African Sermon Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2003)
- Member Of:
- Ecotourism Kenya & East African Wildlife Society
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $120 to $700 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Valentina | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Memorable two weeks in Kenya
African Sermon Safaris was a wonderful way to see and experience Kenya and Diani Beach. We were able to customize our travel, allowing us time to visit with friends and family, and it did not compromise anything.We appreciated being transported from airports and hotels on time, and only no time did we miss the connection. The tours were delightful and informative. The hotels, were outstanding, especially the Mara Serena Lodge in Masai Mara.We loved the trip to Lake Naivasha and walking on Crescent Island, the boat ride, and also the Wasini Island day trip on the Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park where we were able to do exceptional activities including snorkeling, scuba diving, dhow Sailing etc. The scenery is breathtaking.The Leopard Beach Resort was outstanding, great service, and helped us greatly when we needed help. The food there was also excellent. The safari tours of the Masai Mara were remarkable with the Mara being quite exotic and beautiful.The hotels here are great and they treat guests with great respect. The amenities there are quite plentiful also. Mombasa City is quite historic and beautiful, and also central to anything in town.Everything was absolutely perfect and went smoothly and Steve our guide was just amazing and made our entire trip memorable. He was attentive to our every need and was wonderful at giving us the history of the places we visited, he is a real gem. This wonderful guide and made us laugh every day.All in all our trip was a once in a lifetime experience, because of the exceptional planning we got Daniel at African Sermon Safaris.
We would recommend them to anyone considering a trip to Kenya
Email Marshanti | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An exceptional trip with Africa. Sermon Safaris
An exceptional trip with Africa. Sermon Safaris
We've done a trip with African Sermon Safaris.
The initial itinerary was good and if we had any change requests, the safari company agents gladly complied.
Daniel was a pleasure to work with and was very familiar with all the locations we wanted to visit.
The guide and driver has been great; Steve, the guide is knowledgeable and pleasant; he made the entry/exit process simple, taking care of every details, etc and is flexible with daily itinerary schedule.
They usually add some special experiences with the locals to help you in understanding the country you travel to.
The accommodation choices have been really lovely in all aspects. And we've loved the restaurants and food as well.
We've already recommended African Sermon Safaris to many of our friends, particularly with locations that are not as familiar to us.
DE
Email Robert Baer | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
It was a perfect African safari getaway
Along with a group of friends, we ventured out to African safari holiday for a week.
FANTASTIC trip where everything that was in play worked right, incredible service minded. Everything from arrival to return worked smoothly as planned.
They even helped follow-up lost luggage including making sure it followed us on safari.
The guide, John is world-class - can warmly recommend him to anyone. He had complete control of everything and was so comfortable to interact with. A safe driver too!
Super accommodations where everything works !! No problem with the hotels and meals were great. We also ate at the Carnivores restaurant which served delicious barbecues.
This was a perfect getaway into the expansive African savanna country.
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Email samantha | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
This was a dream vacation come true
The first part of every trip is the preparation of it. Although it may seem an unimportant stage, it is not, because the result depends on that preparation. In my case, in addition, it is the stage that I approach with more enthusiasm, the most lasting in time and it provides me with lots of satisfaction. Very happy!
Thanks to this stage I met this TripAdvisor forum that has been very useful for this and other trips. We wanted to see the crossing of the Mara and our trip depended on the right dates and it was here, in this forum where I obtained the necessary information for it and I was able to choose the most suitable dates.
Once the dates were chosen, the next part came: itineraries, agencies, photographic equipment, vaccinations, visas, currency and even the right clothes to go. The truth is that I looked at all kinds of websites, blogs, etc. and so I contacted Daniel at African Sermon Safaris who organized the trips. We liked the reviews on Tripadvisor and we decided to make the trip with Daniel, he organized everything except the flights to Nairobi, which I arranged on my own. I traveled with KLM and chose the flight that arrives in Nairobi in the evening via Amsterdam.
The final itinerary was to visit Nairobi, Amboseli, Samburu, Naivasha and the highlight being Masai Mara. In total 10 days with transfers between stages by plane except Samburu-Naivasha-Masai Mara-Nairobi. Also included were safaris in a private 4x4 vehicle.
We started preparing the trip in the month of February and we left in December. During all this time I kept mail by mail with Daniel who solved many of our doubts and explained that in Mara we would have the opportunity to see "in situ" the school and visit the Masai people. It was a trip prepared with such enthusiasm
Finally we began our journey carrying the uncertainty of what we would find on arrival, especially feared that there was no one waiting for us, but our fears did not come true and in Nairobi they were waiting for us to drive to our hotel. We stayed at The Fairview Hotel, a very decent, clean, good food and great attention.
