20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing! Definitely use suricata. So so amazing and helpful and importantly knowledgable.
Firstly let me just start by saying book with suricata, it was amazing, we did the 5 day safari, we saw the big 5 plus so much more. If you’re hesitant, don’t be, just book. Also ask for Mandela, he was UNREAL as a guide, such a nice guy!
A more detailed review is below.
Accommodation
We had a really strict budget so we went for camping. Overall it was fine, functional and for how cheap it was, you can’t ask for more. At each site the tent was already put up for you (on our last day we witness another company come in and the guests put up their own tent so in hindsight we were spoilt). The tent itself included a sleeping bag, a very thin mattress and a pillow. It was really sturdy and had enough space for two people easily. Regarding each site;
Twiga
Honestly this is absolutely fine and actually quite good. As we did 5 days we stayed here twice. It’s basically like a patch of grass off lodges itself and it’s like gated off. The bathroom in my opinion was really well kept, had lighting, no toilet tissue (this is common) and the showers were hot (maybe too hot haha) . This was probably not really camping, it’s actually well run and kept, it’s like the perfect very low cost way to sleep for a night. There was WiFi here too (though too slow to use like instagram or even read emails, you could WhatsApp easily with it)
Serengeti
Serengeti and Ngorongoro this is real camping. Serengeti itself, again as before patch of grass and tents already up but there’s literally 0 electricity. Bring your torches and head torches. You are sleeping in area that animals can get to so just be smart. It’s safe, it really is but we were advised if you had to go to the toilet at night, just don’t (or pee outside your tent). The toilets were a little worse but again fine and useable. No hot showers here. The pay off for all of this is that you get an incredible sunrise and sun set, plus we saw giraffes and elephants from our tent so it is incredible.
Ngorongoro
Again similar to Serengeti, but there’s hot water. Apparently you can walk to a nearby site and get WiFi but we didn’t try. There is electricity here and plenty of sockets to charge your devices. There was a distinct increase in bugs at this campsite but again fine.
Suricata themselves were brilliant and made camping as easy and enjoyable as possible.
Food
Honestly incredible. I really don’t know how chef did it. Every morning he would cook up the following; fresh crapes, toast, egg dish, sometimes fresh fruit and all the condiments you would desire. For lunch which we had during safari, there would normally be rice with 2 curries/stews and veg, maybe banana for desert. And in the evening it was more of the same but maybe a different carb of pasta or macaroni. The food was always really good, and plentiful, we were never left hungry after a meal and often did not finish the portion. If you’re a picky eater, grow up, for everyone else you’ll really enjoy it. The fact the team whipped up a meal in the middle of the Serengeti with no electricity is crazy.
Safari
Our guide Mandela is a TOP TOP man. He’s so nice, always smiling and so so informative. He will constantly stop and tell you about things you’ve never even thought about, the amount of facts he has and the range of facts was honestly incredible. My partner and I learnt so so much. I felt sorry for him as our group was quite international and therefore quite quiet and I know he wished we asked him more and more questions because hes just so passionate about what he does, he wants to talk about it all the time. Because of him we got the see the big 5, cheetahs, warthogs, hippos, the lot really. It was a magical experience. Mandela also made sure we had a fresh 1.5l cold bottle of water each every day, so you were always well hydrated. There is also stops to use the loo throughout and he warns of you long drives where there won’t be one so you can make sure you’re all good beforehand. The toilets in the actual park are actually so well kept, far better than any U.K. public toilet, not even close.
Logistics
We flew from London and arrived at KIA at 930am. We were picked up straight away with no wait by a very friends Mr T, who drove us to the hotel the other clients were staying. They very kindly waited for us and we started the safari that day. This is not what they recommend/ usually do as they usually recommend staying the night before so you are fresh and helps with logistics. Honestly if there’s a way you can maybe fly into Arusha airport (it’s closer) or get there at maybe 8am, I would 100% recommend the way we did it. Or just arrive super late. But it is possible.
