BE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Mikumi National Park by Code Redsniper
scenic beauty is less than other parks; to much grassland
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, wildebeest and so many more
My husband and I were in Tanzania for 1 week. The primary focus of our trip was a 6 day safari. We went to Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area/Crater, Serengeti National Park (2 days), and Lake Manyara National Park. We really enjoyed them all with the exception of Lake Manyara. In comparison to the other areas, it did not have as much wildlife. Tarangire had the most elephants. We saw two black rhinos from a distance while at Ngorongoro and while in the Serengeti we saw many lions, cheetahs, and two leopards. The wildebeest migration was more than I expected! I never knew there would be so many hippos! That was a surprise. There were also so many other animals and birds, which just made the trip.
The weather was fantastic. I was concerned that there would still be a lot of rain since we were arriving at the end of May. It only rained one of the nights we stayed overnight in the Serengeti and it really didn't impact our visit at all.
We stayed in lodges most nights, but while in the Serengeti we stayed in a tented camp and that was definitely a great experience. It brought us much closer to the wildlife. Everywhere we stayed was good to Excellent. There were a couple of places that were somewhat unusual to get to, but were definitely worth it once we arrived -Morona Hills Lodge and Escarpment Luxury Lodge; though Morona Hills Lodge didn't have enough hot water for showers.
If I changed anything about our trip, I would add another day to our time in the Serengeti and not do the day in Lake Manyara.
BE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Mahale Mountains National Park by Code Redsniper
very difficult to see the wildlife here
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Amazing place but....
First of all, we didn’t do any safari. My partner and I have been travelling the last 7 months and we spent 6 weeks in the country.
Ethiopia is full of amazing places, very unique landscapes and lovely people that in some places made your stay a wonderful experience. The highlights for us were the Simien Mountains where we did a eight days trek and we had the chance to see Gelada monkeys a couple of Waila Ibexes and many birds and the landscape was just beautiful. The Danakil Depression, the lowest place on earth (100mt below sea level), although it requires lots of driving at the end it worth all the journey because it is such a unique environment with lots of things to do from the right moment you arrive in the desert until you climb the top of a volcano, the heat sometimes can be challenging. After that we went to the Tigray area where you can hike and climb some of the amazing rock hills to visit a medioeval church, again a very unique experience. And the Abuna Josef mountain was the last trek in the country where we were lucky to see three Ethiopian wolfs many monkeys and an amazing view of the mountains around also we had the chance to spend a couple of days with a local family.
At the end we did lot more and we visited many places but these were our favourites, it is a big country with too many people, interestingly diverse from north to south and with plenty of activities that can make the experience unforgettable but for us that we were backpacking sometimes moving from one place to another was difficult and challenging because the lack of official and reliable information especially for prices.
It is an amazing place that can be enjoyed easily with an organised tour operator but at higher cost but for backpacking style it can be a very challenging and expensive experience but it worth it.
Thanks
BE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Serengeti National Park by Code Redsniper
excellent park but too much tourism here.
BE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing, gorgeous, fun trip with guide who knows what he's doing
I have been to Kenya three times and each time I relied and was never disappointed by African Servalcat Safaris.
My first trip to Kenya and my first experience was back in 2011, in 2012 I was there briefly as I had some volunteerwork to do and my third time I asked Sylvester and Benson to take me to the Steiner school where my foster angel is now living.
Service was excellent from the first email!
The entire trip was well organised, we didn't have to worry about anything. Benson, our guide was fantastic! Not only was he very knowledgable but when he didn't know he did his best to look things up in his or my little book. What I really appreciated was his willingness to do a lot for his customers bUT with respect for nature and animals! While other guides/drivers would drive in the long high grasses to overpass other busses Benson told us he wouldn't do that as there could be many animals there int he grass that would be disturbed or killed by us driving there! Respect!!
So from day one until the day we left we never had any complaints.
One thing you should bare in mind when you do a driving safari is that distances can be far and driving can take up a lot of hours..and the roads are def not European or American standard roads :)
But that's all part of the experience right!
We went to the Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, Tsavo West and Amboseli.
Second trip June 2012
As always everything the entire trip was organized well so that I really could enjoy my trip. My guide/driver Justus took me everywhere safely (white woman travelling alone) and was knowledgeable of all the places we drove through and saw.
I visited Sweetwaters tented camp and Ol Pejeta, went to the Nairobi National Park and Sheldrick elephant orphanage as well as worked for a local orphanage, Mama Tunza Childrens Home.
I could count on Sylvester (owner) assistance whenever needed as well!
And third time was a quicky but Sylvester and Benson stood by me.
During my previous trips my heart was captured by a beautiful orphaned angel who than lived at the Mama Tunza Childrens Home.
I know got her into the Steiner School and Sylvester en Benson joined me as she knew both of them from the orphanage.
Went to Kenya the first time to go on a trip with a local touroperator but left with a good rafiki!
Sylvie
Pictures can be seen : www.picturethedream.be
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic
Everything about this was great! From the guide to the accommodations to the Masai Mara. Highly recommend.
BE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Lake Manyara National Park by Code Redsniper
small park and too busy but seen tree climbing lions over there
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An Everlasting Memory
We are now back at home for several weeks but our minds are still in the beautiful Kenyan National Parks with their amazing wildlife (Samburu, Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara, Amboseli). Our safari was perfectly organized by Sylvester and our driver/guide David was not only knowledgeable but also very friendly and accomodating. Whenever we liked to stay a bit longer somewhere he just waited until we were ready to move on. He even made our game drives a bit longer than other drivers. The Sopa Lodges we chose as accomodation were really nice and comfortable, but their locations are just a bit offside from the main animal spotting areas. Although the roads within the NPs as well as some roads outside are really bumpy, it is still manageable to go by van (instead of a jeep).
When we were planning our safari Sylvester was very helpful, and he even re-scheduled our originally booked Kenya/Tanzania safari at a later stage to a safari just within Kenya. We met him twice at the beginning of our tour as well as at it's end when he sat down with us and asked us about our trip experiences in detail and feedbacks respectively.
All in all we had an unforgettable safari that was worth the time and money we spent!! From the very beginning we had a good feeling about Sylvester and African Servalcat Safaris and it came fully true. We thank Sylvester and David for making our holidays an everlasting memory!!!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Trip - would do it again!
Visited in early May for 4-5 days on Safari. Tresmania Lodge was fine, a bit rustic but enjoyable overall. Food was very good. Enjoyed the Monkeys and all the wildlife in the area. Guides were very good. Very little down time as we were kept busy. Would do it again if I could find the time!