African Safari Reviews

1st hand experience of how to mix
wildlife viewing and walking safaris

Read these African safari reviews from like-minded nature travelers who have been to Kenya on non-package safaris holidays that combine soft game viewing walks, birding, photography, responsible wildlife viewing way from mass tourism. Learn the sheer freedom of not being cooped up in a safari bus during your vacation in Kenya + you can do this without breaking the bank!

The African safari reviews below are from real clients who traveled with Ontdek Kenya and they give you a first hand safari experience of what happens if you go behind the tourist circuit on a slowed down itinerary that has quality time devoted for wildlife viewing with competent naturalist guides - not just someone who can point at the "Big 5".

Remember you owe yourself to get the best possible nature travel and these trip reports will help you to make an informed decision on your non-package holiday. Read the safari reviews, ask questions and contact Ontdek Kenya Safaris for planning your nature safari in Kenya.

If you've traveled with Ontdek Kenya, feel free to contact us to post your African safari reviews in this page.

Walking and Wildlife tour with Tom and Ev Pickering -- Feb 2013

Tom and Ev traveled with Ontdek from February 16 through 28, 2013. They booked their tour with a partner tour operator in the UK.

Read their review >>>

Walking tour with Doug and Nancy McFadden -- Sep 2011

Hi Peter!

First, I would like to say that we had the most marvelous experience with Ontdek in Kenya. We thoroughly enjoyed our treks, the wildlife (animal and bird), the accommodation, but mostly the people. Mungai was a pleasure to be with, and we feel we made a friend. He is extremely articulate and always willing to help foreigners understand what it is like to be Kenyan. And thank you and Anne for your organizational skills, and making sure we were OK. It was fun to meet your family on the road to Hell's Gate. Your children are beautiful.

Nancy and I also enjoyed our safari in TZ - the Serengeti and Ngorogoro Crater in particular. Every day we spent in Kenya and TZ was different and special. Our son Mike arrived a day ahead of the start of our trek up Kili. We experienced -25C and a blizzard on the way up - not for the faint of heart!

Once again, many thanks. Let me know if I can provide any feedback to other travelers or websites.

Cheers.

Doug

Walking & wildlife tour with Rob and Marion Willis -- Sep 2011

Anne and Peter,

This is my second attempt to supply you with our thoughts and considerations, regarding our recent holiday. My computer may have sent half a letter to you!

Sangare tented camp. Wonderful. Just eight of us, breakfasting outdoors as we spotted birds, what a way to start the day!

Then to the Ark and all those noisy people! I found the Ark disappointing, too many people and not a lot to observe. I suppose if you have a phobia about walking anywhere you probably loved it.

Time spent at Sunbird and Sawela Lodges was time well spent. Very enjoyable, lots of birds and animals to photograph.

Wherever we stayed we were fed extremely well, too well actually, we are now on strict diets, no more cooked lunches and cooked dinners. We now operate on an either or policy, definitely not both.

And so the highlight of our holiday, time spent in the Mara. What can I say. Fantastic! Amazing! Fabulous! Wonderful! A magnificent experience! I have exhausted my superlatives.

And so to the main man, Elijah. He described himself as just a driver! He could certainly drive, and spot birds, and mammals, and tell us all about them and their habits, a mine of information. A wonderful companion, who shared our jokes and humor. He was was determined to find leopard for us to photograph. And when word came on the "old grape vine" (yet another colloquialism,) we were off. Sadly, leopard was no where to be seen. The sighting of a tortoise on our journey back to camp was but a poor substitute.

In conclusion, a wonderful holiday. Thank you. I wish the both of you every success in your new business venture.

regards,

Rob and Marion

Birding tour with Randy & Fran Holmes -- July 2011

Review of our birding safari with Ontdek. Fran and I have traveled extensively and this was our first safari, 12 days in July of this year with Ontdek. From start to finish, this trip was all we could have wished for. Michael and Mungai were exceptional birders and representatives of Kenya and Ontdek.

Our total of 325+ birds and innumerable animals was almost secondary to the overall satisfaction of a trip that covered all aspects of the country and its dedication to preservation of its way of life. Anne and Peter should be proud of the way their company's employees have represented them.

The lodges were 1st class and the birding was great. After the Sleeping Warrior Camp, our favorite, we were not impressed with the type of birding available at the Lake Baringo Country Club -- till Michael showed us more birds in 2 hours than we could imagine.

We would book, and we plan to again, and recommend Ontdek with no reservations. It was a trip of a lifetime. Thank you Anne and Peter.

Fran and Randy Holmes

Tour report of Ria Wyffels & Co, May 2010 -- In Dutch

Lees het boeiende reisverslag van de safari in Kenia in mei 2010 van Ria, Lieve, Jan, Mireille & Guy, Sabine & Dimitri, Detje & Ivo, Josiane & Roland...

Lees verder >>>

Kenya Walking Holidays Review by Anne and Roy Spurr, UK -- Feb '10

We have been saving up and waiting to visit Kenya for many years. We chose this walking safari because it seemed to offer the experiences of Kenya without too many travelling miles between sites and a chance to walk in some safe areas with the animals.

Kenya Tour Report by Dick Markesteijn, The Netherlands -- July/Aug '09

Dick Markesteijn came on a birding/photography tour to Kenya in July/Aug '09. This tour was organized in cooperation with Stichting Natuurreizen from the Netherlands. This report is written in Dutch and split in 3 PDF files. Even if you don't speak Dutch, the pictures are definitely worth browsing through the below files:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

African Safari Review by Klaas de Boer, The Netherlands -- Aug '09

This tour report was also posted on Trip Advisor on Aug 23, 2009

We, father and two daughters (11 and 17), booked on Ontdek after some research on the Internet. Like other guests we were picked up from the airport and helped on our way with Elijah, our guide. Together with Peter we made more or less our own program, following our interests and specific demands. We found, that the suggestions Peter made in the organization were very valuable and even some practical changes in the program during our trip were good examples of the commitment of Ontdek Kenya.

