Dorian Oates review 4 Oct 2012
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Well what an introduction you we had to Kenya.
Thank god we went with this company, the whole experience felt very personal and we did not feel as if we were just another tourist.
When we first arrived, Patrick and his staff at Rock House welcomed us with open arms, he’s a genuine gentleman.
The four of us were very fortunate to have 3 lovely guys, Elijah, Duncan & Demetrius who worked tirelessly to guide, inform and cater for all our needs during the trip. They should be applauded and commended as they are true ambassadors for Kenya.
The balance between the culture and the game drives was perfect. It made us realise that there is more to Kenya than the wildlife.
The highlight obviously for many would have been the game drives, of which we saw 2 kills and much more but for us the overall warmth and passion of all African people that we met will remain in our memories forever.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Go ahead and just do it. you will have an experience of a lifetime.
The company made it so easy for us, from our first point of contact to confirming our final arrangements we encountered no problems. They were excellent.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Another reason we were pleased we travelled with them, was seeing the work they do in supporting the Maasai school and the women's rescue community in Maji Moto. Well done to them all.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent. Highly recommended.
Shelley Munro Galloway review 10 Apr 2012
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
There were too many high points to be able to select just one, but I would have to say that the amount of wildlife seen was generally amazing! We saw not only large numbers of the species that were expected, but also many of the harder to get species like jackal, mongoose and spotted hyena. Also, I would have to rate the interactions with the Masai tribes people as being the most surprisingly meaningful and educational components of the trip. I was expecting our interactions to feel awkward and "touristy", but that part of the trip was an eye-opener about the current issues and concerns of these people. We had frank, meaningful and very interesting discussions.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
I would suggest that if they have specific shopping that they want to do to chat about it with the guide and driver so that it can be included in the schedule. Sometimes we did not know how the day was going to unfold, but by asking our guide, most of our needs could be met.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, for sure. I also feel that I am in touch with people who are making a direct and important contribution to Masai society as a whole and I want to continue to support their efforts.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent!! It surpassed all expectations on many levels! All the accommodation was beyond what I normally would allow for myself, so any traveller could feel very comfortable putting themselves into the hands of this company! They were very accommodating about looking after us before and after the safari as well!
Mark Collier review 26 Sep 2012
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
So many aspects were marvellous, it’s difficult to narrow them down. The Kenyan people, dramatic African scenery, our wonderful guide, driver and cook, the wildlife, visits to schools and projects. An eye-opening, vivid, unforgettable experience.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
You won’t need as many clothes as you think, we definitely over packed. There are lots of opportunities to re-charge electrical kit. A decent zoom lens is useful for the animals but a super-zoom camera is fine, you don't need to buy a DSLR unless you really want to. A reasonable pair of binoculars helps, but you can share these. You will eat really well so don't worry too much about taking foodstuffs out to Africa with you. Spend time talking to everyone you meet, especially during the cultural tours, everyone has an interesting story and they will make you think hard about what you thought you knew about Africa.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes. We could see how a little investment goes a long way in Africa. The schools and projects clearly benefit from the little tourism that they see and it’s a big lesson to see how little some people have and how easily you can help. As regards tourist nic-nacs we preferred to buy from locals who had clearly made these themselves rather than the odd commercial operator to be found in the towns.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Absolutely brilliant for us, a family of 2 adults and two teenagers. So much to see, do and talk about.
Pat Grayson review 6 Sep 2011
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Going to the Masai & Samburu villages and meeting the local people and seeing how they live, and also seeing the "big five".I also enjoyed the differences between the environments in the Masai Mara and the Aberdares.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Making sure that you have the correct clothing, e.g. waterproofs and warm clothing for very cold evenings.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes definitely, and always buy gifts direct from the locals.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Very informative, the guide was excellent in local knowledge.
Hannah Smith review 18 Aug 2011
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
It really is hard to choose. Most inspiring was meeting the girls at Enkiteng Lepa school, who've taken an immense step into a life of education and empowerment and chosen to escape a life of early marriage and female circumcision. But the cheetah and her unusually large brood of 6 almost fully-grown cubs were very special, the lovely tumbling pride of lionesses and cubs a sight to behold and the warm and genuine welcomes we received in each of the homes we visited very memorable. Oh, and witnessing one the famous wildebeest migration river crossings was a pretty unforgettable spectacle.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Don't hesitate if you're still at the 'maybe' stage. You'll be well looked after - both in terms of pre-trip information and contact, on arrival at the airport, if staying at their lovely oasis-like Nairobi base and on the trip itself. We found our head-torches invaluable - both for camping, and when we encountered power cuts - and I was pleased I'd packed some binoculars as well. We took some postcards of Edinburgh/Scotland to share with people that we met along the way (which went down brilliantly with children especially) - and if you've space in your rucksack, check before you go if you can take anything out for the school project or widows' village. And a spare camera battery is handy for the safari days when your camera might be on from dawn til dusk!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Very much so. The Maasai village we visited was a 'real' one, absolutely off the beaten track, off the grid, full of families getting on with their everyday lives. It was a privilege to visit people's homes there and spend time talking with our Maasai guide Jonathan - we learned a great deal about a fascinating way of life, quite alien to those of us used to Western ways. The projects at Maji Moto were really inspiring as well - and the support and commitment provided by the company clearly vital. One of the girls at the school had even written a poem about the relationship - which was touching. Visiting the Kikuyu family and James at the coffee plantation also gave us great insights into the many sides of this big and diverse country - and it was so good to know that our tourist dollars were being shared amongst many hands. Game drives are probably inherently un-green, although perhaps raised awareness of the fragility of eco-systems etc enables greater support for invaluable conservation projects.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Fantastic. A busy week but some outstanding insights into the many people and landscapes that make up this fascinating country. The lions, elephants and cheetahs are but a tiny part of what Kenya's all about and this trip really helps you appreciate that. In fact the game drives in the Maasai Mara and at Lake Nakuru were easily the most touristy parts of the trip. It's the silence and open plains of the lands around the Maasai village and the smiles and optimism of the 'rescued' girls at the school that will be my enduring memories.
