Clients Trip Reports East Africa: Jan – Mar 2026

Classic Safari to Tanzania and Kenya with Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

Hi Shelley,

Trip was wonderful. …Arusha National Park and canoeing there was fun.  Probably not a necessary day but given we wanted a bit of time to adjust to time difference, it was a nice way to spend the day.

Martin was absolutely the best.  Great at spotting things, very good knowledge about animals/birds/plants.  I feel like I left a friend behind when we said goodbye.  Our guide Vinny at Kicheche was excellent too.  …Gibbs Farm was a lovely place to have lunch and tour of gardens.

The Crater, Ndutu, eastern Serengeti, and Mara North provided a really good mix of environments and animal watching. That worked out really well.

The day in Entebbe was worth it as we enjoyed the trip to see the shoebill.   Our driver ended up spending the afternoon taking us to lunch, the botanic gardens, and the local market.  

The first day in Buhoma, we did the community tour which was great. Visited the Batwa people, learned about coffee and making banana beer and gin, and most importantly life in the village.

Gorilla trekking was quite an experience. We ended up doing “medium” treks both days which was fairly challenging for me but doable especially with the porters.

In Nairobi, we did the Nai Nami tour which was eye opening.  Jonathan also took us to railroad history museum and to Karen Blixen’s house.

Gran Meliá was nice. Grounds were great for bird spotting too! Ngorongoro Lodge Melia was a perfect spot and nice to be close to crater to get there early in the morning. Siringit Migration Camp and Serengeti Plains Camp were both very nice accommodations, service and food.  The setting of Serengeti Plains Camp was particularly beautiful. But Kicheche Mara North Camp – that was crazy good service and the food – wow!  We loved the sunset appetizers and drinks while out with our guide. 

Mahogany Springs was a beautiful setting…

Crowne Plaza was a good place to stay due to close airport access…

All of the transfers and logistics worked well and according to plan. The mix of locations and activities was perfect. 

Chris and Debbie Bostak, Feb/Mar 2026

 

Tanzania Premier Flying Safari

Alison,

Thank you for your e-mail.  We thoroughly enjoyed the trip and the schedule worked out very well.  All three destinations were unique and enjoyable.  We had a couple of afternoons and evenings of rain, but overall, the cloud cover and moisture was very much welcomed. 

Chem Chem Lodge staff was fantastic, and they treated us as royalty.  Fortunately, for us, for both days we were the only guests, so the focused personal treatment was a joy.

Siringit Migration Camp was the experience we had hoped for with a little more rustic setting in Ndutu.  The game drives were great with Tito as an excellent guide allowing us to see the lions, and even a leopard sleeping in a tree only feet from us.

Certainly, the most elegant and exciting portion of the trip was at Namiri Plains.  The game drives were amazing as we were able to witness a cheetah chase and killing of a gazelle.  It was truly amazing.  The overall setting in the Serengeti is special and something we will never forget.  Once again, the staff was exceptional and unforgettable.

As you mentioned, the trip home was interrupted by the delayed flights which required a last-minute scramble to find transportation to DAR in advance of our KLM flight to AMS. Your team were extremely helpful and professional as the scramble was fully handled by both…

Overall, the trip was fantastic and choosing your firm to prepare and oversee the trip was certainly the right choice for us.

Thank you…

Jim and Tami Roberts, Feb-Mar 2026

 

Private Egyptian Tour & Luxury Sky Safari to Tanzania

Hi Miles –

A short review of my recent trip to Cairo and Tanzania.

I really appreciated the meet-and-greet services and transfers throughout the trip—they made everything feel seamless from the moment I arrived until the end of my journey. It was reassuring to have everything so well coordinated.

In Egypt, Noha Sidky was an excellent guide.

Our group in Tanzania was wonderful as well. There were seven of us in total, and it ended up being a great mix. Two other solo women around my age were part of the group, and we got along extremely well, which made the experience even more enjoyable.

In Tanzania, I really liked Tarangire Treetops—it was a very unique and memorable place to stay. I loved The Manor at Ngorongoro. The property itself was beautiful, and we had some fantastic wildlife sightings in the crater, including both a rhino and a leopard. The wildlife density there was the best we saw during the entire trip.

…the trip overall was fantastic, and I would highly recommend The Africa Adventure Company to other travelers.

