20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent 8 Day Kenyan Safari Adventure
Once we had escaped the chaotic immigration and customs hall, we were greeted by Charles and Chris from Classic Journeys upon exiting the arrivals terminal at Nairobi airport with a warm and friendly manner. We were immediately put at ease after a long trip with complimentary water, a reiteration of the plan about what was going to happen from the upcoming safari and we were also given a couple of safari hats.
We had booked onto an 8 day safari starting at Amboselli, famous for elephants and Kilimanjaro, moving onto Lake Naivasha renown for its rich water birds and hippo inhabitants and then finishing at Masai Mara.
Due to the landing time of the plane, we were taken to a local hotel where we could rest for the night and start the journey the next morning. The hotel was empty and was only open to accommodate us due to the time of the year which was quite surreal but also quite endearing. The food was ok and there was a pool and gym.
The next day after breakfast, Charles picked us up and our safari began. Be prepared for a lot of traffic and dusty / bumpy conditions at times as well as lots of hassling to buy souvenirs at the toilet / rest stops and outside the park entrances. It took about 4 hours to get to Amboselli but went by quite quickly as you are captivated by the surroundings and watching daily life unfold throughout the towns you pass. Also, you get to witness wildlife on the way to the reserve such as zebras, giraffes and other animals.
When we arrived at Amboselli, there were elephants majestically walking around and plenty of other wildlife all under the backdrop of Kilimanjaro. We were lucky to see the snow capped peak on the second day but the mountain top is generally obscured by thick cloud cover given its altitude. The lodge we stayed at was quite simply amazing. A very good quality accommodation with excellent views of the surrounding fields full of animals from your room or dining areas. Choosing from al a carte or buffet depending on the number of guests staying, the food was of good standard. Generally at all accommodation, food is provided but you have to pay for your own drinks.
After lunch, we began our first game drive where we spent a couple of hours viewing lions, hippos, flamingos, elephants, wildebeest, ostriches and other animals until sun set where we returned to the camp and had dinner. The next day, we went for an early morning game drive watching two male elephants fighting and locking tusks and nocturnal animals returning to their dens such as hyenas and then we given the opportunity to visit a Masia camp.
It was $25 USD cash, each to enter where we given a welcome dance and 'blessing' and then shown around their mud hut village and told how they live, manage their animals, make fires, etc. You have to be prepared here where you then proceed to a lot of hassling where they're trying to sell bracelets and figures and really are quite relentless in their approach. Once you get past this part of the tour you are then taken to a school where they show you a classroom full of kids and are then asked again to donate money to support their school. All done in front of all the kids and puts you really on the spot. This part of the trip was a bit disappointing given that we weren't given any notice that we would be hounded for cash given we'd already paid the entrance fee but the experience to see the camp was interesting and definitely worth doing but just be prepared to be hounded for money.
After a couple of days at Amboselli, we drove back through Nairobi and headed to Lake Naivasha which took about 6 hours. We were taken for a boat ride around the lake and saw many birds and lots of hippos bouncing up and down in the water. We got extremely close to them and it was great to get so close, a little too close at times it seemed. After about an hour on the boat, we were then taken for a walk through a property bustling with wild but harmless animals such as zebras, giraffes, gazelle, water bucks and a few others and it was very nice to walk with these animals in such close proximity. The lodge we stayed at again surprised us as it was so elegantly decorated and nestled in an enchanting waterside area with a big field full of wild animals. At night time, you had to be escorted to/from dinner given that hippos could be walking close to the rooms.
The last area of the safari, was Masai Mara and this was the highlight of the trip. We saw everything on the hitlist, including cheetahs, lions, leopards, rhino, elephants and warthogs. We were lucky enough to see two lions mating as well as a pride of lions feasting on a wildebeest and we managed to see two leopards together which is a rarity given they are solitary beings. The park itself was so vast and the views were amazing. We could've spent days driving around here and not touch the surface. There were plenty of interesting and different parts of the Masai Mara to see and we even went to the old border of Tanzania which is where the Masai turns into the Serengeti. The lodge we stayed at rested on the banks of a river where there are a family of hippos that dwell there. The staff were very friendly and the room we slept in was actually a permanent tent structure with all the trappings of a posh hotel. For the cold nights, a hot water bottle was waiting for you after dinner to keep you warm. A very nice touch.
