Trip feedback: Our mentor in Africa

We are very thankful for this positive review to our guests Sara and Alberto, who traveled with us on a private trip in October 2016.

Thank you dear Sara and Alberto, it was a pleasure to travel with you, as you’ve been open, flexible and enjoying every moment!

“Hello everybody!

We wanted to contribute our part to a great company and share our opinion with people who are thinking about making a trip to Kenya and Tanzania.

We returned two weeks ago after spending 19 days in Kenya and Tanzania. Before doing this trip we were going crazy trying to find something that would fit our needs. Now we say – we have not only found it, but we are totally delighted, with the trip, with the experience and above all with people whom we met. Thanks to them we have been able to live this adventure.

It began with Olena as we contacted her before the trip. She explained every detail, responded instantly and began to make this a reality. Titus our driver and guide in Kenya, Stanley and Costa, our guide and cook in Tanzania, each and every one of them made our trip an unforgettable experience. And we will never forget the great Moses, our mentor in Africa. He has been our guide, our teacher. He was not afraid to roll up his sleeves and help us, with border procedures, maintaining our security, or making hundreds of miles to take us to the airport and say goodbye to us. We can only be very grateful.

For people who are thinking of traveling to these countries – first we thought to do the trip by ourselves, but after our experience we know that this was the best way. Empakaai Cultural Safari www.empakaaiculturalsafari.com is a small company. Moses is in charge of getting everything done with the help of people we mentioned. Our trip had a very tight price, which was important for us, and we got it adapted to our needs, itineraries, accommodations, etc.

All in all our trip exceeded our expectations. We learned about the culture, mixed with people and got to know these two great countries.

Sara and Alberto”

The original text is posted on the travel forum Los Viajeros (in Spanish language):

Empakaai cultural safari: Kenia, Tanzania, Zanzíbar
Empakaai cultural safari: Kenia, Tanzania, Zanzíbar

And here is the trip itinerary of Sara and Alberto:

Day 1: Nairobi to Lake Nakuru

Day 2: Lake Nakuru to Maasai Mara

Day 3 and Day 4: Maasai Mara

Day 5: Maasai Mara to Lake Naivasha

Day 6: Lake Naivasha to Amboseli

Day 7: Amboseli

Day 8: Amboseli (Kenya) to Karatu (Tanzania)

Day 9: Karatu to Serengeti

Day 10: Serengeti

Day 11: Serengeti to Ngorongoro

Day 12: Ngorongoro to Mto Wa Mbu

Day 13: Mto Wa Mbu – Arusha – Zanzibar

Day 14 – Day 19: Zanzibar

Want to start planning your own adventure to Africa, but don’t know where to start? Just contact us on empakaai.cultural.safari@gmail.com 

And on our Instagram account you will always see fresh photo impressions from our recent trips: animals of Africa, landscapes, places to visit, accommodations, activities and special moments! Our Instagram: empakaai_cultural_safari

 

Fresh from Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar… speechless, amazing, we love it!

” Hi everyone!

Fresh from Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar… speechless,  amazing, we love it!

We hired a local guide, a Maasai, for Kenya and Tanzania. We recommend our guide Moses because he is a great person. Friendly, helpful, trustworthy, he attended to all details and shown us why he loves his land. He does everything with so much passion. He is a Maasai who works as a safari guide, but his dream is to grow an agency and thus to provide work for his family and his people.”

Read the full review of the Empakaai Cultural Safari trip written by our guest Gigi on www.losviajeros.com

Empakaai cultural safari: Kenia, Tanzania, Zanzíbar
Empakaai cultural safari: Kenia, Tanzania, Zanzíbar

Following a giraffe on foot during a safari walk in Lake Naivasha
Following a giraffe on foot during a safari walk in Lake Naivasha
Dancing with Maasai
Dancing with Maasai
Hugging a baobab
Hugging a baobab
Exploring a local market in Stone Town, Zanzibar
Exploring a local market in Stone Town, Zanzibar
Learning and having fun on a spice tour in Zanzibar
Learning and having fun on a spice tour in Zanzibar

 

Our dear friends Gigi, Felix, Carol and Pablo – thank you very much for letting Empakaai Cultural Safari be your guide on this journey. You are a great company, fun, flexible, open minded and prepared for adventure.

