Extraordinary Journeys Reviews

We planned our trip to Egypt with Amelia Adamson of Extraordinary Journeys over a year ago. Amelia presented us with a most fantastic itinerary after spending much time on the phone to pull exciting ideas together to make this such a special journey. Amelia took a clean slate and created the most magical trip for us. From the moment we arrived in Egypt to the time we got home the entire trip ran like clockwork! We didn't have to think about a thing. The planned city tours, hotels, food and our exceptional guide were all far beyond our wildest expectations. Julie Banks, who works in tandem with Amelia made sure all the fine details were taken care of. The time and care spent on creating this trip for us is unheard of in today's busy world. Extraordinary Journeys always deliver exceptional crafted trips, reassuring and giving one the sense that they are with you every step of the way. I have traveled with Extraordinary Journeys over the many years and all of them have been outstanding! Thank you, Amelia and Julie, for the time and effort you put forth to make this a vacation one we will never forget!

It was a pleasure working with Kim and Brea from beginning to end. They were knowledgeable, patient, and responsive. We started our safari research completely overwhelmed by the number of countries, locations, camps, experiences, price levels, etc. After a couple fun conversations with Kim, we felt like she really heard our desires, worked within our constraints, and proposed a few options that satisfied everything. It was fun and easy to arrive at what felt like a great itinerary, and during the actual trip, it only got better and exceeded expectations. We never use travel agents or trip planners, but it was an incredibly easy, fun, and seamless experience. We're sure our safari wouldn't have been as incredible as it was without Kim's, Brea's, and EJ's expertise.

We had a wonderful experience with Extraordinary Journeys! We worked with Abby to plan our honeymoon in South Africa. Abby and her team did an incredible job organizing our trip and maximizing our experience in South Africa. The accommodations where we stayed were amazing and luxurious. Once on our trip, we had to re-arrange a few activities, and it was so great to have EJ reps handle those changes so we could enjoy our vacation and not have to worry about those logistics. Additionally, prior to your trip, you are provided with excellent and detailed resources. I am incredibly happy with our experience and can't wait to plan our next trip with EJ!

20 out of 10! Totally blown away by every moment of the trip. EJ was a fabulous company. They really listened to the type of experience we were looking for and customized every detail to exceed our expectations. We knew it would be a fabulous trip. We didn't realize it would be life-changing.

My wife and I just returned from our second safari. It surpassed our first that I would tell friends was "the best week of my life". The entire team of EJ makes this process of selecting a safari plan so easy and enjoyable. The efforts their team puts in place to make travel logistics flawless makes such a difference. We should all have a handler standing by when you exit the plan to seamlessly get you through immigration and onto your next destination. The camps we visited in Zimbabwe and Botswana were treasures. Of course the wildlife was magical. I thought a safari would be all about the big game but the beautiful birds have captured me. I have fallen in love with the wonderful people of Africa. Their level of hospitality seems otherworldly. None of this would be possible without the expert and patient staff at Extraordinary Journeys. I cannot thank them enough. We are already talking about safari #3. In two or three years? TBD.

The trip exceeded our expectations! We were able to see a different side of the world and experience all the amazing things it has to offer. The safari was our favorite part! The lodge staff went above and beyond to make our stay and experience absolutely amazing. Extraordinary Journeys made each part of the trip seamless! We are so grateful for how easy every leg of the trip was. Thank you so much!

Best trip of my life!!!! Trip definitely exceeded my expectations! I loved everything. From having an escort as soon as we stepped off the plane, to the incredible food, amazing camp accommodations, and the wonderful staff and guides, this trip more than met my expectations. The safaris were magical, and I learned something every hour from those wonderful guides. I had to pinch myself to confirm this experience was not a dream.

extraordinary journeys planned a 2 week trip to africa including capetown, wine country and 2 safaris. we could not have asked for a better more organized trip. abby and her team there did not miss a beat. our entire group of 7 agreed that it was by far the best vacation we had been on (and we've done a lot!). the guides were excellent, the accommodations and food was well beyond our expecttions. i would highly recommend this organization.

