Freeman Safaris testimonials

Freeman Safaris

‘Yesterday’s Safaris Today’

Testimonials

My sister and I want to express our thanks to you and your staff for the excellent holiday we had with Freeman Safaris.

Because of our ages (61 and 71 respectively), we were both apprehensive as to whether such a holiday would be too much for us (particularly me) and would suit our needs, but we need not have worried.There was absolutely nothing more you could have done for us, particularly providing the opportunities to see such a wide diversity of wildlife on a regular daily basis from sun-up to sun-down, nor could we have chosen a better company for such a trip. Our every wish was catered for, or we only had to ask - nothing was too much trouble including arranging for us to visit a local beekeeper, which Jennifer found to be one of the highlights of her holiday.The tents were so comfortable, the food superb and the group of people we were lucky enough to be with were all so nice, especially Sandra and John.

The photographs we brought home with us are a wonderful reminder of what a splendid time we had seeing all the animals. We sincerely thank you for taking so much time and effort to show us some of your lovely country and so much of its wildlife. We could not have wished for more. Even though we are very much novices, the photographic opportunities you afforded us, due to your knowledge and expertise, were truly remarkable and we were able to obtain high quality photographs that even experienced wildlife photographers within our group would be proud of.

If we can stand the thought of those two internal flights again who knows, we may consider returning to see you!

We were so lucky to have chosen your company out of the many in the BBC Wildlife magazine as we don't normally have such good fortune. We have no hesitation in recommending Freeman Safaris to anyone, including our family and friends who, like us, are of more mature years.

Teresa and Jennifer, November 2009

A big thank you for giving us a fantastic experience in Kenya, (your back yard), at home and in the bush.

We had the time of our lives day in and day out. We loved Samburu. The bird life there was incredible and it was great to see the Grevy's zebra, an incredibly striking animal. It is a wonderful place to camp.

We loved Lake Nakuru. It was great to see both black and white Rhino and the lake itself is of outstanding beauty. The Flamingo's are so pretty in pink; but we loved the Pelicans, big birds with huge characters, plus I (sandra) saw my first Leopard, a wonderful sight to see.

But nothing could beat the Masai Mara. Experiencing the anticipation of the migration after several teasing attempts was magical, its full of ooh's and aah's. We wanted every zebra and every wildebeest to make the crossing but loved it when the croc's struck…

We loved that most of the animals had young. How cute they all were, Zebra, Elephant, lion, Wildebeest, all the Gazelles, Warthog, Hippo, Giraffe, the list is endless. We experienced first hand a mother cheetah making a kill and calling for her siblings to enjoy her feast, a real insight on their daily lives. We loved the huge male lions sitting as if for portraits, many were sleeping and a few were making out with beautiful females. We saw young cubs of different ages, an absolute delight. Sighting the Serval cat at sunrise was a real bonus but finally seeing Leopards was the biggest thrill of all. Seeing a mother playing with her cubs, dad chilling out, and both feeding high up in the tree sure was a sight to behold.

The friends we made on our Safari was a real bonus, we would like to thank each and every one of you for making our trip more remarkable. Thanks again.

Sandra and John, September 2009.

To my Fellow Travellers

There is a saying that was famous in the days of the Old American West,

That you have seen it all when you have “seen the elephant.”

ON SEEING THE ELEPHANT

Dear fellow travelers,

What a ride we’ve had!

Yes, we’ve seen the elephant,

With David, John and Moses at the wheel.

We’ve faced Tembo and Simba

With not a scratch nor wound.

We’ve looked at buffalo, hippo, giraffe.

We never got tired of seeking.

Laughter and tears we’ve shared.

Kenyan nights with hyenas giggling,

Lions roaring all around.

Yes, friends, we’ve seen the elephant—

From the Mara, to Nakuru, to Samburu,

Sweet sounds and smells of Africa.

I’ll miss them and I’ll miss you all.

But I’ll return

And hope you do, too.

When once again, we’ll see the elephant.

Frances Taylor

I wanted to thank all at Freeman Safaris for making my safari such an awesome trip. It shouldn't have been a surprise as this is my third year with Freeman Safaris and you never fail to deliver. As a keen photographer you are able to deliver everything I could wish for, no one works harder on the Mara for their guests and that is what sets you apart. So a big thanks for all the effort from you and your team and all I can say is you will see me again soon.

