FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable safari with Chabani!
We had the chance to go on a 4-day safari with Chabani, and the experience was simply exceptional! Chabani is a passionate, dedicated, and incredibly knowledgeable guide. He gave his all to provide us with the best wildlife sightings and unique moments. Thanks to him, we experienced magical and unforgettable moments, surrounded by the beauty of the wild. If you're looking for an authentic and memorable safari experience, we highly recommend Chabani without hesitation! A true 5-star experience!
US
Experience level: first safari
Got to see a lot of different animals
Jocky Tours placed us with individuals from other groups in a Jeep with a guide called Kikitu. Kikitu was a wonderful tour guide! He is very well-connected with the other guides in the area, so he was able to communicate constantly and find the animals we came to see. We saw all Big Five in just 2 game drives with him! His English is excellent, and he is very knowledgeable about the flora and fauna in the area. I appreciate how he aptly answered all the questions I plied him with. Note that he does play some very loud local remix radio as he drives (which I did not mind, preferring that he be comfortable on the long drives from the city). Additionally, the seatbelts in the back seats do not work, so be doubly prepared for some bumpy journeys (as you would with any other safari group)!
Kikitu is extremely charismatic and well-liked by everyone we met in Kenya! Our Jeep quickly became accustomed to expecting him to talk enthusiastically with everyone we encountered. He would also help other tour guides find the main road or get out of a ditch. He goes the extra length to ensure your tour is efficiently conducted, by clearly explaining the next day's itinerary at the end of each day. On our last day, he also worked to ensure that we were placed with another driver taking a more efficient route back to Nairobi (rather than having us remain with our original group, many of whom were heading to another destination).
We never felt pressured by him to partake in any particular activity he had in the itinerary (we did not want to go to the Maasai Village, for example), and he never questioned or pushed us otherwise, which I greatly appreciated in contrast to much of Kenya's hustle culture. That said, PLEASE do your own research to ensure that the itinerary items are activities worth your personal time and funds. When a tour company arranges your itinerary (with activities involving particular groups or 3rd party companies), your only freedom is the right to decline, if you suspect any part of not being worth the price. We ran into some issues with Jocky Tours in the beginning at their office when they forgot which hotels/lodges we'd negotiated with them, and subsequently refused to honor the price we had previously agreed to. It took over half an hour and showing them multiple conversations on email and WhatsApp for them to finally honor our original tour. I appreciate that they eventually came around, but would have much rather preferred (and indeed had expected) everything to have already been set and prepared beforehand, as already agreed. We were understandably very anxious upon being told at first that our safari wasn't going to work as planned, the very morning of our planned departure!!
Tour company aside, I enjoyed my time with our guide Kikitu very much and would highly recommend him to any tourist, if you could get him!
IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Experience |North and South Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater & Arusha
While we truly enjoyed our trip, I believe it’s important to highlight both the positive and negative aspects to help improve future experiences for other travelers like us.
Negative Feedback:
- Vegetarian Meal Mix-up: Despite informing both three months before our booking and again two days before we arrived in Zanzibar that we are vegetarians, there was a significant lapse in communication regarding our meals.
On our first day in Seronera, we received lunch boxes with chicken. My wife unknowingly took a bite of a chicken samosa, which is deeply concerning for us, as eating non-vegetarian food is against our cultural and religious practices.
Even after notifying the lodge about this, we were served eggs the next day. As a result, we skipped two meals during our stay at Ikoma because of this miscommunication.
The lodge claimed (as per our conversation) that we were served vegetarian meals, but only a portion of the meal (biscuits and a sandwich) was vegetarian. As we had paid for a full board, we expected all the food to be vegetarian and were disappointed that this was not the case.
Dinner at South Serengeti: During our stay in South Serengeti, the only food option available for us at dinner was potato wedges, as the main course was beef. The chef explained that had he been informed about our dietary preferences, he would have prepared a suitable meal. This further confirmed that our vegetarian preferences were not communicated, leading us to miss out on yet another meal.
Overall, this communication gap around meal preferences caused us to skip three meals, which was frustrating given that we had paid for a full board plan.
Positive Feedback:
Beautiful Accommodations:
Each accommodation during our stay was absolutely beautiful, luxurious, and exceeded our expectations. They provided a very memorable experience, and we thoroughly enjoyed the comfort and ambiance.
Welcoming and Helpful Staff:
Across all locations, the staff were warm, welcoming, and always ready to help. Their hospitality made us feel comfortable and taken care of throughout our journey.
Julius – Our Outstanding Safari Guide:
This is by far the highlight of our trip! Julius, our safari driver and guide, was exceptional. His knowledge, helpfulness, and attention to detail truly elevated our experience. He was very accommodating with the difficulties we faced regarding the food and made sure that we were taken care of in every possible way. Julius is an absolute gem and deserves full credit for making our safari unforgettable.