Abby and Charlotte were wonderful. Very responsive and timely to any and all questions that I had. Even the stupid questions!!! The assistance after my departure - from the Bush and Beyond and Ilios Travel staff were wonderful. The tour of Cape Town was wonderful. Sharief was knowledgeable, funny and a lovely man to spend the day with! The SAFARI camps selected for my Extraordinary Journey were exquisite. The services offered were excellent and the staff were very attentive. The safari guides were so very knowledgeable. It was a perfect trip. From planning to execution! The trip was planned specifically for my interests. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.

EJ was amazing and so easy to work with. It was exactly what we were looking for! The thing we loved most about the trip and Extraordinary Journeys (outside it was a dream come true trip) was the fact that once we arrived to Kenya every single aspect of the trip was planned and layouts out for us so we didn’t have to think ahead or worry about how we were getting from point A to B.

I think that Extraordinary Journeys set up our schedule perfectly! Going from a full on hot and dusty destination, to a wet and green destination was an excellent roll into the beauty of Sarara... our favorite! Lawrence, our safari guide in Tawi Lodge was simply amazing! His knowledge mixed with his personality was unbelievable! Francis our safari guide in Elewana Elephant Pepper Camp couldn't have tried any harder to ensure we saw everything we wanted to! Moses was our host, a lovely man who made us feel very welcome! Sarara was probably our favorite! Sarara had such a beautiful layout with the watering hole below accommodations! Our guides were fantastic here as well... knowledgeable and so happy :) The elephant orphanage was really cool to visit as well as very informative. We were able to see a beautiful baby zebra, a couple of adorable baby giraffe and many cute and very playful and curious baby elephant. Giraffe Manor was a very calming way to end our adventures before our trip home.... WE WILL RETURN TO KENYA!

We gave general parameters for your trip (dates, budget, goals), and EJ handled everything from there. Our personalized itinerary was spot on for what we were looking for. Other than booking our own flights from the US to Tanzania, Brigid and Katelyn took care of every other detail. I felt that once we showed up at EWR for our overseas flight, that EJ ensured the rest of the trip was seamless. Drivers and guides were top notch. Highly recommend. Hope to book another adventure with EJ!

We had the pleasure of working with Abby Watson for planning our Kenyan safari, and I would recommend her, and Extraordinary Journeys, to anyone traveling to Africa. She provided very thoughtful, honest recommendations about where to go and which camps to stay at. She was also incredibly responsive and organized. It truly felt like a white-glove experience from start to finish and every detail was taken care of. Ahead of our trip, we were provided access to an online portal to manage all our documents and any to-dos. We were also connected with a local team on the ground once we arrived that we could chat with at any time if needed. The EJ team even told the camps me and my Mom were celebrating our birthdays on the trip so we were treated to many yummy cakes, which was a lovely surprise. I highly recommend Extraordinary Journeys for anyone planning a trip to Africa. Our favorite camp was by far Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages!

We have just returned from a safari trip to Kenya. Planning was perfect, trip was just wonderful. No detail was overlooked. Providing us with a tipping chart was much appreciated. The competence and professionalism of all local guides, hotel/camp managers and drivers assigned to our itinerary - they all made us feel welcomed and taught us so much. Then, of course, the excellent game viewing and general experience of conservancies (less crowed, off road drives, night drives, bush walks). We feel Extraordinary Journeys really gave us a full experience of Kenya.

Extraordinary Journeys ( Abby and Charlotte) impeccably planned a 8 nights safari in Kenya for us. They listened to us and planned the trip far exceeded our expectations. The moment we landed in Nairobi, we have a local team picked us up and led us through customs and immigration and drove us to the hotel. They knew our planned itinerary in and out and took care of everything for us! We stayed @ Lewa conservancy (Lewa wilderness) for 4 nights and the remaining 4 nights in Massai Mara( Mara Bushtop). Both lodges are unique in its own way and have wonderful staff and well planned safari activities. We saw so many rinos in Lewa( which is hard to see in Mara) and all the other big 4 in Mara in our first game drive! We could not be happier with our safari and will for sure come back to EJ for more trips!

Advertising copy is relatively easy to write, beautiful pictures anyone can take, but providing an entire experience is incredibly difficult. What separates you from all others is how seamlessly you anticipate and address all issues. As a result, when challenges develop, and they always do, you have the infrastructure in place to solve them. Every issue or challenge we had to face had zero to do with your plans. They were beyond your responsibility. The fact remains however you have structured your client engagement and experience to help us manage them easily and quickly. As someone who travelled the globe for over 40 years for my career, I have never had such support and the confidence that no matter what happened it could and would be handled. Thank you for everything you did for us.

