50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Easy to work with.
I went on an 8-day mid-range private (solo) Kenya-Tanzania safari in October. I chose Ejas because their quote fit my budget and preferred itinerary best. Arrangements were all done online and communication was easy via e-mail and WhatsApp. The trip went very well. Though in hindsight, I should have spent less time in northern Serengeti (October was at the tail end of the season for Mara river crossing) and more in central Serengeti. I should have also skipped the Ngorongoro crater since I saw a lot already in Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara and the Serengeti. If I started in Arusha, it would have made more sense to visit the crater. I had two knowledgeable guides, one in Kenya and another in Tanzania, who ensured I had a great time. I felt safe and well taken cared of. Hand-off was at the border. The vehicles were as pictured in the brochure and had provisions for charging electronics. The roads were rough and we had a flat tire four times but we had spare tires and delay was minimal. The accommodations were comfortable. Laundry service was available for a fee (I paid USD 20 for 2 pants, 1 shorts, and 3 shirts in a camp). Food was good, even excellent in some. Overall, I had a wonderful experience. Thank you, Ejas.
DK
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing safari!
We had a truly amazing safari!
Melvin helped us with the booking and everything beforehand. He was always very helpful and quick to respond and also checked in on us every day during the safari.
The trip started a little unfortunate, as there were some problems with the car and we had to wait 1.5 hours before starting the safari. Also, the binocular was missing from the car on the first day. However, apart from these issues, we had four amazing safari days and the binocular was brought on the second day. We saw lots of animals and all the lodges were very nice.
Our guide, Musa is a wonderful person and we had many great conversations with him. He made sure we saw all of the Big Five and really tried to give us the best possible experience and find as many animals as possible.
During the safari, I think it would have been nice to communicate a little more about the daily plans and whether we wanted to stop for more pictures or spend a bit more time at certain sightings. Other than that, everything was really great.
We even got to see part of the Great Migration in the northern Serengeti! It was amazing to witness, but also a little shocking to see how much some of the cars and guides stressed the animals and raced around to get the best spots. Some cars even crossed the area where the animals were running up from the river. Our guide handled the situation quite well, but I really hope the park authorities will enforce the rules and restrictions more strictly. It was wonderful to see the migration, but people should also be aware that it is a long drive to the northern Serengeti, and there may not be much wildlife to see in the area if the migration is not happening there. There can be a lot of waiting, as well as considerable stress caused by the number of vehicles and the way some drivers behave. Especially during high season, I would think twice about whether visiting the northern Serengeti is really the most ethical choice, given the number of cars and the reckless driving we witnessed.
However, this criticism is directed at the park authorities and the way the migration is managed, not at the safari company itself.
The last day was also very nice. We visited a waterfall and a coffee plantation and especially the coffee experience with the locals was amazing.
However, the absolute highlight was definitely the safari itself and especially the night we spent inside the national park and waking up to giraffes in front of our lodge.
The hotel on the last day was not quite as good, especially the restaurant, but all the other accommodations were great.
Melvin even came to visit us on our last day to check in and hear about our experience. He really took good care of us and genuinely wanted to know how everything had gone.
It is a relatively new and smaller company, so there may still be a few little things to improve. However, they are clearly very open to feedback and you can really feel that listening to their customers and continuously improving is important to them.
They are already a great and trustworthy company and I am sure that with their dedication and attitude, they will only become even bigger and better in the future.
A big thank you to Melvin for taking such good care of us and, of course, to our amazing guide Musa, who made our safari such a memorable experience!
We would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for an unforgettable safari experience!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
They knew their job perfectly
There was value for money. Focused meeting the needs of the team.knowledgeable of the environment and routines of the animals which is sooo great
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Smooth safari.
For my solo travel .was handled very well with ease. Got the best room .clean car and just smooth travel experience.
