazed at the variety. This safari allowed us to get very close to the animals which was very special. I will treasure the viewing of so many lions that we saw on nearly every day of the safari.
The three main guides we had all incredibly knowable on all the wildlife and fauna. This enabled us to enjoy the spectacle of this tour even more. Having the guides assist us with the border crossing was a big help.
The accommodation was of a great standard. Even the tents we stayed in were very comfortable with all amenities. The camp staff who provided escorts back to our tent added a level of added safety. The only exception was the hotel in Nairobi which had a mattress that resembled a hammock
Food at all the camps and hotels was both plentiful and varied. The offerings were mainly buffets with only the camp in Masai Mara offering a choice at mealtimes.
The only disappointment in the whole trip was missing the great migration due to abnormal weather conditions.
Communication with Kenya Tanzania Safaris was at times a little patchy and could be improved.
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good operator for first time experience!
We chose Kenya Bush Expeditions because the tours offered on SafariBookings fitted best to our holiday plans.
As we never did a Safari before we wanted to make sure to get a good all-in-one package.
This is exactly what we got!
From pick up in Nairobi to drop off at our desired place everything was organised.
We spent a lot of time in parks to discover landscape and animals.
Of course you need to be lucky to spot every animal you want to see (Big Five: check!), but our guide was a big plus in this. Even without seeing animals for a few hours we enjoyed the landscape a lot so no day felt wasted.
Communication with Kenya Bush Expeditions and our guide Peter was perfect. Days were planned good so it was a good mixture between relaxing and adventure.
For our taste there could have been a bit more flexibility regarding the daily schedule. Sometimes we had to leave the spot because of timing issues although we could have enjoyed the situation/scenery for a bit longer.
Overall we recommend Kenya Bush Expeditions to anyone who wants to experience their first safari.
Thanks to Peter who was patient, put a lot of effort in spotting animals and for driving us safely throughout the whole tour!
CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Meijo is a trustworthy safari travel agency, safe and reliable
After multiple comparisons and choices, we finally chose Meijo as our safari travel agency;
The main considerations are as follows:
1. During the communication process, Daudi was very nice and patient and gave us a lot of suggestions
2. Their company attaches great importance to safety, and the car and room were well maintained during our tour
3. The guide's eyesight is really good and can see animals from a long distance
4. It can be fully and reliably implemented according to the plan, and our hotel and service are very accurate
I look forward to Meijo becoming bigger and stronger, and I hope that I can return to Africa to travel in the near future~
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Trustworthy, committed and reliable tour operator
We've climbed in October 2024 with Zanzi trekking and safari's in Arusha. The crew is very committed to get you to the top. Everything is in done in order so that you'll make it, that made us a bit emotional at the end of the trip as well (in a positive way). The guides George and Lazaro are experienced guides, who behave professionally. We would easily trust our lives to them again.
Don't forget to ask/request a packing list beforehand, if they haven't sent it to you yet when you booked a trekking.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing wildlife safari in Nairobi National Park!! Exceptional Guide
This was an unforgettable experience. My driver and guide were exceptional and friendly. I saw lions, giraffe, bufalo, Ostric, crocodile and monkeys. It was an amazing half day safari which i cannot recomend highly enough!
