US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Customized, Targeted and Great Safari
We traveled as a group of 3 families (with kids from 10years to teen adults) and did our safari in Aug3-13 2018. We tailored and customized our safaris to fit the likes of three families ranging from 2 families on their first safari and third family on their 5th safari focused on wildlife Photography. We chose the three parks - Masai Mara, NAkuru and Laikipia
Organization, Service, communications : Perfect from day one (a year back in AUg2017) when we started looking at the options to the day we left, communications, service were excellent. Edwina did a great job of keeping us in loop and even arranged an additional birding guide in our car for us (Francis was excellent). Tom was our guide / driver, excellent in guiding and took great pleasure in meeting customer expectations. This year was unique in the sense that the migration arrived late, and when we saw the crossing, Tom exhaled and you can see he was carrying our wishes on his sleeve.
We did not stay at the crossing but always looking for other animals but Tom kept in constant touch with other drivers if there was any gathering of animals near the crossing points - he also took a lot of effort to locate cats, birds and had the pleasure of going to the Kenya-Tanzania border. Tom, Thanks for the wonderfull safari.
Overall we would love to go back again and would not hesitate to use Africa Travel Waves
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing safari with guides professional ..and very patient ! Just amazing people and places
I recommande this agency for safari mikumu Park/ udzungwa forest / and visit for massai !
They are very professional and patient.
Thanks so much for this safari !
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Great tour company to take care of your once-in-a-lifetime safari!
We booked a bespoke 5 day safari to the Masaai Mara with Across the Wild Tours. We had very specific ideas about where we wanted to stay, our game drives, even the vehicle. Fina at Across the Wild was fabulous. She checked it all out for us and, eventually, gave us exactly the package we wanted. She replied to emails, was always reachable on the phone, so everything was very transparent and reliable. I do not take such a great service for granted, especially if I order a costly bespoke holiday package from my desk at home.
On the day of our departure, Fina and Joseph, the driver/guide, picked us up at our hotel, perfectly on time. Joseph was fabulous, too. Over the next 4 days, he went the extra mile to show us all the animals we wanted to see, including a pride of lions hunting buffalo, a cheeta, a leopard with cubs etc etc. The Masaai Mara is such an incredibly rich place. Joseph is not just a very good driver but also an amazingly knowledgeable expert on flora & fauna. There was not he single animal or plant he did not know, he even impressed us with accounts of life inside a termite hill. Apart from all that, he is a great guy and fun to have around.
All in all, there was not a single thing we were not happy about. We are very grateful for the magnificent experience we had. Thank you so much guys. We will definitely book with Across the Wild again, to one of the many destinations you cover in the region.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A very effective and professional tour experience to be commended for others to employ.
Tour guide was professional and efficient and we got to see varied wildlife.
MY
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Safari & Zanzibar Adventure In Tanzania!
Our group (15 adults and a precocious 4-year-old) spent roughly 10 days on the northern safari circuit (North and South Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire) followed by 4 days in Zanzibar organized by Tanganyika Ancient Routes Ltd.
True to their company’s motto (Travel… Learn… Serve), CEO Charles Mpanda and his team provided exceptional service and genuine, warm hospitality in taking care of the safety, well being and comfort of our group throughout our trip. Every aspect of our trip (travel logistics, accommodation, meals etc.) was carefully planned to ensure that we have the best opportunities to experience the beauty and wonders of the Serengeti and Zanzibar and to learn the local and Maasai culture.
Charles and his team know the Serengeti very well and they are highly skilled in tracking and spotting the wildlife. They would patiently drive us around, making sure to stop where we have the best vantage points and optimal light to take photographs of the animals and whichever scenes that appealed to our eyes. We were able to witness the most spectacular wildebeest crossings at Mara River and got to meet the Big 5 and more within the first couple of days of the trip and managed to take plenty of the famous sunrise and sunset scenes of the Serengeti.
Meal times were always fun as the group caught up with each other on the highlights of their day and shared photos. Food was always good and there were plenty to eat. Dinners were usually followed by drinks and honest conversations around the campfires under the starry African sky.
Zanzibar was a refreshing change of scenery after 10 days of safari. We spent a delightful day walking around the quaint and historic Stone Town, go on the spice tour, eat with the locals at the night food bazaar and local restaurants (I love the grilled octopus and king fish with piri piri sauce!) and relaxing by the captivating azure blue sea and sandy white beach of northern Zanzibar.
We are grateful to Charles and his team for working tirelessly to help us create such wonderful lifetime memories of our trip, and for sharing with us the beauty of their country and the warmth of their people.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Everything we'd hoped for and more
As part of our 3-week honeymoon across three countries in Africa in August 2018, my husband and I chose to do a 9-day tour with CKC Tours and Travel. We did the "CKC 102: 8 Day Flamingos & Diani Sands Kenya" tour, but with an extra day added on to the Masai Mara. We'd never been on safari or to Africa before so we didn't entirely know what to expect, and we were very happy with the outcome.
The planning was very simple: I contacted CKC through Safari Bookings originally, got a quick response, then I continued to communicate with John Muhoho, the manager, after that via email. He always replied swiftly to my messages and was very helpful with tailoring the trip to suit our timetable.
Our trip itinerary was as follows: Day 1, Travel Nairobi to Lake Nakuru, evening game drive (Flamingo Hill Tented Camp), Day 2-4 Masai Mara (Mpata Safari Club), Day 5-8 Chale Island (The Sands at Chale Island), and Day 9 half day at Chale then flight back to Nairobi in the evening.
