CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best Safari Experience One Could Wish For
This review for the Passionate Guides is way overdue. However, this is by all means no reflection of the service or the trip – on the contrary – I was trying to find time to write a review ever since I returned home but life got in the way.
There are a zillion tour operators in North America and Europe who offer great tours and I have not doubt that they are trying to do their best. However, I can guarantee that they are no match to Beatus, the owner of Passionate Guides and his crew in both Kenya and Tanzania. First of all, Beatus is located in Arusha, born and raised in Tanzania and took the leap of faith to start his safari company. Secondly, I have rarely seen the passion and dedication in all my travels and interactions with tour guides.
Beatus is doing above and beyond to learn his customer’s specific needs and wants and caters to specific requirements. I suggest that if in a group, you pick people who are similarly inclined (birds, plants, predators, all of the above). I was probably a tough one to please since it was my first safari and I wanted to do more or less everything. After our first contact, Beatus helped me with my itinerary providing valuable advice. Everything went smooth prior to the trip… and it only got better.
We were picked up in Nairobi, spent the first night there and were picked up in the morning to head out to Lake Nakuru and the Ziwa Bush Lodge – our first destination. Since this review is not intended for lodges / tents, I will not review those, although Beatus picked excellent accommodations throughout our trip. If there were any questions or minor issues, these were resolved within minutes.
Plenty of time is spent in the Jeep! They have plenty of space, and the guides (Athuman – we miss him!) made sure water was always available. As for the animals: Beatus and his team are the best animal spotters you can have! Of course, one cannot expect animals on demand, but the Beatus and Athuman knew where to go and look, were extremely patient with us taking pictures (constantly) and most of love – they love their work and are never bored or tired – it seemed that they we are discovering the wildlife together. However, throughout the trip we learned so much about the country, region, migration, animal behavours etc. And of course – always told with passion for the land and its creatures.
Our trip took us from Kenya (Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara) to Tanzania and the Serengeti, Ngorongoro … each area more fascinating than the previous and guided with passion and eagerness by our Passionate Guides. Oh… and we had the pleasure of several hot lunch picnics in the Serengeti… which was incredible to organize and set up… but Beatus and team did it with ease.
All in all, I can’t recommend enough The Passionate Guides. Thanks to their genuine love and pride for their country and desire to share it with us, we had one of the most memorable vacations of our lives.
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Passionate, charismatic, and extremely knowledgeable guiding experience in Kenya/Tanzania
I had the pleasure of being guided by Beatus and his team of Passionate Guides on a wonderful 12-day excursion in Kenya and Tanzania at the end of August. We started our safari experience in Kenya’s Lake Nakuru, drove south to Masai Mara, into the great Serengeti of Tanzania, Ngorogoro, Arusha, passed by Kilimanjaro, and drove back into Kenya for one final day in Amboseli.
There was not one moment with Beatus & Co. where I felt that our trip was lacking. From the food, choice of lodging/accommodation, and most notably the wealth of information shared with us – the guides far surpassed our expectations. David and Athuman were our drivers/guides in Kenya and Tanzania, respectively, and seemingly had an answer to every single question when asked. They accommodated our wishes and catered to our interests each day, whether we felt like seeing birds, antelopes, cats, etc.
The lodging was truly fantastic. We stayed at some of the most visually-pleasing lodges/camps, like the rustic Ziwa lodge near Nakuru, luxurious Moyo camp in the central Serengeti, and the serene Kibo camp in Amboseli. Breakfasts and dinners were had with a view each day, and the packaged lunches were always delicious.
My mom and I are very outdoorsy and wanted to hike to Kilimanjaro’s Mandara Huts. Beatus, of course, accommodated and planned this in our trip. His good friend & expert mountaineer Kedi (who summited Kilimanjaro 360+ times as of the date of writing) guided us to the Mandara Huts as a short day hike. Kedi shared a wealth of information and history about Kilimanjaro while hiking with us in – believe it or not – Converse All Stars. This was such a great addition in the middle of our safari trip.
If you’re reading this review, I hope you see a trend throughout my review in addition to the other reviews on this site: Passionate Guides is very much true to its name.
Asante sana, Beatus!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent customer service and very professional
The tour guide was very punctual, polite, friendly as well as professional. He took us to great sites and my boyfriend(then) and I had a wonderful time. Keep it up!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Big 5 in 5.5 Hours with the best guide!
We booked a private 8 day safari with a challenging itinerary and we could not be happier with how everything turned out - we know that Ali was meant to be our guide as he was up for the challenge!
Ali extremely knowledgeable, teaching us about every animal we saw and able to answer all of our questions. He was professional - it is easy to see the love he has for his job, and how well he knows the parks! We saw all big 5 in one morning game drive at Masai Mara, all before noon. This had all of the other drivers wondering what Ali was doing differently :) He is also, most importantly, kind and compassionate. We had a couple of health scares on our trip and he made sure to get us to a hospital both times in a safe and timely manner, and even helped us evaluate the best one to go to in Nairobi.
