Zanzibar Escape
Trip was well organised - everything was taken care of. Beautiful resort - accommodation, food exceeded our expectations.
MX
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Westernized Africa
You can't beat the wildlife and scenery of a safari, that's for sure and it's worth every buck. However, it did feel heavily commercialized and not very authentic in terms of the people and the vibe. It's the first safari I ever take and my views could be exclusive to Kenya, Amboseli NP or the company I chose (which was very good by the way), but to me it felt artificial in a Disney-like manner. Please don't get me wrong: I stayed perhaps in the best hotels I've ever stayed and got some of the best customer service; the guide and all the staff were always trying to please us and make us happy. Maybe this was the problem ... it felt like Cancun, Miami or anything else but Africa, a standardized and westernized vision and feel of tourism. If what you are looking for is to get to know Africa's epic wildlife with international comfort then a safari is your best choice, but if you want to discover a new culture, then make a change of plans or balance your trip with something else. We also went to Ethiopia and while the comfort standard was light years away from Kenya, the social-cultural component of that part of the trip was much more genuine and memorable. In terms of wildlife, orangutan trekking in Borneo or walking among gellada baboons in Ethiopia feel much more authentic, although not as impressive as what a safari reserve can offer. I think it's a matter of what your profile is and the expectations you have. Again, my only safari experience is in one reserve in Kenya and things could be very different in other places, I don't know but I doubt it. Personally I would take a safari again (tampering my expectations) if I was traveling to Africa on a longer trip. I would never plan a trip exclusively for a safari.
GR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
amazing experience
Thr nature is amazing, of course there is also poverty but the people are very kind and share everyhting.
The weather is ok sunny . There is toooo much dust around the city. ALl the quides are incredible they can see animals kilometrs away.
ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Sharing a safari and the Kili climbing
I can say that I'm very happy after my experience in Tanzania with World Tours and Safari.
They were very helpful (to the point of lending me some clothes and a thicker sleeping bag up in the mountain), and I felt I was really taken care of. Even my guide invited me for dinner the day after the climbing in Arusha, with his family and some friends.
The safari was amusing, we saw the big 5 amongst many more. The only black point of the trip was that the car broke down at a certain point, so we spent some hours waiting for it to get fixed.
PT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
amazing service provider for travel photography
20 days traveling through Tanzania with "it started in Africa" allowed me to photograph people, landscapes and wildlife in fantastic environments and with low budget I had.
I recommend this operator to all who seek to know the tanzania, with an optimal price / quality ratio.
I liked very much, and repeat all over again.
Experienced and Dependable
This is the third time I have used Somak for a 'special' holiday (having been, with them, to Tanzania, Kenya, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Zanzibar and Mauritius). Somak are experienced in their field and 'know their stuff'. They will advise as appropriate and also research and arrange any bespoke requirements their clients have - I usually have something I've read about that I'd like to do and they've never failed to disappoint. All of our holidays have been multi-centre but the experience is seamless - when we travel to a new destination, without fail there is always someone to meet us - which is invaluable when you are in unfamiliar surroundings. The only thing I would recommend to Somak is that they build in a courtesy call when their clients return from holiday - I usually have some constructive feedback where improvements could be made and I feel they are missing a trick by not doing this. But, in terms of recommending Somak as a tour operator, I wouldn't hesitate.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Lake Ziway is a birder's paradise!
I visited Ethiopia for 10 days with my family. This was not our first trip to the country, but this was my first time to have some time dedicated to viewing wildlife. Ethiopia has a rainy and a dry season. Roads can be difficult to navigate during the rainy season (July - September). We were fortunate to travel during the dry season (March) this time around. I am an avid birder and photographer and I really enjoyed our 2 days at Lake Ziway. We didn't use a guide - we just hired someone to drive us from Addis Ababa to Lake Ziway (about 3.5 hours drive). Addis Ababa sits in the mountains but shortly after leaving Addis we descended to lower elevation into what is much more iconic African savannah scenery with Acacias and sparse scrubland.
We stayed at a resort along the shore of Lake Ziway which was fitting of the name. They have nice, clean accommodations, a good restaurant on site, a nice pool, manicured grounds, spa, etc. They can arrange a very inexpensive (US$6 per person) boat ride out on the lake to view hippos and "bird island," which is a forested island that serves as a rookery for cormorants and African Darters. The boat ride was just over an hour in length and we had great views of hippos at a close, but safe, distance. With a field guide and several hours walking along the shoreline of the lake you can easily see 100-150 species of birds. The sheer number of birds can be overwhelming at times. There is a paved walking trail that runs parallel to the shoreline that is good for birding, but you'll also want to get off the path and walk out onto the mud flats to get closer to the water and away from people. Most of the roads in Ziway are dirt and it is safe to walk about and talk to the locals. We saw very few tourists during our two days in Ziway. I think maybe a total of 3 Europeans and that was it.
All of the local restaurants and hotels serve Ethiopian food, which is delicious. Even during fasting seasons, which most Ethiopians observe, these restaurants have meat available for their guests. Several also have western food items, if you are so inclined. The Haile Resort has Grilled Nile Perch, which was delicious. We also visited a local fish market, which was little more than a lakeside fire ring and someone cooking fresh caught fish, which was really good and a fun experience. There are many Marabou Storks hanging out in this area, eager to eat your leftover fish bones, which you can toss to the birds.
CA
It was an amazing experience
Our guide was amazing, felt welcomed and safe. Be sure to bring bug spray and portable battery. Make sure to have some cash to buy beautiful jewelry from the massai community markets
BR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Once in a life time experience
We loved our trip to the Sossuvlei Desert. It is a unic place with scenic views and a good energy. It seams that Namibia is still evoluing in the tourst business. I think that the service given on the trip is too expensive for what they offer, but it is still worth. I would do it again.
IT
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
excellent experience
the country - which is called the "Pearl of Africa" is a gem, the western areas in particular.
I had a 4 day safari starting from Jinja in the east and including Lake Mburo, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Lake Bunyonyi. The places are wonderful and they deserve visiting.
I booked my trip through Tourist Centre Safaris' agency in Jinja and the program they submitted was simply super.
The accommodation chosen were great, all set in wonderful places with magnificent views.
I recommend Tourist Centre Safaris in Jinja for their skills and care with customers