35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fast and efficient organisation
Fast and efficient service and proposals
Pleasant and wellcoming agent
Disappointed by Sun City : in winter too cold for water activities + no dinner facilities at Cabanas Hotel
Good advice for the safari lodge Black Rhino : pond in front of the lodge, animals come to drink + very warm wellcoming staff + a very interesting guide - a very special experience.
ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Very professional and dedicated
Very professional and dedicated. They help you all the time before the safari if you need something or in case of doubts. Also during the safari for anything you need.
A tale of two halves - serious birding on long dusty roads followed by stunning scenery and Geladas
Ethiopia is very much open for business. I felt safe throughout, despite the apparent chaos and sometimes (always non threatening) gun wielding men. At every check point we were waved through with a smile, whilst the locals were grilled. Yes, there are a few areas tourists are advised by their governments not to venture but then the same holds true for most countries.
Four weeks without illness or issue, not even a flat tyre, and just one mosquito bite. Oh, and it rained for 30 minutes one night. For accommodation lower your expectations - hotels are safe and clean but basic; electricity not always reliable. Clean linen, flush toilets and warm showers, even in the remotest towns. But it was a tough and tiring trip in the south where few venture except serious birders. Here the roads were in poor condition and crowded with wandering domestic animals. My first surprise was how the lack of persecution of birds has resulted in birds being unconcerned by people; resulting in superb views everywhere - a real pleasure that is so rare in much of the world today. My second surprise was the availability of free wifi in even the remotest hotels.
Bale Mountains were stunning until I ventured north and the real highlight of the trip - the 'Simeon' Mountains (as throughout Ethiopia various spellings exist!). Here you can sleep at 3300M asl after hiking during the day at 4300M asl. I even had a beer at apparently Africa's highest bar. Whilst the purpose of my trip was an organised bird watching tour (successfully!) focusing on seeing all of the 17 endemic species and most of the 42 Horn of Africa specialties, the final surprise was the huge mammal list we ended up with. I just had not appreciated how good Ethiopia is for mammals. Incredible and multiple views of hunting Ethiopian Wolves on the Bale Mountain plateau, Black-and-White Colobus monkeys, two species of Zebra, handsome Hartebeest, gorgeous Gerunuk, timid Oribi, stately Oryx, Gazelles galore, skulking Menelik and the magnificent Mountain Nyala all easy to see and un-perturbed by people. The latter being the last large African mammal discovered by modern man.
Saving the best to last, they talk about seeing Gorillas in Africa but right up there in terms of a one-on-one almost life changing experience is surely the Gelada Baboons of the Simeon Mountains. These extraordinary, peaceful, grass eating beauties allow you to sit within 1M of them and become one of their tribe. There are no time limits and no exorbitant fees. And there were hundreds of them going about their daily routines. Time flies invisibly when you are staring out at some of the world's most stunning escarpment scenery whilst pretending you are not a Gelada.
Finally do try the injera just to say you did so, but for me that "once" was enough.
SE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome
Awesome experience with a great guide who knew a lot about the animals and all the best spots to see them and take amazing pictures with the beautiful scenery.
NL
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about South Africa by Rob Keulemans
South Africa has it all and for all tastes.
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Pleasant stay at Chogela Camp-Ruaha NP
We visited Ruaha NP and stayed at Chogela Camp. It is a nicely setted tented camp with camp fire in the evening and very delicious dinner. The tour was guided by a very enthusiastic nice tanzanian who gave a lot of information to the park and the anaimals, so it was an interesting day throughout. Also all other poeple in the camp were very pleasant
Several but very minor details prevent me from giving 5 stars (Tent not closing properly, no light in the toilet or shower, sparse toilet paper, well, can live with it and prepare myself). I would definetely go go and stay there again, the next time we will visit.
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Zambia by Wild Edu
EE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Madagascar: An island of stark contrasts, with many unique animals and birds that make it special.
Madagascar is a land of enormous contrasts. It has some of the most beautiful locations, such as Nosy Be and the surrounding islands, but it also has stark poverty and ravaged land, as we experienced when driving through the interior of the island. Our main focus was to bird watching, as there are hundreds of species, of which about 120 are endemic (only found in Madagascar). In many ways the animals are similar, with many endemic species, especially lemurs.
We hired a guide for our two week trip, which was necessary, as directions are not easy to follow, driving can be hazardous, language is a barrier and accommodation difficult to find, especially in rural areas . Our guide solved all these potential problems for us. He was also a source of amazing information about the country and people, helping to answer all the questions we had as we drove through a diversity of landscapes and habitations.
Madagascar has a lot of poverty, quite an eye-opener for someone coming from the first world. Finding good quality accommodation was a challenge when going anywhere off the beaten track, as is the case when visiting remote National Parks, as we did, to see some of the wonderful birdlife. We had to rely on the services of regional experts, who did us proud.
Even in Antananarivo, which is a huge, sprawling city with limited infrastructure, good hotels were few and far between. Once arrived at a hotel, there was little desire to go out and walk around, we used the city as a link to go from one side of the country to the other. Having said that, the hotels we stayed at in Tanna were excellent.
We spent a couple of weeks seeking out a number of widespread National Parks which had wide-ranging habitats for animals. These included Maevatanana, Akarafantsika, Anasibe and Mantadia National Parks, which were wonderful. One jewel, in Antananarivo itself, the Tsarasaotra Private Park, was quite amazing, with thousands of different birds.
After having driven around the country for two weeks, we then flew from Tanna to a different world at Nosy Be, right on the north coast of the country, where we found the most picturesque and modern holiday world. The coastline, the islands, the sea and the animals were stunning. We stayed a few nights on the island of Nosy Komba, just 30 minutes boatride from Nosy Be. We felt totally spoilt at our accommodation at 293 Nosy Komba, a small villa. I'd go back there in a heartbeat, it was so beautiful. One can snorkel from the beach, or take a boat to various other spots nearby.
I believe that some airlines have flights directly to Nosy Be from Europe, it is such a magical spot, far away from everything.
For something completely different, go to Madagascar. Our trip was arranged by regional specialists, something I would recommend.
CL
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Above expectations. Guide Keegan very nice and knowledgeable
The whole experience was very regarding.
Hotel in Johannesburg excellent
and Safari lodge outstanding.
Luxurious, comfortable and food
very good and unexpectedly cheap
Would higly recommend it