We chose Axis because it was the only safari company that allowed us to truly design our private safari itinerary, all other companies tried to force us to follow their existing programs to make it easier on themselves. Special shoutout to Rita for incredible fast communication over email - always answering our questions in a thorough and easy to understand manner. This was also a deciding factor for us.
We will absolutely be recommending both Axis as a company and Ali as a tour guide to our friends and family, and we hope to be back one day!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect private tour operator
I recently had the pleasure of experiencing an incredible 8-day private safari in Amboseli, Nairobi National Park, and Maasai Mara, guided by the exceptional Ali. From start to finish, Ali’s expertise and passion for wildlife truly enhanced our adventure.
We selected Axis because it was the only safari company that allowed us to fully customize our private itinerary. Other companies insisted we follow their pre-set programs, which felt restrictive. A special thanks to Rita for her prompt and clear communication via email
Ali’s deep knowledge of the parks, animals, and local culture was evident throughout our journey. He was not only a skilled driver but also a keen observer, ensuring we spotted everything from elephants in Amboseli to the Big Five in Maasai Mara. His ability to share interesting facts and stories made each game drive engaging and educational.
Beyond his professional skills, Ali’s friendly demeanor created a welcoming atmosphere for our group. He was attentive to our needs, ensuring we had the best experience possible, whether it was finding the perfect viewing spot for photos or sharing a delightful picnic lunch in the midst of nature.
Overall, Ali was an outstanding guide who made our safari unforgettable. I highly recommend him to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and personable guide in Kenya. Thank you, Ali, for an amazing adventure!
SI
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Always available to care all of my needs
Raphael from jambo masai tours was always here to accomidate, answer, prepare anything from moths in advance to during safari, right until the end. Very grateful, flexible, so i had every day according to my wishes. Including also driving to kilimanjaro and back. Everything went smoothly so i had unforgetable experience. There was too much food and i saw a lot of animals, some really close, some really rare. A lot for great price. Thank you for arranging this trip!
CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
great
everything is OK！The only regret is not to see the wildebeest cross the river, the time is wrong. Of course it's not about the trip.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A trip to remember
My partner and I recently went on our first safari in the Masai Mara National Park, and it was an incredible experience, thanks to the excellent organization by Steve and the guidance of our driver, Moses.
Steve ensured our preferences were understood from the start, and both he and Moses were punctual, picking us up from our hotel and making a quick stop for lunch before our first game drive. We stayed at the Anshil Mara Camp, deep within the park, which offered an authentic wildlife experience with hippos nearby.
The early morning and evening game drives were the highlights of our trip. We saw a variety of animals, including elephants, lions, giraffes, and zebras, many with their adorable cubs. The sunset game drive, complete with a sundowner in a perfect spot chosen by Moses, made the experience magical.
Our last day included a visit to a Masai Mara village, which gave us insight into the local culture. Throughout the trip, Steve and Moses were attentive, providing great advice and making us feel safe and well-cared for.
We highly recommend this safari – it was a perfectly organized, secure, and unforgettable adventure. Thank you, Steve and Moses, for making it a trip to remember!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Memorable Trip of a Lifetime!!! Highly Recommended!!
The 8-Day Hwange - Victoria Falls - Okavango Delta Tour with Exec Africa Travel and Tours was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Everything was meticulously organized, allowing us to enjoy every destination to the fullest. Our guide, Likhwa, was amazing, sharing his deep knowledge and ensuring we had incredible wildlife sightings throughout the journey. Manuel handled the communication excellently and was very prompt.
From the majestic Victoria Falls to the awe-inspiring safari in Hwange and the tranquil beauty of the Okavango Delta, every moment of this tour was unforgettable. If you’re looking for a well-rounded, expertly managed safari adventure, I highly recommend this tour!
IL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very reliable , Very recommendable!
We had an amazing 5 day tour with Idi, and we enjoyed it very much!
We recommend this company, as they are very reliable, informative, responsive and go amazing length to satisfy.
Planning the trip was easy, petro answered all of our questions, made changes to the trip according to our requests, upgraded us for no extra cost on the first night accommodation, and most importantly, helped me plan a beautiful proposal! They did it so discreetly my fiancé never suspected anything!
The cars are very well built, we had outlets for charging and a fridge for our drinks. All of our bags were safely buckled and covered so won't get dusty.
The only things I would say are missing was some hot drinks and Internet connection on the roads (some other companies have WiFi in the cars, and would bring a picnic box to keep the lunch warm and hot water for coffee or tea). The AC didn't work in the jeep but honestly was not necessary as the weather was perfect, and on the long drive from the airport to the safari we were driven in a taxi which was comfortable, we were able to catch some sleep.
The guide we had was a natural, took us where we wanted, show to all the animals, great choice in hiring him! he even gave us really good binoculars so we were able to have a great game drive.
We had the most amazing time, don't hesitate, this is the right company to pick for an amazing experience of one in a lifetime.
So to sum up, communication with petro was amazing and easy; the service of the driver was exquisite!; We got the best price here than in any other company we've heard of, so great value for money; they are very reliable, and they trusted us very much.