When we arrived at the airfield to take our plane to Amboseli, we still had our doubts that everything was in order, but it was unfounded and we had no problem to take the plane to the park.
My first impression of Africa was light. A light different from anyone I've seen before, intense, almost brutal. From the window only a small piece of fluffy clouds, small and its shadow on the ground, an unreal landscape and all immersed in that particular light is covered.
I remember perfectly that the first animal I saw was an ostrich, and then giraffes and elephants followed.
We landed without problems and there was the vehicle of the company (James) to pick us up and take us to our accommodation, Ol Tukai Lodge.
As soon as we got on the jeep, Albert asked us if we would have inconvenience to arrive a little later to the lodge, because a group of 3 lions had been sighted near the airstrip and could take us there before going to the hotel. Of course we had no problem. I was enthusiastic, I had hardly finished setting foot in Africa and we were about to see a lion….
When we got to the point there were already other vehicles watching the show: two young lions had fought over a female. The lions were brothers, one of them was injured and a couple of meters away from him was the couple. They explained to us that we should not worry because the wounds of the poor "bachelor" were superficial and, in addition, these unions between lone lions lasted about 3 days and then the lioness would go their way and the brothers would come together as if nothing had happened and all so happy.
We were looking at the lions when I saw how the lion rode the female, it was so fast that I could not help asking, have I seen what I think I saw? They told us that yes, that the mating between the lions is very fast, lasts only seconds, but, yes, in the few days that the female would be with the male this would occur many times a day. I cannot put photos of the event here.
Then we went back to the lodge or, at least, we tried because the path was taken by a huge herd of elephants that had settled in between and it was not a matter of bothering them. The driver explained that in the park the owners are the animals and we are the humans we should wait, so we stayed there to wait until they wanted to leave and we took the time doing a lot of photos. I was even able to photograph the moment when a baby elephant breastfed. I could not wish for a better way to start our trip!
We finally got to the lodge and there they gave us only 30 minutes to leave our bags and clean up if we did not want to miss the morning safari. So we left the things in our room and ran to the meeting point, they were not going to leave us on the ground. It was a wonderful safari where we contemplated all that pile of animals that one sees in the documentaries and they were there, within reach of our goal, almost within reach of our hands. A dream!
When we returned to the lodge we could enjoy the room and the facilities, take a bath in the pool, eat, sleep ... From our room we could see the savannah right there, only an electrified fence separated us, and through it, we could see elephants, zebras, wildebeest, hippos ... We even saw a zebra that had slipped into the garden, was inside the fence, eating the juicy grass with pleasure.
In the afternoon we did another safari and I was captivated by Lake Amboseli. It was a real hotbed of birds of all kinds, herons, cranes, ibises, storks ... so much so that the first thing I did when I returned to the lodge was to buy a book of animals to identify them. I wrote down the birds I saw and when I returned to home, my trip somehow was prolonged since I searched in Google for the Latin names and read more about them.
Another thing that impressed me about Amboseli was the amount of tornadoes that were everywhere, they call them devils of wind and they form because the earth is too hot.
We also visited a Masai village, which I like it very much, it seemed very natural, less touristy and I had the opportunity to photograph Kilimanjaro from the village as well as the arrival of the Masai cattle. Meanwhile I took the opportunity to take some photographs of the village and its inhabitants.
Do not forget the Kilimanjaro. In this park your presence is constant, where ever you go you will distinguish its impressive silhouette presiding.
On the morning of our third day in Kenya, they came to pick us up to the flight to Samburu with stop in Nairobi. We got the driver, John, waiting at the airport in a 4x4 jeep which also saw us make a short safari.
We arrived at the lodge with barely 1 hour before lunch after which we had siesta. Then we did our first safari while driving through the park. On our first safari tour in Samburu, we saw a leopard, reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s Zebra which was great! Thereafter we were worn out, we retired to the lodge to have a shower, dinner and rest.
The hotel is famous, Samburu Lodge, because it is located on the banks of the Ewaso River and crocodiles come by and you can see them from the bar, which is called the crocodile bar. Unfortunately there was a tremendous drought and the river had no water, it was completely dry, so much so that you look at one of the Lesser Kudus that we photographed walking along the riverbed.
The facilities and rooms were good but the food was buffet style at midday and at night and it was little varied, it would not have been of an inconvenience.
