Sunworld Safari - Can you recommend a guide?
 

Hi everybody,

can anyone recommend a guide working with sunworld safari?
Trip will be around two weeks all driving from Nai to Samburu (not yet decided if we make a stopover in Lewa or Meru) to Nakuru to Masai Mara. Then finally flight back on the last day.
It's just the two of us and we would appreciate good skills;-))

Thanks for help!

nobody seems to know sunworld safari. And I was told they do all the BBC driving...

Still nobody for sunworld safari. Does that mean that nobody ever did a safari with them?

Apparently not!

Did you ask Sunworld for references of regular clients so you can obtain some feedback as to their services, client satisfaction (or not), guides, etc.

steffid, if you were to ask next year I could tell you,We're travelling with them next March, but our Aussie agent used them when he went on his honeymoon last year and was quite impressed, not much help really I guess.

Hi Sally,

thank you so much!
Next year would not be much help, we plan to go in August this year. They show all their guides on the homepage but recommendations are always better;-)

Saw your itinerary - you will have a wonderful trip for sure!!

Steff

Hi steffid,

I can recommend all of the guides from Sunworld Safaris and have used this company for 5 trips myself and booked them on behalf of friends !

Yes, they provide vehicles for the BBC and their driver/guides act as spotters for the film production crew.

The 2 guides that I have spent the best times with are John Njenga in 2004 and with Francis in Feb. 2008. Francis was given the highest praise by the manager, Mike Norris, of Larsens Camp - we were told that we were being guided by the best and that Mike would love to poach him from Sunworld.

All of the driver/guides working for Sunworld are qualified with the Kenya Professional Safari Guide Association and are good company as well as extremely informative, we have had some spectacular sights that few others can rival.

My husband and I cannot recommend Sunworld Safaris highly enough - Gabriele Nowak is delightful to meet and always ensures that their guests are well taken care of, their vehicles are all in excellent condition and cleaned on a daily basis - trust me, you will have a great time, don't use any other company !!

The driving in Kenya can be very bumpy and dusty, particularly the last hour and a half into Samburu but it is worth it - you get a great feel for the country. We would highly recommend Larsens Camp and also Elephant Watch Camp.

Macushla House is in Karen and is a great start point near to Giraffe Manor and the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage.

Why not try Sunworlds' own camp in the Mara, the Mara Bush Camp - small and simple but right in the middle of the best game viewing.

If you would like any more info just ask ............

Hi Devey,

this is wonderful information, thank you so much!!

I already got in touch with Herrmann Nowak, the brother of Gabriele who is running their european office in Vienna and he was very nice and helpful.

We planned to go first to Samburu and stay at Elephant Bedroom, then Nakuru (just 2 nights) Flamingo Hill Camp and then finally to the Mara, where we want to stay at Sunworld's Bush Camp for 4 nights and at Mara Explorer for 3 nights. What do you think? For Samburu and Nakuru would a minibus do?

We are still hesitant between Sunworld and our "own" company which we already used in the past. It was very nice with them and well organised. In case they will give us a good price, we would stay with them, but sunworld gave me a very good offer. And with your recommendation...

Steff

Hi Steff,

Once you've been in a 4x4 you would never ask about a minibus ever again !
I would go with Sunworld and use a 4x4, particularly if they have offered you a good price.
If you can afford the little bit extra, I would go to Larsens in Samburu and, even better, Elephant Watch Camp - it is unique especially if Oria Douglas-Hamilton is hosting the camp !
Your plans look fine - have a great trip and enjoy .........
Best wishes, Samantha

Hi Samantha,

thank you so much!

As soon as we decided what to choose, we will let you know.

BR
S

I've been in 4x4, in mini-vans, completely open vehicles w/o covering, and some with covering to protect from the sun. Granted the completely open vehicles are wonderful, but when out on the plains and it gets cold when the sun sets or early morning, give me a closed vehicle where I can roll up the windows.

If the vehicles (whichever) have been well maintained, I find the suspension on mini-vans better than the 4x4. If it's not wet, with slip/slide roads, in the dry season, the mini-vans suits me just fine.

Hi Sandi,

that's what I thought: we had a minibus for Amboseli where it was dry and then switched for 4X4 in Tanzania and the Mara which was very appropriate because we had very heavy rains causing muddy roads (if you can call it still a road).

Price diffrence is remarkable so we will most propably have a minibus for Samburu and Nakuru and then switch to 4X4 for the Mara.

Sandi: I decided to have two nights at SaSaab to have the chance of night drives and a nice bath in the pool (just to change from elephant Bedroom).

Steff

steff -

Then you'll have to report on SaSaab.