Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

There were many highlights with wonderul sunrises, sunsets, stunning wildlife with excellent commentary by the guides and of course the excellent company of the others in the group. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Both guides were extremly imformative and kept us on schedule but allowing the group to set the pace when possible. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

The visa cost is now $50 and it can be a lenghty process getting it at the airport.  The balloon trip is well worth doing as it incorporated a personal game drive back to camp as well as the champagne breakfast so you don't feel that you are missing out on any game drives.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the Masai Mara in a golden late afternoon light with animals grazing and no other vehicles in sight; seeing two crowned cranes and realising that they had a chick and hearing our guide Robert get emotional about baby giraffes!

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had two guides - Davis and Robert. Davis was the leader and was excellent. He was a good organiser, listened to feedback and did everything he could to make our trip memorable. Robert was excellent too - I think a lot of us developed a soft spot for him!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Yes - go on this trip. You wont regret it!

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing my grandson's wonder at seeing his first giraffeBing close to lions watching them eat their prey and mateHearing baby baboons playing on the deck of our lodge in the early morning

Thoughts on Group Leader

Both leaders were efficient and helpful.   Ben in particular was friendly and approacable

Advice for Potential Travellers

If possible go and stay in Nairobi overnight as the first day is hard especially with the long drive

Suggestions

It would help if insurance details and chat could be done before or on line as the long stop in cafe on first day's journey was frustratingThe only upsetting aspect is the numer of jeeps round the animals  particularly at busy times of the day so good to go out earlyWe loved the eco camp, the setting and everything about it

Most Inspirational Moment

Wanting to see a leopard and our guide trying hard to make sure we did.  So not only did we find one camouflaged within the bushes - hard to see but having just made a 'kill' spreadeagled it across leaf-free branches of a tree as if if she had pinned it up there to skin it.  Does not sound much but it was one of my highlights.Seeing my first close up of  - giraffe, a lioness and her cubs, two cheetahs; baby elephants, hippos doing synchronised swimming; a stubborn buffalo occupying our picnic spot; a wildebeast silhouetted against the sunset  sky;....two big Rhinos walking in front of the van and then their back view going off across the land - 'priceless' ; the scurrying of the funny warthogs

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was very good on the whole and very friendly - we think he had a couple of 'down' days but we managed to lift his spirits!!Sometimes I felt though that he did not know how Exodus inform us in advance about the trip - we asked about the migration and he did not seem to understand that it could happen in October whereas it was in the trip notes (?). I I was pretty sure of when we asked him.?

Advice for Potential Travellers

If not very clued up - try to get an idea from someone (previous traveller to that area) who is a good barterer to advise you what is reasonable and what is too much!?   I felt a bit inadequate and nearly got very stung!  I did not know what I needed to specifically  ask or check about this essential learning curve when I had my Exodus contact to ask prior to the trip.

Suggestions

I wish I had lots of money and could go on lots more of your trips.  I would say to everyone that if they do no other 'challenge or experience' in their life, they should experience this.  Wonderful - a week which will stay with me forever and the photos I have are there to constantly remind me of the beauty not only of the animals in the Mara but everywhere we went. However, photos don't quite beat the real animal there in front of you!!.I wish - knowing the amount of money received from tourism  they could use it to make the road to Mara smoother, suffering from a trapped nerve in your back then travelling hours across rubble filled roads - not ideal!  Perhaps they could improve the sanitation (toilet stops) from that money too - but I am asking for the 'completely unlikely in my lifetime' no doubt.  Wonderful trip....Thank you!

Most Inspirational Moment

Viewing the poverty in Kenya.Having a black rhino run across the road directly in front of us.Watching two lions copulate.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ben did his best to make our trip as enjoyable as possible. He made us feel a little uncomfortable about not going to the Masai village but I guess he wants us to contribute to the local community. However, we stood firm and did not go (although we did make a contribution to the village). Other than that, he was excellent. Very knowledgeable about the area and the wildlife. He also had a good sense of humour which is very important when you're stuck together for 6 days. He worked incredibly hard (long driving days, animal spotting, organising us and our accommodation, serving lunch, etc.) for which we were very grateful.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for a non-stop trip full of activities (we hardly had time to shower some days)! Early to bed and early to rise as far as this trip is concerned.It's as easy to take US dollars as it is Kenyan shillings.

Most Inspirational Moment

The wildlife safaris where excellent and the game viewing was amazing.  I think seeing a cheetah coming to within 1 metre of our truck was the most thrilling part of the trip.

