Our Trip Planners and Consultants
Hallmark Travel Planners
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2006)
- Member Of:
- ASTA & KATO
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $150 to $800 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Julie | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Pain and worry free booking experience with exemplary customer service.
We booked our safari with Levis at Hallmark Travel Planners. We ended up with a 16 day safari in Kenya and Rwanda. Over the course of a year, Levis politely and quickly answered all of our questions (I think I emailed him around 60 times!!). He was always courteous and professional. He ensured that our requests for what we wanted out of our safari were met. Our accommodations and experiences were superb as was our private tour guide in Kenya, Anthony. The Gorilla trek in Rwanda was an amazing experience- I highly recommend adding this to your trip if you can spare 2 or 3 days.
I cannot say enough about how incredible our safari was and I am sure it had a lot to do with Levis experience and commitment to his customers.
Thank you Levis!!
Email Michele | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Answered emails promptly and helped ease any banking glitches.
Right from being picked up at the airport in Nairobi until we were returned there at safari's end we were more than happy with the experience. Our driver guides were very good and went out of their way to show us their animals. Food and accommodation in the safari camps was of a very high order, with the one at Lake Manyara outstanding in every respect.
Email Jan | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful safari experience with kind and knowledgeable guide
My 19 year old son and I traveled to Kenya and Rwanda through Hallmark. We had an absolutely wonderful experience. Our guide Gordon was always prompt. He was very knowledgeable about the locations we traveled to, the animals we encountered and he knew how to help us get the best experience that we wanted out of our trip. Hallmark was always ready to answer my many questions that I asked prior to the trip.
Email Suran | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Memorable affordable and perfect safari packages.
Real quick e-mail reply since we contacted the agency. Affirdable safari packages that we could customize our plans. They took a good care of us during our safari there, including pick-up and drop-off services. Two thumbs up for the company.
DK
Email Claus | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Everything just went very well. Perfect trip
Communication good and quick response
The driver always came on time - the game drives were just perfect and the driver was eager to show as much as possible. The accommodation was perfect except that the staff was "too eager" to make our stay at Ashnil perfect.
SI
Email Sonja & Storey Lindsay | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Looking for a special East African safari?
Looking for a special East African safari?
Having been to East Africa before, we knew what we wanted to see and do. Hallmark Travel Planners had an existing program that could be modified to meet our desires. Working with Mr. Omondi via e-mail was pleasant and hassle-free and we did indeed experience the trip of a lifetime.
Hallmark Travel Planners utilizes experienced driver/guides knowledgeable in the wildlife, geography, people and cultures, of their respective areas. These guides treat you with consideration and respect and are anxious to ensure your safari is pleasant and fruitful. You want to stop in the middle of the road to take a picture and they will stop in the middle of the road while you get that perfect shot. You want to see a specific animal, they will find it for you, often “up close and personal”.
The accommodations selected for us ranged from an isolated tent camp to unbelievable African luxury with each location providing a unique atmosphere enhancing our safari experience. There were no bad choices, nothing second best. We thoroughly enjoyed each and every location.
We highly recommend Hallmark Travel Planners to anyone contemplating a trip to East Africa.
AT
Email Franz | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
very good experience 3 days Masai Mara
We ( 3 pax) booked a 3 days Safari to Masai Mara from Kisumu. Organisation was flawless with very quick responses to inquieries and in finding solutions. Everything went smoothly and was well organized. The driver/tourguide Lukas was an excellent driver and we never felt insecure even in crowded traffic. In the park he had an excellent knowledge of wildlife. He was also very interested in showing us as much as possible. The safari vehicle provided was the only thing which was not to our full satisfaction. For the safari it was fine, as it was an old but very robust 4WD bus with a push up roof and a very hard suspension. Which was the big disadvantage for the 6.5 hours road trip to and from the park. It would be wise to consider providing a better transport - including one with a fuctioning air condition - for the long distance drive and swich to the safari van only for its purpose. In total we had a nice experience, saw a lot of animals - of course the agency cannot be credited for that - but it must be credited for the very good organisation and the selection of the excellent driver-guide.
DE
Email Benjamin and Jeanne | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very friendly and spontaneous help
The Hallmark Travel Planners reacted very spontaneuosly on our request to plan a tour to the Loita Hills/ Maji Moto and booked a affordable, nice place to stay there (we got an offer only a few hours after we called him so we could start our journey the next day). Levis, who managed everything for us, was very friendly and flexible in helping us to plan our tour. Also we felt very well advised, which tranports to take. The tour itself was very beautiful and special, as due to our little budget, we didn't end up in the most touristic spot but in a little village called Ewaso Ngiro, close to Massai Mara, where we felt very much wellcome by the staff of the camp as well as by the people living there.
Email Becky | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
4.5 star - Great safari holiday with only minor hiccups
We really enjoyed working with Levis to plan our safari holiday. He is super responsive and flexible. We planned an itinerary in Feb for end of May travel, but my father got sick and we had to delay the trip. Levis was very supportive and flexible in helping us to replan the trip for an August travel within a very short period of time. He also helped to reduce the cancellation penalties as much as the policies allow.
The hotels and guides of the trip were quite good with only minor hiccups, which is completely normal in a 5 country long trip (3 weeks). Levis has been actively working with us to address them as they came up.
Looking back I wish we should have communicated our goals better to Levis and our guides early on (eg see all Big 5 in game drives). Hope this helps other users in their planning.
Overall it's a great experience, thanks to the Hallmark team.
Email Lisa Williams | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Hallmark were accommodating with our requests. More insight into our tour would of been helpful.
1. Our guide Anothony was an okay guide but not very accommodating at times. To start, he invaded our privacy at Lewa after the night before (our 1st night on tour) he made bad remarks about the company and that he personally wouldn't stay there as they were set in there ways & not accommodating to other safari companies like Hallmark. The next day he informed my husband & I that he was coming with us for the 2 days. I asked him why & how? He told me he told Lewa that we wanted our guide to join us. this wasn't the fact all. Quite the opposite being frank with you. We paid the big bucks so we could get a different perspective from another guide & also have our own privacy for the next 2 days. He came with us on our game drives as well after we requested we get at least one game drive on our own to enjoy the expeiernce one on one with our guide. 2/ After requested from the start our planning with Levis that we wanted to do the Hells Gate. Anthony was not thrilled he had to take us there after our night in Nevashahs. We informed him days out that's what we wanted to do. We ended cycling the Hells Gate which in fact was a highlight for us & declined going on the boat ride to see the hippos. 3/ Our last leg of the trip - Rwanda was in fact organised by Magic Safaris, not Hallmark Planners. this was not mentioned to us at the time of booking. however, our guide was outstanding!! 4/ Overall, we are glad we paid the extra $'s to have most of our game drives in a four wheel drive truck as to a van with various guides. Having the same guide & van for the entire trip would of been terrible. 5/ Apologies on being so direct, however it is best you know as I am in business myself & would like to be informed rather then not so it doenst happen to somebody else. Anthony didn't do himself any favours by bad mouthing another company to us, especially on our first night after shouting him a drink at Opejeta for his B'day on our arrival. His attitude did not sit well with us, especially after just meeting him. He did in fact apologise after our 2 days there that he was wrong with his judgment. Lewa was outstanding & highly recommend it. 6/ We felt secure with our booking having Safari Bookings as the reprensative of the company & made the booking so much more reassuring. 7/ Also a note, we never received a questionnaire at the end of our trip with Anothony, hence me informing you. Magic Safaris on the otherhand did. I highly recommend them & will to others.