US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The true Lion King experience. If you are going on Safari this is the company to choose.t
The communication from the company with me was great. The driver and cook met us in the morning and were very prompt (a few minutes early even so that we could get packed up and depart at the time agreed).
We stopped for breakfast which was delicious (we paid for that). And as soon as we got to the Serengeti our guide Lamereck was exceptionally vigilant about pointing out the animals and plants and birds. He was impressively knowledgeable about everything out there. Everything.
I felt as if he was personally committed to making sure we had this incredible experience.
Camping: our cook Emmanuel worked a miracle with a single gas burner. The food was delicious and well balanced. The company provided the tents and sleeping bags so no need to rent them or travel across the world with a bunch of stuff. (Dont forget a flashlight or two and toilet paper.) The bathrooms were very nice and clean with running water and sinks and sitting toilets.
This experience superseded all of my expectations with fantastic staff, exceptional quality, and a thoroughly excellent enjoyable safari. I won't forget this for my entire life.
I would recommend this company (and there are a lot of them) over any.
Thank you Emmanuel, Lamereck, and Vic! Asante sana!!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Well designed and implemented tour with trustworthy company
We planned a two-week Tanzania tour with SafariBig5, consisting of Safari in four parks and visit to Stone Town with subsequent relaxation in Melia Zanzibar. Communications with the group was easy and efficient, they properly confirmed our payments as soon as received and issued receipts and confirmations. Our driver Nurdin picked us up at JRO Airport and did an excellent job on Safari, we saw all of the Big 5 Animals rather close.
Accomodations were generally good, as well as food. Aranged transfer via FlighLink from Arusha to Zanzibar worked well on a small plane, was a pleasant experience on this aircraft. Melia Zanzibar has excellent location, very accomodating and pleasant resort to relax on Zanzibar.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Uganda 2018
I have been to Africa over 20 times and all over. This by far was the best trip I’ve ever taken. Davis and Meddy knew everyone everywhere we went. I always felt safe with them. The lodges they picked for us were amazing. Anything we mentioned we might want they changed plans to accommodate us. We were talking about wanting a pool soon and the very next lodge they made sure had a pool. The gorillas were everything I ever wanted. All the extra tours that were available had something to do for everyone. The staff at the lodges were friendly and so helpful. The rooms were clean and the scenery was breathtaking. I can’t wait to go back again and I won’t go with anyone else but Davis and Meddy.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best trip EVER
Our trip with Gorilla Homeland Safari's exceeded my expectations! Davis and Meddy are wonderful Ambassadors of Uganda ----from the first moment we choose them the communication was excellent. The resorts we stayed in were incredibly beautiful ----the staff was always very friendly and helpful. Davis and Meddy went above and beyond to make sure our desires were met. From safari drives to boat trips to chimpanzees and ------of course------gorillas ------this trip was by far the most special. We are already planning a return trip with Gorilla Homeland Saafaris. If you are considering a trip to Uganda you will not regret choosing Gorilla Homeland Safari's. Do it -----It will change your life!
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The Best.
We thought Botswana would be out of our budget, then a friend with whom we'd travelled in Namibia pointed us to Jane and her company. From the first email contact, we knew we were on the right track. Four of us (two pensioners) booked a ten-day safari that took us from Kasane to Maun, staying in five different locations.
I'm not a natural camper, but the magic of sunrise in the bush and evenings around the camp-fire and under the stars more than made up for quite basic but perfectly adequate sleeping quarters. The tents aren't huge, but they're not cramped either; the bedding is ample and very cosy (starry nights in May are chilly - but no insects) and our en-suite pit toilet (you shovel in a layer of the sandy soil that's been dug out) was really no hardship. We quickly decided that glamping was for softies and would artificially cut you off from the authentic experience that we were enjoying.
And we enjoyed every minute. Because we were four, we had a vehicle to ourselves and could stop and start at the pace that the two avid photographers wanted. Our guide, Spokes Ntshwabi, was superb: quiet, very knowledgeable and charming with it. We had lots of marvellous sightings, many of them all to ourselves as a distinctive part of the Ulinda offering is to get away from the most beaten tracks. (Not that there were ever many other vehicles; these National Parks are huge.)
