DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable Safari
We were a group of five guys from Germany and planned to do a 5-day-Safari in Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro-Crater and Lake Manyara Nt. Park.
We chose Asili Explorer because of the good recommendations, his experience in doing safari and last but not least, the good price.
Accommodations:
We spent two nights at a lodge with a great view over lake manyara. It was great to see the sunrise from the view point and the nights were great in the typical african iglos.
The other nights were at campsites in Serengeti and at the Crater-rim of Ngorongoro wich was also a great experience.
The Safari:
Joe Kessy did a very good planning in advance, so everything went great and without any trouble. He speaks very good english, so communication was always great. Joe is very good connected to other drivers wich is a very important factor to get good and recent informations about where the animals are located.
The car was perfect for us. Big enough to be comfortable und to store our luggage. It has of course a pop-up-roof to watch the animals without something in between.
We were happy to see all the "big five" during our safari.
Food:
The cook, "Snoopy", was very funny and prepared good food. He also provided us lunch-boxes wich we ate on picnic places during the safari.
All in all it was a unforgettable safari-experience!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An amazing 10 day safari
We booked with Duma in February for a trip this October. Stacy was fantastic about answering all our questions and booking accommodation we requested including specific rooms in hotels as recommended by other trip advisor reviews. This trip was for my 40th birthday and we saved very hard to go and it was worth every penny. We had a private safari.
We were met at the airport by a smiling Isack Msuya, who was a fantastic guide. He has 20 years experience and it shows. His driving was excellent, both on the main roads and in the park. When we went through rivers or mud and the back end of the car slipped he seamlessly slipped into 4 wheel driver and we continued with no pause. We felt safe and secure with him. He cleaned out the Toyota land cruiser everyday and there as plenty of water. As such our windows were always clean. We took our time and did not race around like some of the other companies. Leopard tours in particular always seemed in a rush.
Isaac didn't use the radio to locate wildlife and so we were often viewing wildlife on our own rather than being surrounded by 10 other cars. His spots were amazing. He found a cameleon in a tree whilst driving! How do you spot that. He found us all the big 5. We hoped to see leopards and tigers, but thought this might be tricky and by no means a given. We saw them on the second day, and by the end of our trip we were up to 3 leopards and 5 adult cheetah and 4 babies. We had no idea there would be so many baby animals around. Isack found baby lions, cheetah, warthogs, elephants, giraffe (one was just hours old) hippo everything. The only thing we hoped to see and didn't was the tree lions in Lake Manyara, but there are only about 30-50 left in the park. We saw lions chase and kill, and mating. Isaac had amazing knowledge of every creature and bird we came across and his passion for conservation is amazing.
We didn't know that you could request a guide, and we certainly would recommend Isack to anyone. He was SO friendly and so happy. He met us with a massive smile every morning and it stayed in place all day. He didn't chat for the sake of chatting which we liked, but answered our questions patiently and with interest and enthusiasm and had quite a few funny and interesting tales to tell about his experiences. We had no idea we would see so many wildebeest and zebra. On my birthday we took a balloon ride which was a legacy from my Granny, and it was amazing. It lasted an hour and we saw so much including swooping down over a herd of wildebeest who did the running thing just like you see on the TV, and we heard elephants trumpeting. It was followed by a champagne brunch, where there is plenty of champagne flowing.
I would recommend Northern Serengeti and Tarangire to all as the wildlife are amazing and very plentiful in October and you are away from the crowds of the central Serengeti. That said if you only have a short time, you can and probably will see everything bar Rhino in the centre. Lake Manyara is a completely different park, and were found several companies tried to dissuade us from going here, especially with ending our trip here. You won't see the big 5 here but it is beautiful and we saw elephants, giraffe, hip, baboons, and loads of different birds.
We stayed at Tarangire Safari Lodge in the furthest away tent from he building number 22. We were escorted after dark here and everywhere we went inside the parks. This was a great tent with a proper bed and bathroom, and an amazing view into the valley below where we watched the wildlife. The roar of lions was a little disconcerting. We saw antelope outside our tent and a group of baboons passed by.
In the northern Serengeti which is a long day's drive from Tarangire we stayed at the Bologna camp where the staff couldn't do enough for us, and all your drinks are included. The tent was amazing, and they prepare you a hot shower everyday at your request with 10 mins notice so they can heat the water. Outside our tent were Water buffalo, and the setting was beautiful.
In the central Serengeti we staying at the Serengeti Serena hotel. We requested a top room which had a beautiful view especially at sunset. The staff here were the least friendly and the reception desk rally didn't want to know. They didn't explain anything, and we had no idea we were supposed to wait after dinner to sign a ticket for our drinks, and were made to feel like criminals for walking to the bar after diner. we had assumed giving our room number would have been enough. The security guards and the porter were very friendly.
In the Nogorongo conservation area we stayed at the Sopa Lodge which was beautiful with very friendly staff, and a turndown service which included hot water bottles which we didn't need. We had an upper room with a great view, and if you get here for sunset its very good. We did a crater rim walk which was interesting, but this takes time out of your time in the park. Each fee gives you exactly 24 hours in the park, and we would, with hindsight, have missed the walk and had more time in the crater the next day. Its worth an early morning start too.
Our last night was at the Kirurumu tented lodge, where the staff were lovely but the accommodation whilst initially looking amazing, (you have a tent on top of a building on the cliff edge) actually could do with a fresh coat of paint and some of the wooden boards of the lower balcony were rotting.
The food everywhere was of a good standard and there was at least something for the vegetarian, more if you eat fish. Lunch boxes were massive, and healthy. It would have been nice to see some traditional food rather than European buffets.
