Papio Africa Holidays
- Office In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2006)
- Member Of:
- Ministry Of Tourism & Kenya Association of Local Tour operator
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $100 to $300 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Best ever trip I ever had in my life so far.
I had planned my trip for Masaimara, Nakuru and Naivasha for my Kenya trip. As I was traveling solo I had a lot of doubt and questions about the safety and so many other things, but from the day 1 I got msg from "Tabitha" from Papio Africa Holidays to day when I reached to meeting point in Kenya to start the safari journey, she has clarified each and every thing so nicely and made it so easy. They have also arranged the pick up from the airport and the person was right there at given timing. And about the tour, we were so lucky to have Antony as our guide, he was amazing driver, even though other were struggling in a rough road, he was just driving confidently without having any issues. He was even so good that he was taking us very close to the animal to get us good picture. After all these also he was so selfless. The only cons in the trip were I have been promised to get 2 sharing tent at masai Mara camp but got 4 sharing as it was peak season and it was still manageable. But the food served in Nakuru was not at all good, they should look into it. Apart from these everything were awesome. If you are looking for a adventurous trip and love for nature, u should definitely visit Kenya once in your lifetime. It's worth going. Book through this agency and try to get Antony as ur guide for an amazing experience. Thanks Tabitha, Antony and Papio Africa tour for giving a amazing experience. All the best in future.
Email chris | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
wonderful experience with papio Africa holidays
Our experience with papio Africa holidays was simply extraordinary, we went for 6 days Kenya safari we were well taken care of since the moment we arrived in Nairobi Airport till the last day
Everything went smoothly and according to the itinerary. Jose was punctual, kind, very knowledgeable and he did all he can for us to finds all animals accommodations were great. It was simply incredible
Thanks to Tabitha
Recommend papio Africa holidays
Email Claude | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
What a breathe taking experince!!!Anytime anyday I will advise and take Papio Africa Holidays
To start with the receptionist, very friendly and willing to assist.
The driver was just the best getting us to laugh all the way.
Personally I can't forget the experience.
My next safari to Masai mara on November is with Papio still
ES
Email Ignacio R. | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Terrible. Choose other options. Don't let this company cheat you
I purchased a 8 day and 7 nights Safari with this company and it had been the worst experience of my live. I am an experienced traveller who have visited more than 40 countries and 8 different in Africa, and ner happened something like this.
This operator is a cheater who will try to scam you and take the money from your pocket. Remember: They don't get what you pay. They also scam you with the rate exchange what rise the price of the tour, They have ruined our holiday.
The van is overcrowded (9 people), fake itinerary, they don't go where they promise, not experienced staff, they make changes in the itinarary and hotels without considering what you paid. They spent a lot of time in logistics like an ordinary bus changing people to reduce their costs and don't get you what you paid. The accomodattions don't have the minimum standards, no hot water, broken mosquito nets, dirty room, terrible food.
They manage well the social networks to cheat you, but be aware that these people are cheaters and will ruin your safari.
Choose another option in order to avoid they mess you up and ruin your holiday.
Reply from Papio Africa Holidays
Posted on Oct 18, 2018Greetings from Papio Africa Holidays,
First of all ,this client booked 7 days and 6 nights safari in kenya and not 8 days ,7 nyts as he mentioned above and the safari was a budget group joining ,they shared the transport with the clients which was in 4 x4 safari van ,our safari van usually do put a maximum of 8 people.since the clients had booked a group safari ,they had to share the transport.
About The Accommodation ,it was a camping as per what the clients paid for,according to my understanding and by the looki of the clients there class was for lodge safari and not camping safari.
About The Itinerary ,they did there program-me as per what they booked,We even did all our best to updgarde them without an extra cost but they refused and ended there safari and we refunded them back there money.
We sincerely apologize to Ignacio and his partner and assure our future clients that we are still committed to ensure we give the best services.Choose us and definitely, you will always share a different experience from this.
CH
Email V N | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic Kenya-Tanzania 10 day safari
My safari consisted of 5 nights in Kenya and 4 nights in Tanzania (only 3 days of safari in Tanzania with the other days in transit). I was in contact with the sales representative Tabitha who was fantastic not only before the booking but during the safari itself. She is extremely responsive on Whatsapp to help with any questions.
In Kenya the destinations were Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha (extra cost of boat ride) and Amboseli, operated by Baboon Budget Safaris. My driver and guide was Simon, who was absolutely fantastic. He was always focused during the game drives and his skill in spotting wildlife excels that of other guides. He was also very knowledgeable of the wildlife. The accomodations were budget so do not expect constant access to electricity, hot water and internet. I have no complaints though given the budget. Make sure you get a 4G SIM card if you want to stay connected. Meals were average but with generous portion sizes. Overall, the Kenya leg went without issues and was a great experience.