After the safari we headed back to the same hotel we stayed on the first night and we then went to The Carnivore for all you can eat grilled meats. Not too good for vegetarians but I really enjoyed it. The next day, our flight was at 11pm and we were entertained the whole day with going to the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, a giraffe sanctuary, a bead factory employing local vulnerable women and we went to Nairobi National Park and got shown around that orphanage by a very friendly ranger. All in all, it was very good of Chris and Charles to allow us to go to these places and pass some time as the wait at the airport would've been quite hard.
In terms of the guide, Charles is a very knowledgeable and experienced person who could answer every single question we asked and gave us a lot of information on all things about animals, local culture, politics, social situations, geography of Kenya and many other aspects of life and it was good to talk and learn from a true local and someone proud of their country and the wildlife it has to offer.
I was impressed with how smoothly the whole trip went, every hotel had a fresh towel and juice to welcome us at the checkin as soon as we arrived and we were always treated with courtesy and respect at every place we stayed. There is always someone to help with bags or room matters but then of course if you have the help then you know a tip is expected.
Going in May, we took a risk with it being raining season as well as being low season but it thoroughly paid off as there wasn't as many tourists and the weather was pretty good for the whole trip. We had excellent vantage points of watching the animals and Charles really tried to ensure we would see everything we wanted.
I would say that the whole experience surpassed our expectations and was very pleased with how it went with Classic Journeys and would definitely recommend them to anyone thinking of going on a safari. And I would also say that everyone should do a safari like this at least once in their life as it truly is a special experience.
BE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great experience to have booked with Zambezi Expedition Travel and Tours, excellent service !
We had great holidays in Victoria Falls. Thank you Simon for quick replies (here you made already the difference
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Life changing experience
Our tour with Suricata was better than we could have ever imagined. We chose the three day (two nights) tour of the Serengeti and Ngorongo with camping and were not disappointed. Hilary sorted out the tour where our group of three were joined by another friendly group of two and all that was needed in advance was a 20% deposit. We were easily able to check in at Jevas hotel in Arusha who were expecting us, and Hilary met us in the evening to give us the full brief of the tour.
We were picked up in the morning by Frederick (guide) and Dionese (chef) and taken to the Serengeti where we stopped for lunch and camping and set off for our first Game drive. We had one night camping here and then went for an early morning Game drive where we saw the most incredible scenes of a pack of Lions and Hyenas disputing over a kill. We were spoilt with the abundance of animals and with how close they came to us, something that we will never forget. We then traveled to Ngorongo crater rim where the weather was vastly different and we were joined by an Elephant watching us at the edge of the campsite. Then next day we had a full tour of the crater where again we saw all species of animal, including the rare and shy Rhinos - again something we did not expect. We were then taken back to Arusha and Jevas hotel where our bags had been safely stored and had another night stay.
All in all the whole tour was organised brilliantly, payment was easy and we ate extremely well (special thanks to Dionese!). On top of this Frederick had unrivalled knowledge of all animals, birds and the area, and spent time with us at lunch and dinner to share more knowledge and past experiences he has had. All we had to do was arrive at the hotel the day before the tour and the rest was organised for us, and this meant that we could really take in the experience.
I couldn't recommend Suricata Safaris any more and for that I can only thank Hilary, Frederick and Dionese.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Incredible Week with Trevor and Prime Safaris
Our experience with Prime was great from start to finish. While booking, Cate was always accommodating and easy to work with, presenting me with several different options quickly changing them around to meet our honeymoon needs. We booked a 6-day, 5-night luxury option with a 4x4 vehicle, and the experience really exceeded our expectations.
