DE
We loved it
Very nice camp, real Safari feeling, very nice staff. Very reliable service, nice to be off the beaten track.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
I have dreamed about going on safari since I was a child and it was everything I dreamed of!
This trip for my daughter and me was truly amazing. The wildlife, the scenery and the whole Tanzanian experience was a trip off a lifetime. The Tanzanian people are very friendly and helpful. We were lucky to witness the migrating wildebeest river crossing, the amazing cats, elephants giraffes, zebras, rhinos and many more species. The tented camps allowed us to fall asleep to the sounds of hippos and lions in the nighttime background. We became friends with our private driver, Daudi Majengo, who had an uncanny ability to locate the animals we wanted to see. The Tanzanian government has done a great job preventing poaching and protecting these amazing animals. After our safari we flew to Zanzibar to tour Stone Town and Zanzibar's beautiful beaches, a great way to end a tremendous expedition.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exceeded Expectations
My wife and I traveled from the end of June into early July. This was our first trip to Africa and it exceeded all expectations. It will not be our last trip.
Transtrek made booking painless. Daniel was responsive, offered suggestions without being pushy, and handled everything quickly. Our main driver and guide, Peter, was pleasant, knowledgeable, and always helpful. We hope to return to Kenya and will be contacting Transtrek when we do.
Our itinerary included Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, the Masai Mara National Reserve, and the Naboisho Conservancy. While the Mara and Naboisho were undoubtedly the highlights of the trip, the two lake parks afforded us the opportunity to see very different environments and some species not present in the Mara region. Naivasha is home to scores of bird species, which can be viewed quite closely during guided boat trips. Time in Nakuru allowed us to see both white and black rhinos. The sweeping, wildlife strewn, vistas of the Masai Mara were captivating. We even witnessed a leopard stalking a small group of Thomson's gazelle. The Naboisho Conservancy lacks the wide open spaces of the Mara but more than makes up for it with high wildlife density (notably lions) and the increased privacy found in the conservancies. Private conservancies also allow night drives and Bush walks, experiences not to be found in national parks and reserves.
Concerning our accommodations: we stayed in Sopa properties at Nakuru and Naivasha and Basecamp Explorer properties in the Mara and Naboisho. I would not hesitate to return to any of them. However, the Basecamp were a cut above, Eagle View in particular. Both Sopa properties were comfortable, had pleasant staff, and the food, served in a buffet, ranged from fine to good. The variety was good. Basecamp Explorer Masai Mara and Basecamp Explorer Eagle View are permanent tented eco camps with a strong Bush feeling. Masai Mara (12 tents) sits just over the Talek River from the reserve and Eagle View (9 tents) is arrayed along a ridge line within Naboisho. Both serve excellent meals created by in house chefs. Benson's food at Eagle View made sufficient impression for me to purchase his cook book. This is not something I typically do.
US
Fantastic experience!
We absolutely loved our SA trip! The safaris were amazing and we saw everything we hoped to! The Big Five and more. We spent a day on the Panoramic Route Tour and while it was a bit rushed fitting all the stops in in one day, the experience didn't disappoint.
FR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Magic experience with our Guide and all the staff of the hotel ! I recommend Speke Uganda Holidays !
Our guide from Speke uganda Holidays was very nice, smiling and professional .
The Birdnest Resort hotel at Lake Bunyonyi was beautiful with a fantastic view and a very nice and caring staff. Everything was perfect.
I really appreciated the human experience and the beauty of the landscapes.
And above all I will never forget the Gorilla Trekking experience...
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Affordable experience with a lot to offer
From the very first sighting of an elephant as we drove to our accommodation, this trip was full of unexpected adventures and memorable experiences. The guides were friendly and knowledgeable and went out of their way to ensure we had the best experience possible. Accommodation in the lodge was comfortable, meals were excellent and the staff great. It would have been nice to have a bar open for drinks and socialising with other guests. The vehicles for the safari were comfortable and allowed fantastic viewing. I believe a four-day safari offered a great range of experiences, as the trip to the rehabilitation centre and the other park were great. The day trip to Kruger was fun, together with the evening and early morning safaris. The walking safari was also a great experience, even if we almost came face to face with a rhino!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great trip to Tanzania.
This was our first trip to Tanzania. We saw Tarangin, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Minyara and the Serengeti. Grace put together a wonderful trip. The lodgings were beautiful! Food good ( and I am a picky eater).Our guides/drivers, David and Albert were very knowledgeable and informative. I was in Albert's vehicle most of the time and it was amazing how he could spot the game that was so far away. He was funny and had so much patience with our group that he drove. We saw a lot of different animals and even a couple crossings by the wildebeests and zebras. There was so much to see and of course the trip is never long enough.I would definitely use them again if I ever go back to Tanzania.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Authentic, yet organized and safe
Wildlife was maybe a bit too used to humans to feel "natural" but the benefit is that you can see lots of animals from very close. We often had elephants or even lions surround our car! Our safari guide, found on Safaribookings was really a small business owner working really hard to make it, and in addition to being a great tracker was also able to share with us over the dinner table a lot of his knowledge of the Bushmen tribe and other elements of history and of the local culture. My advice is to take a chance by going for a safari in a small group and with a small operator, even if they have few reviews. You may be in for a unique experience and meet extraordinary local guides.
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Selous Games Reserve
Amazing experience! The tour vas very-well organized, the guide was great and the hotel had a stunning view over Rufiji river! Highly recommended.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
BIG FIVE
My second trip to Kenya and I have always found the people working on Safari to be excellent guides and respectful, helpful people. I do not like visiting the villages because pressure is always too much-in fact one of the guests almost caused a fight with a warrior over not buying anything. I like the camps where wildlife is abundant in and around the camps. Some camps are too sterile --meaning they are fenced and nothing can get in, no monkeys, no antelopes...My favorite camp so far of the 7 we have stayed would still be Samburu Intrepids in 2012. That camp will always be what Africa means to me. The Masai Mara was not as many animals as the Serengeti or the Crater -sometimes we would spend hours upon hours just driving the sea of grass encountering nothing. Amboseli was the best for elephants and i encountered some of the largest elephants i have ever seen there. my favorite 2018 camp was Lake Naivasha Sopa-with zebras waterbuck hippos and giraffes and also vervet and colobus monkeys all on the lodge property.
