50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolutely loved it!
It was fantastic! Our safari driver guide was incredibly knowledgeable and a great spotter. We were able to see most of the big five. The trip far exceeded my expectations. The lodges were great with amazing food and the itinerary well-tailored to ensure that we got to experience most of what we wanted.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Experience
The guide, the vehicle and parks are wonderful.
Thanks Toppy tours.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
This is trip #6, and there will be more. As always, a perfect job.
Ben and Aurelie have carved a very special niche out for themselves in this market, and here's why. Ben doens't stop at the uber-service, careful planning, detail management and now critical hand-holding that is necessary with the swiftly changing Covid landscape. What keeps me coming back are these:
1. Superbly trained guides, the best in the business,not just on the mountain but in every country.
2. He supports and promotes local businesses, charities and NGOs which are doing it right, and he puts his money where his mouth is by helping local families, activities and business whose integrity he respects. That helps them, helps me purchase from the right places, and in all ways we all benefit.
3. If you find something extra you want to do, Ben will bend over backwards to fit in into your agenda. He is great at keeping in touch and more than once had to wave his magic wand to get me a travel certification that a website refused to deliver.
4. I have spent a lot of time with his guides, both on Kili and on Mt. Kenya. I continue to be deeply impressed. Seeing them again is like coming home to family.
This time around Ben sent me to some familiar places, such as Reseacher's Rest and Moshi, but he sent me far afield to game parks near Same, TZ and to the MamboViewpoint EcoLodge. Not only are these places both remote and stunning, they were both uncrowded and as a result, unbelievable. The Lushoto drive was a full cultural immersion and the game park near Same had unbelievable black rhino viewings. While other sites are better known and more popular, being willing to do a little driving paid off handsomely in both photos and a chance to see without looking over or past many other vehicles.
I also spent time at the breathtaking and remote Mara Eden resort,which is also way out of the way, so much so that the drive through the Maasai Mara just to get there and back were game drives. Those few days left me with my heart in my throat from what we were able to view, and as always with a most able driver, Simon.
I had revisited the beautiful and incomparable Ol Pejeta, which is worth every bit of the four-hour drive from Nairobi. That wants its own review, but in every way, it's not to be missed.This was my second time and with any luck not the last. Game viewings, as it is a conservancy, are guaranteed, and the best part is that you get a solid education as you explore, view, photograph or ride the various parts of the 90k acres. And see lions and their meals, which is something else again.
Finally, and I cannot emphasize this enough, Safari sites and Trip Advisor are, unfortunately full of advice on how to go cheap. Folks, if you go cheap, someone loses, and that is particularly true when I see unsubstantiated information about how the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project Partners "jack the prices up."
As a prize winning journalist and professional adventure traveler who has written extensively about, spent time on the ground with and done far more research than probably anyone else on KPAP, not only is that false but that kind of narrative perpetuates porter abuse on the mountain. ETrip, like other partner companies with KPAP, are committed to a fair wage, proper conditions, good training and the kind of treatment which ensures not only our safety but folks who are happy to see us coming. You don't get that when you shave too much off the cost of a trip. Travel is pricey, plan for it. Get good operators. ETrip gets my business every single time, and they earn that money.I have the deep satisfaction of knowing that those guides and employees who are affiliated with them are not worried about a paycheck and can concentrate on ensuring that my trip rocks.
Ben has become a trusted friend, for good reason. He has earned my respect many times over, and it is a joy to plan another trip. Which, with any luck, will be next spring.
BE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Plagued by admin issues.
My experience with Achieve global safaris wasn't great. After some back and forths with the team an itinerary was agreed on and 50% was paid in advance, it was mentioned that the remaining 50% would be paid on arrival with my Amex.
Here's a summary of the issues I faced:
I was told my Amex would work, it didn't, I had to dig around for another card
During the Rwanda part, of the trip, the driver saw and commented on my headphones, upon returning from the chimp safari he told me he used them and they were great. Not cool. He'd also eaten my lunch so I ended up with his choices. Again not cool.
For the Congo part, I needed my yellow card to show my vaccines, I wasn't informed about this but took it anyway. Feedback from admin was 'oh we thought you knew'.
For the flight from Rwanda to Uganda, I was not informed beforehand that I needed a visa. I escalated that to the admin contact and again she said 'it's not our fault, we thought you knew'. A shocking response, they informed me about the Congo visa but not the Uganda one? Madness
The Uganda itinerary wasn't accurate, there was confusion between admin and the driver, luckily I hadn't booked the hotel myself or else i'd have lost money.
The Uganda seemed to be more concerned with working on his preference of timing. I missed an activity because he didn't want to eat at a certain time, which meant us waiting around for 2 hours in the roasting heat doing nothing.
The Uganda driver asked if it was OK to pick up his wife on the way back from Queen Elizabeth park to Kampala. I said OK but this actually added 2 hours to the trip that he didn't tell me about.
Overall it was pretty disappointing. I also voiced my concern that there were no internal flight options proposed, the admin contact came back saying 'I didn't know your budget'. Another odd response considering 3 hotel budget options were proposed.
Avoid, the whole experience was pretty disappointing.
Amazing
The tour was so amazing our guide David was so patient with me and my family including a 1 year baby, we had an amazing expérience and the customer service agent who did the booking.com process Milka was really professional and nice. We definetly recommand expedition masai safari
We are more that satisfied.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Excellent service!! I have already booked another holiday in December.
Their communication, service, was amazing and what I liked most is the way they keep time.
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An exceptional experience
Thanks to Axis Safari, we had a truly unforgettable experience. The team is professional, responsive and answers all your questions. Everything is super well organized, you don't have to worry about it. The organization is well established between transfers, stops, accommodation, food etc. The price / quality ratio is top. We did 3 days in Massai Mara and saw 4/5 of the Big Five but honestly we saw so many amazing things. It was just magic ... Plus there is real team monitoring, before / during and after the trip to make sure everything is going the way we want it to. Thanks to Axis who made a dream come true!
(automatic translation from French)
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Very Well organised
They are very organised .The trip to mara was an excellent experience. Their staff are very friendly and supportive.
I will choose expeditions maasai safaris any day!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Excellent!
We were collected from the airport on time. The vehicle was clean and in good condition. Jeremy was very friendly and willing to assist us with anything. Overall we were very happy and would highly recommend them.
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Friendly and knowledgeable
I have travelled twice with Daniel Shamba from Epic Africa as my guide and would gladly hire him again. Daniel was able to tailor our trip to our needs and take us to all sorts of amazing destinations. We hired him to help us with a professional photography trip and he always delivered, negotiating great prices, keeping us safe and offering one of a kind experiences. He also took us on more traditional tourist attractions in Tanzania like safaris which we quite enjoyed. I would not hesitate to explore Tanzania with Epic Africa again or recommend them to others. Thanks Dani! :)