Kenya & Tanzania Adventure

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

Average Review Rating: from 44 reviews.

Clare Ellis

Hyena's & Vervet Monkeys Rule!

Written September 2008
Absolutely fantastic holiday and one i will never forget. I couldn't have asked for a better group and the wildlife was amazing.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Being chased by a Vervet monkey was hilarious but the Baboons weren't so nice. Seeing a Hyena make a kill was so unexpected. Camping in the Serengeti...hearing the wild animals so close to the tent at night was the experience of a life time.
The crater was unbelievable!! The thought that there was an elephant in the campsite was a bit scary but made it even more memorable. I would spend a week there if i could, there is so much wildlife to see. Walking to the first camp on Kilimanjaro was hard work but an amazing experience...
What did you think of your group leader?
All 3 were very good.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take some warm clothes!!! Many of us on our trip under-estimated how cold it could get whilst travelling on the truck. (Some sensible people took warm hats and gloves). It is worth taking a couple of fleeces.
Travellers Cheques are a nightmare to change. There are opportunities to change them but you will get a very poor exchange rate/charged per cheque. Dollars are definitely the preferred currency.
Be prepared for lots of optional extras. When you are not on game drives there are optional extra excursions most days and the only alternative is to stay in the camp site if you choose not to go.
Take a spare camera battery. Most people in our group had rechargeable batteries but there was only one plug socket on the truck, which meant we had to rotate charging between us.
Whilst you are there you get the option to walk to the first camp on Kilimanjaro. You MUST be fit to do it.... I am really glad i did it but is highly priced for what it is $130 ($60 of this is the entry fee to the park). You need to take some food with you as the lunch you are given isn't great.
The Masai market is not the cheapest place to by souvenirs. We found that if you are prepared to barter you get a much better deal in Zanzibar.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This holiday was the best!!
Camping is definitely the best way to experience Africa and what it has to offer.
You are on the go a lot of the time so some of us chose to do our own thing in Zanzibar and stayed at the beach for an extra day before making our way to Stone Town that evening. One day in the town was plenty to get around and do some souvenir shopping.
Brush up on your bargaining skills before you go and leave some room in your bag for souvenirs..
When you fly back to Nairobi from Zanzibar everyone trys to sit on the left side of the plane to get views of Kili but i was suprised that you can also see the Ngorogoro crater out to the right which noone mentioned to us..keep a look out.
Sharon Nobes

KENYA & TANZANIA ADVENTURE

Written March 2008
This holiday was truely excellent. Considering we all thought the holiday was going to be cancelled because of all the trouble in Kenya, Exodus done a really good job of making sure the holiday could go ahead. Basically we didn't go to Kenya because of the conflict, so our time in Tanzania was extended. So well done to all at Exodus who made it possible for us still to travel! Tanzania and Zanzibar were amazing - the people, the animals. A truly memorable experience.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Camping was great fun, especially in the Serengeti where facilities were at a bare minimum. I didn't wash and I didn't brush my hair for 3 days!!! Sounds gross, but it was really quite liberating! The safari part of the holiday in the Serengeti and Ngorogoro Crater was amazing, seeing all the animals in their own environment. It was quite an emotional experience - a few happy tears were shed by the group! We got close to most of the animals, but the best part was coming across a cheetah and her 3 baby cubs (so cute).
Meeting the locals in their villages was truely inspirational. They all seemed so friendly and welcoming considering the conditions some of them live in. You must go on the fair trade coffee tour. Its really interesting and you can't beat making your own coffee on the slopes of Mt Kilimanjaro!
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader Chris was great. Couldn't ask for more really. He was friendly and good fun, but was also really organised, and sorted out any of our problems with great speed - including helping one of the group who got sick and needed some medical advice. Also a big tumbs up to Jonas the cook, who done an amazing job. I still haven't figured out how he managed to cook us a great meal in the rain while we were all sheltering in the truck! And finally Doc was huge fun, and again really helpful when things didn't go to plan!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Remember to take a reasonably large day pack, as we didn't realise that when we went to the Serengeti for a few days we had to split up our luggage and take only bare essentials, leaving the majority of our gear on the truck. I had only a tiny back pack and it was a struggle to fit everything in.
Remember to haggle when buying goods. I got completly ripped off in Arusha when I bought a painting. But its my own fault for not getting to grips with the exchange rate, and also not realising that they expect you to haggle!
If you are a single traveller, bring some earplugs, as you may be sleeping in a small two man tent with a snorer!!
Keith Shuttlewood

Lions, elephants and warthogs!

Written November 2007
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Excellent trip. We saw the big five and far more. Highlights were a leopard with a kill, a family of elephants and a three month old rhino with its mum. Oh and the warthogs with young running away at high speed! The safari part is hard work but worth it. We enjoyed the semi-participatory and camping element as it felt you were far closer to the action (especially the wild camping in the Serengeti!) and felt part of Africa more than staying in lodges. The only downside was Zanzibar where the northern part is being developed and losing some of its exotic sparkle. It's a shame that the money coming into the beach area isn't finding it's way to the village which needs it. Overall a highly recommended holiday though.
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What did you think of your group leader?
Edwin and Leigh-Ann were brilliant, They worked hard to provide a safe and enjoyable trip for us. Pete is the Kenyan cook and somehow managed to provide really good, hot, three course meals from the back of the truck during the safari (thanks for the vege meals too Pete, the curries were delicious). All three were very good company and Pete is an excellent wildlife spotter!

