NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve by Michael Potts
Lots of invasive plants makes view difficult
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Addo Elephant National Park by Michael Potts
Lots of elephants and unusual dung beatles
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Truely "world class" wildlife and scenery but with food poisoning
In late June, we did the beach (Zanzibar) and safari (Serengeiti) tour, about four days for each location. Perfect weather, amount of time, and excellent staff support. Saw everything you can reasonably expect to see, many times upclose. It's expensive but honestly a great value. The only downside I have to mention was repeated food poisoning. For a family of four, we got sick 4-5 times in 11 days and were recovering for about a week after we got home. We took all the vaccinations, pills, sprays, and sanitizers. We had one day, the first day, where no one was in the bathroom (actively being sick), recovering in bed, or carefully going out but always close to a bathroom. We had to delay and cancel plans or do something without someone. Even when we did something amazing (like the dolphin dive or a night game drive), often one person felt "iffy". It diminished the experience. One time, my son got sick eating at the Arusha airport- our fault; the food had been sitting all day. But the other three, possibly four times, were from top-rated, high-end, "Western" restaurants. We never ate street food. In the end, it felt like you could not escape getting sick unless you only ate or drank "factory-sealed" items (even if they said they used bottled water for the ice or coffee.) I tried to stay positive, but it was the worst experience we've had as a family (and we've been to Thailand, Columbia, South Africa twice, across the Pacific, and Greece). If I had to do it again, I'd only stay at an inclusive lodge where they felt ownership for food safety. Sadly, I would not go out to eat, which is a big part of our travels. I'll accept food poisoning once, maybe twice, but every two or three days for four different, relatively experienced people across three locations is a systemic hygiene issue.
Review about Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve by ianh3000
Only had an afternoon here - so difficult to review as didn't travel that far within the park.
A bit lacking in atmosphere.
Staying in one of the larger lodges with lots of other people around & driving on tarmac roads a fair amount of the time with a number of private vehicles on the roads then I did think the actual safari experience was a bit lacking. (Private concessions & smaller lodges would be completely different). You do get close to the animals - closer than in a lot of places as they are used to the vehicles so it really depends what you go for. Having only spent a couple of days in one area then again it would make sense to go to different areas for slightly different experiences (although obviously if you drive down the same road an hour later you might see different things). Guides & vehicles are good. Weather wasn't particularly good when I was there - so this probably tempers the review !
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve by piazzi1969
This was the final park visited. Overall very similar to the other destinations mentioned above and below, but staff in the park seemed less friendly.
Less animals and birds seen here and during one of the drives our car was packed with 10 people although other cars were almost empty. The weather was dry.
We stayed at the Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge. Very nice rooms, good food, less friendly staff although our guide was very friendly and knowledgable, and overall less wildlife sums up the two nights w stayed here.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Lake Manyara National Park by ssilberman
The hippo park was the highlight of this park... And, boy, did we see hippos! There were also storks and buzzards. No climbing lions, despite signs.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Location rather than luxury!
Fantastic location, staff and breakfast. Disappointing room - aircon unusable due to noise and dirty tissues found in bed!!! No attempt by reception staff to apologise
Dinner at sister hotel awesome!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Addo Elephant National Park by Gary Longshaw
Perhaps Ive been spoiled, but the diversity and abundance of WIldlife here isnt as good as some of the other reserves.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Good but not amazing
We went to Bwindi in May ans the experience was good , seeing these animals is a unique experience.
I think we were not lucky enough to see a big silver back as the one we saw was small. I think the price is pretty high for what you get to be honest
Our guide was not as attentive as I expected and we had a elderly person in out group who hired a a porter who was not that helpful
Nice experience in general