Kathy Spinabella, Feb/Mar 2026

 

Kenya Exclusive Locations with Great Plains

It was a perfect trip. Great Plains runs wonderful camps – the food is excellent; the comfort of the lodgings and the staff are also excellent. And of course, the game viewing – particularly the time we were able to spend with the animals watching their behaviors is fabulous. Daniel at Mara Plains and Samson at Mara Nyika were wonderful guides and very nice to be with. The birding day in Nairobi was also very good – would highly recommend Ben, the birding guide. All logistics worked well. The trip exceeded our expectations.

We are already thinking about the next trip. 

Steve & Carole Levin, Feb-Mar 2026

 

Flying Safari to Kenya

The trip was well-organized and nearly seamless, with professional service from your team on the ground. Wildlife viewing, weather, and timing were excellent. Logistics, packing guidance, and tipping advice were all helpful.

Crowne Plaza Nairobi Airport hotel stay was comfortable with good breakfast. 

Our safari guide Wilfred was on time and made a great first impression, the initial briefing was thorough.  The Mto wa Mbu cultural tour was an unexpected treat.  Our guide was very pleasant.  The walking tour was excellent and very insightful.  Lunch in the banana plantation was great and we enjoyed the visit to the local Chagga banana beer watering hole.

Ngorongoro Crater is not to be missed, it was a great way to start our safari and we saw four of the Big Five in the crater – a rhino from afar but no leopard.  The drive to Camp Zebra was a great introduction to the area.  We enjoyed seeing the remote, authentic Maasai villages, the herders and the women selling honey by the roadside.

Camp Zebra is very nice and the facilities are very good with great staff.  Buffet style meals are excellent.  We especially enjoyed the evening campfires and chatting with the other guests, the hot water bottles in bed, the growling lions at night and zebra grazing right next to the tent.  We really enjoyed our personal bush dinner for two.  Thanks!

Ndutu / Southern Serengeti game drives were outstanding with diverse wildlife and off-road access, making encounters frequent and uncrowded.  We saw a tremendous variety of wildlife.

Our safari guide Wilfred and your team on the ground were highly professional and it was a treat to have a very new 2025 safari vehicle.

Nairobi day tour included Sheldrick Wildlife Trust which was crowded but fun, the Giraffe Center, a quick, entertaining tour, and Karen Blixen Museum which was a learning experience enjoyed by all.

Tortilis Camp in Amboseli National Park is a great place.  The view of Kilimanjaro out of our tent door was great. Sitting at the bar and watching wildlife at the pond was non-stop entertainment. Meals and the bar service were special.  Huge, tusked elephants and an abundance of waterfowl in the park make this a worthwhile safari stop.  Our vehicles and guides (Ali and Kasoo) were very good.  We really enjoyed our bush breakfast on the first day and the sunset hilltop cocktail hour on our final evening.

Speke’s Camp in the Maasai Mara had us seeing mating lions within 30mins of arriving at the airstrip.  This is another area where the safari vehicles can be driven off-road.  It makes the encounters much more frequent.  There was a tremendous variety of birds and animals.  Having both a driver and a spotter was an interesting change and they did a great job.  Speke’s Camp is uniquely decorated and had a nice ‘old school’ ambiance.  The tents were large and we enjoyed hot water on request shower service.

Peponi Hotel on Lamu Island had great service and the food was excellent.  It was a nice place to relax and the meals and drinks were affordable.  The sunset sail on a dhow was a great way to spend our final evening in East Africa.

Every interaction with your team on the ground was good.  They were always where they were supposed to be and they were always on time.  The meet and assists service at the airport was an unexpected treat and saved us time.

The trip was as close to a seamless trip as we have ever had, everything went according to plan.  Our timing was good and we had great wildlife viewing and the weather was great.  The packing list was spot-on and the tipping guidelines were greatly appreciated.  Your team on the ground were very professional.

Thank you!

Cassie & Bill Swanson, Feb 2026

 

Great Migration Calving Safari to Tanzania

I want to tell you how wonderful my trip was – everything was so easy and so well thought out.  Our guide Ephata was GREAT and just a wealth of information, he really knows his stuff, and we loved him and learnt a lot from him.

All accommodations were good and I enjoyed experiencing three different types of properties (Tarangire Ndovu, Ngorongoro Lion’s Paw and Siringit Migration Camp).  The food was great. 

I have never been on a trip this well planned – never had an experience to this extent.  Everything flowed so smoothly. 