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take at least two loo rolls! One is not enough as there are very few toilets providing loo roll upto Zanibar. Remember to take wet wipes too as it gets very dusty on board the truck and there aren't too many hot showers around. Believe me, these are very minor points in what for us was a holiday of a lifetime.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
One thing to mention which I believe may be covered more in the new trip notes is the optional trip to the school on the coffee walk. It is a walk worth doing but we would all have liked more warning so we could have taken pens and paper with us to give to the school rather than money as you cannot be sure it does go to the pupils.
Karin Pfetzer

A wonderful, wonderful experience

Written September 2007
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Seeing how people live in other parts of the world.
Just being on the road and seeing so much. The overland truck experience was perfect for me.
Sunrise in the Serengeti.
I loved the snorkeling off Zanzibar - it was like swimming in a natural aquarium.
Sunset on a boat off Kendwa beach.

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What did you think of your group leader?
Often ensured we had a great trip. He's a super organiser. Although we followed our busy schedule minutely we were never rushed. Everything seemed so easy. Often made everything accessible to us. Bernadier is a great cook and looked after us very, very well. Chris also did a great job.
On Zanzibar, the non-exodus organiser was much more "business"-like. You may want to consider just doing your own thing and enjoying the beach, and exploring Stone Town by yourself or with other members of the group.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Read the trip notes and you should be prepared.
Bring a camera and enough memory, binoculars would be good as well - there is just so much to see and so many moments to capture.
It can be cold at the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater at night, thermals would be useful.
On Zanzibar, the trip to Prison Island is not a "Must-do".
Be careful with food not prepared by the exodus cook, especially with fruit and salad and other uncooked foods - they may have been washed with contaminated water and may potentially give you diarrhea.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
All following holidays will have a lot to live up to!
There was never a boring moment. Every evening I was looking forward to the next day.
I was worried about the camping, but found it really easy and an essential part of the trip, it added to the experience.
Before the trip colleagues got me worried by saying that travelling with a group of people I don't know would be risking a Big Brother experience. How wrong they were. Our group was great. Everybody was ready for anything.
Gemma Willcock

More than I expected - all of the big 5 in two weeks. AMAZING

Written September 2007
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The entire group came together quickly and easily, so feeling like you're sharing the experience with others was great. And the volume of wildlife was sensational. I saw everything I'd dreamed of, and more. And .... in such close proximity.
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What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader, chef, and driver were brilliant. Everything was organised so smoothly. Things just seemed to happen so easily. They were all there when you wanted / needed them, yet didn't interfere with letting you explore the holiday for yourself.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If you are travelling by yourself - a group trip is a great way to go. I made some lasting friendships and had a great time (despite having left my boyfriend at home).
Richard Calrow

What a great way to spend a birthday!

Written September 2007
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

i have been to Africa on 5 different trips and surprisingly one of my favourite days of the trip was not seeing wildlife in Crater or Serengeti (which were incredible) but the day involving drive from Kenya to Lake Victoria
Early morning and long drive crossing the Tanzania border to Lake Victoria. The scenery in Tanzania was completely different than I expected with lots of spectacular boulders and villages. Lunch of sandwiches by a lake and had an improntu cattle drive by local herdsmen before we reached shores of Lake Victoria for couple of hours of serious chilling on the beach. Then had most unexpected, heavy and sudden thunderstorm ever seen but fortunately was stranded inside nice campsite bar. Others less fortunate were stranded in their tents and even in the shower block! A totally bizarre African experience
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What did you think of your group leader?
A real african overland veteran with over 25 Years of leading trips! Not a lot he didn't know about Africa if anything evening chats/briefings did go on but that was part of the experience!
Equally important to having good leader is a good cook and we were lucky !

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If you like wandering about by yourself and doing your own things this is NOT the holiday for you as you are tied down by the group timetable and the inevitable early starts for game drives. If you think you are to loose weight you won't as most nights spent either round the camp fire with a feer berrs/bar and have some yummy food which is plentiful.
You must be fairly laid back and be open minded to new experiences and seeing great wildlike and some diverse scenery. Together with ability to chill in Zanzibar
Bring some long johns (for ngoggoro crater) and plenty of camera batterys as charger on our truck did not work!
Jennifer Clegg

The best holiday EVER!

Written September 2007
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Watching the moon rise over the Ngorgor Crater. Lying in my sleeping bag listening to lions roar scarily near by!
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What did you think of your group leader?
The group leader was great, but the assistant was even better! There are huge differences in culture and the way we might speak so that at times the leader appeared to be bad tempered or impatient. The cook was amazing, the kettle was on even before the truck had stopped!
It was great to have native African leaders, they were able to give us a unique insight to the culture of the people.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take snacks with you. One quite a few days the gaps between meals were too big and there were no snack on offer. I look alpen bars and dried fruit because you need something that will not be affected by the heat. There were a few stops, but the only chocloate and crisps were available.
Remember toilet roll! It isn't on the kit list, but they do not provide it.
Wet wipes are invaluable!!!
Take lots of spare batteries and memory cards for your camera, there are a couple of opportunities to charge batteries so a charger is also useful.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This was the most memorable, amazing trip I have ever been on. Whilst those looking for a bit of comfort might not enjoy the camping aspect and the long drop toilets (it was lovely to get back to heathrow and see a "real toilet wiht toilet roll and sinks!!!),\ I would go back tomorrow. The warmth of the people, the faces of the children and the awsome animals make it a trip to remember. I wasn't as keen on the Zanzibar few days and would give that a miss next time in favour of a few more days on Safari, but beaches aren't really my thing. If you want to see lots of animals, beautiful scenery and learn about the people I would not hesitate to recommend this holiday, you'll love it!