LU
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience for everyone.
We went with my girlfriend for the 8-day option and everything from the pickup service to the airport all the way to the drop off was excellent! Our guide Sammy was very knowledgeable about all the animals and really went above and beyond to ensure we had the best experience. We were very lucky with seeing even the more elusive animals, like leopard (twice!) and a cheetah. Of course we understood that they were wild animals and roamed around huge areas, so it made the sights even more special. We opted for the more expensive version of the safari and all the accommodations were really great and so was the food! We were delighted to see that there was plenty of vegetarian options all the time, this is not always given. We really enjoyed the luxury tents in Ol Pejeta and Masai Mara locations. This really was a fantastic trip for us, one that we will never forget!
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Maji was a knowledgeable, interesting and went over and beyond to make our trip the best.
Classic journeys planned a first rate trip for us. We communicated our wishes and they planned the trip putting in everything we asked for. They sent pictures to assist our decisions. We could communicate while on our trip and everything ran smoothly. Our accommodation went beyond what we expected!! Food was fantastic! We saw everything we wanted and more. We would definitely rate this company first class.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible
It was such a peaceful, intimate experience with Timothy who was very knowledgeable and lovely! One of the most amazing trips of my life.
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Try it so you can come back again
My impressions of the safari. Everything was wonderful. Service at the highest level. This applies to the car, camping, food, necessary information or attention from the guys. Always friendly and will help with any question. We saw many animals and tried to get as close to him as possible. I was satisfied and I advise you that you will not regret choosing the servants of these guys.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent safari with great guide
We had an amazing safari experience with Jocky Tours, who were very responsive from the start and arranged everything for us smoothly without any problem. They were 24 hours reachable and answered all our questions and requests promptly.
Our guide Francis was great, very friendly and knowledgeable, also a competent guide and a game-driver. He made us feel secure on the game drives, and he knew where to find the best wildlife sightings. He also shared with us his insights and stories about the culture and history of the places we visited and he was always ready to help our needs.
We enjoyed every moment of the safari and we highly recommend Jocky Tours and Francis as a guide for anyone who wants to have a memorable and hassle-free safari adventure.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Well worth it
This was a great trip well worth doing.
Experience:
I have been on many safaris before, but this is my first time on a guided one, it also my girlfriends first time in Africa and on a safari. The experience is different and definitely worth doing, we had a better view from the open top van and also had knowledge and quick reaction from the driver. Also worth noting that we did the private safari with an open top vehicle, which was genuinely nice as it was just me and my girlfriend.
Booking was easy and we were able to communicate through email with the team beforehand. They were nice enough to alter my pickup and drop off points which made the whole experience easier for me and the whole holiday easier. We even asked about different lodges to stay in and they were able to accommodate.
It had previously rained, which is a good thing, albeit more challenging to see animals through the plants, however, we still got to see a particularly good amount of animals. We drove around East and West Tsavo and the highlights were seeing the big cats and walking around Mzima springs to see some hippos and crocodiles.
Animals we got to see:
- Lions (male)
- Cheetah
- Leopard (baited)
- Jackal
- Giraffe
- Elephant
- Rhino
- Hippo
- Crocodile
- Mongoose
- Zebra
- Waterbuck
- Hartebeest
- Impala
- Gazelle
- Dik Dik
- Diker
- And probably more I cannot remember!
Driver:
We had Mahmood driving us around each day, he was extremely helpful and knowledgeable. He also reacted fast when calls came in of animals on the radio. He was also a great driver, we saw other vans and 4x4s getting stuck while Mahmood knew how to get around issues. At the end of the safari he also drove us 5 hours to our next destination. I would 100% recommend Mahmood if you can get him!
Lodges:
On our first day we stayed at Voi Safari Lodge, we got there at lunch time and got to put our bags down. The table was prebooked and we felt like we had some of the best seats in the house overlooking a magnificent view. The swimming pool was also nice and had the same incredible view, we ventured down to the hide, but were not lucky enough to view too much.
On our second day we stayed at Ngulia Safari Lodge, we got there are lunch to put our bags down. The lodge is situated up in the mountains and overlooks the rhino reserve, they had a viewpoint with planted binoculars that were not great, so I would advise bring your own. We were lucky enough to use our binoculars and managed to find a rhino! After the afternoon safari we went back to the lodge and before we knew it that had set up the bait and managed to entice a leopard out. It is not my ideal way to see a leopard, but I have been on roughly 10 safaris and never managed to see one any other way! Slight issue here was the amount of light they had one so everyone could get a clear view attracted an extreme number of bugs, which made dining not a pleasant experience. It rained that night we cleared a lot of them but made the drive slightly treacherous the next day!