Graeme, September 2nd 2008 See Graeme’s Photo Gallery

My Return to Kenya

If you’re a keen wildlife photographer then Africa acts like a powerful magnet.The diversity of the animals and birds, and their accessibility, is unparalleled. Nowhere is this more true than on the great East African plains and their surrounding habitats. After my first visit I promised myself I would return as often as I could, preferably annually, and I had managed to do so every year until 2007, when domestic circumstances prevented me from going pretty much anywhere. When a window opened to allow me to return to Kenya this summer I was like a kid waiting for Christmas. There was also some trepidation. Almost the only photography I’d done in the past year was of the abundant birds in my garden. Would that tenuous grasp I thought I’d attained on adequate photographic technique have deteriorated through lack of exercise? Could I wield the not inconsiderable bulk of a 500mm lens and three pound camera still, in the back of a bouncing Landrover? Only one way to find out!

I had three weeks to spend on safari - too short by about 49 weeks in any given year - but I was determined to exploit it fully. So. all my toys went into my bags and pockets and I embarked on the itinerary I’d decided with Brian, accompanied by my fellow photographer, Andy Diamond. First stop was Samburu, an arid, semi-desert landscape, clustered around a life-giving river. Previously, I’d had some great shots of birds, a leopard, and Samburu’s plentiful elephants; but the quality of Kenya’s parks is that the activity changes with time and the seasons.This time, the stars were cheetahs and lion cubs, as well as the ubiquitous elephants.The birds were there, too, but it was a subtly different blend of species this time. Happily, I could still lift the cameras; I’d not forgotten which buttons to press, or most of the lessons I’d half-learned over the years. I still can’t keep my horizons straight and I still chop off claws, paws, and hooves at the bottom of the frame. What was worrying was the fact that I couldn’t remember the birds’ names. Species identification has always been a somewhat hit and miss affair with me, but this was different. Was it just prolonged absence or rapidly advancing senility? Whatever, Samburu is still a great place to spend some time, probably the best place to photograph elephants, and just great for birds - even if you can’t remember their names.

Next stop, a couple of days at Lake Nakuru, and a chance to check out Brian’s new house. I remember my past experiences of Kenya’s roads, and I use that term only in the sense that they existed on the map if not in reality.Well, big surprise! Six hours of bone jarring discomfort has largely been replaced by a relatively smooth and pleasant ride. The same goes for the route from Nakuru almost as far as the Maasai Mara. At last, they’ve nearly finished the roads and they’re good roads, too. My absence in 2007 coincided with Kenya’s outbreak of localised insanity and resultant political reordering. Was this a consequence, I wondered, the roads money had actually been spent on the roads and not been siphoned off? Flying is still much quicker, but it’s not the sole option any more,it seems. Brian’s new house? I want one! A typical colonial villa with a magnificent reception room opening onto a covered verandah and the gardens. It’s also only 15 minutes from the park gates. Lake Nakuru was different this year, too. All of the famous flamingos were absent, away breeding at Lake Bogoria, but in their place were thousands of pelicans. Andy and I set out to photograph each pelican individually on day one. Then, just in case we’d missed any, we did it again on day two! We also had some surprises: a fleeting glimpse of a leopard, great views of Colobus monkeys and, finally, an African Black duck, up close, in the rain.

In 2006 I spent a whole month in the Maasai Mara, and it wasn’t enough. In 2008, I only had ten days; but ten quality days in the Mara is worth a month elsewhere. Firstly, the leopards were having a charm offensive. Leopards - you sit around for hours while they hide in trees or thick bush, only to be rewarded with a blurry shot of a tail disappearing into even thicker bush. Not this year! They’ve become exhibitionists, proudly marching around in full view like a bunch of cheetahs. No excuses for messed up shots this year. Generally, the Mara was Big Cat crazy; lions on tap, including lots of cubs running around being endearing; maybe not so many cheetahs, but the mother and six cubs from two years ago was never going to be topped. The predators were fat and happy because the migration was arriving early. I didn’t expect to see any river crossings but we got quality time in down on the bank as thousands of wildebeest and zebras tried to see if the grass really was greener on the other side. Fattest and happiest were the crocodiles. I’ve never seen so many crocs, and I’ve never seen so much crocodile/ungulate action. It can be harrowing and it’s not exactly family entertainment, but that’s nature.

