20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
The best tour operator in the region. Proper planning, very reliable. The best DMC.
Real time communications. Javiva Adventures always responds to emails and calls on time. I recommend this company to anyone, that's why am booking my next safari with them for Easter holidays.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Northern Tanzania safari
Our trip was arranged by the manager Elias and our outstanding guide was John. Elias was amazing in setting up a ten day safari that fit our travel schedule and desires and in responding to our flight delays, missed connections and lost luggage (none of which were his fault). Once our lost bag finally arrived, he made sure we got it, even though we were well into our safari and nowhere near the airport. The itinerary he suggested, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater were each unbelievable and every day presented us with a new adventures and surprises. The accommodations - a mixture of hotels, lodges, tented lodges, and tented camps - were all quite comfortable (some bordering on luxurious) while at the same time giving us a sense of staying among the animals we came to see.
John, our guide, gave us the perfect combination of looking out for the needs of a couple of 70 year-olds along with the skills and patience that allowed us to see some amazing things. He would start out early, but not too early, in the morning and had the knack of taking us back to the lodge for a nap or a swim when we began "running out of steam." We saw each of the "big five," some on numerous occasions, as well as dozens of other animals and birds. We had the good fortune of seeing multiple lions, giraffes, herds of elephants, the birth of a wildebeest, and a kill by two cheetahs. This was more than just good luck but also the result of John's sense of when to stop, wait, and see what was about to happen, along with his patience in being willing to wait long enough for it all to unfold. He was a fun and informative companion for each of the 10 days of our safari.
As much as this was a "once in a lifetime" trip for us, we had such a wonderful time we are trying to figure how we can repeat it.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent, just like previous experiences
Gathering initial requirements and building a plan around the thought was very good. Quickly came to agreement and booked. Hints and recommendations made were greatly appreciated.
The safari itself was amazing and all the organisation went according to plan. The attention to detail on the transfers was very good.
All in all and excellent booking process, safari and experience.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Gametrackers is a great safari company with highly skilled and professional staff.
My husband and I would highly recommend Gametrackers for your safari in Kenya and Tanzania. The communication with the staff during the planning phase was excellent. Stacy and Judy were responsive and helpful in answering all of our questions. Our guides during the safari were fabulous. We did a 10 day excursions with our own guide and cook and both were amazing, If we ever returned, we would request both of them by name, Daniel and Benard, as they were the ones who made our experience phenomenal.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent service
I hired the services of this company to go to Bwindi - the Impenetrable Park to watch the Gorillas. They organized a 3 day private tour. The driver picked me up at the Hotel in Kampala. It takes about 6 hours to go to the Park. We made two stops. The first one in the Equator where one can purchase some handcrafts at more or less reasonable price. The second stop was for lunch. The place - which I cannot remember the name -- offers a reasonable buffet. The package included the driver, transportation, lodging and 3 meals. It did include wine, beer or any other alcoholic beverage. At the Park we stayed at Bakiga Lodge. The surrounding are beautiful. It has a combination of solar panels. The water is heating burning wood which it is not very environmentally friendly. The bed is quite uncomfortable. The food and the service is very good. The experience to watch the gorillas is amazing! The walk is challenge and something that one must do. I recommend to use gum boots instead of sneakers or hiking boots. Gloves is a must. Plenty water. The park offers people who can help you to carry the water, the food and maybe can help you in the walking. The help in the walking can be less useful, but the help in carrying things is quite important. The rangers open the way using machete since there is no path. I would recommend to bring cash and low denominations. The rangers seem not have money to provide change....The passport or any ID is needed to register in the Park. Plastic bags are needed to protect personal items including the cellular. It rains. Long leaves is recommended to protect from insects. The second night I stayed at Bunyonyi Rock Resort. This lake is gorgeous. The hotel uses solar panels for all (heat and water). The food is very good and the rooms and bed are excellent and so the service. This is a place to stay longer. So beautiful. Now, lets talk about the company. The car was in very good conditions. They send a picture of the car and copy of the driver license of the driver. Robert, the driver was excellent. He drives very well and carefully. He is very respectful and well-educated who can entreating with well-informed conversation. On the return we stopped again at Equator, but this time for lunch. The place offers poor food. Almost all is fast food. I hired this company talking to Nicholas one of the managers who is quite efficient and accountable. I will probably use this company again. Enjoy the beautiful sightseeing of Uganda. The country side is amazingly beautiful.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very good experience all the way - Amboseli, Tsavo West/East, Diani Beach
My wife and I had a wonderful 6 nights private safari organised by Serene East Africa Safaris. We visited Amboseli (AA Lodge), Tsavo West (Kilaguni Lodge), Tsavo East (Ashnil Aruba Lodge) and Diani Beach (Diani Sea Resort, 3 nights). All the accommodation was superb with Kilaguni Lodge outstanding. The Diani Sea Resort all-inclusive package was also outstanding. While at Diani, we went on a day trip to Wasini Island where we saw dolphins and went snorkelling in the coral reef, and also visited the Shimoni slave caves. This was all included in the package, including our flight back from Diani to Nairobi!
