Andrew will take you to remote places
Wildebeest Safaris
- Located In:
-
China
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 1997)
- Member Of:
- ETT & TRA
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $100 to $450 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
PL
Email Piotr Poznan | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
6 Days Big Cats Safari pro and cons.
I have booked by them 6 Days Big Cats Safari Package.
2 nights Samburu National Reserve - Samburu Sopa Lodge.
1 night Lake Naivasha - Lake Naivasha Country Club.
2 nights Masai Mara - Zebra Plains Mara Camp.
Communication wit the company before the trip was fast and efficient. I made them full prepayment for the trip.
Before the trip I have informed that it is very important for me to start all activities just after sunrise and finish just before sunset as I am interested in photography. JUs before the trip they have changed the accommodation by Lake Naivasha for Kongoni Lodge. I have informed than that tis lodge have some negative comments on Tripadvisor and they answered that all lodges there have similar quality.
Samburu Sopa Lodge - Samburu NAtional Reserve.
I can only recommend this park and this lodge. On the first day we saw the pack of 7 wild dogs and leopard.
On the second day 4 leopards, 1 cheetah and 5 lions. Lodge was very good with good restaurant. In in the park however to the places we saw animals it takes 30 minutes of drive. Food at lodge was great. WIFI available only in restaurant area was slowly. In the rooms was available European plugin to recharge the batteries.
Kongoni Lodge.
First of all the drive from Samburu to Naivasha took 8,5 hours. Much more than planned. We arrived at 15.30.
I did not like this place. It is very remote place. Additional 30 minutes drive. They charged me 50 USD for the boat trip close to the lodge. In the itinerary they wrote me that the boat trip cost 25 - 30 USD. In this lodge they do not give food for drivers. So the driver did not get dinner and breakfast.
Lake Naivasha boat trip. However overpaid it was interesting 2 hours. I saw hippos from very interesting photography perspective. @ giant kingfishers, many pied kingfishers, Nubian woodpecker, many pelicans, spoonbills, African fish eagles and sandpipers. The trip was OK.
Zebra Plains Mara Lodge.
The place was nice. Restaurant good. WIFI available at the restaurant area but was slowly. Minus was that it takes up to 25 minutes to come to the gate of the park.
Masai Mare - very good plac to spot predators. In 3 days I saw 2 prides of lions with the kill. Once with wildebeest second with buffalo. First day 5 cheetahs and on the second day the same 5 cheetahs and one female. Disadvantage of this park is that there are plenty of tourist and if any predators are found immediately are many cars around.
David was very good driver and guide. He was able to find many of animals. He had the radio in the car so he easily communicate with others drivers if they found something. It was really pleasant to travel with him through Kenya.
Cons - on the second day in Masai Mara at 17.00 driver informed me that we must finish the safari for today. In fact he used the limit of petrol. I lost 1,5 hour of the day in the very good afternoon light for the photography. This was the question of refilling the car for additional 15 liters of petrol - 1500 schilling - 15 USD..... He solved the problem for next day and we started at 6.30 a.m.
Second small minus was travel time. The way from Samburu to Naivasha took us 8,5 hours. So we have been almost late for the boat trip. There were no issues on the road. So simply travel time was planned unrealistic.
Overall - the itinerary of the trip was very good. I saw and took pictures of all big cats and as bonus of wild dogs.
The driver David was very experienced and saved the trip. The company organized the trip with some minuses. I would suggest if you are photographer to underline with them how important is for you to be just after sunrise and before sunset in the park. If you simply want to see the cats it is enough to come a little later because thank to the radio the will find them all. Also do not agree to change the lodges from those which are in the original plan. If you ask me if I would book with them again I would answer yes. But confirm precisely all details.
Email Charlie | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Polite staff and great value
Communications were initially very good and provided an excellent break down of a proposed itinerary. Subsequent communications were not so good and took some time for a response.