Erik Hadley review 4 Aug 2010
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
When we descended into the rift valley, we came across a family of nine Giraffes. I had not been to Africa before, and this was the moment that it sunk in what I was about to experience.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Bring some pictures of you and your family back home to show to people. I found that the people we met were generally curious about what our home was like. During the homestay, we were given several pictures of the host family's extended family to bring home with us. Unfortunately, we had no pictures to return.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
I thought that the tour operator did a great job of working with people in the local area to create a win-win situation for us and the community. It is hard to completely avoid the feeling of being a tourist in a foreign country, but I felt sincerely welcomed in the places we visited. I liked that they generally prepared an adequate amount of good food and were not wasteful.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
This was the best organized travel experience that I have taken part in. Well done to the operator!
Mike Dutfield review 18 Oct 2010
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The visits to the safari parks, seeing such a huge range of birds and animals and plants as well as the visits to the villages and school. The scenery was magnificent. The people we met were warm and very friendly and our guides, drivers and other staff knowledgeable, helpful and caring. Meeting the Massai people in there villages and being able to talk with them was both confronting of our values and instructive as well as fun to be taught to throw a spear by a Warrior! Meeting the children and being shown their school work and being made welcome by them was also wonderful.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be prepared for very different standards of accommodation. The 'bush camp' is camping as you would expect, but the permanent camp is in pretty old tents and pretty rough bathrooms and then be prepared that you could be without hot water or light - it does not happen to everyone or all the time but do not build up your expectations. The same with the other accommodation - it is in splendid settings but a bit basic. You will not need to spend much when you are on the safari but take enough money with you because access to banks id not easy. Get plenty of small change for tips and take little things - pens, pencils, sweets and little items of clothing for the children in the villages. If you are there for more than the days of the safari calculate on more money because you will need a driver and a guide to get around and that costs more ($100 per day) and you might want to tip the driver as well.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes- both generally by bringing money into the economy, by buying the souvenir products they make and by making practical contributions to the school. Places we stayed used very little lighting (some none!) The bush camps moved site to minimize impact on a particular area. Food used local seasonal produce and picnics re-cycled unused foods and trash was always taken home. We were concerned that the water heating systems were wasteful, because so much water was wasted running it until it warmed up.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Overall we thought it was a great holiday including our visits to some of the animal and cultural centres in Nairobi. The sights we saw much more than met out expectations even if some of the accommodation did not quite live up to our expectations.
Adrian Jones review 22 Mar 2010
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The whole African landscape is immense and the very many aspects of Kenyan life seen from the road are interesting and challenging; all of this was enjoyable. The visit to a Maasai village and in particular a school were most memorable but there again the Safari experience and animal viewing was exceptional. I cannot say what was "the most..." of all of these very different aspects of the holiday.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Book it! I have not done anything like this before and it was excellent. The tour company was a good operator to book with, there were 5 of us on our trip from UK, Canada and USA and we were all delighted with it. Consider carefully how much luggage you need - I took far too much.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes there were two obvious impacts of this holiday financially benefiting the local people directly but of course there were others less tangible. As a group we had some doubts about what recycling happens in Kenya but other than that no particular environmental comments.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Very good.
David Lloyd review 10 Aug 2009
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
A busy township in the Maasai Mara. Market Day. We explore the bustling streets, conspicuous by the paleness of our skin. No tourist stop this, but a community doing business. A man makes shoes from old car tyres. A farmer drags his unwilling goat to the slaughter house. Two brothers load three sheep into the boot of a Toyota Corolla – they have to take the spare tyre out first. Another man staggers down the main street, drunk on the proceeds of his livestock sale. He brandishes a Maasai sword and yells insults at passers by. Suddenly he hurls the sword across the street. Sparks fly, people scatter. Elijah, our guide, ushers us back into the Land Cruiser and we move on.
This is Kenya. Vibrant. Bustling. Alive. And we are going on safari.
That night we camp in the bush, next to a watering hole. From nowhere, a Maasai warrior, Jonathan, appears and invites us to his village. It’s half a mile away, a circle of mud huts squatting low, almost indistinguishable in the arid, dusty surroundings. Small children gather and sing us a song of greeting. They bow their heads and we touch them in the traditional way. ‘Sopa’ we say. ‘Sopa’ they reply. Welcome. We enter Jonathan’s home and he tells us of his culture, of how the drought is hitting his people hard, that if it doesn’t rain soon then he fears for the very way of life of the Maasai. I ask him if it’s a difficult life. He shakes his head. ‘It’s good’, he says. ‘Only the drought makes it difficult.
That night we sleep under the stars. In the night, elephants pass within yards of our tents. Lion aren’t far away. Two Maasai stand watch, huddled round the camp fire, spears to hand, watching as the animals move to the watering hole. We only discover this next day.