We were met at our hotel in Nairobi on the first morning of the trip by John. He went through the itinerary with us then introduced us to our driver and guide, Kennedy. We then set off with Kennedy on our trip.
[Recommendation to CKC: don't print things unnecessarily, and if you do have to print, then do it double sided. We had previously been emailed the itinerary so there was no need to print out two copies for us. Save paper where possible :). You could give customers an opt-in option for it to be printed out.]
Kennedy was great. He was friendly and helpful, admirably drove us many many miles for many hours over very rough terrain and still was keen to take us out on a game drive the same evening, he was very receptive to our questions and taught us a lot about Kenya, politics, and the Masai people on our journeys. Of course though one of the best things about Kennedy was his clear passion for his job and for nature. He was most enthusiastic about finding the best wildlife sightings to make our holiday great, and always told us about the animals in great detail, answering our questions informatively. He had the utmost respect for the animals and environment and it was clear he wanted to share this with others.
Our trip was a private tour, and so it was just my husband and I with Kennedy in the vehicle. We had loads of space and it was great this way because we had the freedom to do exactly what we wanted, like go out on an epic 9-hour game drive (well done Kennedy). It also meant that everything was done at our convenience, we could choose what we wanted to see and also always have the best views out the vehicle. The roof was open on the van for game drives so you could stand and look out, which was great fun and the breeze was lovely.
We saw some absolutely incredible sights while we were in Kenya, thanks to our guide Kennedy. We saw lots of lions, including some mating, and a large family with cubs playing with each other. We saw loads of hyenas, and a pack of hyenas with cubs, which were adorable! We saw the huge flock of flamingos as far as the eye can see in Lake Nakuru. And of course the most prized sighting in the Masai Mara: we saw a Wildebeest river crossing of the great migration. An amazing spectacle, not just the nature but also everyone watching and waiting too!!
Some of the most memorable animals we saw in Kenya were baboons, elephants, monitor lizards, Nile crocodiles, Masai giraffes, hippos, impalas, topis, waterbucks, Thomson's gazelles, elands, zebras, flamingos, fish eagles, secretary birds, guineafowl, ostriches, wildebeest, jackals, mongooses, southern white rhinos, hyenas, buffalo, lions, and warthogs.
We really had such a fantastic time with Kennedy on our journey with him to Lake Nakuru and the Masai Mara. It was wonderful just knowing that everything was taken care of for us and already paid, and we had absolutely nothing to concern ourselves with during our trip, except having an amazing time and learning about the beautiful Kenyan wildlife.
For the final part of our trip, we said goodbye to Kennedy and popped on a flight over to Ukunda Airstrip at Diani, from where we were transferred to Chale Island. Everything went very smoothly and we arrived in time for dinner. Chale was amazing (I've written a separate review for the resort) and the perfect peaceful and relaxing end to our honeymoon.
We really had the trip of a lifetime in Kenya thanks to John for his efficient organisation and Kennedy for his dedicated guiding and driving.
IN
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exotic & amazing holidays ...!
We visited kenya from june 18th to 25th. After Going through many tour operators we found Magical Retreats and adventures tour to suit our requirements. Pamela was our tour advisor. She was prompt and helpful. She briefed us about the tour and provided all the information needed. She was very flexible in giving us the accomodations of our choice and budget. Pamela always remained in touch and made sure that we were well taken care off. She also sure that we get good Indian food of our choice by talking to the chefs at different locations. That was very sweet of her...!
Our tour guide and driver Mr. Peter was very humble and polite person. He was very amazing while spotting the animals. We think he is the best. We enjoyed our tour thoroughly because of Peter.
We would definitely recommend MAGICAL RETREATES AND ADVENTURES TOURS to all those who are keen to visit Kenya.
Once agan thanks to Pamela and Peter. We will definitely want to go with you people again....
HR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great safari on a budget
Everything was great and following the program. The hotels were nice, safaris were great and the organisation too. We have visited Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Naivasha and Hell's gate NP:
I paid an amount in advance and didn't have any problems
HR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Beacon safari agency and it's people are reliable, knowledgeable and unobtrusive. Great experience!
We've been on our 7-days safari private tour, with Eric as a guide, and it was great! Tour was well planned, we started with Masai Mara, went to Nakuru, Amboseli and ended our tour in Tsawo west-Serena lodges (! which we highly recommend because of a unique view from terrace at wild animals drinking water at nearby lake). Each of those 4 parks is unique and interesting..Eric was great guide, very knowledgeable, unobtrusive and great driver which is very important taking into account Kenyan roads and driving culture. Robert was very responsive upon our arrival and during our stay which made us feel safe an taken care of. Anyway, we will recommend Beacon safari to our dear friends and family planning trip to Kenya..hope we'll come again once our kids will be older...and that says it all!
RU
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good safari for a very reasonable price
We have very much enjoyed safari with Lenchada Safaris and their guide Joseph. The route was Masai Mara - Lake Nakuru - Lake Naivasha - Hell's Gate, and we've seen a lot of wildlife and beautiful scenery. The conditions were simple (and we aimed for it, because cool suites are out of our budget), but all the needed things (hot shower etc) were in place. The guide was receptive and knowledgeable. These guys provide very good value for mojney ratio. If you're coming for nature and don't need luxury conditions (which you're going to enjoy just during night's sleep anyway), they're your choice.