Karibu tena Africa, you are always welcome back to Africa!

 

NEW TRIP: Kenya, Tanzania North and Zanzibar, 15 days

We  tried this intensive and exciting itinerary for the first time in September 2015. And the trip was really a success! Why?  Because it  provides an unforgettable combination of the best natural and cultural experiences of East Africa, that are almost never combined in one trip:

  • Two most famous National Parks of East Africa: Maasai Mara in Kenya and Serengeti in Tanzania
  • Maasai village in Maasai land, close to Maasai Mara National Park
  • Lake Naivasha, one of the most beautiful Great Rift Valley lakes in Kenya
  • Lake Victoria in Kenya
  • Ngorongoro crater
  • Visit to traditional Tanzanian village in Mto Wa Mbu
  • Usambara Mountains
  • Beach in Dar Es Salaam
  • Zanzibar island: Stone Town and North Zanzibar beaches in Nungwi.

maasai village

For full and detailed itinerary please click here.

Prices starting from USD 2,500 per person, based on 4 persons traveling together and depends on accommodation level. 

Included in the price:

  • Accommodation excluding North Zanzibar, two persons per room / per tent, breakfast included
  • Full board during camping days (breakfast, lunch cooked or packed, dinner)
  • Transport: vehicle, driver and fuel
  • Airport transfers
  • Transfers in Zanzibar
  • Experience English speaking tour leader / driver (Maasai from Kenya)
  • 2 game drives in Maasai Mara National Park
  • Visits to Maasai village next to Maasai Mara NP
  • Boat trip in Lake Victoria
  • Visit to Maasai village of Mto Wa Mbu, including lunch in the village
  • Spice Tour in Stone Town, Zanzibar

National park entrance fees and service fees:

  • Maasai Mara NP entrance fee
  • Serengeti NP entrance fee
  • Ngorongoro conservation area entrance fee
  • Ngorongoro conservation area crater bottom fee

Excluded from the price:

  • Accommodation, food and expenses in North  Zanzibar
  • International flight and insurance
  • Visa to Kenya
  • Visa to Tanzania
  • Return speed ferry tickets to and from Dar Es Salaam (depends on the airport of departure)
  • Meals not indicated above
  • Optional excursions and entry fees by own choice not listed above
  • Drinks, daily water intake and refreshments
  • Tips, personal expenses

Contact us through direct mail on Instagram or on empakaai.cultural.safari@gmail.com to discuss your preferences and book this exciting trip.

Best of Kenya and Tanzania – join us in September!

Are you dreaming about getting (back) in touch with African wildlife and culture? Let the Empakaai Cultural Safari team know, as we are planning a very intensive and exciting trip in Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar this September!

We are going to start this journey with three very enthusiastic travelers from Europe, who are very eager to make the best out of their time in East Africa. If you always wanted to hit the African road early and fill  yourself with impressions and experiences of world famous highlights of Kenya and Tanzania every single day, you are very welcome to join us in Nairobi on 9th September 2015.

Our itinerary will be as follows:

We will depart from Nairobi early in the morning on 9th of September to reach the scenic Lake Naivasha later in the afternoon, where we have time to do a game walk and start getting close to the amazing wildlife  of East Africa. The following morning we will start a drive to the Maasai Mara National Reserve, passing by beautiful and changing landscapes of Kenya.

Endless sky in Maasai MaraMaasai Mara National Reserve will be our home for two nights. A full day game drive in this unique place is a wonderful eye opening experience! Chances are very high that we will see all of the Big 5 and impressive groups of zebra and wildebeest on that same day in Maasai Mara. We will also make sure to visit a Maasai village in this area.

From Maasai Mara we will proceed towards the magnificent Lake Victoria, and will cross the border with Tanzania there. After admiring Lake Victoria and doing a boat trip, we will drive towards the Ndabaka gate of Serengeti, where we will spend the night camping in open air under the starry sky of Tanzania.

The next day will be the Serengeti day. Waking up with sunrise, we will drive through the Serengeti National Park to reach the Ngorongoro crater in the evening.

