35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent Choice for a Safari in Tanzania
After 8 days on safari around the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, I got to see a lot of the other tour companies, the standard of their vehicles (some were pretty dilapidated); how knowledgeable and professional their drivers were; and how many people they crammed into a car. After 8 days with Junga and Bright African Safaris, I have no doubt we chose the most professional and value for money tour company on offer. I can't recommend them enough. They aren't the biggest, but they are the best and most professional. There were just too many other companies around with inexperienced guides or vehicles that weren't maintained, to not go with these guys.
I emailed Rukia back late last year and she was very efficient in listening to what we wanted to see and she put together 4 very detailed options for us. The price was very reasonable and value for money. I came close to booking something off a website, so I was so glad I went with the email to Bright African. We stayed in hotels or permanent tented camps for our safari and had four of us in the one car,
Needless to say we had a fantastic time on Safari, seeing all of the big 5, countless jaw dropping scenes of various wildlife and the Wildebeest Migragtion in the southern Serengeti had to be a highlight (aim to be there around the first week in March). Hell, it was once in a lifetime experience - unbelievable!!
See my photos below to give you a guide.
Junga was a fabulous guide and an all round great person. We were looked after for the whole Safari and enjoyed his company each day on the road. He was a very experienced driver (which you need on the Serengeti with no paved roads and as soon as there is a little rain). He also knew exactly where to go to avoid the crowds and see the best things. We passed a scene where 20 4WDs were looking at a couple of cheetahs laying on the grass only to be the first and only car around to see 3 cheetahs bring down a wildebeest not 15 mins later. Junga was also an expert an bird and animal calls, many times an animal would wander off to the 4wd for a look.
The vehicle we had was a purpose built Toyota Lancruiser troop carrier that was very comfortable for 4 people for the 8 days. It had a very efficient fridge, power points and the pop up roof. Mind you it doesn't count if you don't an experienced driver (like we did) and a company that makes sure you have solid off tyres with good tread (like we did) :)
As a guide to their customer service, before we arrived the company also arranged an Aitrel SIM card for when I got there. I popped it straight into my iPhone and worked a treat from day 1. It was on a TZS 35,000 (about $17) for 12gb for a month. There was better than expected coverage along the way and was good to share some photos with family and friends & track your progress on the map.
The hotels along the way were better than expected and more than sufficient for 1-2 night safari stops. The Serengeti Acacia lodge and Lake Ndutu tented lodge were fantastic and please understand that these aren't really tents. Lake Ndutu was more like an upmarket 4 star villa with balacony and canvas roof. Permanent plumbing and electricity.
Tips: I recommend you invest in the largest and best quality binoculars you can get. Take a zoom lens camera. On day 1 Junga stopped at a small grocery store where we got some beers and other things for the trip - it was nice to have an ice cold Serengeti beer in the afternoon while lazing in the back of the car on the Serengeti. Spend some time in Zanzibar afterwards.
Overall we had a fantastic time - once in a lifetime stuff. Do yourself a favour and at least email Bright African safaris before you book anything else!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing Trip That everyone should Experience
My mother and I had an amazing experience with Cul Tours to see the Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Forest. It was our first time in Uganda and first time experiencing anything like this so at first we were apprehensive but Stephen was so good at answering all our silly questions and reassurring us that everything was safe and secure and it really was. Stephen and Miriam were so lovely and made our trip one of the most memorable experiences of my life. We stayed in lovely accomodation and had amazing foods and best of all got to get up close and personal with the Great Mountain Gorilla. I would highly reccomend Cul Tours to anyone, they have excellent local Knowledge and fabulous customer service, we always felt so well looked after and we had a truly amazing time overall.
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
True experience
A real dream!! To see , hear , smell the dust of Africa. To sleep and hear the animals pass, to see them eat, drink, rest, take care of there children. To see there first and there last steps silently , close by. Christopher Samwell did grow up here. He knows!! Gives you time and opportunity to stand close to all animals. So that you can experience a litlle part of there lives! "I will be back!!.....;-) Thanks!
AE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Liar, Thief, Coward and an Overall Scam!