The service was great. We got picked up from Nairobi and then driven out to Maasia Mara in a mini-van. We had the van to ourselves and our driver was very polite and knowledgeable. The tented camp that we stayed in was perfect for our needs.
The tour itself was great too. Our driver was polite and knowledgeable and made the trip far better.
In all, a fantastic experience and one that my family will remember for years.
DE
Email Lisa | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We would recommend this tour operator to all our friends and family.
It was easy to communicate because of E-Mail and WhatsApp contact. We had an informative chat with Noah to find the right tour for us. Our driver Andrew in Kenya was a great guy, he gave us a lot of Informations about every animal we have seen and he knew the hot spots to find the big five. We felt safety all the time and had a lot of fun together.
In Tansania our driver was Ibraham-a funny and nice guy, too.
The service was great during all the days, we didn‘t miss anything!
US
Email Kevin | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Had a great tour guide, company went out of their way to accommodate issues
This was our first (of many) safaris, so we spent many months planning out every detail to make it as close to perfect as possible. The Safari company worked with us on our itinerary and interests, and Noah was very patient in answering questions prior to booking. Our guide, Samuel, was very knowledgeable about Maasai Mara and knew many of the local guides/lodge workers, which gave us a few extra opportunities as a result. He improved our experience and helped communicate any issues we had along the way to facilitate their resolution.
I would recommend booking a Landcruiser over a 4x4 van as they are more reliable. I would consider Wildebeest again for safaris. I believe Noah has the best interests of the company and will go out of his way to help you, should an issue come up.
US
Email Ben Leibert | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good Organization
Overall, Wildebeest Safaris did their job. An informed consumer should recognize, though, the limited role such “operators” play. The tour guides tend to be independent or third-party contractors who work with a variety of such operators. Similarly, the lodging is owned and run by some other organization. The operators merely serve as middlemen. They coordinate your adventure and thereby certainly add value. The quality of your experience, however, will ultimately be in the hands of the independent guides and lodges
Our guide’s vehicle broke down toward the end of our tour, which somewhat stifled it. The way in which this was handled, I think, was mediocre at best.
All that being said, I’d probably book another tour with Wildebeest. They’re reasonably communicate, I think they try to do a good job, and they paired us with a superbly good guide.
MY
Email YUE | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The guides were friendly, well informed, competent drivers and patient with our queries and demands.
The safari tours were memorable but the unplanned iteinaries, driving across rivers and on slippery dirt roads at night to one of the lodges were exciting and more thrilling.
Our travel in between national parks could be more comfortable, if the jeeps are equiped with air-conditioning such that we would not have to tolerate with the problem of dust.
Email Jerry | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great driver, very attentive and fun. Great vehicle for a safari
Organisation was good. Driver did not arrive on time but was a great tour guide. Prompt response regarding quotes
IN
Email Ajit | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very good hotels, Van and excellent, knowledgeable guide cum drivers.
Initially slow response to communications,but finally good service and excellent safari experience.
Game drives were great, specially in Masai Mara
My friend and I very much enjoyed our trip which included Kenya and Tanzania. It was a lifetime experience, we witnessed all in our list, except live action (ex chitas chasing after Thomson gazelles ..lol) Both drivers were great, specially Joseph, who was our guide and driver in Masai Mara. Noah , who owns company, was always cooperative and understanding, he will go beyond his boundaries in order to please you. I woul have given 5 stars, unfortunately I couldn't because of first lodge was disappointed, other than that everything else was awesome.
BR
Email Ricardo | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Kenya and Tanzania
We had a great time with Wildebeest in july, in a 8 days private tour safari between Kenya and Tanzania. The camps we slept were great and the landscapes were amazing. We saw the big 5 more than once. Our only complains are that one time we had to stop on the road for 2 hours because we were supposed to change drivers and the next one was late; and the lack of care of the Masai Mara driver with our luggages - they got ruined because he didnt use blankets to protect it.