SE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
nice despite our guide
The trip was beautiful because nature is wonderful and people are very kind. Our tour was badly organized and our guide was bad. He knew nothing of his country. We got stuck in a river with the car, we got wet and our suitcases ended up in the water and we lost a camera. Nobody apologized. The guide always laughed.
At the end of the tour he did not make us the last excursions, already paid, because he had spent all our money.
I think we found the only incompetent and rude guide in all of Tanzania.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Sensational
I spent four nights in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) in January 2020, staying in Mbabane, the small capital. The country is roughly the same size as Wales. The roads are not as good as those in neighbouring South Africa: there are many potholes and speed bumps. I rented a car during my stay, which enabled me to get about. The highlights for me were the nearby Ezulwini Valley, the Malolotja Nature Reserve (in the north-west of the country) and the Hlane Royal National Park (in the north-east). All in all, I thought Eswatini was a great country to visit, with far fewer tourists than South Africa has.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An amazing 10 day safari
We booked with Duma in February for a trip this October. Stacy was fantastic about answering all our questions and booking accommodation we requested including specific rooms in hotels as recommended by other trip advisor reviews. This trip was for my 40th birthday and we saved very hard to go and it was worth every penny. We had a private safari.
We were met at the airport by a smiling Isack Msuya, who was a fantastic guide. He has 20 years experience and it shows. His driving was excellent, both on the main roads and in the park. When we went through rivers or mud and the back end of the car slipped he seamlessly slipped into 4 wheel driver and we continued with no pause. We felt safe and secure with him. He cleaned out the Toyota land cruiser everyday and there as plenty of water. As such our windows were always clean. We took our time and did not race around like some of the other companies. Leopard tours in particular always seemed in a rush.
Isaac didn't use the radio to locate wildlife and so we were often viewing wildlife on our own rather than being surrounded by 10 other cars. His spots were amazing. He found a cameleon in a tree whilst driving! How do you spot that. He found us all the big 5. We hoped to see leopards and tigers, but thought this might be tricky and by no means a given. We saw them on the second day, and by the end of our trip we were up to 3 leopards and 5 adult cheetah and 4 babies. We had no idea there would be so many baby animals around. Isack found baby lions, cheetah, warthogs, elephants, giraffe (one was just hours old) hippo everything. The only thing we hoped to see and didn't was the tree lions in Lake Manyara, but there are only about 30-50 left in the park. We saw lions chase and kill, and mating. Isaac had amazing knowledge of every creature and bird we came across and his passion for conservation is amazing.
We didn't know that you could request a guide, and we certainly would recommend Isack to anyone. He was SO friendly and so happy. He met us with a massive smile every morning and it stayed in place all day. He didn't chat for the sake of chatting which we liked, but answered our questions patiently and with interest and enthusiasm and had quite a few funny and interesting tales to tell about his experiences. We had no idea we would see so many wildebeest and zebra. On my birthday we took a balloon ride which was a legacy from my Granny, and it was amazing. It lasted an hour and we saw so much including swooping down over a herd of wildebeest who did the running thing just like you see on the TV, and we heard elephants trumpeting. It was followed by a champagne brunch, where there is plenty of champagne flowing.
I would recommend Northern Serengeti and Tarangire to all as the wildlife are amazing and very plentiful in October and you are away from the crowds of the central Serengeti. That said if you only have a short time, you can and probably will see everything bar Rhino in the centre. Lake Manyara is a completely different park, and were found several companies tried to dissuade us from going here, especially with ending our trip here. You won't see the big 5 here but it is beautiful and we saw elephants, giraffe, hip, baboons, and loads of different birds.
We stayed at Tarangire Safari Lodge in the furthest away tent from he building number 22. We were escorted after dark here and everywhere we went inside the parks. This was a great tent with a proper bed and bathroom, and an amazing view into the valley below where we watched the wildlife. The roar of lions was a little disconcerting. We saw antelope outside our tent and a group of baboons passed by.
In the northern Serengeti which is a long day's drive from Tarangire we stayed at the Bologna camp where the staff couldn't do enough for us, and all your drinks are included. The tent was amazing, and they prepare you a hot shower everyday at your request with 10 mins notice so they can heat the water. Outside our tent were Water buffalo, and the setting was beautiful.
