Holiday Reviews
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same trip can have different views!
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Big cat safari in Kenya, independent reviews
 Reviewed 10 Sep 2006 by Carol Martin |  |
 |  |  |  |  | Take a look at Carol Martin's fab photos from this trip. More… (click photos to enlarge) |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Private walks with the Masaai and night drives in the Ol Kinyei Conservancy where we saw lions hunting & mating, a leopard on a stroll, porcupines, springhares, hyenas, etc. The climax was videoing 14 lions taking a wildebeest apart on the last night.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
If traveling alone and staying at the Malewa Lodge in the Kigio Conservancy, make sure the lodge staff and tour operator are in sink on the activities included in your stay.
Be sure to take multiple memory cards for your digital camera. 1 GB or more each is recommended. Also, take your camera battery charger and cable or other device for downloading pictures to a computer. I know this seems pretty much a no-brainer, but I met so many people who had only one 256 MB memory card and no way to offload pictures, and/or no battery charger.
If at all possible, put your money into a good point & shoot with a 12x zoom. Everyone will be amazed at the quality of your photos. I used a Canon S3IS. It also took great videos - even on the night drives.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Staying in Conservancies allowed me to see how my tourist dollars were being applied. All the Conservancies were very environmentally conscious - conserving water, using solar power, minimizing impact on the wildlife habitat and utilizing local labor including male Masaai. The Kigio Conservancy went a step further and employed local women for jobs such as office manager and chef.
4. Any other comments?
This safari was wonderful and highly recommended. Definitely 5 stars.
| Reviewed 6 Jul 2006 by Kathy and Janet Preston | |
We have had an amazing holiday in Kenya on the family safari. The organization was outstanding and we did appreciate the e-mail from Nina just before we travelled. The wildlife and scenery were stunning-we saw leopards (3 times), lions, zebras, cheetahs, elephants, crocodiles, giraffes and so the list goes on, at such close quarters. There have been comments about the resulting photos-are we sure that we didn't download them from the National Geographic web-site!!
The accommodation was amazing and we were so well looked after at both the Samburu and Mara Intrepids-the food was of a high quality and the children really enjoyed having their own warrior to teach them how to make beaded jewellery, bows and arrows and tracking a leopard's footprints and making plaster-casts of them. Our day in Nairobi was full and very interesting too. The pick ups and drop offs went like a dream-thank you to Benson in Nairobi. It was truly a holiday of a life-time-but one we would love to repeat.
The accommodation was amazing and we were so well looked after at both the Samburu and Mara Intrepids-the food was of a high quality and the children really enjoyed having their own warrior to teach them how to make beaded jewellery, bows and arrows and tracking a leopard's footprints and making plaster-casts of them. Our day in Nairobi was full and very interesting too. The pick ups and drop offs went like a dream-thank you to Benson in Nairobi. It was truly a holiday of a life-time-but one we would love to repeat.
| Reviewed 22 Oct 2007 by Justin Bokor | |
I went this operator - they run a superb operation. One of the best holidays I've had in my life - very well organised, friendly staff, good eco-friendly operations etc - and the Kenyan countryside is beautiful with abundant game animals. I would highly recommend this tour operator and Kenya.
| Reviewed 20 Sep 2007 by Lynsey Murning | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Spending the afternoon in a Masai village, which was on a par with watching a pride of lions devour a zebra which was not dead. Perhaps also being woken up on a deluxe eco-tent by a Masai with a tray of hot coffee and biscuits prior to an early morning game drive. And then again, perhaps it was the huge African skies.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Go! Especially during the migration. It was surprisingly cold especially at night so take lots of warm sweaters - or risk having to wear the same one all week.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, the Porini camps are wonderful places and run by the Masai who look after you very well. They are small camps with a maximum capacity of about 15 or 20 people and are unfenced so the wildlife can wander freely. There is no electricity of hot running water, and the lighting is provided by solar/LED lamps. The Masai heat the water for your daily showers at your request. The camp does not have voltage for a hairdryer as it is an eco camp.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent.
| Reviewed 10 Apr 2005 by Stuart Hatcher | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The unfenced camp - truly wonderful.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Use this tour company - the organisation was so smooth - and they were extremely knowledgeable. If you really want to go to Amboseli National Park then definitely try and book into into this lodge as you have the benefit of supporting the local community, seeing a conservation area and going into the park!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes - the tour company appear to have this as their absolute watchword. Jake (Cook/Managing Director) is passionate about this.
| Reviewed 12 Jan 2005 by Kathy and Jason Heiser | |
We stayed at Ilkeliani Camp in Masai Mara and were impressed with the camp. It was encouraging to see the camp being run by locals and a relationship with the tourism and local villages. As well the camp had a minimum impact on the surrounding environment. Hot water was heated with briquettes, solar power and hurricane lights were the only power. All these things are important to us and made our stay memorable.