In Tanzania the destinations were Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, operated by 7 Wonders Safaris. My driver and guide was Linus, and my cook was Nathan. Linus went above and beyond to get us up close to the animals. These safaris were camping safaris with very basic amenities. Cars had electrical outlets so there's no need to worry about electricity. While the driver was great, the management was less organized. My itinerary was a bit switched around, and we departed late on the first day. The management also had not communicated my full itinerary to the driver until the final day. Subsequently, I was not communicated the time of departure for return to Kenya, and had to contact Tabitha in Kenya who was very helpful. Despite the management, thanks to the great driver, it was a good experience.
You should apply for visas for both countries beforehand. I re-entered Kenya with the single entry evisa that I used in my initial entry to Kenya, so I didn't need another Kenyan visa, but you really are at the mercy of the border agents so nothing is guaranteed. Having 50 USD on hand will usually help solve most issues with your documents. For the Kenya to Tanzania crossing there was a guy to guide you through the process (expecting a small tip). He also helped me get a Tanzania SIM card for a fair price. In Tanzania the border agent will give you permission to stay for precisely the amount of days you request, and this WILL be checked at random passport control points. I suggest requesting 1-2 days more than necessary just in case. The trip across the border is done by shuttle bus, where I found the drivers to be friendly and helpful.
MX
Email Gerardo | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience during my first safari
I have done a 7 days tour with my guide Joseph going through Amboseli, Nakuru, Naivasaha and Masai Mara. The tour was initially contracted with Papio but was actually operated by Baboon Budget.
Let me start by talking about travel arrangements, I was served by Tabitha who was very easy to reach and replied to all my questions quickly, she helped me with the process of changing dates given the COVID-19 circumstances.
On arrival I was received at the airport terminal by our guide Joseph who spent the entire safari with us, he is very knowledgeable and tried his best to provide us with the best picture and viewing opportunities. Our guide also explained many details of wildlife and animals behavior that helped us later with our spotting and overall enriched our Safari experience, during our Safari we were able to spot most of the animals present in the different sites with the exception of leopards. We had great rides 6/7 days as one day we tried to visit a tea factory instead of repeating Naivasaha visit but we were not able to get in, I would strongly advise you stay away from tea plantation or factory visit as you may be surprised and not let in.
In terms of accomodations we had a good experience in the camp sites and hotels, it has to be noticed that these camps and hotels are in rural areas or very small cities so the cleanliness is not great and facilities are slightly old or not very well maintained, in our case that did not stopped us from having a good rest and good meals.
The transportation was very comfortable and the van had a nice roof that can be opened for great views during safari time. I have to say that we were only 3 persons in a van for 8, so if you will be traveling in a group of 8 persons your experience will be very different and I imagine it will not be very comfortable specially during safari time as some seats in the back are not very comfortable to stay standing for long periods of time.
Overall I had a great time and would recommend you to book with Baboon Safari, I would advise for people that like to have a comfortable space to ask for options of less crowded vans as that could make a great difference.
LU
Email Garrett | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Kenya and Serengeti is a dream come true
Kenya and Tanzania was a trip of a lifetime. The 11 day agenda was packed to see the most variety in wildlife, landscape and culture. The guides especially Anthony and Boniface in Kenya were magnificent going above and beyond to assure great viewing and travel safety. The central communication from Tabitha from the first hello to the last good bye was immediate, reliable and quite pleasant. I truly appreciate the hard work and resourcefulness of the staff to make the safari experience so enjoyable. Wow what a trip! Spectacular Elephants in Amboseli, Rhinos in Nakuru, Lions in Manyara, and Hippos in Serengeti. Love to the Maasai people who invited us into their homes, lands and hearts. Thank you all. I also met the most amazing and kind hearted travelers from around the world to share in the experiences. :)
AE
Email Luna | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful experience and amazing service.
It was my first safari tour in my life and it was a really wonderful experience. I contacted with Tabitha she is an amazing person. I kept changing my plan and date but she help me to arrange the schedule and I can easy to contact in her WhatsApp anytime. And also my guide was embros who is very passionate and professional person. He tried to show us all kind of animals, especially big5. We did the game drive whole day, so we saw the diverse animals. It was really wonderful experience. I really want to recommend.
Wonderful experience and excellent service
It was my first safari tour in my life and it was a really wonderful experience. I contacted with Tabitha she is an amazing person. I kept changing my plan and date but she help me to arrange the schedule and I can easy to contact in her WhatsApp anytime. And also my guide was embros who is very passionate and professional person. He tried to show us all kind of animals, especially big5. We did the game drive whole day, so we saw the diverse animals. It was really wonderful experience. I really want to recommend.
CH
Email Marcel | under20 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing
It was really great. Communication was good and there were no problems. I loved the Safari and it reached all my expectations and more.