Ton, one of the owners of Netherken Safaris&Tours
Netherken Safaris & Tours
- Office In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2010)
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $50 to $450 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
DE
Email Aurelia K. | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Mahmoud found the lions first!
It was a great Safari adventure with Mahmoud in Tsavo East and Amboselli. Mahmoud has been very awake with a very good eye for spotting the animals. He was the one finding the lions first. Which has been a highlight. And he has the superpower to push the clouds away, so that you can see the top of Kilimandscharo even in December.^^ He taught us a lot about the wildlife and area, very very interesting facts. (Don't ask about the Dig Digs - way too sad story!)
We booked Budget Safari - and even though accommodations might not be the highest standard, I would recommend to EXPLICITLY avoid VOI SAFARI LODGE in Tsavo East. This place is a hell, except for the view! Old, dirty, not organized, loud, bugs everywhere (terrorizing you). Even the pool is full of dirt and bugs.
If you have that in mind, go with Netherken Safaris. They are so friendly in communication and you feel well guided right after your first email is sent. Thank you for everything, we won't forget!
Reply from Netherken Safaris & Tours
Posted on Jan 18, 2022Dear Aurelia,
Thank you for your comment about your experience with Voi Safari Lodge. We have discussed this with the management of Voi. They have indicated that they will improve this.
Based on your review, clients can always ask to book another lodge.
Ton Verheijke, co-Owner
Email Andrew | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great safari 3 days in Tsavo West and East
All excellent! Thanks to Mahmut for professionalism, courtesy, and incredible eyesight. The vehicle was very comfortable in all terrains. The national parks are extraordinary places in themselves, and lodges are very atmospheric. We saw animals many and diverse: lions, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, zebras, hippos, oryx, impalas, dik diks, hydrax, etc etc.
US
Email Richard | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome 3 day Masai Mara Safari followed by Spectacular Day at Wasini Island Snorkeling
From the initial email inquiry to the final drop off at the airport Netherken Safaris and Tours took care of our every need.
Communication prior to the trip was prompt and accurate. When we arrived in Nairobi our safari guide was at the hotel early to pick us up. Our baggage had missed the connection in Amsterdam and our guide took us back to the airport so we could be reunited with our bags before embarking on the 5 hour drive to Masai Mara. Once at the Masai Mara National Reserve the guide demonstrated his expertise and passion in not only finding the animals but also provided a running commentary on how the animals live and fit into the environment. The guide really made this trip special and was always willing to answer our questions but also knew when to leave us to ourselves to soak up the experience. One of the last animals the guide showed us was a leopard sitting high in a tree with what looked to be an antelope leg that he was saving for later.....an unbelievable sight and something that the guide went above and beyond to show us.
The accommodations at the Mara Sentrim Camp were perfect, the "tents" were clean and comfortable and the food was welcomed after spending a day in the van viewing the animals. The staff at the camp provided first class service.
The whole safari experience was an incredible value and although there are probably fancier lodges/hotels and we could have spent more and taken a plane into the reserve the trip we had was fantastic. Driving to the reserve was an adventure in itself and stopping to look over the Rift Valley prior to descending to the floor of the valley gave a great sense of perspective. Kenya is a fascinating country and during the drive the guide provided interesting information on the culture.
The snorkeling trip on Wasini Island was also very impressive. Our guide for the day picked us up from our Mombassa hotel and drove us 2.5 hrs to the boat landing for the trip. We snorkeled over the coral reef and was lucky enough to see dolphins and get to briefly get to swim with them. After returning to the island we had a fantastic seafood lunch. The guide then did everything possible to get us back to the airport in time for our 9:00pm flight. When we were stuck in Friday night traffic in Mombassa he knew all the strings to pull to get us to the airport in time. A truly memorable day.
Booking a trip online is always a little bit of a lottery but Netherken really came through for us and provide me and my family a vacation that we will remember forever. They provided everything they said they would and we were really looked after every step of the way. I highly recommend Netherken Safaris and Tours to anyone looking for a fantastic experience while traveling in Kenya.
Email John | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Our family of 4 had a great time, well structured safaris and good communication
We are a family of 4 with a 4-year old and 11-year old and it was an early start from our hotel, but the pick up was bang on time. The driver was courteous and safe at all times with no crazy overtaking on the way there and back. Our safari was great with some fantastic close up lion encounters and our driver tried hard to locate as many different animals for us to see. His knowledge was good and even spotted a black adder snake and rare birds. The accommodation and food at the hotel lodge was very good with a varied choice (drinks were a little expensive). If we go again it will be with Netherken.
FR
Email Moez | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Safari Tsavo
We spent an excelent trip of 3days and 2night Safari at Ngutuni.
They arranged us a pick from Taveta borders(Kenya) and dropped us in Diani beach near Mombasa
The lodge was very clean, staff very attentive the program very interesting , we saw a lot of animals even the sheeta and lion. The place was amazing!
Mahmoud our guide was very kind and professionnel .
Every thing was perfect and we really apreciate the exchange and flexibility of Ton and Janet.
We recommend Netherken and we won't hesitate to travel with them for our next trip in Kenya!
NL
Email Ilse | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Unforgettable experiences with Netherken!
I have been on several 1-day tours and a 3-day Safari with Netherken. Everything has always been perfectly arranged. I am sure I will make a few more trips with this organization. The owners are very nice people and know a lot about the different parks and tours Kenya offers. I think they give reasonable prices for the tours they offer compared to other organizations. I like how they make every trip a unique one exactly as you wish for!
IT
Email Lara Alberti | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Safari at Tsavo East and West
We had a great time in the safari experience and everything went well.
Our driver Mahmood was really skilled, nice and helpful for the whole tour. We really enjoyed it!
PL
Email Marek | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional, helpful, trustful
Everything was perfectly organized. Communication with operator was easy and all questions were answered very quickly. Our driver was always on time and very helpful willing to show us as many animals as possible suggesting best spots for pictures doing his best for us to have an amazing experience. The lodges were wonderful and food was excellent. I definately recommend safari with Netherken.
Email Richard Hemingway | 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.
CH
Email Irina Tomovic | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exceptional tour experience with knowledgeable guides and seamless organisation-highly recommended!
We had an incredible experience with Netherken Safaris and Tours! From start to finish, every detail was expertly handled. Our guide was knowledgeable and personable, making the tour both informative and enjoyable. The itinerary was well-planned, allowing us to see all the highlights while still having time to explore on our own. Thank you for providing such a memorable adventure!
The only thing I personally did not like id that the guide asked for 20 dollars tip from each of us. That should be up to people how much are they willing to give. Ut was a bit uncomfortable.
Reply from Netherken Safaris & Tours
Posted on Feb 18, 2024Dear Irina,
Thank you for your nice review.
We contacted the driver and he said that you had asked him how much the tip should be. He then mentioned the amount of USD 20, which you paid to him.
It is best if you never ask the person how much they want as a tip, so you will get this as an answer. Decide for yourself, possibly with others in your group, or ask in advance where you booked the trip.
Regards, Ton Verheijke co-Owner.