IN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Really good, reliable tour operator
Bison safaris communicated really fast on both email and their website chatbot. I booked the 3 days Masai Mara safari with the Jambo Mara lodge and for sure got value for money. Our driver was Anthony, he was always on time and got us to see a lot of animals. He knew what to do and where to go. He took good care of our group. Overall a great experience of a lifetime and will for sure come back!
FI
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
An experience of a lifetime
My wife and I booked the 7-Day Taste of Kenya tour with Beacon Safaris and the experience was wonderful. Truly. We flew into Nairobi and met Daniel, our guide and driver for the week. He is a knowledgeable and very professional guide -- friendly, informative, easy to be with for extended periods, accommodating to specific needs, and highly experienced. He knew the parks we visited like the back of his hand and was masterful in positioning us time after time at just the right spot to capture great photos. The tour package included visits at Amboseli, Naivashu, Nakuru, and Mara. There are somewhat lengthy drives between locations in some instances, e.g. from Nairobi to Amboseli was about 5 hours and from Amboseli to Naivashu about 6. But that is largely due to the road system in Kenya which doesn't have many connecting routes without returning to Nairobi and can be narrow and in some places rough because the counties have a lot to do with the road conditions, we were told, and different counties have more or less capital to maintain them. But the travel was interesting and not a burden in any sense. There is nothing much to see or visit along the way. And we skipped Nairobi entirely because it doesn't have much to offer international tourists. But the national parks are world treasures and really worthwhile to visit. Don't rush it. It takes time and the time is well spent.
On our tour we saw so many and such an amazing assortment of animals and birds. Amboseli has an astonishing number of elephants at all stages of the lifecycle, from enormous bulls to charming calfs. We saw hippos, giraffes, wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, and much more, as well as a variety of beautiful birds. At the lakes we visited we saw even more birds, enormous flocks of pelicans and flamingos, cranes, herons, maribou, sandpipers, gulls of various types, and much more. Masai Mara is a very large territory and was amazing. We saw hyena feeding on a zebra, several lion prides with some huge males, hippos in the Mara as well as crocs, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, topi, eland, and much more. We saw playful Vervet monkeys, troops of baboons, and even a rare Columbus monkey. The experience is transformative, really -- one gets a sense of what the world was like, and could be like again, if humans stop screwing it up.
One one exception, we were booked for stays in Sopa Lodges. The best was the lodge at Lake Naivashu. There your accommodations are in the middle of a park-like area with animals roaming the grounds (nothing dangerous). The view was wonderful at Lake Nakuru because we had a balcony overlooking the lake. At the lodge in Amboseli we could see Mount Kilimanjaro! The staff are friendly and helpful everywhere, providing warm hospitality and service. Our luggage was always taken for us and we had no problems of any kind. The downside is poor WiFi at the lodge near Amboseli and limited hot water there. I took one cold shower. There are too few electrical outlets in some rooms, which makes charging technology something of a timing challenge if you need to charge multiple phones, computers, cameras, etc.
The one exception was the stay at Masai Mara. The Sopa Lodge was part of the package proposal we accepted and paid for, but it was apparently fully booked and we were instead booked into the Pride Inn. It was fine but not in the same category. Whereas Sopa is 4-star level, in some cases perhaps even 5-star, Pride Inn would be 3-star in my opinion. I felt a little let down by this only because we paid for better and got less. But in fairness, Pride Inn has unique charms as well and there was a 'family feeling' to the place that we liked a lot. No WiFi in the rooms, however, and a weak signal overall even in the main lodge area.
The food is okay. Nothing exceptional anywhere, except for the fruits. We have only had pineapple this good when visiting Hawaii. Kenyan cuisine has evident influences from Indian cookery, which we like. Lots of stews and vegetable dishes, as well. We always found several things we liked at each meal, but it's all served buffet style which can be hit or miss. I should add that the fried fish was the best dish just about every time. The cooks really know how to make good fried fish dishes. I recommend avoiding boiled eggs, however. I had one at the Amboseli lodge that was off and consequently suffered for a couple of days with stomach issues. We realized the source of the illness when we saw a cook at a different lodge checking the eggs they fry or scramble before cooking them by breaking them into a bowl first. We saw that cook toss four eggs out of a dozen as bad. No one can check a boiled egg, so skip that to be on the safe side. And only drink bottled water, including for brushing teeth.
But the focal reason for visiting Kenya is to experience a safari adventure and in that regard Beacon Safaris was a great fit for us. We are an older couple and have some issues that were taken into consideration and accommodated kindly. Daniel was excellent, as noted earlier. I tipped him extra at the end because he was so good, kind and helpful. It felt like saying goodbye to a friend when we left. Robert took care of the booking and payment issues and everything went smoothly, with good communications as well.
