Amazing Kenya Safari with JT Safaris

Trying to decide which Safari to go on is hard enough, deciding which tour operator to go with can be a nightmare. There are so many different operators, so many different prices, all basically going to the same safari parks. So how do you choose one?

Greg's Safari Details:

Rating: 10/10

Safari company used: JT Safaris

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Parks visited: Tsavo East & West and Amboseli

Date of safari: December 2007

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We did all the research we could into which safari we wanted to go on, got a rough idea of the prices which differ horrendously from low to high, then stumbled upon a review about this man Julius (JT Safaris).

I liked what the reviewer said, in particular about Julius being a man of his word, even returning a deposit to someone who couldn't make the safari for personal reasons. We decided to email him to get a feel for his character for ourselves. He seemed polite and professional so we decided to arrange to meet with him outside our hotel the day after we arrived in Mombasa.

We discussed what we thought was important; for example how many people would he cram into the 9 seater safari van. He told us he would only put 4 people at the most in a van so that everybody had a chance to see and take good photos. He offered to put us up in the "best lodges". He also said that if we wanted, we could pay at the end of the safari.

As a business owner myself, I took this offer as a very good sign of a trustworthy man. I was right. AFTER we had agreed a price Mr. Nzumbi told us that he would arrange for us to have a van to ourselves.

We were picked up outside of our hotel as agreed and set off on our 4 day "super safari". We almost couldn't believe how privileged we were as we witnessed convoys of safari vans heading up the Nairobi Mombasa highway crammed full of hot and bothered customers.

Our guide was excellent, you could not ask for a friendlier, more professional and amiable man than "Lucky" (Mulaki Kyalo). He adhered to an impeccable code of conduct, respecting the animals, not harassing them or blocking their routes as some of the other operators did.

He seemed as excited to see the animals as we were which made for a far more enjoyable experience. As all the vans left the lodges in the morning, following each other through the massive expanse of parkland, Lucky would set us off on our own course, allowing us to experience the safari without the dust and distraction of the other vehicles.

And he found everything. We saw the "Big Five" and then some. He found the animals, allowed us time to take pictures etc, and then, in fairness to the other safari goers, Lucky would radio the other guides and tell them where the leopards, cheetahs etc. were.

We saw, up close and personal, 4 leopards, 3 hunting cheetahs, a pride of 10 lions and 4 other lions out and about. We saw dozens of elephants up close, buffalo, zebras, giraffes, antelope, hippos, crocs, ostriches, and the list goes on.

We spent 4 days on safari taking in the splendours of Tsavo East and West and Amboseli. We stayed at Kibo Camp in Amboseli at the foot of Kilimanjaro, a luxury tented camp (Julius had asked us if we wanted to stay in such a camp before we left. We wanted to as it is very close to the animals at night, separated from us only by an electric fence.) Ngulia and Voi Lodge, both great by our reckoning. All had pools and good food.

I could go on about how great Julius and Lucky were but this would be a novel rather than a review. I must add that we went also on a trip to Wasini Island with JT Safaris and had a driver named Mohammed who was also excellent, friendly and professional and a pleasure to speak to. Another great trip at a very competitive price.

We obviously saw many other tour companies and spoke to many people before and after they had booked safaris, through the hotel, with the beach boys or over the internet.

The consensus seemed to be that we had received excellent service at a very fair price, in a nutshell; we won the safari lottery when we booked with JT Safaris.

Top 3 Safari Companies List - The best in Kenya,
Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Uganda and Mt Kilimanjaro.

Comments for
Amazing Kenya Safari with JT Safaris

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Sep 07, 2008

A great experience
by: Boris Moravec

A great experience! We were twice in Kenya and we've had various safari experiences, but we really have to recommend Julius JT safaris! Having heard about Julius on the internet, we decided to plan this years safari with him. He arranged for us two outstanding trips this year, perfectly corresponding to our special wishes.

Best prices, absolutely fair treatment, plenty of information and superb service along with family atmosphere makes JT Safaris simply the best operator you can imagine. We'll trust Julius on every other Kenya holiday in the future.

Nov 28, 2008

Amazing Safari experience
by: Anonymous

We also went on Safari in Tsavo East and West, which is the experience of a lifetime. We booked though Julius Nzumbi who will gladly come to your hotel at a time that suits to arrange your safari and negotiate a very reasonable price. He will take a deposit on booking and arrange a time for you to pay the rest after your safari. Our driver Carlos was excellent, he knew every animal and bird and made sure we had the best experience possible. Please, please, please, do not be fooled by the guy on the beach who claims to be Julius, (he even has a shirt with Julius' name on it) he has nothing to do with Jt Safaris and is trying to use Julius'good name for his own benefit.

Andy & Petra

Dec 18, 2008

2 Days Tsavo East
by: Claudio

Jambo everybody! Me and my family spent a one week holiday in Diani in December. In between we had the two days safari which was the thing we were waiting for most on the holiday.