Thank you Branola
BE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A highly professional and well-organised tour operator who answers Evert question fast
We had an amazing experience on our 12-day trip through Uganda! It was perfectly organised from start to finish. Before the trip, we could turn to the organisers with all our questions, and we always received quick and helpful answers. This made the whole planning process smooth and stress-free.
A special mention goes to our guide, who was simply fantastic! He took care of everything, drove us around safely, organised all the activities and made sure we had the best possible experience throughout the journey. His knowledge, enthusiasm and dedication really made the trip extra special.
Every single day was a new adventure and brought a completely different experience. The safaris were incredible, and all the other activities were absolutely worth it. Uganda surprised us in the best possible way, and we enjoyed every moment of it.
We would recommend this trip to absolutely everyone! It was an unforgettable experience, full of amazing memories and beautiful places. It will be very hard for any future trip to ever match or surpass this one!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Affordable, enjoyable, breath of fresh air, and memorable.
Kenya was laid back to the point that everything going on in the world didn't seem to matter much. People were nice. Infrastructure was poor.
We went off season, so the safari experience was quite toned down but still enjoyable.
Now we are inquisitive what the high season experience might be like. Will be back to Kenya some day soon.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Good Communication and Planning Support
4.5/5 I contacted Mournic Adventures to assist me with the logistical side and bookings for a trip from Nairobi Kenya to experience a safari in Amboseli and then the beach at Diani for myself and my partner. Overall, we had a great experience with the company planning our 5-day long safari trip to Kenya. From the initial planning stages through the trip itself, communication was excellent, the team, namely Victor, was responsive and helpful, and the overall service represented good value for the money. I didn't have a great deal of time and wanted to maximize it to experience more than one side of the country. The itinerary provided a wonderful opportunity to experience nature and wildlife, then to visit the coast and enjoy relaxing time at the beach. We appreciated the effort that went into coordinating the various details of the trip including hotel pickup in Nairobi, transfer to the safari lodge and resort, multiple game drives, all meals, train booking, and airport drop off.
There were, however, a few areas where the experience fell short of expectations. Unfortunately, the meals provided during the picnic on one of our game drives did not accommodate the dietary restrictions we communicated in advance. I do not eat meat and the boxed lunch contained a cold chicken leg and some snacks. There were some other small snacks in the box but I felt it could've been better. If I can provide feedback on this, I would suggest being very careful about dietary restrictions. I do not eat meat by choice, but has it been something I were allergic to it could have been a medical issue rather than an inconvenience. If food cooked food is served, store in a lunch bag that keeps it warm. Provide food that is prepared that same day where possible so that it is fresh. Also, On one day, transportation between destinations also took considerably longer than anticipated, which affected our schedule. The itinerary said 3-4 hours by train which ended up being 5 and did account for the 2 hour trip to the train station and 1 additional hour from the stop to the resort. We expected to arrive in time for lunch but unfortunately missed it.
Despite these shortcomings, the company did a good job overall, and I really appreciated their communication throughout the entire booking process and trip, organization, and service throughout the planning process. Our drivers/guide were always on time, friendly, and knowledgeable, the properties where we stayed were nice, clean, and has wonderful staff. With better attention to dietary requirements/restrictions, accommodation preferences, and more accurate transportation time estimates, the experience could have been even better. Overall, I would say it was a positive experience and hope these areas can be improved for future travelers. I would recommend Mournic Adventures and would use their services again with the recommendations that all parties do their due diligence to confirm all details.
Many thanks to Victor, Brian, and Macdonald!!!
DK
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Nice tour
We really enjoyed the tour! The tour operator was quick to respond and very easy to get in touch with, and the itinerary was very well planned with a great route.
There were just a couple of things that could have been better. We were promised an English-speaking driver, but unfortunately, we got a driver we couldn’t communicate with, who also didn’t know which hotel we were supposed to be dropped off at. It would also have been helpful to have a clearer description of the tour, including the correct hotel names.
Apart from these issues, it was a really great experience! A special thank you to the crew on the traditional boat – they were absolutely fantastic and made the experience truly memorable. We would definitely recommend this tour!
