Eagle Eye Safaris
Eagle Eye Safaris
5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
Eagle Eye Safaris offers affordable small group boutique safaris with professional photography guides Ernest Porter and Karen Blackwood. Our safaris feature personal photography instruction including optional Lightroom/Photoshop instruction--we'll help you get the photos you want. We can create a custom safari for you and your family, or you can come along on one of our multi-day, all-inclusive affordable package safaris. Choose from Big 5 Safaris in Sabi Sands, Kruger, and Kgalagadi in South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia, Gorilla Treks in Uganda, Migration in Kenya, Birthing Season in Tanzania, Madagascar, Peru, and the USA. Ernest and Karen are award-winning photographers and have been published in Africa Geographic, National Geographic Your Shot, Best of Africa, Tamron South Africa, numerous books and magazines, and gallery shows. Check out our FB page. We are responsive to your needs as a traveller and guest, and we'd love the opportunity to share the Africa we love with you!
Roodepoort, South Africa
Meets animal welfare guidelines

Awards
Travellers' Choice
2023

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(5 reviews)
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles41 reviews
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41
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flyingyogini
California9 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Friends
Going on an African Safari was a thrilling bucket list item that had been a dream since I was 5 years old! To finally get to go and do it with a few good friends was an amazing experience.

Two of us had already experienced Eagle Eye Safaris expertise on an Egypt trip in 2022. We felt as if we had the absolute best guides available (Imon and Marwa) and visited everything important-even a hot air balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings!! And Imon could barely contain her excitement as she informed us of the history of absolutely everything we saw! She made every story come alive and we spent everyday learning more than my brain could hold! It was a trip of a lifetime!

The Big 5 safari couldn’t have been better! It was equally wonderful. We did 2 safaris back to back. First the intimate traditional camp, rustic glamping! A fabulous group of staff there who took good care of us, even surprising us with hot water bottles in our bed on the first chilly day! Delicious homemade food and great stories around the table and the fire with Malcolm,the fascinating camp director of Pungwe. Two game drives every day-early morning and late afternoon where we viewed so many beautiful animals and birds in their natural habitat and they acted as if we weren’t even there! Every day driving through the bush was so relaxing and exciting at the same time-totally enjoyable in every way!

Then on to Sabi Sands driving with Chris from Seasons who was thoroughly kind and enthusiasticly told us stories about his culture and encouraged our questions-nothing we couldn’t ask! He drove us carefully over the African “massage roads” to the luxury camp of Ngoro. We were greeted by the friendly staff and amazed by the beautiful grounds, the watering hole and the luxurious rooms. We were treated to a delicious lunch and then a rest before our game drive. Our game drives at Sabi Sands were packed full of animal sightings-leopards and lions and rhinos and elephants and giraffes, Cape buffalo and the list goes on! We had great guides and trackers in both camps.

It comes down to this-in both Egypt and Kruger National Park Eagle-Eye Safaris has a way of selecting the people who know how to guide you through these countries and experiences with the utmost of care and pride and interest
in making sure you are understanding what you are seeing and encouraging any questions you may have-even political and religious! And apart from one night in one guest house-in both Egypt and in South Africa-every place chosen for our stays was perfectly suited to the environment and the experience! Oh-and the photography guidance was also great! No question they can’t answer from beginner to pro!