The star of the show was our guide, Trevor. Trevor got us safely and comfortably around South/Southwest Uganda for nearly a week and proved to somehow be an equally impressive driver, navigator, Uganda historian, logistics coordinator, and game guide. Trevor could drive for multiple hours across narrow unpaved back roads to get where we needed without ever looking at a map, waving at people he knew along the way, and telling us about the interesting game and birds we saw. Trevor really put our needs/interests first, stopping whenever we wanted, getting us the best views, tracking the coolest animals, and making sure we were prepared for all of our activities. Anyone who lands Trevor as their guide in Uganda has gotten lucky.
The actual activities were mostly great. On our particular itinerary, there was definitely a mix of "speeds" of activity, but it worked out to be a very nice week. The gorilla trek was obviously the highlight, but we also very much enjoyed the laid-back boat cruise on Lake Bunyonyi and the short village tour. I would recommend looking through the different options for parks and activities to make sure your activities align with your interests in Uganda (e.g., how much national parks, how much close game viewing, how much primates, how much water, etc.).
I'm so happy we decided to visit Uganda with Prime and so happy we got Trevor as our guide. Don't hesitate, let Prime take care of you in Uganda!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Fantastic
The guide was professional, the organizer was very very helpful. I had more than my expectations. Excellent job
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great trip!
Definitely a great trip, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. The only reason I haven’t rated as a 5 is because of some of the lack of communication involved. I hadn’t realized that everyone in my group would not be staying in the same hotel with me, or even staying the same length of time at the park. This led to some coordination challenges, but all in all this never detracted from my experience. I also never revived an itinerary of my trip, so think that improved communication may be an area for some improvement.
All in all though the drivers were great, and always super accommodating (even changing a flat tire in less then 10 minutes!). Karibu was also extremely responsive to my messages at all times of day, which I really appreciated. Definitely the best value for its reasonable price compared to other operators.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great, simple safari experience with Tony and team!
Being my first time on safari, I have nothing to compare it against, but Tony and team's 6 day/5 night safari experience was a fantastic one. A great local business you should support versus the fancy lodges that I doubt are locally owned.
Tony communicates with his guests over WhatsApp and email, and is incredibly responsive overall. Tough to set your expectations ahead of time regardless. However, know that you are in good hands, as Tony and team ran a strong operation. He has different tiers of accommodation for his nightly camping, I would just make sure you choose the best unless you are willing to sacrifice things like your own "en-suite" bathroom next to your tent. The tent and adjoining bathroom area were surprisingly nice, and the sleeping arrangement of an inflatable mattress was more comfortable than I thought. Everything from the sleeping bags and pillows seemed to be of quality and clean despite it being used for camping. They had an overhead hanging bucket for the occasional shower as well.
The food that Tony's staff cooked was really good given that we were camping, and it is impressive what they can do. Breakfast typically included cereals and omelettes for example, among other things. Lunch and dinner were all good meals with meat, starches, and vegetables. Safe to say, we never went hungry.
Botswana's safari scene is uniquely abundant with wildlife, and I believe you typically get to see a lot more here than in South Africa for example. I will not give specifics to get your hopes up, but we saw way more than I ever thought (went in May), and we saw those animals in somewhat unique situations (hunting, drinking water, etc.). Our tour went through the parks/reserves of Chobe, Savuti, and Moremi (with only 6 days, Moremi is a bit rushed, would recommend the extra day if offered). Tony's open car allowed for great views, and our small group of 3 people was a great amount for everyone to have easy viewing ability. Tony has a strong ability to track animals using their prints, whichmade for some additional viewings that some of the fancy lodges did not get to see even. Tony is clearly good at what he does, is quite funny, and his passion for the wildlife and photography is obvious. Just someone whose business you absolutely must support as he is into this for all the right reasons.