Me and my wife already had several safaris in the past in the Southern Africa, but for my 5 years old baby was the first time. Thus, we searched for a safe and not too long safari to have a light approach and verify if he was interested in these adventures.

I got in contact with Julius and I explained to him my requirements, the need to have an easy approach for a 5 years old baby and all other things. He came back to me with the proposal to have a two days safari in Tsavo East, with a personal driver in order to be free to decide our schedule according to the child needs. He's been very useful in setting up the plans and deciding which was the best solution, hence, at the end, we decide to have the safari arranged by Julius.

The name of the guide/driver arranged by Julius was Boniface, a young smart guy and a very good driver. Once in the park, Boniface also demonstrated a great experience and an incredible capacity in sightseeing animals in the bush.

He did discover a lioness under a tree which was at a first glance even hard to catch with the binocular! We then had the possibility to see her very close and it has been really exciting for my kid to see his first lion.

Having the minibus only for us was great because we were free to move from one side to the other, having the possibility to catch very nice photos and staying in front of the animals as long as we deserve to do it.

In general, the JT Safari organization has been excellent; the guide, the accommodation (we stayed in Aruba Lodge in a very nice room in front of the dam) and last but not the least the travel was all perfect.

We passed the rest of the holiday laying on the swimming pool beds of Kole Kole, watching the ocean and already planning when we will do the next African safari. It?s been great, and we are looking forward to do it again very, very soon.

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Dec 18, 2008
Rating

Submitted by: Claudio

Title

Comment
Jambo everybody! Me and my family spent a one week holiday in Diani in December. In between we had the two days safari which was the thing we were waiting for most on the holiday. Me and my wife already had several safaris in the past in the Southern Africa, but for my 5 years old baby was the first time. Thus, we searched for a safe and not too long safari to have a light approach and verify if he was interested in these adventures. I got in contact with Julius and I explained to him my requirements, the need to have an easy approach for a 5 years old baby and all other things. He came back to me with the proposal to have a two days safari in Tsavo East, with a personal driver in order to be free to decide our schedule according to the child needs. He's been very useful in setting up the plans and deciding which was the best solution, hence, at the end, we decide to have the safari arranged by Julius. The name of the guide/driver arranged by Julius was Boniface, a young smart guy and a very good driver. Once in the park, Boniface also demonstrated a great experience and an incredible capacity in sightseeing animals in the bush. He did discover a lioness under a tree which was at a first glance even hard to catch with the binocular! We then had the possibility to see her very close and it has been really exciting for my kid to see his first lion. Having the minibus only for us was great because we were free to move from one side to the other, having the possibility to catch very nice photos and staying in front of the animals as long as we deserve to do it. In general, the JT Safari organization has been excellent; the guide, the accommodation (we stayed in Aruba Lodge in a very nice room in front of the dam) and last but not the least the travel was all perfect. We passed the rest of the holiday laying on the swimming pool beds of Kole Kole, watching the ocean and already planning when we will do the next African safari. It?s been great, and we are looking forward to do it again very, very soon.

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Jan 20, 2009

Amazing Safari with JT Safaris
by: Andrea Warren

We stayed at the Voyager Beach Resort over Xmas and Julius is at the moment having problems there, as another Julius is pretending to be him and damaging his reputation so I promised to leave a review for Julius.
I emailed Julius a couple of months before we came to Kenya, I was quite specific with what I wanted, I also texted him, he always emailed back within a couple of days, texted straight back or even phoned me, with the different options costs.
I requested 3 nights, Tsavo East/West and Amboseli and balloon trip from Ol Tukai Lodge in Amboseli which was all organised by Julius with no problems whatsoever.
He requested I send a deposit by transfer which I was worried about but went along with it.
Julius called me whilst in Kenya and we met up with his driver Tito beforehand to be briefed on our safari, and from there everything went off without a hitch we had our own private vehicle. We loved every minute of it, saw all the animals we wanted to and more, having been to the Mara the year before I was being more specific about what I wanted to see and Tito found it all and more, six leopards in one afternoon, a 2 day old rhino, cheetahs, lion cubs, lions eating a kill, it was excellent.
All our rooms/bungalows either overlooked the waterholes, or straight on to the plains, couldn't have asked for better.
Tito, our driver, was excellent, nothing was too much trouble he was great fun, had a vast knowledge of not only Kenya, but Tanzania, Uganda and all the animals. compare him with our driver from last time and there was no comparison, he wanted to give us an experience to surpass all others and he did.
We met up with Julius on the way backto our beach hotel to settle the balance of the safari, he even had three wooden carvings made in the village that he presented to us.
Anyone who' has their doubts shouldn't have - he's 100% good guy, Tito was excellent, the trip was outstanding and I just think my review won't give it justice. We got picked up at 5.20am - own vehicle and guide, set off to Tsavo West, stopped for coffee on the way, game drive on way to Ngulia Lodge, check in and then lunch, game drive late afternoon, then dinner, off early the following morning to Amboseli, game drive first, then to Mzima Springs and the hippos, game drive on the way to Ol Tukai lodge (Amboseli) check in and lunch, game drive late afternoon and dinner, up really early next morning for hot air balloon trip, breakfast in the bush, then off to Tsavo East with coffee stop on the way, game drive on way to Voi Safari Lodge, late lunch, game drive late afternoon, dinner, up early next morning, short game drive and then back to Mombassa hotel. A rough estimate would be around 900km we did over the 4 days, petrol included, water on ice in the cool box we just helped ourselves.
If you are thinking about it, don't think, just book it! You won't go wrong.

