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Parrot Safari
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2005)
- Tour Types:
- Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $100 to $360 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
BE
Email Bence | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great for Kenya, do not take them for Tanzania
Joseph at Parrot Safaris is a tour organiser that matches passengers to drivers, locations and experiences, and he is quite efficient at it in Kenya. He sent a pick-up for me at the airport, explained the Kenyan part of the trip in his office, and then sent me off with the great driver, Stanley on an excellent six-day safari in Kenya, that was supposed to be followed by a similarly excellent safari in Tanzania.
Unfortunately, Joseph doesn't seem to have a good network in Tanzania and relies on a local partner, Seven Wonders Safaris, with whom the information exchange is not great and who clearly have capacity and organisational issues. Starting on the first day when the shuttle from the border (2.5 hours late) left me at the bus station at Arusha where there was no transportation to my hotel (the Tanzanians blamed the Kenyans for not getting my arrival information, and they did not bother to ask for it), and the company representative was not waiting for me at my hotel as they were supposed to. From there the trip got a bit improvisational as things were organised with about a 12-hour forward look with freelancers doing the pre-arranged itinerary somewhat in reverse and mixing up many of the camp sites. I got a driver for the first day, who then made me get up at 6:30 to say goodbye and wait until 10 for the next driver (scheduled to arrive at 9 or even before) who was supposed to take me on a full-day game drive in Lake Manyara. Well we got about half a day, which I got to enjoy from the navigator's seat as the car was overfilled, and we had to come back at around 3pm to drop of two passengers on their way to the airport and to go back to camp to take my luggage to another camp (as the drivers did not know in the morning that I would be changing camps by the evening) - I got a feeling that the animals were hiding in the hot mid-day period and we effectively missed most of what could be seen. From the third day on the group staid together, but instead of a branded 7 Wonders car we got a freelancer with a broken radio, broken binocular and broken charging outlets (which was a pity given that this part of the trip was in camps without electricity for the next 2 nights). On the last day, we dropped a couple off in a camp, but again the driver could not tell them who would pick them up the next day and at what time... Finally, on my way home, I was supposed to be taken by a shuttle to Nairobi, but instead it was a private car, that waited 2,5 hours after my pick-up for other passengers and luggage. In all this, Joseph had no useful information on what was going on and he could get nothing out of his Tanzanian partners either. While in the end I was never in any danger (apart from being scammed by a taxi driver on the first day) and the elements of the itinerary were mostly ticked off, as Joseph's role is a facilitator of worry-free smooth experiences, I would not recommend his services for Tanzania. Indeed, in general, it might be a better idea to book the two different country safaris with local operators in each country to avoid these communication issues.
As regards the safari, the best experiences are where one can get close to nature and thus bycicling among animals in Hell's Gate in Kenya, and sleeping among zebras with visiting elephants and lions in Serengeti and Ngorongo in Tanzania were definite highlights.
In conclusion, Joseph was a good communicator and organiser for the Kenya part and his information was mostly accurate (he did claim that I would stay in the same group for the whole trip, and he did miss out in listing a number of optional paid activities, or that there would be cook expecting tips in Tanzania on top of the driver/guide that is expected). The driver for Kenya, Stanley was also excellent and while not given the best equipment, our third driver in Tanzania, Godfrey was also very good.
Email Martin Schentke | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
They deliver the goods.
It took us 3 years to arrange the safari due to covid and some other unforseen circumstances. Joseph from Parrot Safaris answered every single question we had to our satisfaction. And there were a lot of questions over the three years as we heavily customised our tour. These guys are super flexible and will do whatever it takes to give you what you really want. Joseph followed our progress as we went aroound Kenya and Tanzania and made sure we were safe (not that we ever felt unsafe except next to one or two BIG elephant and lion) and happy. The tour unfolded exactly as discussed and it was DEFINITELY a bucket list experience. Their prices are very competitive and Josephs service was impeccable. Our game guides were very knowledegable and did whatever they could to show us whatever Kenya and Tanzania had to offer. A good sense of humour also went a long way.
Literally the only complaint I had was the lack of a hot shower in some of the bush camps in Kenya. Its an issue for me as i suffer from muscle spasms and a cold shower doesn't help.
Other than that I highly recommend these guys. They are legit and committed to giving their clients a truly unforgettable African experience. I guarantee that you wont go home the same person that you arrived.
AE
Email Supeter | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Good safari with good team
The safari was fantastic. Good for value. Joseph was helpful and friendly to make sure our trip was a success. There was a miscommunication and miscoordination though between the operator and the drivers due to a rare, unrelated incident with another traveler, which resulted in me having to wait in a lobby for half a day. Other than that, everything was brilliant.