Be aware that the roads inside the parks are unpaved very rugged dirt roads, and very dusty in the dry season. We chose the 4WD option instead of a van and were glad of it. They use Land Cruisers that are built like tanks. The tops can be raised so you stand inside the vehicle to view from a good vantage point and in safety. I found I could rest the zoom lens on the side of the top when standing and did not need a tripod. But the ride can be bone-shaking and there are plenty of places where the driver must navigate carefully. When I returned home I needed to take my camera and lenses to a service center for deep cleaning. It was that dusty. But the photographing was a joy and I look forward to processing the 1,336 digital photos I returned with!
On the whole, our experience was excellent. I was only disappointed with the last accommodation, which is not to say I was disappointed by the Pride Inn but rather that we thought we agreed to and paid for was not delivered in that case. But this is small potatoes and even feels a little mean to say. The food isn't excellent, but we are foodies so our expectations are higher and our reviews more critical than for many people who aren't. The meals were fine and we enjoyed the dining experience in every location.
We would recommend Beacon Safaris to anyone planning a visit to Kenya to tour the national parks.
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfection in every way. Recommend 100%
We did 2 day trips with this tour operator, and both of them were perfect. A big thank you to Samuel for the organisation and to our guide Jeen, everything was perfect.
The first one was the bike safari to Hell's gate with the naivasha visit, you have to do it ! Lunch was great as well. And the second one was a day trip to the Aberdare and its amazing landscape. Thanks again for everything.
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Puntual, quick in respond, resposible
We booked a safari blue exprience and loved how smooth it went! Good car with air conditioning for transfer, attentive and friendly guides, tasty lunch. Reliable and recommended
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The complete Africa experience
We (me and a friend) booked a 10 day tour with Bushman going past all the highlights of the country with Joseph our personal driver. The program was well thought off - a good variety between safaris and other activities, despite the fact we love animals spending more than 2 days in a row driving through savannah landscape becomes boring - Bushman knows this and therefore makes sure that the program is diverse. We saw the big 5 and leopards in all national parks. We had an encounter with 50 chimpansees and saw a gorilla family with 3 babys. Bushman knows who to contact to give you the best experience. Furthermore the accommodation was amazing, the driving was safe and sound and Joseph became our companion - perfect experience! Extra point was the service: we were picked up from the airport the day before our tour actually started and they were flexible in dropping us off on any location we wanted.
IT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very professional
Everything was perfectly organized , from the airport pick up to the last day, not even a minor problem.
Great driver ( only car without a problem in 7 days) with a lot of expertise and knowledge if animals and nature, very clean and nice tented camp ( mid range) .
Hily recommended!
Special thanks to Monica Marani for the wonderful assistance!
SG
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience
My tour had a great mix of activities and brought me to some of the most beautiful places in Rwanda. My guide, Abu was knowledgeable, super friendly and was able to accommodate all my specific requests even at short notice - This made my tour feel special and customized to my liking.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Extremely friendly and helpful
We had the most incredible experience with Issac at Estleon Adventures! From the moment I booked my safari to the day I returned home, they exceeded all my expectations.
The accommodations were nothing short of luxurious, with comfortable lodges that allowed us to immerse ourselves in the heart of the African wilderness while still enjoying modern comforts. The food was outstanding, showcasing delicious local cuisine, and the staff's hospitality was unmatched.
The highlight, of course, was the safari itself. Issac went above and beyond to ensure we had the best possible sightings of Africa's iconic animals (including the Big 5!!)
I can't recommend Estleon Adventures enough. If you're looking for a life-changing safari experience this is the company to choose. My safari with them was a dream come true, and I can't wait to book another with them in the future!
BJ
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
I miss Rwanda, Incredible Experience
This was an incredible trip that I would recommend to anyone interested in Visiting Rwanda, our trip included Gorilla Trekking and Bisoke Hike, Safaris at Akagera with sunsets boat cruise. Our Guide Justin was outstanding he knows wildlife and Rwanda Culture, always patient and smiles, we were taken while exploring Rwanda. Cheers team
AE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Axis Africa were so accommodating and ensured our trip was well organised.
We had an amazing trip to Kenya thanks to Axis Africa and our fantastic guide Jack. From start to finish Jack was extremely accommodating and ensured we got to see and do everything we wanted. Although we were tight for time, Jack advised us on the best way to fit in everything we wanted, and was adaptable when needed to be. We were very happy with the accommodation provided. It was clean and comfortable. The food provided was also very good, and we were given packed lunches every day as well as breakfast and dinner. On the tour, Jack was hugely knowledgable about everything and ensured we saw as much as possible on the safari. Overall, the tour was fantastic value for money as it really was a once in a lifetime experience. I couldn’t recommend Jack and Axis Africa more highly.