MT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolutely beautiful country with scenery that leaves one breathless.
I recommend the scenic routes, drive to the Cape, Hermanos. visit the beautiful vineyards in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. Also a must do is a couple of nights in a reserve to see the animals up close. We stayed at the Inverdoon reserve and it was super.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Once in a lifetime experience, memories that will last a lifetime. Kenya is amazing!
Our family of three had a great time in Kenya. I really wish that we had more time to get a bit off the beaten track, but we made the most of our 9 days and visited Nairobi National Park, the Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, and Hell's Gate NP with the help of a safari tour operator, and Mombasa via the SGR train both ways. We could easily have spent at least another whole day at each of those destinations. They were each quite different in terms of landforms an ecosystems, and we really enjoyed the wildlife, the birds, and the scenery. Our daughter's favourite animal was, wait for it... the rock hyrax! In early February it was much greener than we expected, and nowhere near as hot. The weather was lovely, with refreshingly cool mornings and nice breezes most of the time in Nairobi and the Rift Valley. Mombasa on the coast was hot when you got any distance at all from the beach and sea breezes.
We chose a fairly budget safari with Daylight Adventures and Safaris who did a great job helping us plan and taking care of us while we were with them. Many of the costs are fixed such as park entry fees, fuel, etc, so much of the difference in price comes down to standard/style of accommodation and the vehicle, and whether extras such as alcoholic and other drinks are included. So think about what you want and need, and talk with your safari operator about your options and preferences. We had no need for the 'sundowners' I read about so often, so it didn't bother us that they were not included. The camps and lodges we stayed at had everything we needed, and a couple were even fancier than expected for the price. Meals were plentiful and good, coffee in sachets left a fair bit to be desired, but the ubiquitous African tea is a winner. Everywhere we stayed had hot water for showers, but it seems like many toilets don't always flush particularly well. Be prepared for very rough roads once you leave the main highways - they really give you a good shaking up. We're surprised none of us sustained minor head injuries in the vehicle. Seriously, if you suffer from osteoporosis or have a bad back, think twice about going on a driving safari - the roads can be that bad. But the views and the wildlife are magnificent. The massed pelicans and flamingoes at Lake Nakuru are breathtaking.
I am a birder, and this was my first (probably only) time in Africa, so the sheer quantity and variety of new birds was almost overwhelming. Before this trip to Kenya, all my birding experience was in southeast Asia and Australasia. The homework I did beforehand to become somewhat familiar with what to expect really paid off. We decided on a 9yo-friendly general safari rather than a specific birding tour, so I was pretty much on my own for IDing the birds, but I still logged over 130 lifers with the help of photos taken by my husband. Would easily have been well over 200 with an experienced birding guide and a clear birding focus.
In Nairobi we also went to the National Museum of Kenya and the adjoining Snake Park. These were worth the visit and quite interesting and informative. Everybody we came across in Nairobi and on safari was friendly and kind, except for one guy who accused us of taking photos of him and other people without consent when we went for a walk outside our accommodation. The visit to the Maasai village was interesting and informative, with a stange and slightly uncomfortable mix of feeling both staged and overly personal and intrusive. The men danced for each small group of visitors in their full traditional costumes, showed us their village and fire-making skills, and took us into one of their own homes. We felt kind of obliged to buy some of their jewellery. The local school serves 1000 students from kindergarten to Grade 8, many of whom stay in dormitories on site for weeks at a time since their homes are far distant. The oldest students were learning about subatomic particles that day going from what was written on the blackboard, and the walls of the school had diagrams of the structure of the heart and circulatory system painted on them. Again, we felt a bit pressured to make a donation at the end of the tour. No-one gives you any idea of what an appropriate amount is, but they did write everything down in a ledger in the interests of transparency.
In Mombasa we spent the morning on Nyali beach and our daughter enjoyed playing in the sand and exploring the rock pools as the tide went out. There was the option of camel rides on the beach, and we could have taken a guide to show us around the rock pools and mud flats and find some of the creatures that live there. In the afternoon we visited Fort Jesus as we wanted to understand and appreciate some of the long trading history of Africa. I'm not sure the guide we had there was worth the $20 - a bit rushed and spoke very fast so hard to understand. But some of the other guides seemed to be doing a good job. He also 'offered' to take us around the old city. It was a Sunday and all the traders were closed, but he still asked for an extra $20 which we declined since we had not realised that was not part of the original deal with him. Overall our impression was that people in Mombasa were not as friendly as most of the people we met in the other parts of the country that we visited, but we were still glad we went, and it would have been nice to have time to try a trip on a dhow or visit the marine parks.
