Classic Journeys Africa
- Located In:
-
United States
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2010)
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $280 to $600 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
UY
Email Rafael | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very responsible operator
Very good and reliable in general. We expected more from the driver, he used his mobile a lot and we initiated the Safaris too late (around 7.30)
NO
Email Arild Moen | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Trustworthy, good educated, knowledgeable and Serviceminded operators and staff.
My trip to Kenya was an interesting journey. I had bought a trip with a travel group consisting of 20 other people. We flew from Norway in the afternoon around the border of Ukraine, over Baghdad and the Persian Gulf to Doha in Quatar, from where a new plane took us to Nairobi where we landed early in the morning. The first day was spent relaxing at the hotel and a trip around Nairobi to a Giraffe park and the Karen Blixen estate. Dinner at the Carnivore restaurant. The following two days we drove to Naivasha and Nakuru with birds and animals. Then to Masai Mara where we stayed in a luxurious tent camp operated by the Masaii and we saw lots of animals. Then we travelled back to Nairobi and flew to Zanzibar where we stayed in a luxurious beach hotel. Had a day trip to the center of the island where we visited the Slave-market, the Spice market and the old town with the fort. Crowded and People everywhere. From Zanzibar we flew back to Oslo via Doha. I regret that I did not stay any longer. So many other places to visit.
The tour operators in Kenya did a good job to transport us around, they were service-minded and did their utmost to show us around and to keep the schedule on roads of different standards.
My main impressions after seeing my beloved Kenya again after 40 years were the following:
- lots of People everywhere. The population had tripled on 40 years, from 16 million in 1980 to almost 50 millions today. They get a double whammy: With 3,5 % birthrate increase every year and lots of refugees from the neighboring war-torn countries.
- Almost all houses/huts had tin roofs now. 40 years ago I estimate 2/3 had thatched straw roofs. I recon that is a very good development for the public health?
- There have been some big electrical projects. Power is derived from hot springs in the Rift Valley. There was very little - almost nothing - charcoal burning now. That was very common for cooking 40 years ago. Also less smoke is positive for the public health.
- the roads were improved and better now. New roads with more asphalt. But also lacking maintenance on dirt roads.
- thank you to the old English colonial masters who set aside vast marginal land areas for national parks. Without the dispositions they did 1945-1963 I do not think we would have the parks we can enjoy today.
- I did not study the sanitary situation closely, but at the luxurious hotels where we stayed, we had hot and cold water in the shower and there were cold Tuskers (beer) in the bar. I am sure that if I had gone into a study of the local sanitation Companies, I would have found many faults. So I did not drink tap water.
- Another interesting feature was the new high speed Chinese Standard Gauge Railroad. I never saw any trains running on it. It is a lot of controversy around the Chinese investments and the payback of loans. Presently the SGR-line ends in Naivasha where containers can be transferred to the old “lunatic line” narrow gauge railway that still operates from Nairobi to Kampala.
NO
Email Robin Chester | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Friendly and trained personell
Ok, but 7 hours drive in a car with no AC and uncomfortable seats should be mentioned when booking. The safari was great, but when the car limits our trip around the park (crossing of river not possible), it's a pity, and we didn't get to go all over the park. The stay at Loyk was awesome, and the food great!
NO
Email Sissel | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Safari by road to 3 different tented camps. Wonderful landscape & wildlife & good driver/guide.
I travelled with my 18 years old nephew and we both had a great time. Our guide Felix, was always on time, helpful and informative. He was also a good driver and made us feel safe. The general road condition in Kenya is not good and in parts really bad but we saw a lot of local life and beautiful landscape because we travelled by road. We went first to Ol Pejeta conservancy and the Sweetwater camp. It is located on the equator around 1800 meters above sea level. The conservancy is known for their rhinos but we also saw many other animals including elephants, lion and jackal. We also visited the chimpansee sanctuary and heard about the work they do. Thereafter we went to Lake Nakuru and the Flamingo Hill camp. We drove through lush and green landscape and the area around the lake itself is beautiful. Again we saw many animals including rhinos, buffalo, some flamingos and Vervet monkeys. The last camp was in Mara, the Loyk Mara camp. The savanna was teeming with life and we saw so many different animals, big herds of wildebeest, topis, zebras, buffalos and other species. Elephants, hippo, a pride of lions, a big male leopard, cheetah, hyenas and more. It might have been good to have had a 4x4 as a safari vehicle because we got stuck a few times. On our way back to Nairobi we visited a traditional Masai village. We spent an interesting hour with them and was shown around by a young Masai warrior who spoke English. Our last day in Nairobi we were picked up by a driver and taken to the Giraffe center, David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage and the Karen Blixen museum before being driven to the airport. All those places were worth a visit and we also had a nice lunch in the Karen Blixen Coffee Garden. All the camps we visited during our safari were really nice and also quite small with Loyk Mara as the smallest, and maybe also our favourite. In Nairobi we stayed at Eka hotel which can be recommended if you are staying a night in Nairobi at each end of your safari, as it is located on the road to the airport and have all the facilities you'll need. We also used their car service one evening and went to Carnavore for dinner which was a fun experience. We ate a lot of really good food during our stay in Kenya and the service was great everywhere. All in all we had a wonderful time and can highly recommend both visiting Kenya and using Classic Journeys to help organise the trip.
