On Safari in the Mara
The Safari Partners
- Located In:
-
Canada
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2010)
- Member Of:
- IATA, ACTA & TOPAC
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $300 to $1,000 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
CA
Email Ruth | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Memories for a lifetime
We stumbled across Chris and The Safari Partners during an internet search. We had been in contact with two US-based tour operators and had been disappointed in their proposals so we broadened our search. Reading the other reviews on this site prompted us to reach out to Chris and the rest is history. He listened very closely to our wish list and took the time to understand the type of experience we wanted. The result was pure magic.
Our trip consisted of 3 safari camps in Tanzania and mountain gorillas in Rwanda. The safari camps were Asilia properties and I cannot say enough about this wonderful company. Each property is totally different. The Highlands, with its futuristic domes, is high up and has amazing views. The accommodations were superb as were the food and staff. Ubuntu, a mobile camp, is homey and comfortable; it's incredible how they operate at such a high standard in the middle of the Serengeti. Finally, the all-women Dunia camp is charming and cozy. Leaving each camp was like leaving family and friends. Asilia must be commended for its high standards, excellent staff and community development.
Of course, our main purpose was to see wildlife and, in that regard, our expectations were met a thousand times over. The guides in each camp were wonderful, very knowledgeable, passionate about their work and eager to please. They know the territory like the back of their hands and are expert at spotting wildlife in the most obscure places. We were blessed to see a wildebeest giving birth, lions mating and countless other slice of life moments on our numerous game drives.
To top off an incredible safari experience, we took a sunrise hot air balloon ride. The Serengeti Balloon company is a top-notch professional outfit. The operation is run like clockwork and the result is a magnificent overview of an beautiful landscape filled with wildlife, and followed by a hearty champagne breakfast.
The final leg of our trip was Rwanda to visit the mountain gorillas. We spent a night in Kigali and visited the Genocide Museum. Although a difficult series of exhibits, it is a must-see. Then on to the mountains. Our accommodations here were so-so but they were incidental to our reason for being there. The purpose was to trek up the mountain and spend an hour with the mountain gorillas. At times, the climb was tough as we were slogging through dense jungle but our guide and the porters were skilled and patient in getting us there in one piece. Our family was the Hirwa (or Lucky) group. The huge silverback sat calmly as we entered his domain and allowed us to enjoy his rambunctious family. A female with 7-month-old infant also let us observe her mothering skills while several juveniles played on the ground and in nearby trees. An hour passed by in a blink and then we had to leave this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
I would highly recommend Chris and The Safari Partners. This was a bucket list trip and the memories will last a lifetime.
CA
Email Brian Harvey | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The Perfect Safari Experience
My wife and I contemplated a safari trip and wanted to maximize the wildlife experience and exposure to East African culture while respecting the impact to the environment, and contributing to the East African community in some notable way. I'm thrilled to report that the Safari Partners - and Chris Ronneseth specifically - exceeded all of our expectations in this regard. Our experience was truly amazing - and managed to somehow exceed our own expectations for everything we hoped to see and experience while in Tanzania.
The Safari Partners recommended the Asilia group camps for all of our African safari - and these people absolutely understand their business - I was very impressed with how "locked down" their entire process was (from pickups to dropoffs, organization of all of our activities, meals, etc). We were very impressed with their commitment to the environment, the local communities they operate in, etc - this was a real plus for us in understanding our impact in coming to Africa and made us appreciate the decision to leverage Asilia even more. The guides were top notch at all 3 camps we visited, (Oliver's, The Highlands and Kimondo Mobile Camp) and the 3 recommended by Safari Partners offered a terrific cross section of experiences that resulted in us seeing the big 5, 3 of the dangerous 5 (the only 3 in Africa) and basically everything we had hoped we would see. The camps were beautiful and each very different. And despite truly remote experiences in the middle of the "safari action", there was still some room to be pampered with cold drinks, and beautifully prepared meals. We came to love the morning wake up call - with staff bringing a tray with hot coffee/tea and a few cookies to slowly start your day. The "Sundowner" was another tradition we came to appreciate - stopping to view the sunset over the African plains or hillsides while enjoying a cold beverage and snack - what memories!