Overall I would heartily recommend Kenya as a travel destination, and I would love to go back one day. My dream holiday in Kenya would be a camel-assisted walking safari in Laikipia, but it would put more of a hole in our bank account than we could justify. It was a great experience just to drive through the towns, villages and countryside, watching herds of both domestic and wild animals roaming across the savannahs, catching a glimpse of the red-draped Maasai herdsmen in the distance as they watched their flocks, and gaining the beginnings of an understanding of how they live side by side with large and dangerous wild animals. The Great Rift Valley is spectacular, and its well worth seeing and experiencing this major continental-scale geographical feature. We met some wonderful and fascinating people, and overall had an adventure we will never forget.
DK
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Not so Manu animals
Ok place,but we dont se so Manu animals. The food was good and varios and the room Ok .
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Kruger National Park by Nosiphiwo Gcezengana
Everything was perfect and up to standard.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Friendly and efficient
Morris handled my booking and answered my questions in advance and met us in person. Super service. Jeremy was our guide and was excellent over the 3 days. Would highly recommend Balu travel, good value mid range safari and visiting the Mara is a must
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Mt. Kenya Trek
Had an amazing trek up Mt. Kenya with Imara Africa Safaris. No complaints whatsoever. The guys were very professional & knowledgeable. Food was delicious & filling. I’ve done a bunch of international trekking, so I knew what to expect. The accommodations were fine. We made it to the summit in time for a beautiful sunrise. I would book with them again.
US
Reasonable Price, Great Safari Beyond Our Expectactions
It is hard to say what we liked most about this safari organized by Amshar Serengeti Adventures. Everything was above our expectations. The guides were very hospitable, and went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. The food that was served on the safari was surprisingly good considering that it was made in a tent camp in the middle of the Serengeti.
All in all the price for the tours are very reasonable for everything you get.
If we have any advice for anyone, it is to relax, and trust that the guides have everything under control when it comes to, pickups at the hotel, drop off and pick ups at the airport and everything else. But be prepared for the fact, that few things in Tanzania seems to run after a strict timetable. My girlfriend and I can both be controlfreaks, and the faster we learned that things happen when they happen and no one is in a hurry, it became a much nicer vacation for us. We strongly recommend Amshar Serengeti Adventures to every who wish to visit Tanzania.
CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great tour guide Omary!
Our private 10-day safari tour with Omary has exceeded our expectation!
Booking part:
I've sent 15+ quotation requests to different agencies, and Jacklyn is one of the fast responsers. She also understanded and studied our needs clearly and tailored the itineray accordingly. It was a very smooth communication process.
Safari part:
We chose the agency after having readed the positive feedbacks regarding the guide Omary, and finally we had Omary as our guide. Omary definitely fulilled and even exceeded our expectation!!
First, Omary is very knowledgable in wildlife, and even birds! We have learned and enjoyed so much from his vivid and funny explaining along watching the wildlfie.
What's more importantly, he can always predict the next move of the animals, so we were always in the best spot to watch the lovely animals! We've seen all big 5 closely within 2 days, and in the following days, we have seen the lion hunting, mating, wildebeest giving birth, serval cat marking the territories, weaver nesting and everything!
Also, Omary is very attentive and always defend and prioritze our interests. No need to mention he is an excellent driver, which is crucial through a bumpy road during the safari!
Suggestion for the agency:
The company really needs to update the car. We booked a high-range safari tour so expect the car to be in a better condition.
HK
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great communication - Perfect Trip Planning - Lasting Memories
We were concerned when working with a tour operator that was in Africa that we could not meet before hand and had to send a lot of money to confirm the trip. We can tell you that Off2Africa there is no worry and they were very professional in handling all communication. Chloe was excellent at all the communication before the trip and answering all questions. We then arrived and had an amazing time during the entire trip. We barely had to look at our schedule and try to figure out next steps during the trip as it was handled so smoothly that each stop would update us clearly on our next transportation and what was happening that it flowed perfectly. Thank you Chloe and we have already recommended you to other people for their trip planning.
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A Wonderful Experience with a very professional company
This is our second safari in East Africa. On the first, which was organised via an Australian company I realised that all the organisation and work was done by the locals on the ground. So on our return I wanted to organise the safari directly with an East African company. From my very first interactions with Mega Wild I knew that they were a dedicated and professional company. Anne was just delightful to deal with. She patiently guided me through the planning process and helped me design the safari we were after. On arrival in Uganda we found ourselves in the care of our guide Dalson and that’s when the fun really began. He was fabulous company, gave us great guidance and was an excellent driver on the challenging roads. We always felt safe and well cared for and had an absolute ball in the process. In Rwanda, our guide James also looked after us with care and professionalism and showed us his country with great pride. Our time in Uganda and Rwanda was simply amazing. Friendly people everywhere, extraordinary landscapes and of course - the animals. Our gorilla trek and chimpanzee trek were once in a lifetime experiences we’ll never forget. It was as great pleasure working and travelling with Anne and her team. Mega Wild is terrific family company based in Kampala. I cannot recommend them more highly.
