Geckos Amazing East Africa Review

If you’re looking for an authentic, budget friendly, yet wild experience, this camping safari might just be for you.

An itinerary including 12 days camping throughout the African savannahs, dancing with local Masai warriors, spotting the big 5, and hot air ballooning... there’s not much that you can’t do!

When I was researching for my next adventure, an African Safari was never on the cards, let alone camping! After all, when I thought of Africa I mainly thought of wild animals, poverty and dirt... a lot of dirt. Admittedly all of those turned out to be true. However there was a lot more to this beautiful continent and Geckos did a fantastic job at showcasing all those little wonders.

With our amazing, informative guide, Nyakoi Edwin, we were never lacking in Swahili lingo, information, safety or random facts. He had a way of making the tour fun, making us feel at ease and more importantly, at home. (Let’s be honest, it’d be a little hard to feel at home in the middle of the Serengeti)

Our chef was absolutely delightful and a whiz in the campfire kitchen. Njemo loved to keep us guessing on what dinner would be, always declaring it would be a surprise . A very good surprise indeed. From soups and casseroles, to steak, pasta and roasts, there’s nothing he didn’t do well. Breakfasts and lunch, also included every day, were just as good. I honestly worried I would go hungry on this tour... After all, as an occasional picky eater, if something was bad, there wouldn’t be any grocery stores around to buy different food. Thankfully this didn’t happen!

And Alex, our driver, whilst remaining mysterious the majority of the trip, he’d always come help take the tents down in the morning. So along with being a great driver, getting us to our next location in a timely manner, he also helped with the one job we all dreaded the most.

As for the tour in general, there were definitely some positives and negatives... Though that comes with anything in life. So I thought I’d put it out in list format, make it easy for you to see and therefore helping you decide, if this is something you’d like to try.

POSITIVES

Budget Friendly - I scored this tour at 1/2 price, in a last minute ticket sale.. but even without the sale the tour comes in under $3000, all meals, transport, accommodation paid for. Don’t be surprised to see other safaris going for at least double/triple the price!

Great Team Members - as I mentioned earlier, we were never lacking in the guide or food department. I think the full belly and mind really contributed to the overall satisfaction.

Ability to get closer to the wild - How else would you experience talking to hyenas before bed, or having to scoot zebra out of your way to use the toilet? Camping may sound rough, but it really did bring me into the wild and in the end I felt like I was getting a more authentic African experience.

Then, speaking of authentic,

Meeting the local Masai people - Some of the friendliest and happiest people I’ve come across on all my travels. After showing us traditional dances and encouraging us to join in, they showed us around their village. From their mud homes, goats, their children and their handicrafts, it’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life. The kids loved having their photos taken and I loved the opportunity to buy jewellery made by the local Masai women.

Plenty of game drives - If you’re coming to Africa for the animals, Geckos makes sure you have all the opportunities you need to spot them. Animals are unpredictable, but with plenty of chances, the odds you’ll see everything you want, is pretty high!

Accomodation - The tents and mattresses were as good as they can get. Two man, dome tents, waterproof with a roll up mattress. It’s no Sheraton, but it’s definitely not bad! There is also the option to upgrade to cabins some nights if you need a break from ‘roughing it.’

Optionals - Whilst the optionals list wasn’t expansive, there was a little bit for everyone. From bike rides and hikes, to hot air balloons and hippo spotting canoe rides. All optionals were reasonably priced and we were never forced to participate.

Now onto the not so good stuff... I’ll keep it short, but just to mention them.

Negatives

Amenities were lacking - Admittedly when booking this trip, you’re warned the amenities won’t be up to western standard. Trust me, they tell you that for a reason. There’s toilets without seats and toilets that don’t flush. The showers spurt out at random intervals or ones that only have cold water. Things can be a little dire some days, but like I said, it’s all about the authentic experience.

Some long drive days - some days involved 6-8 hour drives. On a continent this big, it’s no surprise, just be prepared with some music or a book to read.

Roads- Kenyan and Tanzanian roads are definitely an experience. The free African massage they like to call it. Don’t be surprised if you spend a good 5 hours driving on a very dusty, very bumpy road., and I mean bumpy. You know the airplane brace position? Yeah practice that! You’ll need it.

Big truck- If you never get out of the safari truck and into a smaller safari vehicle, you may never know the difference.. but for someone who did experience a smaller vehicle, the big truck can be a bit of a hinderance. With its inability to get close to the wild animals without scaring them and its inability to take the lesser roads, it can get a little tedious. However, all was not lost… there were plenty of windows for a near 360 view for the times we did see the animals up close.

My last negative was a 5 hour mechanical stop in some small, who knows where, Tanzanian town. It wouldn’t have been so bad if they gave us a rough completion time and a guided tour of the town.. however they left us with the parting message of we’ll come back when it’s done. A little frustrating for us on tour and probably could have handled that better. And finally here’s some tips on what to bring on a camping safari!

-A blow up pillow from Kmart or a pillow case and put clothes inside. ( space is limited in the lockers, make it count)

-A sleeping bag - some night are cold and it’s nice to have something to snuggle in.

-Battery pack or two - The onboard charging isn’t always reliable and if you have a few gadgets you need to charge, battery packs are your best friend!

-A smart phone zoom lens - if you don’t own a fancy camera, go to your local Kmart and buy a $5 zoom lens. Sometimes those animals aren’t as close as you’d like them to be, but with a lens it’s like they’re right in front of you.

-A good mozzie repellent and sunscreen.. don’t skimp out on these.. there’s nothing worse than bites and sunburn!

-And lastly, baby wipes- From dirty hands and dirty tables to those days showers aren’t available, baby wipes are great to have around.

But there you have it! My review of Geckos Amazing East Africa! Overall a very positive experience and I definitely left with some life long memories of Africa. If you’re thinking of getting out of your comfort zone and into the wild, this tour might just be for you.. Find the tour below: https://www.geckosadventures.com/en-au/kenya/amazing-east-africa-107786