Looking for East Africa tour package
 

My boyfriend and I recently made a decision to visit Kenya and Tanzania for 2 weeks over Christmas. We've settled on using a tour company in order to simplify planning matters, but are stumped as to which one to use.

I've reviewed all of the suggestions on this site and have looked at a myriad of operators. Trips like those provided by A&K, Micato and Big Five sound great to us but are a little out of our price range as we'd like to spend only about $5,000 to $5,500 each for air and land. We're looking at Borton Overseas but are not sure about the quality of the services.

Luxury isn't a priority, we just want to ensure that we stay in clean, well run facilities with the best accesibility to what we're there to experience. Reliability and good service from the tour operator (no broken vehicles, small group size, knowledgable and friendly staff, etc) is key as well. Like everybody, we want to feel like we experienced a unique, amazing 2 weeks in Africa.

Is this a tall order to fill in our price range? Does anyone have any suggestions/experiences they can share with us, both positive and negative as to agencies? Any help would be appreciated!

All comments about www.2Afrika.com have been good. Quite a few on this board have used them and they all have had good experiences. They are as cheap as anyone I've ever seen. I'm sure some of them will post here about first hand experience. They look good to me.
I've been to East Africa a few times and go on private safaris now, but 2Afrika sounds better than any of the group safaris I did when I first started going there. Liz

Thanks for your reply Liz. I have looked at 2Afrika's site and emailed them, however, we are a bit restricted in our travel dates, and their current departure dates don't work too well for us.

You mentioned that you now do private safaris. I am assuming the cost is substantially higher, but for future reference, is there a company that you recommend that will organize a complete package?

I'd still recommend 2Afrika. Ken will do that and I believe he will still be cheaper. Read his site and he mentions this. He usually emails back within the day, or you can call him and I believe he will call right back. Liz

Smiley Face - Well here's one more to check out:
www.africasafaris.com
The company is Africa Tours

- their website is very easy to navigate - and Nickie can do a private tour for you. But you do realize Christmas is not likely to be cheap, prices always go up over the holiday. However, with them you can depart whenever and she can adjust itinerary to fit your budget, but do make sure you spend some time in a tented camp, because Africa isn't Africa unless you sleep under canvas for at least a night or two.

If you need air tickets, check with Premier Tours out of Phila. They are a tour operator and air consolidator. Check for their website, don't have it handy, or their 800 number and ask for their air department. They've gotten us the best prices for all flights to Africa and no one has yet done better.

Bye the way, Borton Overseas has been around for years and is quite reputable, but check out Africa Tours, just tell Nickie that Sandi sent you.

SmileyFace:

Try Roy Safaris, who we used for our trip last year to Kenya and Tanzania. They had the best prices around and tailor made a safari for us. We stayed at some of the best camps (Tortilis in Amboseli, N-Crater Lodge and Sand Rivers both in Tanzania) and their prices were better than anyone else's. Their e-mail address is: [email protected] and the website is www.roysafaris.com I have used them as has a friend from Utah. Also, I believe that Liz (who posted earlier) has looked into them and thought they were reasonable as well. As Sandi pointed out, the prices are a bit more over the Christmas holiday. Might you be able to fudge on those dates at all? Anyway, drop Roy Safaris a line or two and see what they come up with.

Yes, as Susan said, I did contact Roy Safaris. I thought they were strictly Tanzania, or I would have said to contact them. Very fair prices. If they also do Kenya, then yes I would get a quote to compare to others. Also I thought someone here used 2Afrika for a private safari. I wonder if it was Gina. Someone did and was quite happy with the trip. I personally have never used Ken because I've never had an opportunity to. I would be using him now if I hadn't booked Governors Camp on my own. Which by the way looks to be a problem now. I guess I am the jinx on problems interfering with African travel. I REALLLLY want to go too. Why is there this dark cloud over my Africa plans?
Anyway both Roy Safaris and 2Afrika will sell private safaris. In my opinion and some others here, its the best way to see Africa unless its your first safari, then a small group is fun and it can be reassuring to have someone else who hasn't been before. Liz

You can also check out SafariMagic, www.safarimagic.com They only do private safaris (and one or two group trips) and are priced quite reasonably.