I did the balloon safari and thought it would be tiny but couldn’t believe how giant it was.  Nearly didn’t do it but I’m so happy I booked it as the experience was wonderful.  I also really enjoyed the canoe safari in Momella Lake, the huge lake is very mellow and calm, and I had so much fun riding around in the water.

Holli Traeumer, Feb 2026

 

Classic Kenya Flying Safari

Dear Africa Adventure Company,

Like every time we overheard a new group arrive at a lodge saying “everything is just amazing” I will start this thank you with – everything on this safari was just amazing.

This trip to Kenya far exceeded our expectations. 

The best was all the animals that we encountered. We saw every animal that I had hoped to see and then some. Our guides were excellent at getting us just where we needed to be to see animals at rest, on the move, and in action. We were also very appreciate of the guides respect for the animals and the other guests trying to experience the same event.

I do not know who assigned our guides, but all three were excellent. They were knowledgeable, patient, and tuned into our personalities and expectations. 

The three lodges were fabulous (Tawi Lodge, Kifaru House and Offbeat Ndoto). Needless to say being upgraded to Kifaru House was a special treat. But, we found special things about each of the three lodges. Wonderful people, delicious food, comfortable/luxurious accommodations. You have done an excellent job of vetting what you offer your clients! And moving three times was just enough to feel settled in and to feel that we hadn’t missed anything.

Being a part-time guide here in the Dordogne I really really appreciated that I never had to think about any transition. Again your staff was prompt and courteous. Truly not a moment of concern.

Your advance info was helpful – but the best was the suggestion to organize tipping. This was extremely important to me – and even with this heads up we came home with an empty wallet… 

Last but not least thank you for the special dinner on the savanna our last evening. It was delicious and magical. Hyena howling, the moon setting and then surrounded by a soft African night. We miss it!

Like I said all this exceeded our expectations. 

Thank you!!

Susan and Tom Vieth, Jan 2026

 

Birthday Celebration Conservation Safari to Kenya

Thank you for your kind message, coming back home has been very hard.

We absolutely loved our trip!  This was the most amazing experience from start to finish.  You really organized an incredible experience for us.  The level of service and detail were over the top.  We would be happy to serve as a reference for prospective clients.  The Safari Collection camps were outstanding (Sasaab, Sala’s Camp and Giraffe Manor).  We have some amazing photos and videos which I will share with you.  Andy was thrilled to see so many cats and the special birthday celebration at Sasaab was really appreciated.

Thank you again for everything,

Susan Cloutier, Dec 2025-Jan 2026 

 

Family Safari to Kenya

Dear Mark and team,

Bob and I want to thank you all for planning the trip of a lifetime for us and our kids. The variety of locations and camps gave us a feel for different areas in the country and different viewing opportunities. The level of warmth and hospitality at each camp was topnotch. Our guides were all knowledgeable and great choices for being with kids. Here are some more details about each camp, with some highlights.

• Tortilis at Amboseli

The setting of this camp, with views of Mt Kilimanjaro, is spectacular. The lounge area, with its views and breezes, was a wonderful place to hang out or read. The dining room was lovely, and the food and service were excellent. 

Our guide, Albert, was friendly, warm, and easy to engage. He worked hard to find as many viewing opportunities as possible… Sunrise over Kilimanjaro, with breakfast in the bush, was a highlight, as were the elephants. 

• Ol Pejeta Bush Camp

The setting of this camp was amazing, with a steady stream of animals passing by. The lounge/dining area was so comfortable, also a place to read, play a game, or just watch the animals. We really enjoyed getting to know other visitors as well as the staff at this camp*. The managers, our guide Abdi, and Robert, Jonathan, and Duncan were a pleasure to be with. The food was great and the homemade lemonade inspired us to try making it at home.

Of course, the rhinos were a highlight, along with our bush breakfast and sun-downers! Abdi was so knowledgeable, and relentless in his efforts to show us as much as possible. 

* We especially enjoyed the informality of Ol Pejeta—communal meals at times, getting to know the managers. I think it might have been my overall favorite. 

• Elephant Pepper in the Masai Mara

It’s more difficult to refer to the setting of this camp, as we had rain for much of our visit. The rain didn’t derail our overall experience, as we had ample opportunities to see the wildlife. But we didn’t spend much other time outside. The size of our tents gave us a comfortable alternative, though. And the furnishings made me feel as though I was in Out of Africa; our daughter felt as though she was traveling with Queen Elizabeth, during colonial times!

