50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great help and advice to put together the perfect self drive trip around Namibia
We have just returned from a fabulous holiday, driving around Namibia with its many attractions and abundant wildlife. The advice and planning from Cardboard Box travel ensured our trip was perfect. They were excellent from start to finish. Great advice and help couldn't ask for anything more. Allison helped create the perfect holiday.
The only thing they didn't do was stop us from coming home! We will be back.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
The time of our lives
Just had a great 4 days in Masai Mara and the sighting of animals was above all expectations (even 2 pairs of mating lions). Sitting in Arusha today and reading reviews and being amazed by the comments. If these people had read all the info from AA they would have been better prepared to go on a camping tour. Still have 5 weeks more to go with AA on Sthrn Cross Safari and and still want to see more. After only 5 days with Wycliffe and Steve we were extremely disappointed that they are to leave the tour. Very sad to see 2 friends depart
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great Kilimanjaro Experience!
Company was very professional and safe. Great high end trip, especially if you're afraid that you won't make it to the summit - they're you're best chance!
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Sheilagh did an outstanding job in helping us plan and set up our trip: I'd recommend her to anyone@
I'm 67 and my wife is 64. We had unique requirements for our Southern Africa trip in July 2011, that included an outstanding 8-day tour: “3 Country Wildlife Wave Safari”, including a Kruger National Park Safari, Mozambique, (Maputo plus a day on the beach), Hluhluwe National Park safari, a Lake St. Lucia boat safari and a day in Swaziland.) a self-tour of the Panorama area west of Kruger our requested train trip from Durban to Capetown via Johannesburg, Lethoso, and Capetown. Sheilagh enthusiastically worked tirelessly to coordinate all these items that perfectly suited our goals at an extremely affordable cost. We could not have organized this trip from home. That was the planning part. Where Sheilagh really demonstrated her value was when a freak snowstorm made travel to Lethoso impossible the day we planned. Sheilgah promptly provided several alternate options that included an unexpected cultural visit north of Durban. The alternate arrangements went perfectly. After visiting 144 countries, in our opinion, Sheilagh has proven to be the most competent conscientious travel agent we have encountered. Thank you, Sheilagh! Paul and Peg
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best trip of my life
We had the most mind blowing experience with Gorillas and lions and leopards and elephants, at all times we felt safe and we felt take care of. The guide was informative and wise and we felt taken care of every single step of the way. I have zero complaints, they were amazing :D
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgetttable experience
A BIG thank you to Cuan for organising such a fabulous trip to Southern Africa. We are still on a high BUZZ after 2 weeks back in Sydney. Everything worked seamlessly from transfers, flights, tours to accommodation. His suggestions were perfect just wished we had stayed longer than the 20 days. Garden Court Sandton Hotel in Jo burg is a great location and comfortable hotel..Soweto tour was interesting and informative. Shindzela Tented Camp was so much fun..off road 4 wheel driving and seeing the big 5 first day!! The Kingdom Hotel at Victoria Falls was very authentic African style ..loved it!! It is worth a trip to Hwange and staying in luxury tented camps .. The Portswood Hotel in Capetown is well positioned and very comfortable with great breakfasts.. Can highly recommend Cuan at Ubuntu and will def be back for more safaris in the future!!!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Journey to Kenya
What an incredible experience we had in Kenya which was all due the outstanding service we had with Encompass Africa. From the first phone call to our last flight out of Kenya - we had a truly memorable journey. Johnno and the Encompass Africa team should be very proud of the customer service they provide as they supported us in our plans and made sure we had a great trip. Thanks for making our honeymoon so special!
US
Experience level: 2-5 safaris
travel designers of your dreams!
It is hard to add to all of the great reviews here. All I can say is that every word is truly spoken by immensely happy customers, my family included. Chris customized a safari for our family of 4 very much like their "Cheetah" safari. The Boma, Nairobi, flight to Elephant Bedroom at Samburu, drive to Sweetwaters at Ol Pejeta, drive to Sopa Lodge at Lake Naivasha, drive to Encounter Mara at Naboisho Conservancy in the Mara, and finally a flight to Leopard Beach at Diani Beach. We had two guides and both were amazingly talented. We visited both a Samburu village and a Masai village, which was very educational and REAL. My husband and I had traveled to Kenya and Tanzania 18 years ago, and I was honestly worried that with population growth and modernization that there wouldn't be any "wild" Kenya left. We were happy to find that there is still "wild" and that the Kenyans have prioritized the preservation of wild spaces. Yes there is still poverty, but there is also much good progress- free public education, a push by the government to increase the average age of marriage, an understanding that tourism is worth more than the deforestation of land and decimation of wild animals. etc. So let Chris and Jen at the Safari Partners create your dream African safari, spend your tourist dollars and bring a little extra to donate to the people who are changing their way of life to preserve an amazing natural environment.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Tours of Arusha Nat'l and Tarangire Nat'l Parks
On our recent Africa trip, we arrived in Arusha and decided to book a couple of day tours. After our research, Easy Travel and Tours was the obvious choice. Mwanaidi was most helpful in making the arrangements, and we selected day tours to Arusha National Park and Tarangire National Park. These proved to be excellent choices. Mwanaidi suggested we visit Arusha National Park first and add to our visit a walking safari with an armed park ranger and a canoe safari. These were easily added to our day visit and were well worth the additional cost. Walking among the abundant wildlife was spectacular, and our canoe venture yielded our first sighting of a hippo and her baby. There is nothing like seeing a hippo from water level, and the abundance of pink flamingos at this time of year was a special treat. The only downside to our visit was that controlled burns of the brush were underway that day, but that hardly put a damper on our adventure. Our second day had us at the Tarangire National Park and it too was exceptional. Elephants were in abundance - simply spectacular. A drive safari is only as good as your guide and driver and we were fortunate to have Louis as our guide for both trips. His former role as a park ranger and his knowledge of the plants and wildlife were exceptional, and he knew just where to go. Louis always went above and beyond in making our trip enjoyable, and when I forget my travel vest aboard his vehicle at the end of day two, he made a special effort to get it back to me later in the week. You just can't get any better. These guys are the best! Thanks Mwanaidi and Louis for making our first experience of Africa so very special!
GT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent experience trip with Ajabu Adventures
For a long time I wanted to have a trip with my daughter to a special place for her 15th birthday, so we decided Africa as one of our dream destinations. We started our search with SafariBookings and of six companies I quoted, only two replied and only Ajabu was eager to design for us the perfect trip. We had requested to visit a place involved in wildlife conservation and Manyara Ranch, under the African Wildlife Foundation, accepted to receive both of us in the house of the manager Mr. Fidelis ole Kashe. Accomodations had to be arranged by Ajabu ( because that is not a lodge or hotel) and we had a wonderful 2 day and 2 nights stay with very special staff, such as Dr. Lemaly Kibirity and Ajabu staff Shakila and Mary. We had the most wonderful guide, Juma Yusuf, perfect for us who have been in contact with organizations and parks that are engaged in nature conservation projects. With Juma we discussed not only wildlife and animal behavior, but also engaged in discussions about anthropological and social issues about the local cultures. Well prepared, and always with a smile, we truly felt safe and happy around Juma. We visited Manyara Ranch, Serengeti, Nogorongoro Crater, Tarangire and a small Maasai boma, out of the tourist route. I am very grateful with Anja and Gertjan for all their follow-up before, during, and even after out trip to Tanzania. I would give all the Ajabu team a Gold Medal :)