There’s U.K. plug sockets everywhere so be wary of that. There’s plug sockets in the safari jeep itself but my partners fast charging plug wouldn’t work so I’d opt for like an older USB U.K. 3 pin plug
Make sure you take wet wipes
Would recommend bug spray and repellent.
Make sure you have torches
We took a sleeping bag liner and I would recommend this. We actually never used the sleeping bag itself, we just slept in the liner. The ngorongoro campsite was the ONLY time we felt cold at all and therefore I’d also recommend something warm for this day. Lots of people wore proper jackets but a good hoodie and joggers would suffice.
One day we finished a little early (2 members of the group did the 4 day so left), and because of this Mandela and team organised a little walking tour of the village we were staying at as we had the evening. Little touches like this show how great the company is.
Would I use suricata again?
1 million percent yes
Would I recommend them?
I will be telling everyone to use them forever!
Would I do a 5 day safari?
This is such a tricky question. We were incredible lucky (lucky and Mandela is just amazing at his job) so arguably we saw everything in 3 days (2 Serengeti days and ngorongoro). So maybe we could’ve done 4 or even 3 day safari but the more days of sari you do the more of a chance you get to see animals. So maybe if I hadn’t seen a certain animal and I’d only done 3 days, I’d 100% wish I did 4 or 5. I think I’d honestly do 4, I think Lake Manyara though absolutely beautiful is not on the same level as Serengeti and ngorongoro (though we were surrounded by elephants at the lake so there’s always going to be memories by doing more safari)
Would I camp again?
Again this is such a tricky question. Sleeping on the Serengeti is once in a life time and really cool. But it’s obviously not the most glamorous thing and not having a proper bed or shower for 5 days can be a little annoying, but for the budget it’s more than enough. If you had a little more maybe spring for the lodges (which were apparently really good - 2 of our group stayed in lodges) or maybe do less days and lodges. But I could fault the team for the camping. It is what it is, you get to do an unreal experience at an affordable price.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A wonderful 3 day safari experience with Kilimanjaro Safari's!
We were delighted with our decision to choose Kilimanjaro Adventure Safari Club for our 3-day Safari in Tanzania. The communication was superb; they consistently replied to our emails within hours and even accommodated a last-minute change in hotels due to our flight schedule changing just two days before our trip. Our tour operator, Justin, was exceptional. He was knowledgeable, always punctual, kind, and seemed to know the best places to visit along the safari routes. He ensured we arrived at our destinations on time and kept us informed about the daily plans. His expertise regarding the plants and animals of Tanzania was outstanding, providing us with fascinating information about everything we encountered, including the local people and cultures. We felt we received great value for the money spent on our safari trip. Everything, from the accommodations to the tours and attention to detail, was top-notch. I wholeheartedly recommend Kilimanjaro Safari's to anyone considering a trip to Tanzania.
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safari trip of a lifetime
We want to extend our biggest thank you to jacob and buga who made our safari memorable. The entire team at Meru Slopes were so helpful and so accommodating, if you’re still hesitating between different tours, we wholeheartedly reccomend them with no hestitation. We had dozens of quotes from different companies and Meru Slopes were the most accommodating in term of budget and itinerary.
We took a 4 days-3 nights package with them in mid-May. We wanted to see Tarangire, Serengeti and the Ngorongoro crater. Our itinerary was very well planned, nothing to stress about on our side. They came to pick us up from the airport the day before and offered accomodation for the night. We paid a 15% deposit before to confirm and we finalized everything when we got to the hotel. They helped us get free card sims (which was such a nice thing to do) and helped with the whole set up as well.
While other tours offered boxed lunches and sometimes dinners, Meru Slopes went above and beyond and provided us with hot (and amazing!) meals throughout the day. Bouga (our cook) is unmatched and his food was so tasty, we often wanted seconds. If you book with them, definitely ask for Bouga as a cook.
Our driver and guide Jacob was amazing as well. He knows the parks like the back of his hand, he is very knowledgeable in all the animals in the park and he will answer any questions we have. There was a water bottle in our seats every morning and electricity in the car (even though sometimes it didn’t work as well). They also offered wifi but that wasn’t working as much either so don’t expect a strong connection.