BR
Email Fernanda Beltrao Chammas | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The experience of knowing the parks of Kenya has been wonderful and will be forever in our memory.
Fantastic experience. Fascinating places. Amazing lodgings.
Everything that was hired was fulfilled.
Information about the trip was made available by the company and all doubts were clarified in advance.
The script was unclear about the distances between the parks that were longer than expected. The safari at Lake Nakuru Park lasted only 1 hour, as we spent more than 2 hours on a traffic jam while passing through Nairobi.
The car (mini-van) served the other parks well but was not suitable for the Masai Mara, we had trouble getting to and from the park and the safari was a bit limited.
The drivers (Good Luck and others) who made our transfer from Arusha to Namanga were extremely polite and attentive.
Very different from the guide (Felix) who assisted us during the safaris, who was not attentive or pleasant. This was not clear about the scripts (it did not tell everything, changed in the way), in the pic-nick did not give us the cutlery we had available and did not extend the towel, like the other Classic guide that was in the car next door.
BN
Email Todd McPherson | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A great customised trip with a guide/driver and land cruiser with just ourselves for the duration.
The communication with the company was excellent. They worked hard to understand the kind of trip we wanted and made good recommendations on where to go and where to stay.
We were met my our guide in Nairobi and we had this guide and the truck to ourselves the entire seven days. The land cruiser was beautifully outfitted with a fridge to keep drinks cool, a power supply so we could charge phones and cameras, and even WiFi.
We visited Amboseli Park and loved it, but Ol Tukai Lodge felt a bit like a tourist mill. It was larger and busier than we expected. But the location was great and we had no complaints about it. We had driven from Nairobi to Amboseli, then drove to Lake Naivasha, going through Nairobi again. So, we had a few long days of driving along the busy highways of Kenya with less than careful drivers in other vehicles. In hindsight, we would have preferred to organise the trip so there was less driving, maybe even flying between parks.
The Lake Elementaita Serena Camp was outstanding and highly recommended. The food and accommodation were above and beyond expectations. On the way there we stopped at Lake Naivasha. That was a bit of a disappointment since we spent some time walking around a small private piece of land with a number of animals on it. It was not the experience we expected, but it was nice to boat along the lake seeing the wildlife.
Lake Nakuru Park was excellent. The drive to Maasai Mara was again long (very long) but it was interesting to see the country. Mara Bush Camp was outstanding. The personal attention and level of service was exceptional. The luxurious tent was amazing, especially as it sat just above the river overlooking dozens of hippos.
We recommend Classic Journeys. They did a great job. Be sure to state the kind of accommodation you're seeking, and they'll point you in the right direction if you're clear enough. Check about driving time between parks and try to minimise that.
Thanks for a great trip.
Email J E Horton | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very enjoyable, saw every thing I wanted to see, especially the elephant sanctuary and giraffes.
The service was good, vehicle comfortable. Visits very enjoyable especially the elephants and giraffes. Would have been nice to see bead factory working, not open on a Sunday.
Overall an enjoyable day.
DE
Email Pachlhofer, Gerold | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Very good and reliable communication and handling
Communication excellent Safari Tour with good Driver All lodges were good
US
Email Barbara | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience
Communications was good but there is an opportunity to improve about driving distance and time consuming... the driver said: -we’ll be there in 1hour and 1/2; after that period of time he said again: -It will be another 1 and a half. Finally it took total of 7 hours to arrive to the place! Anyways, it is not possible to trust the conditions of the roads, so I understand it is not the driver fault.
CA
Email Errold Jean | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We liked adventure, it was good enough, although the travelling between the camps was exausted.
We bought the 6 day Classic Best of Kenya.
-Generally, the people were amazing in terms of customer sat and attention to our needs and details. Our passionate and private guide James is really knowledgeable and make us lived the adventure in the jungle and the wild. As a former British colony, the communications were simple and strait forward although we learned some Swahili words in order to communicate with the Masai. The ultimate safari experience for us would have been a shorter travelling time (we spent almost 2 1/2 full days travelling by road from point to point); Here is our suggestion: from the airport, if you arrive at night, Longview suite in Nairobi, then Amboseli (2 days), Mara 2 days and last day in Nairobi. Nakuru does not worth the visiting. Food was ok. For bio brakes, stops were in tourists spots. We would have preferred non tourist traps. Lastly, ask for a jeep or equivalent instead of a caravan if you are travelling between January through the rain season, each $ of the extra $500 worth it (I haven't took it and according to folks who did, the confort was definitely better because of the road conditions). Overall good but definitely could have been better. Thanks to the whole Classic Journey team who made our safari unforgettable!