My friends and I all travel a lot. We came home with amazing framable photos and fantastic memories. We all highly recommend Karen and Ernest! What a team!
Written 12 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LDJohnny
Dearborn, MI23 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023
We are a family of four that just returned from the African safari tour in South Africa, at Sabi Sands. Ernest was our guide and he was excellent and provided top-notch premium service. He fit in quite well with our two young adult children and the dynamics of our family jokes and jabs. Karen and Ernest did a seamless job of organizing the trip, took care of all of the arrangements for the accommodations, food and drives, so we had nothing to worry about than to just show up and start the adventure. Very stress free! They even created a big recognition for my son's 21st birthday, which was a big surprise for him. While out on the drives, Ernest was an expert pointing out wildlife and answering all kinds of questions about the habitat and animal characteristics. We learned so much because he was so, so knowledgeable on everything. His expertise with photography was such a fantastic bonus, as not only did he provide classes to us each day on how to use our (new and old) cameras (including editing in photoshop), but in the field he would recommend settings to accommodate the lighting, sun, clouds, etc. The connection they have built with the camps and drivers was awesome, as he was able to get them to position us in the best possible place for viewing and photographing and go where we wanted to go. Ernest speaks the language fluently, so was able to decipher the activity on the radio, pointing us to great viewing spots. We participated in both the luxury and the traditional lodge experiences, and we HIGHLY recommend splitting your trip into both, as it is different reservations, experiences, and different animals. Thanks to this excellent and professional company, we enjoyed probably the best case scenario of a safari trip, with seeing about 29 unique animals, which included the Big 5 in the first 2 days! We even saw rare sightings like the cougar. I don't think we left there lacking any sighting, as Ernest found our last request of giraffes (and a whole family, to boot), on the last day. He is very proactive, friendly, and extremely knowledgeable. This experience will likely be the highlight of my family for many years to come.
Written 31 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Alex R
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023
My dad and I went on a week-long trip to Kruger National Park and Sabi Sands with photography guide Ernest.

We had a fantastic time! Ernest was super organised, easy to get along with, and very knowledgeable about the area, photography, and the wildlife.

The structure and implementation of the trip enabled us to see a huge range of wildlife, get great photos, and do so in an easy manner.

Coming home was incredibly sad! The journey felt far longer than a week because we saw so much, yet it still didn't feel long enough because I wanted the joy to continue!

I will definitely reach out to Eagle Eye Safari when I plan my next safari in the future.
Written 4 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bonnie M
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023 • Friends
It was a magical experience! This was a very last minute and quick trip. An overnight to pilansberg. This was all the time to squeeze this in on a work trip! I am so glad i did! It was just a beautiful experience and has made me want to come back!
Ernest was so knowledgeable and passionate about the animals. It was truly wonderful!
Written 12 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Carrie S
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022 • Couples
We booked the Big 5 Traditional Camp safari with Eagle Eye Safaris. This trip was everything we dreamed it could be, as Karen and Ernest leave no detail overlooked. They are both very talented photographers and are eager to help you develop your own skills with photography and Lightroom. For a beginner like me, they were able to explain photography at a basic level that I could understand and patiently assisted me as I practiced with my camera. Not only that, they are very knowledgeable about wildlife, and they are also just lots of fun to be around whether you are on a game drive or sitting at camp.

As for the camp, our accommodations were very comfortable, the staff was very friendly, and we had an abundance of delicious food each day. Listening to animals call in the distance each night as we went to sleep is an experience I will never forget.

Eagle Eye provides an A++ travel experience and works hard to make each trip the trip of a lifetime. I am 100% positive we will book with them again.
Written 15 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Monika M
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022
We were supposed to go on the Masai Mara Great Migration safari with Eagle Eye in 2020 but due to the pandemic it was postponed until this summer 2022. We just returned from Kenya several weeks ago where we had the most amazing, fabulous and wonderful safari imaginable. It was a 7 day safari which included several days at Lake Nakuru followed by a few more days on the Masai Mara where we witnessed the great migration of the Wildebeasts crossing the Mara river. We saw all the big 5 plus so many other beautiful animals all in their natural habitat. Ernest and Karen our tour guides were fun, knowledgeable and exceptional photographers who helped everyone take the best pictures possible. The Lodges we stayed in were beautiful and modern and we always felt welcomed wherever we went. This was a true bucket list trip and I can’t thank Eagle Eye enough for making our trip so memorable and wonderful.
Written 8 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Maria Brady
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022 • Family
This was a postponed trip from 2020 so I was very excited to finally get to Kenya!!
The safari was the most amazing experience and I am so happy I didn’t wait to go.
Karen and Ernest are so knowledgeable. I have no idea how they remember everything! I am not a photographer, but with all their lessons along the way I was able to take some amazing shots of the animals. It definitely makes you feel proud to take a good shot!!

The lodges exceeded my expectations. Just what you would want on a safari. Amazing food and welcoming staff.

The animals up close was breathtaking. From feeding the giraffes at a sanctuary, to seeing the lioness and lions, elephants leopards and cheetahs!! It’s very hard to put into words the feeling you have when you get to see all the animals up close. It leaves you speechless.