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Jan 20, 2009
Rating

Submitted by: Andrea Warren

Title

Comment
We stayed at the Voyager Beach Resort over Xmas and Julius is at the moment having problems there, as another Julius is pretending to be him and damaging his reputation so I promised to leave a review for Julius. I emailed Julius a couple of months before we came to Kenya, I was quite specific with what I wanted, I also texted him, he always emailed back within a couple of days, texted straight back or even phoned me, with the different options costs. I requested 3 nights, Tsavo East/West and Amboseli and balloon trip from Ol Tukai Lodge in Amboseli which was all organised by Julius with no problems whatsoever. He requested I send a deposit by transfer which I was worried about but went along with it. Julius called me whilst in Kenya and we met up with his driver Tito beforehand to be briefed on our safari, and from there everything went off without a hitch we had our own private vehicle. We loved every minute of it, saw all the animals we wanted to and more, having been to the Mara the year before I was being more specific about what I wanted to see and Tito found it all and more, six leopards in one afternoon, a 2 day old rhino, cheetahs, lion cubs, lions eating a kill, it was excellent. All our rooms/bungalows either overlooked the waterholes, or straight on to the plains, couldn't have asked for better. Tito, our driver, was excellent, nothing was too much trouble he was great fun, had a vast knowledge of not only Kenya, but Tanzania, Uganda and all the animals. compare him with our driver from last time and there was no comparison, he wanted to give us an experience to surpass all others and he did. We met up with Julius on the way backto our beach hotel to settle the balance of the safari, he even had three wooden carvings made in the village that he presented to us. Anyone who' has their doubts shouldn't have - he's 100% good guy, Tito was excellent, the trip was outstanding and I just think my review won't give it justice. We got picked up at 5.20am - own vehicle and guide, set off to Tsavo West, stopped for coffee on the way, game drive on way to Ngulia Lodge, check in and then lunch, game drive late afternoon, then dinner, off early the following morning to Amboseli, game drive first, then to Mzima Springs and the hippos, game drive on the way to Ol Tukai lodge (Amboseli) check in and lunch, game drive late afternoon and dinner, up really early next morning for hot air balloon trip, breakfast in the bush, then off to Tsavo East with coffee stop on the way, game drive on way to Voi Safari Lodge, late lunch, game drive late afternoon, dinner, up early next morning, short game drive and then back to Mombassa hotel. A rough estimate would be around 900km we did over the 4 days, petrol included, water on ice in the cool box we just helped ourselves. If you are thinking about it, don't think, just book it! You won't go wrong.

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Feb 08, 2009

Julius Safaris - Excellent value and service
by: FayeW

I have just got back from a one week trip to Kenya. I would have liked longer but this was all I could manage to get off from work!.

Thanks to Julius Nzumbi of Julius Safaris, I managed to pack everything in that I wanted. He has many contacts so can be flexible on dates and length of safaris.

As others have said, he uses excellent lodges, provides you with top class drivers and keeps numbers in a vehicle down to a maximum of 4 (unless requested otherwise) which is very important. It really does make a difference when you are snapping happily away and you see other people clambering over each other all hot and bothered!

I saw so many animals - lions, elephants, buffalo, zebra, leopard, giraffe, hippo, warthog, ostrich, antelopes etc etc and more importantly got to stop whenever I wanted to get the pictures I wanted. It was a very special experience. I told my driver I especially liked the hippos so we went to places where they might be and spent as much time as I wanted there.

Speaking to others in the resort, I knew I had got an excellent deal from Julius, he offers excellent service at a fair and reasonable price. He really makes sure you have the best time and offers the personal touch. He can always be contacted on his mobile and is a reliable and friendly operator. Completely trustworthy and a pleasure to book with.

I also booked a city tour of Mombasa and Haller Park and a Wasini / Kisite day trip with Julius. Again, speaking to others I got a lot more for my money and had a much better time.

