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
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.
Email Paula Buckman | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Absolutely brilliant
Have been using Somak for a few years now cannot fault the company every safari holiday we have had in Africa have been amazing so well organised and lovely lodges thank you for our amazing safaris
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.
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
Email Carol | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolutely fabulous start to finish
Excelled my expectations still remember it now all these years later er as if it was yesterday. Christopher was our guide and I don’t think we could have had anyone better. We felt important and not just a number and everything we did was first class from getting the n the plain to landing back home first class all the way
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.
Email Tejinder | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing kenya safari experience
We, a group of 7, travelled with somak on a Kenyan safari, tailor-made to our requirements. We booked a year ahead as wanted to ensure we get into the lodges. Our trip included all flights, accommodation, safari, drivers and all transfers.
Everything went to plan, all communications from somak were timely and provided all the information we required. One of the best holidays in my life, will never forget the safari experience.
We were collected from Nairobi airport in our safari jeep, taken to a hotel in Nairobi to leave luggage and have breakfast before we left for lake navasha.
Lake navasha sopa lodge was the best accommodation of our entire trip, beautiful, serene with the zebras and giraffes rooming the grounds.
Next stop was Masai mara, our driver Hamisi was very knowledgeable, we went on 3 game drives and he knew where to go and was always accommodating to any changes we requested.
The Masai mara sopa lodge is good overall, walls are thin and you can hear your neighbours.
Our 3rd stop was Mombasa at diani sea resort, again driver picked us up at airport and dropped us at the resort and then collected us to fly to Nairobi.
Overall great experience with somak and would recommend and use them again. I dealt with Celeste in the office and she was there to answer any questions and provide detailed information, fantastic staff member. All drivers were reliable and arrived at the locations as booked.
Email Isabelle Standen | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Incredible Safari Experience
We’ve been on eight previous safaris in Kenya and Tanzania. This is the first time we have used Somak and their tailor made service. This is undoubtedly the best Kenya trip we have ever done, at very competitive prices. Every special request on our booking was fulfilled, the itinerary was superb, an excellent off road vehicle, and nothing was ever too much trouble for our amazing guide Martin Weru. During our 15 day safari to the Aberdares, Laikipia, Elementeita, Masai Mara and Naivasha, we decided we were too lazy to visit Lake Nakuru, as it was not on our route back to Nairobi. Martin immediately came up with an alternative trip to Nairobi NP. Other operators would have simply left us languishing in a hotel for our final day. We are already planning our next Somak trip to more remote parts of Kenya.
IT
Email Enrica | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Just amazing
My first Safari, such amazing, emotional, professional! Absolutely recommended! Ask for Shafik : the driver/guide, very competent, Kind and flexible guy. His job is a passion and this influences your experience, making it much more than magic ! Thanks Shafik and sopak Safaris tour;-)
Sawa sawa
Enrica from Italy