In the morning, we trek into the bush, Jonathan and Elijah leading the way. Maasai herdsmen lead their emaciated cattle through the arid plains, searching for scraps of grass. A jackal tussles with an eagle for carrion. In the distance an ostrich stands large against the horizon. Trapdoor spiders lie in wait in tiny burrows for unsuspecting insects. A seemingly endless column of soldier ants march across the dry and dusty plains. We say goodbye to Jonathan, and wish him well. Silently we all pray for rain.
That night we camp on the very edge of the game reserve. An evening walk into the hills with another Maasai guide. His keen eyes pick out elephants in the bushes, down in the valley. We watch as they emerge slowly into the open. Fifteen, of all ages. Something spooks the matriarch and she trumpets an alarm. The elephants huddle together, back in the bushes. Maybe they can smell us. We move on, not wanting to disturb them, ever-mindful of their power and strength.
Day three and we head into the game reserve. Zebra, Impala, Giraffe, Thompson’s Gazelle, Topi, Hartebeeste, Eland. More elephants. The first Wildebeeste we see is dead. A lion feeds hungrily on his carcass as we watch from the safety of our vehicle, just yards away. Hyenas and vultures lurk nearby, waiting to squabble for scraps. A mother cheetah and her two cubs lope gracefully across the vast, grassy plains. A black rhino and her baby stand marooned in the long grass, looking for an opportunity to break for the bushes and cover.
Thousands of Wildbeeste gather on the cliffs above the Mara river, looking for a safe crossing. The southern grass lands call them for their annual migration, but they can’t decide where to cross. Down river, enormous crocodiles wait patiently, waiting for them to take the plunge. Hippos bask on the shore, steaming in the fierce afternoon sun.
This is Kenya. Full of drama and passion: rituals of man and beast which reach back through aeons.
Six thirty the next morning, and we are back in the reserve. Five lions fan out in the long grass, stalking a cluster of Wildebeeste who graze upwind of them, oblivious of the silent, powerful death with creeps ever closer. We sit on raised ground, watching the drama unfold, holding our breath, barely able to believe what we are seeing. Another driver gets too close and spooks the Wildebeeste. The lions give chase but their cover is blown and their prey escapes. Duncan, our driver, bangs the wheel in frustration. The radio crackles into life as the airways teem with abuse.
We drive on, over the Mau hills. Verdant pasture, at odds with the dust bowl of the plains. Healthy cattle. Fields of wheat, maize and potatoes stop the water from reaching the plains. The Government want to return this pasture to forest to make sure more water gets to where it is desperately needed. The hill farmers aren’t keen.
That night we see why the water is needed as we pitch up at Lake Elementaita, a vast salt lake, home to thousands of flamingos, but shrunk to less than half its usual size. Our lodge was built next to the water’s edge, just a few years ago. Now it takes us half an hour’s walk before we reach the shore.
We circle the lake in the baking heat. The flamingos peck in the shallows, pelicans glide gracefully overhead, a pied Kingfisher dives for food. We paddle self-consciously in hot springs, while men wash themselves and women clean clothes. A farmer brings his cattle to drink from this, one of the increasingly rare supplies of fresh water. We sip water from our plastic bottles and leave, not wanting to intrude.
An afternoon visit to a local school. Like everyone else they need money. To employ new teachers -one class has 85 children. To buy a school bus - hardly any of their 500 plus pupils have been more than a few kilometres from where they live. To level out the football pitch – they have a good team who play on a hillside. Our gift of football kit and pens are rapturously received. They dance and sing for us, and make us feel very special, and very aware of how much we have and how much they need. £150 will put a child through secondary school for a year. £1500 will pay a teacher’s annual wages. The average Kenyan earns £2 a day. The average in the UK is £85. The average life expectancy for a Kenyan is 53. In 1990 it was 60. Things aren’t getting any better.
In the late afternoon we are made welcome by George, a local farmer. His wife gives us fruit, pancakes and tea while George tells us more tales of the drought and shows us the impact it has had on his farm. A failed maize crop. Tomatoes dying for lack of water. His grandson, George junior looks on solemnly. George wonders what future his family has if the rains don’t come this year. It’s August and it hasn’t rained since June.
Day six and we visit Lake Nakuru national park. More flamingos. A lion feeds off a buffalo stranded in the mud by the shore. A rhino grazes on the beach. Baboons watch us carefully as we drive past, raising huge clouds of orange dust.
The final day and we take a boat on what’s left of Lake Naivasha. The boat starts a kilometre away from where it did three years ago, such has been the decrease in the level of the lake. No-one can remember it being this low before. There are 1500 hippos in the lake and several swim close to our small boat. A fish eagle swoops just yards away, plucking a fish from the water. Then back to Nairobi, where the six of us thank Elijah, Duncan and our chef Demetrius and go our separate ways.
Our trip was the Kenya Explorer, organised by a company who specialise in Fair Traded trips in Kenya and Tanzania. We have been superbly well looked after, and treated with great courtesy and generosity. An amazing range of experiences: exciting, exhilarating and thought-provoking. It’s a trip that will stay with me forever.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Book now!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Brilliant.
