20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
trip of a life-time holiday
We've just returned from our Rwanda tour with Gorilla Trek Africa during April 2015- what an experience we had! This was a truly a once in a lifetime experience for us that was only made better by our brilliant guide and driver William. His local knowledge was phenomenal. We travelled during the week of the 21st anniversary of the Rwandan genocide a period of mourning for Rwandans country wide - he handled the situation with delicacy and sensitivity and he gave us expert information of the history of the country. We saw everything From chimpanzee, golden monkeys, gorillas, hiked a volcano in 9 hours. I can't wait to bring the rest of my family on this trip and would recommend Gorilla Trek Africa in a heart beat to all our friends! Thanks so much William and Nicholas for the fantastic organization of our holiday!
CZ
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
200 Elephants Per Day
I spent a lot of time choosing our Tanazanian safari destination. I wanted something exceptional, inexpensive, with a taste of adventure (not tourist traps). I found that the best places for that are Katavi and Ruaha. But the first one is really far from Dar. So decision was quite easy eventually. Ruaha is really beautiful place, with landscape full of hills and baobab trees. Great Ruaha river is full of animals in dry season. We saw in one day more then 200 hundred elephants, one hundred giraffes, and many other animals (lions, udu, zebras, hippos etc.). We met just one car during one day. I can recommend Ruaha for everyone who wants taste real safari adventure. I felt we were first visitors there.
CN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
shadows of africa is very nice company
This company is a very nice company, Natasha help me us to book the flight, and give us many idea about our trouble with other agent , the drive Mr B help us to meet policeman , Mr B act as translator, even we back to china, he still try to help us. He has a very good eyesight, he can find special animal in a very far away place, let us find the animal which normal is very hard to find. Especially he found 7 lions and we spend long time there with lions, it was a very nice experience. when in katikati camp, Mr B singed songs for us, we talked near the fire, and look the stars in the sky, it was a special and nice day that will not happen again in my life! all of us aprreciate Mr B given us very nice time there!
i recommend you to choice them, you will not disappointed with them.
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Personal good company for Safari and Kilimanjaro
Very nice experiance with this company. Personal contact with the owner of this company and the nicest people working for him. Especially the guides (Augustine and Livingstone) they make the differance!
Worth every dollar. Good price, under promise and over dilliver!
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Hamad Hasani knows Tanzania!
Face of Africa Adventures is operated by native Tanzanian, Hamad Hasani. He's a very friendly and knowledgeable man who goes above and beyond any expectations a traveller may have while abroad. He will make you feel like his home is your home. When I visited TZ in 2013, he showed me all of the hidden wonders of Arusha and the places nearby. Often he would ask me if there was something else I wanted or needed, just to make sure that I was consistently satisfied with the experience. The places I saw, the memories I left with, and the photos I took speak for themselves. Thank you, Face of Africa Adventures!
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Serengeti Safari
We booked a four day three nights camping Safari with MJ Safari to Serengeti and Ngorongoro. Everything was well organized. The camping was a great experience. We had our own cook who made very delicious meals. The guide was very friendly. We were able to see all the animals. I would definitly book again with MJ Safari.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
All Expectations Surpassed in Tanzania!
Just recently returned from the trip of a lifetime! We traveled as an extended family of 6, two in our 50's and four in their 20's. All expectations were surpassed! The four tented camps were extremely comfortable, food outstandingly delicious and plentiful, guides were prompt, polite, engaging, and amazingly knowledgeable. We can't thank Safari and Co. enough for organizing an experience we will treasure forever.
AE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Rift valley, Lions, Plains, Lakes, good night sleep, Nile Special, Good Food.
Mission Safari
One week from UK into the sunshine.
Party
David = 60 = Experienced
Chris = 30+ David Son = Second Safari to Uganda
Katie = First Trip to Africa = Safari
Moses = David’s regular guide & fixit +256774078821
Plan
Relax, not try to do too much, hobby is photos & generally seeing what comes.
Advice
Your guide is key, I have been with Moses many times, he is the fixer, arranger, driver, knows the people & hence can get the location from James the Ranger of where the cats are etc. Sit back.
Note that Uganda Tours are a bit like a spider web, everything comes to the centre ( Kampala )
Travel along the Radius, the spiral threads may be difficult
Lake Mburo & QE is good
Or ZIWA Rhino Reserve & Murchison Falls is good
Avoid Kampala traffic jams
Chris has been in both directions and chose the route.
