GR
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Abundance of wildlife - very easy to see
Both Nairobi National Park and the Mara Triangle teeming with life.
With a good guide extremely easy to find and see.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Unique landscape, wildlife and native peoples.
In November of 2013 I joined a small group of travelers that toured Nambia with Overseas Adventure Travel. We flew to Johannesburg, South Africa and stayed overnight and then flew to Windhoek, Namibia. After spending a couple of nights in the Capital of Namibia we flew on to Sossusvlei in the Namib desert and stayed at a beautiful lodge where we went on game watching trips and saw many Oryx, gazelles, jackles, eagles, and ostrich. Sundowners in the desert were unique and wonderful. We then went to Sossusvlei and climbed some of the huge pink sand dunes that the region is famous for. We then flew to Walvis Bay and Swakopmund. A cruise of Walvis Bay is not to be missed. They have oyster farms there and they were served with Champagne on the half shell. Giant white pelicans came in for feeding as well as two or three large cape fur seals. Dolphins and whales were also swam near our boat. Swakopmund was an interesting place with many German and Dutch descendants from the colonial days when the country was known as Southwest Africa. We drove to The Cape Cross Seal Colony on the Skeleton Coast were huge numbers of seals could be seen birthing their pups. Many still had their placentas attached! We then flew to Damaraland to see Desert Elephants and other wildlife unique to that very arid land. The lodge again was remarkable and comfortable. A visit to the local boarding school was enjoyable. We then flew to Etosha national Park which is the size of Swizerland!. The lodge had a watering hole outside the fence and a wide range of wildlife came in to drink. Black Rhinos came in at night. White rhinos are also in the park. Game walks were included with rifle armed guides to protect against prides of lions in the area.
If anybody would like to use OAT they have a online video of the Nambian tour on www.OatTravel.com. I would recommend this country for touring as it is unique in landscape, wildlife and local tribes.
Sidney Crain
FI
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Breathtaking beauty and a way of life
We did 4 parks: tarangire, ngorongoron, Serengeti and lake manyara.
All of them provided something special in their environment. The weather was perfect and we saw all of the animals. Lomo Tanzania safaris did an amazing job creating this experience for us and all was above what we could wish for.
I fell in love with Tanzania and am already planning a trip back!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A fine adventure at a reasonable rate.
the "budget" group safari that i joined through seven wonders easily met expectations. travel in kenya (nairobi to amboseli park) was arranged by michael of ancient wild safaris in nairobi; he provided a driver and cook who were courteous and knowledgeable. the trip into tanzania and the serengeti also included helpful guide and cook and was deftly organized by evelyn of seven wonders in arusha. as advertised, we camped at private and public sites. accommodations were rough-hewn but adequate, and attendants did the heavy lifting by preparing wholesome meals and comfortable sleeping arrangements. the wildlife was bodaciously abundant and the trackers knew where to find it. the safari was an edifying and memorable experience. however, because of some unpleasantness regarding gratuities for attendants, i recommend that safari organizers provide clear guidelines to clients and employees regarding these voluntary remunerations to avoid misunderstandings.
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic National Parks - a one in a lifetime experience!
I went to Masai Mara (3 days / 2 nights) and the wildlife and natural scenery is simply amazing! I can warmly recommend Masai Mara to everyone.
Some of our group just stayed one night, but this was too short as you cannot drive deep in the national park and miss seeing lions, hippos etc.
I would also recommend to take at least mid-range accommodation, my lodge was spendid but the budget accommodation was not really trustworthy and comfortable (especially when traveling alone).
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Africa feeling pure
Tarangiri NP and Serengeti were just fabolous, but also the villages, Masais, all locals, nature and landscape in general - I loved exploring everything every day!
Meals were delicious during the tour and tenting in the Serengeti was for me personally the best.
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable opportunity to see mountain gorillas
On May 29th, 2008, I visited Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. By that time I had been in Uganda for three weeks, spending most of my time around Kabale and lake Bunyonyi - a lake suitable named after a 'place of many little birds'. Suitable, because the most colorful and cheeky little birds I've ever seen gladly helped me finish my fruit-breakfast in the morning, when I stayed at the lake. But I could not withstand the temptation to visit Bwindi - I wanted to see the gorillas with my own eyes! Even though the entrance price to the park was steep at the time, $500,- I decided that my chances of seeing these wonderful animals might be very slim if didn't take this opportunity. What are the odds of me going to Uganda again, when there is an entire world to explore? So why not see everything I want to see, while I can?
