65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Friendly
The Safari experience was wonderful. The transportation was comfortable. Sleeping accommodations were great. Tour managers and Drivers were friendly.
Fantastic Full Day Safari
We had a change of plans so only booked the day before our safari and so glad we did. We had an amazing day and we absolutely loved it. We saw lions, elephants, giraffes, kudu, impala, waterbuck, hippos, warthogs and a vast array of bird life. The full day tour went so quickly and we were well looked after.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Superior
Did not do the booking so could not look up particulars on website. Consequently, didn’t quite know what to expect, and was more than pleasantly surprised at the amenities and luxury.
The “camps” —The safari “camps“ were definitely “glamping” — our “tents’ all had running water, electricity, flush toilets, and usually plenty of hot water for shower. One even had a giant bathtub to soak in. I have stayed in motels that were not as nice as these places. The food at each camp was superior and plentiful, esp the soups,. There were multiple entrée choices and plenty of fresh fruit. There were two vegetarians in our group and they did not have a problem satisfying their appetites. To hear the noises of the wild animals at night was magical. One place (surrounded by an obscure electrical fence) had built a cement watering hole and we dined, watching elephants and other animals sip from the pool. Other camps posted guards at night to ward off any problematic animals that might enter. But waking up to piles of zebra poop or antelope droppings on your “front lawn“ was a trip.
The guides - this was a two country tour so we had different guides and vehicles in Kenya and Tanzania, allowing each to be an expert in the knowledge of his country, the preserves, and animals. Each was a wealth of information and could / would answer just about any question you asked about their country, the parks we were in, the animals, and even background on themselves. Very personable, and expert drivers on the pothole filled roads in these countries. The “roads“ in the preserves were often nothing more than two tire tracks, and yet they seemed to know them all and where to go. But be prepared, definitely a bumpy ride. They did their utmost to find the animals for us— and they did!! There is a sign in the Nairobi airport that defines Safari as ‘an outing where most of the day is predictable except what you actually came to see’. And while this may be true, the guides made sure that we got to see everything we wanted. And every night they washed and cleaned up the vehicle so the windows would be free of the ubiquitous dust. When a tour guest had a problem or issue, they did their utmost to resolve it ( MANY thx to you, Simon!!). They also helped us navigate immigration between Kenya and Tanzania, which was a chaotic zoo.
The write-up on this tour says extra binoculars, beanbags for cameras, and ladders for seniors are available. You may have to ask for these in advance as they were not automatically supplied. (The 70+ y/o members of our group, were quite agile and had no need of a ladder). The guides had a (singular) pair of binoculars that they were happy to share if people did not bring their own.
Having a few days of “cool down“ on the beaches in Zanzibar was a great way to end the trip after so many days of Safari.
The one – – and only one – – downside that I can note on this trip was that after being pampered in Kenya with Wi-Fi and each seat having a charger for your electronics, is that it was a bit of a letdown to not have them working in the Tanzania cars. But of course we had all brought our own chargers anyway.
As a sidenote, I long for the “Zen“ that our driver John had. Hakuna Matata!
Sawa-sawa
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
This experience is all you need during your stay in Kenya
We had an absolutely wonderful experience with David as our safari driver. He was incredibly kind, friendly, and professional throughout the entire trip. He could answer every question we had, shared so many interesting stories and knowledge with us, and always made sure we were safe, comfortable and enjoying the experience.
What impressed us most was that he consistently went far beyond what was expected of him. He took extra time and initiative to make sure we had the best possible experience, even when it was clearly beyond his standard duties. His genuine kindness and dedication made us feel that he truly cared about our experience, rather than simply doing his job.
We were extremely lucky to have David as our driver and guide. We would highly recommend him to anyone planning a safari in Kenya. An exceptional person and a fantastic driver!