FI
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
My best birthday
I had already made up my mind to have my 70th birthday in safari in Africa. I wanted to see all those animals so right place would be Serengeti in Tazania. We had a big party of nine and chose Tanzania Roadside Expeditions. We very a bit anxious about the safari but that turned out to be vain. Already in the Arusha airport we had a very good reception and we found out that we had made the right choice about the safari company. We had two cars and excellent drivers to both. Edwin drove our car and besides all the driving and animal lookout he knows the birds very fine. Justin was driving the other car and he was also very good. Paul is running the company and he was very effective with us. He even arranged two birthday parties fo me, so the first one was during the breakfast and the other in the evening during the dinner. He really made the day unforgettable. All the accomodations was very good from Arusha to Segentegi and we saw lots of animals. We were even lucky to see the big migration. So I can recommed the Tanzania Roadside Expeditons. We had a wonderful experience with them.
AE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Beyond expectations - Franco our guide, the accommodations, food, abundance of wildlife we saw
An African Safari is one of the most memorable and lifetime adventures - and I am so glad we did this with Spirit of Kenya (having asked for quotes and comparisons from about a dozen travel companies).
Of course, when you book with travel companies, there is a lot of gloss and fancy language on brochures and websites, and you are very happy if they deliver 8 out of 10. But here I would say - it was 10 out of 10, as every promise they made was kept, and even exceeded.
The booking process with Vanessa was a most pleasant and thorough experience. Right from guiding us on choice of National Parks (because there are so many to choose from and the permutations confuse you) to designing an itinerary which lets us have the most packed adventure covering the maximum length and breadth of numerous National Parks, to suggesting the places of staying at each Park, and my smallest of queries - like where to buy SIM or where to get Macadamia nuts, Vanessa was of utmost politeness and patience in answering everything. She was extremely gracious and polite, and whatever time of day I wrote - I got a reply promptly or the next early morning. Sales Managers stop acting pleasant once the money is in, but not the case with Vanessa - she really is your personal curator for the trip. I can say she treated us like 'friends and family' in giving us everything for the trip and helping us plan it.
The places chosen to stay were terrific - the Camps / Lodges are right in there in the most pristine and central regions of the National Parks, and very-well maintained and full of the most delicious (we are vegetarians and got ample options) food and terrific hospitality. Great choices made by Spirit of Kenya.
We covered Masai Mara (stay at Ilkeliani Camp) - Lake Nakuru (Flamingo Hill Tented Camp) - Amboseli (Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge).
Franco Sego - our guide for the whole trip was extremely affable and a pleasure to be with. Very diligent and committed to his job. The best guide and friend we could have had. Very knowledgeable and skilled in knowing the movements of animals. I can give some examples - While we started Masai Mara at 7 am, and he said he will bring us back around 4 pm .. he brought us back around 6.30 pm in the day .. taking all those extra hours out of his own rest time .. just because he realizes that while he sees wild animals everyday on the job, but for us probably it is the only chance in our lifetime we will get to see them - and he puts his heart and soul in getting us a good and close view of every animal he can find hidden somewhere. Two hours in finding a hidden leopard, where other Jeeps gave up and went away. Letting us catch a Cheetah in the hunt while nobody else bothered to go that far and wait that long, because other Jeeps saw the chances as slim of finding that, while Franco thought it would be heart-throbbing for us if we could get to witness that rare spectacle. Another example - While we had seen over 20 lions and lionesses over 6 times in the day at Mara, late in the evening at 6 pm, he traveled 5 kms extra to one side of the park near our camp, and showed us another pride of lions. He said he had heard a roar of lions the previous night somewhere near the camp and wanted us to find them. That's the kind of stupendous commitment he has to the job. From all the guides I saw across in other jeeps, and other Safari vans of different operators - I can say Spirit of Kenya does hire the best and motivates them well - the guide was classy, well educated, extremely neat and polished in his appearance (more as a sophisticated naturalist I would say), communicates very well with his English and mannerisms. I think it's fair to say Franco is the reason we will do another trip with Spirit of Kenya to Tanzania or Uganda or Namibia in the next 2-3 years. The safari vehicle throughout the trip (Nissan 4x4) was a thoroughly competitive SUV for any kind of terrain and supremely comfortable with an excellent viewtop. Everyday Franco would clean the car thoroughly from inside to make it look new. This was our home for most of the waking hours of the day, and completely satisfied with it.