We were very sad when the time came to say goodbye to Isack and head back home. It was a fantastic trip and we cannot recommend Isack and Duma more highly.
LU
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Safari exprerience
That was my first safari ever and EastCo made it very special. (3 days safari : Tarangire / Lake Natron)
Unlike most people, we did not organise it in advance, however Simon manage to organise everything for us very quickly.
Our day in Tarangire was amazing, and our night stay in Naitolia Eco-Lodge fantastic. The place was beautiful, and the surprise was after dinner when Ezekial, our guide, told us that we were going on a night safari. Again, memorable experience.
I was not quite expecting such a level of service, and such nice food served during a safari.
EastCo really did a great job: everything was perfectly organised, the food was good, all the camping equipment was provided, and our guide was fantastic. Ezekial is really knowledgeable, and is always happy to answer our (many) questions.
I could only recommend EastCo and in particular Ezekial who made our safari so special. Thank a lot for everything, I look forward to coming back and organizing a longer safari with EastCo.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful experience
We had an excellent time. Simon was a great guide- very knowledgeable and flexible to our birding needs. Comfortable vehicles. Burunge camp was great. Loved the open tent and all outdoor atmosphere. Great staff made us feel at home. Very pleased with the flexibility when we wanted to change parks and add an extra safari art the end. Would definitely recommend this company to friends!
CH
great experience with a great and knowledgeable guide as well as a superb cook
The service was great. Both the cook and the guide were extremely helpful and eager to show us more of their country. It was a great experience that exceeded my expectations.
50-65 years of age
Amazing, fantastic, reliable, informative so that you are superbly looked after.
Afriroots are amazing: They seem to do the impossible. All the staff are great, friendly, can't do enough for you. The team are so dedicated to ensuring that all customers are happy and well treated and they go 1000% of the way to doing just that.
All staff are very informed about the history, culture, and facts about their country.
Their food is excellent: Hot lunches in the middle of fields were so welcome.
Nothing is too much for these guys and I can't recommend them highly enough!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Outstanding Safari Tour Operator
Brett and the team at Sun Safaris have organized two amazing trips for us. The first was to Botswana and Zambia, the second more recent trip to Congo and Zambia. They listened to our interests and requirements and we have had two truly amazing experiences. For the first trip I asked if we could visit camps where we had a good chance of seeing leopard and we did indeed see numerous leopards at 3 of the 4 camps we visited. Brett also made sure we had good birding opportunities at all the camps. Our recent trip to Congo to see Lowland gorillas was remarkable. This is the first year that Wilderness Safari's is fully operational in Congo so we had lots of questions. Brett worked with us and the camp management to make sure all of our questions were answered and we had a good understanding of what to expect. Our second Zambia trip was fantastic with excellent game and birds and the camps were above our expectations. We are already planning our next Safari for 2015 with Brett and the team. I would recommend them highly.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good time, good people, good price!
A friend and I did a 4-days safari (Lake Manyara, Serengueti and Ngorongoro) in september'14.
We had a great time! Our guide and driver was excellent and we spot the big five and much more! We appreciated his knowledge and his hability to spot animals in the far far distance! The cook was also very good, and he could adapted easily to the vegetarian menu (I forgot to tell them in advance).
The car was quite old but comfortable enough (except under the rain because the windows didn't close properly).
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
What a great experience - Tanzania 2014
After travelling to Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe in 2013 we loved Africa so much that we decided back home to visit another part of Africa. As our first tour was also organized by Gondwana Tours & Safaris, namely Steffi Presske, and it couldn’t be better at all, we also organized the next family trip to Tanzania with this excellent and very personal travel agency. Our trip was as follows:
- Tarangire
- Ngorogoro
- Serengeti
- Crater Highland Trek & climbing the Lengai
- Lake Natron
- Zanzibar
This tour was absolute superb, we enjoyed the wildlife, in particular in Tarangire and Serengeti, the beautiful landscape and the relaxing days on Zanzibar. It must be mentioned that the Crater Highland Trek was our highlight of the tour as you get very close to the Massai and its culture and you travel absolutely off the beaten track. The landscape was fantastic and can’t be described with words!
Gondwana Tours & Safaris is so excellent due to different reasons: they are very responsive and create tailor-made tours to your expectations and have no standard trip. We wanted to see lots of animals, do some (sport) activities and relax at the last part of our trip so that our journey was a perfect match to our hopes. All selected lodges were very nice.
We can absolutely recommend the travel agency and we would love to do our next trip organized by Gondwana Tours & Safaris!!! Thank you, Steffi!
Excellent Safari Operators for your Tanzania Experience
We had a trip of a lifetime in Tanzania thanks to World Tours & Safaris. With Richard's expertise and guidance, our custom itinerary was perfectly suited to our interests and we spotted our two black rhinos in the crater. World Tours made our life long dream to see the black rhino come true, and delivered all of the magnificent seven.
World Tours performed beyond our expectations. Frank was a friendly and patient guide. He was an excellent driver and we felt very safe with him. He made every effort to keep us away from the other tour vehicles, so that we could film the animals. Our chef Zahoro's meals were healthy and delicious.
Frank and Zahoro were very efficient with packing the car and setting up and packing away our tents. We did not feel rushed. Yet they managed time very well and we were able to make the most out of our game drives. We enjoyed their company very much.
World Tours' safaris are animal-orientated with maximum game drives and are great value for money.
Accommodations we stayed at were very good. Clean, quiet, safe and excellent customer service.
We highly recommend anyone interested in going on a safari in East Africa to book a trip with Richard, Frank and Zahoro from World Tours for a truly magical and wild experience.