AE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Well organised and highly accommodating
Our experience with Kiliholidays was great. Firstly, they were very responsive and accommodating to our request, since our itinerary didn't fit with their standard offerings. Despite that, Mack (tour organiser) helped tailor a program especially for us to fit our tight 4 day schedule. Our tour included Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Serengeti National Parks.
Second, our tour guide Edward was an expert guide, skilled driver, and very hospitable host at the campsites we stayed at. He never failed to give us little facts about each animal or environment we encountered. Peter was also a great chef making great hot meals and cold packed lunches.
Third, the sights themselves were breath-taking, both of the animals and the different landscapes we saw! Would highly recommend Kiliholidays for anyone considering.
BE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great professional team
We started in Nairobi and went for safari in Masai Mara, Serengetti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire. Amazing honeymoon!!! South of Serengeti was not that exiting this time of the year, Tarangire was excellent to end, a beautiful region and lots of elephants.
Last week we stay in Zanzibar, relaxing island with good vibes.
SV
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
WONDERFULL SPERIENCE 15 DAYS KENYA AN TANZANIA-GREAT MIGRATION
I have been traveling through the great natural settings of Africa for more than 30 years. I love all of its great national parks. I was in Kenya and Tanzania some time ago and this year I decided that it would be a good time to go back and make my trip coincide with the Great Migration that takes place between Serengeti and Masai Mara. I planned a 15-day trip the first half of August and wrote to several tour operators to prepare an itinerary and a budget for two people. TWINKLE STAR TOURS responded to me immediately and with a much better budget than other tour operators. During the preparation James, his contact, responded efficiently and quickly to my requests and, finally, I opted for TWINKLE STAR TOURS on this trip to Kenya and Tanzania which has been wonderful. One of the reasons why I chose TWINKLE STAR TOURS was that most of the safaris were full day so the possibility of seeing the national park and its animals better was greater. On the other hand, the chosen accommodations had good recommendations and the final price was very good.
The scheduled tour was as follows: SAMBURU (Kenya), LAKE NAKURU (Kenya), MASAI MARA (Kenya), SERENGUETI (Tanzania), NGORONGORO (Tanzania), LAKE MANYARA (Tanzania), TARANGIRE (Tanzania), AMBOSELI (Kenya).
During the tour we had two driver-guides: Willie in Kenya and Hoza in Tanzania. We did the part of Kenya with Willie in a convertible vanette which, for two people, is sufficient since most of the parks in Kenya do not require a Land Cruiser and that, logically, makes the trip cheaper. Willie was an excellent driver-guide. He was always aware that we had the best service, the best room, the best position to see and photograph wildlife and he showed great solvency in solving situations that, without his action, could have turned into big problems. Thanks to his recommendation, we were able to see the Great Migration from the sky, as Katlen Blixen would say ... "With the eyes of God". On the third day of our stay in the Masai Mara, we took a balloon ride to admire this magnificent spectacle from the air. It really is an overwhelming natural spectacle. A 10 for Willie. He is also tremendously friendly and funny. We did the Tanzania part with Hoza, also an excellent driver-guide. He was always aware of locating fauna and placing us in the best position for photographing him. He gave us excellent knowledge about the national parks and their fauna and also about his country, Tanzania. With him we use a Land Cruiser since in Tanzania if necessary to move around its national parks.
The accommodations chosen by TWINKLE STAR TOURS were very nice and of good value for money.
In short, everything was wonderful, from the first contact with TWINKLE STAR TOURS until we said goodbye to their services at the airport. If I decide to return to Kenya and Tanzania again, which I do not rule out soon, or someone asks me for a recommendation, I would not hesitate to advise you to contact TWINKLE STAR TOURS. They are excellent professionals. And, without a doubt, I would return with Willie and Hoza as guide-drivers. They made the trip very easy, enjoyable, and instructive. And, it goes without saying, that Kenya and Tanzania are wonderful destinations to always visit and especially in this time of COVID, when the safest and most fabulous vacations are in nature, on safari.
Thank you very much TWINKLE STAR TOURS, Willie and Hoza for this magnificent experience and see you soon.
Gloria and Manuela
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent communication skills
I worked with Leonorah from vacay holiday deals and she was patient enough to look through dozens of places to find the best package for me. The responses were on time and we got everything we paid for. I was very impressed that she also made an effort to check on us everyday of the tour and ensured the service was excellent . The tour was amazing and the place we got was value for our money. The driver also did a good job to ensure we maximized our drive through Maasai Mara and was punctual as well. I was very happy with the trip and will definitely book with vacay holiday deals again and soon.
PL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Make your dreams come true with Fede Tours
We had together with Freddie and Martin fantastic week. Long story short first day you are meeting guides to run your games event and the last day you are leaving new, fantastic friends, like family members. The entire trip was so good that we are already planning next trip with guys to visit Uganda and gorillas. More details now. Our flight was way delayed, and guys were waiting for us at the airport till 2 am to provide as safe transfer to our hotel. During the entire trip whatever you need just say it and it will be done. Guys are very experienced they know very well where and how to search animals to show you as much as only possible. As an example, being in your car in the middle of the running stream of wildebeests and zebras after their crossing Mara River (big migration) is something you will never ever forget. Meeting thousands of all these fantastic animals is something you will never ever forget. Relation value to money goes to infinity.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The trip of a lifetime! Exceeded our expectations in every way possible!
