35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
A truly magical few weeks brought to life by an exceptional guide with an extraordinary knowledge
The time we spent in Uganda with Paul was truly some of the best we have encountered in our extensive travels of the world. From the initial planning stages to the last day of the trip, nothing was too much trouble. Paul listened to what we wanted, understood and found it. During the trip he demonstrated an incredible level of knowledge of the land, its people and its flora and forna, constantly adapting our trip seamlessly in the face of the unpredictable nature of this beautiful country. Truly an exceptional experience, we would never travel again to East Africa with anyone else.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
It was not a Jackpot that's for sure
I have to say the experience that my friend and I had with Jackpot Safaris was not great. Andrew (the owner of the company) is very warm and friendly until he's got your business. After that he becomes a lot more awkward and doesn't really want to listen to what you want to to as much.
I did a 3 day safari of Tarangerie, Lake Manyara and Ngorongora. We asked to leave nice and early at 7 as spending only 1 day in Tarangerie we wanted to maximise the amount of time spent there. Andrew refused point blank and said we'll get picked up at 9. On the day of the safari - the truck was over 45 minutes late. When the truck arrived it was noticeable one of the oldest Safari Trucks and the inside was not very comfortable. Despite being 45 minutes late one of the first thing the guide said to me was how because he was freelance he gets paid less than other guides so tips are quite important for them. This was not a particularly great start.
When we got to Tarangerie, when we went inside the park he said to me and my friend that he din't have binoculars in the car (which was a big disappointment). Furthermore he didn't seem that enthusiastic about looking out for animals and the impression I got was that he was going to mainly do driving and not strain his eyes too much looking for animals. I have done a safari in Tanzania before and our guide as well as being a lot more enthusiastic, said he'll keep his eyes peeled for us so I do have a bit of a precedent on what to expect and it did not deliver. Also going round the park there was clearly a problem with the radiator on the car as he kept having to stop and top it up (which no other cars were doing). Also I think we were only in the park for around 4 and a half hours.
The camp site that we stayed at was very nice and even had beds in the tent. So what I was abit confused about was after we paid for the safari Andrew asked us if we had tents to take with us to which he said we didn't. He then said ok. Naturally when we got to the campsite we couldn't help but wonder as to why we were asked to bring our own tents if there were tents provided that came with beds. Based on the impression of Andrew I had gotten, my thoughts were that he wanted us to bring our own tents so it would be cheaper for him (but that saving would not have been passed on). I can not say for definite whether that is the case or not but that is my theory. Also another suggestion - say you don't eat fish - it's not a great idea!! The soup was very nice but the main meals were not nearly as good as the ones I'd had previously on safari in Tanzania.
After our late start going to Tarangerie we asked to leave early the next day to go to Lake Manyara. Our guide said there's no point as you can drive round Manyara in 3 hours. Well maybe you can drive round in 3 hours. But my friend and I had not been to Manyara before so we didn't want to just quickly drive round and only spend a few hours there. We wanted to take the time to enjoy the scenery and the animals. Again I think we only spent around 4 and a half hours there.
That evening he said we'll be leaving early the next day to go the Ngorongora. I was quite excited as I thought that this meant we'd be spending longer in the crater. However in reality the only reason we were leaving early was because he wanted to get back earlier so we were not spending any more time there. This was one of several occasions on the safari where I felt the guide just wanted to get things done as quickly as he could. He was not very enthusiastic.
Despite leaving the crater early (not long after 1 which was a bit early for my liking) it took an extra hour and abit to get back as the engine was overheating we had to stop for a long time to let it cool down and for the guide to put more water in. Andrew you may need to invest in a new truck.
BE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
a marvelous safari
We did a classic safari with Kilele (tanager, serengeti, ngrongoro and lake Manyara). and still it felt as special as of day one. The difference is made by the contact with Frank, listening carefully to all our requirements and acting upon it, same for our guide David, the good material throughout (landrover, tents), the excellent cooking... Simply one word, flawless. David is really knowledgeable of where to go and what to see, so we ended up seeing all the beasts in the book, plus the wildebeest trek over the mara river. Communication was open, and on top the price for all this was correct.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Reliable, organised and responsive to all of our requests and expectations- a pleasure to deal with.
From my first request for a quotation, Cuan at Ubuntu Safaris was prompt and efficient. His quotation was very competitive, and I never had to wait more than 24 hours for a response to my emails or calls. I already had a fairly firm idea of what I wanted, and the additional suggestions from Cuan were spot on.
When it came to payment, I really liked being able to make a local bank transfer within Australia, avoiding excessive exchange and credit card surcharges, with Cuan being scrupulous in his use of up to the minute exchange rates.
Documentation prior to the trip was professional and comprehensive.
Once in Africa, all of our transfers, by both scheduled and chartered aircraft, went extremely smoothly. This was our first trip to Africa, and we were both amazed and reassured by how smoothly and free of hassle we were able to move from one small camp to another, without any loss of game drive time.
The hotels, camps and lodges we booked through Ubuntu Safaris were top rate, and exceeded our expectations. In the two hotels booked for us, Cuan managed to secure excellent rooms, in one case, with a great view, and in the other, with an upgrade.
Our safari experiences , particularly in Sabi Sands, well exceeded our wildest dreams, both in terms of the range of wildlife we saw, and the proximity of the wildlife to our vehicle. When we returned to Johannesburg before flying home to Sydney, it was so nice to be welcomed personally and transferred to our hotel by Gerald.
We really valued the fact that Ubuntu Safaris is a small company, and hence we were able to deal with the owners, who, between Cuan in Sydney and his father Gerald in Johannesburg, have a wealth of professional knowledge and first hand experience.