Lions in SerengetiThe next morning the beautiful Ngorongoro crater will open itself in front of our eyes and camera lenses. After enjoying this breathtaking place thoroughly, we will drive to the picturesque village of Mto Wa Mbu. Here we will take an afternoon bicycle ride through the village to learn more about the local culture.

WildebeestOur destination for the next day is the travel capital of Tanzania, Arusha.  But before settling down for the day, we will drive to Moshi, a village famous around the world for its views of the gorgeous Mount Kilimanjaro.

After a relaxing night in Arusha, we will continue our journey. Our next big destination is Zanzibar. Before reaching this paradise on earth, we will make a drive through beautiful Tanzania and stop for the nights in comfortable and picturesque camps in  Usambara Mountains and then in Dar Es Salaam.

Once the ferry will take us from the busy city of Dar Es Salaam to the island of Zanzibar, we will do no more long days driving! We will stop over for the night in exotic Stone Town, and then continue straight to the charming beaches of Nungwi in North Zanzibar. Four days of relaxation and processing of impressions from our busy trip will be a perfect ending of our East Africa adventure on 23rd of September!

Take your time to admire a beautiful sunset above the Indian Ocean
Take your time to admire a beautiful sunset above the Indian Ocean

Contact us for further information about this trip by email info@empakaaiculturalsafari.com or through DM on Instagram empakaai_cultural_safari

 

Book your trip to Africa early with 20% discount

Not yet decided where to go and what to see in Africa this year? Here are some of our favorite places to help you out. And if you confirm your trip  before May 1st 2015, for any departure date in 2015, we will give you a 20% discount per person on the trip price.

Kenya equator crossing Nakuru-Baringo

You choose your timing, places you want to see and you let us know what is important for you during your trip. The specialists of Empakaai Cultural Safari team will make a proposed itinerary and a price offer. We will include a 20% discount per person if you confirm your trip with Empakaai Cultural Safari before May 1st 2015.

Now just have a look at some beautiful places in East Africa that truly deserve to be on your must-see list for this year:

Maasai Mara National Park

Why go there: To get as far away from the hectic artificial world as possible. To be overwhelmed by the endless nature around you. To experience your best and closest encounters with the Big Five, and many others.

Maasai Mara eland

Lake Baringo

Because only here you can try to learn the names of the many tribes that live on the shores of Lake Baringo.  Experience a gamedrive “Lake Baringo style”: you relax on a terrace with a cup of coffee or tea (or a glass of wine or beer), while animals and birds come close to you (beware of crocodiles!). Wake up at night because of a noisy hippo grazing right next to your tent.

Lake Baringo chalet Roberts Camp

Lake Nakuru

We love it here because rhino’s in the National Park are used to safari vehicles being around, so if you are careful, you can come really close to admire them. Because flamingo’s are back. Because some of our favorite lodges are close by (and they are affordable by guests with any level of budget).

Lake Nakuru Ziwa Bush Lodge reading corner

Mount Kenya

Why we think you’ll love it here: pleasant cool climate and fresh mountain air, an endless choice of activities, a fascinating wildlife and you are still very close to Nairobi and to Nanyuki.

Mount Kenya forest bird

Samburu National Reserve

This place is an absolute must because local Samburu community runs really good camps next to the Samburu National Reserve, and they do not overcharge you for their perfect catering and simple chalets with all conveniences. Wildlife experience in this area is priceless (read more here and here).

Samburu NR fighting elephants

Zanzibar

Why visit (or return to) Zanzibar: Place with an interesting past, excellent levels of service and some of  the most loved diving and snorkelling locations in the world. Zanzibar is often offered as a final destination on the trip. And it is absolutely a wonderful place to rest after an exciting safari – read more here, here and here.

Zanzibar starZanzibar Prison IslandAnd these are just very few of the fascinating places in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Empakaai Cultural Safari will help you to plan your own unique trip – the choice is yours about the places you want to see (on our routes or nearby), how long you want to stay where, when you want to visit.

Contact us on info@empakaaiculturalsafari.com before May 1st 2015 to book your trip with 20% discount.  Let the Empakaai Cultural Safari team take you on a well organized and exciting safari this year!