35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good moments at the nature
Serengeti is a wonderful place, as well Tarangire park. The experience with the wild animals is fantastic and the "big horizons" of the Serengeti are wonderful.
Zanzibar Nungwi beaches are excepcional and the hotels at the beach have interconnection, so it's possible to try different restaurants every day.
Most of the restaurants at Nungwi serve excelent sea food.
Some points in Tanzania are problematic: 1) the insistence of vendors at the Nungwi beaches is terrible. They still offer drugs as marijuana and cocaine! 2) the bureaucracy at the airport is unbelievable. It's necessary to reserve extra 30' after check-in to go trough the immigration and at the double or triple check of passport. 3) the Zanzibar airport is without air-conditioning and has a poor roof, so it's like a sauna. The restarant upstairs takes to much time and charges extortionately for simple food.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great guide, good value for money
Maturaf organised 6 nights on safari in northern Tanzania and Zanzibar for my husband and I. His correspondence before booking was professional and he was flexible in tailoring the trip to work with our schedule. The rates were very competitive and now, after having seen the accommodations and experienced the luxury of a private tour, I think Regional Tours offers great value for money. Once we had paid the deposit and before the trip, there was a noticeable lack of response/information from Maturaf. For example, we would have liked to see confirmation from each hotel/camp that our bookings had been made, and although Maturaf told us repeatedly they would be forthcoming, they never were and so we made these confirmations ourselves directly with the hotels/camps. Once we arrived in Africa, Regional Tours proved to be very reliable and everything went smoothly – although we did always wonder after the poor correspondence we had received before arrival. Our driver/guide, Didas, was very helpful in recommending when we should make a start in order to cover what we wanted to see, and it was so lovely to have the flexibility of a private tour in our own jeep. Didas was a great driver (our game drives never seemed as bumpy as what others told us to expect), amazing at spotting wildlife, and knew so much about the parks – he’s been a guide for 12 years so he knows his stuff! The accommodations that Maturaf chose were lovely as well – even the tented camp was the poshest tent I’ve ever slept in! The only slight hiccup was that we had been quoted that bottled water was included on the game drives, but were told when we started our first day that it wasn't, which left us in an awkward situation as we had no internet connection with which to confirm this with Maturaf, and led to a mild case of dehydration for my husband that first day. In the end it wasn't a big deal as water was cheap and it only cost us $10 or so for the whole trip. Overall a great trip and I would use Regional Tours again.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A really good guide and efficient pre-tour organisatiion enabled a fantastic trip.
Simon was extremely efficient with his email correspondence and help with our itinerary prior to departure. He really made organising things easy. Our guide, James, was a bonus to have and helped make our trip trouble free and very welcoming. Whilst we understand the vehicles do take a battering we felt that it was slightly under our expectations. Overcoming a hitch with an accommodation booking and an unexpected early departure on our final day didn't dampen our experiences. Very memorable trip.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great tour guides that made this an unforgettable experience!
We had a great experience with the guides and were very lucky during our visit. We saw all of the Big 5 and everything on our list. The scenery was beautiful and the evening drives were always our favorites with the gorgeous sunset. Overall would recommend Viva Safaris but recommend looking at Trip Advisor for details on the lodging.
IN
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Could have been better if Not for the condition of the roads and the Cramped Safari Vehicle
We took a 5 day safari visiting a night each in Lake Naivasha and Lake Nakuru and 2 nights in Masai Mara. We booked through Karibu
Safaris and I must say we were very happy corresponding with Robert, and he was so prompt in Replying. We were over all happy with
the safari but for the following:
- Our plan was changed with the excuse that someone missed their flights. Am sure this was not true. It was Ok for us but then I had an ailing mom back in India and left the day to day hotel contacts and programmes back home incase of emmergency. Thank god nothing happpened.
-The Vehicle with just the two of us was pretty comfortable on the 1st day, but then the next day we were 6, and the 3rd day there were two more and the small vehicle was cramped to capacity. If you are above 6 foot tall you would find it very difficult to sit in the vehicle with more than 6 people.
- At Masai Mara, without prior notice, we were changed from the Mara Springs Camp to Lenchada Resort. It was very basic, but comfortable, thank heavens, food was also good. Here again we were told the hotel is full, but am sure it wasnt.
-We were not very happy with the Hotel in Naivasha - The Taphe Guest House, we changed two rooms, TV didnt work, no sockets to charge, the bathroom was shabby and nothing worked properly, no free water, food was average.
-Would have preferred a better hotel in Lake Nakura - The City Max hotel was OK, but the room was stuffy with no fan. We opened the windows but was invaded by mosquitos. We went early Feb but I honestly feel this hotel should have a fan in the room.
