Somak Holidays
- Located In:
-
United Kingdom
United States
- Size:
- 50-100 employees (Founded in 1968)
- Member Of:
- ATTA, IATA, ATOL, TATO, KATO & ABTA
- Tour Types:
- Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $56 to $439 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
NZ
Email Scott Woods | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great Guide & Safari who worked with our family well.
Our trip was booked by an agent and Somak handled the Kenyan part of the tour for us. Our driver David, was excellent and friendly. His knowledge of the Maasai Mara was excellent and he took the time to work out any birds we saw that he was unsure of the names of.
Made our Kenya Safari a real pleasure for our family.
Email Rebecca | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Somak Driver Offroad and Endangering Lion
I've just come from the Mara where I saw a Somak branded vehicle go off road so that they could get a meter away from a sleeping lion. The driver then got angry when he saw me with my telephoto lens taking his photo. Do not support companies that employ irresponsible drivers.
Email Natanya | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Kenyan holiday - excellent service and staff
I cannot rave enough about the professional, friendly and helpful service received from Somak in Mombassa. Somak provided our hotel to airport transfers - staff were unbelievably professional, gave us a breakdown of the ride, valuable tips about travel in Kenya etc. - so much more than an average pick up /drop off would do. In addition, we arranged a last minute full day Mombassa tour with them - not only were they accommodating- they gave it to us at a great price. The best part about this company - its incredible staff. They are friendly, knowledgeable and nothing is too much trouble (even walking around with us for hours in the rain)! Thank you - you made us feel like rockstars!!
QA
Email David | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Disappointed a real shame and ruined honeymoon
I never want to write a negative review but on this occasion I must as we were badly let down. Despite being notified at an early stage Somak failed to register that this was our honeymoon trip. In our group of 6 there was another honeymoon couple and they received special treatment but my wife and I did not, this lasted for the 7 days of our safari. This culminated with the last stage of our trip on Zanzibar when we arrived at the hotel and I told staff it was our honeymoon. However, they told us that they had not been notified of this, so we were denied the honeymoon package. I spoke with the Somak rep and he said he would pass the complaint on to his manager, and that the manager would meet us at the hotel the following day. He never came, in fact they just avoided us for the duration of the stay and did nothing. Thankfully the hotel guest relations manager became aware of the situation and stepped in to made our last three days special.
It is a real shame that we suffered this negligent communication error as the safari driver was great and he was tireless in searching for the fauna we wanted to see. Another plus was the Serena lodges we stayed at which were fantastic. To date we still have not even had a reply from Somak to offer an apology...
Email Ian Hyman | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The journey of a lifetime
This was my first safari in northern Tanzania followed by a beach resort in Zanzibar . I found Somak extremely helpful in answering numerous questions during and after the booking process . The ground handling was seamless and very professional. Our guide Omari was entertaining, knowledgeable and an excellent driver. Besides the safari praise must also so to the Arusha Coffee Lodge which has magnificent accommodation and a great chef. Breezes hotel in Zanzibar is also to a very high standard all the staff were amazing particularly David in water sports and Romey in operations
Excellent service throughout
My wife and I would like to express our appreciation and thanks for what we consider to have been the holiday of our lifetime! The whole experience was delightful - your representatives were excellent as were the various Lodges where we stayed during our Safari. Our driver, could not have been more helpful - providing us with innumerable opportunities for our cameras. Altogether, it was a really wonderful holiday and with many thanks to Somak!
CH
Email Mark | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Rather poor
Quick answer to the mails, friendly and helpful office staff. After booking and paying the contact ends, besides a voucher sent to you about 2-3 weeks before travel. At least a follow-up mail confirming flight details etc. one week before departure would be a nice move.
Pick up and transfer to ole sereni hotel worked well. However they charged me over 300 USD for that one night. On the website I found afterwards prices between 180-220 Dollars for a night. That's what I call a rip off, especially after paying a couple of thousands for a 8-day safari.
The 8-day cheetah safari: Generally confortable lodges and camps. Unfortunately the downside was our driver, he spent a lot of time on the phone taking personal calls - even during game drives!!!- very unmotivated just doing his job. Did not stop at different amazing sights like baby giraffes right next to our car. Everyone in our group was quite frustrated about this. Sometimes we had to intervene and demanded a stop. Otherwise he would have just drove by amazing photo opportunieties etc.
