35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
I enjoyed both the organization of the tour and the tour itself.
I recently embarked on a 7-day safari tour in Kenya with Jocky Tours and Safaris, exploring the breathtaking landscapes of Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, Hell’s Gate, and Amboseli National Park.
Our journey began with two nights in the Masai Mara, where we experienced an evening game drive and a full day of exploration. On the third day, we opted for an additional hot air balloon tour, which was worth every penny, offering stunning views and a unique perspective of the park. We were fortunate to see many lions during this experience. We were especially lucky to have Francis as our driver-guide. He skillfully guided us to the most interesting spots in the park, constantly staying in touch with other drivers via radio and mobile phone. His deep knowledge of the wildlife, birds, their behaviors, and the parks in Kenya made the experience truly exceptional. Masai Mara was our favorite, despite the lack of activity on the Mara River, which, due to climate change, only sees migrating animals crossing in July.
Lake Nakuru was another highlight, where we spotted lions, white rhinos, and even witnessed a giraffe fight. Hell’s Gate was quite interesting as well, with Francis taking us to one of the geothermal power plants—an impressive sight. However, Lake Naivasha was somewhat underwhelming. If not for the additional paid visit to a local zoo, the time spent there would have felt wasted, as the included boat ride felt rather ordinary, similar to any other lake experience. Lastly, Amboseli was a world of elephants—we saw them in all their glory, from far and near, in the hundreds. Unfortunately, Mount Kilimanjaro was completely shrouded in clouds, which, as it turns out, is quite common.
Overall, I was impressed with the safari in Kenya. Even as a budget option, it provided excellent accommodations in both hotels and camps. Thank you, Jocky Tours, for this incredible experience!
P.S. Communication with Jocky Tours was generally quick via email. However, they were very slow to respond, or didn’t respond at all, on WhatsApp, which was quite unusual. On the bright side, they were very accommodating and had no issues rescheduling my tour by a day due to a flight delay.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Guides often lack adequate knowledge about wildlife and the environment
Tourist line safaris are known for providing subpar experiences that fall short of expectations. Guides often lack adequate knowledge of the wildlife and environment, leading to an uninformative experience. I noticed their guides were new. Vehicles are poorly maintained, making travel uncomfortable and sometimes unsafe. Customer service is also lacking, with complaints about rude or unresponsive staff common. Additionally, the housing provided is often below standard, with reports of unsanitary conditions and misleading descriptions. Overall, the company fails to deliver the quality and professionalism expected from a safari tour operator. Many customers feel that they are not getting good value for their money, making tourist line safaris a less than ideal choice for those looking for an unforgettable safari adventure.
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The best ever!
This was the most incredible trip we have ever taken with our family! The sights we saw was amazing and the people and guides/staff/trackers etc were so kind and genuine and amazing. We will truly miss everyone that we got to know and would love to come back as soon as we can!
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Simply perfect
Wonderful safari trip Tarangire, Ngorngoro and Lake Manjara. We observed a lot of animals and a lot of landscapes. I never wanted to end this wonderful tour.
Our guide was simply perfect: Very educated, clear in his explanations, perfect English. The lodges we slept in were wonderful. Highly recommended.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful safari experience
GoGiraffe Safaris were exceptional guides as they toured my wife and me and our friends through the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. We saw an amazing number of animals and beautiful scenery. Its exhausting and exhilarating, and our accommodations were a nice respite from the long days in the wilderness. I would highly recommend Luice and GoGiraffe Safaris, as they not only educated us in the history and culture of East Africa, they are able to solve problems. Before the trip we had difficulty with our visas that Luice was personally able to resolve. While we were visiting Stone Town after our safari my wife left her earrings at a Zanzibar resort, Luice was able to make arrangements to retrieve her earrings. Luice and his drivers were great companions.
knowledgeable!
The safari guides knew exactly where to go to see game animals. it didn't take long to observe the wonderful wildlife the massai mara is known for. Can't wait to return !
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Most incredible experience
Totally exceeded my expectations!
Maybe I was just naive but it totally exceeded all of my expectations! Pete from Pavillion tours ensured that, the accommodations at Sarova Mara were just wonderful. I was thinking "tent" as in camping on the ground in sleeping bags not huge tents with king sized beds and solar heated water. The food selection was great too- buffet style, lots of choices and always something for everyone even the kids. The weather was perfect! No rain, few clouds. It was pretty warm during the day so after an early morning safari run we would just hang out by the pool until the sun started to go down. Our guide, Alex, was great! We got to see the "Big 5" on our first outing!! Lots of zebra, giraffes, elephants, buffalo, lions, antelope. But I didn't expect to see nearly every animal that would be in the reserve. The hippos at the river were great! Lots of great birds too. My favorite was the lilac breasted roller. I highly recommend Pavillion Safari!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Knowledgeable, friendly, helpful, responsive!
We had the best time on safari thanks to the Kruger Safari Co.! They were super helpful in finding the right safari for us, and very responsive to all requested changes, additions and questions we had.
At first the idea of planning a safari felt daunting, but once we started working with the Kruger Safari Co. there were no worries and everything was sorted for us.
....and we had the best safari!! Saw so many animals, there were zero logistical hiccups, just a fantastic, memorable and remarkable experience.
Thank you Kruger Safari Co.!
NO
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A unique travel experience
Relatives in S. Africa told us about Botswana, so we decided to check it out. We were not disappointed.
Our trip started with the Mack Air transfer across the delta that afforded us a spectacular birdseye view of the terrain. After being dropped off in the northeastern corner of Osiwanga we were driven to our lodge near the edge of Chobe National Park. To our amazement all sorts of animals - including elephants and a giraffe - came right up to our tent. During the day we went on game drives. A high points were the African wild dogs. We followed closely after a group of 13 on the chase, came across the nest of baby ones, and even witnessed an antelope being taken down by three of them. In the evenings we were treated to beautiful sundowners, which at one we were visited by a lurking serval.
We also also spent a day in the Delta exploring the aquatic life by boat. The landscape was spectacular with numerous exotic birds, plenty hippos and elephants as well as interesting plants. In the evening the staff at the lodge put on a lively show of singing and dancing.
Our last day in the north was spent resting in Maun. Before departing for home we went sightseeing and shopping for artfully crafted basketry of exceptional quality in Gaborone. These exquisite artifacts were made in the style of traditional tribal objects by artisans integrating cultural symbols into their individual designs.
We thoroughly enjoyed our holiday in Botswana, the country and its people. How lucky we are that Botswana has set aside such extensive nature reserves for the benefit of Africa's wild animals, and for us all to experience.