Hi SmileyFace,
$5000 and Christmas is a tough combination for your budget. Check out this really cool site, www.uyaphi.com, who specialise in southern and eastern africa. I had a friend who booked a gorilla viewing tour in Uganda through them, which was both reasonable in cost (1800 for 8 days)and excellent as an African experience.However, your budget may be ok if no one is travelling come Xmas in light of recent events and the tour companies are desperate for business.

SmileyFace,

My wife and I went on a two week mobile camping Safari in September 02, and we used Borton Overseas to arrange everything. They used Kibo Safaris in Arusha as their ground operators. We have nothing but praise for both Borton and Kibo. It was the trip of a lifetime. While we were aranging the safari, Borton was always available to answer any and all questions. And the folks at Kibo were just tremendous. I would strongly recommend both Borton's and Kibo to anyone wanting to experience both the animals and the culture of Tanzania.

SmileyFace, let me add one other thing. As far as your budget, as I said, we went in September and for the two of us, airfare included, it came to about $9200. I'm not sure how much extra you would pay to go at Christmas.

Hi SmileyFace...(s)
I just happened upon the website a couple of days ago and spotted your query.
I've been taking groups on Kenya trips for the last 5 yrs now, and have gone there on my own since 1985 (14 trips).
I'm taking a small group with me this September, so you're certain welcome to join us, altho I didn't quite understand whether you decided during Xmas to take a trip to Kenya, or whether you decided to take a trip during Xmas time..(s).
It sounds like you probably want a Xmas trip, which would be great.
The trips I arrange are not the typical high-street tour, but a much customized trip to allow the traveller to appreciate three of the more interesting parts of Kenya; this is opposed to travelling around to 10 different camps in 10 days as many of the tour companies provide.
The "land" cost of my trips (15 days from home to home) is about $4000 and with airfare from UK being about $1000 now (KLM), the total is about $5000.
I do not want an uncomfortable holiday for me or my people, so all of the camps are either luxury-tented camps or cottages. I know the drivers, and am comfortable with the fact that they know all of the areas that we visit plus they know the places to stay away from (for safety's sake).
This year, after my group returns to the UK, I'm staying on for a few more days and will trek to see the gorillas in Rwanda. For me, this will be one of the most exciting journeys I've ever been on...being there on 'their' terms ... ...face-to-face.

Anyway...I can certainly arrange any sort of holiday you'd like. If you'd like a week in Kenya and a week in Tanz, I can arrange it for you, understanding that your cost figures are limited to 'around $5k to $5.5k. Let me know and I'll make some enquiries.
If you care to join my group in September, let me know that too. If so, it would be great if you could find another couple to join, as I want to limit the number of bodies in each veh to no more than 5...and 4 would be great.

Cheers, and good luck to you.
Dick
P.S. By the way, I'm from Cleveland but live here in UK now.

We went to Kenya and Tanzania in 2001 with International Expeditions and were extremely pleased with the variety of experiences, the quality of the guides, and the accommodations. Their web site is ietravel.com. We paid about $5,000 each for 17 days, including air, although prices may have gone up since then. They also can arrange independent travel in addition to their small scheduled groups. Give them a try--we loved our experience.

My first safari was to Kenya and Tanzania in 1999, and I initially ordered the A&K brochure to get an idea of itineraries and prices, but after some research, I realized they had an incredible mark up and that I could book an identical trip myself for about half the price. What I did was contact the Kenya Consulate in New York (at that time I worked with Pam Oyugi, but I have no idea if she's still there). Anyway, the put me in touch with a Nairobi-based operator, who put together a private tour for us that was less than half of A&K's rate, and we stayed at the same lodges (we were able to identify the A&K crowd by their identical hats), but while they had around 6 people in their vehicles, we only had 2 and we were able to stay out as long as we liked and were not dependent on a fixed schedule. I understand that Roy's is very good, and they likely have a counterpart that they work with in Kenya, so I'd suggest pricing with them.