For the Wasini trip we actually went into Kisite national marine park and the snorkelling over the coral reefs was amazing, so so many different fish. Some trips through othr operators don't go into the park itself and snorkel outside which is nowhere near as good.

Would thoroughly recommend Julius, he will make the difference between a good holiday and a truly unforgettable experience.

Thanks Julius!

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Feb 08, 2009
Rating

Submitted by: FayeW

Title

Comment
I have just got back from a one week trip to Kenya. I would have liked longer but this was all I could manage to get off from work!. Thanks to Julius Nzumbi of Julius Safaris, I managed to pack everything in that I wanted. He has many contacts so can be flexible on dates and length of safaris. As others have said, he uses excellent lodges, provides you with top class drivers and keeps numbers in a vehicle down to a maximum of 4 (unless requested otherwise) which is very important. It really does make a difference when you are snapping happily away and you see other people clambering over each other all hot and bothered! I saw so many animals - lions, elephants, buffalo, zebra, leopard, giraffe, hippo, warthog, ostrich, antelopes etc etc and more importantly got to stop whenever I wanted to get the pictures I wanted. It was a very special experience. I told my driver I especially liked the hippos so we went to places where they might be and spent as much time as I wanted there. Speaking to others in the resort, I knew I had got an excellent deal from Julius, he offers excellent service at a fair and reasonable price. He really makes sure you have the best time and offers the personal touch. He can always be contacted on his mobile and is a reliable and friendly operator. Completely trustworthy and a pleasure to book with. I also booked a city tour of Mombasa and Haller Park and a Wasini / Kisite day trip with Julius. Again, speaking to others I got a lot more for my money and had a much better time. For the Wasini trip we actually went into Kisite national marine park and the snorkelling over the coral reefs was amazing, so so many different fish. Some trips through othr operators don't go into the park itself and snorkel outside which is nowhere near as good. Would thoroughly recommend Julius, he will make the difference between a good holiday and a truly unforgettable experience. Thanks Julius!

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Feb 18, 2009

A safari that exceeded all expectations and more
by: Barbara and John (3 to 6 February 2009)

Jambo All Potential Safari Goers

We booked our holiday to Baobab Beach Resort and prior to our departure we did some research about independent safari providers as we did not want to use our tour company who were way too expensive and who we knew would cram us at least 6/8 in a van. We finally settled on Julius Nzumbi's company JT Safaris and the safari that Julius organised proved to us that he was the right man to choose.

He was punctual answering emails, only asking for a small deposit to be paid into a bank account and then gave us to the choice of how to pay the balance, which could have been at the end of the safari, he was not at all pushy he just wanted to ensure that we had the experience of a lifetime and we did.

Our safari covered Tsavo's West and East and Amboseli and Julius provided us with an excellent driver/guide called Boniface (or Bonnie for short) who bore a striking resemblance to Eddie Murphy!! Bonnie was very knowledgeable about all the wildlife we saw - and the list is endless - and we got to see 4 of the big 5 (the Rhino had decided that it did not want to come out and play the day we visited the sanctuary).

All the accommodation was absolutely perfect, we stayed at Nguila Lodge, Sentrim Tented Lodge and Ashnil Arubua - luxury is an understatement - and a special mention for Sentrim Tented Lodge in Amboseli - we did not realise how much luxury you could get in a tent, down to the very fluffy towels in the bathroom!

Best of all we got to experience this wonderful adventure with just two of us in the safari vehicle - yes we heard that you can go cheaper but this was mainly through the hawkers on the beach who borrowed friends jeeps etc so were not properly insured, promised you a private safari and then, as happened to a couple we meet, found they were sharing with four others. Our safety was never compromised with Julius, he had all the relevant insurance etc in place. As the old saying goes "you get what you pay for" but this time we got more than we paid for, excellent safari, excellent driver and guide in Bonnie, excellent lodges and food and nearly 700 unhindered photographs of some of the most beautiful wildlife in the African Bush and the absolute pleasure of not having to say "excuse me" every 5 minutes because it was just the two of us roaming around the van freely. So remember if you want a private safari that offers excellence as well as value for money get in touch with Julius. We guarantee you will not be disappointed.

Oh and one small but important thing, Julius' safaris provide you with all the cooled drinking water that you need - we heard others complaining that they had to buy their own!