Raymond McEvoy review 23 Sep 2008
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
I can't even single out one part of the holiday, since we have so many terrific memories. The kids really enjoyed it as well. They will go back to school saying that they heard the lions roaring in the middle of the night while they slept in a tent, with the Maasai Jonathan and a colleague asleep on the ground outside, which is worth a lot of street-cred! Seeing the sleeping crocodile that had swallowed the whole wildebeast the day before was intimidating. Driving through vast herd of zebra and wildebeast migrating north was magical. Seeing some of the effect of climate change on traditional lifestyles was thought-provoking to say the least. Meeting 600 fun-loving kids in the primary school was awesome.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
A few minor things that we would advise anyone else travelling with kids in our age range, particularly since we are not a family of committed campers:
1. We only brought a single jumper/fleecey each and underestimated how chilly it gets in the bush once the sun goes down. We probably should have brought two each, (a light and heavy one) so that one could be worn over the other if necessary and select them for warmth rather than fashion.
2. Luckily we had brought several wind-up torches (available in Lidl for about €10 each) that would stay on the complete night. Our kids are not used to sleeping in complete darkness and it was useful to have a little torch that could be left on all night. However, we should probably also have brought at least one very good torch or lantern.
3. Chris Morris sends out a very good set of notes before travelling and it is worth following the guidelines given.
4. It is useful to stock up with a good supply of 100, 200 and 500 shilling notes before leaving Nairobi, because they are useful if you feel the need to tip people or even if buying beadwork etc from the maasai or kikuyo. They are unlikely to have change of very large notes.
5. You can buy maasai beadwork when you visit the maasai village and we felt it was both more satisfying and better value than at the tourist shop at the edge of the Rift valley.
6. Safari can be tiring and we then spent 5 glorious days on Manda. This is a uniquely sustainable and yet idyllic village close to Lamu.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, the holiday benefited local people. We really enjoyed the visit to Jonathan's Maasai homestead, Kekopey Primary school and George's kikuyo homestead. It really opened the whole family's eyes to the many different lifestyles that people follow. The people we met were all without exception kind, friendly, hospitable and very open about their lives. The environmental impact was also very low; not withstanding the fact that we drove quite a distance during the week. I think the fact that we got such a significant and lasting insight into other lifestyles outweighs the "cost" of getting there.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Everyone in the family (2 adults and 3 kids, aged 15, 13, and 11) agreed this was our best holiday ever! The whole safari week was excellent. Samuel our driver was not only patient with us, but could drive the Land Cruiser while missing the worst of the potholes, spot an ostrich amongst the zebras at least a kilometer away and always knew exactly where the lions would be resting. Dimitrious, our cook, never ceased to amaze us with the variety and extent of the menu as well as his ability to rustle up a 4-course meal when we were many miles from the nearest habitation. I can honestly say that I have never eaten such good and wholesome food on a holiday. Nicholas our guide was tremendous: part time botanist, zoologist, ornithologist, anthropologist and philosopher. We wish him every good luck since by now he should have started his degree program in the university. We have brought home several folk-tales from Africa and he also learned a few Irish myths and legends.
None of the kids are dedicated bird-watchers nor budding zoologists, so they did get a bit bored on one or two full-day game-drives. This didn't cause any problems, but I could see how a mixed group of adults and someone else's kids could get a bit frustrating. However, two families travelling together could be great fun.
So, overall we are thrilled with the holiday; it exceeded our expectations.
Gillian Ash review 15 Sep 2007
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
It could have been the Wildebeast crossing the river, or the pride of lions with cubs at a kill, or the cheetahs, or the 2.2 million Flamingo's or the Sea eagle as it swooped down beside our boat to grab a fish. It might have been sitting around a huge campfire with the Masai or visiting their village or perhaps it was the singing and dancing of the school children. However I think it was the kindness and attentativeness of our guide, drivers and cook. Actually it was everything
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
ENJOY try and take some books etc for the school and spare boots and sweatshirts etc for the guides.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
I hope our holiday benefitted the local people. As the operator uses local guides, drivers and a cook and buys local produce from the markets it can only be beneficial. It was humbling to go to a Masai market and see them trying to sell secondhand shoes and clothes that I would have thrown away. We take so much for granted. They do however have a more relaxed attitude to life which I am going to try and copy.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Unforegettable the best ever
Jean Rains review 5 Aug 2007
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Meeting the people of Kenya. The fact that our tour guides, cooks, and drivers were all Kenyans gave us extended opportunity to get to know local people. Being taken to a Masai village where clients are welcomed as part of the profits go to aid education for the village. We also brought school supplies. Interacting with people who are living as they have for thousands of years was an amazing experience. The teacher of the village, Jonathan, spoke English so we were able to communicate back and forth.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Have a roll of toilet paper in your back-pack from the first minute you arrive in Kenya. Take baby-wipes so you can wash your face and hands at least once a day as Kenya is a very dusty country and the jeep rides stir up lots of dust. Go with the flow. Be prepared for very bad roads and third world type accommodations. Do spend at least a day in Nairobi. Go see the baby elephant feeding from 11 to 12 daily as well as the Giraffe feeding station. Stay, or go the Hotel Boulevard - you can pick out everything you want to see for your day in Nairobi and they will call a reliable driver at a reasonable rate to take you around all day.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
I could see how our trip benefited local people. We took school supplies to a Masai village and also, near Lake Elementatia, to a school - where we had extensive conversations and a tour of that school - the children sang and danced for us and we taught them the Hokey-Pokey. This operator is very clearly contributing to these institutions. Bring lots of school supplies - you'll be glad you did. This operator has also built a small elementary school for one village in Tanzania - I didn't go on the Tanzania Safari - but others on our trip had and were so impressed and moved by this operator's commitment and contribution that that village.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It was an immensely educational, stimulating, well-run trip - full of event and new experiences. Great staff - responsible, capable, likeable. For the type of trip it was - I can't imagine one that was run or planned better. I'm very glad that I picked this trip as I didn't want canned "cultural experiences."