- Worst of all, for almost 100 kms into Masai Mara, the roads were non existent, the dust, the bumpy ride is something I would never forget. Looks like the chinese are poking their nose in Kenya and instead of doing the road up in bits and pieces, scraped up all the Tar once and for all. It was a hectic and terrible ride in and out of Masai Mara.
-The Masai Village is a rip off, and the people there are greedy. Dont go there unless you want to waste your dollars.
And finally an advice to Single women, beware of your over friendly driver. In our case, the driver dropped us at our Nairobi Hotel and went all the way back to Lake Naivasha to tempt a Single Dutch lady traveller into going with him to a bar for a drink and then soliciting some fun. He was disappointed his offer was turned down and kept asking her if she hasnt cheated with her husband. This was shocking to us as the fellow seemed such a quiet chap and never opened his mouth ! He told the dutch lady, all single ladys like fun, but then,he shouldnt presume !
On the whole I found the Karibu safari reliable, safe.... and would recommend. They offered me complimentary airport-Hotel in Nairobi- airport transfers and I paid a nominal deposit by paypal and the balance on arrival which worked out fine. I did a 5 hour walking tour of Nairobi City for USD 10 per person and enjoyed it. I stayed at the Best Wester Meridian in Nairobi for USD 70 a DBL incl of breakfast and taxes and would strongly recommend. Lovely rooms, superb and safe location, lovely breakfast and walking distance to Malls and supermarkets. Nice very cheap places to eat next to the hotel.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
My Africa dream
We have an "Africa dream" and Afroriginal made it come true. Fay is a very great driver and guide and did his best to take us to the migration. He know so much about the animals and is very good at spotting them. Our cook, also gave us wonderful meals and very large portions. I would recommended Afroriginal for sure.
GR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience. Many pictures, many wild animals, fantastic environment
We sow over than 30 different species of animals. Serengeti and Ngoro Ngoro were the places that we visited. The environment was amazing and the weather conditions on February were ideal for the safari experience. The location of the camps is inside the savana. During the night you can see also wild animals around the tends. It looks like dangerous but it is just adventurous. There is no risk on that, because there are always guardians around. Fredie, our guide was very good. It is important to know where you have to go and find out where the wild animals are. He was very friendly and help us to have the best experience. Thank you
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful
Our family of 5 recently did the 6 day safari with Becon safari. The
communication and booking through Robert was excellent and prompt. We were
picked up in Nairobi, went to Ambosili, Massi Mara and Lake Nakuru. The
accommodation and meals were very good.
Our guide was an excellent driver, polite, friendly enough, found and
showed the big 5, and many other wild animals, which in itself was
fantastic! He also spoke to the front desk at one of the lodges and
promptly got us a room when ours wasn't ready at check in, which was very
much appreciated after a long day of travel.
Beacon Safari was easy to book, took care of all the details, and a good company to go through if thinking of going to Kenya.
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent adventure in the Northern Circuit of Tanzania
For months, the two of us had been planning our journey through Tanzania, and of course a safari was something we were keen to include in our itinerary. After some exploration and requesting quotes from different companies, Northern Circuit Adventure's Mike Ndallo positively stood out for his swift replies and well-priced itinerary. When asked, he presented us with the necessary official documents, which confirmed to us that we were dealing with a legitimate company.
When we finally set out on our three-day trip through Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara and met Mike in person, he struck us as very friendly. He informed us that on the first two days, we would be joined by two Canadian women, who turned out to be great fun to spend time with. Our driver - Godson - was also great fun to be around, because he possessed a very good sense of humor and more knowledge of local wildlife than an encyclopedia. In the evenings, we ate beautiful two-course dinners followed by fresh fruits, all beautifully prepared by our cook. Expecting to sleep in a wafer-thin tent - we were very pleasantly surprised to find that our tent was sturdy canvas with an en-suite bathroom and (cold) shower!
Our third day in Lake Manyara was a bit more quiet, also because of a change of drivers. Godson had a doctor's appointment, and our new driver - still a young student of wildlife management - was rather quiet. As a result, we did not get to learn as much about our surroundings as on the first two days.
But what the new driver lacked in communication he made up for in helpfulness. At the end of our safari he and the cook gladly drove us to the next destination that we had planned ourselves - which was a one-hour drive from Arusha.
So all in all - a very pleasant experience with only one slight hiccup!
CN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent 6 day safari
All was fantastic. The driver /guide (primarily a driver) was great. Accommodation ranged from fair (permanent tents) to very good for hotel nights. "Head office" were sometimes slow to provide information, booked documents, and there were a few items that people were not sent all all - which the driver was able to sort out after phoning head office several times. I suppose the clue is in the name, "Budget safaris", I WOULD book this trip again!