FR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
manifique
Traveling with Travel Partner: I highly recommend this agency that has respected the schedule to the letter, guide and driver at the top. Our favorite hotel: Heritage Luxury Tented Camp. 3 * Tented Camp. FB and OLEA Lodge.
Beautiful landscape, beautiful animals, change of scenery guaranteed
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Experience
I had an amazing time with the Zazu Tours company in the summer of 2011!
Going into this safari I perhaps had the typical Western idea of what I was going to see, which closely resembled the opening scene from the Lion King movie. This safari certainly met and exceeded my high expectations! Over 4-5 days we went to Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire Park, the Serengeti, and Olduvai Gorge. The number of animals that we saw was absolutely breathtaking, including big game like elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, lions, leopards, cheetahs, hippos, crocodiles, and ostriches. We also saw some of the smaller animals including flamingos, antelope, gazelles, baboons, and monkeys. I'm probably forgetting some, but it was all so overwhelming that I would have to flip through my photos to jog my memory. Our tour guides, Moses and Ramon, were some of the most friendly guys I've ever met! They were both really excited to show us all of the different animals and were very knowledgeable in pointing them out and explaining different aspects of the animals' lives and habitats.
Before I went I was a little nervous about camping in a National Park in Africa with lions and hyenas, but the area where we stayed was enclosed and safe and once I saw the facility I was comfortable.
I would ABSOLUTELY recommend this safari to anyone who plans to spend time in Tanzania. I hope to return someday soon, and this safari will certainly be back at the top of my to do list!
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wonderful experience, rough around the edges
My wife and I are Americans in our late 20s who spent a week in July 2019 in Victoria Falls and Hwange National Park.
Overall, we had a wonderful time. Everything was very safe, the people are quite friendly and helpful, and the wildlife and falls were spectacular. Travel here takes a bit of planning, however, as cash and fuel are in short supply and power cuts are somewhat frequent (twice during our stay). In this part of the country I wouldn't worry about safety, I would just make sure to make as many arrangements ahead of time as possible.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing trip from beginning to end!
We recently came back from an amazing customized tour with Africa MCflash tours in July. From start to finish everything went very well. We were pleased with all of our accommodations, the food, Safari vehicle, and the wildlife was incredible! I would highly reccomend a private tour with this company.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
After dreaming of Africa since I was 7, it was everything I hoped and more.
Wildlife was incredible. Children were incredible and so friendly! Murchison Falls was amazing!!! The jungle habitat in Kyambura Gorge was amazing. It is too bad that at Lake Mburo Natl Park, 2 apex predators are gone because of poisoning due to next door cattle ranching--missing lions and wild dogs. I know these ranchers are trying to make a living with their cattle, but historic poisoning of lions and other predators is so disturbing. Gorillas were amazing and the highlight of our trip! Protection for mountain gorillas needs to continue, and allowing locals to participate will help preserve them. It is awful about the displaced Batwa people. The government needs to give them land, and provide educational opportunities so they can make a living and not live in poverty. The government needs to provide clean drinking water from taps!!!!
Of concern is the fact that Ugandas' population is supposed to double in the next 30 years. Not enough cropland to support this, and worry about potential loss of gorilla habitat. I am also worried about the Chinese interests in oil and gas. Lots of road construction to provide infrastructure and allow their interests to exploit the oil and gas resources of Uganda. I look at Uganda, and see the greatest resources to be the wildlife, scenery, and the children!!! I think the Chinese are motivated by profit, and do not really care about the people of Uganda.
Our accommodations were excellent--we especially enjoyed Bakers Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, and Mihingo Lodge, and Mt Gahinga Lodge. Mt. Gahinga and Mihingo lodges were our favorites. Food was good, and we looked forward to our meals, especially at Mt. Gahinga where we shared the table with other visitors. Staff at all facilities (except at Ishasha Jungle Lodge) were extremely professional and attentive. At Ishasha Jungle lodge, the performance of orphanage kids was exceptional and I wanted to hug each child. It is a very good idea and way to bring donations into orphanages, and kudos to Ishasha jungle lodge for allowing them to perform for guests. Kudos to Edward and Elle at Nkuringo. At both Nkuringo and Mt. Gahinga--the fires in our fire places and the hot water bottles in our beds were so so nice.
Our guide Edwin was for the most part very attentive to our needs, and went out of his way to help us. He actually was able to recover forgotten camera chargers and batteries for both my husband and I. That was incredible how he knew all the other guides including those working for other companies, and was able to network and retrieve our lost chargers. He was knowledgable about the wildlife, and very informative about Uganda. We enjoyed it very much when he joined us for meals.
My only complaint about Edwin was driving too fast and too close at times when people were walking on the roadside---especially young children, and an impatience for livestock on the road, as well as an apparent dislike of boda bodas on the road. Edwin drove a lot of miles!! for us and we certainly arrived at our destinations in one piece and on time. Edwin was a skilled driver, and was able to drive in a variety of situations, including heavy traffic near Kampala, to off-the road game drives. I would recommend Edwin as a guide, but would want him to show a little more respect and consideration for people, livestock, and boda bodas also using the roads.
I absolutely fell in love with Uganda---its wildlife and people. I think I left part of my heart there, and would highly recommend it as a travel destination. We mainly went to see wildlife, but actually learned more about the people and culture. It seems like we rode a lot of miles from site to site in the land cruiser, and did get sore and stiff in the process, but we got to see many villages and people in the process of living that we would have missed had we flown from site to site. Kudos to Matoke Tours for setting up this life-changing trip for us. And thanks to Edwin for making our tour possible. We couldn't have done it without him.
CH
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Suprised about the Change of Tanzania
The parks from Arusha are in reasonable distance from the town. The access roads are tarmaced an in very good condition. Landscape in Tarangire an Ngororongoro are exceptional with lots of different wildlife. The flights with Air Tanzania and Precision Air were comfortable and the handlings at airports at a good standard. We also had a great time on the east coast of Zanzibar.
With Kichao's Tanzania Safaris we found a well organised and reliable tour operator.
I visited Tanzania last in 1991 and was surprised by the good infrastructure I found this time.
US
50-65 years of age
An awesome once in a lifetime experience that greatly exceed expectations!!!
If I'm fortunate enough to go back for a second Safari, no question, I'm going with Brian and his team at Ecological Wilderness Adventures. He and his guides are all fabulous people who know how to find and identify all the animals and get you in the right spot for the photos while avoiding the crowds. The food and accommodations where fantastic. Great trail breakfasts and lunches, gourmet dinners, wonderful campfires. We slept in great lodges and tents in the wild.
Brian's very knowledgeable and experienced about all aspects of the safari. He enjoys working with you to prepare your custom safari. I always refer friends and they ALWAYS have a GREAT SAFARI.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Namibia by dennis.zaebst
A beautiful country with spectacular vistas, wildlife, and especially birds! Weather was dry and pleasant in May/June 2017, and I suspect it is similar in many other years. Etosha NP is the largest NP in Africa, and is a prime location for viewing and photographing wildlife!
ES
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable
We have enjoyed a long safari ( 15 days ) between Kenya and Tanzania prepared by Sylvester and guided by Benson and Cirilo and we have returned to our country absolutely overwhelmed by the beaty of countries , parks and animals. thansk for the perfect organization and services
SG
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fabulous experience and lovely wildlife
It was a very well coordinated tour. I loved every bit of it and the experience was awesome. Most specifically, my driver .. Mr Ayub was awesome guy.