Review Orange Safari August 2018
We planned our Safari in Kenia/Tanzania from Holland, as we felt more confident searching using reliable internet. Both in expected browsing /wifi speed and possible... read more blockage of sites in Kenia.
After surfing through many Safari operators we decided to go for Orange Safari because of their positive reviews and ease of communication in our native language. We booked and payed from Holland, received a proper invoice and description what to expect and what was excluded such as tips.
Good that we've done that because indeed the internet speed in our resort in Kenia was very slow to the point of completely unreliable and unusable.
Contacting Orange Safari is easy, they respond as soon as possible, are reachable via phone as well as web and email, good communication. For Orange Safari we were a last minute booking, but no problems for them. We booked a VIP arrangement meaning only our family of 3 in the car, foods and drinks included.
Transportation was in a large desert tan reinforced Toyota Landcruiser with all possible options for safety and redundancy. A driver with at least or more than 8 years experience.
Safari
We planned our Safari to Tsavo East as well as Tsavo West as follows
day one:
0530 pick up from our resort entering Tsavo East Bachuma, stipt on time without the need to wait.
First Safari in Tsavo West
Lunch in Voi Lodge
Second Safari
Then to Tsavo East Taita Hills for diner
Then a 3rth evening Safari
return to the Lodge.
Day 2
0630 4th Safari very cool with the sunset and giraffes
0830 return to Tsavo East Taita Hills for lunch
after the lunch the 5t Safari slowely moving back to our resort on Safari through the game reserve.
In the evening we arrive in our resort.
Animals
Driving the Landcruiser through a Game Reserve on uneven roads is hard, needs patience and carefull avoiding issues.But our driver Alex managed while driving to spot some animals.With the roof up the view gives more overview to see and is more easy to spot animals. For us Dutchies with only cows, goats and sheep to see in Holland, Tsavo Kenia is really a overwhelming experience, almost impossible to describe in words, Filling a book is not enough to describe the breathtaking views and animals. For a native driver the Game Drive is probably less breathtaking after hundreds of times, so our enthousiasm was on a different level.
what have we spotted at daytime?
Lion
Cheetah very cool, first we spotted them resting near a tree, only ears and a face.
Later that afternoon they used our moving landcruiser as blockage for their prey.
As close as could be, at touch reach.
After the chase, but no kill, they rested at a termite stack in the far distance. The 7x50 Zenith that is included in the price is better than no binocular but I was happy to bring my Carl Zeiss / Hensoldt Weslar with that I was able to spot the pair of Cheetah at 625 metres distance.
Elephants uncountable amounts
Grand Gazelle, gazelles, antilopes
Masai Giraffes at sunset
Zebra's
Kudu
Buffallo
Austrich family, one black white male and several females
many birds inc Zazu birds, eagle, voltures, tree hanging nesting birds
Nocturnal animals
we booked a night safari.
I brought my thermal imaging camera's and this was again very cool indeed
next time I am sure to bring mil spec night vision monocular as well because what you did not see by the eye or the spot was easy to spot using night vision equipment.
at night heard Lions roar and a kill
different catlike's
Jackalls
desert fox
large owl
Elephant herds that moved quitly
Bush Baby's were on every tree.
Pricing
Comparing Orange Safari to most of the other local operators is really comparing apples with pears. Yes booking a Orange Safari is a price to pay.
But for the price you get a lot of value, more game drives thus more Safari experience. The Toyota Landcruiser is customised for safari, reinforced and reliable and drives comfortably well. The car is as good as could be, spacious; we, a family of 3 in a car that could easy fit 6 people or more. A true vip arragement.
Most of the other local operating Safari cars we saw in the game reserve were most of the same, sort of Hippie VW Van with a low ceiling, putting as much people pushed in as possible. Creating a perfect situation for claustrophobica even if you are used to small spaces. Sitting in the same 6 square metres as the 6 or 9 strangers in a small car with low headspace for 6 hours without the option to leave the car. Gives room for ideas to commit spontanious harikiri. When we were passed by the same car after four times the Italian Dudes that filled that car shouted to us: we shaw nottin, have yu see any thing? we go back ..
And they were gone again, in a hurry saw notting, how the f? can you miss thousands of animals? So if money is all that counts go with the local operators, although the price difference is not that much. If you wish for a overwhelming Safari as should be go for Orange Safari.
Publicity
they are not registrated in the Kenia Yellow Pages.
But their website is up to date.
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