Back in camp for lunch, a snooze and a shower, then off again. The afternoon game drive always ended with a hefty G'n'T at some scenic spot to watch the sun go down. Then back in the gloaming for a superb dinner, ample (free) wine and yarns round the campfire. The food was always superb. Remember that for the whole 10 days there was nowhere to take on supplies, but we always had fresh vegetables, salads and (for the carnivores) world-class local meats: the beef fillet was the best ever. All that and beautiful fresh bread.
Jane herself is a tireless host. The whole trip was impeccably organised but the effort didn't show. Her team (who cook and manage the assembly and dismantling at every camp site) are charming as well as very hard-working. The three boat trips that were part of the package were all different and unforgettably lovely. Now we have thousands of photos to edit down and thousands of memories to match.
We are all seasoned travellers of many years, but - back in civilisation (which seemed dull in comparison) - we agreed that this was the best.
Thanks, Jane - and everyone
TR
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Take care with the Company Blue Montain Trekking & Safaris
To the Director of the Company
Blue Montain Trekking & Safaris
On 22 May 2018 we visited your office and my wife and me were looking for a tree days Safari. We talked to one of you employee Mr. Ben (Tel. 0721362462) and he gave us information. He suggested to stay in the camp at Rhino camp in a tent. The price will be around 760 US $. We did not talk so much about the price because we knew your official price was about 340.00 US $ for tree days Safari. At that time we did not make our final decision.
On the next day, we decided to go to Safari and came back to the office opposite of Hilton. My wife was a little bit scared from the staying in a tent. Then we asked for a lodge. Mr. Ben maked a suggestion. He said that we can stary in a lodge at Ol Moran Camp. He suggested a price of 1160.00 US $. Finally we agreed to pay 930.00 US $. We paid 100.00 US $ in advance. We have been told that we should pay the rest on 25th May where the trip started. On 25th May, in the morning I have paid the rest, 830.00 US $ in cash and asked for a receipt. He denied to give me a receipt. He has just written on the first receipt (which we have received on 22th May) that the balance has been paid. See the attached receipt. I knew that was not correct. On the way we picked up to german ladies. On the car someone has prepared a regular receipt and gave to these ladies. They paid 30.000 Schlings per Person (300.00 US $).
We arrived at the Ol Morano camp, the driver, Patrick, has dropped us and left immediately. Then we were asking for a lodge. We have told that there was no lodge only tents. I called Ben back and the driver. We could not change anyting. We paid a price of a lodge, however we stayed in a tent.
Finally, instead of 600.00 US $ we paid 930.00 US $. We have been swindled by Mr. Ben. He is one of the biggest liar that I have seen in my life. A guy like that would damage your company.
I am sure that this guy has prepared an official receipt which is probably around 600.00 US $. The rest is in his pocket.
One more story, according to the program, on the third day we should first go to the park for three hours and then back to Nairobi. The driver discoverd a new story and talked about the boat trip on a river somewhere else. Some people agreed but we did not. I didn’t want to wait for other people during boat trip. I told Patrick that we want to go to Nairobi. Underway he had difficulties to arrange a car for us. Finally at the place where we had lunch he has arranged a Safari car. The driver of this car dropped us at a benzin station in Nairoby. Finally with a arranged taxi we arrived at our hotel. Why should we take three different cars to come to our hotel?
Now I am asking you why the driver Patrick discovered a boat trip which was not on program. Does he has some benefits from boat trip? Why did he not drive for three hours to National Park as we have been told?
I would like to leave Kenya with a good impression. However, people like Ben would harm the people.
I kindly ask you to search this process and inform me and compensate the money which I have paid more.
Prof. Dr. Metin Balcı
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
I took a short-noticed tour through Uganda and Yala took care of all my wishes!
I took a short-noticed tour through Uganda and Yala took care of my wishes and I could do everything I wanted - with a personal touch as I was the only passenger. ;)
One accommodation was not available as planned, but Yala made up for this with a stunning lodge the next night.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic experience with Hekima safaris
We had an absolutely incredible time with Hekima safaris. When we began looking for safaris ahead of our trip, we were daunted by the huge cost of some of them.
We decided to go with Hekima because they were better value, had amazing reviews and throughout the initial process of organizing our trip were willing to accommodate all of our requests (we were quite specific in the itinerary we wanted to follow, and some other tour operators weren't as flexible).
