20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very reliable tour company
Communications good from start to end, liked the flow from our airport pick up to the safari and after safari
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect experience with Claudious Tours & Safaris
We booked a last minute safari with Claudious Tours & Safaris and the whole process was smooth and without any problems. Any issues we had were quickly resolved. Communication was through email and the response times were very efficient. The safari itself was an incredible experience and our guide, Obama, was exceptional and went above and beyond. Answered every single question we had even if it was unrelated to the animals e.g. weather patterns in Kenya. He was very knowledgeable so we learnt a lot on our trip. We got to see 4 of the big 5 which was more than we expected. This was due to Obama's knowledge and quick thinking. It was a great experience overall and I would highly recommend booking with Claudious Tours & Safaris.
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
an excellent company for the planning and implementation of safaris and tours
The trip was planned individually.The organisation was perfekt and we felt very safe everytime.It was an unforgettable Experience.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Immersive Safari with knowledgeable and friendly staff.
Our Safari experience was high quality from the time we were picked up from the hotel. Our guide, Peter, was welcoming and accommodating throughout the trip. He could spy animals from a great distance away, and enjoyed discussing the animals and their habits/habitats. Despite spending a lot of time in the Safari vehicle, we enjoyed seeing the Kenyan countryside, and even had the opportunity to visit a small Maasai tribal village. A great trip all around.
SE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Overwhelms our imagination
We planned our safari tour a year in advance. Then I crashed on a bike but we did the tour anyway. We were nervous for the challenge it could be but George's excellent skills made the trip to the most memorable event we ever could dream of. He took us so close to the animals in an gently respectful manner and teaching us at the same time. I do strongly recommend that if you go on safari, go with George.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Not recommended for Kilimanjaro
I booked a Kilimanjaro climb with Tin Tin and was unfortunately was overall unimpressed and would NOT recommend this company for a Kilimanjaro summit. Highlights and lowlights are below.
Pro:
-Supporting a local KPAP company.
-The porters (Rashidi "happy happy", Ayubu, Gabriel, Lamiki, Rashidi) and camp manager (Mido) were kind.
Cons:
-Communication. The main POC, Fred, was very responsive at first. However I began getting email auto replies that his email was over quota after I had paid for my trek and it took him a week or so to respond to anything. My guide, Rama, was also hardly fluent in English. He could not understand questions I asked him.
-Safety. I am not convinced my guide was first aid certified considering he did nothing when I had a fever on the mountain. Health checks were not done twice daily with blood pressure and oximeter readings as originally promised.
-Experience. My guide made me uncomfortable with things like asking me to guess the age of all the other staff members in front of them and bringing the entire group into my tent with no warning when I was sick. He also did not pace well. During the summit hike, we hiked too quickly up the mountain and had to slow down a few hours in. It made for a frigid hike and I was unhappy to miss seeing the summit in daylight.
-Gear quality. My tent was not waterproof and had cigarette burn holes in the bug netting. I rented a waterproof bag from them and it had holes around the straps. I did not notice until my clothing was wet on the trip.
FR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A team that wishes you well
We were 2 French friends who went on an expedition with John Salomon Moussa, our French-speaking guide for 3 days of safari. And well, we lived 3 days of dreams on safari in the northern parks. I do not tell you too much what you are going to live because we took full eyes. It was magical ! The whole Vervet team was super nice: Basili's advice and humor to help you design your trip taking into account your requirements is a real asset, Rachel for accounting (yeah, a woman in finance, I find it important to specify) and our driver and guide, John Salomon Moussa to spot the most beautiful animals and also, the funniest. We were treated to a fantastic welcome at the Lodge. Frankly a big thank you to the whole team. Don't change anything, you're on top. John Moussa, I hope that French travelers will come in numbers to allow you to continue to practice French. I recommend Vervet Safari to you and we hope we can come back to explore Tanzania with you. Hakuna matata
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent Service Beginning to End - Will do another Safari again with Australken
This was our first Safari experience and like most people, we were worried about so many things: our first-time visit to Africa, vaccinations, mosquitos, safety, cost, food options, getting scammed, and so on. We received several competing quotes from various safari tour companies but decided to finalize our tour with Zippy from Australken Tours & Travel.
In our travels all over the world and throughout the 6 continents, we have not met any tour operator as professional and communicative as Zippy. It seems like she is an A.I. She is on top of everything. All your questions get answered promptly with care and understanding. Zippy also customized our tour and helped us narrow down on Amboseli, Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, and Maasai Mara in 7 days! This itinerary turned out to be perfect!
Zippy came to pick us up at NBO airport and dropped us to our hotel in Nairobi. The next morning she came again with the paperwork, our Safari vehicle and guide/driver Al (Albanus).
Our guide/driver, Al was excellent. Perhaps we were lucky to have him paired with us. With 29 years of safari experience, he knew everything about the wildlife, birds, the general flora and fauna of Kenya! Our 7 days Safari felt short because we were having too much fun and also we learned a lot. We saw lions on three occasions and four out of the big five. (We didn't spot a leopard this time). In addition, we saw various wildlife we didn't even know exists. The big cats take most of our imaginations when we think of Africa or a Safari. But the Savanna is a rich ecosystem and there is SO MUCH variety and wildlife all over Kenya, that you will feel like your tour cost was a bargain!
Zippy was available and communicative throughout our safari (as needed). At the end of our tour, she met us again and even gave us a lovely souvenir from Kenya! If we have to summarize our experience in one sentence, we will say, we will definitely recommend Australken Tours and Zippy to all of our blog readers, friends, and family! The overall safari experience surpasses your expectations (if this is your first time).
Moreover, we ourselves will be back again to do another safari with Zippy! Africa is amazing and 7 days do not do justice! We are already craving more!
Neha & Sal
The Art of Travel
www.artoftravel.tips
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Once in a lifetime trip
I travelled with Mike and his team to Zambia on safari a few years ago and had a truly fantastic time. Staff were great, itinerary was very well thought through and I’m currently thinking of ways in which I can go back! Can’t recommend it enough.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
A very special once in a lifetime experience that we still enjoy recalling and sharing with others.
I vividly recall arriving at the remote airstrip to begin our safari as an American lady, who was leaving on the plane that we had just arrived in, rushed up to us with great enthusiasm and said "You have the best tour guide!! You will have an incredible time!" I learnt later that she hadn't even managed to see the migration of the Wildebeest but she was still absolutely over the moon about her safari experience with Steve Mwangi. Steve had a lifetime of experiences with the wildlife of Africa as he had grown up in the remote areas and as a small child he had to walk about 5 miles to school with his older siblings even though he wasn't ready for school as his mother was working. He could spot a whole range of animal tracks with ease and had an awareness of animal locations and their likely movements. On our very first morning Steve alerted our attention to what looked like tiny black dots way in the distance and said "See those black dots over there - they're Wildebeest - hang on!" Away we went and yes we managed to have a day of several sightings of Wildebeest crossing the Mara River - plus sightings of numerous other animals in areas close by - even a rarely seen cat. A trip of a lifetime and one I would really love to do again and share with family and or friends.