Maurice, Your Personal 24hrs Safari Consultant
Africa Safari Classics
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2008)
- Member Of:
- ATTA, ASTA, NTA & FTA
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $4,303 to $7,746 per person per day (MXN, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Leanne | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Dream Kenyan Safari
I originally located Africa Safari Classics through the Safari Bookings website. Subsequent email communications with Maurice at Africa Safari Classics then increased my confidence in pursuing a booking. Any concerns or questions I had raised throughout the booking process were answered promptly and confidently.
Accommodation recommendations made by Maurice enhanced our safari experience & itinerary changes were made easily
The 4x4 was comfortable and enabled great game viewing. Game drives were enhanced by the experience, driving skill, driving care and knowledge of our Driver/Guide Nicholas. He, amazingly, seemed to know his way around all the game parks and his game observation skills and dedication to finding us the best sightings possible was most appreciated. Our safari was unbelievable in every way, largely due to the quality of Nicholas’ guiding.
Would most definitely use ASC if we ever returned to East Africa and have no hesitation in recommending ASC to anybody…in fact I would strongly recommend anybody use ASC and am happy to communicate this to any future clients.
I believe the entire safari experience is dependent on the organisation of the safari company and the quality of the guide. Africa Safari Classics surpassed expectations on both counts, resulting in a dream safari for my parents and I – they still haven’t stopped talking about it and I cannot thank Maurice and Nicholas enough for that.
Hi Team from Africa Safari Classics
We are now to our routine in London, going to work again... and we could not conclude this amazing trip without thanking you for all your professional work. The experience in Kenya has been a lifetime experience, completely over the expectations. We have had the best advices and guidance, accommodation, service and of course, best driver, John!! We have seen EVERYTHING, and it has been beautiful to understand the wonders of the Kenya that close. We had no problems at all. The communication with you has been helpful and excellent since the first time we got in touch. You have been very honest and reliable from the beginning and completely open to adapt the Safari to our needs and budget. We have already recommended you to all our friends and relatives. We have to come back soon and see more of that beautiful Africa with you!!!
Hi Maurice
It was a nice surprise to meet you too in Arusha, I wasn't expecting to see you but it's always good to put a face to a name. Thanks for coming to meet us. I was extremely happy with the communication from you prior to making my booking. You always responded promptly. You also went out of your way to tailor a holiday to suit our interests and budget. Both of these factors encouraged me to book with your company. You seemed professional, your website appeared professional and you offered to Skype. Your attention to detail and promptness was reassuring. Our driver/guide was excellent. We were very happy with his knowledge and expertise in finding the animals and providing information. He was attentive and looked after us well. He was a safe and competent driver and we enjoyed his company as he spoke good English and was clearly experienced. All these skills and factors added to the enjoyment of our trip. The standard of the accommodation was excellent and service good wherever we stayed. We were lucky enough to get upgraded from Tloma to Kitela Lodge which was a pleasing and lovely bonus! I would certainly recommend your company to friends and family. I certainly hope to come back to East Africa again and would use your organization if booking a safari or activity holiday. Our trip exceeded my expectations in terms of standard of accommodation, service and enjoyment. I would like to thank you again and wish your Organization every success for the future. Please let me know if this is the feedback you require and whether you have any further queries. Many thanks again.
Email Peter P | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Luxury accommodation, good vehicle, competent and friendly driver. And LOTS of animals.
We had just completed a few weeks of work with an NGO. Maurice designed a safari for us which included pickup from the NGO in East Kenya and drop off at Nairobi airport at the end. And it all went like clockwork.
All accommodation was very good but the two tented camps were amazing. Luxury with hot water (only a little cold water at the NGO!) and fabulous food.
Our driver Thomas was knowledgable and tried hard to find good sightings. He obviously knew his way around the parks and was always in touch other drivers about possible animal sightings. Vehicle was also excellet - a stretch Troopcarrier with fridge and inverter for 240V charging. Even when there was an issue with the vehicle that had to be attended to, Thomas arranged (and paid for) a game drive through the camp we were staying at so we wouldn't miss anything on our itinerary. Then picked us up when he said he would - our tour never missed a beat.
Oh, and we saw a lot of animals.
Email Mitsue | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome Experience!
My husband and I got to experience an amazing safari trip in Kenya.
The itinerary flowed smoothly, and the camps and lodges chosen met and sometimes exceeded our expectations.
Because the plane schedule from Kenya Airways changed suddenly, we lost a night at our final destination in Seychelles which was very disappointing and frustrating.
