DK
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trustworthy and great service
We had a great trip to Masai Mara. The tour was executed exactly as described in advance. The service and food was very good and the guide was excellent at finding the wild animals,
Review about Mikumi National Park by Alistair Tough
Although the main road inland from Dar runs through it, it is not hard to get away into remoter areas. Watch out for tree-climbing lions. The camp site is basic but a wonderful place to enjoy the sounds of the night.
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Lake Manyara National Park by Alistair Tough
The park is quite small but has an unusual rain forest environment. The hotel overlooking Manyara has one of the most exciting swimming pools in the world - there is a thousand foot drop from one side.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve by quilttyme
Hluhluwe-Umfolozi is a very beautiful, hilly reserve. There are many animals and they are pretty easy to see.
As a reserve it is open to everyone and you can actually drive your car though on your own. This can tend to make it seem a little crowded.
Be sure to include lunch at the Hilltop Lodge which has fantastic panoramic views of the bushvelt (Afrikaans for bush country).
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Evening at Phinda
We did a late afternoon/evening visit to Phinda while on a cruise that spent 2 nights in Richards Bay.
We arrived at Phinda about 3 PM and went directy to the drive. We saw lots of giraffes, zebras and impala in addition to the cheetahs, water buffalo, elephants and nyala.
Without a doubt the highlight of the drive was when we came across two cheetahs eating a freshly killed impala. Our vehicle got to within a few feet of the cheetah and we stayed for half an hour watching them each, pull at the carcass, look nervously about and then return to eating. We could hear them breaking bones and smell the carcass. It was an unbelievable experience that according to our guide and others we met later a true rarity – many people go on numerous safaris and never see big cats eating a fresh kill.
When we left the cats we saw a very sad scene that reminded us of the wildness of the real animal kingdom. We came across a dead baby giraffe with its umbilical cord still attached. Our guide looked at it closely but could not determine what had killed it. There were no bite marks but he theorized it could have been a snake bite or just some birth problem. Another possibility was that it could just have fallen over. A little known fact, at least to us, was that if a giraffe falls over it cannot get up. They sleep on their knees.
When my wife asked what they would do with the giraffe the guide said they would leave it here and it would be eaten by the only two animals that would eat an animal they did not kill – vultures and hyenas.
Following our drive we went to the Mountain Lodge which was used for part of the filming of Out of Africa in 2008. We had an excellent buffet dinner that actually included grilled Impala which was very tender and at least I thought was good enough for seconds.
Following dinner we were treated to a slightly touristy Zulu dance presentation and headed back to the ship arriving at approximately 10:30.
We loved our experience at Phinda!!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Botswana by johannekekroesbergen
Botswana is probably more rugged than South Africa, and more tourist friendly than Zambia.
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about |Ai-|Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park by muchas641
wonderful desert-feeling, wonderful landscape!
Review about Kenya by Simon
Kenya is good, but the best place for a safari in Tanzania.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Tanzania by Subra
Tanzania is great but I would say it doesn't compare to Botswana or Zambia which offers more variety and exclusivity...however Botswana and Zambia seem more expensive.