Take a shot while driving? Nearly impossible as our driver seamed to try escape someone - His driving was wreckless especially during the gamedrives. By far to much speed. I was lucky not to hurt myself as there where quite dangerous situations standing up in the vehicle and someone driving it like that. I almost fell a couple of times or bumped in really hard.
It certainly felt more like a formula one race rather than a game drive, and I think with this kind of driving a lot of animals heard us miles ahead.
The jeep was in quite bad conditions. One of the windows was broken, you could not open it anymore.
The windows quite dirty, never cleaned during the trip and old seats. Flat tire and breakdown aswell but not surprising.
Further our driver seemed to be really, really bored. Not many infos and a appalling attitude. Well I understand that the driver makes this safari most likely many times a year however for most of the customers it's a once in a lifetime opportunity. It's so sad if goes this way.
The somak lounge which you will be taken before and after the safari is just okay. Pre safari there was nothing on offer, just some drinks in the fridge which had to be payed for.
Upon arrival they gave us some fish and chips which was quite tasty with different sauces. Drinks at a surcharge as well. Wifi was not working, which would have been appreciated after 8 days offline.
MY
Email Mei Beey, Loo | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good Job bring us an amazing trip
The great arrangement from Somak give us a memorable experience for the Safari and travel in Kenya. We feel our every single penny was worth to be spent. The tour guide cum chauffeur was knowledgeable, good-humored, helpful and full of luck (a leopard was passing by in front of our land-cruiser when we had the game drive in Samburu National Park!!! We believed this kind of fortune came from the ‘lucky hat’ of the tour guide :) . Besides, they do care enough for our meals as we are vegetarian.
I am planning for the next trip in Africa even I just came back from there. For sure, Somak will be my first option as the tour organizer.
Everything we had hoped it would be - we could not have asked for more!
The whole holiday, from booking to travel, transfers, accommodation and guide was perfect. This was our first safari and it more than lived up to our expectations. Sadaani was idyllic and the safari guide and camp staff were knowledgable, generous and very welcoming.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Knowledgable, friendly staff in uk
Staff were helpful and had travelled to Kenya so could answer questions and advise and were always good on email as I booked my trip at work. After making our payment we heard nothing more from Somak which was not a nice feeling especially as they a local UK Company it was almost as though we might change our mind if we spoke again!!! On arriving in Kenya we loved every minute
We stayed four nights at the Ashnil Mara Lodge and enjoyed every one of them. The whole experience from arriving and being driven from the airstrip to waking up in a four poster bed with a still warm hot water bottle at 6:30am for the game drive. We imagined it would be riding in terms of Somak churning people in and out of the camps however during the time we stayed we were relaxed and felt like the only ones there despit it being full for dinner one night.
Our guide/driver Edward who works for the lodge was very knowledgable of the area so made light work of the vast Mara when driving through the rivers to cross into Rhino or Cheetah territory. We saw 7 giraffe who lived just outside the gates of the camp and saw them in the mornings and evening on their way back home brilliant memories. 52 lions on the last count, a kill and many many young animals
Masai Mara is wonderful. The landscapes, the river and the wildlife. You definitely have to enjoy all these to visit and if you are lucky enough you will see wildlife as it should be. You feel bad being there wishing you could see it without intruding on their territory, seeing the animals behave naturally is amazing.
Lions fighting over territory, mating and hunting. Elephants are huge and yet graceful. There were so many babies we saw and it made us happy to know there is continuity in the great Masai Mara. We saw Zebra, Hyena, Ostrich, Giraffe and Warthogs and birds. It is a wonderful wonderful place
The food was excellent, fresh and tasty every time, with salads and veg options not repeated in the time we stayed. Authentic Kenyan food with spice just what you expect and need after the early starts
All the staff were very helpful and friendly and always interested in your day and had lots of stories to share with other guests
The tents are very spacious and the bathrooms clean and modern and still a tent!! Terrace in room 30 was great as we could see the river and baboons but not the Hippo, the best place to see these would be at reception although you can hear them all night and day, such a wonderful experience
Would have been 5 stars however they charge for wi-fi which is only on a few hours in the day and is very poor in signal. If you are going to offer a service and charge for it at least make sure it works as it should, having said this we would definitely go back as safari is not about the internet connection