On Safari in the Mara
The Safari Partners
- Located In:
-
Canada
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2010)
- Member Of:
- IATA, ACTA & TOPAC
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $300 to $1,000 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email John Mackey | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The Best Experience Ever!
We cannot think of anything that Safari Partners (and its' African partners) missed in organizing our adventure in Africa. From the moment we first corresponded with Chris, every question was answered and every promise fulfilled. Service was first class all the way. The lodge operators and guides could not do enough for us. We spent a lot of time pinching ourselves to ensure this was not a dream. Every opportunity to make our trip epic was taken. All our wants and needs were met with over the top professionalism by the service providers.
We have no problem recommending Safari Partners as the ultimate safari planners.
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Email Jeannette | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fabulous Beyond One's Expectations!
My three week, two day trip exceeded my expectations of my long awaited trip to Africa. The key to the success of this amazing trip is summed up in three words: Chris - Safari Partners. Chris developed an excursion that led me through Kenya, Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa with Cape Town and the Garden Route. Every detail was attended to so that at no time was there a concern about the quality of accommodations, food, tours, connections. Everything was outstanding! I found Chris to be concerned listener who took my ideas and ran with them superbly. With all of my own research including that of checking out other companies, nothing would have come close to what I received from the itinerary and wonderful array of accommodations, safaris, tours and tightly organized traveling connections designed by Safari Partners. I would like to note that when my traveling partner was not able to go on the trip due to health reasons, Chris made some adjustments, gave me advice, and assured me safe passage. He wasn't wrong. I also want to share that the value I received on all facets of this trip FAR exceeded the cost of the trip. Fabulous all around! Highly recommended! Thank you, Chris!
CA
Email Harry W | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Flawless arrangements for a fabulous, over-the-top trip
My wife and I had been booked on another company's group tour for 4 months, but a month and a half before we were to leave, it was cancelled, due to lack of participants. Since we had been really looking forward to a safari, we looked around for alternatives; contacting four other tour companies. Due to Chris' s intimate knowledge of Africa, his flexibility to work with various budgets and ability to deliver a great experience at good value, we selected Safari Partners. He explained the differences between national park safaris and conservancy safaris (there are less tourists in conservancies and the camps are smaller and generally deluxe tented). So in 10 days, with Chris's guidance we had pulled together what sounded like a trip that would meet our needs.
And we had an absolutely fantastic time in Africa. Everything worked out just as Chris planned it. We were met and chauffeured around at each destination without fail.
We were very spoiled in both camps in Kenya. Everything was over the top. From the invariably nice, helpful and very knowledgeable staff and guides to the deluxe accommodation, good food and excellent sightings on the game drives. It was very special.
In Samburu we stayed at the Elephant Bedroom Camp - aptly named as there was an almost resident group of seven or so, that wandered through the camp day and night. Staff would move guests to the main tent if you were eating at the riverbank as the elephants came through, and you could hear them wandering by your tent at night. It was very hot in Oct., so the plunge pool on the deck outside every tent was a great place to get cool. Buffet breakfast at the riverbank, lunch there or under the awning of the main tent and dinner was always very good food for the 3 days we were there.
We stayed at Encounter Mara in the Maasai Mara for 4 days and each day there were fabulous game sightings at really close quarters. For 2 nights we were the only ones in camp and and every day had Nabaala our Maasai guide to ourselves. He was very knowledgeable about every bird, mammal or reptile and amazingly we never got stuck nor had a puncture going down and up the rocky riverbanks. We had 8 game drives including a night drive over that time, and saw everything in mammals that we could have hoped to see except rhinos.