Vicky Luscombe review 20 Sep 2007
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
1. Drinking cow's blood with Masai warriors.
2. Seeing a pride of lions eating their morning kill in the Masai Mara
3. Seeing the wildebeest migration
4. Hearing baboon chasing off a lion nearby whilst bush camping.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
1. Take toilet roll.
2. Have a camera with a good zoom if you want to take pictures of the wildlife.
3. I would advise the operator to put a list of possible gifts to take to the schools visited so that people can donate something useful if they want to - otherwise it is hard to know what to take.
4. Accommodation isn’t luxury so be prepared to rough it a bit and not have a shower for several days.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes visited some of the projects that the holiday company sponsored and we could see actual tangible results. I am not sure how much if this is down to money donated by the holiday company I booked with and how much down to other sources.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Fabulous, great animal safaris, I am not the world's greatest animal lover but nothing beats the thrill of seeing these wild animals with your own eyes in their home environment. A lion's roar sounds entirely different in real life to on the tv. Also the cultural elements of the holiday were fab, I would have enjoyed even more of that part.
Clare Morley review 15 Aug 2006
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The first 24 hours of this trip are amazing (the rest is pretty good too but it was the first 24 hours I remember the most.) We drove towards the Masaai Mara and stopped to camp overnight in the middle of nowhere. The trip to the Masaai village was fascinating and very sensitively managed. I loved investigating the goat and sheep pen!
Then we slept to the sound of hyenas, safe in the knowledge that two Masaai warriors were guarding our tents, and in the morning we had an al fresco breakfast of fabulous proportions whilst the monkeys swung through the trees around us - magical!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Believe that it will be cold in the evenings! My fleece was invaluable but I would have given anything to have had a pair of jeans or thicker trousers with me.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
By its very nature, game drives can not be good for the environment and I was a little concerned about where all the water at our second campsite in the Masaai Mara came from. But this holiday's real strength is its commitment to the local people who work directly and indirectly for the company.
The guides told us that it was one of the best companies to work for and the cultural insight that you gain from this trip is phenomenal - definitely better than a bog standard driving around the Mara trip!
4. Any other comments?
It was brilliant. Thanks for the great job you all do at responsible travel - you are definitely improving the ethics of holidaying!
Jeanne D'Mello and Adrian Pritchard review 23 Jul 2006
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Memorable - definitely. We were very lucky to have a great group and most impressed with the knowledge, consideration, enthusiasm and attention to safety in your team - guide Elija, cook Demetrius and both drivers Peter & Simon. I enjoyed the boat trip - seeing the hippos and birds close up - and the sights of the lake of Flamingoes was fabulous - better from a distance!! Adrian, I know, loved the wildebeest migration.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Adrian booked the trip - the draw was title - Responsible Travel - looking for a company that was interested in Kenya and the African people - this operator certainly is. Good dialoge with Chris / your team prior to travel.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Masaai village - excellent insight into tribal living - the chief spoke English and admitted he was champion javelin at school!! We met Johnson and Esther Kimanji, very informative re water resources - certainly we were all very careful using water throughout our stay. He showed us round a Polytech project.
4. Any other comments?
Thanks for a lovely holiday - I did a similar thing in Cuba - Cultural exchange/med conference - similarly deeply impressive.
Nicola Price review 20 Aug 2006
We had a fantastic Kenya visit with this operator. It combined 'safari' with cultural visits and we saw everything form cheetahs feeding to visiting a Masai home. I am not sure we returned home 'relaxed and refreshed' as we packed so much into our brief visit but it definitely recharged batteries and provided many, many memorable and exciting moments.
The bush camping and staying in 'bungalows', the meals cooked by our own team and our local guide and driver all hopefully represent the fairtrade mission of the company. It must be better than lining the pockets of TNCs. I would recommend this holiday without reservation and hope that anyone would enjoy it as much as we did.
Gene Goldberg review 9 Jul 2006
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Clearly the best was seeing the cheetahs. No wait, maybe it was the leopard. Oh, I guess it might have been the lioness running around with an unfortunate gazelle. Or the millions and millions of flamingoes. Uhmm, tough decision.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Keep a relaxed attitude.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
I'm sure some local people benefited from our holiday. Of course, any travel is going to have more impact on the environment than staying at home. I don't think that this one impacted substantially less than others. Afterall, the biggest impacts were travel itself.
Jeanie Donnell-Jones review 22 Jan 2006
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The holiday was a chance for me to do something without my family and husband. Not that I don't love them all dearly but having reached my mid forties I really felt that I wanted a bit of 'exclusive' time and really wanted something exciting and different. It's a fantastic trip if you wanted to do something solo but the honeymoon couple on our trip were equally delighted to be with a group so it would suit any combination of traveller.
From the moment I landed at Nairobi the organisation and professionalism of the tour was constant, the guides and in particular William made you feel that although they were working they were relishing in the experience, and although they had done this many times before there enthusiasm and commitment was unwavering. The best part of the trip was visiting the local villages and schools children have the ability to cross all culture religious and language barriers and the children of Kenya were no exception. It was clear that they were not used to visitors (which was great for us) and they almost danced with delight at seeing half a dozen all at once!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Tips of other travelling taking this tour would be to take less clothes than you think you need (its all very casual) a reliable camera and spare films/discs any space in your language should include sweets lolly pops and small things to give away to the many children that you will encounter. For them a few sweets are a real treat and you will make so many faces fill with delight if you have something like this to give.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Meeting local people both adults and children gave us a real sense of not being on a 'typical' tourist holiday at each place we stopped we were able to see local work and if we wanted to make small purchases, although there was no pressure to do this we got the opportunity to do this, the local goods jewellery shoes and clothing were beautifully made and cost very little and now that I am home its fantastic to have some reminders.
