SE
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Serengeti National Park by wildlifepictures.se
Best of the best. It´s a must. No other place on earth has more wildlife than Serengeti. Been there a lot of times and if there is one place I want to get back to before I die it´s Serengeti. But leave the place from May - November when the migration is too far north and weather can be really wet.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great travel company to go through for an amazing vacation
An African Safari is a must do for any avid travelers. But doing it is not something that is easily done alone. We heard about Odyssey through a friend who had went recently. We considered a couple Safari companies and ended up going with Odyssey. The trip was well planned out and organized. We had an amazing time. We had one hiccup at the end of the trip where we were scheduled to sit in the DAR airport (if you call it that) for 7 hours. After some back and fourth, Odyssey was able to come up with a solution for us to stop at the Serena in DAR. Overall, we had an amazing trip and going through Odyssey was a big reason for that.
CZ
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
All was perfect!
I had safari in Kenya, Masai Mara with Big Time Safaris in the November 2014. It was just perfect!
I brought home memories for the rest of my life, great pictures and new plans to go again!
Big Time Safaris did their job in a perfect way, all was safe and smooth. I was comunicating a lot before arriving to Kenya with Martha, she was always friendly and ready to give advice and answer one of questions, that i had really a lot, cause was travelling to Kenya alone. It was all safe there. They met me from the airport when i arrived to Kenya at 3 in the night, took me to the hotel and than picked me up in the morning to go to safari.
We had very nice and professional driver during safari-Stanley. He knew all about animals and was trying to do his best to show us the wild life of african savana, so we could also make good pictures. Special thanks to Stanley, my 3 days at Masai Mara were really one of the best days of my life!
The camp itself was good, staff there polite and friendly. Food was also good, especially dinners. Tents were big enough, clean and had all i needed inside. I was alone and had one tent for me only. Electricity is during the morning and evening only. If i am not misstaken 5-7 and 20-22. Or smth like this. When we were there was no wifi. But you dont really need it there, you can just enjoy the nature and that few days you have there.
Big Time Safaris were helping me till the day i left Kenya. After safari i was flying to Mombasa, they took me to airport and after Mombasa picked me up from airport to také me to the hotel, where i slept before flying home.
Now i am planning new safari in Kenya and Tanzania, for one week. And of course i will book it with Big Time Safaris. Also i m giving them good feedback and advise it to ppl who are thinking of visiting Africa for safari.
Thanks again guys and hope to see you soon again!
PL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Professional stuff, very helpful
Safarihub arranged for us 3-day safari in Serengeti NP 1-day in Ngoro Ngoro Crater and 4 days in Zanzibar. Everything was excellent: accommodations, food, driver-guide.
We spent wonderful time.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Cape to Addo national Park with the owner and guide. Highly recommended.
My wife and I went on a private tour with Craig, the owner and guide of his tour company, what a wonderful,intelligent and highly knowledgeable chap, we could discuss any subject whether it be the ecologically sensitive Knysna lagoon, the price of property or the political situation.
Accommodation was in ''charming'' friendly establishments, including a private ''lodge'' in the Addo National Park. I highly recommend this tour for it's huge diversity, value for money and Craig's personal touch. Bravo Craig I know Southern Africa tours will grow from strength to strength.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing!!!
My 4 days\3 night safari through Masaai Mara and Lake Nakuru was amazing to say the least! Nelson at Terminal Tours Kenya was the best to work with - email responses were immediate, answered all my questions and he had great follow up. Traveling on a student budget is difficult - I 100% got my money's worth and then some! The accommodations were basic, but I didn't have 5 star expectations based on what I was paying - the food was great, you always had a warm bed to lay your head down at night, especially after wonderful long day game drives where I saw more lions in one day than I have in a lifetime. Our driver Peter looked after us as if we were his family - always checking in, stopping at a moment's request for a photo op, and his ability to spot game - wow!
Highly highly recommend Terminal Tours!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful, short safari on the Tanzania northwestern parks.