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Feb 18, 2009
Rating

Submitted by: Barbara and John (3 to 6 February 2009)

Title

Comment
Jambo All Potential Safari Goers We booked our holiday to Baobab Beach Resort and prior to our departure we did some research about independent safari providers as we did not want to use our tour company who were way too expensive and who we knew would cram us at least 6/8 in a van. We finally settled on Julius Nzumbi's company JT Safaris and the safari that Julius organised proved to us that he was the right man to choose. He was punctual answering emails, only asking for a small deposit to be paid into a bank account and then gave us to the choice of how to pay the balance, which could have been at the end of the safari, he was not at all pushy he just wanted to ensure that we had the experience of a lifetime and we did. Our safari covered Tsavo's West and East and Amboseli and Julius provided us with an excellent driver/guide called Boniface (or Bonnie for short) who bore a striking resemblance to Eddie Murphy!! Bonnie was very knowledgeable about all the wildlife we saw - and the list is endless - and we got to see 4 of the big 5 (the Rhino had decided that it did not want to come out and play the day we visited the sanctuary). All the accommodation was absolutely perfect, we stayed at Nguila Lodge, Sentrim Tented Lodge and Ashnil Arubua - luxury is an understatement - and a special mention for Sentrim Tented Lodge in Amboseli - we did not realise how much luxury you could get in a tent, down to the very fluffy towels in the bathroom! Best of all we got to experience this wonderful adventure with just two of us in the safari vehicle - yes we heard that you can go cheaper but this was mainly through the hawkers on the beach who borrowed friends jeeps etc so were not properly insured, promised you a private safari and then, as happened to a couple we meet, found they were sharing with four others. Our safety was never compromised with Julius, he had all the relevant insurance etc in place. As the old saying goes "you get what you pay for" but this time we got more than we paid for, excellent safari, excellent driver and guide in Bonnie, excellent lodges and food and nearly 700 unhindered photographs of some of the most beautiful wildlife in the African Bush and the absolute pleasure of not having to say "excuse me" every 5 minutes because it was just the two of us roaming around the van freely. So remember if you want a private safari that offers excellence as well as value for money get in touch with Julius. We guarantee you will not be disappointed. Oh and one small but important thing, Julius' safaris provide you with all the cooled drinking water that you need - we heard others complaining that they had to buy their own!

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Feb 25, 2009

AMAZING!!!!
by: Debbie

Myself and my boyfriend went to Kenya in November. We had heard about Julius on the internet and had heard the rave reviews.

I must say that the service Julius provided us with was nothing short of perfection.
He is extremely friendly and more than willing to do anything you want with regards to arranging trips and excursions. All we had to do was call him up and tell him what we wanted and he would arrange everything. He would pick us up and drop us off after our trips.

We went on a 3 day Masai Mara safari and also to Wasini Island which were both out of this world and i would strongly recommend. We owe our amazing holiday to Julius as if it wasn't for him then it would not of been so good.

We do plan to contact Julius in the future so he can book us on more trips when we return to Kenya. Julius is also very reasonable when it comes to price. We couldn't find it cheaper anywhere else.

Mar 23, 2009

We also had a great safari!!
by: Mat Simmons

We didn't do any research before we left the UK, but met some people at our hotel who had arranged a safari with Julius from JT Safaris.

We got in contact with Julius ourselves, and he was very honest and straight with us, and gave us an excellent price for our 2 day safari. Our driver Samson turned up on time, even though we hadn't even paid a deposit, and our experience was perfect. OK some of the animals didn't play ball (the cheetahs were hiding) but we saw plenty, and at a pace that suited us.

As other people have commented, having a van to yourselves is a must for a relaxing safari. you need that sort of space. JT Safaris did everything they could to make our trip 1st class. Thanks, Samson and Julius!

Mar 28, 2009

JULIUS at JT safaris is a good man
by: andy jay - london, England

Let Julius take the stress out of one side of your holiday.

I arranged a fly safari to the mara, a trip to Mombasa and a trip to the local village Ukunda through him.
I paid him in cash and felt very comfortable as Julius was clearly not hungry for my money. his attitude was very relaxed and he was genuinely concerned for my happiness as was his sister and assitants.

They are all very courteous and were willing to go the extra mile even though they never had to. I got a feeling that they take pride in looking after their "clients" though I felt more like a friend with them, that's how relaxing it was for me.

He has great knowledge and contacts which was evident when he dropped me to the local airstrip. The moment the staff saw i was with Julius they had a twinkle in their eye and even let me on the plane before anyone else even though I was not the first one there!!

When I go back next year to see the wildbeest migration i will book it through Julius and have no hesitation recommending him to anyone.

I live and work in SW London and am used to being looked after which I was by Julius.

Andy

Apr 27, 2009

what great time we had - go for it!
by: swanwick and thomas family

We stayed at the Voyager 6-20 apr, we have been back a week now and wish we were still there. Family of 5. 2 adults, 2 teens and 6 year old. We contacted JT before we left to discuss the lodges and what we wanted but did nothing else until we got there.

2pm outside the gates of voyager, that is his usual time! he also arranged a half day city tour for free, this was great too.
We were a little cautious at first but don't be, he is a great guy and there is a lot of competition for this work so it pays to be honest and treat the cutsomers well.

He isn't allowed inside the hotel gates but don't let that put you off he is 100% genuine, we didn't pay in full until after we had returned from the safari so he had to trust us too!