Smileyface:

I hate participating as a tour operator in any forum, and i am definitely not posting this as an advertisement to this post. I just thought that while you consider other options - if you like - I don't mind working on a quotation for you. I do not expect a booking or anything, it's just to help you determine a reasonable price to negotiate with the tour operator you choose.

I work with Africa Safaris [in operation for 8 years, offices in USA and Kenya, and member of KATO / APTA] as a Safari Specialist and i think it may be possible for a tour operator to customize a safari for you around that price range.

You can send me an e-mail [at [email protected]] with what you have in mind or visit this page for a custom safari builder: http://tulipweb.com/custom_safari.html

[i'd rather not post prices and itinerary on this forum as that would probably be unfair practice]

I can then just send you a quote based on the prices we charge and you could just use them simply for comparison purposes.

I'd say yes to Roy Safaris, but absolutely NO to International Expeditions. Bad experience. Liz

Soniya-
The purpose of this forum is to share information with other travelers. I kinda have a problem with your last post. If I'm the only one then I guess its okay. But most of us want to know itineraries and prices. I would think that if business is obtained outside of this forum its okay. If its done here then why not post it all right here? Just what I think. It sounds like otherwise you're acting as tour operator with commissions, etc. Thanks, Liz.

Hi Liz, I agree with your post and how it may seem that way. I just thought it would be the other way round, that is, if i posted itineraries and prices here it would mean i am trying to 'sell'. So basically, i know now that it works as a bad idea both ways! I am sorry if offended anyone else..guess i was just trying to be helpful. :)

Soniya-
Sometimes you just can't win for losing, right? Sorry if I made it sound that way. I disagree that if you post itineraries and prices you are worse off. You don't have to get that specific. We are better off. As long as it is above board you raise less suspicion, but as a TA you are always suspect. I think most people want real travelers (as opposed to agents on fam trips) comments about the good, bad and ugly. Most have their own agents opinions and aren't looking for more of that. I think they want people's opinions who have nothing to gain or lose. Agents get a commission even if its just for a referral, so it doesn't seem genuine to promote something where it will cost one of us more than we might get it from someone who recently found a 'good deal'. ;-D
Liz

Actually, Liz I am not just a 'travel agent'. I lived in Kenya my whole life and just moved to the USA. We never accept fam-trips, we like to pay our way and show up un-announced and experience the places just like the average traveler [like you] would. Furthermore, i haven't been a travel agent my whole life. I co-produced the Pictorial Kenya CD with a friend which was a Kenyan Tourism promotion we did at our own expense. During the production of the cd i travelled Kenya extensively, - again at my own expense.

oops..hit the button before i was finished!

I just also wanted to clarify that i am really not particpating in these forums for commission or as an agent for that matter. Anyway, really, you don't get commissions through referrals that easy! In all my posts so far, i have just provided free, genuinely felt information without expecting something in return. I am here for the exact same reason everyone else is - to receive and give advice to travelers based on personal experiences. I think i'll stay clear of this thread now..

SmileyFace:

Here are two other options you might try. Contact Torben at Southern Cross Safaris.com (office in Mombasa) and he can set up your own private safari for you, and then you just need to book your air from US. I have used Southern Cross for my three trips the last three years and they are extremely fair in their prices (3,400 for 17 days in Kenya).

The other option I would consider is accessing Blockhotelske.com. Block Hotels have many hotels and lodges all over Kenya. They are not extremely fancy but are really quite comfortable. They have flying packages as well as beach packages. For instance the going rate at Ol Tukai Lodge is 160.00 per day plus 30.00 for game drives. However, if you purchase the flying package you save big time. I stayed for a whole week in January. Had I bought the going rate it would have cost me 1,540 for the week, but with the flying package it came to 919.00 for the entire week (room, meals, and game drives). Block has places at Indian Ocean Club, Keekorok Lodge, Lake Baringo, Lake Naivasha, Larsens Camp, Nyali Beach Club, Ol Tukai Lodge, Outspan Club, Samburu Lodge and the Lankmark in Nairobi. It is well looking into.

No matter how you decide to book your trip, I know you will absolutely love Kenya. It grows on you oh so fast!!

