20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Execelent adventure
Thanks to African game trek safari for arranging the lake Naivasha and Hells gate National park adventure tour. Our safari was arranged accordingly and it met our expectations. The tour was well organize and worth the amount we paid.
HK
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A delightful Safrai in Tanzania
The young entrepreneurs who run the company has been diligent with their prior arrival communication and the arrival and departure arrangement has been made with personal attention. Bartho and Carlson are very accommendating with questions and requests, ie binoculars and Coca Cola. I also leaned a lot about Tanzania from chatting with them as they are very open to share information of their country.
As a solo traveler, it has been difficult in getting a Safrai booking so I was very pleased to join two other solo travelers and a couple. Our guide Anward has over 20 years experience. His knowledge and passion of the parks and wildlife coupled with his sense of humour which made our long driving journey enjoyable. The public camping facilities are basic but adequate.
I could recommend Bartho and Carlson for others who are looking to do Safrai in Tanzania. They are equally professional and personable and their arrangement is reliable.
CN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Nice guide and reliable driver
Very reliable person with honesty and professional attitude.
ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Enjoyble and responsible safari
Me and my girlfriend organized a safari with Hilari´s company Suricata T & T. Since the beginning I had an easy, fluent and effective communication with Hilary. Our safari was 3d/2n visiting Tarangire,lake manyara and Ngorongoro crater.We had Harry as driver and Miren as cook.both of them really good and proffessionals.After we finished the safari and with sort notice,we´re backpacking in Tanzania,we decided to get our chances to join a safari giving us the opportunity to visit serengeti.Once again after speaking with Hilari,we embarked on a new adventure;this time ourdriver/guide was Mandela and Jeez as cook.I´m gonna put it sort and simple;"DREAMTEAM".Mandela has shown very good driving skills no matter the road conditions,really clear and effective with logistics and planning.Jeez was offering a nice variety of meals for all sorts of customrs,no matter age,nationality....
I´ve witness many drivers from other TO not respecting the path,to approach closer specially to predators (big cats) and cutting their way (I´ve got even proof). This is not responsible behaviour;our drivers at Suricata always respected that.It´s a really competitive industry, the safaries, in tanzania.Many times thnking of tips, drivers get closer to animals unresponsibly.don´t encourage your driver for such behaviour.Us, being people who pay to have a wonderful safari experience,doen´t give us any right to go over driver´s .Your driver/guide is the boss,liten to them.Get a closer experience helping the staff members when setting up campsites,assist your cook to prepare meals;,learn a bit of swahili;that will give you a closer and more balanced experience,not just being a white person pying money.I can´t tell anyone who to go with...but Suricata T & T yu should be on your list when planning excursions.we had 2 great safaries and I have only good words for Hilari and his team who made that possible.
assante sana and kwaheri rafiki
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great safari with professional company
I had a great safari with Meru Slopes Tours & Safaris. I chose the 6 days budget camping group option. The company is very flexible so you can do any number of days and they will add you on to other groups etc – so this worked very well for me as a solo traveller. I spent one day in Tarangire, 3 days in the Serengeti (including the time to travel there), one day in Ngorongoro and one in Manyara. If you have less time then they will probably suggest to sacrifice Tarangire or Manyara – this makes sense because, although these parks are beautiful and full of animals – the most exciting viewings are in the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro is a stunning setting not to be missed.
Geofrey dealt with my enquiries and bookings efficiently and professionally. Nuru picked me up from the airport with no problem and was interesting to chat to on the drive to Arusha. The hotel which they use before/after safari (Arusha Tourist Inn) is basic but more than adequate.
On safari our driver/guide was Douglas – he was a great character and really good at his job with many years’ experience. Our chef was Richard who was also a nice guy – the food was always very good and very plentiful. At the start/end of my trip the accommodation was Manyara Sunbright Lodge – tented structures with wooden bed, toilet/shower out the back. In the Serengeti and Ngorongoro you stay in actual tents on a public campsite – in the Serengeti this can mean animals walking through the camp – all part of the experience!
I give the trip 5 stars because I think it’s great value for money – and the staff and organisation are very helpful and trustworthy. Of course you can do more luxurious/bespoke safaris – but for the ‘going rate’ of around $200 per day for a budget safari I think Meru Slopes delivers a great experience.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Kilimanjaro Day Hike
I completed the Mt. Kilimanjaro day trip with Professional Safari Africa and cannot recommend them more highly! My guide Chacha made the whole experience even better than I expected, as he went above and beyond to make my experience memorable. Incredible friendly, helpful and humourous, and he even got some photos and videos of me with some monkeys during the hike. The food was also really good!! I would love to come back to do a safari tour with them next time too!
