20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent safari, but poorly organised
Jocky will arrange your pick up in a normal car and bring you to their office where you get in the safari vehicle (this was not communicated at all, but is sensible).
Good value for money - a day and a half of safari in MM, plus accommodation, park fees, food and transport. MM is totally worth it - we saw so many different animals. My guide also helped me join a hot air balloon ride.
However, I had some concerns about the way our guide treated both the rules in the MM and the animals - he often drove off road, right into/up to the big cats in the bushes, skipping the lines of other vehicles and getting in trouble from rangers. A lot of the time he trapped a lion between our car and other cars and made them uncomfortable enough to move. We got great photos but I would have been happier being more compliant. He also spent lots of the time on the phone.
Our final day was a total mess - two people on our tour were staying an extra night so Jocky gave them the guide and the car and tried and failed to organise other transport for 5 of us. We ended up taking a total of 4 other cars, with limited communication and my bag was left behind in one of the transfers and needed to be retrieved which meant the whole trip back to Nairobi took a few extra hours.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Outstanding guide and company
I had the joy of being partnered with Norman for a custom 11 day itinerary from Victoria Falls to Botswana's Okavango delta and back. Arranging the itinerary was smooth and efficient and my preferences and requests were immediately incorporated. Norman was an absolute treasure! He chose restaurants to adjust to my meal preferences, made sure I was able to do any extra activities I wanted and always made sure I was satisfied with accommodations and experiences. We also had excellent conversations during the drives, and I left with a new friend. The entire experience was exceptional!
BR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
One of our best trips!!
The time we spent in Kruger with Hoppy was amazing! We saw a lot of animals, had a lot of fun and when we left, I was already missing Hoppy! He did our trip so much more special!! We Will always remember him and this incredible journey!!! Thank you
Chobe Magic
I will remember our experience at Chobe House forever- perfect location on the river, stunning sunsets, warm hospitality from the friendly staff, comfortable rooms and both river and Park trips revealed very special sitings - we hope to return one day!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safety First
This feedback is particularly for the Safari, I have already posted feedback for the Kilimanjaro trek. The Safari experience was top class. The lodge that was selected was simply wonderful, I wish I could have one more day just to spend at the lodge. The Safari drivers were thoroughly professional and well versed but the biosphere obviously, they made sure we had a fantastic experience. I also really appreciated how they respected the animals and their space, I never felt we were making the animals uncomfortable, this was important for me. The advantage points and the sightings and the explanations of the Flora and Fauna as well as that of the Maasai tribe was excellent. Overall more than excellent value for money, I thoroughly recommend HTS Adventures.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
High quality seamless safari
I did a trip to Zimbabwe and Botswana with Africa Uncovered Safaris. It was my fourth safari in Africa but my first time with this company. I was very impressed from start to finish. Archie made the planning aspect very easy and let me change the itinerary to suit my interests. The choice of accommodations was fantastic: everywhere was extremely clean, spacious and tastefully decorated. The game viewing was excellent, I saw lions in almost all of the game drives I did, alongside elephants, zebras, wildebeest, hyenas, jackals, giraffe, hippos, buffalo, crocodiles etc. I didn’t see any leopard or cheetah but it’s the wild, not a zoo, so these things cannot be promised. I saw loads of interesting birds and wished I had bought a bird book with me to learn more. The boat cruise on the Zambezi river was a highlight for me. I was actually intending on skipping this but Archie really recommended it and I’m so glad I did it. I did a day trip into Zambia to see rhinoceros in a protected area which was lovely.
As a solo female traveler I felt extremely safe with my guide Norman and under the care of Archie. One of the guides in Hwange called Simba was fantastic too. During the Victoria falls tour, I had a female guide named Peace. She was brilliant. She told me that Africa Uncovered Safaris had specifically sought a female guide for me, knowing I am a female solo traveler, without me even asking - I was so impressed by this attention to detail.