I am absolutely disgusted with how horribly I was treated during my stay in Kenya after booking through Doyen Safaris. The owner, Kennedy, is the biggest liar, thief and coward I have ever met in my life. When we booked the trip in December, Kennedy was very responsive to my questions and concerns and gave me an itinerary with all of the hotels I would be staying in, so I felt comfortable and excited for the trip. But that was all a lie. From the moment we arrived in Kenya, there were several mix-ups and we were not delivered what we were promised. The hotels we stayed in were 3 of the most disgusting, dirty, old, and unsafe accommodations I have stayed in. The sheets we marked with blood from the mosquitoes and the beds had dirt on them. We were supposed to stay in glamorous tents when we went to Masai Mara, but I was shocked when we got there and I learned that first off I had to share a tent with a total stranger I had met in the car an hour before and second the place was a complete dump and even had a mouse in it. My group was promised a private tour but soon realized Kennedy had placed us with two other travelers. Every time we tried calling Kennedy to fix these issues he would tell our driver, Stanley, he was too busy to talk. The one great thing about the trip was our driver. Stanley was absolutely amazing and made the safari worth it, but anything else Kennedy was involved in was a complete disaster. The food was included in our package and it was the worst food I have ever eaten and I actually came home with typhoid fever because of the dire conditions of the camp. On my last night in Nairobi I was supposed to stay at the hotel Kennedy listed in my itinerary but of course when I got to Nairobi he said the plan had changed because the hotel was booked (he had already done this to us the day before with another hotel as well). I became very angry with Kennedy and began listing all the things that had gone wrong since the start of the trip and he acted like this was brand new information to him even though Stanley had been telling him all along what was going on. He denied everything and seemed shocked when I told him I had to share a tent with a stranger and he blamed the camp. He refused to take any responsibility and promised me he would put me in a 4 star hotel to make up for it. He had a driver take me to another hotel and as soon as we pulled up I knew this was not a 4 star hotel. It was a complete dump. They showed me to my room and when we walked in it turns out there was someone staying in that room already, so we went back to the lobby. I called him and told him this was not acceptable and that I had paid him a lot of money in order to stay in a nice hotel. I sent him several pictures of acceptable hotels I had found online and told him any of those would be fine. He asked me to go to booking.com and pay for the room and that he would send me money a week later through PayPal. Obviously I refused and told him he had to come to the hotel and sort it out right away. He finally came to the hotel and looked upset and annoyed and tried to convince me to stay there. I told him I would not stay there and he just sat around not saying or doing anything for about 20 minutes. Finally he got up and walked out of the hotel without saying a word. After 10 minutes I had the driver call him and he said he was figuring something out. An hour later I was still sitting in the lobby and now he was ignoring the driver's phone calls. I had the hotel call him and he told them to tell me I could either stay there or find my own place and pay for it myself. I was SO upset. What a liar, thief and a coward. Absolutely disgusted that these kinds of people actually exist. Do NOT book with this company. This man is only out for one thing. Your money. My goal is to spread this to as many people as possible so they don't have to experience what I did.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Paid less and received more.
It was a Great time having travelled with L'hoest Safaris for my 4 days in uganda. I enjoyed and just say they offered me more that I expected.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unbelievable trip!
We just returned from our 13 Day Improved Southern Explorer Safari with Jobovic. It was truly the trip of a lifetime. Piet and Bryce were fantastic guides. The itinerary was perfect. Every place we visited was excellent. We did the camping option, but we did upgrade to lodges in 2 places. While we were a little apprehensive about camping out in the open in the middle of Africa, ultimately I think it enhanced the experience tremendously. We never had any worries. Bryce is an excellent chef and the meals were all extremely tasty and had a great variety. Piet is a driver nonpareil! An essential quality on some of the roads we took! The entire time I felt like we were in the most competent hands possible for this exciting trip. By the end of the trip, we felt like we were traveling with family.
IN
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Mikumi Safari by Gombe - Good and Timely service. Offered everything as per itinerary
First off all, Gombe could offer the same price for a solo traveller where as most other agents quoted higher rates for a single traveller, even though I had agreed to join any group.
The came dot on time to my hotel at Dar-es-Salaam in the morning and picked me up in a 4 x 4 jeep. Enroute they picked up another person. They stopped enroute for breakfast and lunch. The food was good and simple. We stayed at the Tan-Swiss Hotel, which is quite comfortable.
Overall the whole trip was pretty relaxed and fine. Since it was raining, we couldn't spot any big cat
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Perfect service
Best price , with best quality .
I booked a 7 days tour , perfect service , especially for dinner , we had a young and amazing chef . Best choice , we ' ll back with our baby ..
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Thank you Andy. Your commitment to your clients is commendable!
Andy your attention to detail made my honeymoon memorable. Our stay at Ulusaba Rock lodge was phenomenal. On safari we saw the big five and our tour guide kept us entertained. But our highlight was sipping sundowners to magnificent sunsets at the lodge. This is truly a magical African Safari experience and I would highly recommend Ulusaba Rock lodge.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing family adventure
We had an amazing family trip to Uganda in the summer of 2009. Betty and her staff went over and above to ensure we had the experiences we wanted.
From the accommodations to our incredible guide, Matthew, everything was taken care efficiently and positively.
You will have a great travel adventure if you hire Green Word Safari!