ES
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great Maasai Mara
Fantastic safari. Good service and information. Thanks a bunch.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great 3 day safari
Following our climb up Kilimanjaro with another Company, we decided to do a 3 day, 2 night safari with Kili vikings, visiting Tarangire national park, Lake Manyara national park and Ngorogoro crater reservation area. We met Charlie in Moshi the day before the safari to settle payment and sort details. Charlie was very nice and informative, and lead us through our options for the safari since the group we were meant to go with from Moshi had cancelled. In the end we joined a couple going from Arusha, and had to pay an additional $50 to get to the airport after the safari which had previously been included in the price. We also had to pay an extra 5% to pay by card, which hadn't been mentioned in our email correspondence. So we were slightly disappointed by these extra fees, but paid them, tried to forget about them and looked forward to the safari!
On safari we had a great time and saw a huge array of wildlife. We stayed in small huts in the evening near lake Manyara at a site called panorama camp, which had excellent views. We left our bags there during the days. The hot food provided in evenings and for breakfast was good. The packed lunches could have been slightly better, but in such great surroundings it was difficult to be unhappy. Our driver was very well informed and didn't struggle with any of our questions. His English was also very good. Our only criticism was that we often had to ask questions to get information from him, rather than him offering it voluntarily. The safari car was in decent shape with new seats and water was provided throughout the trip. Each day we did a full day safari, with our driver being very good at spotting animals, as well as listening to the radio to track down the more rare sights. Highlights included cheetahs, Lions (metres away from our vehicles), Elephants and Rhinos.
After the safari we were dropped at the airport in good time to catch our flight home. Overall we had a great time, and were very close to giving a 5 star score, but felt like the experience did have room for improvement, if only slightly.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
They were the most convenient company I have never met
I'm from USA
Most friendly, the service was extremely perfect, living up to expectation was beyond what I expected , safari tours itself was fantastic.
( Overall was immensely good)
RO
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Never again with Lilac Adventures Limited from Kenya, known also as East Africa Holidays!
We contracted them for a safari in Kenya and Tanzania in July 2014. In Tanzania our fundamental rights have been put at risk by being forced to drive in the dark, to remain without fuel in the savanna, very far from the lodge, just before the sunset, to be forced to use a broken and technically precarious and unsafe car and so on. To any of our or driver phone calls it was no answer from the company! We can easily say: we have been abandoned!
During the 4 days for which we paid luxury conditions, we experienced hours of waiting at the border for the car that was supposed to transfer us to the first location, one day without food, no visits at the Maasai village in Serengeti, no visit to the Old Uvai, although both included in the safari cost, and all in all, the game drives rendered to us could be counted as lasting only for one day instead of the four we paid. We have been spent the rest of the days waiting for payments never done in time or for repairing the car or even worse waiting for someone to tow the car without fuel in the middle of nowhere, but plenty of wild animals ready for hunting!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The African adventure
If you want the African adventure, you need to get in touch with Nhojo. He will listen to you, your requirements, your needs and then work hard to get you what you want. We asked him for an african adventure in a raw form and he helped us. And all this was done within two days as we had planned a sudden trip. He answered all the queries (event the most silly ones). He made the trip to Serengeti an unforgettable experience. I still cant stop singing - In the Jungle, the Mighty Jungle.... Will visit Tanzania again and would like you to help us with Mafia islands and Zanzibar.
Thank you so much Nhojo!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good time, good people, good price!
A friend and I did a 4-days safari (Lake Manyara, Serengueti and Ngorongoro) in september'14.
We had a great time! Our guide and driver was excellent and we spot the big five and much more! We appreciated his knowledge and his hability to spot animals in the far far distance! The cook was also very good, and he could adapted easily to the vegetarian menu (I forgot to tell them in advance).
The car was quite old but comfortable enough (except under the rain because the windows didn't close properly).
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
More than driving
If you are looking to make a Safari, you have to make a difference between "Driving" and "Guiding".
Ben, the owner, is an amazing guide ! I know most of the animals, and he know where to they are.
I love Lion and others felines. Ben, always found them. Not from far, but very close. I remember one of the last day in Serengeti, we got to be at 2meters (6ft) of a beautiful - amazing Cheetah.
It is very rare to be that close of the animals, and we were the only car !
Of course some time, we "fight" with other car. But Ben with is professionalism always found a spot, an access, an angle.
With my different experience with them, I can see how they adapt the way they work to your need and to your expectation. As a Photographer, my approach is not the same than other customers. Ben have totally understand my need, and my wish. After the two first day our relation become very strong, and Ben have always give me the "place" to make my pictures.
And what about them ? Outside the Safari ? Caracal is a family running business. And I believe that we are now a part of their family. They are easy on going person, always happy, and open to speak.
A reference !
I can not wait to go back in the trail with them.
Africa's last remaining jewel
Breathtaking landscapes, but shy wildlife due to infamous history of poaching. Despite that fact we saw many animals, one needs to be patient. Ngulia Safari Lodge offers a magical view of the families of elephants, buffalo bathing in a floodlit water holes and of course a famous Leopard dinning tree, an awesome eye to eye experience. As a regular traveler to Kenya and a member of Kenya Museum Society, I get to meet a lot of guides, but I would like to highlight two names: Collins Okello Japesa and Stanley A. Komoras, best guides ever.
A great programme and superb service at affordable rates
The administrative arrangements for our tour, from the 16th to the 19th of October were excellent. The agent who sold us the package was very helpful, and Mr Richard thoughtfully saw us the hotel in Arusha when we arrived on the 15th night. The driver Frank and his assistant were skilled and thoughtful, and the arrangements for food and accommodation most satisfactory. The programme was tight but we were very lucky to see all sorts of wild life, lions and elephants at very close quarters, including the fomer hunting and with two delightful cubs who put on a gala performance: cheetah and leopard and flamingo at reasonable distances, hippos wallowing and hyenas with prey, and lots of birds and deer and zebras and giraffes, the last once in a group of 80 which I gather is most unusual.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
The park to visit for once-in-a-lifetime game-viewing experiences
If you want to visit a park where you’re virtually guaranteed of seeing the Big Five, as well as incredible sightings of other animals, MalaMala is the one to choose.
Luxury is central to your time at MalaMala, and so when you’re not enjoying the facilities at the exquisite lodge, you’re required to sit back, relax and let someone else take care of the driving. Guests are taken on game drives in open game-viewing vehicles, and are accompanied by a ranger and a tracker. The rangers are in constant radio contact with each other, and calls are sent out when “special” animals are sighted.
Because MalaMala is a privately owned area, you’re allowed to be out in the park after dark, and the usual drive-only-on-the-road rule doesn’t apply. Once you get over the shock of your first true bundu-bashing experience, you’ll realise that being able to look for and track animals off-road drastically increases the quality of your game viewing. Over the course of a few days, I found myself literally in the middle of a herd of 300 buffaloes; hot on the heels of two lionesses as they chased and then killed an impala; and spent almost an hour sitting under a tree while a leopard ate her kill.