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Next to all the big 5, in a day, amazing !
It was a once in a lifetime experience.
Thank you for our guide. At first he did not talked a lot or seemed quite welcoming. But when we arrived next to the animals he was the best! Always finding the best spot for pictures.
The only bad thing is that we couldn't be with our friends. They got in an other car so we couldn't do the safari together.
It was an amazing day. We could see all the big 5 in a day ❤️
BE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Freeingo: When an Amazing Safari in Kenya Meets a Disappointing Return to the Serengeti (4/5)
Freeingo is a good safari company offering very competitive prices, flexibility and responsive customer service. However, we finished our nine-day Kenya–Tanzania safari with mixed feelings, as the Tanzanian part fell significantly short of what had been agreed.
We chose this trip because we had visited Tanzania three years earlier and wanted to explore more, while also visiting Kenya to see rhinos, which we had missed on our previous safari. After requesting numerous quotes and almost organizing the entire trip ourselves, we chose Freeingo because they offered the best price among the flexible, well-rated companies. We appreciated their willingness to tailor the itinerary to our budget and wishes.
1. Kenya: An Excellent Experience (5/5)
Samburu and Ol Pejeta
The pickup in Nairobi was perfectly organized, and our experience in Samburu was excellent. We saw several of the Special Five and a leopard that passed right next to our vehicle. Our young guide was enthusiastic, knowledgeable and excellent at spotting wildlife and positioning the car.
Ol Pejeta was another highlight, and we would strongly recommend spending a day there if seeing rhinos is a priority. However, we had an unfortunate experience at The Stables camp: despite Freeingo having arranged an extra room for our driver, the staff demanded an additional $70 for him to use it. Consequently, he had no lunch or dinner and had to sleep outside the conservancy. Freeingo told us they would address this issue.
Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha
We would suggest spending only one day at Lake Nakuru. The park seemed relatively empty, although the Rothschild giraffes are worth seeing.
An additional morning game drive had been included in our itinerary, but our guide informed us that returning to the park was impossible because the additional entry had not been booked. After contacting Freeingo, they quickly arranged an alternative: Lake Naivasha.
This turned out to be a wonderful surprise. The walking safari allowed us to get close to giraffes, zebras, ostriches and other wildlife while learning about the animals. It was one of our favourite experiences in Kenya. The local team and our driver were once again excellent, informative and flexible.
Masai Mara
The Masai Mara was outstanding. The camp staff and our guide were flexible enough to arrange breakfast at 5:45 a.m., allowing us to leave at sunrise and maximize our chances of seeing active wildlife, particularly predators hunting.
Although we did not witness a successful hunt, our guide did everything possible: starting early, returning late, covering considerable distances and knowing where to position the vehicle. He was also very knowledgeable and continuously explained the animals and their behaviour. If you get "Ian" as your guide, consider yourself lucky!
Even the drive through the Mara Triangle towards the Isebania border crossing was rewarding. Although we could not stop for an official game drive, we saw plenty of wildlife and witnessed part of the Great Migration.
Overall, the Kenyan part was excellent. Our guide's dedication and flexibility made a real difference.
2. Tanzania: A Disappointing Return to the Serengeti (2/5)
We returned to Tanzania specifically because of our wonderful previous experience in the Serengeti. We wanted to explore more of the park, see the Great Migration and hopefully spot big cats. Our itinerary included an afternoon game drive on arrival, a full day in the park and a final morning game drive before heading towards Arusha.
We clearly explained to our driver that we wanted to start early and finish late whenever possible. Unfortunately, the experience was very different from what we had expected.
The first afternoon was reasonably successful. We tried to locate a wildebeest river crossing, although the driver did not seem particularly proactive. On our way back, we unexpectedly encountered many elephants crossing and playing in the Mara River, followed by three cheetahs searching for prey. These were incredible sightings, but the driver was remarkably unresponsive and did not reposition the vehicle effectively to follow the cheetahs. We eventually had to insist that he move to improve our view.