Although the cost seemed quite high at the beginning (as is for all African safaris), and we begin to think the costing is exorbitantly exploitative and travel company is making a ridiculous amount of profit - after having done the trip, we would say it is well worth it. We didn't spend a single penny from when we were picked up from Airport, covered the entire trip and were dropped back at Airport. Everything included - which covers some 800 plus kms of distance between the 3 National Parks, the distance covered in the park itself - which would be almost 70-100 kms in a day, the entry cost of National Parks, the cost of guide staying at same places as we do, the full board - every kind of breakfast lunch dinner tea coffee evening snacks you can gorge on is covered, the back office operations, vehicle maintenance cost - you realize at the end of it, that whatever you paid had been ploughed back into the various nitty gritties of managing your experience and comfort and well-being for those 5-6 days, and you feel satisfied that you have paid a very reasonable price. It's an honest pricing by Sprit of Kenya and the trip well worth it.
BE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A wonderful expercience with an amazing guide and friend
We went for both a 4 days tour in Etosha and a 3 days tour in Sossusvlei with Wild Cherry Adventures.
What a great experience we had! Not only because of the stunning landscapes, amazing animals and very good facilities provided, but mainly because of our exceptional guide John!
We got heaps of information, great food (that man can cook!) and lots of fun, all thanks to him! Even though we had some rain, the experience was still great! All comfort was perfectly provided as well.
Don’t doubt to experience this adventure and go for it with Wild Cherry Adventures. You will not regret it!
Han & Liesbeth (Belgium)
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Welcoming friendly with attention to detail and cheaper
Mwajaba was excellent in communicating , explaining details and keeping one up to date. She added little things like wake up call, welcome back message etc. Dula was a safe and trustworthy driver .. important as was travelling alone in dark. Mikumi safari ...was excellent Lots of safari time for game viewing. .lots of animals including lion and elephant. Saw more giraffe than impala . Rooms even had a c ...a luxury for safari. So impressed that then used them for airport drop offs too. Would highly recommend
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experiences with Dicky and Souleïman. Very good professional , we are enjoy this Safari.
Very good . Always available for question. Amazing experience with Dicky and Souleïman. We see many aminals. We feel safety with us. Very good hotel , food ...
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Planet Earth in real life!
Like an open world video game where Tommy our driver just drives all over and discovers interesting things.
Super friendly and knowledgeable tour guide
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The tour operator he was funny and yet professional, he made our tour one of the best tour’s ever
The communications was great, services were excellent and living were beyond the expectations. We had the most fun and it was exciting to have a tour operator that felt the need to make sure that we understood all the details that really felt good.
US
Amazing Experience
Natasha did a great job curating a trip that met all of our requests, requirements and wishes. Everything was well planned, and the accommodations were excellent, especially the Simbavati River Lodge and Elephant Camp!
Other than the trip being fantastic, Natasha was a pleasure to work with. She always followed up and nothing ever seemed to be too much.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best Vacation Experience Ever!!!
Afrishare and reps exceeded expectations in service, professionalism, knowledge of area, and reliability. We enjoyed the camps, (especially Selous River Camp in Selous Game Reserve) the game drives, the hospitality, and the entertainment. The best vacation ever!
Thank you Afrishare.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Lisa and Sue are an incredible team, very informative, and a delight to be with.
Lisa and Sue were amazing guides! We spent the most time with Lisa, and she was extremely knowledgable. She is very friendly and conversational and answered all our questions. We saw lots of animals and both guides worked hard to make it a great experience for us. This trip is a good value- it's a small group and lots of attention to customer needs and interests. This was definitely an experience of a lifetime!