Maurice, our safari coordinator, was gracious enough to provide a substitute stay at a bed and breakfast high star hotel.
One of the first-class tent resorts that we stayed at included Little River Camp which was ideal for honeymooners with an emphasis on personal attention to you as a visitor.
Because there were so many moving parts regarding our stay in different tents and hotels, we were anxious in determining what was next on the agenda.
In spite of the time difference between Washington DC and Kenya, Maurice always answered the phone at all hours to answer our questions and he did it without complaint or showing the frustration that he must've surely felt.
Even during our stay when we were confused about what was the next event, Maurice in his usual calm way assured and guided us along the way of the event without hesitation or frustration.
We got to experience nature in action with a lioness hunting and feeding her cubs which is something very few people get to witness!
Tony, our safari driver was the perfect guide—very thoughtful, skilled, and very attentive of our safari surroundings.
With him we saw the big famous big 5.
He always had snacks and drinks on hand, along with his silly humor, which definitely added to the experience.
And he even took us to take a dip in the Buffalo Spring which was an unexpected bonus.
We got to converse with Maasai warriors in their village and visit their homes where they explained to us their way of life, the daily tasks and what it took to become a warrior.
We saw cheetahs hunting for their prey up close and personal.
In addition, several times we saw lions. One lion was in the high grass hiding from a group of gazelles as he watched their movements.
In another case we pulled up with 1 foot of pride of 7 lions leisurely relaxing after a kill. This was very scary because we were as close to them to become their next meal if they so chose to.
We fed an elephant from the back of our tent as we watched a group of monkeys called the Monkey Menace steal some of the food from the elephant.
Our trip ended up in Seychelles at a 5 star resort where the amenities were first class in every respect at the Kempinski.
Be aware that if you are going to tip for the services, the currency may be different in each region that you plan to visit.
Email Karen D | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
African Safari Classics is a top-notch tour operator that provides seamless, personalized experience
I recently traveled to Africa for two weeks of Safari Bliss. Our group included a childhood friend and two of his friends I had never met. We only agreed to the trip because our mutual friend had been on two previous safaris arranged by Africa Safari Classics, and Maurice (who made all the arrangements) curated a personalized trip for us based on all the favorite sites our friend had visited, along with some new ones. I would have been very hesitant to "shop" for a tour company online without firsthand knowledge of the experience I might hope to have. WOW - was I ever amazed by our incredible safari experiences in Kenya, Tanzania, and our final few days of relaxation in Zanzibar. I appreciate all the effort that went into making my trip memorable.
The sequence and flow of our itinerary were excellent. We started off with a day of leisure in Nairobi at the Tamarind Tree Hotel to adjust to the time change. Tours were arranged for us at the Giraffe Centre, Karen Blixen Museum, and a bead factory. I enjoyed each of these immensely (don't miss the Giraffe Centre for some great photo ops). We set off the next day for the first of our five-day Kenyan safari drives in Amboseli, beautiful Lake Naivasha, and the Maasai Mara Game Reserve. For the next phase of our adventure, we boarded a small plane for a flight to Central Serengeti in Tanzania. Everything was ready for us, and we said goodbye to our Kenyan driver, Boni, to be met at the other end by our Tanzanian driver, David. We enjoyed four days of game drives in the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with a stop at Olduvai Gorge. The final part of our itinerary began with a flight from Arusha to Zanzibar for three final days of relaxation at the beautiful Next Paradise Resort. Each camp and lodge was unique and provided a different perspective of the region. The accommodations were comfortable and well-chosen, each with its own flavor, enhancing the overall experience. Maurice, our tour organizer, checked in daily with our drivers to make sure we were having a wonderful time, as well as checking in with me - I call that first-class service.
From the moment we landed in Nairobi, where our driver Patrick was waiting with a sign, to the arrangements at our final destination, everything was perfectly organized. The logistics were seamless and handled in true "Hakuna Matata" stress-free style. Africa Safari Classics will always be remembered by me as a "No Worries" company that embodies the true spirit of the people at every location I visited. I was able to thoroughly enjoy every moment of my vacation.
The food was delicious and varied, catering well to different dietary needs. We had a gluten-free member of our party and preferred more vegetarian options, which were available everywhere we stayed. The game drives were thrilling, with an abundance of wildlife sightings that exceeded my expectations. We had several, what I like to refer to as "National Geographic moments" that I will never forget. We were able to locate the Big Five must-see animals as well as many more varieties and amazing birds everywhere you turned. Each day brought new and exciting encounters. One week later, I am still sorting through hundreds of stunning photographs, trying to narrow down the best of everything that captured my heart.