My wife and I spent two years planning this trip, so we looked at every tour service out there. Nearly all of them had great reviews, but we were able to narrow it down to a few that we reached out to for more information.
What set Shadows of Africa apart from the very beginning was how thorough and thoughtful their responses were to all of our (sometimes silly) questions. We often didn’t even know what to ask, but we wanted to be as prepared as possible for this trip, so we sent many emails to Shadows, and without exception got the answers to all of our questions and many more!
Our contact, Inge, spent literally months helping us make decisions about how to create the best possible itinerary based on exactly what we were hoping to do and see. She was so patient with us, as we made change after change to our trip. Dates, lodging, where and how to see the most spectacular wildlife Africa has to offer, we would approach Inge with questions about what we could add (like the hot air balloon safari that was one of the absolute highlights of the trip) or how to change our route to ensure staying at a certain location (like the Melia Serengeti Lodge…another highlight). Inge told us that Shadows of Africa understands that for many people, like us, this is truly a once in a lifetime experience, and she and the company will do everything within their power to make sure it’s perfect.
By the time we headed to Africa, thanks to Inge, we were perfectly prepared for everything in store for us. We had no idea that our already-high expectations were going to be exceeded every single day.
I imagine no two trips are alike, as with a safari, you plan your trip around where the animals move to during very specific times of the year. So, there’s no point outlining which route we chose for the particular dates we were in Tanzania, but we visited the following locations (sometimes more than once):
• Lake Manyara National Park
• Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area
• North Serengeti National Park
• Central Serengeti National Park
• Southern Serengeti National Park
• Arusha
Every location was wildly different and wildly…wild. If you’re even considering a trip to Tanzania, you know the appeal already. Lions, elephants, giraffes, leopards, hippos, rhinos, every type of gazelle you can imagine, etc., etc., etc. All in one of the most beautiful and unique countries on Earth. What we were not prepared for was the sheer amount of all of this wildlife and beauty. Around every corner, down every road. Something in every part of every park that will stay with us for the rest of our lives. And it just doesn’t end. And that’s to say nothing of the experience of visiting Tanzania. It is a completely sensory experience that words and even photos don’t begin to do justice. Speaking with the locals, eating the foods, driving the roads, and hearing and seeing everything Tanzanian culture entails can only be experienced in the flesh. We had friends and family who had been before, and they all said essentially the same thing. “It changes you.”
The last thing I want to say is that our trip would have been outstanding regardless of who we were lucky enough to have as a guide. But our guide, Moody Kabongo, may have been the best part of our entire time in Tanzania. From the time Moody picked us up at the airport until the time he dropped back off to head home, we were smiling and laughing. I honestly don’t know that I’ve ever met a person with the kind of infectious charisma Moody brings to every conversation. Every single place we visited; everyone knew Moody. I’m sure all of the guides are knowledgeable and friendly. You couldn’t last long in that business without those skills. But Moody is something special. If you’ve ever been around someone who seems to effortlessly be instant friends with everyone they encounter, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
It’s hard to imagine this trip without having Moody as our guide. He was a huge part of what made our time in Africa so completely perfect, so when you go to Tanzania, first…get in touch with Inge at Shadows of Africa, and second (and I cannot stress this enough), tell Inge you want Moody.
What was great:
• Communicating with Inge from beginning to end
• The truck! We had everything we needed, including TONS of space to move around to get the perfect view of all the wildlife.
• The accommodations. Every place we stayed, at every price point, was breathtaking.
• The food! Both at lodges/tent camps, and even more importantly, while we were out on game drives, the food was absolutely incredible. This is one thing Shadows of Africa does better than any other tour operator (now that we’ve been and eaten with and around other guide services), and it’s really not even close. Every meal we had was a) delicious and b) ridiculously elaborate. When guides are out on game drives during the day, they pack lunches for their clients, and usually will all get together and eat in picnic areas out in the bush. This is fun for everyone, because the guides (and their guests) get a chance to talk and have a good time over lunch before getting back out to the wildlife. What we found is that our meals, which were hot and prepared by the lodge that we had come from, were always met with longing stares from the clients with other guides. I’m sure their food was good, but Moody would set out our table full of hot food and wine and coffee and tea, and it just made our days that much better knowing that whenever we were hungry and needed a break for a bite to eat and something to drink, it was going to be every bit as good as the food we were getting at the lodges!
• The value. These trips cost a good deal of money. They involve traveling across the world, staying in (often) luxurious lodges and eating world class food, all while having a driver with you every step of the way that takes care of every need you might have. We saved a lot of money to go on this trip, and all I can tell you is that we’d do it again in a second. I never once found myself thinking we should have found a way to cut a corner here or there. We got every dime’s worth out of this trip, thanks entirely to Shadows of Africa making everything easy on us. All we ever had to worry about was running out of memory card space on our cameras.
