Meet the Team - eTrip Africa
E-Trip Africa
- Located In:
-
United States
- Size:
- 20-50 employees (Founded in 2012)
- Member Of:
- ATA, IATAN, IGS, KPAP & CODE
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $200 to $1,500 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Brett McKenzie | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Brilliant from first Contact to saying Goodbye
I can not recommend E-Trip highly enough! I’ve travelled to 68 countries and dealt with a lot of operators - E-Trip were brilliant from my first email interaction. I sent email requests to 22 Safari operators asking for a recommendation 10 day Safari.
It was t my first time to Africa Ron safari and I wanted to see who could meet my needs.
Ben and Aurielle ( Owners) provided a customised itinerary options ad stood out from any other operators I contacted. It was obvious they have visited the various camps they recommend to stay at and promptly answered any Q’s I had.
Once arriving for safari my primary clothing g bag was lost by Airline - Ben firstly lent me clothes and he took over responsibility to get my bag to me 2 days later - The bag loss was t E-trips fault but that’s the kind of service they provide their customers.
David our private guide for the whole 10 days was simply superb - experienced guide with vast knowledge of animals behaviour and was funny and always looking after my daughter and I. His ability to see animals we couldn’t see was amazing and as an avid photographer always managed to position the vehicle for best photo positions.
E-Trips custom Land Cruiser is roomy, New , well maintained and comfortable on what can be rough roads.
The camps and lodges we stayed at were superb and food was always of high quality - as were lunch boxes provided each day.
Finally the fact that E-Trips bank account is in USA gave me piece of mind when making payments for the trip.
I unreservedly recommend the E-Trip team as a brilliant Lifetime experience provider for your safari trip.
US
Email Ron L | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolutely exceeded my expectations by an order of magnitude!
From start to finish this was an outstanding safari. Accommodations in the parks arranged by eTrip Africa were excellent, especially considering all were off the power grid. Our guides, David & Atilla were absolutely outstanding, exceptional subject matter experts, passionate about their nation, its parks, and the wildlife within, and just great guys to hang out with for 10 days. This was truly a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ experience made all the better by eTrip’s attention to detail and flawless execution.
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Email Gina | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The trip that exceeded ALL expectations!
From beginning to end, the experience with e-Trip Africa exceeded all expectations. The process went as smoothly as anyone could hope - without a hiccup. The trip was customized to meet the requests of all 8 travelers; e-Trip was even able to help us with accommodations before and after the actual safari! Our guides (David & Alladin) were simply amazing!! Working together, and with other guides, they were able to find all of the animals that you would want to see while on safari - we were even able to see 3 black rhinos in the Ngorongoro crater where there is a population of only around 50 rhinos...WOW. The knowledge our guides shared and their passion for all things Tanzania helped to make this a trip of a life-time. All attendees from our group are experienced GLOBAL travelers and without exception, we all felt the same.
JP
Email Jerry | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Guides/Ground Transportation excellent. Food/Accommodations adequate/ lunch's terrible.
Communication between us and the guides the day his credit cards didn't work to allow us to get into the Serengeti would have been nice. It took over 2 hours... and very little to no communication as to why until the end?
Guides had awesome knowledge about animals, birds, and culture. They communicated with their peers on where animal sightings might be so we could see as many animals as possible. They were both also very accommodating to the needs of the group and made adjustments if needed. They always maintained professionalism and the safety of the group was always at the top of their list.
The guides made sure the vehicles were always clean for the next day's trip.
Food at the resorts was not bad, but the lunch boxes were not appetizing!
Hotels... Moivaro Coffee Plantation Lodge - Really not good at all. Afraid to eat the food and very confusing at check out time for the food/bar bill. We were overcharged... double for the drinks and food we had already paid for the night before. 2nd lodge - Tarangire Sopa Lodge - Very nice lodge, the view was great and the pool was chlorinated which was nice. 3rd lodge - Escarpment Luxury Lodge - by far the cleanest and nicest lodge of the entire trip with another awesome view! The food at this lodge was the best of the entire trip as well. 4th lodge - Serengeti Sopa Lodge - Location and view were awesome... the food adequate. 5th lodge - Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge - Location and view were awesome, food... this is where one of us got sick from the food. 5th lodge - KIA Lodge - Food was not good here. Accommodations were okay, but having the A/C that night was the best!
In all of the lodges, the staff was very nice and accommodating. The guides were awesome and overall the safari was outstanding!
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Email Julia Hubbel | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Superbly trained team, excellent adventure and a successful summit.
First, this is my third trip with eTrip Africa. That alone should tell you how I feel about this superbly-run, excellent boutique firm out of Arusha. That, and we are already planning our fourth and fifth trips. Repeat hirings speak to the level of trust I have in who they are and how they operate.