RU
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable experience in Kenya
We had a lovely 4-day safari trip at Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara. Dickson, our guide, was super friendly, extremely helpful and did whatever he could for us to have a trio of our lifetime - from spotting the leopard to having picnic lunch in the bush. Accommodation was great, especially Loyk Mara Camp - where else can you have zebras view at lunch or hear lions roar at night! Everything was very well organized - highly recommend it!
CL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good experience and recommendable but not liked expected and with many objections
We are a couple that booked a group joining safari of 11 days in Kenia and Tanzania with Pride o Africa. We booked it in advance from our country. Below I describe first all the positive things of our experience with this company and then all the negatives:
Positives:
- All the staff is very friendly and are nice persons.
- Stephen was very fast in reply all our inquiries before and during the safari. He was very attentive and was always concerned about us and our satisfaction.
- Jacktone and Deo, our drivers in Kenia and Tanzania respectively, were very good guides, they knew good the visited parks and made a big effort for giving us a great time.
-We could see the big fives (but leopard just one time and it was the last today and from afar).
-Both drivers cleaned the vehicules everyday.
-In general good organization (except the problems mentioned below)
In general I think the people of Pride of Africa is serious and very reliable.
Negatives:
-As soon as we arrived at Nairobi and were picked up by the people of Pride of Africa (the managers), they persuaded us to change our group joining safari for a private safari (only for the Kenia’s part). We agreed because they recommended it strongly and we didn’t have much time to decide (we were under pressure). They said that the only way to keep the original accommodations was making the private tour. We had to pay an important extra cost not considered in our original budget. It would much better if people of Pride of Africa had talken about this before arriving there, so we would have time to think about it without pressure. Besides the group joining safari in Tanzania was as good as the private option in Kenya, we were only three persons in total, and finally we didn’t see real advantages to make the private safari in Kenya, specially considering we like to share with other people.
- We didn’t all the game drives indicated on the original program. I think this happened because the program was very optimistic. Is not possible to do all the game drives offered because of the timings.
-We were cheated in a shop where we stopped for resting on the way to Masai Mara. I think that the guide should not stop on bad reputation places or at least he or/and the company should aware the tourists of this bad practices.
-In Tanzania the Safari was made by another company from that country (I think that they are partners of Pride of Africa, but we were not informed in advance). They changed an important part of our program without asking or telling us. Luckly and casually we realized this the day before thanks to a conversation with the driver. We were just at time to talk the managers of both companies and claim for maintaining the original program. They solved it quickly, but if we didn’t see this the day before we would loss an important time in Seregenti.
-We liked all the lodges and campsites we stayed, except one because it was a campsite in a town and not in a park or in the wildlife as expected (Jambo Lodge, Lake Manyara). Also the staff there were not very friendly and we were almost the unique tourists there. We didn’t feel comfortable in that place. Unfortunately we spent three nights there(more than in all the other places).
- Again, without asking us, they changed 1 night in Nogrongoro for 1 night in Lake Manyara (Jambo Lodge, the place we didn’t like)
-The Land Cruiser in Tanzania didn’t have radio (important tool for communication between guides and to find animals). This was offered in the original program. The vehicle had also the windshield broken and seat belts were not very good working.
In brief we still recommend this company, but we suggest to be aware checking everyday the program in advance to have time to claim is anything is changed or wrong. Take care with the shops where you will stop for resting. If you visit Lake Manyara, ask to not say in Jambo Lodge, is not a comfortable place. Is better to stay on campsites inside the parks with the wildlife and sharing with more tourists.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Magical Kenya Safari
My Family and I entrusted our Christmas holiday tour with this company and have no regrets at all. The team ensured that we got a five star treatment. We got a good special deal and the logistics team delivered a timely and money’s worth service.
QA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An Amazing Experience
My wife and I have just returned from Kenya having done the 4 day Joining Group Budget Safari (Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru). It was perfect and more than what we could have imagined.
First, when looking at operators I inquired with many, but reasoning to go with Axis Africa Expeditions was the reviews and Lennox's quick replies. The company was responsive quickly and transparent to the many questions (as it was my first safari) so I felt comfortable that everything was organized and they would be quick to act should there be any issues that may arise. Should you require certain things (dietary) or requiring upgraded accomodations, I am sure they can arrange to meet your specifications. For my wife and I, the Lenchada camp and the budget hotel were clean, safe, and met our needs.
Driver and Guide may ultimately be the most important part of the trip. You need someone well versed in the location, so that you can see everything you want, be safe, respect the environment, and also ensure coordination of the trip is smooth. We had Jack (Jackson) who was incredible. He knew the Mara inside and out. You can tell he had the respect of everyone in the community, from other company guides, rangers, villagers. He worked non-stop and made sure each guest were safe, comfortable, and had an enjoyable trip. I don't know if there could be any better guide to have, even if you had endless amounts of money. He was perfect!
We saw all the big 5 and many more. The trip was executed to perfection, on time and without any hidden costs. It was well worth it.