What we would do differently:
• Now that we’ve done it, the only thing we would change is somehow figuring out how to do more. Adding another day or two. Visiting one or two more parks. That’s it. I only wish that we had found a way to do more. But we’ll be back!
PT
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Reliable company .
Being passionate about photography and African wildlife, this year I decided to visit Kenya.
After an attentive internet search, I decided on an 8-day tour. I liked the itinerary presented by Amazing Memories safaris.
After a first contact with this company, I was positively impressed by Anne's helpful, enlightening and professional attitude.
I changed the program to nine days. I told her that my main purpose for this trip was photography and asked for a knowledgeable but above all patient guide.
David was exactly that. A kind and competent guide/driver, always ready to satisfy the customer.
I had the opportunity to take thousands of photos which included the migration by the Mara River, something not to forget.
The itinerary and chosen accommodation fulfilled my expectations.
Were really amazing memories
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
"They delivered all the promises as advertised and Mr Nelson my guide/drive was professional"
Nelson is one of the nicest people I have met!. He was so friendly and patient. Was a pleasure to travel with him. He is a good driver,answered all our questions and took care of everything we needed. A real professional!
If you're looking for a luxury tour,I recommend this tour operator!
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
great place nice hotel
My husband and I had a wonderful trip to Murchison Falls National Park, this company gave us great safari activities beyond our expectations. A friend recommended Kubwa Five Safaris to us and we don't regret having booked a trip with this company.
Everything was well planned and they fulfilled and meant their words. We had a customized itinerary that met our travel needs.
The game drives and boat cruise were out of these words.
Uganda is a Pearl of Africa, and it is surely gifted by nature, her flora and fauna is mind-blowing.
We enjoyed our driver, steven, he did a wonderful job and made us feel comfortable around him. He has an excellent way of communication, very knowledgeable about animals and birds.
The hotels and meals were great. There was the high level of hospitality at the hotel we used.
Kubwa Five Safaris you are the best travel company that I recommend to everyone.
Kubwa Five Safaris, you're the best tour and travel company in Uganda.
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Abdullie and his team were simply wonderful to work with.
We started working with Abdullie to create our itinerary 2 years ago. Our original plan was to visit Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania, however due to covid we decided to visit only Tanzania this year. We visited Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, the Northern Serengeti and the Central Serengeti.
Every aspect of our safari was so well planned, and the accommodations were lovely.
We had two guides during the duration of our trip, Michael and Juma. Both guides were not only extremely knowledgeable, but so personable and were just as excited to see things as we were, and they were so patient (we had a lot of questions!).
It was great to hear how much they knew about the wildlife and the areas, but we really enjoyed getting to know them as individuals.
To say Michael’s knowledge of birds was amazing would be an understatement. My husband would quickly describe a bird he saw to Michael and he would be able to tell us the type of bird and explain it to us. On top of that, he would always show us in the book and explain further.
Juma’s knowledge of the areas we were in were just astonishing. Sometimes I wondered where we were driving (not that I would have known anyway!), or what we were waiting for, but Juma was always a step ahead. On our last day in the Central Serengeti he drove us further out, and didn’t stop searching for male lions as those were the one big cat we hadn’t seen. Sure enough, Juma found us 3 male lions together!! The best part? We were the ONLY car there, so we were able to spend as much time watching them.
Abdullie and his team were available at all times…even with the time difference, Abdullie answered my emails and texts so quickly, regardless of the time. We really appreciated the communication between the team: Abdullie checking in on us, Michael connecting with Juma when we were changing locations, and vice versa. They just worked so well as a team…it wasn’t as if one individual knew something that the others didn’t, they were all in the communication loop.
We truly loved every aspect of our trip. There isn’t anything we would change. Abdullie was so patient with me throughout the whole planning phase (believe me, I know I’m not the easiest person to work with!), always quickly responding to my numerous emails and questions. Michael and Juma ensured we saw everything we wanted to, and spent as much or as little time viewing the animals as we wanted. In Tarangire there were elephants everywhere, and since Michael knew how much I loved elephants, he would point them out and stop EVERY SINGLE TIME we spotted them (which was quite often lol), and he would just stop and wait until I had gotten enough of watching them.
We saw several river crossings in the Northern Serengeti because Juma was determined to have us watch as many as we could.
Everything throughout our trip was seamless. Would we work with Abdullie and Wito Africa Safaris again? Well, we have the second part of our trip booked for next year already and it wouldn’t be with anyone else! The amount of time Abdullie and his team put into creating the perfect itinerary for you really shows.
I realize this is an extensive review, however this is short compared to how much more I wanted to write about Abdullie and his team, and our trip in general.
I highly recommend anyone who is looking to plan their safari, to just get in touch with Wito…I guarantee from the first response you receive from Abdullie you’ll feel like he’s a friend who just wants to plan the perfect trip for you. You won’t regret it!