US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Excellently planned tour. Wonderful hotels. Superior Guides/Drivers. Couldn't have been better!
We've used Real Africa Safaris for other tour groups--so I started out with high expectations and they exceeded them! Our group of 31 had a great experience in Kenya. All of the people we encountered in Kenya from our Driver/Guides to the people who helped us at resorts, etc., could not have been nicer or more accomodating. The animal viewing/game drivers were superb. Thanks again for a tour that, I'm sure, will be remembered for a lifetime by all of us.
FR
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent
We met Kilele through a friend of friends (her job is to organize upscale safari – so not for us), so it was relaxing not to be afraid of being cheated, as we had read on the internet from other travellers.
Frank successively offered several options until we find the most suitable for our desires, our budget, our planning, with good advice on the relevance of the course, the length of the steps, where to sleep, etc. ... (for example, an unforgettable walk with a Maasai guide close to the Lake Natron flamingos and through maasai villages).
We were able to talk both in French in English with Frank (but only in english with the driver and the cook).
So we visited (in 8 days) Tarangire > Natron > Serengeti > Ngorongoro parcs while camping (except one night in a lodge in Ngorongoro because of the cold), in a nice atmosphere (good vibrations with the driver and the cook, a good opportunity to learn more about Tanzania, learn some Swahili, ...).
Despite our initial reservations (for economic reasons), a safari with a qualified driver-guide really is a good bet: he knows where to find the animals while you only see a bunch of savannah, he can identify and explain the wildlife, and, most important, communicate (in Swahili) with other drivers in the park to find the best spots at a given time.
All equipments were in good condition (4x4, tents, sleeping bags, lamps, tables, chairs, ...)
Food was good and quite elaborate, given the material conditions, with a strong Tanzanian touch (we saw other tourists eat super standard stuff not appetizing).
Nous avons connu Kilele par une amie d’amis, qui organise elle-même des safaris haut de gamme (donc pas pour nous). Ça nous a mis en confiance (je pense à tous les récits d’escroquerie trouvés sur internet).
Frank nous a successivement proposé plusieurs formules, jusqu’à ce que nous trouvions la plus adaptée à nos envies, notre budget, notre planning, avec de bons conseils sur la pertinence du parcours, la longueur des étapes, l’endroit où dormir, etc… (par exemple, une journée de marche inoubliable avec un guide massaï à l’approche des flamants roses du lac Natron et à travers les villages).
Les échanges se sont faits en anglais et en français avec Frank, et en anglais avec le chauffeur et le cuisinier.
Nous avons donc visité (en 8 jours) les parcs Tarangire > Natron > Serengeti > Ngorongoro, tout en camping (sauf une nuit en lodge au Ngorongoro en raison du froid), dans une ambiance sympa (très bon contacts, en anglais, avec le chauffeur et le cuisinier, l’occasion d’en apprendre plus sur la Tanzanie, d’apprendre un peu de swahili,…).
Malgré nos réticences initiales (pour des raisons d’économie), faire un safari avec un chauffeur-guide qualifié est vraiment un bon plan : il sait trouver des animaux là où nous ne voyons que de la savane, les identifier, expliquer leur mode de vie, et communiquer par radio en swahili avec les autres chauffeurs dans le parc pour trouver les meilleurs spots à un instant donné.
Tout le matériel était en bon état (4x4, tentes, duvets, lampes, tables, chaises,...)
Les repas étaient bons, souvent assez élaborés pour des plats cuisinés sur place au camping, plutôt couleur locale (on a vu d'autres touristes manger des trucs ultra standard pas appétissants).
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The Crown Jewel Of Our Anniversary and Vacation of a Lifetime!
Our safari with It Started in Africa was the trip of a lifetime! A colleague recommended It Started in Africa and guaranteed that we would be very pleased. From our first contact, through the planning and then, from our arrival in Dar es Salaam through our last day in Arusha, everything went perfectly! Our trip was totally worry-free. It Started In Africa provided our in-country flights, all ground transportation, food and lodging.
The three-day safari provided us memories that will last our lifetime. Each day was a totally different and unique experience and each day topped the next. The first day we saw more than 100 elephants in Taranglre National Park. The second day, Ngorongoro Crater was one of the most magnificent things I have ever seen and down inside the crater was like being in the middle of a zoo without any fences. Animals were everywhere!! Damien, our tour guide, stayed with us all three days and he was a fantastic. I mentioned to him that my hope was to see Africa’s Top Five, especially, the black rhino. He seemed to know exactly where to go to find the animals and we saw four of the top five (including a black rhino). Afterwards, Damien was humble enough to say that it was all luck. The third day hunting with a bush tribe was just as unforgettable. Watching a movie 30 years ago called, "The God's Must Be Crazy" was the first time I heard about nomadic bush people who speak a "tick" language. To meet, hunt, sit and eat with this nomadic tribe of hunters and gatherers who actually speak this" tick" language was like traveling back into time.
Everyone that I am in contact with on social media now knows about “It Started In Africa." We are already planning our next trip to Tanzania and we will definitely use them again when we bring our grandchildren to Africa for their first safari next summer. We really did received top-flight professional service. Choosing It Started In Africa proved to be a great decision. Thanks!