4. Any other comments?
In summary the holiday/trip was unique! If you want to see some fantastic animals meet real Kenyan people and not feel that you are 'just' a tourist then this is the holiday for you. I would not hesitate to take another holiday with responsible travel, I feel lucky that I came across the web site!!
Rebecca Perez review 4 Sep 2005
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Being so close to the wild animals, meeting the local people in their daily life.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Bring warm clothes! Kenya is quite high up, and it gets windy in the open vehicles.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
I did. This operator maintains a close relationship with the local people, and involves them in our trip. Everything was extremely well organised, and carefully though out.
4. Any other comments?
Thank you for recommending this operator, and for putting me in touch with them. They were absolutely fantastic.
Sharon Ashley review 1 Aug 2005
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Where to start? Getting out of the tent and seeing wild monkeys in the trees. Seeing a wild cheetah warm up ready for a kill. At one point we saw about ten groups of different animals all wandering in the same area. Another part of the trip that had an impact on me was the chance to meet children learning at school and answer their questions about our country.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Bring some jungle fever mosquito spray for Lake Nakuru.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Definitely.
Ann Richardson review 21 Aug 2005
It is difficult to convey in words how Eric and I felt about our trip to Africa. Our photos do not do justice to what we saw, heard or felt. This was our first visit to the continent and we were not disappointed. The guides, William and Nicholas, were extremely knowledgeable about their country, culture and wild life. Had we travelled by ourselves, we would have missed out on so much!
We felt privileged to have visited the Masai village and to have been welcomed into one of their homes. The sight of the wildebeest and the flamingos was amazing. We very much enjoyed walking along the savannah, feeling a part of the land. In fact, we could have done with a little more walking, as we seemed to eat so much! The food prepared for us was more than we could have ever hoped for - excellent!
The hotel near Mount Kenya was the perfect way to end our holiday. We were able to relax more and socialize as a group during the evening. We have absolutely no complaints about our trip, nothing but praise! We thank everyone from this operator for organizing everything so efficiently and for giving us such a wonderful insight into the wildlife and people of Kenya, and last, but not least, the opportunity to have made new friends. Thank you!
Lee Hearson review 21 Aug 2005
Just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed the safari that we have just been on. One huge success for us about the trip was that our 16 year old daughter, despite our considerable misgivings/doubts etc. really enjoyed all that we did - even admitted as much! She had been studying Kenya at school & it really brought it all into perspective/reality for her. we were really impressed with William & Nicholas, the guides who were knowledgeable, resourceful, helpful & cheerful. their eye sight was amazing, so good at seeing & identifying the numerous animals & birds that we saw.
We all had 'best bits' of course. Bev's was visiting the maasai village & seeing their kids but mine was using my binoculars to see the fantastic views & sights - the broad panoramic expanses of the mara - magnificently unforgettable. The organising, food, vehicles , the mix of culture & animals/game parks that you set up was just right, a good combination. I also greatly enjoyed the organic farm visit & the school etc. so to see a little of what life was like for the people was just as important to us as the wildlife & countryside, something that a lot of safari companies seem happy to ignore.
I was very glad that we had taken as much as we could carry in the way of clothes bric-a brac etc. to give away to the community at large. we had just experienced at home the G8.Live8 etc. & it really made us realise just how much we in the West have that we dump without a second thought but would be so valuable in Africa. A big thankyou to you & the team for giving us a superb insight into Kenya, its problems & beauty. Memories & experiences that will remain with us for a long time. The game drives were amazing, and its incredible how close we got to the animals, at one point the giraffes were walking towards us! these last lines from Libby who we have to thank for urging us for so long to go!
Paul Smith review 7 Aug 2005
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The holiday was an excellent balance between a safari and really getting closer to the local culture. My biggest fear before going was that seeing a Masai village or a school would be a case of us arriving, some sort of local dance or song being enacted, us buying local goods and then departing. Our experience could not have been further from the truth. In both cases we were given a genuinely friendly and open welcome and I feel that we learnt a lot about the real life that the people we met lead. Our tour guides were excellent at preparing the visits and telling us how to get most out of them. All out interactions with children were completely delightful.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take as much as you can in the clothing line to give away to villagers and the school. Any toys, pens, pencils crayons and paper/notebooks are also very well received. Really be ready to listen to the local people to understand how, even though their life might be so different to ours, it is nonetheless full of dignity and meaning.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Our holiday definitely impacted on local people. Our small group of 12 agreed to sponsor three local school children for the four years that they are at secondary school. The small cost to us has a potential to really make a difference to these three young persons' lives.
4. Any other comments?
Overall rating - Between 4 and 5. I would be nervous about going on another similar safari/eco tour in case I was disappointed.
Niall Gallen review 27 Mar 2005
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The first few trips out to see the animals (the novelty value I expect), coming back up from the crater standing on the seat and watching the view and the trip to the Maasi Boma (festival on). But all of the trip was a pleasure.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Make sure to get a lot of small denomination notes as soon as possible as there are a lot of people to tip; it was the one stress I had, deciding what to keep for the guides we met. I had to under-tip a few because I felt that there were others around who were doing less lucrative jobs. But if this was all I had to worry about ...
