IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Always available and professional
Available and professional. Always ready to customize everything.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
They took our money and didn’t plan anything.
We began planning our 2025 trip to South Africa back in September 2024. Originally scheduled earlier, we had to postpone due to friends in our group becoming new grandparents. Bianca and Craig from Southern African Tours came highly recommended, and at first, they lived up to the praise—responding promptly to inquiries and accommodating the adjustments we made nine months ahead of time.
However, as the trip approached, communication began to falter. We were repeatedly assured that a detailed itinerary, including guide names and reservation numbers, would be provided, but we never received it. One week before departure, we managed to speak with Bianca, who again promised to send the necessary details. Unfortunately, nothing ever arrived.
Despite the lack of information, we remained hopeful that everything had been arranged as promised—after all, we had paid in full for the trip, including accommodations and excursions. That hope quickly vanished upon arrival in South Africa, where we discovered that no internal flight reservations had been made. Even more troubling, our accommodations in Kruger and Cape Town had not been booked or paid for.
This was a devastating realization. I have never experienced anything like this with a business. It feels as though they took our money and disappeared. Although Bianca had assured us she’d be available for support during the trip, she has not responded to any of our group’s calls or messages.
Looking back now, some warning signs were there—particularly Craig’s defensive responses to other reviews, which, in hindsight, should have raised concerns.
We’ve been saving for this trip for a long time, and it’s heartbreaking to see our money mishandled like this. Thankfully, members of our group have stepped up to salvage the experience, and we’ve had the opportunity to meet some truly wonderful people here in South Africa. Sadly, we can’t count Craig and Bianca among them.
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great value for money, excellent help and communication
From the first inquiry we had already a great feeling with Inspired Feet. Fiona sent us an extensive pdf with all the information quickly and was there to answer all our questions. Also the price for our 6 day safari was really great considering the value you get, compared to prices from many other safaris. We had a great time during our safari in Kenya and it was the experience of a lifetime. We loved our guide Jackson who brought really good vibes. We would definitely recommend choosing Inspired Feet for your safari. You are in the best hands with Fiona!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Beware of This Fraudulent Tour Operator – Avoid at All Costs
We booked an 8-day South Africa luxury trip through Bianca Els and Craig Lucke, and it turned into a nightmare.
Our itinerary included:
• 1 day in Johannesburg
• 4 days in Kruger (Kapama & Ulusaba luxury lodges, 2 nights each)
• 3 days in Cape Town (One&Only hotel)
We paid in full upfront, trusting their promises. Here’s what actually happened:
• Last-Minute Bookings: After weeks of chasing them for confirmations, they finally booked our Johannesburg stay at Four Seasons – but only on the day we arrived.
• No Flight/Resort Confirmations: When we landed in Johannesburg, we repeatedly called Bianca for flight and resort confirmations to head to Kruger. She never responded.
• Excuses & Lies: Craig finally replied saying Bianca had “overdosed,” claimed all bookings were prepaid, and asked us to pay for two nights out of pocket, promising a refund in two days (which never came).
• Nothing Was Paid: When we arrived at Kapama, we discovered the booking had been made just the day before – and nothing was paid for. We then called every other resort and hotel on our itinerary — none were booked.
• False SATSA Membership: Their website claims SATSA membership, but SATSA confirmed their membership is expired.
At this point, it became clear they were running a Ponzi scheme, using client money for other purposes. We essentially paid for their addictions while being stranded.
Adding insult to injury, Craig responds to negative reviews as though they did everything right — a blatant gaslighting tactic.
This experience has completely destroyed our trust in the system and caused massive financial and emotional stress.
Recommendation:
Avoid this couple and their company entirely. Verify memberships directly with SATSA, demand written and prepaid confirmations well before travel, and never transfer large sums upfront without protection.
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Private Couple's Safari - A Dream Come True
We started planning this vacation in January, and thanks to friends, I was able to contact Best Memory Safaris, where Isaac was available to provide all the requested quotes and answer all our questions.
Given their professionalism and kindness, we decided to book a 3-day (2-night) beach trip in Diani, in a beautiful all-inclusive international resort, in addition to the 6-day (5-night safari).
We landed in Mombasa at 5:30 in the morning (one of the few that leaves immediately), and upon our arrival, the legendary Mathias was there, a guide who spoke fluent Italian and who had been working in this field since 1988.
We set off on a private couple's tour in a Land Cruiser. From the airport, we visited Tsavo West, Amboseli, Ziwani Sanctuary, and Tsavo East National Parks.
Our safari was anything but monotonous because Isaac organized early morning tours, one on foot with a ranger, one at night by car, a tour of the Maasai village, and a ranger-led tour of the pools of the rare blue fish.