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
7 Day Kruger National Park Safari - tent camping
If you are here at this site reviewing "reviews", then you were just like us when we were doing our "homework" before decisions were made to invest in such an amazing experience. If you are wanting a simple, very enjoyable camping safari experience... LOOK NO FURTHER. Armadillo Overland Safari & Adventure Tours is owned and run by the owners, Chris and Nicky. Excellent communication from start to finish. They take great pride in their company and the service that they are providing to their guests, no detail was too small or too large.
We did a 7 day safari tour - tent camping, having stayed at one private resort camping site facility and three different SANS Park camping locations within Kruger National Park.
All the camping sites were well set up, having all amenities.. hot and cold running water with lit bathrooms and shower facilities, swimming pools too.. as we affectionately referred to: "glamping". The meals were very good, being cooked at the campsite after a fun day of safari driving. Chris is an amazing cook!!! Chris will be sure to discuss the options clearly with you about the various camping facilities.. as in our case, we chose a more rustic camping experience for our last night, it was awesome. Simply put... Chris is there for your experience.
And of course... Chris's specialized safari truck..."Truck Norris". You will not be disappointed with what this truck can do. It sits much higher in elevation than most other vehicles that are common within the park. And as a result, you have an unobstructed view when it truly matters. As you can imagine, when a pride of lions have been located, well it attracts many onlookers who are all jostling for position to get the best view. With Chris's truck, no problems, you will have the view you want. Not to mention, Chris does not shy away from driving his truck into all the locations and authorized off shoot roads that typically take you along the river beds where most wildlife is likely to be seen. To top it all off, Chris has an amazing amount of bush and wildlife knowledge, and he never grew tired of the unending questions being asked of him. We learned so much. It was an amazing trip, Thank you to Chris for making it so. Paul and Trena.
BE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
a marvelous safari
We did a classic safari with Kilele (tanager, serengeti, ngrongoro and lake Manyara). and still it felt as special as of day one. The difference is made by the contact with Frank, listening carefully to all our requirements and acting upon it, same for our guide David, the good material throughout (landrover, tents), the excellent cooking... Simply one word, flawless. David is really knowledgeable of where to go and what to see, so we ended up seeing all the beasts in the book, plus the wildebeest trek over the mara river. Communication was open, and on top the price for all this was correct.
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Kilele savane organized a fabulous round trip with Safari, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar steps
Frank, working as the responsible, is really organized and precise. He organized and gave us a lot of detailed of our successful trip. He provided us good communications and works with beautiful employees (like cooker, driver and guide). Frank is really experienced!He also speaks French and English, that it was perfect for us. We felt safe and we enjoyed each minutes of a fantastic discovering trip.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great Trips, Great Guide
We really enjoyed our trip to Ngorogoro, Manyara and Tarangire over a 3 day weekend. It was a short safari, but Ilmaasai did not make it feel rushed and we had several great experiences. We booked them because we like to support local small business and were glad we did. They were professional and we got all that was promised in a professional, warm manner. Loth, the owner communicated exactly how it would progress and it went off like clockwork.
Highly recommend.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Extremely accommodating
Extremely accommodating. Great guide and cook, clean tent, and not crowded like some other tour groups I met at the campgrounds. Very responsive by email, which I appreciated. There was an issue with my arrival time, as we'd agreed on an airport pickup and they didn't seem to have made note of the time, which caused me some headaches. Make sure they include your pickup time in the written agreement, as that is what they are using as reference. Overall I recommend this company as friendly and accommodating and a great value.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Terrible service and trip
i, Antelope Safaris is the touroperator to avoid. I was together with my wife on this trip and the service was below all levels. everything they promised could not be delivered:
1. Guide was not interested at all- the first afternoon game drive was a rally: we drove with 70 kn p/h to our lodge.
2. The only comment he made was: "elephant" or "buffalo", hardly spoke any English
3. Guide forgot guidebook and binoculars. Tomorrow, tomorrow he said.The next day he got us broken binoculars and a dirty old guidebook.
4. We called Antelope safaris several times. They did not call back for the following reason: it is expensive to call a foreign number- as if we did not roam and as if Skype does not exist!
5. Very expensive operator (well you save money by not giving tips- they definitely did not deserve it
6. They came over to our place in Dar in order to apologize- see above to read how it went. They later explained that the" man did not like the fact that we complained"
7. They did not give any compensation- that strengthened our feeling that they really did not care about us, but just about earning easy money.
Conclusion: a guide can make or break a tour. Especially when that bad service is not backed up by skilled staff at the agency, but by people that hardly care if things go the right way. Avoid this operator.
US
Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great time in Uganda as a single traveler
As an independent traveler, was a little worried if I might be lonely on a 9-day tour through Uganda. However, CUL tours was fantastic! Stephen and Milton designed a great custom tour for me at a competitive price point, and I never had to worry about being alone or bored. I received many quotes, and theirs was the best by far on both price and options. Being on this trip made me feel like I was traveling with a good friend who knew all the great local hangouts and best roads. I learned so much about the country, saw everything that I wanted to see, and had an exceptional time. This is a small but growing local company, that takes its time to design custom experiences for people. I recommend them highly.