Great Safaris
- Located In:
-
United States
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2009)
- Member Of:
- IATA, ASTA, APTA, USTOA, ASTA TOPS & ARC
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $130 to $850 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Reputable and reliable
Dave was calm and confident. Knowledgable and attentive to my travel needs. He assured the planning was thorough and follow up calls were completed during the trip to be sure I was well taken care of. I experienced integrity and genuine care with Great Safaris from the beginning to end of my trip.
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65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolutely Reliable, Wonderful Suggestions, Wholeheartedly Endorse
In the past I have always planned our trips outside the United States, including Northern and Southern Europe including Turkey. However, when I started the same process for South Africa including a Safari, it was obvious that I really wasn't up to the task.
I was so fortunate to be directed to Great Safaris, who methodically presented me with the options and a frank discussion of each. The result was spectacular, ranging from the choice of hotels in Cape Town to the Safari lodge and the hotel at Victoria Falls, plus the "side trips" and excursions. The family universally felt that this was truly an exceptional, marvelous experience that will never be forgotten. Their assistance each time we arrived at a new destination and at the time of departure was both reliable and up to any standards that I would have hoped to receive.
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Email Christ and Maureen Troupis | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Most incredible trip we have ever taken - perfect in every detail, travel, lodging, guides, cuisine.
We started working with Great Safaris a year and a half ago through GeorgAnn, our travel agent at Global Travel here in Boise. They helped us maneuver through cancellations due to Covid 19 and rescheduling our Private Sky Safari by Elewana Collection in Kenya and Tanzania. We arrived in Nairobi on July 14, 2021 and were met right at our gate by a local representative for Great Safaris and Sky Safari, who guided us through the airport and into a waiting van to our first destination, The Hemingway. We thought it couldn't get any better when we saw our sumptuous suite and lovely view. But every place we travelled to exceeded the one before. All of them were very special. By booking a Private Sky Safari, Maureen and I were whisked on 8 private charter flights to tented camps in Kenya and Tanzania as well as the Manor at Ngorongo Crater and Arusha Coffee Lodge. We were the only passengers on each flight (except for one when we were asked if two others could share our flight). We were also the only persons in our Land Rover or Land Cruiser (depending on the location) with a professional local guide with extensive guiding experience in the specific area. Our guides were all incredible; extremely personable, knowledgeable, and flexible. We were able to spend time looking for the animals we wanted to see, and to spend the time necessary to watch their behaviors and interactions with each other.
Our first stop was Tortillis Camp in Amboseli National Park, Kenya. It is home to the largest elephant herd in Kenya and many Super Tuskers. I checked a bucket list item - lying down on the savannah in front of an 8000 lb Super Tusker Elephant to take a photo looking straight up at it. Graeme and Candy were the managers - wonderful folks, and the accomodations and meals were superb. Service was beyond all of our expectations.
We flew up to the Loisaba Conservancy and stayed at Loisaba Lodo, a gorgeous tented camp overlooking an elephant watering hole. Again, the food, our suite with its incredible views, our Samburu guide, Lemayen (whose nickname is "Brown"), and Phoebe, the manager, made our visit very special and memorable. We saw the reticulated giraffe and Grevy's zebra as well as elephants testing each other's strength. But the highlight was when our guide got us within 7 feet of a gorgeous leopard who had just killed an antelope and was resting beneath a tree.
Then we flew down to Sand River Masai Mara Camp and had our first view of the Great Migration. Dickson, our Masai guide, got us up early the first morning and located a pride of lions while we still had the "Golden Hour" sun. The photos were magnificent. Then he managed to find a black rhinoceros and positioned our vehicle right where he said he expected the rhino to come out of the bush. True enough, he came right to us and I got a head on beautiful photo to remember him by. Because we were travelling to Tanzania, we had to be covid tested. Stephen and Linda, the co-managers at Sand River, arranged for covid testing at the airstrip when we arrived, and they followed up to make sure we got the results, and helped us complete all the necessary paperwork. They made what could have been extremely frustrating so seamless.
We had three charter flights to get out of Kenya and into Tanzania. Because we booked Sky Safari, our pilots handled the interactions with the various border agents and walked us through the whole process - exiting Kenya at one airport; flying to Tanzania to take a rapid covid test and then go through immigration, and the third flight out to Serengeti Migration Camp.
Our three days in the Serengeti were spectacular. We booked the entire East Africa Private Sky Safari by Elewana and stayed only at Elewana properties. The itinerary they provided us through Great Safaris gave us plenty of time in every location. In stark contrast, we saw a number of people arrive as part of groups with other high end safari companies. They didn't get nearly as much time. They sat together at meals and went out together on safari. We always had a private table, often under the stars, and romantic dinners every night. And we spent safari days with only the two of us and our guide. In the Serengeti, that meant we had time to drive the 3 hours cross country each way to get a chance to see the Great Migration -- and John Kitia, our superb guide, knew just where he had to take us to give us the best opportunity to do just that. As a result, we saw two crossings of at least 10,000 wildebeest. By far, the most amazing natural wonder we have every witnessed. And of course we saw lions, cheetahs, and leopards as well.
We travelled to the Manor at Ngorongo Crater. The suites and grounds are magnificent and Salim and Margareth are consummate hosts. When one of the large groups from another tour operator were making a lot of noise in the dining room, they relocated our dining to the wine cellar, where John, our butler and steward, placed 150 rose petals around the edge of the table with a coffee bean in each one, a heart shaped by coffee beans and the words Long Life in coffee beans on the table, and the entire display edged in fuschia stamens. It must have taken him hours, but it made our 5 course East African dinner an evening we will never forget. Bachu Gandi, our wonderful guide, showed us the majesty of the Crater, and we had the opportunity to photograph hippos walking and lounging on the beach.
