35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A breathtaking journey to a magical place with a surprise around every corner
The night before our visit to Ngorongoro National Park , my partner and I had booked a stay at the secluded Kiruruma Tented Lodges after a visit to Lake Manyara National Park. We had arranged this through our hotel in Moshi and were not prepared for what we found. A must! We were given a warm welcome by the staff there and were met with drinks at the entrance. We were then taken down a series of pathways, through the natural flora to our lodge. It was beautifully designed in every detail and luxuriously furnished to a standard we hadn't expected. Each lodge is set away from the next and is perched on the hillside with stunning, uninterrupted views of the Serengeti from its veranda . Ours was called 'Kilimanjaro'. The staff were already aware that we had climbed the mountain 2 days before but we never found out if this was a coincidence or by design. Everything about our stay was outstanding: the food in the thatched restaurant, the friendly and efficient service and of course our accommodation and a peaceful night's sleep.
Our driver, Chaz could not have been any more accommodating. He was very knowledgeable and could be relied upon to tell us about the culture, flora and forna of the area; occasionally pulling to a halt, en route to the reserve, to show us animals he had spotted (on one occasion Masai Giraffes). He had also advised us to make an early start to make the most of the day and we were so glad that he did. The Ngorongoro Crater itself is one of the natural wonders of the world and our first view of it was breathtaking, in its beauty and sheer scale! (260 square kms). We wound our way down the 600m to the crater floor. If you are an animal lover (or even if you are not) this is heaven! We saw everything we hoped to see and so much more. Chaz's keen eye spotted animals we would never have otherwise seen and he was always on hand to identify animals for us. On the day we went, the weather was warm and sunny and perfect for taking pictures or for seeing more elusive animals through our binoculars (like black rhino!). It was surprising how close we could get to wild animals in their natural environment: elephants, lions, wildebeest, zebras, hippos, buffalo, baboons, ostrich, hyaena, gazelles and so much more. All from the safety of the 4X4! We only had the 2 of us and our driver in the car and this allowed us a little more flexibility, I think. Chaz was always happy to stop when we asked him or drive to where we could view animals we had a particular interest in and he played a big part in making the trip so special and one we will never forget. A MUST for anyone who finds themselves in Tanzania!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Serengeti National Park by Diana Moss
The Serengeti National Park was a highlight of our Tanzania trip, as we got to experience the herds migrating. We saw so much in only 4 days - 35 lions (many in trees), leopards, hyenas, a serval, a few kills and huge herds of elephants, giraffe, zebra and gnu.... as far as the eye could see. It was exhilarating, and you often find yourself alone with no one else around, just the Serengeti plains stretching in front of you.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Lake Manyara National Park by Diana Moss
It's a beautiful & scenic park with varied landscapes (dense forests, and the wide open expanses around the lake) and more giraffe than we have ever seen in one place. We did not, however, see the fabled "tree climbing lions" - which we saw plenty of in the Serengeti National Park.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A once in a lifetime experience.
We went to the Ngorongoro Crater in our own vehicle (on a self-drive safari) and it was a great experience. The roads are well kept, and the camping was excellent. We saw great sightings like a white rhino, lions in the forest and more antelope, zebra & gnu herds than you can shake a stick at. It's also wonderful seeing the Maasai with their herds in and around the crater, where they live.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Tanzania by Marc Whitlock
I don't know if my visit was an exceptional one (I saw everything I hoped to and lots more) BUT I suspect you are almost guaranteed to see the bigger animals....and at close range! I would recommend a trip to Tanzania to anyone. Wonderful people and landscape!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Tanzania by Diana Moss
The wildlife viewing in the Tanzanian National Parks is unparalleled.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Maasai Mara. Kenya's Jewel
The fauna in the Mara is diverse and the natural beauty of the reserve is unquestionable. Home of the rich Maasai Culture, a place where humans and wildlife co-exist in awesome harmony
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent Tour Company!
If you are shopping around for a good tour company, look no further. You will find Stephen and his team at Cul Tours to be knowledgeable, professional, and completely trustworthy. Throughout our experience the owner, Stephen, was very efficient with email communications, understanding of our need to keep the budget low but still have an enjoyable experience, and extremely patient with all our questions - even when I asked for proof of his physical office before I sent the deposit!
My niece and I were met at the airport by Stephen (and had our first concern erased of whether the person you've been communicating with online will actually materialize when you arrive!), and introduced to Milton, who was our guide for our 3-night trip to Lake Mburo and Queen Elizabeth parks. Milton was great: extremely punctual, very knowledgeable about many subjects - wildlife and otherwise - and a lot of fun! He was well-connected with many other guides in and around the parks and they were constantly sharing information about which big animals were where. One evening we were just about to head back to the lodge (Bush Lodge - great place, amazing food!) and Milton stopped to chat with another guide and learned about a lion sighting in the park. So we turned around, went racing back into the park (despite the fact it was about to close) and saw not just one lion but an adult male and female and 6 young ones! We talked to many others back at the lodge who hadn't seen the lions and we may have missed them as well had Milton not taken that extra initiative.
On our final day we had a quest to see some elephants (we happened to have a couple of cool, wet days in QE park so they weren't easy to spot) and again Milton went the extra mile, checking the usual elephant hangouts, asking around the guide network to get some tips. We had a couple of false alarms but just as it was getting late he stopped the truck and pointed through a little clearing in the trees where the elephants were enjoying themselves by the water. Mission accomplished!
Our experience was first-rate from beginning to end. Stephen runs a very professional operation and I can recommend them without hesitation!
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfectly organised and highly individual and enjoyable safari tour that exceeded our dreams
We booked a private 14 day Safari and were amazed by the professional, 100% reliable and smart planning, the warm hospitality and the knowledgability of our driver-guide. The itinerary perfectly mixing basic and luxurious accommodation, long journeys and own physical activity, ensured intensive impressions and learning as well as relaxation and well-being. Our wishes and needs were always taken up, the atmosphere was familial, trustful and highly positive. Discussions during meals and journeys provided valuable insight into the Tansanian history and culture as well as an exchangee on more global topics. We will not forget these holidays!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Brilliant 4 day Kruger Safari with Wild Wings
We have just returned from South Africa after what can only be described as a holiday of a lifetime. From the very beginning Clare was an absolute star - helping me decide on what I was really looking for and organising everything for me. She was extremely patient/quick to respond to my endless questions and 50 plus emails.... A massive thanks also goes to Simon who was our excellent guide/chef/host for the first four days of our Safari journey. Simon was an experienced and knowledgeable guide who made every safari exciting and memorable. The game drives exceeded all our expectations - we can't count the number of times we saw the Big 5 and the game drives were just out of this world. Simon is also a great cook - and his enormous brunches deserve a special mention! The rest of our holiday at Hippo Hollow and Idube Private Game Reserve went like a dream and was superb. Thanks again Clare at Wild Wings for organising everything for us. Wild Wings exceeded our expectations - just book it!