US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The Trek2Kili staff went above and beyond, making this trip the experience of a lifetime.
The staff communication was easy, service was personable and excellent. The trip surpassed my expectations. The safari guides were very knowledgable, the lodges were amazing. The guides and porters on Kilimanjaro were kind, cheerful and welcoming. Tanzania is amazing, but it is these people that make me want return someday.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A dream come true...better than I could have ever imagined!
This is a first-class tour company all the way! Everything is well-planned out and put into place to make the trip one of the most memorable ever. There is a very friendly and welcoming staff who works diligently to make sure the customer gets everything they need and then some! I highly recommend going through Trek2Kili when planning a climb up Kilimanjaro and/or a safari through Tanzania. This is certainly one of the most professional and hardest-working tour companies out there!
SE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Experience of a lifetime
The communication at first was not that great because when we arrived at the airport there was no one to pick us up, we had to take a cab to our first hotel in Arusha. And when you arrive to a new country/ a new continent for the first time it is quite hard to know how everything is working and therefore scary not knowing if someone should or should not pick us up. We did not even know the name of is agent we only knew the name of the Swedish company TagAlong. We did not even have a phone or phone number to call stainbok adventures...
Also the communication was not that well when we traveled within Tanzania between the mainland and Zanzibar.
When we traveled to Zanzibar, we got left on the airport without any help in Arusha. And we had to fix everything by ourselves. We came to Arusha which stainbok adventures left us at, but later it showed that we had to switch airport to Kilimanjaro... The airplane was also 5 hours late. No one told us and we felt that people knew things they didn't tell us, we didn't get informed.
And also the flights between Zanzibar and Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar and Daar El Salam was under all critic. We had the wrong time on our tickets and we had to get help from our hotel manager Rasta, he fixed everything with help from Gidione.
However, when we got our guide Manuel in Arusha everything became so amazingly good. He took care of us, listen to what we wanted to see and do. His guiding was first class and we felt that we saw everything Tanzania had to offer. He made the safari excellent. We had some problems with the electricity at one of our hotels but Manuel help us with that.
We are all in all happy with our experience of Tanzania, Zanzibar and the safari. The problems however took down the grade of our expectations but it was such a wonderful trip and probably we will come back in the future, hopefully without any disruptions.
Best regards,
Ulf and Marie
Amazing
We had a custom safari (husband and wife) organized through Karibu Safaris In Kenya, since we wanted to see both Kenya and Tanzania - especially the Masai Mara and The Serengeti. It was a 10 day, 9 night trip. The best part was the Masai Mara - that was our first experience of the animals and it was incredible . Our Driver guide, Tom, was terrific and worked hard to please us. We didn't realize, although we had a good time, that the Serengeti was dryer. When we got there, there seemed to be fewer animals. We didn't realize when we booked that we would build a rapport with our first guide in Kenya. So it was difficult to adjust to another style of camping and so on, but overall Kenya was the best followed by Tanzania.
A company which ensures your experience meets every expectation.
This was our second experience with Encompass Africa and they did not disappoint. Jono and his team were with us throughout the entire experience even though they were physically located elsewhere. All details were attended to even down to camps knowing that hard boiled eggs should not be on our menu :o). Staff greeted us at each point and ensured we were safely delivered to the next destination. We were in touch with the group from the inception of our travel planning through to when we arrived home. We even brought along a couple from USA who used Encompass Africa tagging on to our trip with ease. This was another fabulous adventure and we can't wait to plan our next one! Would recommend Encompass Africa to everyone and anyone planning to visit the continent.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our wonderful tour, thoroughly organised by Encompass Africa!
We, a group of 6 adults, have just returned from our nearly 4 week holiday in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana! All this was thoroughly organised by Jonathon Wilson, Director of Encompass Africa and his staff in both the Australian (Brisbane) and South Africa (Johannesburg) offices.
Early 2014, maybe even late 2013, I contacted about 6 companies in both Australia and Africa asking for tour ideas and prices that will coincide with either the start or end of our week of "Golden Oldies Cricket" my partner was to play, at the end of March 2015. We received so many different ideas and prices from one end of the spectrum to the other and we really had no idea who we should pick or what we should do and see. One of the ladies from the cricket team knew Jonathon and organised us all to meet with him. Prior to that I wrote an email to his company asking for quotes on roughly what the other companies had already quoted for us. We wanted to travel through the Garden Route from or to Cape Town from Port Elizabeth do some Safari and see Victoria Falls.
Jonathon, himself came back with quotes for a couple of different. These were so full of information, had prices and coatings for what he had for us and had an interactive map for us to look at to see where we could go, information on the hotels and what was around, it was so very informative and was only the first quote from him! We had made our decision to go with his company because of that info we received! And am so very glad we did!
We had our group meeting with him, and found out about him, his company and how he can make our trip personal! He did that and more! Jonathon lives 6 months in Australia and 6 months in South Africa (his birthplace). So his knowledge of what is around is great, and he and most of his staff have done what he showed us we could do!