Our personal favourite camp was Oliver's with the tent location and wildlife viewing, the inclusion of night game drives and walking safari's, our tent, etc. We really enjoyed everything going on there. We also particularly enjoyed the organized cultural visit to the Maasai village and the interaction with the people there at The Highlands camp - That was a very unique experience. And of course our stay at Kimondo within the Serengeti offered such a vast wildlife experience and variety of ecosystems, it is tough not to have a soft spot for that location.
Overall, I feel we had the perfect trip - and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend The Safari Partners and the Asilia camps if anyone ever asks me about a trip to Africa. We would also highly recommend you take advantage of a stopover from North America on your way to Africa. We took a few days in Amsterdam and it provided just the right break to get acclimatized to the time zone changes, and be well rested before you head into Africa for the main attraction.
The reviews are real - Check them out.
CA
Email Henry and Deb | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Victoria Falls and Botswana
Amazing and absolutely first rate.
Three nights in Elephant Camp and three nights in Xudum. Both facilities were terrific with wonderful accommodations, gourmet meals, outstanding staff and incredible nature to enjoy.
Thanks Chris and The Safaris Partners for all the preparations and arrangements that you and your team provided. Our trip went incredibly smooth and was certainly one of our best.
CA
Email Ashley and Cliff Proceviat | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Memorable Rwandan Expertly Planned
Chris arranged a trip filled with superlatives for us.
I give Chris full credit for the quality of the people in Rwanda who looked after us: Benson's warm welcome at the Kigali airport; driver /guide Afrika's friendship and local knowledge; and gorilla guide extraordinaire Francois' gorilla encounters and language lessons.
We had the BEST driver/guide Afrika who shared his information about the resilience of the country after the genocide, safely drove us to and from Volcano National Park to see the gorillas happily looked after our every need. We had the BEST accommodation at our "Gorilla Villa" complete with singers and dancers on the lawn as we arrived. We had the BEST gorilla guide Francois whose antics teaching us how to speak gorilla and whose expertise allowed us an amazing close encounter with these endangered animals.
Chris - you are the BEST for arranging such an outstanding trip. We will definitely use your travel services again and recommend you to others. Many Thanks
Email Reg and Marianne Walsh | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A memorable Safari Adventure to Zimbabwe and Botswana ,extremely well organised by Chris Ronneseth
Well what can we say what hasn't already said by Gary and Donna Jopling.
All of the trip was very well organised .Communication and dealings with Safari partners prior to this trip were excellent and after this experience we would have no hesitation in recommending Safari Partners
We loved both camps we stayed in (Elephant Camp in Zimbabwe and Xudum Okavango Delta Lodge in Botswana).Staying in these camps has been a real treat!
All of the staff looked after us very well indeed:They were friendly and attentive and nothing seemed too much.
The food and accommodation were first class .
CA
Email Jan & Roy | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A wonderful adventure not to be missed.
We started our month long South Africa trip with a week spent in Zimbabwe and Botswana, which Chris from Safari Partners had arranged. We were treated to a wonderful tent camp with outstanding food and great staff. At the camp we were able to feed elephants, pet a Cheetah and walk with baby lion cubs along with a tour of Victoria Falls. The Elephant Camp was the first part of the week. We then flew in a small plane to & Beyond Xudum Okavango Delta Lodge in Botswana. Our safari vehicles met us to take us to our next adventure with stop along the way to view Elephants, Zebras, Giraffe and many more animals. The accommodation, food and staff were “& Beyond” our expectations. The guides were outstanding finding us Wild Dogs, Lions and Lionesses, a Leopard along with the Elephants, Zebras, Giraffes, Hippopotamuses and many more antelope. This spoiled us as we had high expectations for the rest of our trip. Thanks Chris for making it a week to remember.
