50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic safari trip in safe hands
Dear all
Firstly I would like to say thank you for a well organised and valuable trip. To improve the experience, I would recommend clearer communications about the tour. I booked through Kruger.com, but did not ever receive notice that I would stay an d travel at Tydon safaris.
The other suggestion I have is regarding food. It was very heavy and rich. Also because we went for long wonderful drives in the early morning, we often returned to cold breakfast. The coffee was awful.
Other than that, the hosts were lovely, the guides amazing, and the unseen domestic staff did a wonderful jog.
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great First-Time in Africa
My husband and I wanted a safari trip with a visit to Victoria Falls as an add-on. Kobus at Jewel of Africa helped us planned a ten day trip that included staying 4 different lodges in South Africa and Zimbabwe. This offered us a diverse range of experience. The accommodations and game drives were all very good. We had an amazing time in Africa and saw all of the Big 5 thanks to Jewel of Africa.
I am giving them a 4-star because I think communication could have been handled better.
1) Email communication at times was delayed and many follow up emails were required.
2) Our package included a lion walk and a hippo feeding, when we got to both places, both tried to collect money from us because they claimed they hadn't received prepayment for our visits. Even though the payment issue was resolved eventually, it was still very awkward for us to be a part of.
3) Our return flight was supposed to depart from Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. When the final airline ticket was issued, it had changed to depart from Livingstone in Zambia. We were not advised of this change beforehand. This was not only inconvenient, it also made it so that we had to pay extra Visa fee to enter Zambia.
All in all, Jewel of Africa delivered on the itinerary they planned for us. The lodges they chose and the activities they included were really good. I obtained quotes from 8-10 different companies before deciding on Jewel of Africa. This is a legitimate business that offers good value for your budget.
SS
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Well organised, friendly and professsional
I booked and confirmed my 4D/3N trip to Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru with Africa Flash Mc Tours at extremely short notice during the Christmas/New Year holiday season. Although I had not received a receipt of payment, or details of my additional hotel bookings and airport transfer by the time I departed, I was pleasantly relieved to be greeted at the airport by a driver who took me to a hotel that was already paid for. My whole trip was smooth and very well organised, and the only thing I had to worry about was making sure my camera was charged! One thing to note, the actual programme did not exactly match the itinerary that was suggested - I understood my itinerary included 2 paid entires to Lake Nakuru, although our driver only brought us for 1 entry. Overall, I am extremely happy with the services of Africa Flash McTours. They are also kindly organising to send me my laptop charger which I carelessly left at the Masai Mara tourist camp. Thanks, Peter and team!
SE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Easy to contact, fast response and able to provide à safari according to individual wishes
Overall à very good experience with different experiences! Our guide Apollo was very experienced and central for our positive safari. We say most of the animals living in this area (Selous Game Reserve) and we were almost alone which was very nice!
IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Things to do before dying
Great experience, saw every animal closely (6-15 ft). Issac, maagie and team were professional. Stay was great too.
One improvement suggested:
1- water bottles should be provided. Can be added as an option to add in package.
I will surely recommend it to my friends and will come back again.
DE
Krueger, Swaziland, Mosambique - an african experience
We did AVOs first tour leading to Krueger, Swaziland and Mosambique with Erica, Ted and Wayne in Dec 2016.
The itinerary was amazing; from wonderful landscape, big wild animals to wonderful beaches we had a terrific tour.
Internet communication in advance with Erica was professional, quick and correct. On tour everybody always tried to help and to meet all expectations whenever some problems occurred. Even when some of the participants wanted to stay longer in one accomodation on Tofu beach AVO were so flexible to organize that.
The bus was comfortable, with good seats and AC, however it was not a Safari-Truck. So we could not go into the Parcs with our own vehicle but had to book the activity package resp. the extra tours.
Meals were good and always plenty, sometimes in restaurants , sometimes self prepared Braai.
You must know that eastern Africa is different, people tend to forget reservations, border contols take a lot of time, traffic is unforeseeable, roads are deviated all of a sudden...So you can´t compare to a European "Rundreise". It´s a long time on the road sometimes....usually 2 hours more than scheduled.
Customers should be prepared to help preparing meals, carrying their own luggage and packing the containers.
Some disappointment occurred because some accomodations had to be changed - especially places within the Krueger or the Hllane Parc with an own waterhole were changed to places outside the parcs, only situated in a nice landscape and some half an hour drive outside the parc. Others showed long faces because the evening safari could not take place or the ocean safari had to be delayed because of problems with the motor of the boat and booking problems. In the end most issues were solved somehow.
Since this was the first iteration of the tour we are sure that some of these difficulties can be avoided in following tours.
In the end: even if some things were other than expected, we enjoyed the holiday with AVO Orange!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
They are the best you can have in the market. They take time to understand your wants and needs
Sir Michaels Tours and safaris, they will never let you down, they provide the best service and are always there for you. I would not shy away from using there service again and again when i travel to coast . Cheers Sir Michaels Tours and safaris .
DK
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Some very cool animal encounters
Some very cool animal encounters in Bwindi, lake Mburo, queen Elisabeth and kibale.
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very good experience
Our safari week in Kenya's reserves was very good, we have been lucky and well taken into national parks with our guide Jackson. Price/accomodation rate was really fair and the van and meals as well.
Very quick Robert's answering our emails and he even planned a last minute safari afternoon inside Nairobi Nat Park exactly as requested
DK
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Secured a very successful safari
We were four adults and one child touring Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha. Our driver was Joseph. We were very satisfied with both the information before the trip, the planning and the execution of the safari, and will highly recommend their services to other Danes intending to visit Kenya. A special praise for Joseph who went out of his way to make us comfortable and make the safari a great experience.