We did 2 nights/3days Tsavo West and Amboseli, we got exactly the lodges we wanted with no messing. It was a great choice, but a very long drive, for us the drive was worth it, seeing Kilimanjaro etc but maybe not for everyone.

Our lodge in Tsavo West was Ngulia - chosen for the leopards - it's outdated and prob only 3 star but the location and leopard feeding plus the other animals proximity makes up for this, in Amboseli, we chose the tented lodges (sentrim), much more luxurious, better than Voyager, more spacious, better bathroom. food was also excellent.

Our driver was also called Julius (junior) and he was very useful in the game spotting and did his best to achieve all the big five, the lions in Amboseli were ace!

We didnt see any Rhino, but asking around the hotel that seemed a common theme! we were lucky to see leopards feeding at the lodge but also out on safari too, and amboseli was amazing for lion!
It was the things we hadn't planned for that really stick out though like mizuna springs and the lazy croc's and the lava flow on the drive between the two parks, we had a great time and this was great compromise between the std tsavo safari and the just too expensive masai mara trip.

Over all we loved our family holiday, and safari was amazing. We highly recommend Julius K. Nzumbi of JT safaris and the Voyager, for an enjoyable varied family holiday.

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Apr 27, 2009
Rating

Submitted by: swanwick and thomas family

Title

Comment
We stayed at the Voyager 6-20 apr, we have been back a week now and wish we were still there. Family of 5. 2 adults, 2 teens and 6 year old. We contacted JT before we left to discuss the lodges and what we wanted but did nothing else until we got there. 2pm outside the gates of voyager, that is his usual time! he also arranged a half day city tour for free, this was great too. We were a little cautious at first but don't be, he is a great guy and there is a lot of competition for this work so it pays to be honest and treat the cutsomers well. He isn't allowed inside the hotel gates but don't let that put you off he is 100% genuine, we didn't pay in full until after we had returned from the safari so he had to trust us too! We did 2 nights/3days Tsavo West and Amboseli, we got exactly the lodges we wanted with no messing. It was a great choice, but a very long drive, for us the drive was worth it, seeing Kilimanjaro etc but maybe not for everyone. Our lodge in Tsavo West was Ngulia - chosen for the leopards - it's outdated and prob only 3 star but the location and leopard feeding plus the other animals proximity makes up for this, in Amboseli, we chose the tented lodges (sentrim), much more luxurious, better than Voyager, more spacious, better bathroom. food was also excellent. Our driver was also called Julius (junior) and he was very useful in the game spotting and did his best to achieve all the big five, the lions in Amboseli were ace! We didnt see any Rhino, but asking around the hotel that seemed a common theme! we were lucky to see leopards feeding at the lodge but also out on safari too, and amboseli was amazing for lion! It was the things we hadn't planned for that really stick out though like mizuna springs and the lazy croc's and the lava flow on the drive between the two parks, we had a great time and this was great compromise between the std tsavo safari and the just too expensive masai mara trip. Over all we loved our family holiday, and safari was amazing. We highly recommend Julius K. Nzumbi of JT safaris and the Voyager, for an enjoyable varied family holiday.

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Apr 30, 2009

A Fantastic Experience with JT Safaris
by: Alan & Susan

We had a brilliant safari on our first trip to Kenya. Although we were staying at the Mnarani Club at Kilifi, Julius still made the two hour trip to discuss exactly what we wanted to do, without any prior commitment from us. His price was very reasonable and with a vehicle for our exclusive use.
We had a brilliant 3 day safari to Tsavo West and East. Our guide, Ngoa(James), was excellent. He even managed to get us the room immediately overlooking the waterhole at Ngulia Lodge. We saw just about everything possible from dik-diks to lions and everything in between, including Mt Kilimanjaro in the distance. Even our teenage daughter was impressed - "how cool is this"!!
I cannot recommend JT Safaris highly enough. The gift of some carved animals as a souvenir at the end of our safari was the final touch.

May 05, 2009

5 day safari organised with JTSafaris
by: Adrian Lindsay

We have just returned from Kenya and went on a 5 day Safari which I arranged with Julius of JT Safaris.

Our guide was Carlos who could not have been more helpful and certainly had amazing eyesight. He spotted things miles away which I struggled to see with binoculars.

Anyway we did Tsavo East, Amboseli and Tsavo West and all the accomodation, food, company of Carlos was second to none.

I would definitely recommend these guys over and above the Hotel Reps as they were pleasant and true to their word on what they did for us. Sadly we missed the Rhino but the lepoard that posed for us more than made up for that.

When Julius was told we did not see the RHINO he met up with us later on our holiday and had brought 4 of the big wooden animals for my 2 kids as a way of saying sorry we missed the Rhino.