Thank you karen and Ernest for making a trip of a lifetime with my son so special.
Written 2 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ReinerM
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022
Our 7-day Great Migration Safari in Kenya was simply amazing, Karen and Ernest did a fantastic job making the trip memorable, comfortable, and most importantly, fun; not to mention the great photos this novice photographer took with their ever-patient help. Their knowledge of the animal kingdom was exceptional and greatly deepened our safari experience. They made sure that their safari guests were always in the most optimal position to see and photograph the plethora of wildlife that one can witness in their natural habitat. I would highly recommend Eagle Eye Safari's for anybody thinking of going on a safari, photographer or non-photographers alike.
Written 1 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

takeofftoanywhere
Cleveland, OH12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022
I am currently writing this review in the airport after having spent an incredible week in Kenya with Eagle Eye Safaris (because I'm in denial that the trip is over).

This was my first time on safari, and I truly had no idea what to expect on this adventure of a lifetime.

Karen and Ernest were remarkable in showing us around Kenya and especially taking us to the Great Migration of Wildebeest on the Massi Mara. They were able to get us INCREDIBLE viewing spots to watch the migration and really ensured that we had the best experience possible.

Over the course of our five-day safari, we were able to see multiple lions, hyena, giraffe, elephants, many different kinds of birds, crocodiles, impalas, leopards, buffalo, and so much more. Honestly, I had no idea that we would be able to see even a few of those animals let alone all of the big five. And their knowledge of animals was astounding. They had an answer for almost every question we had and if they didn’t know, they quickly found the answer for us.

The other bonus was the photography! Ernest and Karen are terrific photographers, and even though I am no photographer myself, they were able to give me tips and tricks for my iPhone to take better shots. My father, along with some others on the trip, were practicing using their professional cameras, and I was very impressed with the expertise and information that was given to our group to improve their photography...it made me want to bring a professional camera for the next safari!

The safari lodges that we stayed in were fantastic...the Lake Nakuru lodge and Pride Inn...I felt very taken care of...and especially after a long day of being on a game drive, there is nothing better than coming back to a comfortable place to stay. And great food as well!

The dynamic of the group was terrific...everyone got along so well and Karen and Ernest really took their time to get to know us all and spend time with us, sharing their knowledge and experiences of Africa as well as listening to our own stories.
This was absolutely a trip I will never forget and I am so glad that we were able to experience this with Eagle Eye Safaris. Not only did we make new memories, but we made new friends 😊
Written 27 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Deanne C
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022 • Friends
Jordan and Egypt were Amazing!!
I was able to have an experience of a lifetime this past month with my son, Adam, traveling with Eagle Eye Safari tours through Jordan and Egypt.
Jordan was amazing with the beautiful desert landscape of Wadi Rum and the ancient beautiful city of Petra and the experience of floating on the Dead sea. Driving through the country, we loved all the camels we met along the way!! Sampling the camel milk was awesome and of course we loved our Camel ride! Our accommodations were excellent and the food was delicious! We appreciated our Eagle Eye tour guide Karen (Thanks Karen with your help taking pictures)! We really enjoyed our local tour guide Ramses, a life long resident of Petra who was very knowledgeable and also very kind keeping me, a senior, on my feet on walks through bumpy terrain. Ramses introduced us to some some of friends along the way who shared their delicious food including fresh off the vine watermelon and cantelope. He also did some skillful driving in the desert sand dunes that was very fun as we drove to a spectacular Wadi Rum desert outlook. If you love an adventure, I would highly recommend this tour!!
Next we went to Egypt, again with Eagle Eye Tours and of course the sights were mind blowing as we expected!!! Our local tour guide, and Egyptologist, Emann brought everything to life with her passionate knowledge of Temples, Kings, pharaohs, pyramids, tombs and her expansive Egyptian history knowledge. Emann and Marwa saw to our every need and desire. We appreciated the thoughtful planning of our Eagle Eye tour by owners Karen and Ernest who accompanied us. The accommodations, the food, the Nile cruise and the amazing Hot Air Balloon ride snd so much more were first class. I’m sure King Tut would approve! Thank you Eagle Eye Safari for an incredible experience!!!
Written 20 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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EAGLE EYE SAFARIS (Roodepoort) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go