SE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Positive, happy and helpful attitude from Rene who had prepared the trip to our satisfaction!
Program description matches reality! A fantastic though sometimes physically challenging. Prepare yourself and bring bike parts and tools (and practice using them :)) - you won't find bike parts you need anywhere nearby. Hotels were of good African standard. Temperature during July was like a good Northern European summer so perfect for biking. Bring a sweater for the evenings and a rain jacket and you will be fine. Rene has composed a trip with a lot of variation in landscape, accomodation so you will see Kenya in a very different way than the thousands that drive through Kenya. Thank you Rene for an unforgettable vacation and good luck with the next trip!
CH
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
we enjoyed and followed a carefully and wise and with a lot of knowledge planned itinerary
UBON Safari knows a lot about Tanzania, the people, the rhythm and stunning places to visit. And they seem also to know a lot about european families and their wishes, rhythms and ways of travelling.
The communication was always well timed, very friendly and leading us through all sorts of questions we had and expected. After the first e-mail exchange I already trusted UBON / Gazelle Safaris and could focus on looking forward to our trip. The different locations, camps, lodges, the guides who showed us the parks or drove us from one place to the next were all perfectly chosen and fitted exactly our dreams and met more then our expectations.
CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The best travel experience ever
At first, it was very hard to select a reliable agency to make sure the trip would be smooth. I was lucky that I found Serene, Lucy always replied E-mail very quickly and for the program arrangement, she gave her professional advises for the sceneries and accommodations. All the accommodations are perfect and her recommendation saved us a lot time, gave us the best spot to see the view and support us have the wonderful experience in Kenya.
Our driver Simon is the best as well, he knows everything about the animals, for all the questions he could give us the best answers! Simon is also a very good driver, he is familiar with all the pathways and could drive us to the best spots to see the animals and he always kept the vehicle very very clean, we felt very comfortable during all the program.
The services and arrangement could not be even better! Serene gave me a wonderful experience in Kenya. Thanks to Lucy and Simon, if it's possible, I want to recommend everyone who want to go to Kenya Serene East Africa Safaris, because they are the best!
FR
Awful Customer Experience
While the tour to the Masai Mara and the lodge where we stayed was very nice, my experience with Bonfire Adventures as a customer has been quite a disaster from the beginning till the end.
Here is why:
- First the company forced us to pay the entire amount of the safari upfront while no other safari company has ever asked for that and leaving us with absolutely no guarantee and no leverage
- Secondly our driver was unresponsive at the time of the meeting and ended up showing more than hour late without even apologising. This led us to be stuck in traffic for hours when our drive could have been much shorter if we had departed on time.
- Thirdly when we showed up for the first time at the gate of the Masai Mara park the network did not work and we could not pay by credit card. Our driver almost blamed us not to have cash for the entrance fees while the company had told us we would have to pay the entrance fees by card and we had to negotiate to be able to get in.
- Fourthly, we were charged for our lunch on our way back to Nairobi on the third day while the safari package indicates a Full Board for the three days (the itinerary even mention that you will only go back at 4pm to Nairobi - way after lunch time) and never mentions any extra cost for this last lunch.
- Lastly and the most annoying, my luggage was lost on the way back to Nairobi and the company did not provide with any type of compensation while the luggage was under their responsibility. The only excuse they could come up with was "this has never happened before" which of course does not help solving the issue at all.
Therefore I would strongly advise against using them for any type of safari of excursion.
CH
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
excellent experience!
We took our kids for the first time to do a safari, and the experience could not have been better! Thank you for the excellent organization and attention during our wonderful adventure!
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable adventure trip ; exploring Kenya by bike
An unforgettable adventure trip ; exploring Kenya by bike
Well organized
- René is an excellent guide who knows the route well and has an eye for the safety and well-being of the cyclists
- Prima Hotels - For African Concepts; Not all as luxurious, but they all provide excellent in the most basic needs
- Good support team transporting luggage, providing lunch on the way and assistance in calamities (i.e. bicycle repairs)
Nice biking route
- Huge diversity in landscape we cycled through (mountains, savannah, plantations, forests, lakes)
- Both on paved roads and on unpaved roads (and vehicle tracks)
Perfect tour plan
- In effort / sports performance; First half of the tour: less km’s and more rest days / Last half : more km’s and less rest days
- A safari in a small park with limited number of wildlife in the first days to the wildlife big5 and more in the last week
- Diversity in safari’s ; on bike, by car and by boat
- Nice ratio between cycling days and rest/safari days
Full program of sports and adventure; Almost every day new special experiences gained; No moments of boredom
Further:
- It was fun and very special to bivak for 2 nights in a tent (with grazing hippo’s around my tent at night)
- It was a nice group (cyclists, guide and support team) to join and explore Kenya in 17 days
Thnx René, for this very special adventure trip that I will always remember!