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes. It was far better that just breezing in and then back out without regard for the locals. It was nice to walk through the agricultural area and see what was being grown and how.
Sarah Hickson review 6 Feb 2005
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Most memorable moment was walking across the plain with the Masai tribesman as sun was setting, having visited his village, and returning to our campsite in the wilds.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Check that the other people in the group have not all just done another similar trip together, which was my case. The other 3 in my group had all been on safari in Tanzania, directly before the Kenya trip. They spent a lot of time comparing the two experiences, obviously preferring Tanzania, and being a little 'jaded' about experiences they had obviously found exciting first time round in Tanzania, but now were less 'inspired' doing them for the second time.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes. I thought that the relationships the tour operator had with the local school, village, environmental programme etc were excellent and sensitively handled.
David Lyne review 16 Oct 2005
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
There were many memorable moments. Waking up the first morning in the bush camp and the walking visit to the adjacent Masai village is high on the list. Being in the right place at the right time to meet a male lion making its early morning way home after a kill (a leg wound and a full belly) and hold our breathes as it walked around us making its way to the family group previously hidden 100 yards away.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be prepared for a very full week with a lot of hard travelling. You will be very well looked after by the team but don't expect Lodge/hotel facilities. Most nights you will have access to a shower of some sort but it can be primitive. The same for the toilets. Pack a toilet roll and hand wash soap. Arrive on the day flight and rest overnight in a hotel. The tour finishes mid-day on the Saturday. So book a day room at the hotel to rest and shower if you are on the return night flight. Nairobi is intimidating when you are left on your own. If you want to visit anywhere go by arranged taxi. When you are doing your sums include the expected tips to Driver etc. We were a family of five and it added considerably to the cost of the holiday. (of course we did about this beforehand)
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
There certainly seemed to be much local participation in the holiday. Which I hope means that benefits filter through to them. I cannot see how the holiday could be amended to reduce the environmental impact.
4. Any other comments?
I would rate it xxx. I would have said xxxx but I do not like to recommend holidays to anybody. It is such a personal view depending on past experience and your expectations. I would say this operator are a very well run and caring company that I would use again.
Gail Vick review 5 Jan 2003
The trip was a wonderful experience. In addition to multiple game drives, we had some opportunity to interact with the local people. We spent an evening visiting a Masai village, and were able to enjoy a taste of their beer. We also visited a farm and learned about the challenges Kenya farmers face in getting their produce to market. As it was election day, our planned visit to a school was unable to occur, but the teacher met us and told us about the school. Being there during the presidential election was exciting and interesting.
Our guide William was quite knowledgeable about the wildlife, the country, and the people. The drivers were skilled at navigating the difficult roads and off-road terrain we drove through. Our cook Isaac prepared a tasty variety of foods. All in all, we were well taken care of by the crew and we did not have to worry about a thing. The company was well able to accommodate a young woman in a wheel chair in our tour group.
I would recommend the tour operator and the Kenya Explorer tour to anyone. We had a variety of activities, learned a lot, and had a relaxing and informative holiday.
Shifa Rahman review 16 Jul 2002
The first day of our Kenya Explorer trip involved a drive from Nairobi tothe town of Ewaso Ngiro for lunch and then a stop on route to a colourful Masai market place in Narok, where we were escorted by our guides safely around the market and got reasonable deals on our purchases (mine included a Bob Marley tape for GB £2 - but the more interesting items included custom designed tyre sandals and rice and Masai shawls in distinctive red). We were then escorted onto a the Masai homestead where our trip came to life with the presence of wonderful landscapes and the insight into how the native local Masai live - what livestock they have, how the houses they constructed from cow dung, gaining valuable knowledge from our guides William and Joseph, such as how the women Masai build and design the houses from scratch, how many wives the Masai were allowed to have and over a cup of a traditional cocktail of tea we were allowed to ask the tribe members questions and allowed to take photographs.
We were lucky to have such amazing hosts and there was a great sense of priviledge in us tourists being allowed such an intimate visit to one of the more remote Masai villages which happened to belong to one of our Masai guide's -Jonathan (who later guarded our camp on our first night from lions and other dangers!). By chance, we happened to be visiting on the day of a blessing Jonathan's child, so we witnessed the blessing from the father of the Masai tribe and we as visitors were then instructed how to bless the child, by touching its head and saying the appropriate phrase... which unfortunately escapes me now.
This part of our trip immediately puts the whole of Kenya in a cultural context, making it a vivid acknowledgement of who the land belongs to, how they live and how this relates to the busier and more modern aspects of Nairobi.
The first night ended with us returning to our camp, after buying the beautiful, brightly coloured jewellery that was hand made by the Maasai tribe-really striking and intricately crafted- no one in our camp could resist a buy. Returning to our camps by moonlight, really made the enchantment of our surroundings come alive, the natural beauty of our surroundings,the strange distant noises of wildlife that we had never heard before, the warmth of the fireplace amidst the encroaching cold of the night. It was very magical! We had dinner back at the campsite and talked and told stories till well intothe night, looked over protectingly by our two Maasai guides who watched our camp diligently through the night.
The Western lack of telling stories soonbecame obvious when our Kenyan guides, William and Joseph outshone us with their brilliant and often bizarre fables and stories which seemed an intrinsic part of being Kenyan I think- a lot of talking and musing.