We slept two nights in lodges and one in tents when we were supposed to do one in a lodge and two in a tent, so that was very nice surprise.
As a disclaimer, whether you book with this company or another, please be mindful of the Masai village tour. Not in a way to discredit the villages and the people, but more as a critique of the practice (that is widely done by many other companies). Before booking our tour, we made sure to ask that we do not do it, as we believe that people should not have to sell out their cultural practices in order to make a living. We wanted to support in other ways, but it was surprisingly part of our program even if we didn’t ask for it. We love learning about different cultures but in a way that is ethical and that truly supports the lifestyle of those people without them having to monetize on it. So unless you insist on doing it, we would recommend against it, and instead, look for programs that directly help the villages and their people (whether that’s with money, buying their creations as souvenirs, or supporting the preservation of their traditions and culture in Tanzania). One of the things we wish we did was get more knowledge of the Masaai tribe and other tribes in Tanzania prior to our trip, to make sure we knew how to best support them while we were there. So we definitely recommend getting informed beforehand.
Overall, if you were like us and were hesitating between the million tour companies and wasn’t sure about this one, book this one! no regrets!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
One of the most perfect travel adventures ever!
There were so many great things to say about ABC. Most important, the staff was knowledgeable, kind and fun. The accommodations were incredibly comfortable with all of the amenities one would need.
Two pieces of advice: If you want, explore other options besides driving safaris. We felt exhilarated by the walking safaris, but didn't know they were options except when they were offered. We grew a little weary being in the truck twice a day, and our bodies were thankful of the alternative.
Also, bring cash for tipping; if you are from somewhere other than Southern Africa, you will want to plan ahead to get sufficient cash. You will want to tip generously because all of the staff are amazing and deserve it!!
IE
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great service.
Serengeti Wakanda Tours and Safaris helped us tailor the perfect adventure. Courteous and efficient Felix was on hand to help and answer all our questions. He was the best of drivers. Great sightings, lovely accommodation and food. The 5 🌟 surprise of finding a hot water bottle warming our welcoming bed after a long and exciting day was the 'perfect' touch 👌
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Many thanks to Lilian for organizing such an incredible safari trip for us.
The experience was truly amazing, and we enjoyed every minute of it. The nature and all the different herds we saw were just incredible. A special shoutout to our guide, Simon, who made the trip even more memorable with his knowledge and expertise. My wife and I can’t wait to visit again in the future.
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Memorable and Unique Experience
We had a unique trip through stunning Uganda with Ecovic Tours! They really made our experience perfect. They customized everything to exactly what we wanted and made sure we didn't have to worry about anything.
We highly recommend them to anyone who wants to not only have a great experience but also to learn so many things since their insights and knowledge about Uganda were invaluable and allowed us to have authentic experience, which did not only focus on impressive wildlife watching but also on people and local culture.
We had a great time together, we truly liked travelling with them! Everything went smoothly throughout the trip and we always felt extremely safe and well taken care of.
Vincent, the trip coordinator is very professional, reliable and sociable as well. Furthermore he is always ready to do everything needed to make you feel comfortable and to fully enjoy the adventure.
Besides that we loved the aspect of sustainable travelling and the companies efforts such as providing us with disposable plastic free water bottles and planting trees to compensate effects of climate change.
We will definitely travel with Ecovic Tours again when we return to Uganda!
SG
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Just leave it to them and enjoy your holidays
We absolutely loved our experience booking safari trip with moafrica, right from clear communication to understand our requirements, to providing us options with suggestions, then patiently waiting for us to decide , completing the booking quickly and immaculately planning till the last detail . It has been a great experience highly recommend them !
BR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Everything ran perfectly with them
Since the taylor made schedule they proposed considering what I asked, till the tours itselves. Considering the complexity of them, with lots of border crossing, it was impressive
CH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Best safari of my life
We really had the best time during our safari and enjoyed every second. Suricata organized everything SUPER and everything worked out without a hitch. We had stunning accommodations, great guides and very, very, very good food. Thank you Suricata for this experience! The next time we come to Tanzania, we will book with Suricata again immediately!
(automatic translation from German)