I hope we will explore other countries in the future togehter!
Regards, Ruud de Bruijne
FR
20-35 years of age
Unforgettable Experience with a serious Safari Agency
We booked our Private Safari from France with Lenox who helped us to customize the trip. Lenox had immediatly known what we expected and tried to help us with profesionalism. Lenox is not of those consultant with agresiv approach.
The safari was conform to our expectations and Lenox designed us Dennis as a driver. The relationship with the driver is important for a 7 days Safari. Dennis is not only a driver, his knowledge of Safari and characteristics of Animals was precious. Dennis's know-how is exceptional! He is a friendly guy with a good philosophy " i am happy if you are happy" he always take care of us all along the trip. We recomend you this Agency so serious!
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Not recommended
Cominciamo col dire che il rispetto dell'orario non è il punto forte di questo tour operator. Il nostro piano prevedeva che appena arrivati all'aeroporto di Dar Es Salaam alle 6.45 dovessimo partire subito per il Selus Reserve. Invece abbiamo dovuto aspettare un'altra turista alle 7.30. Poi fino alle 9.00 in dar Es Salaam perche il driver doveva ritirare il cibo che serviva al cuoco all'interno del camp. Poi finalmente partenza e a metà starada abbiamo aspettato per circa 1 ora e mezza un altro driver che dava il cambio al nostro. In tutto questo, siamo arrivati all'Hippo camp alle 4.30 p.m. e come pranzo ci è stato servito una coscia di pollo fredda e nera, un piatto di patatine fritte fredde e un pò di insalata. A cena, un piatto di spaghetti alla bolognese immangiabili. il giorno dopo il safari è andato bene anche se il pranzo prevedeva un'altra coscia di pollo fredda e nera, un sandwich, uno yogurt e una banana. L'ultimo giorno, dopo colazione, una breve passeggiata di mezz'ora nei paraggi nel camp, altro viaggio di 5 ore per l'aeroporto. Non consiglio assolutamente questo tour operator.
Let's start by saying that respect for time is not the strong point of this tour operator. Our plan provided that we just arrived at Dar Es Salaam at 6:45 pm and we should leave for Selus Reserve. Instead we had to wait for another tourist at 7.30am. Then until 9:00 am in Es Salaam, because the driver had to pick up the food he needed for the cook inside the camp. Then we finally got off and half starada waited for about 1 and a half hour another driver who changed the way to ours. In all of this, we arrived at Hoppo Camp at 4.30pm. And as a lunch we were served a cold and black chicken thigh, a plate of cold fries and a bit of salad. At dinner, a dish of spaghetti with Bolognese inedible. The next day the safari went well even though the lunch provided another cold and black chicken thigh, a sandwich, a yogurt and a banana. On the last day, after breakfast, a short half-hour walk around the camp, another 5-hour trip to the airport. I absolutely do not recommend this tour operator.
FR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent first safari in Mikumi
We made our first safari with Usambara Expedition in Mikumi Park
It was a very nice and good time with Mike!
We had everything booked by internet, we were always in touch with the agency, very responsive and very serious: no worries!
They picked us up at the hotel in Dar es Salaam, then headed for Mikumi
Mike was an excellent driver and a very good guide! And we spent 3 lovely days with him
We were staying at the Camp Bastian, a very nice establishment 20 minutes from the park
Everything went very well, we loved this beautiful experience!
I highly recommend!
Thank you Usambara Exp and thank you Mike !!
If in the future, I return to make a safari in Tanzania, I will go back without hesitation by this agency !!
An unforgettable safari and beach holiday in Tanzania
We traveled to Tanzania with my two adult children and my daughter's boyfriend. We all really enjoyed our trip and had a wonderful holiday in Tanzania. Our guide was outstanding and did his utmost to ensure we saw everything there was to see, with excellent views always close to the action. He was also fun to be with and he got on well with all of us. The safari itself was amazing and unforgettable. Our accommodation was excellent and we especially loved the Tortillis camp which, although tented, was gloriously comfortable and exotic.
Thank you for all your hard work on our behalf and for helping to provide a once-in-a-lifetime holiday.