One of the best things about being on safari is lying in your bed at night just listening to the noises. There’s the thunderous rumble of lions in the distance; the manic screeching of hyenas; a bass cacophony from the hippo pool; nightjars calling; the shuffling of hooves outside the tent as waterbuck or dik-diks crop the vegetation; all underpinned by the ceaseless chirping of myriad crickets. It’s magical and unforgettable. It’s almost criminal to have to fall asleep.

Sadly, my time ran out and I had to say my farewells and depart. There was a violent storm as we made our way to Ol Kiombo airstrip, Growling thunder; a wall of impenetrable rain; banks of low grey cloud. There was a real chance the flight would be cancelled, even though it’s an all weather strip. Maybe the Mara didn’t want me to go; she still had lots to show me. No, stop grasping at straws; there was the little Cessna, floating in, to whisk me off to Nairobi and the flight to London. No need to be sad: another 6,600 pictures to sift through, process, post on the net, print and fill up disk space. Some good, many bad, all trying to teach me something; the best of them bringing a sense of achievement.The muscles in my arms may be bulging from hefting cameras and lenses, while my stomach was bulging from the wonderful and copious table Brian provides - breathe in! Two years away and that absence had made the heart grow fonder. I’ll try not to stay away that long again”.

Pete, September 2008 For Pete’s safari images, see his Photo Gallery

Just to say many thanks for our excellent safari - can't believe how much we saw. Our photos are better than any we have managed before, mainly due to your positioning and the close proximity of the animals.

Emily and George, August 2nd 2008

It's been six weeks since we returned home to England after our fantastic honeymoon and we'd like to thank you and all of your staff for ensuring that we had such a great time on safari. We really enjoyed the safari and saw everything, and more than we hoped to (apart from the very minor disappointment of missing out on a leopard!!). The masai wedding ceremony was fantastic and everyone at home is amazed that we drank goat's blood. How are 'blue eyes' the baby cheetah and the three baby lions doing? Can you please say hello to everyone for us, in particular Stanley, David and Sammy at your house in Naivasha.

Lee and Sue, 11th October, 2007

"An incredibly memorable life changing experience, made all the more complete by all the extra steps that you took to customize, and personalize, a jam packed exhilarating ten days. If there were ever a unique challenge, the Patel family delivered it... an American contingent, very young children, vegetarian food, two couples celebrating anniversaries and needless to say, a unique tailor made itinerary. Our expectations were probably unduly high (as exemplified by a wine request list that was ‘unusual’, as Brian put it), but they were more than met, and 'then some'."

The Patel family, 2006

"Every minute of very day was used to maximum effect; this is no rest cure! On each day Brian seemed to have some strange sense of where the best viewing would be. Hard, exciting work during the day was tempered by idyllic evenings of G & Ts by the fire followed by excellent meals with the night sounds of Africa all around. After the hot showers, convenient layout of the large tents and comfortable beds of Brian’s camps in the bush, I really don’t think I can be bothered with hotels any more! To have that much comfort and attention in such remote and unspoiled country was a privilege indeed.

Brian demonstrated immediately that his primary interest was in ensuring not only that we, as a group, should be given the best possible wildlife viewing and photo opportunities, but that each individual should have an equal voice in preferred subjects. He is seemingly indefatigable and will spend however long it takes to get the best view, the right angle and the best light. He understands the needs of the photographer, has a keen interest in the subject and constantly goes out of his way to make sure everyone is satisfied."

Andy, September 2004

"Jambo sana Brian, I suppose you could say life is getting back to normal, but I am still raving to everyone I know about my safari!

The Mara

The vastness of the grassland plains took us by surprise, a sea of beautiful golds and greens. Forget "Big Cat Diary", this was the real thing, and we felt very lucky to be part of it. Brian and chief spotter Barisa, what a team !! They never stopped working from morning till night and kept putting us in superb positions. Freeman safaris promises an "up front & personal" viewing experience and that's exactly what we got. With experience of over a dozen previous safari trips between us, we've seen most things, but in this Park we were taken to new levels. So many wonderful bonuses; watching, at close range, lions mating was unforgettable, words cannot describe it. A huge variety of wildlife, even without the Migration.