Our visit to South Africa and Botswana was an experience of a lifetime, and we really appreciate the role of Ubuntu Safaris in ensuring its success.
AE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Superb
The Safari was good. We have been in The Ngorongoro Crater and The Serengeti National Park and everything was perfect and loved. Lot of animals of different kinds , Food and Accommodations were very good.
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Our wonderful and truly amazing experience with Michael & Ancient Wild Safaris
We started planing our Kenya safari trip late, and it was quite difficult to navigate your wishes and family (2 adults and 2 children) through many different options and operators. After several weeks of our extensive research, we decided to pick Michael from the Ancient Wild Safaris and it was the best decision - not because we want to justify it, but simply because it provided the best value and overall experience for all of us!
But while these accolades reflect well on the amazing job Ancient Wild Safaris does, these words are not why I just called them for my trip. I called them because I have traveled with others before, and I know firsthand what problems you may expect. No problems here, just amazing experience! I was blown away by the job Ancient Wild Safaris did for us.
This operator, specifically our driver Patrick and Michael succeeded by emphasizing the key things: excellence of guiding us through the reserves, respect and polite manners, comfortable vehicle, utilizing the expected comfort of accommodations and cuisine, with a lot of first-hand knowledge and insider clout to make things happen that other safari providers probably can’t.
I learned it after showing our photos to other people we met during our trip... you want to hear it? OK, just imagine seeing one, two, or three lions plus hundreds of other animals in one day... because we observed more than 20 lions and thousands of others! Yes, just in one day (out of total six)! Amazing!
Or better to say... simply, the best! Thank you Michael/Ancient Wild Safaris for this wonderful experience!
TR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent tour operator
Me and my wife did a three-day short safari in Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, and Tarangire. Our private safari was very well organized and customized according to our expectations. The owner Romeo and our guide Amos were very friendly and knowledgable. They picked us up from the airport and took us to the airport even though our flight was past midnight. The two lodges, especially Crater Forest Lodge in the middle of the forest and coffee plantation was excellent. Overall, it was a great trip. We strongly recommend Safari Multiways for their friendliness and experience.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great tours!
I had such a wonderful time with Dahlia Tours. The guys were very knowledgable and it's a great deal! We did an all day tour and I thoroughly enjoyed our time. I would recommend Dahlia Tours to anyone looking for a top-notch experience!
Good luck to you guys and all your future business. Would DEFINITELY go with Dahlia Tours again if I'm ever back in town.
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
wonderful holiday
Summer 2015, we have made a 3-week trip to tanzania and zanzibar with the family (two parents / 3 children 17, 14 en 12) We booked by Makasa. Our holiday was very well organised, the program was exciting and the Makasa personel very dedicated. Many compliments to David, our driver, who drived safely and spotted so much wild animals! Communication was optimal, program was flexibel. Lodges, hotels and excursions: all arrangements very good. A one-night stay in the Masaai on the third day was giving a very special start: at that moment we felt really that we were in East Africa.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
TSA Safari is highly recommended!
I had an amazing time on my safari with TSA. We spent 1 night in Ngorongoro Crater at the Rhino Lodge, and 2 nights in tented camps at Seronera Camp in Serengeti. Both safari locations were amazing and the environment was so different. The crater walls make for a unique home for all the inhabitants, and the Serengeti plains are vast and never ending. Our guide Philemon was very knowledgeable and he knew where to find all the animals at every juncture. He also worked extra hard to make sure we got to see what we wanted (which included the Great Migration a couple hours north of where we were). The tour also comes with binoculars too! Amazing. You never missed any action and got a detailed account of what was going on. My favorite part about the safari is the sheer number of entire prides of lions we saw at Serengeti (over 60 lions in 3 days). It's really something unforgettable when you get to witness a lion feast, attempted lion kills, and piles of lions napping under a tree. We also got to witness the Mara River crossing of the Great Migration near the Kenyan border, and that event was straight out of the Lion King and a National Geographic documentary. We saw a couple of Croc-Wildebeest battles that were so surreal.
The accommodations are very unique. The Rhino Lodge has an eco-friendly feel with specific electricity hours. The room can get cold, but you can light your fireplace, and the blankets are extra thick and warm, so it wasn't really a problem. The restaurant at the Lodge was gorgeous! There were warm fireplaces, floor to ceiling windows, candles, and more importantly, a delicious food buffet! The service was impeccable, and we were always taken care of. Our Seronera camp has large mosquito net King sized beds with a flushing toilet bathroom. It looked like a honeymoon palace. The staff here are very entertaining, funny, and nice. They sang John Legend after dinner! Here, they manually add boiling water for your hot showers, and water is added to flush the toilet. The amount of work they do is much appreciated and you get the hospitality. The homemade steak and soups here were phenomenal and I really enjoyed our dinners at the camp. It was fun to hear all the animals at night and to be directly in the wilderness.
I didn't want the safari to end. I only would have liked to see a black rhino, and to maybe stay at some game drive spots a little longer to observe everyday behavior. There's just so many things to see and sometimes you have to move on for the sake of the rest of your group's wants/needs. Don't forget to use the restroom before you go, because you might be waiting hours for your next break!
The safari vehicle is a huge 4x4 with plastic windows, and a roof that can lift so you can stand in the vehicle. This is different from my last safari in South Africa where the plastic windows rolled up and it was "more risky." I didn't mind so much since the lions were so close any way! We all got amazing photos, and I didn't even need a DSLR because the animals were close enough for my iPhone. The boxed lunches were mostly ordinary sandwiches and fruit, but my favorite was the soba noodles we got on one of the days!
Thank you, Tanzania Seregenti Adventures for an unforgettable safari!