In the central Serengeti we staying at the Serengeti Serena hotel. We requested a top room which had a beautiful view especially at sunset. The staff here were the least friendly and the reception desk rally didn't want to know. They didn't explain anything, and we had no idea we were supposed to wait after dinner to sign a ticket for our drinks, and were made to feel like criminals for walking to the bar after diner. we had assumed giving our room number would have been enough. The security guards and the porter were very friendly.
In the Nogorongo conservation area we stayed at the Sopa Lodge which was beautiful with very friendly staff, and a turndown service which included hot water bottles which we didn't need. We had an upper room with a great view, and if you get here for sunset its very good. We did a crater rim walk which was interesting, but this takes time out of your time in the park. Each fee gives you exactly 24 hours in the park, and we would, with hindsight, have missed the walk and had more time in the crater the next day. Its worth an early morning start too.
Our last night was at the Kirurumu tented lodge, where the staff were lovely but the accommodation whilst initially looking amazing, (you have a tent on top of a building on the cliff edge) actually could do with a fresh coat of paint and some of the wooden boards of the lower balcony were rotting.
The food everywhere was of a good standard and there was at least something for the vegetarian, more if you eat fish. Lunch boxes were massive, and healthy. It would have been nice to see some traditional food rather than European buffets.
We were very sad when the time came to say goodbye to Isack and head back home. It was a fantastic trip and we cannot recommend Isack and Duma more highly.
AE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
it was stunnung , over what we expected
we stayed in intercontinental Nairobi first night which was good, then we started our journey and road trip through agent called Mufasa the tour guide ( Wilson ) was super professional and was very helpful for the 6 days with us , we stayed in Entim in Masai Mara the service was great and the place is amazing then we went to the cliff in Nakuru which was suppose to be a higher quality camp but the actually the service was so bad and staff there is rude, we went to Fairmont mount Kenya hotel it was very nice but the receptionist was also rude and un supportive I had to complain 3 times in one day about three different reasons. Mufasa was good agent except for one point we agreed that the cliff was all inclusive same as Entim and we paid for that but what we got was Meals only package and the agent told me it depends on the hotel they decide on arrival if we get AL or FB which makes no sense as I work in tourism and know how it works . please note we were honeymooners and didn't get the expected service from the cliff or Fairmont mount Kenya but in general Kenya is amazing and we will definitely come back but with a different agent
IL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
FI
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent safaritour and holiday in Kenya with KingTomondo Safaris
When we booked our travel to Kenya and asked for offers from different safari providers the reception from KingTomondo was exceptionally welcoming. The contact person Lisa was very nice and accommodating and took into account our specific wishes. She prepared a great trip for us! She also helped us with the logistics from and to the airport and to book a private snorkeling trip to Wasini Island. With KingTomondo we felt very secure from the very first contact. Our Safari guide and driver Hassan had exceptional knowledge about the wildlife animals and the nature as well as the history and culture of Kenya. This made our safari tour into something much more than just a drive in the parks, and made our experience of Kenya a very pleasant one. Hassan's very good driving skills, knowledge about the surroundings and pleasant manners made us feel safe and well taken care of during the whole trip. We highly recommend KingTomondo Safaris. This is a company you can trust to make the best of your trip.
50-65 years of age
Amazing, fantastic, reliable, informative so that you are superbly looked after.
Afriroots are amazing: They seem to do the impossible. All the staff are great, friendly, can't do enough for you. The team are so dedicated to ensuring that all customers are happy and well treated and they go 1000% of the way to doing just that.
All staff are very informed about the history, culture, and facts about their country.
Their food is excellent: Hot lunches in the middle of fields were so welcome.
Nothing is too much for these guys and I can't recommend them highly enough!
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Magic experience in Namibia
This was my first time in Africa...and I couldn't have chosen anything better than Namibia!
Everything was wonderful: landscape, wildlife, sense of peace...I will bring this experience in my heart forever!
IE
An incredible experience
From the very beginning we had an amazing time. The wildlife was just fantastic. Our family group of Dad and 2 kids (10 + 11 ) loved every moment. Our guide Cheddy was so knowledgeable and had a pair of eyes that would make a hawk proud. Our food and accommodation were perfect. The overall welcome from the people of Tanzania was so generous and warm. Asante sana. We felt safe at all times. Bryson was excellent in all my dealings with him. Replies to queries were almost instantaneous. Keep up the good work.