Overall, we were both incredibly happy with the experience and would highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.
PL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
I have more great moments in my life thanks Sandpiper Safaris !
I have been on Safari 5 days with my friends and guide Abouh. We visited Tarangire Nationalpark, Ngorongo Crater and Serengeti. It was really wonderful time. We had wonderful moments and we were observers of incredible views. Our guide Abouh was fully professional, had extensive knowledge about all the wild animals and about places where we have been. He was also patient and caring towards our needs. Everything was organized perfectly. Our accomodation was also great and food was delicious. We didn't have to worry about anything and we could focus on collecting wonderful experiences. Thanks to Abouh and Sandpiper Safaris for the perfect organisation. I really recommend this company and I hope to come again as soon as possible.
BE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Organized, Professional, Fun
Booking a safari without from afar is really difficult and we took our time. Jocky Tours were recommended to us from multiple sources and we got in contact with them and conveyed our plans (7 day safari that includes Masai Mara, Amboseli, Lakes Nakuru and Naivasha as well as Hell's Gate) and our flight details. We really wanted to make sure that our experience was smooth and the accommodations were clean and the food was reliable, so we wanted to go for the mid-range option for those. Also, since it was me and my friend (both girls) we wanted to be with a group instead of private safari to feel also safe and comfortable. Jocky Tours absolutely delivered on all of these - in terms of organization, from the pick-up from the Nairobi Airport to the drop-off, we completely felt safe and taken care of. Anything we wanted changed, we need not ask a second time, they took care of it immediately.
All of the mid-range hotels (except for one in Naivasha called Panaroma Lodge) were clean and comfortable. The food in general for all safari bookings is not very impressive, but fulfilling nonetheless and the organization of for example lunches during game drives were all taken care of by the tour. You do not need to go out of your way about anything, they really take care of it.
One highlight of the trip for me was our guide Francis. He is immensely friendly and very knowledgable. For some guides, you hear that they memorized some texts and are just reciting those, and they do not know which terrain to drive on or how to behave when entering the parks or engaging with other people but Francis was exceptional. First of all, he answered at least a million questions, not only about the animals but also about conservation efforts, our questions about Kenya and football in all earnest. Second of all, you can see that he has been doing this for 14 years as everyone knows him and respect him. Further, the roads and the situations with the animals, especially us as two girls, etc., it is important that you feel comfortable, safe and secure with your guide, which we did. So huge credit goes to Francis for the success of our trip.
Overall, I appreciate the amazing hospitality shown and the professionalism and am grateful. I would recommend this tour company wholeheartedly to all friends and family.
SK
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good quality, communication and value, and especially an amazing safari experience
First of all, the communication with Silas was very good, every question we had was well answered and quickly any time a day. Silas was very helpful.
Our guide Kevin made sure that our 7-days safari trip was a unique experience. He is a young and energic guide who tried his best to show us all that safari has to offer. He knew well every place we visited - Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, Amboseli. He was communicating with other guides to gather info where the animals are and promptly got us there even in hard conditions through mud and water but never risking excessively. He made sure our needs were fulfilled.
Overall I can rate this experience with 5* and we are decided to visit safari again one day.. maybe with Apodiformes Adventures too! Asante sana from Slovakia.
P.S.: We decided to make a few videos from our trip and also to review the Sopa Lodges we stayed in, so if anyone is interested, they can be found on our YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@JourneyingTogetherJuliaSimone?si=8Q89fGzx-pqG_4jh
KR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An amazing trip with a reliable company and gamekeepers
6 days private safari to Kenya and Tanzania wildlife parks (Masai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Ngorongoro Crater)
My husband and I more than enjoyed the trip with the Tanzania Roadside Expeditions. Both of us traveled around the world a lot when we were 20's. Let’s say, each of us went for years to more than 80 countries including Antatica. That’s why it was difficult to decide on the honeymoon trip. We’d been searching crazily and finally made up our minds. The result was awesome. The company prepared and organized well for the trip, and was very responsive. It was good for us to ask questions and share worries such as payment ways, alternative accommodations, and personal details before starting the trip.
The trip was wonderful, gamekeepers, James in Kenya and Ezekel Masai in Tanzania, were amazing. They are great educators as well as safeguards. Their driving skills are so excellent that there is no need to worry about sticking in mud or passing through narrow curvy roads. They managed occasions professionally. What I liked the most was their manners and philosophy toward nature. Plus, because of their good sense of decision where we go from moment to moment, we could see all the big 5 clearly.
Of course, it was Masai Mara, Serengeti, and the crater. Any documentary films and pictures cannot fully reflect the beauty and mistic moments. People need to see at there.