Typically we would be wakened with tea, coffee or hot chocolate and biscuits at 5:30am to be off on the drive at 6:15am. At 8:30 or 9:00 we would stop for a picnic breakfast of coffee, tea, juice, cereal, fruit, yogourt, muffins/scotch egg and jams looking out over the savannah at the nearby antelope, wildebeest and zebra. Then there would be a couple of hours in camp for reading, going down to the hide/blind at the river before a gourmet lunch at 1pm. Then a couple of hours for rest and relaxation before tea at 4pm and a game drive at 4:30. Another great dinner meal would be served after the game drive in front of a campfire at about 8pm, with a drink or two or three and then off to bed, and looking forward to what game would be seen tomorrow. The Mara is at a higher altitude, and despite the summer heat during the day, it could get chilly in the morning and evening zipping around in the open jeep. So we were especially glad of the supplied, quilted, waterproof ponchos in the jeep and the two hot water bottles placed in our bed every night. Nothing was too much trouble at Encounter Mara.
Then of course, feeding the beautiful Rothchild giraffes at Giraffe Manor in Nairobi was one of the major highlights of the trip for us. The Manor itself was very gracious and gentile, but it was truly wonderful to feed the giraffes as they poked their heads into your second floor bedroom windows or into the breakfast room windows. And if you were confident enough, you could have them slurp, with their long black tongues, a food pellet from your lips.
Five nights in Zanzibar gave us time to relax, snorkel and reminisce about the animals and experiences on safari. The Tembo House Hotel in Stone Town was charming and historic. Dreams of Zanzibar was a large all-inclusive that gave you what you would expect in a four star Caribbean-type hotel, but amidst the laid-back beauty and amazing colours of the Indian Ocean.
Safari Partners arranged a flawless, over-the-top, trip and we would totally recommend them to anyone thinking of going to Africa. We will use them when we return to Africa, as we had such a great experience with them the first time.
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Email Peter | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Everything went like clockwork
We were met by at the Kilimanjaro airport by Godfrey - who was our excellent guide for the next 6 days in Tanzania. He was very well educated in all the relevant sciences - botany, zoology and geology - and so could provide in-depth information on everything that we saw during our time in Tanzania.
The transfer to Kenya, while complex (flight from airstrip to airstrip, driver to border, another driver to airstrip, another flight), went very smoothly - always a driver waiting for us.
And our time in Encounter Mara was phenomenal - including seeing the rescuing of an elephant that had been shot with a poison dart.
In all - great guides, great accommodation - well organized - and it was clear that those dealing with us in Africa appreciated Chris and the work he does behind the scenes from Vancouver.
CA
Email Annie & Denis | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional and reliable
EN : Safari Partners and Chris, were of great help in the preparation of our trip in Southern Africa (ZBW-BOT-SA-SWZ-NAM). Chris was always available and quickly answered our questions during the months of preparation before the trip. All their choices and suggestions were relevant, and all accommodation bookings, transfers, etc. were close to perfection without any glitch. Even when we were there, Chris was quick to help us realign part of our trip after our own wishes and quickly booked new accommodation.
In short, a very personalized service, very professional and at negligible cost compared with the price that we would have obtained by booking ourselves. Keep up the good work. Maybe we'll talk for another trip ... East Africa??
FR : Safari Partners, et Chris en particulier, ont été d’une grande aide dans la préparation de notre virée en Afrique australe (ZBW-BOT-SA-SWZ-NAM). Chris était toujours disponible et répondait rapidement à nos questions pendant les mois de préparation avant le voyage. Tous ses choix et suggestions furent pertinent, et l’ensemble des réservations d’hébergement, transferts, etc. se sont déroulés à la perfection sans aucun manquement. Même quand nous étions sur place, Chris fut rapide à nous aider à réaligner une partie de notre trajet suite à nos propres souhaits et a rapidement réservé de nouveaux hébergement.
Bref, un service très personnalisé, très professionnel et à un coût négligeable si on compare avec les prix que nous aurions obtenus en réservant nous-mêmes. Continuez votre bon travail. On se reparlera peut-être pour un autre voyage….Afrique de l’Est??
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Email Kuldip | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The best trip of my life!
Where do I begin? Chris was amazing at helping me plan this trip. I started in Tanzania and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and then a safari in Kenya at the Encounter Mara camp. This was the best trip I have ever been on and Chris really helped to ensure everything was planned perfectly. From the shuttles from the airports, to the climb to the safari everything was planned perfectly. All I had to do was show up :)
I will be using Safari Partners again no doubt about it.