The next morning, very early we embarked on a two and a half hour walk with our Maasai guide Jonathan. His knowledge of the land was unwaveringly good. We stopped amongst some incredible vegetation, where our guide William (who has a degree in conservation) demonstrated to us how the Maasai utilise the land resourcefully- nothing it seems goes to waste by ingenuityof the Maasai. In particular, we stopped by a type of plant where the leaves are used as sand paper to carve Maasai spears. We were shown how various animal droppings marked out terrority to the wildlife, we were shown how the sap of certain trees was used as a type of glue for the Maasai to make their weapons to hunt their animals with. The more studious of those in our camp, noted the names of the various plants and if you are seriously into conservation, there is a lot of scope.Jonathan led us through plains inhabited by zebra, giraffe, wildebeast, male and female impala.
We trekked through fairly dense bush also, which was challenging physically, but not for the Maasai obviously - it was a brief insight in how they cover immense distances daily.
The next part of our trip was to go to the Masai Mara game reserve, to stay in a camp called the Olanganaiyo camp. It was lovely as our fairly luxurious tents, in contrast to the first night ie: they had beds in them, were named after animals. My leopard tent was surrouned by Vervet monkeys, dangling and playing in amongst the camp, and I was able to sneak a few photographs close up. After a well earned rest and shower, we then went for our first game drive in the rolling plains of the Maasai Mara reserve. It was not dissapointing, as the magic of the place is really in the expanse of it. Although, many people later remarked that it wasn't as naturalised asthe Samburu game reserve,the abundance of wildlife is still amazing. Duringthe drive, we saw giraffe, herds of elephant, cheetahs, all varieties ofantelope, wildebeast and birds of prey.
Nothing really compares however to our first gasps of seeing a pride of lions. If you have, like myself never experienced the combination of the beautiful layers of colours as the fading sun reflects onto the plains of gold and green fields of the Maasai Mara, combined with your first sighting of lions nestling in the grass, occasionally stretching and expanding their huge jaws, it will stun you. They have quite a presence!
That made our first game drive special as it was the end of a three hour drive and the lions had a really majestic presence. The second day of game viewing in the Maasai Mara gave us a great close up of elephants, more cheetah sightings and also more zebra, close up viewing of giraffe munching on acacia trees. On the same day we headed for one of the lakes on the Rift valley, Lake Naivasha-where there was the promise of hippo sightings. Staying in our little bungalow huts seconds away from the Lake, provided the opportunity to see the birdlife which inhabits the place and most importantly hippos- the biggest killers in Africa.
Our fishing expedition the next morning included sightings of kingfishers, hippos, waterbucks on land where we stopped. However, personally our visit to Lake Nakuru, another lake on the rift valley which took us to our fourth day on the Explorer Kenya trip, topped the bill, with the sighting of a rare black rhino. The vast amount of pink flamingo which lines the lake in millions is quite a sight of beauty as is the woodiness of the game reserve - a contrast from the Maasai Mara. Our camps were wonderfully inbedded in the surrounding wildlife. On the first night we had lions come and visit our camp which was exciting but meant we probably slept a little lightly than usual, although our camp was guarded.
On that night, in an excited flurry we got into our truck, rode by Joseph and searched for the lions, in order to observe them at a safe distance. After a game of charades back at the camp we retired after a satisfying day. Day five took us to Thompson's Fall - an immense and incredible water fall, which is quite a climb to reach the bottom, physically taxing if you attemptto do it. The five girls on the trip decided to embark on this, even withour warnings that we may be tired from our guides, was tiring but the fallis immense and beautiful close up. With a pleasant lunch outside, the next leg of our journey took us to Mount Kenya, where we experienced traditional Maasai Mara tribe.
The last leg of our 7 day tour took us to Mount Kenya were we on ourfirst night there took part in traditional tribal dancing with the Maasai Mara- which believe me, our attempts at dancing were very amusing! After a disco at our very luxurious hotel- compared to roughing it on a campsite - we spent the following day on a two hour trek in the Mount Kenya region, followed by a trip to the local Kikuyu school. The tour company we travelled with, whose slogan is fair traded safaris, supports the local communities in Kenya which involves a number of self help projects which help the local community in sustaining a self-generating income, and importantly allows the local people get a slice of the benefits of tourism.
The tour primarily gives you a cultural look at people who live in Kenya with the objective that it will be a responsible eco-tour, ie: won't damage the local environment and most rewardingly you will also be helping local projects. The visit to the school, did combine the joy of cultural insight with helping, perfectly, and was a nice way to round off our trip. We also visited a local women's self-help project, who utilised weaving as a way of generating an income- their skill and dexterity in the arduous process ofmaking rugs and shawls was amazing.
The cultural and ethical part of our 7 days in kenya was genuinely rewarding, for example to hear from the patron of the school that our trip financially supports them, as well as the visit providing a fascinating look at how the schools are run, funded through farming, seeing how the children love playing with their one football and also they thoroughly charmed us with a dramatic performance which they presented to us- all made our trip worth while.
On the way back from Mount Kenya, on our quiet and bit teary journey back - so sad to leave - the following morning we also stopped at point at which the north and south halves of the equator meet, which was great for more photo opportunities and with the chance of signing our rather endearingly naff certificates, to certify we have visited the equator! It was a great trip, no one could deny it and although our official trip had ended, we couldn't resist all meeting up with our guides for a night out in Nairobi, going to one of the popular tourist haunts - Carnivore, where the culinary delights included crocodile, zebra and the largest type of antelope Elan, which went down well! It was the best holiday yet.
