GR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A really experienced tour operator
It’s a lifetime experience! The trip was well organised and our driver really experienced. His name is Good Luck and we totally recommend him. He explained everything to us and we managed to see all the animals we wanted, even the rare ones. He also took us to a Maasai village in order to learn about their culture (we paid an extra fee to the Maasai for this visit). Please don’t miss Serengeti! If you have a good safari guide, it will give you the most unforgettable adventure of your life!
Asante sana!!!
IE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a lifetime turned into big disappointment because of this tour operator.
Our recent 10-day Safari and Zanzibar trip with Shengena Adventures, managed by Mike, was a major disappointment. While we did see the Big Five, several issues severely marred the experience:
Poor Communication:
There were significant communication breakdowns between the tour manager and our guide. On two separate occasions, we were left waiting for hours due to miscommunication, wasting valuable game drive time.
Substandard Vehicle:
The jeep provided was in terrible condition, lacking air conditioning, with frequent breakdowns, and was extremely uncomfortable due to bad suspensions. By the end of the safari, the dashboard was falling apart, making the experience unpleasant.
Mismanaged Transfers:
Our transfer to Zanzibar was poorly planned, leaving us wasting an entire day at a hotel instead of enjoying the beach due to a late flight booking.
Failed Engagement Surprise:
I had arranged a special bush lunch for my engagement, but it was a disaster. What was promised—a beautiful setup with champagne—turned out to be a cheap, poorly executed setup with alcohol-free grape juice. Despite paying extra, the experience was far below expectations, though I eventually received a refund after several complaints. See photo comparison on what was promised and what we received.
Overall, Shengena Adventures failed to deliver the quality experience we paid for. I wouldn’t recommend this company to anyone, as there are many other options that would likely offer a better experience.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Dedicated to giving their clients the safari of their dreams
We contacted Kitonga Tours to set up a custom 5 day Ruaha safari dedicated to finding wild dogs. They were the only operator who really seemed to understand and align themselves to our mission. We communicated with Paul throughout booking and he was able to answer all of our detailed questions. We stayed in the very comfortable and excellent value tourist bandas, and Kitonga arranged a chef to come with us who prepared delicious meals.
In the weeks before we arrived the wild dogs had seemingly vanished, but Paul and driver/guide Habakuki put together a methodical plan based on their vast knowledge of Ruaha National Park. Paul's positive attitude helped us carry through long days of searching on some of the most infrequently visited areas, and Habakuki was a total professional who knew every track in the park. We spent 4 great days in the park and had sightings of lions, serval, hyena, foxes, and more all to ourselves - but the wild dogs eluded us. Finally on day 5 the planning was rewarded when we spent over 30 magical minutes watching a pack of 16 wild dogs that emerged across the river, right where Paul and Habakuki speculated they might be.
We would absolutely book with Kitonga Tours again and would recommend Kitonga (and Ruaha National Park) to all of our friends.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An Amazing Adventure
My trip was amazing. Stanley, Morris and Marco were professional, courteous, knowledgeable and so much fun. I felt very safe and well cared for. The comradery was a beautiful sight to see. We did a week long tour and were able to see everything we had on our bucket list. It was just such an awesome adventure it is hard to capture in words. Take a tour. I highly recommend this company.
The lodging and food were exceptional!
Thank you The Soul of Tanzania...
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
ESafari Africa totally recommended!
I traveled to Kenya with my 8-year-old son, and we booked our trip through Eke. It was an amazing experience! Eke took care of everything for us, from planning the itinerary to providing valuable advice (such as reminding me to apply for a visa, which I almost forgot in the midst of work and kids). She created a package that perfectly suited our needs— a few days on safari followed by a relaxing stay at a beautiful hotel in Mombasa (Galu), which was ideally located away from the beach vendors.
One of the highlights was a snorkeling day at a nearby island, which included a delicious lunch at a cozy local spot. Eke was always available to answer my questions and made sure everything went smoothly, which I greatly appreciated since I was traveling solo with my son. The pickups and drop-offs were well-coordinated and hassle-free, and all of the accommodations were comfortable. The safaris were exceptional, and we were fortunate to witness the Great Migration!