While in Kabale, I had made a few friends, and one of them helped me get a permit. If you want to avoid tour operators, getting a permit can be difficult if you're on a schedule. Only a few people a day are allowed to track the gorillas, so it could be a couple of days before you can get one. Since I was in Uganda for a month, I had that luxury, but if you're visiting for a short period of time or if you have planned your entire trip, better be safe than sorry and use a tour operator. In my case, my friend offered to drive me there on his cousin's motorcycle if I paid for the fuel - which is what we did. That in itself was an adventure, as paved roads are few and far between. We left late, and after it had started to rain, we found the roads be very muddy. We actually fell once and had to push the bike up a hill a couple of times, but I was so excited, it never felt dangerous. It took us 6 hours and we arrived after dark. But we were there! We found a place to stay and sleep and had a late dinner - goat meat was all that was available, but it tasted great - even for a vegetarian ;) The next morning I went to the UWA meeting place and heard some stories about what it was like. The gorillas move around a lot, so trackers are sent out to find them, before the tracking groups are sent on their way. The day before, the gorillas had stayed close to the camp area, and the group had found the gorillas within the hour. You're allowed to stay a maximum of one hour with the group, so as not to upset them, meaning this group had come back early. No such 'luck' for me, I am happy to say. We got word where the gorillas were, and our group was taken by car to the edge of the forest, where the trackers met us. The gorillas had moved on, so the tracking became a long, long hike - our entire trip, start to finish, took 7 hours, although that includes the drive and an hour with the gorillas. Yes, we did find them, after several hours following gorilla droppings, navigating narrow paths and steep climbs. Not everyone in our group was prepared for this, unfortunately. An elderly man had come with his daughters to 'see the waterfalls', but since that excursion was full, they had opted for the gorilla tracking. On sneakers. Not a great idea, especially since the man himself was not really fit enough for the climbs - the guides had to help him up and down every hill, sometimes one person pushing, the other pulling. To his credit - he never complained once, unlike his daughters, who were ready to go back after an hour or so, and eventually even demanded to be taken back - which was not an option. The lesson here: come prepared. Dress for the occasion, and do not try this if you are not up for a (very) long hike & climb on slippery forest trails and hills. This is not an exaggeration - holding on to tall grass to not slide down a hill was part of the journey. And on this day, the gorilla's had quickly moved out of the forest, so we did not go very deep into it, (unfortunately). But do not let this scare you off, either: that hill was the last one between us and the gorilla's, and we could see them from afar. We had come out of the forest, as the gorillas had moved to the banana plantation to feast on the leaves of the banana trees, after climbing down that hill, crossing a stream, we went up the next hill to the group of gorilla's (the H-group). We were told be as quiet as possible, no shouting, no wild gesturing or anything of the kind, and of course, we paid attention. We walked up a trail that brough us about 30 meters or so above the group, a great vantage point for quiet observation. Or so we thought. Part of the group of gorillas was actually a bit further up the hill than we were, putting us basically in the middle. We heard some huffing and grunting from behind the bushes, and after moving about a bit (carefully) I spotted one gorilla lying on his belly, staring at us. He seemed content enough to stay there though. Unlike the gorilla that suddenly broke out of the bushes and make a mock charge at our group, me being nearest. It was a female, with a baby on her back, which was no doubt the reason for her anger. Of course I instinctively backed away a couple of paces, even though she only took a step or two in my direction, I still think she was close enough to touch had I stayed where I was. She quickly moved down the hill to the rest of the group, and after calming down, we settled in for our hour of watching. The silverback, the leader of the group, was down there, climbing a tree to rip off leaves, then climbing down again with his massive, massive body to sit down and eat. A couple of meters before him, two very young gorilla's played on a log of wood, climbing, falling down, having fun, and the baby gorilla on the mother's back that had just passed us, was groping at leaves as his mom moved about. I just sat there, taking pictures, and sometimes just quietly contemplating life in general and the beauty of what I saw around me.
Since we were already almost out of the forest, the trip back was fairly easy. The cars picked us up and brough us back, and it was all over...
Was it worth it? Don't even ask. I am writing this in 2014, 6 years after I went, and it is still one of the dearest memories I have. I was reminded of my trip because a friend is in Uganda right now, and I just wish I could join her. Writing down my experience is as close as I can get.. for now ;)
SE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Fantastic Safari experience!
We are a family from Sweden with two daugthers (17 and 14 yrs) and went to Arusha for 3 days safari with World Tours& Safaris Tanzania. We visited Tarangire, NgoroNgoro and Maniara and had wonderful days with lot of animals. We stayed at Twiga lodge which was ok but lacking charm, though had A swimmingpool. Our guide Humphrie was nice, skilful and had broad knowlodge about the animals, the people and the culture in Tanzania. Rickard was very helpful and gave us perfect service. We can really recommend this company.
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The essence of awe!
If you ever doubt which "place to see" for your bucket list...don't hesitate to include a safari in Tanzania! Wildlife is gorgeous, people are friendly and they seemed to have invented the best smile to give and the landscape is the best to forget about life ups and downs...there it seems humans do not count, it's the animals, the nature and the sky that matter!
Just adventure yourself and enjoy the visit!
A wonder of the World
The crater is one of the most incredible places I've seen in the world. A true wonder of the world. Except for the tourists, it looks like you have been teleported many million years in the past into the time of dinossaurs. Except instead of dinossaurs the place is the area on earth with the largest concentration of wildlife. Absolutely fantastic.