A lifetime Trip to an amazing Country
Me and my husband travelled to Tanzania for a safari with Lights on Africa Destinations & Safaris. First we planned our safari with Peniel (our trip coordinator) through internet. He was very pleasant and always responding quickly to my many many questions. He took the time to really understand what we really wanted and made sure we got it. Then he met us at the airport and brought us to our hotel for our first night before our safari. He explained everything to us and was very thorough. We really liked him. He is a very special person to us. Then we met our first guide for 1 day Winnie. Very nice young fellow. Then came David for the rest of the safari. What can we say about David. Well he is one of a kind. Very nice person and one thing that we noticed is that he is very helpful with everybody. We had so many laughs with him especially him and my husband. Very knowledgeable. We saw lots of animals. We also had the honor of meeting his family. What a nice family and we were so well received. Then there was our cook Richard…Wow what good food we had. And he was always so eager to help. He made sure our flap tent were open during the day while we were gone on a safari drive or if it rained made sure they were closed. Very nice person. He even made us a cake all decorated and Happy New Year written on it since our safari started on jan 1/2015. We also got to meet his family. They were so nice. Well all in all we want to say that we had a fantastic time with fantastic people that we now consider our friends. Thank You everybody for making our trip so memorable..
Once in a lifetime experience
We thoroughly enjoyed our trip. We did a 5 day safari trip 2 days in Kruger and 3 nights on a private reserve at Umkumbe. Both were great. We stayed at Sabie River Bush lodge for the first 2 nights as a base for Kruger and although a little rougher around the edges, it's right on the river with a herd of hippos right at your doorstep. We were lucky enough to see them come right to the fence along with a herd of elephants. That made it all worthwhile. We saw lots of animals inside Kruger including cheetas up close, which are apparently rare to see. Umkumbe was much more upmarket and I recommend getting one of their luxury tents. The focus here was all about trying to spot a leopard, which sadly we didn't but we saw some rhinos, hyenas, lions and ostriches. I recommend both going into Kruger and doing a private game reserve as they're two totally different experiences. Brendon from Elephant Herd was really accommodating and didn't mind me emailing him with questions while we were travelling. I would also recommend flying to and from Johannesburg as the bus drive out was quite long.
Excellent!
Very nice place, to make a safari, beautiful landscapes and a lot of animals.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
full of life
We recently had a 10 day safaris and a week on the coast. Everyone is so friendly and made us very welcome.
Despite the often negative vibes we see on TV about the peril of animals in africa we we were so please to see the national parks and, their inhabitants thriving. We used Kamiraz of Africa and would recommend their services, efficient, friendly, helpful and good value.
The Hotels and lodges we stayed in we amazing, we felt truly spoiled, amazing food and always greeted with a smile.
Asanti
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Serengeti National Park by Debbie McGee
We had three nights in the Serengeti. We had our boxed lunch at the Naabi Hill gate. And then animals. We saw: baboons, zebras, wildebeest, Thompson’s and Grant’s gazelles, giraffes, one lonely buffalo, a dik-dik for a very short period of time, a vulture, a Marabou crane, hartebeest, large group of elephants at a mud hole, suicidal guinea fowl continually running in front of the vehicle, and a large herd of impalas.
Best finds of the day: a pride of lions napping on the sunny rocks of a kopje, not long after we entered the park. A leopard sleeping in tree, barely visible in the pattern of the leaf shadows. A visibly cranky elephant, that raised its ears and trumpeted at us as we slowed down to watch a family near a stream (we moved on quickly!) and just before we left the park that evening, we watched two large hippos quickly exit their waterhole and move off in opposite directions in the bush. Left on its own was a smallish crocodile.
That night and the next we stayed at Ikoma Tented Camp. I loved it! At the attractive reception building we were greeted with juice and hot facecloths, and then escorted along a winding manicured path to our “tent”. This was more like a cabin with canvas walls, built on a stone platform, with a burlap and thatch roof, and a bathroom made of décor concrete, featuring shower, sink, and toilet. The beds had ample mosquito nets. Maybe the best part was our front porch with three chairs looking out into the Savannah. In fact, all the tents have a view facing the wild. In the evening, guards are stationed along the path to escort guests to the bar/restaurant, and they also patrol the camp throughout the night. Which is reassuring when you hear the hyenas!
After a good night’s sleep (except for the hyenas) we all had a hot shower, and after breakfast were off on our second day in the Serengeti.