He also had one of his drivers take us on a trip to a local orphanage which my children had wanted to see. It was a local place and they welcomed us with open arms, a trip I was really glad I made.

Anyway for anyone out their who feels a bit weary of dealing direct with these people I for one had no issues and would highly recommend giving then the chance to make your dream safari come true.

May 08, 2009

A trip to remember
by: David & Lisa Durrant

Julius provided us with the holiday of a lifetime. He looked after us and gave us the trip we had asked for with no nasty surprises.

Our Driver Boniface was professional and courteous and spotted all the game we could possible want. Having the truck for our sole use was also a blessing- which you will understand when you see the lemmings in the full vehicles all fighting for the same position and camera angle.

We visited Tsavo East and West on a 3 day two night trip staying at Kiliguni lodge and Tarhi Camp. Both excellent and top quality.

Enjoyed it immensely and it was very good value when compared to the other compaies and their sardine packed itineraries.

We saw the big five on day one and everything else you can imagine as well.

Thank you again Julius and Boniface.

We will use you again.

May 13, 2009

JT Safaris really are THE best!
by: Maggie

Won't bore you with all the details because if you are reading this the chances are you are about to experience the magic of a Kenyan Safari very soon!

We used Julius Nzumbi after reading other reviews. We were initially concerned to conduct the deal in the road outside our hotel with Tito an employee. We spoke to Julius on his mobile & he wouldn't take more than $50 deposit for 5 of us & not a penny more if not entirely satisfied. This is guaranteed!

Our guide Carlos was tremendous & extremely knowledgeable. Aruba Ashnil where we stayed fantastic. JTSafaris is very good value for money, polite, professional & trustworthy staff and unlike others we saw, the guides have a real respect for the wildlife. DO NOT be fooled by others pretending to be Julius.

Jun 19, 2009

Fantastic!
by: Shelley

I booked in England with JT Safaris. Julius is everything everyone says he is. The trip was fantastic, and our guide a lovely man. Julius called on the phone throughout the trip to make sure all was ok. He was quick to call when we had rain! I told him even he can't control the weather! He met us outside the hotel a few days later, and gave me loads of gifts.
If I go back to Kenya, I will make sure I only use JT.
Shelley.

Jul 19, 2009

Fantastic day, Loved every minute.
by: Richie and Gemma

We had a great safari. We were only in Kenya for a week and opted for the day safari to Shimba Hills. We saw every animal in the park apart from the Zebra. Our driver was very knowledgeable and without his help we would have missed most of the animals. We had lunch in the Shimba Hills lodge which was beautiful and even got to share our lunch with the bush babies (Squirrels) which was fun. The staff at the lodge were friendly and polite. We did not see Julius that day but we arranged to meet him in person the next day at our hotel to provide him with feedback and to thank him for the carved animals we recieved as a gift. Please check out the website as there are many different safari options available and at a fraction of the price that you would pay through the major tour operators. Loved every minute of the safari and will definitely be booking with julius safaris on any future visits to Kenya.

Jul 21, 2009

fab safari
by: geoff and lynda

we did a two day one night safari with j.t safaris, which was excellent, no problems at all. our driver tito was super at spoting animals and very informative. julius and his sister are very friendly, a good buisnes man. we did send a deposit before we left the u.k and paid the balance after the safari, after he made sure we were happy with his service, he even gave us presents after the safari. do not worry about anything as far as the safari and julius are concerned he is very trustworthy. we saw all the animals except the rhino, which is very rare.the lodge we stayed at was fantastic as was the food, would have no problem reccomending julius, he is the best, great value for money.

Jul 22, 2009

JT Safari's - Highly Recommended!
by:

We have just returned from an amazing trip with JT safaris. Julius went out of his way to ensure we had a great trip to the Masai Mara, and even took us to the bank, supermarket etc to make our trip easier!

I would recommend JT to anyone for a friendly, un-pushy service with a smile!

Aug 03, 2009

Jt safaris- highly recommended
by: Margaret

We booked via the internett 2 weeks before arriving in kenya and where asked only for a tiny deposit up front. We met some of Julius team before going on safari, and like everyone else where not asked to pay the whole cost up front. In fact we paid at least US$150 per person less for the masai mara than those booking direct with the hotel based tour companies. We were phoned at the airport and on return to make sure everything was OK- needless to say it was!
In addition Julius arranges a trip to Mombasa/ haller park for us with our own personal guide ( not 1 guide for a coach of 40 plus people) for about 20% the price the tour companies charged. He truly cares that you have a good time and nothing is too much trouble, excellent value for money . we intend to visit kenya next summer and will be in touch with Julius as soon as we know our dates to arrange more safaris.
One word of caution, there is another julius operating- certainly on the north mombasa area- make sure you get the correct one-JUlius Tact, JT safaris or julius safaris are the correct ones

