35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The most amazing trip ever!
My husband and I had a lovely time on the trip. Nelia was lovely to work with and tailored our trip to exactly what we wanted. The lodges were amazing and the staff was so friendly. What I loved about the trip was the lodges kept getting better as the trip went on. We did the 11 day safari and everything worked out perfectly. We got value for money and everything was so smooth. We stayed at 4 different lodges and all were completely different which was nice because saw all sorts of animals. We are definitely blessed and will be booking with Indigo Safari again.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great trip and I recommend Meru to anyone who wants to go on Safari
The crew at Meru delivered an unforgettable nine day Safari. I have a section on the trip and also tips for souvenirs.
Overall trip - My tour guide Samweli is top notch and one of the best guides around (16+ years experience). He had a great eye for spotting animals, taught us culture/history of the people and lands, knew the answer to every question we had about the animals or flora, respected animals by maintaining safe distance from them while other guides would chase/harass the animals (you can still see them close with your naked eye as they will walk towards you, but many other drivers were obviously doing what they probably thought tourists wanted to maximize their tips). Everyday he cleaned the car thoroughly so it felt new. We saw all the big 5 and more, most of which ended up fairly close because they walk around anyways or they are by main road. His 16+ years of experience shows as other guides were calling him for advice on which roads to take. He also drove safely in general - didn’t tailgate other cars, which avoided dust and ensured safety for passengers and animals that might be crossing; many other drivers we saw were a few feet from the car in front which resulted in a ton of dust being put inside car. He did not off-road, which damages the environment.
Our consultant Leonard was great in helping create a trip that met our budget and placing us in amazing lodges (some of them is what I imagine a billionaire would live like), as well as keeping us updated every step of the planning process. Emmanuel was our driver to and from the airport, and also provided the city tour; he was very knowledgeable about Arusha and open minded.
Souvenir trips to get the lowest prices and most variety: buy paintings at one of the shops near lodge or national park, and buy the carvings/stones/clothes at the Masai market (you can get paintings here too) in Arusha during city tour, and also at Sanaa for glassworks/bags during the city tour (this place is amazing - employs people with disabilities and is also inexpensive for westerners). We bought some glass cups and animal structures they made in front of us at Sanaa. Of course if you aren’t doing city tour or don’t have at least 2 hours in Arusha, you’d need to buy from one of the souvinier shops by the park.
Outside of Sanaa, bargaining is expected by the sales people. Do not come in thinking you are a westerner and will not bargain with poor people because you will get absolutely ripped off, and regret it when you see the same thing in another store a few feet down the road at a much lower rate. If you want to give away your money, do so at a non-profit or a place like Sanaa.
Less applicable for Masai market (significant competition there amongst shops prevents gouging), but all other stores you shop at - they will ask for $400 when they’d settle for $50 and they still make a healthy profit. I saw a family before us pay $700 for some painting and crafts that I saw for $40 at another store later on. Masai market has prices fairly close to the lowest anyways so don’t expect more than 20% reduction. Safari land and its main competitor (don’t know name but not as fancy) are expensive; just go there for the experience. Many carvings you see are NOT unique. I have a hand etched wooden animal which I bought in a distant African country thinking it was unique, but I saw the same thing in Safariland for 6x the price ($20 vs $120). Buy it because you like it, not because it’s one of a kind because it’s unlikely to be.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Best Once in a Life Experience Perfectly Fulfilled
We went with Jocky Tours for their 6d5n safari. Our guide for the first 3 days of the Safari in Masai Mara and Nakuru was Francis. Jocky Tours made the entire booking experience extremely smooth, providing us with updates and information at the right moment. They handled the handovers after Nakuru to Ambosseli (despite unstable political situation) really well, without sacrificing any part of the safari. Plus the accommodation and food was great; they accommodated our dietary preferences really well. The logistics were definitely superior than our previous experiences in Tanzania and Kenya with other companies.
Now coming to the safaris, we were previously disappointed a bit in Tanzania. But Francis, our guide went above and beyond in tracking animals and gave us some of the most "legendary" sights possible. Things we used to see in Nat Geo or documentaries were no longer on the screen but like 5ft from the safari jeep. He is absolutely great in tracking the Big 5 and giving you the experience of a lifetime. We saw the Big 5 upclose, including a leopard, which is really rare. He also know animal behavior really well and positions the vehicle in the perfect position for the perfect shots. With 16 years of experience under his belt, I would say he is the go-to guide if you are up for a safari in Kenya.
CN
They were professional in every way and made the whole trip smooth and worry-free.
We got up early every day, and it paid off – we saw all the Big Five, and finally tracked down a leopard with our guide's help. The chef's food was good every day. A few practical tips: expect a lot of dust on the roads; Serengeti camps had no hot water for showers, but Ngorongoro Simba camp did have hot water, though it was freezing cold at night – bring a warm down jacket!
Great Safari
Having a great time with Anton as our guide! He’s gone out of his way to give us an amazing safari. The accommodations and food have been great so far as well.
Exceptional, personalized safari operator delivering unforgettable wildlife safari experiences
We had an amazing experience with Peak Season Safari from start to finish. Stephen was excellent throughout the planning process, always responding promptly, creating a fantastic itinerary across Kenya and Tanzania, and accommodating last-minute changes whenever possible. He regularly checked in on us during the trip to ensure everything was going smoothly.
The safari itself exceeded our expectations. The vehicles were comfortable, the food was great, and the mix of lodges and tented camps provided a memorable and authentic safari experience. The hospitality at every accommodation was outstanding.
Our guides were highly knowledgeable, experienced, and patient, helping us spot all the wildlife we hoped to see while giving us plenty of time to enjoy the experience and take photos. They were also very flexible in adjusting daily schedules around our preferences without compromising the quality of the game drives.
Overall, Peak Season Safari delivered a seamless, well-organized, and unforgettable safari. We would highly recommend them to anyone planning a safari in Kenya and Tanzania.
IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
They are just awesome guy with excellent tour guided
Their communication has been top notch from james from day 1 of the booking. Their service and approach are very real and they are always ready to do minor change here and there. Even minor inconvenience to me has been taken care well by james and steve our tour guide.
SE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience
Very nice 3-day Safari to Masai Mara. Communication was phenomenal, very clear and quick replies. Great value for a once a lifetime experience.
IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The entire journey was something we didn’t have to use our brains for, so good!
They provide extremely good guide/host, the stays were very clean and inclusive and so comfortable, food was taken care of as per our needs, everything in their hands was performed timely. The over all experience was true to the expectations, stays being more than that.
IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent service from start to finish.
We had a wonderful safari experience from start to finish. We first connected with James, who was responsive, helpful, and made the planning process smooth and hassle-free.
Our guide, John, was friendly, knowledgeable, and professional, making every game drive enjoyable.
The airport pickup was seamless, and our stay at Wildnest was comfortable with great food and a memorable evening guided walk. The game drives were the highlight of the trip—we saw lions, rhinos, and many other animals. Lunch near the Serengeti border and the sunrise game drive at Lake Nakuru were unforgettable.
Thank you, James and John, for making our safari such a memorable experience. We highly recommend them!