Back in July I contacted Ben Jennings, the director, about this trip, and he suggested that I take on Mt.Kenya. I accepted, having done Kilimanjaro with Ben's team precisely five years ago nearly to the day in November 2013. I took on a very serious training plan as I had before. This time Ben, his top three guides and I drove from Arusha to Nairobi together as a team, and took on this challenging and very different experience. It was rainy and cold, and we went up with a local team.
Two things are primary when you choose a summit team no matter which mountain or what country: their professionalism and commitment to safety. Professionalism is expressed in thorough preparation, from the safety briefing and detailed gear checks (done) to the nightly medicals which entail checking your oxygen levels, your BP, lungs, the whole gamut. While this can seem annoying at times when you would rather not have a cold stethoscope against your bare skin in the mess tent, these checks guarantee your safety and a healthy summit. Ben's team members were fun, funny, and dedicated. When the local Kenyan team sped up to an unsustainable pace (which can swiftly lead to altitude sickness), Caspar, one of Ben's guides, stepped in front of me and immediately slowed the pace in half to the proper Pole pole (slow slow) that protects me from any danger. Davis, another of our three guides, was in front of me a good bit of the time as well, and his green-gloved hand was regularly right there to help me get over a difficult rock or crag. Mt. Kenya is a much more challenging climb than Kili, and this kind of assistance, good humor and support made this experience not only much more fun but safer for me. While the mountain isn't as high as Kili, the physical challenges were greater, including sliding down a long scree field in the dark. Davis was just ahead of me shining his flashlight on the ground so that I could see where to put my boots and poles. That kind of attention goes a long way towards building your confidence as well as helping you master the summit. Ben has put a lot of time and money into developing his team's skills, and he was with us on this trip as well. I got to know him a lot a better, and they way he managed his team and used this trip as an opportunity to expand their skills (as well as his own). To this I would suggest reading https://medium.com/datadriveninvestor/practical-leadership-earning-respect-in-the-field-e50c72995454. Ben and his wife Aurelie run Researcher's Rest in Arusha (highly recommended for comfort and food) and they have lived in East Africa a very long time. As a result, they have intimate, first-hand knowledge of the concessions, the trips, what's available, and they can make excellent recommendations based on your preferences. What I appreciate most about working with eTrip is that they know what I like to do and the kinds of experiences I want to have, so I simply need to let them know I'm coming and where I'd like to go. From there I'm guaranteed that I'll be safely ferried from place to place, I'll have a superbly trained guide, and by the time I go home, I will have a raft of stories and experiences (and thank you, no foolish accidents unless it's my own fault) to write about. The truth is that you can spend a lot more for your safari experience, but that doesn't buy you much other than a brand name. From brand new vehicles to his well-trained staff, Ben manages to keep his costs mid-range while also delivering a top of the line experience to his clients. He also- and this is essential- ensures that his employees are well paid and that they get upgraded regular training. This makes for cheerful, happy guides and porters, and that makes for a very good experience for you and me. Ben and I are now planning a scuba diving trip to an offshore island and a return to Kenya for me to ride horses in two different locations- and I can't wait. As a 66-year-old adventure traveler and prize winning journalist, I am very discerning about where I spend my adventure dollars. I've used guides all over the world and I also train leadership skills for the Fortune 500. As a result, I know a good firm when I see one, and eTrip does it right every time. If you have questions please email me directly. If I am in country will be happy to respond.
ES
Email Maria Jose | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excelent
Excelente, the service is good and they think to the personas trip
CA
Email Val Kazubinski | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Seamless and stress-free tour, travelled with confidence, exceeded expectations!
My husband and I had decided to visit Tanzania to go on a safari in the Serengeti, and although we do a lot of travelling, for this trip, we didn't know where to start to plan!!! There is so much information and decisions to make, and we were about to go travelling is such a foreign country We didn't know what to expect, was it safe to stay here or should we stay there? Can we drive? Which company should we use for the safari? Where should we go for safari? Enter, E-Trip Africa! Ben, the owner, answered our endless email and questions, and, cleared up any and every question we had. He suggested itineraries based on what we wanted to do and see, and how much we wanted to spend, then made all the arrangements after we decided on the options! He had us picked up by a private driver at the airport on arrival, and dropped off by a private driver at the end of the trip. In between, all hotels were booked, for us, based on our selections, and all rides before and after the safari as well. He booked flights, even to Zanzibar afterward and arranged transportation there as well. He was spot on with everything he told us,and never seemed to mind our endless questions, or if he did, you would never have known. The trip was perfect and amazing!! Everything exceeded our expectations, the safari jeep was equipped with electrical for charging and mini fridge for water, the driver was friendly, experienced, and knowledgeable, and knew where to find the animals, and all the meals were provided and delicious!!! There isn't enough I can say about this Safari Operator/Tour Company, but I can assure you, you will be happy you used their services. Made for a completely enjoyable stress free holiday knowing you were in such capable and reliable hands!!