CA
Email Donna and Gary | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The highlight of our 4 week African experience was with The Safari Partners in Zimbabwe and Botswana
The first week of our month long African adventure was booked with Chris from Safari Partners to the countries of Zimbabwe and Botswana. Chris arranged our flights, hotel transfers and safari camp accommodation. All was seamless and we were delighted with the entire experience. In Zimbabwe we stayed at The Elephant Camp and were pampered with the very comfortable accommodation, friendly staff and delicious meals. The camp offered many side adventures, like riding elephants, walking with the lions, white water rafting and tours to Victoria Falls. We thought it could not get any better, until we arrived at the enchanting &Beyond Xudum Okavango Delta Lodge in Botswana. The flight in the small plane was thrilling and our guides were waiting with the safari vehicles to whisk us away to the camp. The friendly staff at Xudum anticipated our every need. The safari guides and trackers were outstanding and endeavored to give us the very best experience. The food was truly gourmet. It was magical to watch the sun go down every evening with a glass of bubbly in hand. Thanks Chris for such a memorable trip.
CA
Email Russell | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Superb Knowledge, Service and Communication
My wife and I are in our mid-late forties and have previously travelled twice to Africa. On those occasions we booked with another tour company. On this occasion, we decided to go with a local provider, The Safari Partners, and we're certainly glad we did.
Although we had been to Africa before, Chris (Safari Partners) was engaged with the the planning of our trip from the onset. He provided information and insight into various lodges and camps that proved invaluable. There is a line in their profile that states: "We don't strive to just sell, we consult. We listen to your needs and design the best possible travel solution for you.". This couldn't be more accurate. They are not just selling you a 'product'. There is a genuine effort and interest to determine what type of traveller you are and what kind of Africa experience you want to have and put an appropriate package together for you.
Communication was excellent. Any email queries we sent, both before and during our trip, were responded to within 24hrs. The only ones that may have taken longer required a response from someone in Africa, hence the delay. Itineraries are professionally set out, detailed and are available to view via a weblink.
Our safari (Johannesburg, Victoria Falls and Botswana) was excellent. Everything was as we discussed and went without a hitch. Even if some matter unforeseen had arisen, I would have all the confidence that Chris would see to it and find a solution. It was a very relaxing, worry-free experience.
Again, this was not our first trip to Africa, we have used other tour operators and would say that Safari Partners has been the best. They have the knowledge, communication along with a high level of service to guide you through and book your African adventure, whether you're a first timer or seasoned traveller. Highly recommended.
CA
Email Robin Hunter | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a lifetime
We have returned from our Amsterdam and Africa Safari adventures safe and sound and very happy!
The trip to Rwanda and Kenya was absolutely spectacular. Our experience of seeing all the animals from the Gorillas, Elephants to the small Dik-Dik, the hospitality and quality of the lodges, to the knowledge and expertise of our guides, will live in our memory forever! We don’t think any other trip going forward will come close to what we experienced here.
Everything went off without a hitch; there was someone there to pick us up at the airports and drop us off which was comforting as they were friendly and knew exactly what to do.
We thank Chris for his guidance, recommendations and service!
US
Email Colleen Slavinski | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The greatest trip!
A friend and I visited South Africa in September and to say that we had an incredible time would be an understatement--thanks to Chris at The Safari Partners! We stayed at the Peermont Mondior Hotel at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg and took a half day tour of the city. Next we flew to Hoedspruit and took the beautiful Panorama route to Garonga Safari Camp for four nights where we saw the Big 5 within two days and had excellent game viewing! After, we stayed at the stunning Blackheath Lodge in Cape Town for five nights where we had the absolutely gorgeous loft suite and took numerous day trips. On our last night we stayed at the Coopmanhuijs Hotel in Stellenbosch and visited several wineries.
Chris' responses were quick, he had a vast knowledge of the location and provided recommendations/guidance to meet our parameters. Chris ensured everything was taken care of from booking all accommodations, shuttles, day trips, and international/domestic flights. I highly recommend using The Safari Partners if you're looking for a seamless vacation!