The quality of the food was very good throughout the tour. Most of the food was halal. Everything ran on time and I knew exactly what to expect.
I would not hesitate to book with Archie again and I was delighted to hear he can also arrange safaris in Namibia and Zambia, I am already planning my next one. For this region I have found my ‘go to’ safari operator with Africa Uncovered Safaris.
If you are a solo female traveler please don’t hesitate, you will feel totally safe.
Tips and advice: the game drives are in open sided vehicles and it gets very cold in the early morning and evening so bring layers and a light down jacket!
BE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A reliable, honest, and caring safari operator with excellent guides and service.
If you’re looking for a reliable, affordable, safe, communicative, and trustworthy safari operator, we highly recommend Beyond the Plains Kenya Safaris. We spent around 3 months researching different companies and reading reviews on TripAdvisor, Google, and SafariBookings before deciding to book with them and we’re so glad we did!
A few things really stood out to us:
1. Great communication: Fridah was incredibly polite, responsive, and always replied within 24 hours. She was also very transparent about what was included in the price.
2. Honest pricing: We compared several offers and really appreciated the clear breakdown of the services, lodges, hotels, and tents. Fridah contacted all the accommodations in advance and made sure we actually stayed at the places that were quoted.
3. Amazing guide: We spent 9 days with Aaron, who drove and guided us through several parks in Kenya. He was extremely knowledgeable about the animals and parks, and no question was ever too much. You can genuinely tell that he loves his job and wants you to have the best possible experience. He also drove very safely and always made sure we felt comfortable and looked after.
And, of course, “Hakuna Matata” is his favourite sentence! Whether you want to start your safari early or take a more relaxed morning, Aaron is always happy to accommodate.
Overall, we had an amazing experience and would happily recommend Beyond the Plains Kenya Safaris to anyone planning a safari in Kenya!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Truly efficient
After a 8 day trek to Kilimanjaro, we went on a 2 day Safari with Hike talk stay adventures.
It has been one of my most memorable holiday. The staff paid attention to detail to the minute aspects, we had comfy safari rides, great food & a great stay at a beautiful resort for the night & above all had a sight of the most incredible wild animals.
Highly recommend hike talk stay adventure team!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very dedicated and caring tour operators
Our group of 12 friends selected Fancina Africa Tours based on recommendations from a friend and also from our research comparing 4 different tour agencies. We like the fact that Fancina Africa Tours is not too big a company so we are connected directly with the guides instead of being passed around to different people between the planning stage and the actual safari tours. Our tour was for 14 days in Kenya and Tanzania and we requested 3 vehicles so 4 people can move around comfortably inside the vehicle when viewing animals. The pricing was very reasonable. Fancina Africa Tours took care of us on the Kenya side and they contracted another tour company on the Tanzania side due to the fact that Kenyan vehicles cannot go over to the Tanzania side. The handovers at the borders to Tanzania and back to Kenya were smooth. The communications was good and they replied promptly keeping us informed along the way when booking all our lodgings. They provided expert advice on crafting the 14 days itinerary to ensure a rich experience for our trip. The guides (both Kenya and Tanzania) are professional, enthusiastic and caring. They all had sharp eyes sighting animals afar so we don't miss anything and based on their experience knew where to park and wait for crossing at the Mara River and even animals crossing the road. It was spectacular seeing elephants crossing right in front of our vehicle! We managed to see the big 5, crossing at the Mara River, cheetah, hyena and a lot more, even crocodiles engulfing a wildebeest! One of our vehicle actually had the joy (and scare) of an elephant coming close to them! Overall, we are all very happy and satisfied with the tour and felt like we are a family at the end of the trip. Fancina Africa Tours did an excellent job and went beyond our expectations as they really had the heart of serving the clients and ensuring their needs are met! They are reliable and professional and we would definitely recommend them to others.
CN
excellent
reliable and efficiency，the guide is professional and enthusiastic, the journey is full and gorgeous, we are excited every day.