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 Teri | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a Lifetime to Kenya and Zanzibar!
We heard about The Safari Partners from another couple I had met, who had booked a trip with them last summer and raved about it. Our family had been dreaming of a trip to Africa for years and we were overwhelmed with the choices we had to make. From the moment I contacted Chris at The Safari Partners, I knew we were in good hands. He responded quickly with all of my questions, and when I told him what we wanted to do, and what our budget was, he set up an itinerary that was beyond my expectations. From the time we landed in Nairobi, the entire experience went off without a wrinkle. We were taken care of by our guides/drivers, and all of the properties were wonderful and so accommodating. Our favorites were Encounter Mara and Elephant Bedroom Camp. My husband, 15-year-old daughter and I had the most amazing family trip that we will always remember. We did a 10-day safari in Kenya and capped it off with 5 days on Zanzibar. I highly recommend The Safari Partners to anyone planning an African safari trip. I'm already thinking about our next trip!
CA
Email Lauren and Kevin Williams | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Dream Trip Fulfilled!!!!!
After Christmas we went in to meet with Chris about planning our trip to Africa. We gave Chris our list of things that were a must do...walking with lions, elephant ride, microlight flight over Victoria Falls, walking through Victoria Falls, BOMA dinner as well as, of course, lots and lots of animals. 2 days later we received our flight itinerary and 1 day after that our amazing safari adventure information. What Chris returned to us with was an itinerary that met all those points and more: Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Cape Town and Stellenbosch. Our accommodations were incredible, and we smile every time we think of the amazingly pleasant and kind people that hosted us at each destination. The itinerary filled every day with something new, and every day was literally it's own adventure. We would and, in fact, already have recommended Chris and the Safari Partners to anyone who expresses even the slightest interest in making a trip to Africa. The only thing that will ever have a chance of topping this trip, is going back, which is now being saved for. Thank you Chris, talk to you soon!
Attention to every last detail
For our daughter's high school graduation, we wanted to take her on a family trip to South Africa. A friend recommended Jen from The Safari Partners to help, as I had no idea what to do or where to go! From the start, Jen did a great job figuring out what we wanted to do and where we wanted to go-making suggestions and listening to our ideas. She worked with us almost daily, and did a bang-up job with our itinerary! Every place we stayed (especially the Simbavati River Lodge), the location was ideal, and made the trip with our 3 teenagers just perfect. The package that arrived for us had absolutely everything we needed to make our trip memorable. Thanks Safari Partners!
CA
Email Cindy & Don | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
East Africa Safari
My husband and I have recently completed a trip of our lifetime to Rwanda and Kenya. Chris from Safari Partners helped make that dream come true. From the very first phone call and throughout planning our trip Chris was extremely helpful with his wealth of knowledge, information and suggestions. I appreciated all the time he spent talking with me to determine exactly what we were looking in order to help us customize an itinerary that would suit what we wanted to accomplish in our trip. Having never been to Africa before we had many questions while planning our trip which Chris was always so patient and prompt to answer by email and phone. Our trip all went as planned from beginning to end and we were thoroughly pleased with all of the accommodations and itinerary that Chris helped us to choose. We came home with only thrilling and happy memories of Africa. Thank you Chris! We could not have done it without you!
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Email Paula Pereira | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The trip of a lifetime. Epic!!
I want to begin by saying that Safari Partners created an excellent itinerary for my family of 12. Chris custom-made the trip to fit exactly what we were looking for. We spent 9 days traveling, by ground, the countries of Uganda and Rwanda trekking with gorillas and chimpanzees and emmersing ourselves in the culture of the African villages. Lodging was top-natch beginning with the incredible views, delicious food and ending with an unforgettable staff. During those 9 days, we traveled with 2 guides and I must say that they became part of our family and worked hard to make my entire family happy. Finally, it was obvious that Chris had traveled these same steps prior to our arrival because he tailored the trip perfectly. I want to also say that Chris was only an email away during the two years of the planning of the trip. He was quick to take care of any requests or concerns we had before the trip and even during the trip. My overall experience with Safari Partners was excellent!!
CA
Email Liz | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Even better than I expected!
While considering a trip to Africa I came across The Safari Partners. I contacted Chris and the rest is history. My trip was customized to include some time in Cape Town & Stellenbosch before heading to Victoria Falls then to Botswana for safari. Everything far exceeded my expectations, from communications with Chris to the actual flights, tours and accommodations. Everything happened exactly as it was supposed to. I highly recommend Safari Partners and will definitely use them when booking my next adventure in Africa!
CA
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.
CA
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.