Beside the usual elephants, zebras, giraffes and impalas, the day included ostrich, many hippos, a Monitor lizard, an African fish eagle, an adorable baby baboon, and two jackals. We had lunch at the Seronera Interpretation Centre, where we were up-close and personal with hyraxes and yellow mongoose. The big find of the day was a tree of lions – six females and one cub! We also found a leopard in a tree – this time we had a good view of his face.
After lunch we experienced our first rain shower. Big dark clouds had indicated that it was raining elsewhere, and we kept coming upon muddy roads. We got stuck briefly on our way to the Maasai kopje, but Thadei expertly extricated us with the use of the four-wheel drive. We decided to head for the camp a bit earlier than usual. I was looking forward to a beer in the dining tent. However, on the way home, the road diverged into two tracks – one deeply muddy, the other a small lake. We made the wrong choice, and ended up mired in the mud. Thadei took off his shoes, rolled up his pant legs and waded into the muck, but no amount of jacking seemed to work, and there was no wood or rocks to use as traction. So he radioed his fellow drivers for help. Since we were not allowed out of the vehicle, we used the time to look calm and peruse the guide books.
One vehicle (plus passengers) turned up, but the pull cable broke and they departed. A second call for assistance was made. Two vehicles (plus passengers) turned up, but the first one got us out on its own. The whole experience took about an hour. Then we rushed back to Ikoma. Thadei turned up as we were finishing supper, and we bought him a beer, toasting his heroic efforts in the mud. Then back to the tent, hot showers all round, and another sound sleep.
Up and at em. Breakfast, and away in the car just after 8 am. This was a day for just looking, no great distances to cover. We again had lunch at the Seronera Interpretation Centre, where we again saw many hyraxes, agama lizards and a few yellow mongoose. This time we took the "understanding the great migration" tour with a guide-in-training. And now I think I have finally grasped it!
This was a big giraffe day - they were everywhere. We also saw lots of elephants, impala, and two families of warthogs, a falcon, a vulture, and many agama lizards.
Happy times: visiting the interpreted hippo pool and seeing what seemed like a hundred of them, with two young crocodiles basking on rocks in the sun. We returned to the lion tree from yesterday, and again watched them snoozing – this time two cubs were visible. And for our daily leopard, this time we saw two of them in a tree – and a dead impala tucked up there with them!
At 5 o'clock we arrived at the Seronera Wildlife Lodge. Another amazing place, maybe even more unique than the Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge. It is built into and around the giant rocks of a kopje. There are intricate carvings on- well, everything. It has to be seen. The pool and the viewing platform were spectacular, overlooking the Serengeti, giraffes grazing the tree tops, a hippo pool in the near distance, monkeys in the trees, and a magnificent sunset.
Supper in a large dining room, buffet style, food was fine, not spectacular. Service was good. Yes, this lodge is a trifle run down. But I defy any modern lodge to rival this one for creative and unique design and architecture. Did I mention the bar? You have to go.
For the first time, we started off at 6 am for a game drive. No one was about, we saw the sun come up, two jackals, and several zebras crossed in front of us. A balloon safari was being launched, and we watched them float away. The early morning light gorgeous. We stopped by the lion tree and watched as two female lions and a cub started to climb it. And then the magic moment: close to the road on a fallen tree, three female lions and at least nine cubs. A lion day care! We stayed for a long time and took many pictures. Thadei sent out word and before long at least ten other vehicles arrived, including a jeep with Serengeti lion scientists. We left and went for breakfast, very happy as you can imagine. On the road by 9:30am, the first thing we came across was a group of topi. Next we saw a hippo in a field, eating, covered in mud and birds. A little way down the road we saw a hippo climb out of a pond, and wander away. We watched for some time. It was clear he wasn't going back into that pond - he headed out of sight and we went on. I was thrilled because I love hippos and it was my first good look at them on land.
The Serengeti was all my childhood experience of watching Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom promised, and I’m glad we spent three days there. I hope to one day see the migration!
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing wildlife,spectacular scenery and wonderful friendly people !!!
This was my fourth visit to wonderful Kenya because it is such an amazing,brilliant country. Safari is an experience not to be missed and the beaches too are wonderful.While you visit all fantastic attractions in Kenya you are so warmly greeted by people who are genuinely warm and welcoming and give great insight into their culture.We always felt safe and relaxed in this fabulous country, the weather is perfect for visitors. Our local Kenyan travel provider was Rightchoice Safaris and they were superb with our tour,animal viewing and accommodation. I highly recommend Kenya for memories to live in your heart and mind forever !
