20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Magical time in Kenya đ°đŞ
Firstly - I had a fantastic time on safari in Kenya & would recommend to anyone! Iâm going to break the parts down below for more information on each section.
1. The Tour Company - âď¸âď¸
Honestly, the worst part of the whole thing was the actual tour company. I had food poisoning the day we were going, and I waited over an hour and forty minutes for the driver to pick me up from the hotel because they told me to be ready at the wrong time. They stopped replying to my emails or picking up the phone so I had no idea what was happening, which when youâre that unwell isnât ideal. They also managed to mess up us leaving with the boat tour (aka hadnât sorted us transportation back to Nairobi that would allow us to complete the trip with the boat trip!!!!), so we had to fight to be able to do both aspects after they told us we would just have to go back to Nairobi (having done only a two hour game drive that day). As I was dropped back in Nairobi the driver asked me to pay for the trip so I then had to sort that out with them as well (hard to sort when they arenât very communicative). Also you do just hand over the cash to someone who picks you up, no receipt etc, which I found quite stressful. So all in all wasnât very impressed with them as they made the trip much more stressful than needed!
2. Sir Charles - âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸
Charles was the BEST tour guide and helped us to sort out the issues we had. He has a magical gift for finding the animals and was always talking to everyone else to make sure that we got to see everything! My friend has lived there for a year and not seen half the animals we saw (e.g. male lions everyday and even a leopard!). Make sure you ask for Charles (Iâm considering going back later this year and definitely will be asking for Charles again!!!)
3. Accommodation - âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸
I went for Jambo Lodge & Lake Nakuru Lodge. Firstly, the people in both were so so nice, which really helps to make the experience. The food in Jambo was not fab (although I think recovering from food poisoning took away from it slightly ahaha) & the pack lunch was definitely the worst of the three camps. The pool was also out of action which I was v sad about. The room was beautiful though and the bed really comfy, I would definitely stay there again (but take snacks). Lake Nakuru Lodge, the sunset was magical here and the pool was great! The food here was also really good. The room, however, was not as nice - the glass door to outside was broken and it had an older feel. I would umm and ahhh over staying here again, but the sunset might persuade me to!
Boat trip - âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸
Absolutely loved the boat trip, I would say that is worth the money! You get to see an island that just has animals on it and hippos, Ken was also really nice!
All in all you should definitely go on safari and ask for Charles - he made the trip for me. A few things the tour company can improve on, but the memories make up for it.
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful Guide, Unforgettable Trip
We are very happy with our 6 day trip to Tanzania as it went off without a hitch. We had planned the trip with Amos who is also the owner Migration Venture Africa. He worked with my wife and I to craft a great sxhedula with all the activites and places that we wanted to visit. He also helped us to get very good lodges at reasonable rates. Temba our safari guide picked us from our the African Tulip hotel in Arusha and stayed with us for the entire trip. He was wonderful as a guide and also great as a traveling companion. his knowledge of the roads, parks and nature made the journey smooht as he drive well, freely shared infornmation and also ensured that we were safe at al times. The vehicle was spasious. comfortable and very strong. It took us to all the corners of the parks without any issues.
I have nothing but gratitude to Migration Venture Africa, for exceeding all our expectations.
PT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trustworthy operator with an amazing staff
First I would like to say that I could not be happier with my experience with Crater Explorer. Since the first time we got in touch until the moment he dropped us off at the airport, Emmanuel was always responsive and easy to communicate with. He even went out of his way to help us paying for a dinner by lending us money because we did not have Tanzanian shillings.
The hotel we stayed at in Arusha (Venice hotel) was clean and the food was good so basically what you need for a 1 night stay before and after the Safari.
The Safari in itself is something I will not try to evaluate because I do not have words that can describe what I lived through. What I can talk about is the two members of the Crater Explorer crew who accompanied us throughout the 4 days and the places we spent our nights in.
Charles, the guide, is just a chill guy who loves to drive around and see some animals. He clearly had a trained eye as he was able to find animals while driving that we easily missed. I also found it really impressive how he was able to answer all the questions the group threw at him. I can tell he is a great professional and also a very good and safe driver which is very important in Tanzania.
The other member is Emmanuel, the âstomach engineerâ, a truly loving and caring person. He cooked us some really great dishes and the quantity was always more than enough. I would sometimes compare the food we were eating to other groups and I could tell we were very well served. On the first night, my partner had a stomach issue (most likely travelerâs diarrhea) and Emmanuel made sure she ate the right things for the rest of the trip. On top of that he made her a ginger tea which even though was really hard to drink, got the job done and she did not have any more issues.
In terms of sleeping conditions, the first night we slept in Jambo Campsite and Lodge. The room was clean and comfortable. The second night was spent in Seronera Campsite, right in the middle of the Serengeti. In this area the water and energy supplies are limited. In the final night we stayed at Ngorongoro Simba Public Campsite and there I lived through one of the most exciting experiences of my life. The camp sits on top of the Crater, it has great views and a very vast and soft grass floor. For this reason, the camp gets crowded with buffalos and zebras. Sleeping in a tent surrounded by buffalos ripping grass out of the floor right next to my ear is something I could have never imagined doing but will never forget for the rest of my life. The water and electricity work perfectly in this camp.
Thank you Crater Explorer for providing me with a lifetime experience. I will forever be thankful and will always recommend.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A trip of a lifetime in a beautiful, safe and friendly country with a professional tour company.
I took the Dav Safaris the 4 Day Chimpanzee and Gorilla Trek along with two others. It was an incredible experience with great thanks to professional and friendly staff -- particularly our driver and guide Jeck and another driver, Brian.