Some things to consider are that the post-lunch break is sometimes long (though this seems common in the Botswana safari world), so you should bring some activity to do for sure, and use that downtime effectively, unless he considers shortening the break in the future. Also, Tony is not always the most transparent about what animals he sees or what the schedule looks like, so you have to be willing to go with the flow a bit. But I promise you that he has your best interests, and he put on a great tour for us. Botswana is also not well-connected with modern (paved) roads, and there ends up being lots of driving in the 4x4 on sand/dirt roads that are common in the country's parks. So, having patience while being in transit is important to understand. Though the travel time was notable, there was still a ton of time to see the animals in the parks/reserves, and the value of a camping tour with Tony and team is incredible compared to the expensive lodges in the parks.
As long as you can handle the experience of camping (of which I would consider this somewhat more luxurious than typical camping), this safari experience should easily be your top choice.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Easy to deal with before booking and excellent experience during safari
No complaints on anything. They were quick to answer pre-booking. Delt with changes we wanted and had a nice truck and guide waiting for us on arrival. You can read about our experience in my travel story here
https://www.gonomad.com/134544-i-took-my-mother-in-law-on-safari-in-tanzania
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic experience -highly recommended !!
I went on four days safari from Nairobi to Maasai Mara and Lake Nakuru via Lake Naivasha for boat ride,though it was a group tour but was beyond expectation.
From first contact with Seth Vincent, who helped more book the trip,everything was easy to arrange and so helpful.
Our amazing guide,Patrick, then picked me up from my hotel in Nairobi right as per the agreed time.
Throughout the four days,he went so far out of his ways to make sure we had the best trip.
He knows so much about the areas.We saw many animals and beautiful sceneries than we ever thought we would.I can not emphasize enough because it was more than fantastic and beyond our expectation.
Highly recommended.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Six day tour from Kasane to Maun: Excellent safari, fantastic guide, comfortable tents
My partner and I decided to book this safari after seeing so many positive reviews, and also knowing that it is a local company with experienced guides. It was an incredible six day trip! From the start, Tony was always available to answer questions via email and then more easily WhatsApp (and I had a lot of questions!!). Make sure to ask exactly what you are booking - for example, we had the luxury experience, with large tents and ensuite bathrooms (meaning you could easily go at night). We slept on cots with warm sleeping bags and real pillows, plus they also had a small table in our two person tent. Everything was clean and comfortable - I truly slept well every night. As for the safari, we went from Kasane to Maun, with two nights in Chobe, two nights in Savuti (my favorite) and one night in Moremi. On the days where you didn't move locations, you did a long morning drive starting at 6:30 or 7, lasting until nearly lunchtime. Then you took a long mid-day break, so make sure to pack some games or books, or this is a good time to take advantage of the showers they provide (just ask them to prep the water). Finally, you go out for another drive at around 4pm, but this only goes until sunset since you can't be out after dark. On the days you are changing locations, you are in the car all day - a game drive in the morning, then driving 4-6 hours to get to the next park (stopping for picnic lunch), then when you arrive you immediately start a game drive. The road is almost never paved and VERY bumpy, so you're in for a wild ride, and we were never bored! We traveled in May so make sure to pack warm clothes for sleeping, and the mornings can feel very cold when you're driving in open air, so pack hats and gloves. During the day, it was in the 80s, but you are shaded in the car so it never felt really hot. Tony himself is super funny and kept us laughing, but most importantly he is really good at tracking the animals. He was the one to find certain animals first in several cases, including when we found a pride of lions attacking cape buffalo. And since he's a photographer, he really dedicated time to see and learn about the animals and their behavior. He is very passionate about his work and it shows. His team (Eddie and Ben) were so friendly and I'm very impressed by the delicious food they cooked, including meat stews, pastas and vegetables. If I had one piece of advice, I would say that the tour is very chill, and sometimes the plans will change, or timing won't be exact. But everything was great in the end, so we have no complaints, and in fact would recommend this tour over other (more expensive) versions!
