IN
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent
The entire tour was well coordinated...our guide Paul was awesome and took tremendous care for our well being and ensuring we are able to view the wild life in its entirety.....a wonderful person truly --- trust worthy and patient with our incessant curiosity.... great safari we had
JP
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An Unforgettable Safari Experience with Splendid Vacations
Choosing Splendid Vacations from the numerous safari companies available was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The 1-night, 2-day safari tour was truly unforgettable. We experienced two game drives – one in the evening and one in the morning – and the variety of animals we encountered at different times of day was incredible. Every aspect of the tour was handled with great care for safety, allowing us to fully enjoy the experience without any worries.
Why I Chose Splendid Vacations:
I reached out to over 10 safari tour companies, but Splendid Vacations stood out thanks to their exceptional tour consultant, Alice. She was fluent in English, highly communicative, and patient in answering all of my questions and requirements. Since it was my first trip to Kenya, I had many concerns, but Alice’s clear and thorough explanations made me feel confident in choosing them. Other companies either lacked clear communication or aggressively pushed me to book without providing enough information. While there were cheaper options, most seemed unreliable. Alice, on the other hand, offered 5-6 fully customized tour options that perfectly met my needs, with professional and attractive digital proposals.
The Services:
- Airport Transfers
I was pleasantly surprised that airport transfers were included both before and after the safari. The pick-up times were punctual, reflecting the high level of hospitality throughout the tour.
- Safari
Our guide and driver, John, was incredibly professional. His driving was safe and never rushed, and thanks to his deep knowledge of animal behavior, we saw an impressive number of animals in a short amount of time. John also utilized his network of contacts to gather information about where specific animals were located, ensuring we didn’t miss anything. Unlike some guides who tend to talk too much, John maintained the perfect balance, giving us space while making sure we had a comfortable and enjoyable experience.
- Our Vehicle Choice
We chose a 4x4 Land Cruiser, and it was the perfect decision. The road to Masai Mara National Reserve included some off-road driving, and all game drives were conducted off-road as well. The vehicle handled everything smoothly, allowing us to fully enjoy the safari.
- Hotel
We stayed at Olkinyei Mara Tented Camp, conveniently located near the park entrance. The interiors of the restaurant, bar, and other communal areas were sophisticated and impeccably clean. The tent we stayed in had modern facilities, including clean and comfortable bathroom and toilet. At night, we could hear the sounds of wildlife from the park, and the starry sky was breathtaking, with countless shooting stars. The food, delicious Kenyan cuisine, was of high quality and added to the overall experience.
Final Thoughts:
Splendid Vacations is one of the few safari companies that truly delivers a top-tier experience, creating unforgettable memories for its customers. I look forward to returning to Kenya in the near future and once again experiencing the impeccable service they offer. Without a doubt, I highly recommend Splendid Vacations to anyone considering a safari. Thank you for an incredible experience!
CH
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Insufficient management of the Tour and inappropriate vehicule
My rate of this company is low coz there has been too many problems with Leisure tips and their response is not adaquate, as far as I am concern. All my statements are based on facts and I have all the exchanges with the driver in my Whatsapp as a proof.
1. When I paid the Tour with a secure link sent by them, my credit card was hijacked and my Swiss bank has to block it coz somebody tried to use it.
2. The vehicule that Leisuretips provided was in poor state and we encountered many problems after a few hours drive from Nairobi already. The destination was Amboseli National Park on a 3 Days trip, alone in the vehicule except for the driver.
3. The car had to be brought to the garage 2 times coz of the mechanical problems and I lost the second day Game Drive coz the time left was not sufficient.
4. I ve received the apologies from Leisuretips for that but this is insufficient coz the contract that they gave me stipulated all the services I ve paid for and they did not fulfil it actually.
The Amboseli Park is worth to visit and the Lodge I was in was good, that is why I give a 2 stars rate.
The Company has to improve its relationship to the customer and moreover improve its services. I paid the whole amount in USD in one time several months before the Trip, for information.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Like having friends taking care of you in Tanzania.
We had a fantastic trip with EATL. The local guides worked hard to make sure everything we needed were taken care of. We went as a large family group with 13 adults and 4 kids ages ranging from 5-10. Our trip was 10 days, and we visited Tarangire, the Serengeti, and Ngorongoro, and ended the trip with a 4 night beach vacation in Zanzibar. EATL was accommodating throughout and you can customize your trip to your budget and pace. One advice I would have for would be travelers is to allocate sufficient time for the safari portion so that it’s not too hectic. We spent a lot of time traveling in the jeeps 2 out of the 3 days in the Serengeti for a combination of game drive but also crossing the vast Serengeti, and I would have liked to pace it out more. The optional sunrise hot air balloon ride in the Serengeti is highly recommended, just breathtaking. Lodgings that were selected for us in Tanzania were all excellent. For Zanzibar, in retrospect we under budgeted, and the beach villa that EATL selected - I would not stay in again. But again, I think that was because of the budget we gave them. The beach itself was gorgeous, as were all the beaches and excursions we took. Special thanks to our safari guides who woke at the crack of dawn, drove us around all day on game drives so that we can see as many animals as possible, and still worked late into each evening so we awoke to freshly cleaned jeeps. Special thanks to Dolly in Zanzibar who took great care of us and went everywhere with us so that we never had to worry about a thing. Shout out to Hassan in Zanzibar who is on his way to becoming a superb travel guide, you are doing great, keep smiling and sharing your love for Zanzibar. Hassan by the way was amazing with our kids. Thank you all so much. Hakuna matata ✌️💚
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent Safari
Excellent a Safari experience!!
Our 6-days safari was amazing and Wild explorer made our adventure unforgettable. Special thanks to our driver / guide David which took care of us from day1.
Top value for money. Strongly recommend!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The most efficient and knowledgeable agent I have ever used. Pure Professionalism .
Can not recommend this agency highly enough. Every aspect of our trip was carefully curated and not one complaint can be make about the areas that were recommended , which included accomodation with delicious meals , amazing guides and friendly staff at Lemala lodges throughout Tanzania and our amazing gorilla trek and visit to Rwanda. A bucket list trip that would love to do repeatedly .
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An awesome, authentic Kenyan experience. Cant wait to visit with Jemu again.
Jemu Expeditions were so great in helping us plan our trip. While it was short, they made sure we maximised the days we had. They were also flexible with pick-up and drop-off locations which made for a seamless experience. Our guide, George, was so friendly and attentive, his knowledge of East African animals is endless - we learnt so much!
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible Safari experience
Amazing safari experience. We saw all BIG 5 - lions, leopards, elephants, rhino, and buffalo - and the great migration. The staff, guides, facilities, and food were excellent. Full recommendation for the trip.
CH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great driver/guide
The Suricata guide Damian was great! He always made us feel safe and supported and the safari went smoothly according to the plan. All accomodations (tented lodges) were top notch and truly comfortable. I suggest a bit more clarity and coordination from Suricata Safari before the safari both on the info and briefing before the actual experience. But overall I do recommend it to other solo or group of travelers.
AT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing
The safari with Ozon Light and Kessy was amazing. We did a six day tour through Tarangire, Central and North Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara.
The landscape, the animals and the accommodations were amazing.
Kessy was amazing. He really had an eye for all the animals and spotted a lots of things. He decided rather going were all the other cars were but spotted some really nice places. So we had a few amazing moments with hardly no other people around. Like giving birth of a hyena, saw a rhino crossing the street directly behind our car, watching a family of leon and many more.
Kessy knows a lot about nature but also culture and history of Tanzania.
Furthermore we had so much fun with him.
We really enjoyed our time.