Kenya is a beautiful place, but be prepared for locals frequently asking for money. Also, when visiting the Maasai Mara, the tribe members often try to sell souvenirs after showing you their homes, which may not be to everyone’s liking. That said, we saw all the animals we hoped to see, and the trip was truly unforgettable.
Thank you, Eke, for your patience and commitment!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tour operator was so charming and had a lot to say about wildlife, I learned much from him
We went to Mikumi in January 2024 and the trip was so great, Mood organized everything perfectly, we enjoyed so much especially when we saw animals so close to us, meals were so delicious and even the places we stayed were so nice, this won't be my last time to work with Mood
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good but can be better
Driver Dickson is good and helpful, however the plan was not well organized and time was wasted. Suggest you to double confirm all the schedule before the trip.
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing once in a lifetime experience
We had an amazing time. The planning process was easy and Talib was very easy to work with and was able to put together a trip within our budget and time constraints. Our guide was knowledgeable and knew the area and other drivers really well. He was able to get us to the places where the animals were quickly. Our accomodations were great and we were able to speak to someone and immediately resolve it when there was an issue.
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
11 out of 10
I find it extremely difficult to write reviews. This is mainly due to the fact that you never know who is writing them and what their standards are. That's why I never write one and I don't read much.
This time, however, I am making a conscious exception because I have never had such a perfect vacation as with Desert Africa Safaris.
We traveled as a family with two adult children, which has the advantage that you have the plane to yourself.
Katja Schneider organized what was possible within the framework of our given budget. She monitored everything in the background and our pilot Brandon from Desert Air not only got us from A to B perfectly and on time, he was also the organizer on site, anchor of stability, advisor and narrator. And all this at the age of 23. We didn't have to worry about anything, absolutely nothing. The lodges and hotels, which I don't want to go into here, were very well chosen for our needs - and that's what makes a trip individual. The most important excursions were booked in advance. If I could give Katja Schneider and Desert Air an 11 on a scale of 0 - 10, I would.
However, Namibia also makes it easy to feel at home there. Great landscapes, lovely people, fantastic wildlife and a vastness that is indescribable.
But you also have to do something yourself to make it perfect. You have to get involved, absorb the silence, appreciate the vastness and not always look for mistakes. Because they are part of it. Sometimes the meal takes a while, sometimes children make noise and the towels are not so fluffy. Sometimes you have to carry your bag yourself and spontaneously book further excursions on site. If that bothers you, you should stay at home. For me, perfect means going home with the feeling that you have to come back tomorrow.
Of course, I was worried the first time. So I had a queasy feeling when I paid the deposit because Desert Africa Safaris is far away in Namibia. But my trust was not disappointed. I also worried about malaria and snakes and scorpions. We didn't see any of those, in fact in August we didn't even see any mosquitoes - not even at the waterholes in Etosha. I can only advise anyone travelling in the Namibian winter to pack a down jacket and ski underwear.
(automatic translation from German)
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful experience
What am amazing experience our 2 day safari was. Edward from Plex was great in responding really quickly to any questions I had, all the staff were so friendly and helpful from Morris who dropped and collected us to the airport, to our safari guide Jafari, our drivers Eugenio, G and captain Kasimi in the boat they all ensured we had the best experience. All arrangements were stress free and were seamless.
The safari day inside the park was one we’ll never forget, we saw Giraffes, Antelopes, Impalas, Warthogs, Wilderbeast, Zebras, Hippos , Crocodiles, Baboons and our favourite Elephants. Our driver Eugenio was fantastic at taking us off the main roads to have the best chance of seeing so many animals and Jafari our guide was very knowledgable and informative. All the food was delicious and drinks were provided on the jeep. We were met at 8.30am off the plane and were dropped at the Selous lodge at 6.30pm, it was a whole day driving vast distances around the park, and the scenery and animals were fantastic. The Selous lodge was lovely, with a pool so a wonderful place to unwind. All the staff again were so friendly and helpful. Day 2 Jafari picked us up again and we went on a boat safari seeing hippos, crocodiles, and lots of wonderful birds, followed by a village tour to get a feel of local life in Tanzania and a school visit with lots of wonderfully curious children keen to show us their English and counting skills.
We had such an amazing experience, the Plex staff really did do their utmost to ensure we had a fantastic time. We feel it was good value for money, its been the highlight of our holiday and an experience we’ll never forget. Thanks Plex!