Over the next 18 months or so, we emailed quite often and changed and added and tweaked until all 6 of us were happy with what we all wanted to do and see, and not once did any of our many emails not get answered! And promptly! The prices from the quote to when we left did not change unless we added something, which we did often. Even the staff in Johannesburg helped us when we were in their country, met us at the airport, took us to our hotel in Johannesburg and generally looked after us, it felt very personable and was so very much appreciated! I would certainly recommend this company to look at making the ideal quote and trip itinerary for your next/first trip to Africa!
Our itinerary was so thoroughly thought out, and written down for us all with all numbers for every person involved in helping us on our tour, drivers, guides, aeroplane companies names and numbers, all hotel and accommodation names and numbers, so very thorough. We were never left alone to do anything or to find our way. We had drivers for every part who took us to the reception desk of our hotels, introduced us to owners of sanctuaries or safaris, took us to pre-booked restaurants, wine tours, showed us right up to the checkin area for all airports, took us through the customs and visa areas getting into Botswana. We were never alone to worry about anything!
Our tour started in Cape Town where we stayed for 2 nights and then we started on the garden route drive, going through the wine area, stopping at 3 wineries, one of them had a chocolate tasting with the wine, one had cheese tasting and the other was Gary Player (golf player) because one of us like golf! Then lunch at a 5 star winery! I don't drink alcohol so he made sure I was catered for with a juice or a special non alcoholic drink! What a start to a wonderful holiday! Our time on the Garden Route, about 7nights, our guide and driver showed us so much more than was on the itinerary. He took us to an sanctuary for elephants where we were able to walk hand in trunk with them, learn so much from them, we went to a sanctuary for cats, and walked with cheetahs for about 1.5 hours! We went to a bird sanctuary and saw over 500 species of birds, and a monkey sanctuary with so many different breeds to look at, all in the open and no cages! We went on a meerkat adventure and sat and watched these little things playing and going about their daily going ons! We stayed in 3-5 star places, and were treated like royalty in every single place! And nothing was too much trouble!
We then flew to Johannesburg and were driven for 2 nights in Sun City for our golfer to have a game of of golf and us ladies to use the spa! There is so much to do and see, we didn't have anywhere near enough time to see 1/4 of it! Then back to Johannesburg to give our big bags to the encompass office of Johannesburg as we only had limited luggage on the small planes between the safaris! We caught a flight to Skukuza airport and picked up for our first safari at Nottens Bush Camp for 3 nights. Everything was included in this tour, as was all 3 safaris we did, all food, and drink and tours out to look at the animals! We saw the Big 5 on our first day and to say we enjoyed ourselves was an understatement! It was thrilling, and so worth seeing all these animals in the wild, the way they are supposed to be. We learnt so much about the lives of the people here and the antics of the animals! Well worth it, every second! And the camp only held 16 people so it was very personable!
We then went on to Victoria Falls for 2 nights, saw the falls, from ground and a helicopter flight. Us ladies spent time at an orphanage and thoroughly enjoyed that. We went to a Boma for dinner and that was another great experience! All the time with a guide or driver!
The next 2 safaris were at Kwondo Lagoons and a sister place called Kwara. Both for 3 nights and both were reached by a 6seater plane! Another part of our adventure! Both these camps were tented accommodation, on wooden floors, stairs up, full bathroom with outside shower! Very glamorous and very comfortable! And once again, we had a driver and a tracker for our group for the whole time we were there. Both very informative and both very welcoming and both happy to answer all our many questions! We saw cheetahs, lions, leopards, a kill done only one minute prior to us getting there, we saw herds of zebra, elephants, Impala, giraffes and lots of birds! All over all manners of terrain, just so we could see them (all animals) in their natural habitat!
Then back to Johannesburg for 1 night and home to Brisbane!
The whole trip was well thought out and nothing was needed or wanted! Many many thanks to Jonathon and his team in both offices! This has been a trip of a lifetime and I still can't stop talking about it or showing my many wonderful photos of all the animals up close and very personal! Thank you!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent, friendly, professional services and competent staff.
Falcon Safaris, Victoria Falls, Vimbai and Hamilton - thanks for professional, friendly and efficient service. I was impressed with the service, patience and assistance I received from Falcon Safaris, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. I was doing an extremely "last minute" booking enquiry for various activities available in Victoria Falls. I received prompt and efficient assistance. Falcon Safaris organised all my activities as well as any necessary transfers to and from these activities. The Transfer companies were also extremely efficient, with helpful and friendly staff, who were prompt, as well as knowledgeable and informative. We requested dvd's and cd's for the activities that we did as we do not have a decent camera, and the quality of these dvd's is fantastic - I would recommend any person doing Victoria Falls activities utilize these services for wonderful holiday memories.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Everything that Encompass had booked went perfectly, they were great.
The service, communications and bookings were perfect.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing!!!!
We used Bramwel to arrange for us a tailored safari in Tanzania and trek up Mt Kilmanjaro. It was an amazing experience and organised by William with an attentive and professional approach. I recommend and endorse Bramwel as a reputable and professional tour agency for other people interested in visiting East Africa. Our group were two mid-30s couples from Australia and we had a great time with all of our guides who explained a lot and made the whole trip awesome!
Review about Tarangire National Park by Ludwig
In one day we managed to see four out of the big five and a lot of other animals as well. The scenery is quite good and due to the fact that there are a lot of hills you can easily get a good view over the savannah.