The next day we dedicated the whole day to safaris and we could expect to see the native species of this park: the Grevy's Zebra, which is smaller and more stylized, has a white belly and the stripes are finer, and the reticulated giraffe that has the spots as if it were a network, delimited by a white line:
We also saw a couple of cheetahs that were walking through the savanna
In this park we saw a lot of different antelopes and also many birds including starlings. One of them I took out by chance, I took a picture of an acacia full of weaver nests and when I checked it in the lodge I realized that I had also photographed the tenant.
The next day we went to Naivasha in the same 4x4 that had brought us. The trip was comfortable and we stopped to see some waterfalls near the town of Nyahururu. We stopped on the way to eat in a very nice restaurant that had a fish farm and they served you freshly caught grilled fish and we also made bathroom stops.
I was very astonished by the number of markets that were everywhere, in the sun and in the shade; anywhere 2 or 3 people met and they set up a beach bar selling things, mainly fruit, but also soft drinks and others. In every town or village we passed there was a bustling market, full of life, but it did not occur to me to ask them to stop us by the markets.
Here in Naivasha, It is not the only animals that can be found in the garden, you can also find buffalo, leopards and even lions, in addition to the usual antelopes, but these do not constitute any risk.
Crescent Island: As we had time we also visited the Crescent Island. The truth is that it was the least interesting part of the whole trip, but it has the charm of being able to walk among the animals because on this island there are no predators and you can get close to the giraffes.
The day after our arrival at Lake Naivasha we visited Lake Nakuru on a full day safari. Although I had read a lot about the lake and had also seen many photos, reality surpassed everything I had imagined. The view of the lake full of flamingos and pelicans is impressive as is the sound that many birds make. We saw many other animals, giraffes, buffalos, jackals, hyenas ... But the one I was very excited to see was this little mammal known as the elephant of the rocks – the rock hyrax. It is a species of shrew that lives among the rocks instead of making nests and has diurnal habits, but it is very difficult to observe.
And finally the turn comes to the ultimate reason for our trip: the MASAI MARA PARK, and I put it like that, with capital letters, because this distinction really deserves applause. It was a long trip in terms of hours going to Masai Mara, we knew this from the onset of the planning stages, which was the trip highlight.
The truth is that the accommodation was very good, a large tent on a wooden platform and with its porch to dine, read or simply contemplate the landscape. Inside it had a huge bed with its mosquito net, wardrobe, chest, another table with its chair, carpets and full bathroom.
We liked the camp, in general; It was located in a flat area with scattered acacias and, taking advantage of them, they had placed the stores under its shade, thus achieving a double effect, on the one hand they gave shade to the shops and made them more cozy and, on the other, they hid the shops to the look of the other guests so the feeling was that you were alone in the middle of the savannah. The only living beings that were seen were the Masai warriors because, being in an open area, they could go through the camp elephants, buffalos and any other animal, so there was constant vigilance.
After the agreed time we went to the common area and there they showed us the facilities: kitchens, dining room, lounge, large stores for groups or families and a work they were doing for a new community room. The truth is that the facilities we liked a lot because they even had a water purification system so that they could consume the water from the Aplausos camp itself.
During the next days in Masai Mara, we decided to dedicate it to try to see many animals as possible. So we went to the Mara River and we could contemplate this herd of hippos bathing in the river. It is curious to see them all together: some are seen in their entirety, others like giant stones stranded in the river, others look exclusively at the eyes.
It was where we visited the wildebeest crossing point, a great experience it must have been.
When we started the second day of our stay
After having seen the crossing point which had been my greatest wish fulfilled, we went back to the camp and a few meters from the crossing, the 4x4 stopped and alas, a cheetah had just made a kill.
When I remember my stay in Masai Mara, a color comes to my mind: gold. I remember perfectly the wide horizons covered with tall golden grass, swayed by the wind, dotted with dark green acacias and, in between, all sorts of animals in such a large quantity that they appeared as spots on the horizon. A clean sky, blue, furrowed with clouds.
Our first Masai Mara safari was the discovery of the park, its colors, smells, animals, plants. Also that of our guide, very kind who made us very pleasant safari trips. The best way to explain what it is is to tell what happened on our first safari. We were in the 4x4 on a dirt game viewing trail and, in the middle of it; Albert stops the car because he has heard a lion roar. Then he says that there are two lions roaring at each other about 2 km away. And there we go, stopping from time to time and changing direction. Finally we stopped and I ask, what happens? Albert points me to the other side of the car, and there, within reach of my hand, is the most impressive lion I have seen during the whole trip. Hidden among the foliage, a true king of the jungle, majestic, looking in our direction and posing as a true model.