CA
Email Lana Deeter | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Beyond our dreams! Insightful, professional, organized and thoughtful.
From the beginning Chris managed to pinpoint what we might be looking for and the very next day we received a virtual itinerary of what our trip would look like. It was impressive and we knew it would be wonderful. I sent lots of questions to Chris prior to our trip and he patiently answered all of them. The binder we received was well organized and left nothing to chance. All of our guides met us exactly as was planned and they were welcoming. We loved that Chris used local African people to guide us. Our trip was to Joburg, Victoria Falls, and Safari in Botswana. We travel a lot and this was the best. We felt safe and well informed. The Delta Safari Camps in Savute, Xkanaka, and Xyugana Island in Okavango were lovely beyond description with the perfect balance of relaxation, beautiful natural surroundings and luxury. Our experiences in those camps will delight us forever. The people, nature and animal connection has touched my soul and awakened new understandings. I will forever be grateful to Chris and Safari Partners for being so interested in making our trip to Africa perfect.
Great service
We actually never ended up booking our trip due to my unexpected pregnancy. However, I decided to leave a review as I was very impressed by the service. Chris was so prompt on his response, very knowledgeable on the areas in Africa/ the hotels and very patient with tons of questions we had. However, what stood out the most for me was his honesty and integrity. He never promised or committed himself to what he could not deliver yet did his best to accommodate our needs ad interest. That was unfortunate that we had to cancel our trip.
CA
Email Fran M. | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A Trip of a Lifetime Come True Thanks to Chris and The Safari Partners !
Just returned from a Safari trip to Kenya followed by a beach holiday in Zanzibar, Tanzania for a bucket list trip for my 50th Birthday and it was beyond awesome all thanks to Chris and the Safari Partners. Travelled July 05-15, 2015.
Chris put together a package for us to stay at the Encounter Mara Safari Camp located in the Mara Naboisho Conservancy in the Masai Mara National Reserve for 5 days and then 5nts at Dreams of Zanzibar in Tanzania.
What i liked the most about The Safari Partners was that they took care of everything for us. From our internal flights, being met by a representative everywhere along the way and transferred between airports and hotels/camp, our accommodations, meals, tours, including safaris and it was flawless. I'd like to think of myself as a travel guru having been a travel agent for the past 33 years and having travelled around the world but even I would have been a little bit intimidated by both Nairobi and Zanzibar had we not had someone to meet us and take us to our hotels. So Kudo's to Chris and his team for having such a vast knowledge of Africa and setting up a great network of reliable suppliers and people to smooth the way for his guests.
The Encounter Mara Camp now operated by Asilia Africa was out of this world excellent. The Service and experience was Top Notch from the management team of Sammy, Moses & Andrew, our Guide Wilson and all the staff at the Camp. Every single employee in that camp could not do enough for you, it was humbling. Their attention to every detail was incredible, and beyond all of my expectations. Our guide Wilson was excellent as I'm sure all of their guides are but we felt very fortunate to have Wilson as our guide. His knowledge of the area and all of the animals and birds was incredible and we had great drives everyday under his tutelage and saw more animals then I could ever have imagined up close and personal. It is not an experience that I will soon forget.
Our beach holiday at Dreams of Zanzibar following our Safari was also a great way to cap of a Trip of Lifetime.
All and All this trip is rated 10 out of 10 in my books and I hold The Safari Partners responsible for that and I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone and hope to send more business their way by also recommending to my clients whenever possible.
Thanks Chris for all of your help and making it happen !!
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50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Quite the memorable vacation in Africa!
I took my family of four, including two teenagers to Victoria Falls, safaris and Cape Town. After doing a fair of amount of research, I opted for The Safari Partners to assist me in the planning and arranging of accommodations, transfers, flights, safaris, etc. Chris did a great job "tuning in" to what were the right choices in regards to the trip for my family and I. We all had a great and "memorable vacation in Africa"!