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African Safari Review by Sue Morgan, USA -- May '09

Hi Anne,

Sorry it took so long, but I am finally getting my feedback to you.

All the places we stayed at were fantastic... guess I was expecting more rustic dwellings and was delightedly surprised. I wasn’t that fond of Treetops, (too many people) though it was an interesting experience! Looking back, I would have preferred to have stayed another night at the Sangare tented camp instead of a Tree hotel. Sangare had a much more personal experience.

Read more >>>

Kenya safari reviews, hiking vacation at the Aberdare game sanctuary.

African Safari Review by Steve and Avril Frankish, UK -- May '09

Dear Anne and Peter,

I would like to thank you enormously for our wonderful holiday of a lifetime last week. Everything went like clockwork from our first exchange of e-mails to the last minute changes that we requested and you were able to accommodate.

Read more >>>

African Safari Review by Michelle Pappe, USA -- May '09

Hi Anne,

Well, we made it home after that crazy long day and a half of flying! We took Peter's advice and ate at the Simba restaurant at the Airport and enjoyed a long meal. Please thank him for the suggestion. We were able to look at some of our photos on our cameras and we were reminiscing about the trip. What a wonderful trip!

Read more >>>

African Safari Review by Polly Wiard, USA -- May '09

I just returned from a trip of a lifetime with Ontdek tours in Kenya. We experienced walking safaris with animals and birds, wildlife safaris in the Masai Mara, Amboseli, small conservatories with high concentrations of rhinos, and meeting the Kenyan people. Every day was a new adventure and we learned and saw something new. From fish eagles to hippos in the swamp or rivers, lions and the baboons. The accommodations and food was top notch and Anne Huysman does an outstanding job arranging the perfect trip for your own personal interests. You have your own driver and guide who is very knowledgeable about the area.

African Safari Review by David Hollick, UK -- March '09

We did a private safari with Ontdek in March 2009, visiting Amboseli and Tsavo West as well as stays in Mombasa and Nairobi.

They are a very professional, friendly and competent company. Some companies we approached quickly grew impatient or disinterested when we wanted to discuss the best itinerary, but Ontdek were endlessly patient and helpful in refining our plans. Every aspect of our trip was organized well and the whole trip went without a hitch, even when our incoming flight was delayed by a day and they had to adjust plans at the last moment. Our driver and guide, Elijah, was superb. He spoke good English, had unbelievable spotting skills and was a friendly and humorous traveling companion. We will definitely use Ontdek again if we return to Kenya and I thoroughly recommend them without hesitation.

African Safari Review by Martin Routeledge, UK -- Feb '09

I traveled with Ontdek in February for 10 days on a safari itinerary to Naivasha, Nakuru, Elementaita and of course the Masai Mara. Very personal service, Elijah was great as was Peter, the owner. His wife Anne made all the arrangements and everything went really well. Nothing was too much trouble for them. I would undoubtedly use Ontdek again if visiting Kenya and unreservedly recommend them.

Martin

Buckinghamshire, England

Piet Flour, Belgium -- Feb '09

Sorry for the passed time since your question, but it is the first time I come here. Also sorry for my bad English speaking. Well, we did a safari with Ontdek Kenya in Jan - Feb 2009.

Out of our heart, it was fantastic!

The personal approach, the conversation possibilities to speak about the travel with e-mail and arrange everything to our expectations, and with their knowledge.

The organization was absolutely perfect!

We never did enjoy a travel more than that. The accompanying guide and driver did a fabulous job.

Everywhere we came, we never were in a crowd of vehicles, and the lodges where totally in the range we asked fore.

While we where traveling with 4 in 1 4X4 (on our own demand), we saw different other companies traveling in large groups of different vehicles where they were with about 12 persons in one 4X4 vehicle - or large buses - really pressed together - making it a worthless experience for the most of them.

The personal approach and follow up was impressive.

My advice is for sure very positive. Just go for it !!

Piet Flour,

Greetings from Belgium.

African Safari Review by Mike Ford, UK -- Sep '08

This safari exceeded all our expectations, having the chance to actually walk in some of the nature reserves gave all the group a chance to experience a close to nature feel. with the final 3 days doing game drives in The Masai Mara to see all the big 5 was the icing on the cake. The guides Peter, Michael and Elijah could not have been more helpful and their knowledge of both birds and game was excellent. The accommodation was good as was the food, be that on a couple of occasions number of guests at the lodges was low probably due to the past troubles in Kenya. All the places we visited the local residents were most welcoming and friendly.

I highly recommend this safari itinerary, the organization and care of the guests from the time we landed at Nairobi to the time we left Kenya will stay in our memories forever.

African Safari Review by Peter Morgan, UK -- Sep '08

We spent this safari in a group of 9 guests with 2 local drivers and 1 local guide throughout. In addition there were local guides at most locations. We had a first class trip, well organized by cheerful, helpful staff. Through their expertise we saw all the big 5 and much more besides particularly birds. The accommodation was good and the combination of game walks and drives gave an excellent insight into wildlife in Kenya. The meeting with the local population particularly the Masai was both interesting and rewarding. They are a fine people. Overall a wonderful experience that I would recommend to anyone with a wish to get close to Kenyan rural life.