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Ngorongoro Crater by Debbie McGee
Our second day took us to the Ngorongoro Crater - breathless stunning view from the rim and then - breathless stunning view while descending to the crater floor. We then drove around on red bumpy roads for four hours, animals everywhere. And wildflowers everywhere - patches of purple, yellow and white. Sand patches where zebra like to hang out. More vehicles than you can shake a stick at. The animals intermingle - zebras in with gazelles, wildebeest in with everybody.
We saw: elephants, zebras, Thompson's gazelles, wildebeest, Grant's gazelles, warthogs, flamingos, lions, cheetahs, Black Rhinos, hippos, buffalo (and birds on buffalo), Guinea fowl, Bustards, Crested cranes, hyenas, eagles, blue starlings (they will steal your food), Eland, ostrich, baboons, and a great little black bird with a long fluttering tail and a dipping flying pattern.
This was our first experience with using other vehicles to find animals. We saw several vehicles stopped on a road in the distance, and went to see what they were looking at. To our utter astonishment, it was a large male lion, sitting in a very awkward position on the side of the road. I thought something must be wrong with him – why was he alone in such a strange place? Some vehicles departed, and we edged up a few feet, and we suddenly noticed two other lions, a male and a female, sleeping right next to the other side of the road. I felt better then. The sitting lion got up and began wandering in amongst the vehicles, heading our way. Finally he came right over and settled down in the shade of our jeep. You can imagine the photo taking! I was so excited I texted his photo to my parents, at a cost of approximately half the children’s inheritance (as Nick helpfully pointed out)
We had lunch by a pond full of hippos, and enjoyed their loud bull-frog like sounds, the splash when they roll over and the sudden glimpse of their huge toothy mouths.
Other great events that day: a cheetah just sitting in a field, occasionally pacing and lying down. Another female lion, just lying sleeping a few feet from the track, (Gerry uploaded a picture of this one to Facebook, thereby disposing of the other half of the inheritance). And finally, something that amazed Thadei more than us, because it is apparently very rare, we saw ten black rhinos over the course of the day. The first was alone, the second sighting in a group of four, and the third in a group of five. They were pretty much seen in the distance, but it's very thrilling to see the classic silhouette.
On our way to the Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge, up the steep winding road, Gerry and I discovered that we preferred to stand in the vehicle, bracing ourselves against the bumps, with the wind in our face, and the spectacular view of the forest surrounding the crater. Bliss.
The Wildlife Lodge was exceptional. Every room has a crater view, and there is a long verandah where you can sit, perhaps have a cold beer or two, and watch the sun going down over the magic place (that would be the crater). The décor is wonderful, mid-century modern, beading on all the chair arms, and amazing huge stone and glass mosaics built into the walls of the lounge and the dining room. The rooms were very comfortable, the water was more or less hot, and we were delighted to be there.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great safari trip with Spirit of Kenya
Travelled from Nairobi to Ol Pejeta, Lake Navaisha, Masai Mara then on to the coast. Excellent safari trip, very pleased we went to all the places since you cannot see everything in one park. You have to travel. Spirit of Kenya excellent: on time, very knowledgeable about the parks, wildlife and where to go. Accommodations were excellent and some of the best food we have ever had at the Mara Bush Camp. All people we met were enthusiastic, welcoming and went out of hteir way to make our holiday complete. Thank you all!
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Lake Manyara National Park by Debbie McGee
This was our first day on safari, and we didn't spend as long here as we did in other parks. We had a boxed lunch watching Lake Manyara and the Rift Valley. We are not birders – but no one could fail to be impressed with the all the birds -red and yellow barbet hopping around our feet, a weaver bird finishing off a nest a few feet from us, several other species with spectacular colours. After lunch, we drove around the park and saw our first zebras (babies too), giraffes (babies too), impalas (babies too), buffalos, warthogs and flamingoes from a distance. Many elephants and babies. On the way out, we stopped to watch a family of baboons, and later a family of Vervet monkeys.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic Experience
We thoroughly enjoyed our 8 day safari in Sabi Sands. Beautiful lodges, fantastic staff and of course seeing all of the animals, the Big 5 and so many more! This was a bucket list trip for my partner who will be turning 70 and it couldn't have been any more perfect.