Reviews

Sort By: Date Most Helpful Rating 41-50 of 115 Reviews
Colin & Jayne   –  
United Kingdom UK
Visited: November 2018 Reviewed: Nov 21, 2018

Email Colin & Jayne  |  50-65 years of age  |  Experience level: over 5 safaris

Superb 11 day honeymoon safari
5/5

We looked at several safari operators, but decided on Transtrek very soon after Dan contacted us and tailor made our trip to suit both time and budget. David was a fantastic and very knowledgeable guide and we would like to use this platform to thank him again for an unforgettable safari on our honeymoon. Some of the highlights: Elephants and views of Kilimanjaro from Amboseli; Kilanguni lodge in Tsavo West, with view of waterhole from our room; Sheldrick elephant orphanage in Nairobi, where we met our fostered baby elephants; bird life at lake Naivasha; lions, cheetah and leopards at Masia Mara. There was much, much more including the comfortable accommodation, swimming pools and exceptional food at every camp.
Highly recommended.

Ian and Beth   –  
United Kingdom UK
Visited: November 2018 Reviewed: Nov 21, 2018

Email Ian and Beth  |  65+ years of age  |  Experience level: over 5 safaris

An Unforgettable Safari
5/5

On our fifth visit to Kenya for a safari we chose TransTrek on the recommendation of one of their previous clients. I would have no hesitation in extending that recommendation to other travellers who have similar interests and objectives. This is a very professional outfit.

For us Kenya is a wildlife photographers paradise, her people are amazingly friendly, and the camps at which we stayed were outstanding. This was our first completely ‘on road’ safari and despite reservations regarding driving times it was overall not hugely different to total times taken flying between game reserves when travel to and from, and waiting at, airstrips etc is balanced. The only downside was the amount of dust on the road to the Mara.

TransTrek readily tailor safaris to clients needs and desires. In e-mail and telephone discussions with Daniel we made refinements and changes to times and camps in the “Samburu Five & Big Five” offer advertised in the TransTrek web pages. Each stop had its peculiar highlights; Samburu and the Mara never disappoint; the Aberdares Country Club was just Oh So Colonial but the Ark at the Aberdares was a new experience which gave good photo opportunities; Ol Pejeta was also new to us, providing some unforgettable encounters; Sopa at Naivasha was fine for a transit stop; Naboisho was also a first visit - it was really interesting to understand the integration of Masai herders, safari lodges and animal conservation within a conservancy. It bodes well for the future. Food was good at all camps, but special mention should be given to the chefs at Sweetwaters, the Aberdares CC, and at Samburu Intrepids.

Our guide Tony went out of his way to make us comfortable and to get us into the best photography positions. He was on the go non-stop. Beyond his in depth and perceptive knowledge of the animals we encountered he has a broad command and appreciation of local, and African at large, culture and history. Our interaction was constantly engaging.

Overall we had a “lions share” this safari - we saw more lions and rhinos than on all our previous trips combined and as chance would have it we also witnessed once in a lifetime wildlife encounters. This trip will live long in our memories.

Ashley   –  
United States US
Visited: August 2018 Reviewed: Nov 12, 2018

Email Ashley  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Fabulous 5-Day Safari Experience
5/5

My partner and I booked a two-person, 5-day safari with Transtrek. Daniel was prompt, forthcoming, and full of helpful information before booking and also before our trip departure from the US. Once with our local guidedriver, Tony, we knew we were in good hands. Tony was highly knowledgeable about wildlife, friendly with the Masai guides at our lodges, and was happy to customize and cater our day treks to our needs. He made sure we had chances to see all the big 5 and any particular animals we were interested in and we loved being in our private Range Rover for viewing without the crowds.

We especially loved the Basecamp Eagle's Nest camping experience--this ecotourism group is owned by the Masai people and does great work in the community. It was the best of the places we stayed and we really got to know the staff--from our Masai guides to the chef to the locals in the nearby village. It made our trip special!

Benoit   –  
Switzerland CH
Visited: October 2018 Reviewed: Nov 1, 2018

Email Benoit  |  50-65 years of age  |  Experience level: 2-5 safaris

Superbly Customized and Beautifully Executed 10-day Safari
5/5

We had heard about Transtrek through friends so when we (family of four, with 2 kids aged 5 and 9) decided to do that dream safari in Kenya, I sent them a note with our "dream requirements", having been to Kenya a few times in the past. What we got back from Transtrek was even better than what I envisioned: these guys really take care of all the details. The plan was changed twice before the travel as the organizer found better options, such as when family tents became available in tented camps. Remarkable commitment to make the trip memorable. We had our private driver for the whole stay and he was absolutely fabulous. We even found out he spoke French perfectly (I did not even ask for that...). Tony was our angel and a star with the kids. He was a superb safari guide, patient, knowledgeable and always looking for ways to make things perfect for us. Transtrek went beyond the call of duty many times to ensure a unique experience. Really feels like a boutique / family operation, really attentive to the clients. Difficult to leave Kenya after that but we will certainly return with them...

