Explore Africa Holidays Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2000)
- Tour Types:
- Small & medium group tours (Budget & mid-range)
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $120 to $300 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
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Reviews
RU
Email Alexander Khvostov | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Satisfactory budget safari with some negative moments
We (3 persons) took the 9-day Kenya and Tanzania safari in June-August 2019. The safari consisted of 2 parts organized by different tour operations: Masai Mara/Kenya part (organized by Baboon Budget Safaris) and Tanzania part (organized by 7 Wonders Safaris). Between these 2 parts we spent 1 night at a hotel in Nairobi (booked by ourselves)
As for the Safari, we were overall satisfied with its organization considering the value-for-money component. Game drives in Masai Mara National Park (Kenya) and Ngorongoro crater (Tanzania) turned out to be just awesome (saw lots of lions and other animals very close and enjoyed magnificent lanscapes). At the same time, we were regularly facing challenges and unpleasant surprises ruining the enjoyment of our vacation.
What we liked particularly (in addition to awesome game drives in Masai Mara and Ngorongoro) includes the following:
- Cooked food in the camps and particularly prepared by a chef at Seronera/Simba campsites (in Serengeti and Ngorongoro respectively). Simple, but always diverse and delicious food with completely no cases of stomach upsets (which is important in Africa)
- Responsiveness of the company manager (Solomon) and flexibility/ the way, how the problems were solved. As mentioned before, we were regularly facing challenges and unpleasant surprises during our journey (some of them even not related to the safari itself). For example, our flight to Nairobi was shifted by Kenya Airways to different time just several hours before departure (with the arrival in Nairobi later then initially planned). Another issue was the attempt of 7 Wonders Safaris to bring us for overnight stay to some camp at Lake Manyara instead of initially agreed hotel in Arusha at the last day of safari (it was inconvenient for us to stay at that cmap considering our flight next afternoon from Arusha to Nairobi and one of our luggage bags left in that hotel in Arusha). In all the cases we called Solomon - he always responded immediately, was very friendly and professional in communication. But, what is even more important - we always got all of our problems solved in an efficient way.
- Hotel in Arusha and camp at Manyara lake (Sunbright camp). Very nice accommodation options for a budget safari. Hotel in Arusha was a very clean and comfortable 3-star hotel. Sunbright camp had a swimming pool and rooms with key lockable doors and en-suite facilities (just like in lodges)
- Friendliness of all drivers/ guides
What we particularly disliked includes the following:
- Seronera campsite in Serengeti park. A complete disaster - one of the worst accommodation options that I've ever experienced in my whole life (even as compared to similar format Simba campsite in Ngorongoro crater park). Contains small tents on a dusty ground, ugly kitchen/dining hall building with no windows and doors and a toilet building located relatively far away from the tents and completely no light at night. Wild animals all around (including buffalos) with no fence protection (with a hyena entering the dining hall during our dinner). No possibility to go to toilet at night (because of completely no light in a toilet building and screams of wild animals all around). In Seronera camp we (3 persons) were initially offered a very small tent for altogether (obviously designed for maximum 2 persons). In took me almost an hour of persuasion attempts (with scandalous behavior later) and lots of nerves to get ultimately offered an additional tent.
- Serengeti National Park itself. Actually it is the same park as Masai Mara (just its southern part). With more deserted landscapes and much less vegetation, however. And almost no animals. This is primarily due to seasonality issue - in early August the majority of animals from Serengeti are in Masai Mara. Considering very long and uncomfortable driving to Serengeti from Lake Manyara (we had to breathe in the dust for almost 2 hours during the last part of our long journey). The game drive in the morning took 6 hours of non-stop driving, permanent dust exposure and almost no animals seen (we had an impression that the guide was trying to drive us through the same circular route multiple times to show all the same animals to make visibility of diversity). Probably, Serengeti is worth visiting, but definitely not in August!