During the 3 days we were in Masai Mara there were many animals that we spotted, wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, topis, elands, elephants,... But there were no less birds that we saw, I was especially struck by this heron sitting on the top of a tree.
On this trip we made two visits to different Masais villages, one in Amboseli and another in Masai Mara. I found it more appropriate to join them because there is a lot to see and experience in terms of culture.
This was a trip of a lifetime and still remains so fresh on my minds that I keep asking myself, when is the next one. I recommend planning your trip with Daniel and Albert the best expert guide you can have in Kenya.
Email Ben | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantasti safari in Kenya and Masai Mara
Taking a safari is a very different way to go on holiday and we were excited about what to expect. And for that, I can only add that once you've tried it once, you'll want to get back soon as possible. My family and I have had the greatest experience vacation ever. We were VERY close to the animals - the elephants, buffaloes and other animals came daily in the camp and the wildlife that plays down the river is indescribable. While on safari, something is happening all the time and the views are amazing from the camps and lodging. We actually had the best sightseeing experiences from the camp and the pool area. The rooms in the camp are great and are perfect for a wonderful stay.
Everyone made sure everything went perfect. The staff were wonderful, they really do everything to make you feel welcome! And just want to mention that the food is perfect and very delicious. Our game drives are something we never forget thanks to John Kabero, our wonderful guide. He has so many stories to tell and you learn a lot about the animals on the tours. So all in all - It's not the last time we've been there. We are already talking about when we can go again because that trip is something we will never forget! We would really recommend it to others.
Thank you for an unforgettable holiday with incredibly many exciting experiences and impressions.
Many greetings.
SG
Email Willard Williamson | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
This trip was out of this world !!
My family did a week long safari to Lake Naivasha, Hell's Gate and The Masai Mara National Parks. Our guide John Kabiro was very professional, knowledgeable and skilled and from the very beginning we felt very comfortable with him. He promptly picked us up early in the morning from the airport in Nairobi and took us to our Hotel. He was with us the entire trip and we thank him for making this one of our best safaris we have gone in Africa. We saw an amazing variety of animals and birds, including the Big 5, crocs, Hippos in their natural habitats. We took a hike and cycling in Hell’s Gate National Park and it was also full of fun. The Masai Mara is so stunning and as a friend who has been here told me, you'll struggle to get what you see out of your mind once you've left. That is very true.
The accommodation,food, customer service and even the vehicle we used were all excellent and thanks to Daniel and all the staff of African Sermon Safaris for arranging such a wonderful trip. This is the best experience of our lives! We would definitely use African Sermon Safaris for another African Safari.
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Email Leroy D. Walton | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A truly a memorable Experience
We, family of 5 took a safari with African Sermon Safaris and it was truly a memorable experience. 7 nights both in Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru.We were so pleased with how the entire trip was professionally managed. One of the most amazing part of the trip was the driver Kabiru, who was also our tour guide. He was fantastic and a very knowledgeable guide with lots of information about the wild .Thanks to him we saw all the big five .Nothing comes close to seeing this animals in their natural setting--in the wild. We will never forget this. Also we thank Daniel who managed the entire trip so well and was very helpful all through. We highly recommend African Sermon Safaris to all.
SG
Email Riley Lynch | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Simply incredible!
The most Amazing 7 day safari we have been to! Breathtaking sceneries, open grasslands with hundreds of wildlife species, will just take your breath away. The experience gives us all reasons to come back. Mostly thanks to the wonderful staff at African Sermon Safaris who went above and beyond to make sure our dream safari came true. Thank you!
Email Ian Barber | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Another extremely enjoyable visit to Africa-Kenya worth every penny
We had previous experience of Africa safaris but this was one of the most amazing and well-arranged trip. Everyone we dealt with was so welcoming and efficient. This was very good indeed and, for the friends we went with it was such a wonderful experience to visit Kenya. We visited the Mara and it was really the Mara ..!!! Animals all over ..the experience will take your breath away literary.....This was easily one of the best trips we've ever had thanks to Daniel and The very friendly Guides of African Sermon Safaris. Thank you Again.
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Email Mike | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A Wonderful Trip to Africa
I took a private guided safari in Kenya and had an excellent guide assigned to me. He was excellent in his knowledge and his treatment to me was beyond reproach. The guide presented a self-assurance probably attributable to his years of experience and I give the guide a gold star.
The boat tour on Lake Naivasha was lovely and the entire staff I came into contact were outstanding.
Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend a trip to Kenya and certainly with African Sermon Safaris.