In 2014, I was asked by a friend if I wanted to go to South Africa and if so, would I plan it. I said sure but had no idea how to plan a trip such as that. I started a search of companies and came across Extraordinary Journeys and Lara.. They designed a trip so wonderful that I am still so moved by it and which made me want to go back to Africa as often as possible This desire prompted another EJ trip in 2016 to Tanzania for my new husband and I and our blended family of 8 adult children to celebrate our marriage. Next, Lara and the EJ team designed a length trip for my husband and I to South Africa, Botswana Kenya, Rwanda to trek with Gorillas and Namibia which was more than fabulous. Fast forward to September and October of this year and Lara nailed it for the 4th time. Each trip she has planned has been extraordinary and flawless! This trip was exactly what we were looking for. Out of the way places we have not been before (Ruaha, Mahale for the chimps, western Serengeti, Northern Serengeti, Mara Naboisho and Chyula Hills)and which included opportunities for bush walks, bike riding , horseback riding , sleeping in the bush, star sleeping and of course eating the best food in the world! We loved the camps (which varied from mobile camps to unbelievable luxury camps and camps in between)and which included new areas Lara suggested for us. We have been quite a few places in Africa and have used Lara each time as she picks fabulous places and is great at making sure we don't spend too much time traveling from place to place. I will never use anyone one else for Africa other than Extraordinary Journeys. I also look to them to see where else they can take me and use them for other areas including an amazing trip to Patagonia. I am currently working on an Egypt trip as well as another Africa trip to take my nieces on. A big plus with EJ is that they educate you on the ins and outs of each destination so there are no surprises as to what is required and what can be expected. I have never felt lost or without the information I needed to make a great trip. In addition, they are always available for any question we may have in the planning stages as well on the ground during our travels. I highly recommend this great company with no hesitation at all.

We had a great experience with Extraordinary Journeys. Brigid did an amazing job planning our trip to Africa. We loved Cape Town, Sabi Sabi, Victoria Falls, and South Luangwa National Park. Our trip was full of fabulous experiences and the wildlife was incredible, especially the wild dogs egging on the hippo at a pond in Sabi Sabi and seeing a leopard make a kill in South Luangwa National Park. We wouldn't hesitate to use Extraordinary Journeys again.

Loved working with EJ (Lara and Lauren) to plan our African safari. Everything was well organized and EJ identified and helped us select camps that were exactly what we were looking for in Tanzania and Kenya. The pre-departure call and travel book provided all of the details we needed for a seamless trip. Loved the camp locations, wildlife experiences and people we met - both staff and other guests. It was just the right amount of time at each camp. Enough days to settle in and experience the area, but not too many where it felt like we were doing game drives in the same places every day. In the Serengeti, we witnessed the Great Migration and a river crossing. We also watched a cheetah chase and kill its prey. Our guide was as excited as were were to catch this rare event. In Kenya, we went for a sunrise balloon ride over the Masai Mara. We also saw a lion pride with 3 males, 4 females and 9 cubs and watched them interact and play for over an hour. We saw rhinos in the wild as well as the last 2 remaining northern white rhinos while staying at Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Every day brought a new adventure. Thank you for planning the perfect safari vacation!

We knew we are in good hands before we took off for Africa - every detail was well thought of. We loved the personal touches in the planning process and Lara was so knowledgeable about everything. We got to see everything we wanted to see: we saw tons of lions, a few leopards and two cheetahs. We saw rhinos in both Ngorongoro and Grumeti. We got lucky and saw 4 river crossings on our first day in Serengeti without much waiting, and we went back on our last day and saw another 2 big river crossings. We absolutely love the animals and did not want to leave! It was a perfect time Lara picked for us - we saw the most animals all at the right timings and had the best guide/ lodges. Our favorite places during the trip is the Grumeti Reserve - it has got all the animals we wanted to see without the crowd. And Faru Faru was way beyond our expectations. The room was so nice and it was the best service we’ve experienced anywhere.