- Miti Mingi camp in Masai Mara. Initially this camp shocked us in a negative way (not very clean, dark and uncomfortable tents, electricity shutdowns at nights). Later (after experiencing Seronera campsite in Serengeti park) we came to conclusion that Miti Mingi camp was not so bad. At least the tents are relatively big, contain large comfortable beds and en-suite facilities. The issue, however, is that if you are travelling alone, you definitely be asked to share the tent with somebody unfamiliar to you. We were lucky as we shared the triple tent altogether.
- Packed lunches. They were the same all the time and not very tasty (included cold chicken, sandwich and juice). Once (in Masai Mara National park) we were stopped to eat our lunch in a very unpleasant location (having to sit on the ground, keep the multiple flies away from face and watch large baboons quarrying in the garbage heap). All other lunch stop locations turned out to be much better (at least equipped with tables and chairs).
- Road from Nairobi to Masai Mara camp (and particularly the road back). The 100-km road segment from Narok to Masai Mara is one of the worst road sections I've ever seen. Extremely bumpy. The way back to Nairobi took us 8 hours instead of 5-6 expected (because of the massive rain the day before). We got so tired that ultimately decided to buy return air tickets from Narobi to Arusha for the next day (and for the very last day) to escape another 2 days of long and uncomfortable driving.
BH
Email Ren Pou | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Well Organized & professional Tour
Well Organized & professional Tour done by Explore Africa. I had opt for 4 days safari including Lake Nakuru. In additional, i had taken the Baloon safari too. Our Guide was very knowledgeable and aware about the circumstances. Highly recommended.
DK
Email Finn Jacobsen | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience
We have a great experience on the safari with Explore Africa Holidays. We knew that it was a budget and camping safari, but in real is was exactly what we came for and what we expected to meet in Africa and therefore a part of the experience. The arrangement worked perfect, the food was good, the time spent and parks was good and so impressive. Hotels was good, with clean beddings and towels and at camping the sleeping bags was newly cleaned.
Thank you very much.
ES
Email sergio | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Excellence service & quotation. Great manager Solomon.
Good and marvellous days in Masai Mara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro crater during 7 days with this touroperator. Great value for money. Great services and we spent a excellence experience during our combined Kenya-Tanzania safari
Email Jane | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Efficient and friendly
Communication was prompt and everything organised on our behalf, hussle free. The tour was reliable and value for money would recommend them any time and day.
Our Kenya-Tanzania safari
To start with communications were excellent, they were very helpful in discussing alternatives as we
wanted a private tour just for two of us.
To start with Kenya had better accommodation than Tanzania, but the guide in Tanzania was excellent.
Enjoyed the safari very much and recommend these guys to organize your tailormade safari.
Thanks
DE
Email Anja | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great Trip with good organisation :-)
We did a Kenia & Tanzania trip in August 2017. Everything was well organised. The drivers were very exerted.
We saw a lot of animals and the Big 5 for sure. The price-performance ratio is very good.
Thank you very much for the great time we spent!
DE
Email Sandra and Lars | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very happy with our 7 days safari (Masai Mara, amboseli, Nakuru)
Price Quality ratio was really good.
Josef, our tour guide, was very friendly, helpful and flexibel. We really could have not had it better.
The campsites were clean, food was nice. You really cannot expect it better from Africa. Budget Hotels were fine as well even taking into consideration that they are budget hotels.
And if you are a fan of africa you will see in Kenia all that is expected to see. Big five -that was not so important for us- but we saw them, Masais, schools, Kilimanjaro...
A dream was made true :-)
DK
Email Martin | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great experience!
It was a great tour with the team! We got a pickup at the hotel and everything was just great. We had some problems with the payment but all went well because of the help from the employees from the company.
They changed the route of our tour, so it was the other way around. But it was not a problem at all, and our guide was so good and listening.
We saw all we wanted, the Big 5 etc.
Masai Mara is a bumpy ride. But this isn't because of the cards. The roads isn't great at all. For nobody. If you are getting sick of driving. Remember the drivesick-pills!
Will recommend the company to others!
IN
Email Srikanth | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The best place to do some real Safari
Everything was arranged as expected decent place to stay in Masai Mara. The buffet was good food and the guide was very informative. I had the best Safari and hope for some more in future