The second day: a morning lost
The main problems started when we were informed that we had to enter Central Serengeti late in the morning. This contradicted our agreed itinerary, which explicitly included a morning game drive in Northern Serengeti before travelling towards Central Serengeti.
As a result, we lost the entire morning driving outside the park. We eventually accepted the change because there was no practical alternative, on the understanding that we would have an early game drive on our final morning the day after.
Unfortunately, once inside the park, the guiding was equally disappointing. Our driver spent hours following other vehicles at approximately 20–30 km/h, almost constantly stopping to communicate with other drivers, despite having access to radio information. He seemed to lack any clear idea of where to go or how to actively search for wildlife.
We did see some lion families, but the experience felt more like following a queue of safari vehicles in a relatively restricted area than actively exploring the wilderness. The idea is to drive to see the animals where they are, not only in a sector closer to the camp. This is unacceptable.
The final morning: another missed game drive
We were particularly disappointed when our driver informed us the evening before that an early breakfast and departure were not possible because the camp staff did not want to get up early to prepare breakfast.
We even proposed doing a one- or two-hour game drive before returning for breakfast, as the exit gate was only around 1.5–2 hours away. This was also rejected, with the explanation that breakfast was essential for the driver.
Our disappointment turned to complete frustration when we saw another group at the same camp having an early quick breakfast and leaving for a game drive at sunrise. Clearly, an early departure was possible after all.
Consequently, we ended up with a late drive towards Naabi Hill Gate, seeing very little wildlife apart from some distant lions. To make matters worse, our driver seemed unfamiliar with the park and drove almost directly towards the exit, despite our tickets still being valid for another two hours. When he realised we were too early at the gate, he began looking for animals near the gate, where wildlife sightings are naturally very limited. We refused to waste any more time on what had become a rather absurd situation and asked to leave. Another morning had effectively been lost.
There were also inconsistencies with the park-entry arrangements. Despite our planned route through Northern and Central Serengeti, our tickets did not properly accommodate the itinerary, and we effectively had only 24 hours of access in Central Serengeti.
Overall, we lost more than a full day of meaningful safari time in Tanzania. This was particularly disappointing given our wonderful memories of the Serengeti. We know the park is extraordinary; the problem was the guiding, planning and lost time, not the destination itself.
3. Customer Service and Final Verdict
Upon our return to Arusha, Freeingo contacted us to ask for feedback. We genuinely appreciated this. They listened carefully, were understanding and seemed genuinely disappointed by the Tanzanian driver's behaviour. They appeared willing to investigate the problems and improve their service.
Nevertheless, the fact remains that the Tanzanian experience did not match the agreed itinerary. Across the nine-day trip, we estimate that we lost more than one full day of meaningful safari time, approximately one-sixth of the planned game drives. For a safari of this price and importance, this is a substantial shortfall.
Interestingly, the Kenyan part, where the guiding was excellent, was by far the best part of the trip. Given that Freeingo operates primarily in Tanzania, this was unexpected. We hope our experience was an exception rather than representative of their usual service.
Overall, Freeingo offers excellent value for money, flexibility and responsive customer service. However, we feel that only around 85% of what was agreed was actually delivered. The combination of poor guiding and lost safari time is a serious shortcoming for such an important trip.
Our advice to future travellers: Before confirming your booking, carefully check the location of every camp, the park-entry tickets, the planned routes and the arrangements for early departures. These details can make a considerable difference to your experience.
Our ratings
* General organization: 4/5
* Kenyan driver (Ian): 5/5
* Tanzanian driver: 2/5
* Wildlife sightings — Kenya: 5/5
* Wildlife sightings — Tanzania: 3/5
* Overall experience: 4/5
Freeingo has the potential to deliver an outstanding safari, and our Kenyan experience proves it. We just wish the Tanzanian part had lived up to the same standard.