Dana   –  
United States US
Visited: August 2018 Reviewed: Oct 21, 2018

Email Dana  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Fantastic safari lead by a very knowledgeable guide!
5/5

Transtreck provided a great experience for my husband and I on our honeymoon. We saw about every animal imaginable and our guide, Tony, was extremely knowledgeable about the terrain and animals alike. We stayed in some amazing camps , our favorite being the Mara Bush Camp, met wonderfully interesting people and felt at home in the Jeep after a week or so. A highlight of the trip was seeing a cheetah stalk and run down a gazelle. Tony placed us in the perfect position to see the entire event from start to finish. Simply amazing!

The Pordes Family   –  
United States US
Visited: September 2018 Reviewed: Oct 20, 2018

Email The Pordes Family  |  65+ years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

A life-changing experience, beautifully planned and executed by Transtrek Safaris
5/5

We are giving Transtrek a five-star rating because our experience - ten days in Kenya - was so exciting, beautiful and memorable. We asked three tour operator to send us offers. Not only was the offer by Transtrek the most varied and interesting, Dan even called my mobile phone within an hour of my posting the request, to check and ask us what we really wanted. Our safari took us to the highlands north of Nairobi as well as to the Masai Mara in the West. Each day was more exciting than the previous one and we actually saw a couple of Cheetah kills that were absolutely stunning. Our guide, Peter, was superb at finding interesting animals and we saw all the Big Five. He is also an excellent driver who managed to avoid hurting our necks and backs (we were a senior group) by carefully negotiating all major bumps and tranches. A few minor complaints: We should have skipped the Chimpanzee sanctuary (sad and a bit boring) and the tame, blind Rhino at Ol Pejeta (you are supposed to be able to pet him but he never showed up) and used the time to do more game drives. The Balloon Ride was hellishly expensive but really worth the experience. The Masai Village visit was exploitative of tourists and we felt pressured to buy gifts. In the Mara, we thought Ashnil Camp was somewhat dated and decaying, with a dilapidated swimming pool, but Eagle View was fantastic! You have to pick and choose your Camps with care. But overall an outstanding experience and Transtrek are the ones to go with!

Reply from Transtrek Safaris
Reply from Transtrek Safaris
Posted on Oct 22, 2018

Thank you for taking the time to write a review and we are pleased to hear you had such a great time. However we were disappointed to hear about Ashnil Mara, as you know this wasn't our first choice of camp which was unfortunately fully booked for your dates but it should have been a more than satisfactory alternative. I have contacted Ashnil to share your comments and I will share with you any response I receive and I hope that the bush breakfast we organised for you went some way to pacify your disappointment with this camp.

William   –  
United States US
Visited: March 2018 Reviewed: Sep 23, 2018

Email William  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Excellent service with a Superb guide, bar none!
5/5

Great service, door to door. The organizer worked with with us on all modifications we wanted. We were picked up day one with no issues and the trip went on seamlessly from there on out. Our guide Tony, was extremely knowledgable on the flora and fauna, but geology, history, etc, as well.

Sue and Keith Fitz-John   –  
United Kingdom UK
Visited: August 2018 Reviewed: Aug 21, 2018

Email Sue and Keith Fitz-John  |  50-65 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Superb from start to finish!
5/5

My husband and I have just returned from the Transtrek 12 Day Classic Safari.

Everything from start to finish was superb. From our initial enquiry, Daniel, from Transtrek was professional, helpful, friendly and patient. He initiated a phone call between us so that we could discuss the plans and he was able to use his expert knowledge to advise and alter some of the details of the safari to satisfy our wishes. Dan was always quick to respond to any questions we had during the planning stage, which gave us total faith in his arrangements. Our faith was justified as everything, from the initial pick-up, when we arrived at Nairobi Airport, to the final airport drop-off at the end, went like clockwork.

The safari was absolutely amazing. All the reserves we visited, our day in Nairobi and all of the lodges and camps we stayed in were first class.
We had the best of drivers in Peter. He met us early one morning, at the Airport Hotel and was with us throughout our time in Kenya. His knowledge of the wildlife of Kenya is amazing and his expertise enabled us to see all of the, “Big Five”. Nothing was too much trouble for him and we enjoyed listening to him talk about life in Kenya. We only hope that he enjoyed our tales of life in the UK just as much. Peter is, without doubt a real asset to the Transtrek Safari experience.

If you are reading this review because you are unsure of who to book your next safari with, don’t hesitate in contacting Transtrek, Dan will take care of every last detail for you.

We fully intend to return to the wonderful country of Kenya again some day and will not consider any other company to take us there.

Thank you Dan and Peter, you both made our first safari an unforgettable experience.