When we arrived, we weren't disappointed. All of the staff at Hekima couldn't have been more accommodating, and they went out of their way to make everything perfect for us - even when we had a slight mishap and messed up our flight bookings, they were ready to rearrange our agreed itinerary at the last minute. We did a day safari in Arusha national park, followed by a 3 day 2 night camping safari in Serengeti and Ngorongoro and then an overnight hike of Ol Doinyo Lengai (this hike is not for the faint hearted - if you do this, hiking boots and a head torch are a must!).
We couldn't have asked for more from our trip, and are so grateful to Hekima for making it such a great trip - we couldn't recommend them more!
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Someone we can trust
I traveled with 3 friends to Tanzania and Kenya, and we wanted to do a Safari to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro not so expensive (budget safari), so we started to do a vast research thanks to the Lonely Planet advices (some really nice agencies but expensive as well) and in safaribookings.com we found Safari Multiways with the best offer (price and quality), so we took contact with them and we always received a quick, kind and clear reponse of all the details that we wanted to know.
So, afte to compared like 10 different agencies or more, we chose Safari Multiways, for the price/quality rapport and we also had a really good feeling with his owner (Romeo).
Once being there, the services were as they describe it, really profesionnal, our guide (Omari) was nice outgoing person, profesional and always care about us to see all the best of the fauna. We really feel that he knows all about the fauna, parks and everything. Our cooker, Popo was really nice also, always with good food.
If I do another safari in north of Tanzania, I will not hesitate to do it with them !
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Many good things and a big negative
-We stayed with the owner of the tour, John, in his Masai house in the Olalaimuitek village for 3 nights which was in total a cheap and different/nice experience like living one of them wihout electricity and water in nature. As we arrived there at night, we had some problems with the driver who dropped us, John was very nice and calming us. The bed was very comfortable but without a mosquito net. The food prepared at home was delicious. One day we climbed up to the hill with his brother, he was a nice person. There were lots of children in the village, we and they were very happy to meet, play with them and take photos together.
-So about the safari, we planned initially a 2 full day safari tour. Since the price John offered us was good, we decided to do it with him. He doesn''t have his own 4x4, so it is kinda getting let from another person. On the first day we had a driver which was ok. And on the second day the actual owner of the car was driver. John was practically a guide there in the car on both days. Safari itself was nice, they were trying to find animals and going near and waiting for us to take photos. But here comes the big NEGATIVE on the second day. They told us that we will go to the 'deep parts of the park to see cheetas which we couldnt see on first day. What practically happened was, we went to another gate (Sekenani) after half an hour drive, instead of the nearest one (Olalaimuitek). The owner of the car told us that he is also working and living near that gate. So he knew a way to enter the park without passing through the gate, went basically though the quarters and didn´t pay 160 dollars in total, which they took from us to pay to the enterance. When we asked about it, they told that there was a line at the gate and they would pay it when going out. When we left the park after 3 hours through the same path, we asked again about the tickets. Then they -mostly the driver- started to find some excuses and lies about it. It was so irritating that we insisted on to get the tickets. Finally when they understood that we won't give up, they decided to drop us home and told that they are going to the other gate to bring us tickets. We wanted to go together, but the driver told us that 'it is forbidden for us to stay outside at that hour'' and refused. It was 7 pm and the gates were closed. Of course they couldt get any ticket and it was anyway not possible to get it for an early hour. So they found solution in buying us a new ticket on the next day with the money which we gave them before. In that way we had a free enterance for the third day which was actually good for us. But we payed them for the third day for the car again, so they profitted anyway. It was extremely irritating to feel that they are trying to fool us so cheap (and also their own community and villages, since a part of the money goes to them when you pay normal enterance on the gate).
-Again about the stay, the only negative thing for the home stay was that, people who were preparing the food were waiting in front of us and looking at us while we were eating. They were telling us that they would eat after us but at the same time were telling that all the food on the table belongs to us. So we didnt feel comfortable to finish the food of course. Sometimes the food was big enough for mayn people but sometimes not. Tried to solve the problem with communication but it was not very succesful. But i am repeating again, the food was very delicious and another plus for it, that they prepared all without a tap and practically any kitchen, incredible! Maybe this feedback can be helpful for them to make it better.
-So for the home stay i'd give 5 stars. For that issue on safari 1 star despite the good things. In total 3 stars. I am sorry for that, since i know that John is actually a warmhearted person but I hope this will not happen to anyone again in that way.