Jackpot was able to put together a short, wonderful safari for an incredibly low price. We visited Tangarari, Serengeti, Nogorogoro, and Manyara. There were 7 of us, so we had a full vehicle, yet the Land Rover seemed in great condition (with a fridge allowing for cold beer & stoney tangawizi), the cook was great, in spite of the weird dietary constraints we imposed on him, and our guide was terrific. We had some difficulties (two flats in the Serengeti in spite of almost new tires), but our guide was able to overcome them, we saw EVERYTHING, and had an amazing time. I wish we'd be able to make the trip longer. I do not hesitate to recommend these guys to anyone considering a safari. They were great.
Friendly hospitality at a high price.
The Sunset lodge is a nice and wonderfully located in a private game reserve. If you are looking to get away from the big city and stress, and are willing to be overpriced for it, then this is the place for you.
Unlike what I was told by Rueben, there was no buffet for meals, but a limited tasty set meal each day. On the actual safari days, although it says you will get sausage and eggs and hot coffee, in reality it is one boiled egg, a muffin, maybe no coffee, or one sausage, and the rest of the items mentioned (depending how many people are in the group).
At dinner, all beverages ordered - juice or wine - you will be charged for it, even if it is a glass. I think this this important to mention, because for the price you pay, you would expect a glass of wine or juice would be included with dinner. They never tell you the price or that you will be charged for it until the last day you leave which was a surprise to me. Although it wasn't too expensive, it still was an unpleasant surprise. Another unpleasant surprise is here on Safaribooking.com, it says a 3-5 day safari is whatever, but they charge an extra 14% in taxes which makes it more than originally advertised when you actually book with them.
If a single person did this as a once in a life time event, then I would rate the Themba operators and the whole experience as average and overall a great experience with the wildlife and seeing this part of the world. If I rate this for people who have a family, I would say it was overpriced for what you get, especially the bigger the family.
Considering that a four person family is paying about $4-500 a day to be there, you are paying a lot for limited food and drink (although the family who runs the Sunset Lodge are spectacular), and time. A "3 day safari is really 2 days - or 1 1/2 days" etc because the last day you are only driving back to Johannesburg, and the first day you take 6 hours to get there, and you are paying for any snacks or drinks along the way. This is WAY too much to pay for what you are actually receiving.
However, with this being said, the animals in and around Kruger's park are amazing, and the experience was unforgettable. I will definitely go back, but I am unsure I would use this operator again unless I got a serious discount to match what I felt I received.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing journey to the wild, with a wonderful team of professionals
We were in the best hands with Yassin (guide) and Waziri (cook) during our 7-person, 5-day safari. Professional, smart, caring, careful, calm, and fun - they made sure that we had an amazing experience. We saw a part of the world that we could not have imagined, and gained understanding and appreciation that will last a lifetime. We have encouraged many friends already to think about making this once-in-a-lifetime journey.
Communications were excellent during planning. The food was wonderful! Expectations were met and more! It was a "budget" safari, and we expected to "rough it" a bit. In fact, it was less rough than we expected, thanks to the outstanding care provided by Yassin and Waziri.
Our only suggestion for upcoming safari-goers: remember to take a towel and sheet liner.
DK
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Just great - a very competent staff who did their utmost to fullfill our dreams
Oh, what an experience! First a fantastic trip to Kilimanjaro with a dream team of porters, cook and last but not least the guides - Livingstone and Sanga. They even managed to communicate in sign language - always smiling and friendly. Then a 9 days safari trip with Augustin as a very skilled driver, mecanicien, guide etc. He knew where to find the animals we would like to see. We wanted to see them all, but we had never imagined that we should see 22 lionesses and youngs in one place in the Ngorongoro Crater + animals all 360 gr. in Serengeti - just to mention a bit. We can warmly recommend Jackpot Safari as a serious partner for a tour in Tanzania. Andrew and his staff can fullfill every wish.