Lucy and her team were superb throughout, from the moment of initial contact to our departure. Everything was seamlessly organised with no surprises or disappointments. There was constant communication on WhatsApp or email and questions are answered quickly. We had a superb guide, Kennedy, who was patient and easy going. We were received and dropped at the airport. I liked the all-inclusive nature of the safari, you barely need to spend any more money again.
On the parks themselves, Amboseli was beautiful especially with the imposing Mount Kilimanjaro in the background, with plenty of elephants, loads of different species of birds, some lions, etc. Tsavo East/West are really vast and consequently sparsely populated, although still boasting plenty of elephants, giraffes, zebras. Diani beach was beautiful with a warm sea!
I would definitely recommend Serene East Africa and I would use them again.
FI
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
7 days safari with Karibu Safaris was exelent experience.
Fist day I had different driver than the other days. For six days our group driver and guide was Arony and I have only god things to tell about him. He was very friendly, smiling, had god humor and spoke very good english (also other languages if needed). He was largely responsible for the good mood of the group in car. He was also caring, reliable, clear and he had a good human expert. So he managed to get everyone to understand his case. Also he took great care of people's wishes. Arony is good driver.
My main goal in the safari was hippos. In 7 days safari I had a chance to see hippos in 5 days. Everything else was extra. Our group got to see big five (buffalo, lion, elephant, leopard and rhino). Our group was very lucky, because we saw for example leopard, jackal, at least 11 lions, big group of elephants and clear Kilimanjaro for two days. We saw a lot of different African animals, even mongoose what I hoped in one point. However seeing the animals is not certain because wild life is not a zoo.
Our driver, Arony knew a lot about animals and he told us about them. We got a lot of imformation from Kenya and masai people too. I was mostly impressed how much he cared about the customers well-being and safety. Arony made a lot of effort to ensure people's safety even after Safari. No tour operator has done so in the past, and this was not my first tour.
I'm not a princess or look for luxury, so I was very happy about lodging and food. We spent a lot of time in the car, but it's perfectly understandable when we were in different National parks and we ate reguralry.
Everyone should understand that there is wild animals, so you have to keep some distance to them. Because of that I had camera with long objective and binoculars with me. That way I got lot of great close pictures from animals. But if you have only phone camera, you have to accept that you don't get close pictures from every animal you see.
Safari with Karibu Safaris was excellent. Now I'm thinking to go back to Kenia one day.
CH
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our unforgettable safari in Tanzania with Matata!
We would like to share our unforgettable memories, feelings and emotions from the safari we had the chance to make with Matata (from the company « Safari Moja Matata » www.safarimojamatata.com) in Tanzania in the end of December 2016 – beginning of January 2017.
After landing in the capital city Dar Es Salaam, we drove to Selous Game Reserve (a huge private faunal reserve) with Matata and his incredible car (a 4WD Toyota Safari Land Cruisers/land rovers 4×4 with a capacity of 6 to 8 seaters and open roof). There we stayed in the picturesque Hippo Camp, idealy located nearby the Rufiji River. We visited the enormous and impressive Selous Game Reserve, and had the chance to see from very close so many wild and beautiful animals like, among others, lions, elephants, buffalos, hippos, giraffes, zebras, impalas, crocodiles, monkeys, hienas, wild dogs, wiledebeests, antilopes, warthogs, and so many different birds of all kinds. We also went to a spectacular and very instructive « walking safari » with Didi, and to a beautiful « boat safari » on the Rufiji river.
From Selous we then drove to the city of Morogoro. On the way we discovered the very various, beautiful and so different landscapes of Tanzania.
Then we went to the Ruaha National Park, among others through the beautiful Boabab Valley, with a stop on the road in Iringa town. In Ruaha we stayed in the Ruaha Hilltop Lodge (www.ruahahilltoplodge.com/), with an amazing panoramic view on the region. We of course visited the Ruaha National Park, the biggest Tanzanian National Park, where we also had the cance to see plenty of beautiful wild animals, mostly of the same kinds that in Selous (see above). We also had the opportunity to visit a Maasai village, and so discover a little their culture and way of life.
Then we went to Mikumi National Park, where we visited the Park, and saw again many animals. There we stayed in the confortable Tan-Swiss Lodge.
This was the end of our safari. We drove back to Dar Es Salaam, and from there flew to Zanzibar, where we had a delighting rest on the beautiful beaches of the Indian Ocean. We also visited a spice farm and the old city of Stown Town.
This trip left us unforgettable memories of the so welcoming and smiling Tanzanian people, among which our guide and driver Matata, with whom we spent such wonderful and funny times, and who became a friend. We also discovered the incomparable beauty of the Tanzanian landscapes, and the diversity of the wild animals in the various Parks and Reserves.
We strongly recommend to everyone to go to Tanzania, especially with Matata! For sure you will not regret it !
Asante sana (thank you very much in Swahili) Matata!
Margaux and Simon, Lausanne, Switzerland
IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Vishal
It was great experience feels like King, thanks for treating us
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
All round good service
Our Garden Route road trip we wont forget soon. All the accommodation recommended and booked was within our budget.
The activities that was suggested was spot on , wish we could have extended it by a few more days.
Thank you Angie for recommending Traipsing Africa.