We did enjoy our holiday overall, but I believe addressing these issues could make the experience even better for future travelers.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Magnificent
From the reservation to the day of the safari everything went on very smoothly and Richard together with the team were the best when it comes to organizing the safari. We had a time of our life with a super amazing guide and we were able to see all the animals we would have wished to see. I would highly recommend them if you are booking your safari.
IE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The big 9!
We travelled on a Safari trip for our honeymoon with Savannah Explorers and it was absolutely amazing. Everything about the 4 day trip was incredible. Our guide, Jackson, was so knowledgeable, professional, kind, and friendly & he brought us on an incredible trip to Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater. We saw all the big 5 plus much more (we actually saw the big 9!) often super close, we were lucky enough to see a 1 month old baby elephant with its herd only 5 meters from the car! - it was so special and we will remember this trip forever. 5/5 would recommend, our expectations were blown away! Also everywhere we stayed was so nice along the way! Thanks so much Jackson & everyone at Savannah Explorers!
Sarah and Kieran
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Helpful and very accommodating to ensure all requirements were met.
Walter at Galloping Safaris was really quick to respond to all our emails and questions and nothing was too much trouble. We had an eight day (7 night) safari which enabled us to visit all the major national parks and included a walking safari and a night game drive. The accommodation was all superb and all meals and packed lunches were included and were of a very good quality. Walter provided a full itinerary and was happy to make any amendments and changes to suit our budget and requirements. We travelled in a land cruiser (with the opening roof) which was brilliant for all terrains. We saw the big 5, the Great Migration and so much more due to Macho, our superb tour guide/driver, who went out of his way to ensure that he understood what we wanted to do and see and we got much closer to the animals than we had expected. Macho was professional yet fun, very caring, friendly and excellent at spotting the animals and birds as well as explaining about the culture. He was very knowledgable and a great tour guide.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Reliable, customer-centric, knowledgeable with extensive safari experience
We were very fortunate to have Sam as our driver and guide during our week long safari traversing Amboseli, Naivasha and Masai Mara. Sam is well spoken and has a great sense of humour. He has excellent networks which enable him to seamlessly cut thru challenges and ensure a smooth and seamless safari experience. Sam is a safe driver and his patience on what can be very challenging road and driving conditions assured us that we were always safe. Sam is flexible and willingly accommodated changes to our plan due to unforeseen circumstances. As a foreigner travel in remote areas can be very daunting and having Sam with us gave us a feeling of safety.
We will recommend Sam and Jamlan Holiday Safaris to our friends and family and look forward to using his services when we next visit this beautiful country. If you are looking for a safe and memorable wildlife experience, it just does not get better than Jamlan Holiday Safaris. Thanks Sam for looking after us and we look forward to staying in touch with you and wish you the best in growing your amazing business.
CN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exceptional Experience with Flash McTour!
My recent trip with Flash McTour was nothing short of incredible. From start to finish, Edward from Flash Mctour ensured that every detail was handled seamlessly, allowing us to fully enjoy the beauty and adventure that Africa has to offer. The itinerary was well-organized, offering a perfect mix of excitement, education, and relaxation.
Everything during the 9 day trip was well prepair even beyond my expectation!!! Some details especially,i forgot to confirm with Peter befor my trip,but when i contacted him,always got a "Yes"answer!!! How is your feeling when you have lunch at a tabel in the reserve but when others
have on the ground.Condition of vehicle(Land cruiser) is very comfort too.
What truly set Flash McTour apart was the professionalism and knowledge of Edward. He is not only experts in the local wildlife and culture but also genuinely passionate about sharing their insights. Whether we were on safari, exploring vibrant local markets, or visiting historic landmarks, Edward made every moment informative and enjoyable.
The accommodations were comfortable, and the attention to safety was reassuring. And we all lived in the camps and lodges we booked.Edward and Peter catered to all our needs, including dietary restrictions, making the trip personalized and hassle-free. We felt taken care of from the moment we arrived until the very end.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Tremendous and mindfulness, very professional
Witnessing the great migration was an amazing experience. It's a wonder in deed. We loved the accommodations recommended by Teddy and our guide was quite knowledgeable and kind.
We sure look forward to visiting again
US
Abdul was an excellent and knowledgeable guide ensuring saw the Big 5! Every detail was perfect!
Serengiti Clarity is a top notch tour operator. Honest and reliable with excellent communication. We had specific ideas of an itinerary and they worked with us via email to make it perfect before we arrived. No need for a middle man, just e-mail Frank directly. You won’t be disappointed. Strongly recommend!