Something to think about when you go on a safari: You will be spending hours and hours in your vehicles driving, from location to location and on the drives themselves. The drivers you will spend all that time with make all the difference in the world. We spent our first five days with the driver that our companion had traveled with on his two previous Kenyan safaris. His name is Kasimba Boniface, a.k.a. "Boni." He brings his 36 years of guiding experience and knowledge to your adventure, from finding the hard-to-spot animals and getting you up close and personal, to helping other guides get their vehicles out of the mud. All the other drivers call him "sir," and he is known and respected everywhere he goes. What he adds every day is a jovial spirit, a giant heart, and more laughter than our vehicle could hold - I haven't laughed this hard in years (don’t even get him started on the “Shewee”). He and Maurice helped make my birthday at Zebra Plains Mara Camp the most wonderful one I have ever experienced. If your excursion includes Kenya, you have to request Boni (and make sure to ask him to give you a demonstration of how hippos handle their poo). We had a wonderful driver in Tanzania as well. David was a gentle soul with a wealth of knowledge. He was fantastic about explaining all the facts about each animal, and he knew land sizes, populations, and so many details about everything we were seeing, like a walking encyclopedia. Boni and David were exceptional guides. Their knowledge, cooperation, and initiative greatly enriched the safari experience. They were attentive to our needs and provided excellent customer care, ensuring that every aspect of the trip was enjoyable.
Thank you, Africa Safari Classics, once again for organizing such a fantastic safari. I look forward to recommending your services to others and hope to travel with you again in the future. I left a part of my heart in Africa.
Best regards,
Karen
Email Zach D | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great safari in Tanzania, Kenya & Rwanda
My wife and I hired Africa Safari Classics for our honeymoon to Tanzania, Kenya and Rwanda. We'd never been to East Africa or on safari so there was a learning curve to both. Maurice did a great job taking the ideal trip we described and turning it into an itinerary that worked for us. He took to heart that we wanted to prioritize time in the bush seeing animals and cared less about fancy lodging and amenities (this was hard to get through to other outfitters when we told them it was our honeymoon). Maurice's meticulous attention to detail put us at ease leading up to and during the trip. He was always available to answer questions, checked in about how things were going, and set us up with professional, smart and fun guides for each leg of our trip. I'd definitely recommend Africa Safari Classics to friends and family.
Email Ignacio | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Another excellent Experience with Maurice and the team!
We have just completed our 3rd trip to Kenya with Africa Safari Classics.
As ever the quality of service is outstanding in each and every aspect.
Maurice was always on top of all the details and organized our trip exactly to our expectations.
Peter, our driver (for the second time), did an amazing job. He is so patient and willing to share his knowledge of the park and wildlife. Constantly making sure we spend enough time at the sighting and also searching for unique opportunities for us.
I can't recommend Africa Safari Classics enough. Simply amazing!
Email Ruth | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Would Highly Recommend
Every aspect of the service provided by Africa Safari Classics was outstanding. Starting from our initial contact with Maurice right through to the very last day of our trip when he took the time to meet up with us in Nairobi to hear about our adventure. He was always courteous, very responsive and genuinely invested in ensuring we had the best experience we could.
We had a wonderful safari taking in Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru and the Masai Mara. Our driver and guide Tony was great, very knowledgeable and fun to be with! We were incredibly lucky and saw all the "Big Five" thanks to Tony!
All the camps chosen for us by Maurice were above and beyond what we had expected on a safari. They were incredible in terms of quality, location, facilities and such fabulous staff!
Huge thanks to Africa Safari Classics for making our trip all that we had hoped for. Xxx
Email Sue | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent!
I‘ll be honest, I’m not one for writing reviews, but this time I found myself wanting to share my experience of the excellent service from Morris and his team and the great care he took to make sure our group of four women, had the best time possible.
It all started with Morris taking the time to meet us on day 1, which was a great opportunity to ask questions about the trip and Kenya in general.
The 5 night/6 day safari was expertly planned and executed. The flow was spot on, with stays at three different lodges and entry to four parks/reserves. We were very lucky to see all of the Big 5 and so so much more. I would say most of this rested with Tony ( or Lucky Tony, as we called him) who was without exception, polite, flexible and incredibly knowledgeable about the animals and areas. His enthusiasm and determination really made the trip.
This was all supported by outstanding accommodation, each lodge with slightly different offerings, but all absolutely delightful and so friendly, it would be hard not to enjoy. Without exception, the food was amazing, with lots of choice and so tasty.
I would have no problem to recommend Morris and his team to anyone.