Knowledgeable, funny, accommodating and every other quality a great guide could have!
Martin simply made our trip unforgettable. As a guide he was the best you could get and he was able to get bring the best out of the game drive.
The whole day was perfect from start to finish.
We also had a lovely lunch prepared by Chef Isaiah.
MY
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent safari experience with thoughtful service for solo travellers
I had an amazing experience with Pallid Safaris from the very beginning until the end of my trip.
One of the main reasons I chose them initially was because of how transparent and detailed their quotation was. Everything was clearly broken down, and they even provided multiple accommodation options ranging from mid-range to luxury with the corresponding prices, which made it very easy for me to choose based on my comfort and budget.
Carolyn, the tour consultant, was also incredibly patient and accommodating with my requests and itinerary adjustments before the trip. Communication throughout the planning process was smooth and reassuring, especially as a solo traveller visiting Kenya for the first time.
During the safari itself, the service exceeded my expectations. Carolyn even arranged a surprise birthday cake and an upgrade at my camp in Maasai Mara, which genuinely touched me.
My driver and guide, Lee, was fantastic throughout the trip. He is very knowledgeable about the wildlife and shared many interesting and fun facts about the animals and their behaviour during our game drives. He is also a very skilled and careful driver, which made me feel safe and comfortable the entire time, even on the long drives and rough safari roads.
What I appreciated most was how comfortable and at ease they made me feel as a solo traveller. On my last day, Carolyn & Lee even helped bring me to a local supermarket so I could buy some Kenyan-made items and souvenirs to bring home, which I really appreciated.
Overall, I had a wonderful safari experience and would definitely recommend Pallid Safaris to anyone planning a trip to Kenya, especially solo travellers looking for a reliable, thoughtful, and well-organised safari company.
AE
James is an amazing guide
We had James as our private guide, we saw everything and more! Very
Memorable trip for our family. Everybody tried to go beyond our expectations to make the trip amazing and they succeeded.
Amazing 🤩
I had an amazing time with Gifted African Adventures!! Highly recommend! 10/10 💕
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Memorable safer with excellent service
MoAfrika Tours delivers professional friendly and unforgettable safari experience with knowledgeable staff excellent services and well organized from start to finish
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
I learned so much about the animals and region.
The tour operator communicated with updates on WhatsApp and Simon was a great driver. Martin was our tour guide and provided so much great info that really added to the experience. He knew every animal and so many facts about them.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Incredibly helpful and an amazing experience!
Serengeti Wonders were incredibly helpful in arranging and organising a trip to Rubondo Island from Mwanza for 5 of us. I spoke with Ms. Wabwezya, who couldn't have been more helpful explaining the different options available and how she could help us in having the best experience possible. We looked at different price points and different options to see Chimpanzees and she was incredibly patient answering all of our many questions and ended up arranging the most incredible trip to Rubondo Island for us! The Tour itself was amazing - the island is stunning, we so enjoyed seeing and being surrounded by all of the wildlife and our guides Sam and Gilbert were excellent. I would highly recommend organising through Serengeti Wonders as we had a great experience, and it ended up being one of our favourite experiences in 2 months of travelling. Thank you!
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable safari experience
Our safari with Wildbite Adventures was absolutely perfect from start to finish. The entire experience was incredibly smooth, well organised, and exceeded all of our expectations.
We did a private four-day safari to Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Manyara. While there are many companies offering similar safaris, we initially chose Wildbite Adventures because of the fourth stop at Manyara, something we had not seen offered anywhere else. In the end, we could not have made a better choice.
Our guide, Erik, was truly the best we could have asked for. Not only was his knowledge about the wildlife exceptional, but he was also unbelievably skilled at spotting animals. Thanks to him, we saw the entire Big Five and so much more. He managed to get us incredibly close to so many beautiful animals, including lions, giraffes, elephants, hippos, cheetahs, and thousands of zebras and wildebeests. Every drive was exciting and educational.
Erik taught us not only about the animals we encountered, but also about the different plants, ecosystems, and local cultures. No matter what we asked, he always had an interesting story or explanation to share, and his passion for nature and conservation was obvious in everything he did. Even after spending four full days in the jeep together, we still never wanted the drives to end.