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Email Dale and Nancy | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great guide, with customized agenda, from an operator who knows Africa and cares about your safari!
With hundreds of tour operators to choose from, what’s important? Your guide, your agenda and an operator who truly understands Africa and cares about your individual adventure. E-Trip delivered a life-time experience! Explore with them.
Your guide is a make-or-break factor, who must speak your language, understand what you want to see, be experienced and capable to find what you want to see and be able to alter the program to meet your needs. E-Trip’s David, with an education in conservation and over 20 years of experience, exceeded our expectations. We urge you to work with any operator on selecting your guide (from profiles and ratings) before you book.
E-Trip provides complete flexibility to tailor your agenda to what you want to see and where you want to go, priced accordingly. You are not “stuck” with a fixed set of packages or combined with strangers. We wanted to see the herds, which are far in the north during September, and E-Trip made this happen. When you are planning, understand that the National Parks (Tarangire, Ngorongoro,…) keep a strict 24-hour window on entrance and exit time, so if you want to be there longer, then plan for more than one day. Ask questions, because every month is a little different in Tanzania. E-Trip provides for a legitimate guided cultural tour of a Tanzanian town, which may include a Masai village, but will also incorporate family living and African cuisine (if you’d like). This can be a longer, or shorter experience, depending on you. Avoid those many artificial Masai village tours!
Although this was not essential for us, E-Trip can also provide a safari that spans multiple countries, if that’s what you want to do.
Ben and Aurelie are westerners who have spent years in Africa, and live in Arusha. E-Trip is their company. They fully understand the land, the people and culture, and the game areas and animals, so they are fully equipped to provide knowledgeable, personalized advice as you plan and customize your safari. Ask questions and pose options – they will help you build your dream safari.
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Email Susie Burke | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
safari went perfect as planned and I would do it again with E-Trip Africa
I planned my safari with E-trip Africa 15 months in advance. Upon arrival in Tanzania, all the elements came together perfectly. Ben Jennings, the planner, worked with me and answered all questions from start to finish. Ben listened to what I wanted to do, what level of accommodations I wanted, and arranged for what I wanted not what earned him the biggest commission. Our driver David Mushi was a friendly, educated, knowledgeable and delightful man. His wildlife spotting skills were amazing. There was a last minute change to our arrival time due to flight changes and ben handled them perfectly.
I enjoyed all of the 5 different lodges/tented camps we stayed at, some my suggestion some E-Trip's suggestion. Overall the food was just average to mediocre, but Idid not go on a safari for the food. I got enough to eat.
I will go back to Tanzania i the future for another safari and I will hire E-trip Africa to plan and conduct it.
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Email Ira Schack | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
You can not be in better hands then with ETrip Africa
I can’t say enough about Ben and his staff at Etrip Africa. I reached out to eight different tour operators focusing on those who worked in Tanzania, Rwanda and possibly a connection to the States. Ben was one of only two who replied with an offer to talk instead of just sending me a price quote based on an itinerary I had sent them based on my own research. I found our Skype conversation incredibly helpful as Ben gave me his professional and local expertise on how we could better utilize our time to see what we really wanted to see at the same time keeping within our budget. By focusing on less travel time between camps and locations and more focus on wildlife viewing we were able to throw in some extra treats like staying at a nicer camp closer to the cheetahs (one of our main focus) and also a hot air balloon ride for our anniversary, all while keeping us within our stated budget. Our guide David in Tanzania was fantastic. A real gentleman and pleasure to be around. This is incredibly important as you will be spending a lot of time in the company of your guide and I cannot recommend David more highly. For our time in Rwanda, also coordinated with ETrip Africa we had Kevin as our guide and he was just an incredible human being. Trying to understand what he and the rest of the citizens of Rwanda have been able to overcome is just so amazing and then you add in two jaw dropping treks to see the gorillas and you have an incredible ending to an unforgettable trip. I also want to say a special thanks to Ben for helping us when Turkish Airlines cancelled our original flight and had us instead arrive at 5:15am in the morning. Without a hotel to stay at, Ben came to our rescue and offered to pick us up at the airport and bring us to his bed and breakfast (The Researchers Rest) and gave us a bed to sleep in and breakfast to tide us over until our hotel room was available at our initial stop. I can’t thank him and ETrip Africa enough. So sit back and relax with the knowledge that these people know what they are doing and will always be there for you.