On more than one occasion, Jeck used his skills and experience to ensure our tour remained on track when I'm positive others wouldn't have been able to. On challenging roads, he made us feel comfortable. He also had excellent mechanical skills and helped other guides with car issues after he knew we were settled. He also had significant local knowledge and loved sharing his country with us. I would recommend Jeck as your tour guide.
The chimpanzee experience was more than we could have imagined. We got within feet of them thanks to the rangers and staff. The gorilla experience was much the same. I didn't feel unsafe around either animals. They are not dangerous and familiar with human company. In many cases, they just walked right past us as if we were one of them. Well worth the cost. In both cases we were lucky enough to find them within the hour of trekking into the forest. We didn't pay much attention when booking to the other activities, but they ended up being highlights to the trip -- giving us a beautiful snapshot to Ugandan life and culture.
The drives from Entebbe to the Kibali and Bwindi national parks led us through beautiful vistas, incredible villages and a very friendly people. We didn't feel unsafe at all in our journey. Whether we were walking through villages, the forest or on the roads. The Ugandan people are a beautiful, friendly and welcoming people.
The hotels, vendors and other companies used by Dav Safaris were friendly, attentive and helpful. We stayed at Via Via Hotel Entebbe, Kibali Forest Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Lodge and Itambira Island Resort. We ended up forming good relationships with excellent hotel staff at every location. The beds were comfortable, showers hot and wifi reasonable.
The food was delicious and high quality wherever we went. None of us had any digestive issues whether we ate Western or local meals. Bottled water and snacks were abundant.
4 days was enough for us to comfortably enjoy both the chimpanzee and gorilla treks, however I heard incredible reports from others in our travels about game drives in Uganda and would seriously consider returning to experience those as well as the gorillas and chimpanzees again. One couple did 19 days with Dav Safaris and loved it.
Thank you Dav Safaris, Jeck and all the people we met along the way for an amazing trip.
SA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Unforgettable Safari Experience!
We just got back from an amazing 10-day safari in Kenya with Beyond the Plains Kenya Safaris, and we couldnât be happier with how everything went. From our first messages with Julius Kariuki to the final drop-off in Nairobi, the trip was smooth, exciting, and full of unforgettable moments. Julius was incredibly responsive and kind throughout the planning processâalways answering our questions quickly and thoroughly on WhatsApp and email. He really listened to what we wanted and put together a perfect itinerary that included Amboseli, Naivasha, Nakuru, and the stunning Masai Mara. We were also glad that our time in Nairobi was included in the plan, which many other companies left out.
The true star of our safari, though, was Ben, our guide and driver. He was professional, friendly, and endlessly patient. The roads were rough at times, but Ben always made sure we felt safe and comfortable. His ability to spot wildlife (and name every animal and bird we came across!) was unreal. He often took us away from the more crowded areas to give us quieter and more personal wildlife sightingsâsomething we really appreciated. The open-sided Land Cruiser we requested was great for photography, and Ben made sure it was stocked with water and had WiFi, which was super helpful in remote areas.
If we had to nitpick, the vehicle could use a little maintenanceâsome loose plastic pieces and a wobbly handle could be fixed up. But the engine and tires were solid, and overall it ran great. Honestly, those were small things in an otherwise incredible trip. Weâd recommend Beyond the Plains Kenya Safaris in a heartbeat to anyone thinking of an affordable and comprehensive safari in Kenya. Canât wait to go back someday!
IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent safari experience
We had the most magical safari experience â all perfectly planned by [Axis Africa safari ] and brought to life by our incredible guide, [David]. Everything was smooth from start to finish, and the attention to detail made us feel so well taken care of.
Our guide was knowledgeable, kind, and truly passionate about the wild. Every game drive felt like a new adventure, and weâre walking away with unforgettable memories (and a full camera roll!).
Highly recommend both the team at [Axis Africa safaris] and [David] for anyone dreaming of an authentic, soul-stirring African safari.
SE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Safari
We had an excellent time on the safari. Our driver, Robin, was very kind and we were thrilled to see all of the Big Five. The 4x4 vehicle was comfortable and in great condition, which made the experience even better. We had an amazing adventure and I would definitely recommend this safari.
Suggestion for improvement: It would have been helpful if Robin was more communicativeâexplaining the itinerary, upcoming stops, and sharing more information throughout the day would enhance the experience even more.
AE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Dream Tour in Kenya
I loved the trip âŚ
Kenya has such an amazing fauna . I have enjoyed the full trip .
I can say the agency is very good everyone is soo polite and caring . Always checking on you and informing you about the surroundings and the activities . My guide was Jhon, he has been amazing, very knowledgeable about the fauna, places and some history of several places in Kenya too. Thanks for these 5 amazing days đđ
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Amazing service and support!
If youâre reading this and wondering if you should select Pembury for your Safari, let me relieve any doubts you may have. My wife and I returned from a safari in South Africaâs Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve, followed by a few days at Victoria Falls. It was the 5 safari for me and it was truly awesome. Tammy from Pembury was nothing short of spectacular as we finalized/customized our trip and provided valuable insight around our flights, accommodations and activities.
Truly outstanding experience and would recommend Pembury to anyone.
Thanks so much Tammy and Pembury!!!!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great communication , good pricing and excellent customer service . We were very satisfied .
When my family and I participated in this this 4-day safari tour, it felt like we were on a real adventure. It was an unforgettable experience that will remain in our memories. I recommend Safari Line defender .