Lake Mburo National Park has a family of Giraffe which is a big bonus, must make it the best park for location. We did hear a lion that is reputed to take up residence.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is a wonderful reliable park, Uganda is looking after wildlife well, the Elephants are tusked and in peak condition and on my last two visits have seen Lions close up and Leopard.
AIMS
None set – no time schedule – allow the good things to come
Equipment
Insect Repellent 50% DEET Pump Spray
Fuji XS1 Camera ( tried & trusted )
Fuji X PRO 1 & XC 50 to 230mm lens ( First Safari )
Fuji XA1 & XF 28mm Lens for Landscapes
Monopods
Medicine
Mefloquine weekly tablets
Transport
Emrates Newcastle, Dubai, Entebbe
Uganda ground transport Toyota HiAce Manual 4 Wheel Drive
Fuel : Moses took 800,000 shillings
Security
Met at Entebbe Airport by Moses & accompanied until back to EBB
Finance
50% Sent via Moses to various camps, car rental etc.
Rest cash on arrival & as spent.
Most fees are US dollars ( Hotel Nights / Uganda Wildlife Fees )
Uganda Shillings for Vehicle, Guide ( Daily Rate ) , Meals, Roadside Expenses, Beverages
Itinerary
Day 1 Newcastle Dubai
Day 2 Dubai Entebbe
Stay Entebbe Lakeside 2 Friends / Andrieta
Note $100 Visa on arrival may change to electronic internet fee
Day 3 Entebbe to Mabamba Wetlands 1 hour
Mabamba Wetlands Boat Trip 2½ hours
Guide Ismail = Despite the hard work of Ismail and the boat man poling the boat over beds infested by water lily roots we failed to see the elusive Shoebill Crane. Otherwise a good boating trip.
Mabamba Wetlands to Lake Mburo National Park via Equator 5½ hours
Lunch at Equator & Photos
Stay at Eagles Nest
Eagles Nest is tented accommodation at a hill top with a central restaurant serving good food & cold beverages.
Recently refurbished you get a good night sleep, it is now fitted with solar hot water and flushing toilets.
We had a dark night and stars, so dark, stars so bright, Venus almost cast a shadow before dawn.
Till you see a night like this you do not realise there is no space between the stars.
Note the track to the hill top requires a strong vehicle with 4 wheel as it is very steep, a well found two wheel may make it. Our Hiace would not entertain two wheel to get up.
Day 4 Lake Mburo Safari & Boat Ride
Bushback, Croc, Zebra, Hippo, Impala, Giraffe, Buffalo, Waterbuck
Stay at Eagles Nest
Day 5 Lake Mburo National Park to Queen Elizabeth National Park 5 hours max
Katunguru Community Boat Ride along banks of Kazinga Channel
( note no park fee ) as the community is outside park $15/person 2 hours
Guide very good = boat old but presently sound
Hippo = Crocs, Elephant, Cape Buffalo – Kingfishers, Gulls, Cormorants, Herons, Eagles, etc.
Buy Park Tickets for Two Following Days at Queen Elizabeth Pavilion
Note – important to get this right, a card system operates – communication link with Kampala can be a problem & one does not want to waste Safari Time on paperwork – we had time for a coffee whilst this was completed.
Stay at Engiri Game Lodge – Lion Roars in the night
Taking my younger family members to QE Park to see the Lions I set my Guide Moses Wabwire
( +256774078821 ) to find a more pocket friendly stay than Kingfisher at the top of the escarpment. He came up with this wood & nails camp where the accommodation is in self contained cottages ( a cabin on stilts ). Each cottage has 2 twin beds ( 4 persons would be tight but ideal for a young family ) we were in two which was comfortable. Service was out of this world, greeted with hot tiles every time we appeared, the almost set menu very well cooked. Power was Solar/Generator - Running Water was not heated - hot water delivered to the cabin in plastic jerry cans if you needed it, Jan Temps we had no need. Cold beers, sodas etc. available. Bedding clean, towels, little imperial leather soaps, Sure you get the idea, note the property is bush and those travelling with children take care with the nails! not a biggie - but better have the warning. The rating considers the full board price paid. Location, short drive to national park gates but outside regulated area. Liked the sound of elephants trumpeting at night. Its a wildlife area and the security escort you to the room after dinner. I think the hippo cuts the lawn as I heard him chomping in the night
Day 6
Safari
Brilliant Morning
Hyena – before we entered the park
Lions – cubs, laid down posing for photos. Male nearby.
On way back for lunch we turned about – late lunch – mobile call received and we are off to see a female leopard – the while is snow white against the cactus tree.
Lunch – Rest
Afternoon Game Drive
Elephants – lots and lots of elephants – we watched for over an hour as they cavorted, fed, and crossed the track.
