NL
Selma did listen very good to our wishes and made them come true.
You deserve the 5 stars: very good communications, very good service and advice. The safari was well organized and the accomodations (Kibogo-lodge, Tarangire River Camp, Rhotia Valley Tented Lodge) were varied and all very nice. Our guide, Peter, was not only a very good driver, a good guide who could tell us many things about the beauty of Tanzania, but also an inspiring man. My visit to my children was a great success partly due to the tour with Makasa. They even gave us free tips about our stay in Zanzibar. They do their work with love! I should say: 'go with Makasa!'
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
ATI Holidays was very flexible and helpful in putting together a 2-month trip to Namibia for us.
We worked with ATi Holidays to put together a 2-month trip to Namibia this past summer. They pieced together a hiking trip to Fish River Canyon, two volunteer wildlife projects and a self drive safari to Ethosha National Park, Kunene River and Damarland. All pieces fit together perfectly and the entire trip went off without a hitch. ATi was very accommodating and was able to make all our last minute changes. When our backpacking trip in Fish River Canyon was cancelled due to lack of water, they came up with a suitable alternative. They paid attention to all details and even provided us with a cell phone and cool box for our entire trip. The pre-trip information including marked maps for our self-drive was very helpful. Thanks ATi Holidays for making our trip to Namibia a most memorable one!
CA
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our Kiboko Safari
Our 15 day Kiboko Safari ( Kenya and Tanzania ) was above and beyond our expectations. Chris did a great job co-ordinating everything for the six of us, 2 each from 3 different cities, from flights, insurance, and responding to the many questions we all had. The staff were amazing and right from greeting us at the airport we all felt comfortable and welcomed. We had three guides in total, Obama and Erick in Kenya and Emanuel in Tanzania and all shared their expertise, vast knowledge, professionalism, and fun senses of humour. The animal sightings (including watching two cheetahs bring down their prey) were more numerous and close up than we had ever imagined. We had a mix of lodges and tented camps and all were 5 star, especially enjoyed the luxury of both Ashnil and Mbuzi Mawe Tented Camps .All the food was first rate, the staff so friendly and being greeted after long drives with hot towels and cold juice was such a nice touch. It was truly the trip of a lifetime!
DK
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Best tour I ever had!
I've had some tours in africa in the past, but this was really the best.
Very good organization, very nice personal and very good equipment/cars.
I recommend this company to everyone!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Surreal safari
after spending the last 2 years exploring the 7 continents, my final adventure came down to a safari in Africa. I spent months preparing and researching where to go and what to see. Listened to many of my friends from all over the world. The Outfitter that best exemplified my needs and tastes was with Ecological Wilderness Adventures. Spent many phone calls via Skype with Brian to arrange it so that I could spend over 2 weeks seeking the best spots to have a safari. What it all came down to was the quality of the guide and the service he rendered. Without a doubt, in all 4 regions of Africa that we toured, Brian exceeded my expectations. His experience and knowledge surpassed what I thought possible. You know you have e best guide when others are flagging him down asking where he could recommend they take their clients. On one occasion we spotted a leopard- which is my favorite big game animal- walking across the river. Instead of chasing after it like all the other guides, he went off in a different direction. When I asked him why we weren't headed after it like the others, he replied that we were going to where it was headed. Sure enough we parked under a tree 10 minutes before the leopard arrived and climbed into the tree where it had stored it's kill. All the other vehicles had to park behind us as we got the front row seats and best pictures possible. His guiding skills are incredible and the camps on the Serengeti we stayed at were 5 star resorts in a camp out on the plains. The entire trip was way beyond what I had envisioned having done almost everything, now only the best will do. That means Ecological Wilderness Adventures will be the only phone call I make for the next safari.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing discovery
This safari was organised as part of an overland tour. The safari operator Oti had everything organised and made us feel extremely safe. We did a 3/4 day tour of Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara. He was very well informed and spoke excellent english. We managed to get upclose to 4 of the big 5. Even though we were camping, we were still very comfortable. Meals were all provided.
Since that trip my friend has been back for another tour and I intend to do the same in the near future. All in all we had a fantastic time and can't recommend this tour enough!
The Tsavo experience indeed!!
This was a really thrilling trip for us. We had been to the Masai Mara before which was really exciting. We wanted a change, but was a little worried that Tsavo wouldn't live up to the Masai experience. How wrong we were! We had four of us in a jeep with a driver called Sam. He was a friendly chap and so knowledgable like most of these drivers are. They are in radio contact with other drivers as well, so even more eyes to help when an interesting sighting occurs. It was a real jeep safari just as you would expect. We drove alongside all of the usual animals and really felt part of them, we were that close. The weather was fabulous, very warm and clear blue sky with breathtaking scenery. Having said that, wet weather would not have put us off going. We have had some really exciting safaris charging through mud puddles in pursuit of rhino! Our only regret was that we didn't stay longer but we met wonderful people and we left with wonderful photographs, wonderful video and wonderful memories.
Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Zimbabwe by Luke Brown
Zimbabwe is probably southern Africa's most diverse country, in terms of its landscapes and national parks. Incredible Highlands exist along the eastern border. There are vast wilderness areas in the north and west, including Hwange, Lake Kariba and the Zambezi river valley. In the south east, the country's lowest point, there is Gonarezhou National Park, which is bordered by vast wildlife conservancies. Victoria Falls is the crowning jewel in the far north west. All these areas are home to vast populations of wildlife. The best parks to go on Safari and have a chance to see some, or even all of the big five, include Hwange, Mana Pools and Gonarezhou. All these parks are well maintained and have vast road networks, as well as a multitude of accommodation venues, ranging from comfortable self catering options to 5 star lodges. Zimbabwe is renowned for its professional guides, who have to go through a rigid training period that lasts no less than four years and involves hands on practical application. This makes Zimbabwe an amazing place to go on a walking safari. Overall Zimbabwe has so much to offer the safari entusiast!
Review about Kenya by John Foss
For the sheer excitement of not know what you will come across along the next track. The birding experience is also beyond belief.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Getting out to see the real Africa
We retained African Adventure Safaris for a one month trip through Botswana, ending at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Botswana is still a wild place and if you want to get away from the structured tented camp/concession arena and get out there, AAS is a great choice. Antony "Ant" Washford has decades of experience in the African bush and his on-the-ground skills are absolutely invaluable. Beyond that, Ant is not only a great host, but a fantastic storyteller and knows how to run a bush camp. Ant is absolutely encyclopedic about birds, wildlife and ecosystems, so if you're interested in more than just the "big 5" (lion, buffalo, rhino, leopard, elephant), he's great - having said that, we did see alot of, and all of, the "big 5" as well. To that end, Ant is a great tracker and takes the time to explain what he's reading, which is fascinating stuff. Just sitting around the fire swapping stories with Ant is worth a million bucks. Finally, part of getting out to see the "real Africa", that is, camping in the bush, is the adventure of it all and that includes running into challenges and solving them. Again, that's when you want to have the years of experience of some like Ant Washford and African Adventure Safaris where the attitude is that everything is an adventure and in good spirits. We'll never forget our time with AAS and Ant Washford in the Botswana Bush. Can't say enough good things.If you want to hear more about some of the fantastic experiences we had with AAS, check out my blog: www.bryanjanetravels.com. (By the way, I"m not related to anyone at AAS, nor am I receiving any compensation of any sort for these comments - just a small payback for a fantastic experience)