The parks themselves were breathtaking, each with their own unique atmosphere and beauty. Erik also made us feel completely safe and comfortable throughout the journey with his excellent driving skills. The safari vehicle was fantastic as well. It was comfortable and perfectly designed for game viewing. Everyone had their own spacious window seat, and the pop-up roof gave us an incredible 360-degree view during the drives.
The food throughout the trip was another highlight. Every day we enjoyed a beautifully prepared picnic lunch in the parks, which stood out from anything we saw with other safari groups. Instead of standard lunchboxes, we were treated to delicious meals with really nice chicken, rice, vegetables, fruit, and nice drinks. The hotels were equally impressive: luxurious, spacious, beautiful, and staffed by wonderfully kind people. The excellent service and food at every location made the experience even more special.
The booking process was made incredibly easy by Polycap, who was supportive, responsive, and informative from the very beginning. Any questions we had were answered clearly, and every part of the trip was explained thoroughly beforehand. Both Polycap and Erik went above and beyond to accommodate any wishes or requests we had, and their kindness, professionalism, and flexibility made the entire experience feel truly special and personal.
This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that we will never forget. We are incredibly grateful to Erik, Polycap, and Wildbite Adventures for giving us the best safari experience we could have ever wished for.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
knowledgeable and friendly, he made it an amazing unforgettable experience for us
This was an amazing safari experience! We saw all of the big 5 other than the elusive leopard. Our guide (Martin) was very knowledgeable and ensured were learned a lot about the fauna and history of the area. Highly recommend!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A safari operator whose guiding standards and handling of customer concerns fell below professional
I booked a shared Tsavo East safari experience through Kisite Discovery Safaris, which was operated by Jambo TravelHouse Holidays. The trip delivered did not match the itinerary and experience described to me at the time of booking, and the subsequent complaint process fell well below professional standards.
Issues:
• Location Discrepancy: The safari was marketed and sold as a Tsavo East safari. However, I was never actually taken into Tsavo East National Park. All game drives took place within a small private conservancy near the lodge.
• Group Status: During both the booking process and the safari itself, I was repeatedly told that I would be joining a group of French and German tourists. No group ever materialised. Only after I raised concerns following the safari was I informed that the booking had supposedly been changed to a private safari without my prior knowledge or consent. This explanation was later used to justify both the higher price I had paid and the fact that I was never taken into Tsavo East National Park.
• Guiding Standards: The guide spent significant portions of the three two-hour game drives on his mobile phone and speaking with the driver rather than actively guiding the safari. One game drive was cut short, and another was going to end early until I pointed out the discrepancy.
• Complaint Handling: After returning from the safari, I spent considerable time attempting to obtain clear explanations regarding what had happened. Kisite Discovery Safaris remained in contact with me, but the explanations they provided kept changing. At various points, responsibility was attributed to the guide, the booking agent, or the alleged “private safari” arrangement. Several pricing justifications also did not match the information I was able to independently verify.
• Refusal to Engage by Jambo TravelHouse Holidays: When I attempted to raise concerns directly with Jambo TravelHouse Holidays regarding the operational delivery of the safari and the conduct of their guide, they were dismissive and repeatedly referred me back to Kisite Discovery Safaris rather than engaging meaningfully with the issues raised.
• Staff Pressure: Kisite Discovery Safaris eventually offered $30 in compensation and explicitly informed me that the amount would be deducted directly from the booking agent’s salary. I was later contacted personally by the booking agent, who asked me not to accept the refund because of the financial impact it would have on him. No customer should be placed in that position.
Positives:
The Ngutuni Lodge was lovely, with many elephant sightings and excellent customer service. We did manage to spot a leopard at the end of the final game drive - much to the extreme surprise of the guide and driver. The daytime driver made an effort to improve the experience once I expressed dissatisfaction.
Overall, this tour did not deliver the location or group structure promised at the time of booking. Based on previous safari experiences in Kenya, I do not believe this experience met acceptable professional standards, particularly in terms of communication, guiding, and complaint handling.
I would not recommend either Kisite Discovery Safaris or Jambo TravelHouse Holidays, although Ngutuni Lodge is a wonderful place to spend a night or two.