Stay at Engiri Game Lodge – Elephants Trumpet
Day 7
Disaster!
Queens Pavilion onto the Crater Trail for sight seeing.
Trail was rough – as we climbed through the bush land the vehicle was set upon by Tsetse Fly. We cannot outrun them, popup is brought down, no-where to turn around. Hammer Horror swotting the flies that made it inside. Constant guard for the rest of the circuit.
Unable to get out to take photos
Results
Katie will shake off English Fly Attacks, The floor of the van was a tsetse graveyard. You know the hydraulic action machines at fairgrounds – now you can deem them tame. Life experience!
Proceed to Mweya Safari Lodge for cold coke, coffee & check email, internet connection.
Serious Advice
Do not follow Crater Trail until conditions have been assessed!
Lunch
Evening game drive
Endless plains! Monitor Lizard – Leopard Cub
Stay at Engiri Game Lodge – A quiet night
Day 8
Queen Elizabeth National Park to Entebbe
All Day Drive
Evening – Relax – Drinks
2 Friends / Andrieta
Day 9 Morning
Relax
Noon to Airport for EBB DXB
Day 10
DXB to EBB
Kruger National Park - The best place on earth
Kruger National Park, South Africa.
We have visited Kruger many times and can only report positive about the park and the facilities. But you have to comply with a few traits to enjoy this park, (and any other nature reserve). You have to love: nature, a peaceful environment, absence of city life, no traffic lights, tranquillity and spotting and observing animals (including birds).
The park is large, about 400km long by 60km wide and is dotted with many so called rest camps for the lower budget travellers and lodges for the more upmarket visitors. All camps are fenced, so one can freely walk around. Most camps have a shop where one can buy groceries and other goodies as well as a restaurant. The restaurants used to be mediocre, but this has greatly improved lately now that Kruger no longer operates most of them, but rather commercial restaurant chains. Also most camps have a swimming pool. At various locations in the Park you will find picnic spots (also at every camp) where you can even hire a gas bottle and pan to prepare your own breakfast.
Accommodation in the camps varies from camping to chalets completely fitted with all requirements with various options in between like permanent tents, basic huts (with communal ablution) and more advanced huts. We only encountered neat and clean accommodation.
The occurrence of games varies, but Kruger is well stocked and there are also various waterholes where one can leave the vehicle and wait for the animals to come. The big five are there of course.
In case you go with a tour operator everything is organized for you. But if you want to do it on your own, here some tips:
Book in advance via this website http://www.sanparks.org/tourism/reservations/
One can drive by car (about 400km from Johannesburg airport, excellent road) or fly directly into Kruger to Skukuza airport with daily Airlink flights (from Johannesburg and CapeTown) and rent a car on arrival. (Avis) http://flyairlink.com/
There is a daily entry fee for Kruger of R280 for foreigners, which at the current exchange rate is about USD18, which you pay when entering the Park. If you go many nights you can buy a Wildcard making it cheaper. At the gate staff can advise you.
Don’t forget to buy a Kruger map at the gate where you enter, makes travelling so much easier.
Don’t forget your binocular and that long lens in case you like photography.
Every camp has one or more communal kitchens where you can cook a meal in case you want to skip the restaurants and stay in a tent or hut without kitchen.
Search for the Facebook page “Kruger National park – Best Place on Earth” if you want to see and read how others experience Kruger.
And once in Kruger you can follow other people’s sightings on your tablet at https://www.facebook.com/latestsightingskruger/
Kruger is large and the max speed 50km/hour, so don’t book one night in the South and the next in the far North, you won’t make it.
The southern part of Kruger is busiest as far as cars and people are concerned. The camps in the far North, like Punda Maria, Mopanie and Shingwedzi for example are much quieter.
In every camp you can book a game drive with an experienced game ranger, during the day or the evening. They mostly know where the animals are by talking to their colleges via radio.
All in all, Kruger is a fantastic place, it’s a place that missed most that we call progress !
And finally, having been in Kenya as well with its hectic traffic, corrupt policemen and parks costing USD70-UDS90 a day just to get in we can only conclude that Kruger is a visitors paradise.
Tjeerd en Diny de WIt
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing once in a lifetime experience
From the time we were in contact with Gorilla Trek Africa we were looked after by Nicholas and William. Friendly, safe informative driver Lucky William looked after our needs for the four days in Uganda and Rwanda. Our accommodation was great in both locations and the time with the gorillas a highlight of our 5 week trip to Africa. Local caring company we highly recommend Gorilla Trek Africa.