点评:This tour to Kenya and Tanzania was about our 8th trip with Explore India/Explore World Journeys. All have been great; this Grand Circle Safari was one of the best! Having just completed our Grand Circle Safari Tour with this company, we can easily recommend them highly. We loved our tour!
To begin with, all the hotels and lodges were excellent, and were not cookie cutter motels. Each was unique in its own way, some modern and sleek, some reminiscent of old times in Africa, and all with excellent food. All were able to accommodate dietary difficulties and were clear about what was in each food item, so that those with allergies or intolerances were not surprised.
The sites on the trip were chosen for maximum viewing of the animals and birds, which is why one does these safaris, of course. We saw all the ‘Big Five’ and a great deal more besides. It was paradise for birders, we saw so many different species. Our guides were true professionals: they knew when and where the animals were likely to be, and could explain a great deal about animals and birds. I don’t think we asked one question about flora or fauna that they would not answer or identify. And, they did all this while driving bumpy roads and sharing information with other guides about where the animals were. They encouraged us to get up early, thus seeing more animals closer to the roads and with almost no or very many fewer other jeeps ahead of us. Fewer jeeps = less dust on the road, thus better pictures. Honestly, we saw so many animals we became a bit blasé about ‘another Thompson’s Gazelle or Wildebeest.’ It was fabulous!
There is some driving on dusty roads on this tour—it’s Africa, after all. The jeeps allow you to see and photograph a lot, but that means that if it’s dusty, the dust comes through the vehicle. The roads are pretty bumpy—bring a cushion, or suck it up. Most of the time you’re standing to take pictures anyway. We didn’t have any difficulty with the jeeps, but if you’re a Princess Pea, you will need a cushion, or should visit a zoo.
The staff at all the lodges went out of their way to meet every need. They were truly excellent everywhere. I can’t say enough about them all. Never obsequious, they were true professionals and interesting people to converse with. Another highlight of the trip!
Bring lots of $1 USD bills for tips. Many lodges are now putting a general tip box at the reception, which is then divided up among all staff, which is helpful. If I had a complaint about this trip, it would be that I would have liked another day at some of the lodges just to enjoy that lodge and its amenities more!
We would like to go again and take our son the next time!
翻译:这次肯尼亚和坦桑尼亚之旅是我们与Explore India/Explore World Journeys合作的第八次旅行。每一次体验都棒极了;而这次大环线游猎之旅更是其中的佼佼者!刚刚结束这次旅行,我们毫不犹豫地要大力推荐这家旅行社。我们非常喜欢这次旅程!
首先,所有入住的酒店和旅馆都十分出色,绝非千篇一律的汽车旅馆。每一家都独具特色:有的现代且时尚,有的则让人回想起非洲的往昔岁月。这些地方的食物都很美味。它们都能满足特殊的饮食需求,而且会明确说明每种食物的成分,这样有食物过敏或不耐受的人就不会出现意外情况。
此次旅行的各个地点都是经过精心挑选的,目的就是方便观赏各种动物和鸟类——当然,这也是人们参加这类游猎之旅的初衷。我们看到了所有的“五大兽”,还有更多其他种类的动物。对于观鸟爱好者来说,这里简直就是天堂,我们看到了数不胜数的鸟类。我们的导游堪称真正的专业人士:他们知道动物们何时会出现在何处,还能详细讲解各种动物和鸟类的相关知识。我想,我们提出的有关动植物的任何问题,他们都能给出答案或做出辨识。即便是在行驶在崎岖不平的道路上、还要与其他导游交流动物位置信息的过程中,他们也依然如此。他们还鼓励我们早起。这样一来,我们就能看到更多动物出现在道路附近,而且前方几乎没有或只有极少的其他吉普车。吉普车越少,路上的尘土就越少,拍出的照片质量也就越好。说实话,我们看到的动物实在太多,以至于看到“又一只汤普森瞪羚或角马”时都有点习以为常了。这次旅行真是棒极了!
这次行程中确实有一些路段是尘土飞扬的——毕竟这里是非洲嘛。虽然吉普车能让我们尽情观赏并拍摄各种景观,但问题在于:一旦路上尘土飞扬,灰尘也会钻进车里。路况相当颠簸——最好带上坐垫,不然就只能忍受了。其实大多数时候你都是站着拍照的。我们乘坐吉普车时没遇到任何问题,但如果你是个娇气的人,那就需要准备个坐垫,或者干脆去动物园玩吧。
所有旅舍的工作人员都竭尽全力满足客人的各种需求。他们在各处都表现得极为出色。我真不知道该怎么夸奖他们才好。他们从不阿谀奉承,都是真正的专业人士,而且聊起来也很有趣。这次旅行的另一个亮点!
记得带上大量1美元的纸币用来付小费。现在很多旅舍都在前台设置了统一的小费箱,所得款项会分给所有工作人员,这种做法挺不错的。如果非要说这次旅行有什么不足的话,那就是希望能多留一天在某个旅舍里,好好享受那里的设施与服务!
我们很想再来一次,下次还要带上儿子一起!