Jan

Hi Liz, I just "had" to jump in. I have always enjoyed this forum except for one person. I shared everything with her. I spent lots of time giving her ALL my contacts & experiences,yet when I asked a simple question as to who she was booking through(after all my help) she would not reveal it. It must be top secret!! Anyways, that has really soured me on this otherwise people friendly forum. So not everyone shares like you.

Patty

I hope you don't mind my asking but I'm curious about what you shared?

Were your contacts travel agents/ guides or just other travellers with info to share or something else?

It's very easy to be stalked online - I know a few people who have had incredibly bad experiences - so it may simply be that your desire to share contacts came across as pushy and/ or commercial and put your correspondent off.

Just a thought. I really don't want to offend anyone.

Anyway, my personal take on the question raised above is that I'm keen to hear from people working in the travel industry about their genuine thoughts and experiences of our favourite destinations but prefer not to see posts offering extra advice by email or offering to quote for a trip etc - to me that's making it commercial.

I worked in a UK tour operator for years - although I worked in IT Training - not in Sales. The company dealt mainly in beach packages and not at all in the kind of independent travel discussed on Fodors but I was still able to give occasional insights based on working there which were not made with the intention of garnering business for my employers.

Patty-
I have suspected for a while now that you too are a travel agent and I know you have been bearing down real hard on "one person". Sorry to say this but it is beginning to sour on me and I wonder why the insistence? If you are a travel agent and trying to do business here I have a problem with it. If not whats the big deal? Sorry but I don't have one of those cute smiley faces to put there. Just thought a word to the wise might be sufficient. Now if you start in on me, you'll be biting off more than you can chew. haha. Liz

Hello Liz, If I was a travel agent,I would "say" so. All I did was go out of my way to help people which is by the way, something I like to do. You don't know me so it is unfair to say something that is very far removed from the truth. I just don't enjoy being used like I was,that is all. I have no desire to argue with anyone for that is not my style whatsoever. You have misunderstood-I don't do things like that . As a matter of fact,I am a teacher.

Dear Kavey, I like the way you put the question. Firstly, I am way way far removed from being a travel agent. I just have the wanderlust-that's all I'm guilty of. But I do enjoy helping people.
Someone asked for for help-that is as simple as it gets. So I shared everything with this person;from my impressions of different sites seen in SA to people that I had encountered down there to restaurants,medications-the whole 9 yards. By the way, I do not profess to be an expert-far from it. But I was invited by friends there that are afrikaners plus my german friend and they gave me and shared with me some fabulous experiences that I may not have had had I gone as a tourist-I was lucky.
But I spent a lot of time sending this person all kinds of information on travel agents used over there who had arranged some wonderful things for me. Anyways, when I had asked a simple question, there was not a shred of decency. So that soured me,and I told this person how I felt -no one likes to be used. Other then that,it has been generally good experiences.

Hello again. I was out for the afternoon and I just got back. Hit a Royal Flush and two sets of Deuces Wild. Yay! Now I cannot see for the life of me why Patty is so upset. Why offer to help someone and have a hidden agenda? What did you want back? Why did that person owe you anything? I just don't get it. Get over it. Go on and never, ever email with anyone here again. But please quit badmouthing someone here like we want to hear it. If you knew what some of the posters here have done to help others without any thought of a debt being owed. Kavey and Evelyn Travel helped me immensely when I was planning my trip to Botswana. Heaven help me if either would have carried on like you are. Lets move on, please. Liz

My lord, Liz-I have no hidden agenda-like I said,that's not what I am about. I do agree with you mostly everyone is extremely helpful but all I said was that when one goes out of their way for someone -no I do not expect anything naturally but when you ask a simple question,it is appreciated that after helping someone they can do the same. The old adage-do unto others. No need to deliver lectures Liz. I have moved on & this person e-mailed me.

I am taking this tour in August using Smartours a NY based company. They run this tour over xmas for about $4,000 from atlanta. I have taken their tour of India and Nepal, and their tour of Vietnam Cambodia and Thailand. They run a great tour. You can see their site at
http://www.smartours.net/kenya.htm

It cost nothing to check them out.