Thoughts on Group Leader

good

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you are travelling on a budget, then stock up on alcoholic drinks in stone town as the bar prices are quite high in the zanzibar resort.

Most Inspirational Moment

My first sight of the Rift Valley was jaw-dropping, followed later on by a walk with the best wildlife guide I've ever walked with (Joseph - Lake Elementaita Lodge).Sunset on The Mara was beautiful, a magical experience.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very knowledgeable and professional.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Read the excellent travel notes prior to booking so you know what to expect. Unlike some other companies, Exodus aren't afraid to put in the not so pleasant parts of the trip, eg 3 hours on dirt roads, so you really do understand the itinerary.

Suggestions

Wish I'd chosen Exodus before now!

Most Inspirational Moment

See lions on our first foray into the Mara was a great start to being in the area. Also the day we spent by the Mara river was just amazing. We were a few days late for the great migration but they were still thousands of animals about, pretty awe inspring stuff.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Charles was first class and was ably assited by Robert. They both tried very hard for us to see qas muhc as possible. We only missed out on cheetah and leopard and saw lots of lions so can't grumble too much. They organised everything very well and were very accomodating of the group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you are thinking about doing this trip and can't quite make your mind up, my advice would be DO IT!!! It really is holiday of a lifetime stuff. We had one disspointment along the way and that was a slight debacle around the hot air balloon ride but even then the rest of it was so good it wasn't too bad.Don't get too concerned about the mosquito's - we didnt see that many at all which was a relief.Take most of you money in Dollars, and you will spend a bit more than you think - drinks were fairly expensive at the camp in the Mara (which is incredible by the way!) and at the lodge in Zanzibar. Book the Ballon ride when you get there - see below.

Suggestions

Exodus does need to look at the hot air ballon ride. It is an expensive thing to do and call me naive but i expected there to be no problem with it actually taking place.....We did as we we told and booked prior to going on the trip wheras some of the others booked through Charles when we were there. it turned out that they had a wonderful experience and the Balloon went up without a hitch whereas our trip was ultimately cancelled because of the wind. The reason for this is that the launch site for us is basically in a poor area and the pilot had said that he hadn't been up for the ten days before we went! The other guys, although they had to travel further (and get up earlier to get there), took off from a site that was better protected from the wind near the Mara river and had more things to see in any case. We were really disappointed on the day as we had built ourselves up for an amazing experience only to be let down because it was a rubbish take off site.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing Rhino's on Christmas Day.Seeing dolphins in the wild for the first time.Sailing regatta with the locals from the Fumba village on New Years Eve.Dinner on the beach on our last night at Funba Beach Resort.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Robert was full of knowledge about the animals.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Find out about tipping from your guide.  It would be useful to take some small notes with you as everyone expects a tip.

Suggestions

Thanks - I had such a great Christmas and New Year.  It certainly beat being at home where everyone seemed to be ill.  I would recommend this trip to anyone who wants to experience a trip of a lifetime.

Most Inspirational Moment

On our last morning we went out on a game drive and were lucky enough to follow a male lion who then met up with his 2 brothers which we thought was incredible. More was to come, however, with the alpha male insisting that a lioness be banished from the pride. What followed was a scene from the Lion King with one male chasing the female up and down the river bank and hounding her away from the group. To make his feelings very clear, the alpha male then roared with the loudest noise I have ever heard. It was truly an incredible experience that we were very fortunate to have watched and witnessed.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Charles, our group leader, was very well informed and helpful. I learned more about Kenyan politics than I probably needed to know but we trusted Charles and his local knowledge. He also ensured our safety by securing us a flight out of the Masai Mara rather than risk the 6 hour journey in very volatile circumstances.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I would thoroughly recommend this trip. Lake Elementatia whilst still firmly stuck in Edwardian times was an experience but be aware that the accommodation is not quite up to the standard you might be expecting, especially if recently arrived from the UK. We were lucky enough to stay at Basecamp Explorer which is an incredible project to be a part of - do some research about it before you go. It's still a long way to go, and quite an expensive trip, for only 5 nights accommodation - consider going to Lamu or Zanzibar as an extension to make the very most of the trip.

Suggestions

Even though the news about Kenya is very worrying, the local people rely on tourism for their livelihood with each person in employment supporting between 5 and 10 others so if they lose their jobs, many miss out. Consider supporting the Kenyans by not disregarding the trip out of hand because of the troubles. We were very well looked after and the Masai people are not involved in the troubles and need supporting. This is a great trip that will certainly show you the Africa that you've been dreaming of.