Sep 22, 2009

Fabulous holiday - thanks to JT Safaris!!
by: Darren

We recently visited Kenya for our holidays and wanted to book a number of trips while on holiday to get the most out of our time there. A safari was a must and we also decided to visit the local orphanage, Kebene children's home in Ukunda, as well as a trip to Mombasa and a village tour to get an insight into local culture. We decided on a safari to the Masai Mara for 3 days and before we left for Kenya, we carried out a lot of research into local tour companies, making phone calls and reading reviews like this one to gauge the best provider.
From all of the research, we chose JT Safaris opposite the Neptune Village Resort, owned by Julius Nzumbi. We can safely say that Julius made the holiday what it was, from being trustworthy with both the deposit before we even arrived in Kenya (only requiring the rest of the payment once the trip was over), ensuring that all of our guides and drivers were of the highest standard, friendly and polite and very useful in talking to local sellers!, to calling us after every single trip to ensure that we had enjoyed the day and were happy with both the service, what the trip had offered and the drivers/guides.
Just because of how much effort Julius had put into the safari (we were quite demanding about where we stayed etc!), we then booked all of our trips with him and were not disappointed in the slightest.
The most enlightening trip was to the Kebene children's home, where we became quite attached to the orphan children who sang, remained upbeat and happy despite their circumstances and showed us what really matters in life does not come packaged in boxes or cost the earth.
If you want to ensure that you are looked after, have a safe and enjoyable trip and are catered for with the only concern being your experience, then contact Julius in the orange hut, we guarantee you will have a great holiday and be glad that you did!
There are so many safari tour operators in the area and we would also suggest booking it before you go, mainly because you will then have a better choice of camps (we stayed at the Governor's camp at Masai Mara, which is a bit more expensive, but actually in the Masai and has no fencing, so is the most fantastic experience, with first class service) and also not be forced into deciding on the first person that tries to sell you a safari, wheree you do not know what you will get or who you will have to go with. We had a van or jeep all to ourselves on every trip, so did not have to worry about anyone else and just went where we chose.
I hope this review is useful and that if you do go to Kenya, you have the experience of a lifetime like we did!!

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Sep 22, 2009
Rating

Submitted by: Darren

Title

Comment
We recently visited Kenya for our holidays and wanted to book a number of trips while on holiday to get the most out of our time there. A safari was a must and we also decided to visit the local orphanage, Kebene children's home in Ukunda, as well as a trip to Mombasa and a village tour to get an insight into local culture. We decided on a safari to the Masai Mara for 3 days and before we left for Kenya, we carried out a lot of research into local tour companies, making phone calls and reading reviews like this one to gauge the best provider. From all of the research, we chose JT Safaris opposite the Neptune Village Resort, owned by Julius Nzumbi. We can safely say that Julius made the holiday what it was, from being trustworthy with both the deposit before we even arrived in Kenya (only requiring the rest of the payment once the trip was over), ensuring that all of our guides and drivers were of the highest standard, friendly and polite and very useful in talking to local sellers!, to calling us after every single trip to ensure that we had enjoyed the day and were happy with both the service, what the trip had offered and the drivers/guides. Just because of how much effort Julius had put into the safari (we were quite demanding about where we stayed etc!), we then booked all of our trips with him and were not disappointed in the slightest. The most enlightening trip was to the Kebene children's home, where we became quite attached to the orphan children who sang, remained upbeat and happy despite their circumstances and showed us what really matters in life does not come packaged in boxes or cost the earth. If you want to ensure that you are looked after, have a safe and enjoyable trip and are catered for with the only concern being your experience, then contact Julius in the orange hut, we guarantee you will have a great holiday and be glad that you did! There are so many safari tour operators in the area and we would also suggest booking it before you go, mainly because you will then have a better choice of camps (we stayed at the Governor's camp at Masai Mara, which is a bit more expensive, but actually in the Masai and has no fencing, so is the most fantastic experience, with first class service) and also not be forced into deciding on the first person that tries to sell you a safari, wheree you do not know what you will get or who you will have to go with. We had a van or jeep all to ourselves on every trip, so did not have to worry about anyone else and just went where we chose. I hope this review is useful and that if you do go to Kenya, you have the experience of a lifetime like we did!!

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Oct 11, 2009

Keith Karen Laura & Hannah
by: Anonymous

We had booked our two night safari to Tsavo East & West before we left the UK and were not sure what to expect. The service provided by Julius was excellent! The lodges we stayed in were above our expectations, staying the first night in Aruba and the second in Kilaguni Serena. We saw lots of animals including lions and cheetahs thanks to our driver Franco's quick responses to information received over the radio. We would have no worries about booking with Julius again, and are hoping to return again in two years time to do a weeks safari - booked with JT safari's. Many thanks again Julius to you and all your staff for making our safari experience so very good and excellent value for money.

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Amazing Kenya Safari with JT Safaris

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