Nakuru

Thousands upon thousands of beautiful flamingos and pelicans as far as the eye can see. Difficult to know where next to point one's camera. And as for Rhinos, this was HQ ! Black & White in all directions, we've never seen so many. Another bonus here; thanks to Brian's perseverance and positioning we witnessed up close the once in a lifetime spectacle of two Black Rhino clashing violently. We even managed to end the day with the classic "leopard up a tree" sighting, superb!

Camp Life

We didn't quite know what to expect, but this has set a new standard as far as we are concerned. If your idea of a perfect holiday is not having to lift a finger, then this is it. Nothing, repeat nothing was too much trouble. Spacious and comfortable tents made the going easy, and yes it's absolutely true, the temperature of the shower was always spot on. How do they do that?! At the end of a good day's safari, teas and coffees upon arrival in camp were most welcome, and the standard of the meals easily matched that of many top hotels (and we'd like to see Gordon Ramsay & Jamie Oliver try it with a charcoal oven ...). Tracy is so fussy where meat is concerned but had no complaints at all, and her large (for a slim thing) appetite was more than satisfied, returning home several pounds heavier! Each Camp was beautifully situated, as far away from lodge life as you can imagine, but within easy reach of the parks.

General

Having previous safari experience, we knew some of what to expect, but this trip really went the extra mile. I have never met a person who knows the Bush as well as Brian does and what a fabulous team of staff he has. He can be proud of them all and how he maintains such a smooth running operation. Brian also went to great trouble to book us a Hot Air Balloon flight, which we really wanted to include in our itinerary, and proved to be another fantastic event during our stay. We just can't wait to return to Kenya and dissolve into a different world with our new rafiki, leaving the hassle of normal everyday life a long way behind. A truly wonderful, wonderful holiday. Speak to you soon, Kwaheri sasa Tracy & John."

Tracy and John, July 2004 See John’s Photo Gallery

"We haven't been back to Africa since [we went with you] as we knew there was no way of emulating the safari you arranged for us... Many is the time I dream of sitting beside the camp fire enjoying a cold Tusker beer after a dusty day wildlife watching with the stars above seemingly so close that you could reach out and touch them. There is nothing to match the sights, sounds and smells of the African bush."

Jill, August 2002

"I know elephants are my favourite, but how did you organise the elephant show every lunch?"

David, February 2001

"Having been to Kenya a few times previously on tourist safaris which were enjoyable, we wanted our last safari, in 1997, to be something different. We saw an advertisement for Brian's company which appeared to fulfil our needs. It was going to be our last trip to Kenya, so we wanted it to be completely different, and different it was!

It wasn't like going away with a tour company, it was as if we'd known Brian for years and like being with friends. The experience of staying in the bush was incomparable, no racing back for 9 o'clock breakfast (like you would if you were staying in a lodge), and the whole safari was built around little stories, not just listing animals and moving on, but following things through to the end, For example watching a leopard doing very little for two hours but then following her, seeing her hunt and feed her cub. All the camp sites were immaculate and the food was superb. Needless to say, it did not turn out to be our last safari and in 2001 we returned [to Kenya] with Brian. We challenged him to show us something different and this challenge was met and the safari exceeded all our expectations! We look forward to our next last safari!"

Tony and Cathy, November 2002

"I am scared of bees, wasps, and any flying insect to the extent that I am forever ducking and diving in an English garden, so I never thought I would be able to go to Kenya. However, I took the plunge and went on a safari with Brian and I had the time of my life! Once I was there my fears did not cross my mind and I enjoyed every single minute. I was not bitten once and the tents were completely dudu (Swahili for insects and mosquitoes) proof. I can't wait to go back and I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone."

Caroline, July 2002

"For a truly memorable and lifetime Kenyan safari experience, we whole heartedly recommend Brian Freeman and his team without any reservation whatsoever. Personal care afforded was absolute and, photographically, we were presented with unimaginable closeup views of wildlife and village life that will stay with us forever. The holiday exceeded all our expectations, a holiday we will repeat."

Derek and Mary, September 2001

"The experience of staying in the bush was incomparable, no racing back for 9 o'clock breakfast (like you would if you were staying in a lodge), and the whole safari was built around little stories, not just listing animals and moving on, but following things through to the end, For example watching a leopard doing very little for two hours but then following her, seeing her hunt and feed her cub."

Tony and Cathy