NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A once-in-a-lifetime experience
We are 5 students from Holland and heard good stories about Caracal Tours & Safaris from friends. We spend 3 months as student doctors in Tanzania, and started travelling across the country afterwards. We didn't hesitate to book our 6 days safari and 4 days of climbing Mount Meru with them, and we didn't regret this at all. We had such a great time!! Everything was very well arranged and exactly how we wanted it. Marion was always very fast in responding to our e-mails and trying to think with us the best she could.
Our safari guide, Temba, did a really great job. He showed us such a lot of different animals and had a very good knowledge of all of them. He was always ready to make our safari the best as possible, also in the evenings. When there was no power on our campsite, he even arranged to have our camera's and phones charged in another place, so we would be able to make as many pictures as we wanted the next day. He would also take us to the local pub for a fun night of dancing when we asked for it.
Also our trip to the summit of Mount Meru was perfectly arranged. Our guide Jackson did everything he could to let us feel comfortable, so that everyone of us was able to make it to the top! Marion would call him frequently to ask if we were all doing well.
Those ten days we spend with Caracal gave us really a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We would recommend it to everybody, you won't regret it! (We actually already did, since my parents and also colleague student doctors went on safari with Caracal after our recommendations!)
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great experience!
Makasa provided us with a great seven day experience. Our guide/driver was very knowledgeable, courteous and safe. It became obvious to us that Makasa is highly regarded among tour companies. The number and variety of animals seen was incredible. All the accommodations were outstanding! The food was excellent. It was a perfect time for this grandfather, son and fourteen year old grandson. Memories that won't soon be forgotten.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Flawless Execution - really would not change a thing
Signing up for your first Safari is a bit of a leap of faith. You look at reviews, you figure out what you think you want to see and how you want to experience it. After talking to a couple of operators, we settled on Scenic because of the rapid response by Amanda. It doesn't mean we weren't nervous. Maybe all those 5 start reviews were fake. I sent almost all of the money via a bank transfer but held a little back, I am not sure why. If I were you I would just pay it all up front so you aren't carrying so much cash in Tanzania.
Anyway, from the first moment, we thought our guide Grayson was great. He was articulate, college educated, kind and fun to be with. We chose to have upgraded camping with one day at a Tented camp. I think the upgraded camping (with cots) added a great deal to our sleeping comfort. The tents were large and we were comfortable every night except a bit cold at Ngorogoro on the crater rim. Bring a wooley hat! The upgraded night was wonderful but expensive and really a luxury. Having a massive tent with an indoor bathroom and shower was pretty wonderful after a couple of days of camping. We did Lake Manyara, Serengeti for three nights, Ngorogoro for one night then Tarangire for one night. 6 nights total. We especially loved Tarangire because it was less crowded and because of the hilly landscape, you turn the corner and there is something there to surprise you. If I were doing this again, and didn't have people with me who were new to camping, I would have taken the money from the upgraded night and spent a second night in Tarangire. The food was also really good. We brought some extra beef jerky in case we didn't like the food. Even my 10 year old son liked the food.
ES
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our guide Joseph, was really very nice
We went with them on the coffee tour and the village tour, and I can recommend both and for end the day we when up to the view point , Joseph did really every thing he could to show us and learn us things about his country
AT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Experience in Maasai Mara!
Our 3-day trip to Maasai Mara was fantastic! Our driver was very friendly and seemed to have a lot of experience. Accomodation in our camp (Miti Mingi Eco Camp) was nice: Tents were clean and had private bathrooms with shower and also the food was good.
The Maasai Mara National Reserve is really worth seeing!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Experience of a lifetime!!
The safari was an awe-inspiring adventure. We visited Tarangire, Serengeti (3 days) and Ngorongoro Caldera. It was not only the animals that were awesome but the "National Geographic" moments were unforgettable: lionesses stalking a field of zebras, elephants playing with one another, the wildebeest migration, the leopard stalking the giraffes, etc. Our guide , Arnold, was experienced, knowledgeable and always "ready to go!" We went for hours everyday. The accommodations and service at our various locations were excellent. Everyone was very attentive and friendly. After several busy days on safari we then retired to the beaches of Zanzibar for some R & R. Beaches and water were so beautiful and Stone Town was fabulous. Muksin was the person in charge of putting together our itinerary. He did an awesome job. We were extremely pleased and he took care of every detail. All we had to do was enjoy ourselves. Even when we decided to change our itinerary at the last moment Muksin went out of his way to accommodate. It is an excellent company which provides great service at a reasonable price. Thanks for such a wonderful experience!!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A once in a lifetime experience
Paul is an extremely efficient and knowledgeable tour manager. The transfer from Dar es Salam to Iringa was well organised and I would recommend the Slipway Hotel, chosen by Paul, to stay in while waiting for the morning flight to Iringa.
Paul recommended the lodges that we stayed in and they were of a high standard from the point of view of accommodation, food and staff who were very attentive to our needs.
Paul is an excellent safari guide and we covered many different habitats while in the Ruaha. He knew the best places to look for wildlife and hence we had excellent sightings of all the larger animals including a young male leopard. He is an extremely accomplished bird watcher and photographer and willing to share his knowledge.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent service from Cardboard Box Travel Shop.
We came across the Cardboard Box website doing a search for self-drives in Namibia The website was comprehensive and very useful. It was great to see suggested self-drives and get ideas from there, and to look at profiles of the lodges. Once we contacted the Cardboard Box, Steny was very helpful and customized our itinerary and bookings to just what we wanted. Very helpful information was sent to us before we started our travel. Steny was responsive to email inquires. Cardboard Box was great to deal with and everything went smootly.
PH
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
safe and leisurely tour
we felt comfortable and safe throughout the entire trip. be ready for accommodations that do not necessarily have all the comforts of city hotels, but meet the basic needs of a traveller (clean tents/rooms, adequate water, limited or 24-hour electricity). despite some very minor inconveniences, Kennedy and Maxwell made sure we are well taken care of and safe. we enjoyed the trip. Kenya is beautiful!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome east African experience because of a locally owned company.
Right from the first email I knew RA Safaris was the way to go. Gideon and Ellie, two of the owners custom made an experience to suit our time and budget. The driver / guide, Selahe and Katoyi, the cook ensured we were always well catered for. Food was excellent, maybe even too much. Selahe was an excellent driver and went out of his way to take us to where we wanted to go. His knowledge of birds and his understanding of where the animals may be and ability to spot animals is first class. I would not hesitate to recommend RA Safaris if you want a truly African experience and I much prefer to support locally owned tour operators than foreign ones. Keep up the good work and would love to see you again.