Ghislain Guillochon   –  
France FR
Visited: July 2018 Reviewed: Aug 8, 2018

Email Ghislain Guillochon  |  50-65 years of age  |  Experience level: 2-5 safaris

Excellent Tour Operator, quick to react, very professionnal and reliable
5/5

The proposition Safaris from Transtrek was exactly what we had asked (specific circuit in various parks of Kenya)
Very quick to react to answer our questions and to prepar the trip
Excellent choice of Lodges in the best rates
Very professionnal guide

To summarize : excellent tour operator, to advise very strongly

Dan   –  
United States US
Visited: June 2018 Reviewed: Jul 30, 2018

Email Dan  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Exceeded Our Expectations - Seven Day Tour, Rift Valley Lakes and the Masai Mara
5/5

My wife and I took a seven day private tour which included Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha in the Rift Valley, the Masai Mara, and the Mara Naboisho Conservancy. Our trip spanned the end of June into July. From the outset, Daniel’s (with Transtrek) communications were prompt and helpful. He addressed all our questions and concerns, while offering suggestions without pushing to up-sell. Once in Kenya, we met our main guide, Peter, when he picked us up from the Nairobi airport Hilton. The tour was conducted in a seven seat Toyota Land Cruiser with a pop up canopy for 360 degree viewing. Peter was friendly and professional throughout the trip. He was always more than willing to talk about the country, people, and wildlife, make arrangements, and keep us well stocked with bottled water. Daniel made planning and booking our first trip to Africa as painless as possible and Peter saw to it that the tour went smoothly. We hope to return to Kenya in the future and fully intend to book with Transtrek again.

Parks:
The tour began with a roughly four hour drive from Nairobi hotel to Lake Nakuru National Park. Lake Nakuru National Park is a pretty park consisting mainly of wetlands and forested areas. In contrast to the tan savannah of the Mara, Lake Nakuru was vibrantly green. In addition to many other species, we saw both black and white rhinos. After two nights, we traveled a bit over two hours to Lake Naivasha National Park. At Lake Naivasha, we took a private boat tour to an island which allows bush walks due to its lack of large predators. The lake is home to an impressive array of bird species. For the final three nights of the itinerary, we drove the five plus hours the Masai Mara region. While we enjoyed the Rift lakes, the Mara region was the highlight. The national reserve, with its grand sweeping grasslands and wild abundance of life, is rightly iconic. It can get crowded (particularly around big cats) but it was not nearly as bad as I feared. In early July, it was still possible to find areas with no one else in sight. The Mara Naboisho Conservancy, lacking the vast open spaces of the national reserve, is mainly covered in groups of shrubs and smallish trees. The conservancy offers a different experience in several respects because it is privately operated and visitor numbers are controlled: night game drives and bush walks (with armed guides) are permitted and it does not get crowded. In addition, it has one of highest concentrations of lions in East Africa. The cost to stay in the conservancy is higher than the nearby national reserve; however, once we saw what was offered, we did not regret the expense for a moment.

Accommodation:
We stayed at five properties while in Kenya: Hilton Garden Inn Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge, Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort, Basecamp Explorer Masai Mara, and Basecamp Explorer Eagle View. The Hilton was our airport lodging before and after the tour, which we arranged separately. Daniel did offer to book on our behalf but my wife had Hilton points to burn. The hotel is new, clean, comfortable, operated by friendly and efficient staff, and has a very good restaurant. The two Sopa properties were similar. Both consisted of a restaurant/reception area and chalets with two to four rooms. The rooms were spacious and well appointed. The bathrooms were clean but hot water is limited by design. The food, mainly served buffet style, ranged from fine to good and there was variety. The Nakuru Sopa Lodge is situated on a ridge and has a lovely view over Lake Nakuru. The Naivasha resort has zebra, giraffe, impala, waterbuck, several species of monkeys, and (at night) hippopotamus on the property. The Basecamp Explorer properties are both tented camps, though with electricity and showers in every room. Basecamp Explorer Masai Mara sits in a wooded area just over the Talek River from the Mara, within sight of the national reserve. The tents are a bit spartan but contain what one expects in a hotel room, with two odd exceptions: there are no mirrors or trash cans. Basecamp Explorer Eagle View is arrayed along a ridge with the Naboisho Conservancy. The dining/reception area has a fantastic view over a lightly wooded valley, regularly populated by herds of zebra, wildebeest, water buffalo, and impala. In contrast with Basecamp Explorer Masai Mara, the tents at Eagle View are certainly not spartan. This is a luxury camp. Both Basecamp properties serve excellent food, usually in 3-4 courses. Lunch and dinner typically consisted of soup, bread, entrée, and dessert. There are no options, you receive what they prepare for a given meal but we were never disappointed. I bought head chef’s cookbook.

Average User Rating
5.0/5
Rating Breakdown
  • 5 star 112
  • 4 star 3
  • 3 star 0
  • 2 star 0
  • 1 star 0
Write a Review

Disclaimer

  • All corporate and/or tour info is provided by Transtrek Safaris, not SafariBookings
  • The tours offered by Transtrek Safaris are subject to their terms & conditions