Big Time Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2006)
- Tour Types:
- Small & medium group tours (Budget & mid-range)
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $100 to $450 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
IN
Email Karthik | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good service and great value for money!
When i was doing my initial search for a safari operator it wasn't easy to zero in on one. After researching quite a bit on the internet I decided to go with Big Time for my 12 day safari in Kenya and Tanzania. My contact person Martha was amazingly responsive to all my queries/suggestions/changes in plans etc... She accommodated all my requests to ensure I got what I asked for. Though there was a problem with too many people in the group at one time (9 in the vehicle for our game drive at Lake Nakuru), it was handled reasonably well to ensure the safari went on well from there on. Here is my take on safaris with Big Time.
The Good:
- Very efficient and customer focused team at Nairobi.
- One could trust them to ensure all logistics are taken care of - right from the moment I landed, to transfers of all kinds, right till I was dropped at the airport, all I had to do was text/call Martha and she would have something arranged for me. Very efficient and makes things simple for a newbie in Africa.
- The price is very competitive. There are very few operators who offer safaris at this price. Though it's imperative that this is a 'budget' safari and you get more than what you pay for.
- Animal sightings - well, this shouldn't be a problem if you are in the right place at right time. There was no dearth of animals at Masai Mara at this time of the year and the drives were just awesome.
The Bad:
- The safari vehicles weren't the best of conditions.
- The drivers (all the 3 i dealt with) weren't interested in spending much time in the parks. Despite the whole of our group insisting that we wanted to continue with the game drive, our driver at Amboseli was adamant about getting back to the camp a good 1.5 hrs before the park closing time.
- My plan in Tanzania was altered so that I could be accommodated as a part of a group (a day in Serengeti was replaced by a day in Tarangire). Though I was indifferent to the change, I would have preferred being consulted before deciding what I should be doing than telling me what I would be doing!
Tips:
- Ask as many questions as possible before you agree on your safari - how many days? what time do you start and spend at every park? how many people in the van? is water included? will the vehicle be in good condition? It's good to have these things in writing before you embark on your safari with any operator.
- On your day one, before you start on your safari it is a good idea to sit with the driver and your contact person at the office to confirm all that was agreed on in your communications, so as to ensure everyone is on the same platform.
- Keep in touch with your contact person when on safari (if you happen to have local phone number or whenever there if Wi-Fi access). This could help the office handle any problems that could pop up.
- And, enjoy your days in the wild... At the end of the day, that's what we take all this fuss for! :)
All said and done, if i were to go on a safari again, I know who to get in touch with!
US
Email Moses Wosk | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best people you can hope to meet, simple and to the point. Felt safe and saw all the Big 5!
Top of the line quality, couldnt have asked for better service or company.
US
Email Eddy | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
One of the most well organized trip I have ever been on!
Big Time Safari is a very well run organization with an incredible staff. Martha our tour operator contact person was attentive to our every need from months before our trip and we are still in touch with her now. During the trip she was available at every moment and helped us resolve any issue that would come up. The tour guides were top class, not only in terms of their attentiveness, but also their knowledge. The campsites were also very nice and the food was incredible. I really recommend this tour operator!
Awesome Tour Company with Great Guides
I took a 5 day safari with Kenya Budget Safaris, which was incredible, but we stayed at a camp owned by Big Time Safaris and traveled with their guides and they did an excellent job. The staff was nice, knowledgable and were safe drivers. I saw their logo at a lot of stop to and from the Maasai Mara game reserve, so they are a popular and reputable choice for tourists.
TW
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing
Everything is good. I love Africa, I will come back again.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
You won't find a better Safari organiser in Africa, believe me bcoz i have seen many
Most experienced Safari team, very responsive, superb guide..... the overall experience with them was so amazing that it can't be explained in words. Thank you BigTime Safaris, would love to see you guys again
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great six day safari to Samburu, Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru
I rarely write reviews but BigTime Safaris gave me an excellent trip and there aren't a lot of reviews for safaris, so I thought it would help people by seeing a review. I did a six day safari to Samburu, Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara. Martha was extremely responsive to all my questions and always replied back to my emails within day. She scheduled my pickup to and from the airport also. Martha was phenominal. Rarely have I had someone be so responsive and helpful. Animal (or Animo) was my guide and driver and was fantastic. He was extremely knowledgeable about the animals we saw and had a great personality. Big Time Safaris was priced well. Lucky for me, no one signed up for the Samburu portion of my trip, so it was just the guide and myself. The fourth day we picked up a second tourist for the Masai Mara portion of the tour. Even though I went in April and in the rainy season, it only rained two days. One day it rained 20 minutes, the other day it rained for 1.5 hours. So even if you can only go in April, still go as the weather was gorgeous and I had no issues. Also, Samburu was better than the Masai Mara in my opinion. There was a higher density of animals and the landscape was a bit more hilly/picturesque. Lake Nakuru was nice to see rhinos and rock hyrax.
Email The Nomadic Diaries | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Would do it again
Everything was amazing. I came in without expectations and the team at bigtime. Within 24 hours of my inquiry I was placed on a bus with a group and had a great 3-days seeing every animal Africa could offer (aside the rhino and leopard) with a knowledgeable and funny guide\driver who answered every question with patience and had some great anecdotes from past safaris. He has sharp eyes and spotted the two lions stalking the herd of buffalo on our first sunset safari.
The next day, a full day in the park, he drove us around for 120 K's keeping the same patience and level of professionalism throughout the entire day. And that was the day we saw everything. Of course, no animal sightings are guaranteed and we were pretty lucky.
The camp had all the necessary facilities and great food and hosts. The local Maasai are friendly and happy to show you their village and home.
All up, it was a memorable Africn experience that will stay with me until I hit old age and lose my memory.
Thanks Bigtime Safaris!
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
EastAfrica holiday
A wonderful EastAfrica holiday Dear John, Dennis, George and Peterson Happy New Year to you all too!Thank you for making my holidays in East Africa such a memorable one. Adeline,Alvin and myself really enjoyed ourselves. From
AR
Email Sebastian | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Experience!
Me and a friend were looking for a budget Safari starting from Arusha. The alternatives were a lot, and is really imposible to do a good choice with all the guys taking you to diferent offices to tell you the same speach, but we ended up picking the one we felt more faithfull.
We were really lucky, the couple Driver/Cook was supreme (Godfrey and Alifa). They were young, funny, helpfull and really profesional guys, and I think that there lies most of the quality of a Safari. If I could do it again I'd maybe avoid some of the smallest parks to spend 1 or 2 days more at Serengetti.
I'll surely recomend the company to my friends.