We concluded our trip at the Arusha Coffee Lodge, an incredibly beautiful place, and we visited Shanga, a nonprofit entity that employs handicapped persons in making beautiful handicrafts.
Our entire experience, with Great Safaris, Elewana, Sky Safari, and of course, Global Travel, so far exceeded our very high expectations that it is hard to describe the trip adequately. We were treated like royalty, quite literally. We have never felt so wonderfully spoiled and pampered. And the skill and knowledge of the staff and guides at each camp as well as our pilots was beyond compare.
After researching safari options for several years, and observing the other high end safari operators using the Elewana facilities, I can say without possibility of contradiction that the Great East Africa Private Sky Safari by Elewana is the only way to see East Africa on Safari. It has our highest possible recommendation, without reservation. Thank you Great Safaris, Sky Safari, Elewana, and Global Travel.
We finished our trip at
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65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent, great to work with. A perfect experience.
Beyond expectations. Fantastic safari and guides.
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50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Cape Town/Victoria Falls/Zambezi Queen/Kirkman's Kamp
My daughter's Bucket List had one item, ride an elephant in Africa. I contacted my local travel agent and she, along with Dave from Great Safaris, put a trip of a lifetime together for us. Our guide, Adriaan, in Cape Town made our days memorable with historical information and yet fun for a twenty-something and her Mom. Tickets were purchased in advance so there was no waiting for Table Mountain or Robben Island. Each and every transfer was seamless and every driver professional and cordial. I felt as if I stepped back in time at the Victoria Falls Hotel where the service was exquisite. We had an amazing afternoon with the elephants, trainers, and staff and even made friends with Sylvester, the resident cheetah. The Zambezi Queen was above my expectations and although we saw a larger variety of wildlife at Kirkman's Kamp the opportunity to watch the elephants play in the Chobe River for literally hours was a highlight for us. This is evident by the sheer number of elephant pictures we took! We felt a bit underdressed at dinner but no one paid us any mind and the food was fabulous. Finally Kirkman's was the perfect end to our two week travels. We saw so many animals and birds on our twice daily drives. The ranger and tracker we had were incredibly knowledgeable and so personable with everyone. Cynthia, our 'butler', was a real hit with my daughter and was part of the surprise birthday party we had for my daughter celebrating her early 26th. To be honest, I cannot think of any staff member we encountered that was not courteous and friendly. The confirmation documents from Dave were always accurate and I especially appreciated the Field Guide and Journal that I used daily highlighting what we had seen, referring to it with the ranger, and keeping my daily notes. Dave even contacted me while we were in Victoria Falls to see how things were going. My daughter and I discussed the order of the places we visited and honestly beginning at Cape Town and engaging in the history first was best, then living out the dream of riding an elephant followed by the floating on the Chobe watching elephants and hippos and relaxing, and ending with the Big 5 and early morning drives at Kirkmans was the perfect sequence for us. I highly recommend Great Safaris, Dave, and his cadre of knowledge when booking your amazing African adventure. Congrats to Dave and his team!
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50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Great Safaris is the way to go to see Africa with their Drifters brand
I went on a Great Safaris Drifters brand tour, not once but twice because it is the best way to see Africa. They are the only safari company that owns its own lodges and expedition trucks on an overland adventure. I saw so much wildlife, the drivers/guides were superb, the food excellent, everyone on my two tours had a wonderful time and I made many friends. I especially liked the 18 day South Africa tour because it went to Kruger and other National Parks where the game was plentiful, including the rare black rhino and sable. The lodges are all exceptionally clean, with hot water and a comfy bed, and the lodge hosts knocked themselves out in preparing dinnger each night. There were lots of side adventures along the way, including horseback riding in the Drakensberg mountains, white water rafting on the Ash River, Bungee jumping, beachcombing, winery and beer brewing tours, and time to explore areas on my own. The prices are exceptionally low for what you get for a tour of this magnitude. I am ready for another adventure with Drifters and Dave Hebert's crew at Great Safaris.
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Email Austin & Jeanine Heberger | Experience level: first safari
We expected great-- we got outstanding!!
From the moment we deplaned to the moment we left SA, the experience was the "trip of a life time"! We spent 4 days in Capetown, the Safari, and ended at Victoria Falls. The hotels, and especially the Safari camp, were perfect. Love to do it again!
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Email Dennis and Bonnie Arnold | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing trip with 5 star accommodations even in the tent facilities
Was not sure what to expect. The trip was quite different then we expected but all on the positive side. Excellent accommodations at all 8 venues. The daily excursions and side trips were outstanding. The flights to the outlying camps were exciting and provided outstanding views of the area. The food was much better then expected and the schedules at the camps were well planned giving us plenty to do and see but provided rest time every day. All in all a wonderful trip thanks to Great Safaris.
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Email Bob P. | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The best - we're going to do it again
I've been to South Africa and Zimbabwe twice, and my wife and I are already planning our 3rd trip. Both of our trips were planned for us by Great Safaris, and both were exceptional.
For both trips, we spent a few days in Cape Town, visiting the Cape, going into the wine region; then we flew to Victoria Falls, spent a few nights there, before flying on a private plane to the wonderful tent camp of Somalisa, which was absolutely spectacular. Our guide for both trips was Mike Padiwa; he showed us the best of Hwange on both trips, and we returned with some amazing stories.
We then flew out of Hwange and spent a few days at Makalali in Kruger National Park in South Africa; it too was luxurious and couldn't have been better.
If you're thinking about photo safaris in South Africa or nearby countries, Great Safaris is the way to go; they took such great care of us.
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Email Hallie | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great
I think anytime you decides to adventure out great safaries is the way to go I will be calling for their services again and I highly recommend them way to go Anne I really enjoyed my trip thanks Hallie Malachi