35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Amazing in the dry season..... stark beauty amazing wildlife
Uganda is literally the best kept secret in Africa, all the parks you travel to give you an extra-ordinary personal experience and you have some amazing close encounters. The raw power of Murchison Falls is something to behold, a drive on the delta and you will see massive herds of Giraffe, Elephant and Buffalo and of course Lions. We were also fortunate to see a Leopard up close and personal...... AMAZING.
Once you head down south, you see the remarkable change in environment that exists, from the game viewing and climbing lions of Ishasha, to natural beauty of the Bwindi and the mountain gorillas, the diversity is simply extra-ordinary. Without doubt the absolute best part of any safri trip to Uganda, is the small numbers of tourist, you feel like you really are having an individual experience with nature, very rarely shared with other tourists.
Next up is Kidepo in October....... True wilderness.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A very memorable experience
It was a trip that I will long remember. Not just for the stunning African landscape, but for the way that the trip allowed me to also experience Masai culture, the people of Kenya, and to be embraced by their friendliness. East Africa Tours provided a complete yet budget-friendly way to live and camp in the bush. Our guide, Tom, was very professional; his hard work and dedication were evident in the number and variety of animals that we saw on safari. Goshen tent camp was a very new establishment at the time of my stay, and was very accommodating. Although I could have paid more at a different camp, and had more amenities, Goshen camp provided a very friendly and personal experience. The camp manager was attentive to all of the guest’s special needs and requests, and gave special care for our safety and security. I would highly recommend the experience to anyone else wishing to experience the bush, the animals and the people of Kenya.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Everything we had hoped for. All the animals, and the overwhelming beauty that is the Serenegeti.
Visiting the Serengeti evokes dreams of animals everywhere, close up experiences with them, big orange sunsets over vast plains, and the lasting memories that play in one's mind forever. Our trip there was all these things and more. Yes, we saw the big 5 twice over, with a close proximity that was astounding. We have come home with all the photos we dreamed of. I will admit, the drive across the high desert to the Serengeti was a bit rough, but it is Africa.
Four things stand out, if you are considering this adventure. The accommodations and meals were beyond excellent. The time spent with the Masai people was soul stirring. The simple beauty of the Ngorongoro Crater was stunning; a singular place of beauty in this world. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, was our guide, James Saituti. A modern masia, James was so very knowledgeable about all the animals we saw. He knew the terrain well, and put us in all the right spots to see everything. Indeed, more than most of the other travelers we met. We sat in the middle of the Wildebeest migration, and saw a cheetah make a kill. He took care of us like were family. Our suggestion is simple: hire Shadows of Africa, request James, and have the time of your life.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Everything we were hoping for.
My wife and I did a 12 day safari starting the last few days of August and the first week of September and it was outstanding. We visited the Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Amboseli and Tsavo East. The Mara was definitely the highlight of the trip. The wildlife there was amazing, especially the Mara triangle, although Narok county was good as well. We definitely enjoyed our experience in Kenya
IL
20-35 years of age
great experience, the staff was amazing
we had a safari trip with Big Time Holidays Ltd and the trip was excellent! we recommend it deeply.
OM
An amazing adventure
Our trip was excellent , the wildlife was wonderful, from the Elephants of Etosha to the very smelly Seals at Cape Cross , we saw various animals everywhere throughout our tour and 120 species of birds without having to look very hard. the scenery is spectacular and ever changing from mountain passes to the changing colours of the desert.
We booked a bespoke tour with Safpol Safari's and they sub contracted out locally based Fire Lily Tours, Wilfried our guide , and owner was excellent with wonderful local knowledge of Namibia , and always ready to stop for us to take pictures, our vehicle was a large 4 wheel drive with plenty of boot space. All the local people we met on route were very friendly helpful.
The weather for us was very good, as we live in the middle east, the generally warm days and cool sometimes cold evenings were perfect.
Accommodation was generally very good as was the food, but as we rarely got to stay more than one night because of our itinerary and lack of more time, we didn't get the chance to look around most of the venues - arriving late afternoon and departing at 08.00, because of the travelling distances involved.
The experience was wonderful, the people and whole country are a highlight, just beware when planning the distances involved, we averaged over 300 km a day on top of our site seeing.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Experience of a lifetime
I have been back 2 weeks and I'm already thinking about how I can save to go back to Kenya! When deciding to go on my first-ever safari, I chose the Maasai Mara because it is supposed to be the best for big cat viewing. It was a lucky decision, because Kenya has SO much more to offer. The scenery, and the chance to sit and watch elephants walk by very closely with just the sound of their tromping and chomping and no other vehicles in sight, was just one among many unforgettable moments.
We stayed in a budget tent camp which suited us well, because we were able to put the savings to a private safari (rather than a group tour) and the accommodations were better than expected! We had flush toilets, a comfortable bed, and zebras eating right outside our tent every night. The camp also was very accommodating to my dietary needs (I'm a vegetarian). The Maasai Mara is an amazing magical place, our tented camp overlooked part of it so we could see giraffes and wildebeests as as we pulled in.
Last but certainly not least, our safari guide MADE our experience. Although at other times interacting with various businesses catering to tourists I felt very much an outsider/a potential customer, our guide spent 4 days with us and treated us like friends. He was also extremely knowledgeable about Kenya's history, animal behavior, and conservation needs.
This was my first safari (but certainly not my last). My travel partner had been to South Africa and enjoyed it, but she said our Kenya trip was 8X better! The all-day private game drives, the amazing interactions with so much wildlife, and the knowledge and warmth of our guide made the difference for her.
DK
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Intense safari but poor accomodation
We had booked a 3 day safari in Masai Mara. We were picked up and dropped off in Nairobi. That means a very long drive for about 8 hours each way to get to and from Masai Mara. When we arrived at Masai Mara we were accommodated in a smaller lodge than payed for. It was not what we had ordered, but a lodge of very poor quality. The people at the lodge was extreme kindly and friendly. On the day of arrival we reached a short trip of about 2 hours before the sun went down. Next day we started early and had almost 10 hours of safari. We saw all animals. But it's hard to sit in a car where the bumping is going for hours. Our guide did a great job finding all the animals. The Masai Mara itself is exciting to drive around and it is amazing with the big scene and big flocks of animals. But the trip to and from Nairobi, the poor accommodation and the high price mean that we do not generally can recommend that kind of safari.
AE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Best company to deal with !
Fantastic response to queries, affordable rates, excellent staff, fulfilled all promises.
Had an amazing time with my family.
Efficient and friendly tour manager - Mr Allan Milambo.
Knowledgeable and friendly guide/driver - Mr Stanley.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome experience, will definitely go back!
The entire safari experience was great. Our guide, Matthew, from African Safari Guru, picked us up in Johannesburg and made sure we had everything we needed (including helping us to get a local SIM card for our phones). During the transfer to Arathusa, Matthew provided tons of interesting information about the area, the people, the economy .. the country in general. After 3 days at Arathusa, Matthew picked us up and drove us to Lukimbi. He took us through Kruger National Park, took us to the top of a "koppie" to get a 360 degree view of the park, which was amazing. My husband finally understood what I meant when I said "the bush" ... After our stays at the lodges (6 nights total), Matthew drove us to Nelspruit airport where we caught a flight to Cape Town where we spent another week. The lodges (Arathusa and Lukimbi) were very different but both amazing in their own way. The food and service was excellent all around. I can't think of anything negative at all. It was a great experience and we plan to go back. African Safari Guru did not disappoint and we will use Matthew again.