Our guide, Mathias, knowing all the parks very well, allowed us to see and photograph numerous animals and stunning landscapes. He always knew how to pick the right moments to approach the animals with discretion and respect, allowing us to gain the best perspective.
The quality was also evident in the choice of lodges:
- Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge (inside Tsavo West), indescribable;
- Amboseli Sentrim Camp (outside Amboseli), wonderful tents in a very well-maintained setting;
- Voyager Ziwani Tented Camp (Ziwani Sanctuary), a corner of paradise with hippos and crocodiles;
- Ashnil Aruba Lodge (Tsavo East), in the land of the red elephants.
We were happy and had unforgettable moments, and for this reason we recommend Best Memory Safaris to everyone!
HK
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect trip, The guider is very professional. Exceed expectation
The whole trip is amazing. We follow our schedule planned before, and see all the animals we planned to see, even for some really rare animal. The guider Benjamin is so nice, also share us a lot of the local culture. The recommendations are really good, clean and cozy. We will come back again in the future.
FR
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An Unforgettable Private Safari in Kenya – August/September 2025
I just returned from a private safari organized by JourneyMark Tours from August 30th to September 6th, 2025, and I must say I’m very satisfied with the overall experience.
A well-designed and diverse itinerary:
• Amboseli (2 days): A perfect place to start, with a stunning view of Mount Kilimanjaro. The park is beautiful and full of wildlife: zebras, elephants, wildebeest, giraffes, antelopes, ostriches… I was lucky enough to spot a hyena and a lioness on the first day.
• Lake Naivasha (1 day): A chance to walk among animals like zebras, giraffes, and antelopes – a more “touristy” experience that allows for close encounters. Not my favorite stop, but I’m sure others will enjoy it.
• Lake Nakuru (1 day): A smaller park, but very rich in wildlife: buffaloes, flamingos, pelicans, monkeys, and a beautiful leopard resting in a tree. I also saw two white rhinos, although they were quite far away.
• Masai Mara (3 days): The grand finale – and what a place! Perfect for big cats: lions, lionesses, cheetahs (we even witnessed a cheetah chasing a gazelle), and even a black rhino, which is extremely rare. A dream location for wildlife lovers.
A private safari with an outstanding guide:
This was a private safari, just me and my driver-guide Collins, in a minibus. That gave me a lot of flexibility and comfort for wildlife viewing and photography. Collins was an excellent guide, very knowledgeable about each park, and always knew where to go and how to position the vehicle for the best view. In Masai Mara, he was joined by a local Maasai guide, which added great value to the experience.
Traveling between the parks by road gave me the chance to see the diversity of Kenya’s landscapes. However, I wouldn't recommend this option to people who are nervous in vehicles – the driving style is very assertive, and overtaking large trucks on two-lane roads can be quite intense!
Lodges & Accommodation:
• Penety Amboseli Resort: My favorite lodge of the trip – beautiful setting, swimming pool, and bungalows with a direct view of Kilimanjaro.
• Avian Court Hotel: Comfortable hotel with very friendly staff.
• Buraha Zenoni Hotel & Resort (Nakuru): Not the best experience – poor organization, unpleasant smells, and long waiting times at the restaurant.
• Buraha Zenoni Hotel & Resort (Masai Mara): Good location and a large, comfortable bed, but the pool was dirty and overall amenities were basic.
Organization & Pricing:
I booked through JourneyMark Tours, and communication was smooth via WhatsApp. The payment system could be improved (no confirmation message after payment, which made me a bit anxious at first), but Tess, my contact person, was very responsive and supportive before and throughout the safari. She personally came to the hotel for the pick-up, brought a few useful welcome gifts, and even returned at the end for a personal debrief, which I really appreciated.
Price-wise, the final cost was higher than what was initially listed on SafariBookings, which surprised me at first. However, since it was a private safari, I found the price to be fair and reasonable, considering the quality of service and personalization.
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In summary:
An amazing trip, perfectly organized, with unforgettable wildlife encounters, breathtaking landscapes, and a great private guide. I highly recommend JourneyMark Tours for a private safari in Kenya – especially if you want to explore the country at your own pace and with maximum comfort.
IT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The Safari was well planned - people very kind
I was in the safari with my wife and my son.
We didn’t want to spend too much and we choosed a share safari car. Our guide was very calm, very polite and explained us everything about the animals and the environment.
We have been lucky because there was a good feeling with the tourists traveling with us were.
Thank you very much to Michael the person that organized the safari and Benjamin, our safari guide
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable experience
Nothing but good words for our 6-day safari during August-September of 2025 guided by Brian, an excellent driver and guide!
CN
Unforgettable safari with excellent service
My experience with Explorian Safaris was truly outstanding. The communication before and during the trip was smooth and reliable, and the team made sure every detail was taken care of. The guide was professional. The tour was well-organized, great value for money, and full of memorable wildlife encounters.