65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
All went well with accommodation, excursions and transfers.
I am a mature lady travelling on my own so was pleased to find one of Faustins contacts waiting at the Dar Es Salaam airport for me when I arrived at 3am.
After a six hour drive we arrived at Tan- Swiss Lodge where I spent the next two days.
The itinerary was slightly bland as I ended up visiting Mikumi National Park on both days. Maybe I should have researched that a bit better.
The ferry to Zanzibar had been pre booked and after we docked I was met by Faustin’s driver and a guide to be driven for 75 minutes to my resort at Amaan Bungalows, in Nungwi for four nights
I opted to fly back from Zanzibar to Dar Es Salaam airport for my ongoing international flight rather than get the ferry. This saved lots of time and hassle and the cost was only $16 more than the price of the ferry.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Private tour of southern and central Serengeti, Lake Manyara, and the Ngorongoro Crater.
We had a fantastic trip. Maturaf, the MD, was always timely in his communication, provided great advice but was always amenable to customization, and in general, provided great service. Our guide Emmanuel was by far the highlight of our trip. He was extremely knowledgeable, conscientious, and professional. Most of all, he was a really safe driver, and that was very obvious. A perfect trip and we would use Regional again without a doubt.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experiences with an awesome company. Asante-sana!
We loved our safari with Easy Travel! Beatrice and her colleagues set up a great itinerary for us, and picked wonderful places to stay in. They also helped us add on an additional cultural activity in Moshi which was great. They went above and beyond – ensuring our dietary restrictions wouldn’t be an issue and even setting up a special cake/song at the tented camp on my girlfriend’s birthday. Our driver/guide was Deo (pronounced Dao), and he was absolutely fantastic. He was a very punctual, safe and experienced driver, and the vehicle was in great shape and always clean. He was so knowledgeable, and able to tell us about every animal and plant we saw, and answered our many questions on everything from culture to customs to local tribes. In the parks you can really see the results of his many years of experience, as we were always one of the first cars to an exciting location, and we saw everything and more that we imagined – cheetahs, a leopard kill, 25+ lions, massive packs of hyenas, a rhino, etc. When we expressed interest in a certain animal that we hadn’t seen yet, he would get on the radio to see if anyone had spotted one and get us there quickly. We’re still in awe of his memorization of seemingly every road in Tanzania, including those in the Serengeti that seemed to look all the same to us. Tip: definitely take him up on the offer to start the games drives very early, we saw so much in these morning hours (even lions mating just yards from our tented camp, lol) and the sunrises were beautiful. Highly recommend both Easy Travel and Deo, and we hope to come back and travel with them again one day!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
I enjoyed to so much I've been 3 times
I first went in 2012. I searched on-line for safaris and decided on Viva because of the good reviews. It was such a terrific experience that I took my 16-year-old daughter the following year, after business took me to J'Burg. My second trip was even better than the first. We were lucky enough to see the Big 5 because the Guides know the best places to look. Tremisana Lodge is a garden in the middle of the bush with monkeys in the trees and beautiful flowers everywhere. We saw an elephant less than 3 minutes out on our night drive and later a rare ant eater. The food was authentic, delicious and abundant. Dinner was under the Macule Tree was pure magic and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Marc's Treehouse is entirely different and just as lovely and special. Antelope wander along the paths to the cottages and in the morning I heard chewing outside my window. It was a giraffe, eating the nearby tree. She was more startled by the distant lion's roar than by me looking at her, camera in hand. Later, during breakfast, the monkeys put on a show trying to steal jam and bisquits on the deck overlooking the pond.
The guides are knowledgable, patient and maybe more than lucky. On my third trip we found a herd for 400+ buffalo slowly walking toward the road. We parked and the herd moved around us as if we weren't there. We were close enough to smell them. Where else can that happen? Soon after we found a leopard in a tree with most on an impala, three hyenas looking on. She jumped down and chased them off before disappearing into the bush. At the end of the day our driver took us to a secluded pond where two elephants were swimming. Swimming! We would never have found that without our driver's experience.
On my third trip we saw the Big 5 before lunch but we all also learned to look for the smaller animals, too. I saw a baby Leopard Tortoise on the morning bushwalk and 25 hippos in a river while we ate breakfast.
I can't recommend Viva Safari highly enough. Make sure you go to Moholoho Rehabilitation Center, maybe pet a cheetah or have your picture taken with a rino baby and to the nearby private game preserve for an entirely different kind of wildlife drive.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safari Superb
Maasai Wanderings (Donna, our guide, Evarest, and Diana at Naona Moru Camp) were so excellent to work with, I'd gladly go back and do another safari with them, and highly recommend them to others. We had a short time, only 4 days/3 nights) starting in Arusha - to Sopa Lodge (really nice) and Ngorogoro Crater - then on to the Naono Moru and 2 days of the Serengeti. We got to see everything... even black rhinos in the crater, then a leopard and cheetahs in the Serengeti (Evarest was determined to help us see them, even going back to the "sighting" spot 3 times until we finally glimpsed the momma and two adolescent cheetahs... wonderful! I loved his driving capabilities on the tough roads, something I'd worried about before going to Africa. As everyone in my group of the 6 of us knows, I Loved emailing with Donna before the trip, as she was so responsive and perfect in all her emails... I mentioned several times that if I ever left my husband it would be for Donna! Diana was also so warm, friendly and knowledgable (and the camp was amazing) and attentive to our one gluten-free member... thanks! Appreciated being taken care of so nicely, y'all.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A fantastic, safe, bucket list success!
Great facilities(I stayed in a chalet), knowledgeable fun and friendly staff, with excellent equipment in a fantastic location! Everyone should go on safari with Afritrip Group at least once in their life time!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
An awesome, inspiring Safari, lead by a knowledgeable, sensitive and efficient Guide ......
We had looked forward to the Safari , knowing it was a dream coming true, but almost as soon as we met our Guide, and chatted during our first day's driving, we knew we were in for an amazing time!
In the lead up to Departure, the communication between Red Africa and ourselves was very prompt and all our questions were answered graciously.
The service and attention we received was friendly and generous and all our accommodation was of a high standard.
Our safari was built around our original requests, and we found a lot of effort had gone into ensuring our hopes and personal interests were met. It more than met our expectations and we hope to one day plan another Safari with Red Africa! Thank you very much for such a marvelous Safari!!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Bird watching in Uganda in 2016 was incredible.
Bird watching is one of my favorite hobbies. My journey started with great expectations because of the number of bird species that I had read about that were available in Uganda. I yarned for that opportunity at least to see a half of all the species available. To achieve this I arranged my camera so well for great snap shots of every species I see. I tell you I was extraordinary blessed. I took several snapshots that shall stay with me for life. It was a marvelous feeling. Thank you gorilla tour booking safaris limited for this incredible journey; the smiles of Ugandan people will stay with me for life.
AT
Uganda and Ruanda Game Drives and Gorillatrecking
We think, we got one of the best guides, we could get. Asante sana Farouk. Our expectations were high and they were topped.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
great adventure
Me and my family booked a four days safari to Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru. It was a nice experience. We saw many animals and beautiful landscapes. Lamech and his team were well organized and also flexible and responsive to our wishes.
During these days I felt very comfortable and it was definitely the right choice to book a safari with africansuburbsadventures.