Our guide, Sammy, was topnotch. I thought Abdi would be a tough act to follow, but Sammy managed to wow us as well. Smart, passionate, knowledgeable of the geopolitical situation, and a wiz at moving us around the conservancy. We saw the big cats, multiple times, and up close. Highlights included the leopard and cub that ran right under our jeep, the cheetahs up close, and the endless hippos in the river. And we were grateful for the lined, hooded ponchos, and the hot water bottles in bed at night!

We’re thrilled that we decided to visit the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. We saw 12 elephants, 1 rhino, and 1 zebra, and learned about how they were found, cared for, and eventually reintegrated into the wild.

From our airport pickup on arrival and drop-off at departure, there wasn’t a single hitch to the flow. Mark, you are 2 for 2, with Tanzania (2014) and Kenya (2025). Hopefully, Botswana can happen in the not-too-distant future. 

Wishing you a healthy, happy, and peaceful 2026.

Many thanks,

Robert & Barbara Fierman, Dec 2025

 

Celebratory Safari to Tanzania and Rwanda Gorilla Trekking

Dear Alison, 

I don’t even know where to begin, except to say thank you for planning this amazing trip for us. It was everything I had hoped for in terms of having my family together away from the pull of everyday life. The game drives and treks gave us a captivating shared activity, and we were all thrilled when we would meet our goal of finding a particular animal. We loved learning about the wildlife and culture from Martin, and we depended on Mark’s Field Guide for detail and confirmation. What an amazing experience to be immersed in that vast, largely untouched wilderness! We enjoyed the evenings discussing and reliving our days while relaxing in camp or around a good meal. The birthday celebrations at each stop made it extra memorable!  

We enjoyed each accommodation in its own way, and the additional “excursions,” i.e., the bush lunch and the balloon safari, exceeded expectations. Your attention to detail for transfer assistance made logistics a breeze! The woman who met us in Nairobi was especially helpful when we had a tight connection! And as I think I mentioned before, your tipping guide was invaluable! I have already recommended you to all of my friends who inquire!

Some of the details are already running together, but highlights included:

• Martin! He was the perfect guide for our family. He answered every question and anticipated every need in a very professional, good-natured manner. He was able to read our moods and tailor our activities accordingly. We felt completely safe and taken care of with him, and over the course of the week we got to know each other and developed a true fondness for him. We all still miss him!
• Sambora Kinigi Lodge (Volcanoes National Park)…top of mind because it was our last stop, but it was our favorite of all of our accommodations. The crackling fire felt so welcoming when we arrived there in the rain. The decor was cozy and comfortable, the food was outstanding, and the service was so personal…to the point they made me rice one night when I had an upset stomach and they noticed I hadn’t eaten my dinner! They also have the trekking protocol down to a science. From putting on our gaiters and lending rain jackets, to cleaning our hiking shoes, they made it so easy. I know they are in the process of expanding, and I hope they keep their “vibe!”

• Our second favorite was Lake Burunge Tented (near Lake Manyara-Tarangire corridor). Again, the service was very personal and welcoming. We loved seeing the wildlife roaming outside our tents and enjoyed breakfasts outside and dinners in the lodge. One afternoon, my daughter and I even relaxed (I fell asleep!) by the pool.

• The tented camp was surprisingly comfortable. I was relieved there was a bathroom in each tent, and the bucket shower was very adequate! We loved the view there and enjoyed an afternoon watching “bush tv!” Also the food, provided by Ngorongoro Farm House, was delicious and a surprise out in the middle of nowhere! They even sent a roast turkey and champagne on Christmas Eve! Interacting with the Maasai there was also a singular experience!
• The setting at the Ngorongoro Farm House was beautiful. Although (occupational hazard) I desperately wanted to redecorate for them, we loved the thatched roof structure and the gorgeous, lush farm. We took the tour of the farm and were amazed at the number of crops and the coffee cultivation. I was also impressed here (and at the tented camp) at the system for packing lunches for the drives. They really know what they are doing! 

• Hemingways was a nice respite, and we appreciated the creature comforts there. We loved their aesthetic and enjoyed an afternoon by the pool…

All in all, like so many say, I will remember this as the trip of a lifetime and feel fortunate to have had this magical experience!

Thank you for your guidance all along the way! …

Warmly,

Karen West, Dec 2025