20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An amazing safari experience!
We had an incredible time in the Serengeti and Ndutu with LOMO Safaris.
Before the safari, Erasto and his team worked hard to provide a number of options to suit our budget and were very flexible. The team also held a 'safari briefing' the day before we left, which just added to our excitement.
On the safari, our guide, Ben, was knowledgeable, friendly and professional. I have been on safari before but my parents hadn't and they were absolutely amazed by how many animals we saw, and how many facts Ben shared with us about them.
It was an amazing experience and I wouldn't hesitate to book with LOMO again, and to recommend them to friends and family!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing - Exceeded Expectations
To Destinations Africa. On behalf of my wife and I, please accept our sincere thank you for an African holiday that exceeded expectations. Your time, effort, knowledgeable suggestions and assistance to the minute detail including restaurant reservations during a protracted planning period ensured our tailored holiday was an amazing experience. Your intimate attention to detail including even a valuable tipping guide made our travel experience a dream. Our favorite lodge was the Imbabala Zambezi Safari Lodge in Zimbabwe for personable service. Our best experience was the 25-minute helicopter flight over Victoria Falls. The most sightings of Lion, Leopard, Cheetah and the rare and critically endangered Rhino and Painted Dog occurred at Cheetah Plains Safari Lodge in Sabi Sands. Our best restaurant was the Monneaux at the true 5 star Franschhoek Country House & Villas. For anyone wanting to visit Africa you do not need to look any further than Destinations Africa.
NZ
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Poorly organised and quick to take your money!
Where do we start!!! We gave all of our hotel pickup details in Arusha week's in advance of our safari. Nobody turned up to collect us until after 2 hours passed when we finally managed to make contact with the company and explain that we were waiting. The driver had no idea where to pick us up from. We believe if we hadn't made contact no one would have ever come to collect us. Then, on the second day of our safari the exact same thing happened, we were left stranded waiting for almost two hours and had to get our lodge staff to chase up the tour company drivers. No compensation was offered even though 4+ hours of safari time were lost/wasted by the company (this is a lot when its only a two day safari). The company was quick to take our cash at the beginning of the tour. The guides gave little or no information about the animals or parks unless we constantly asked them. They expected tips (what for!). Overall, a very poorly managed company and despite seeing lots of amazing animals (which we would have seen with any other safari company also) I would not recommend Tanzania Joy Tours to anyone! Very unprofessional and no doubt relying on outdated high review ratings!
IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Honeymoon in Kenya
Hospitality: 5/5
Accommodation: 4.5/5
Trip plan: 4.5/5
Overall: An amazing experience!
The longest pending review:)
I remember searching for packages to kenya and how exorbitantly priced each of them were. So I delegated the work to my then fiancé. The very next day he found Magical Retreats & Adventures Tours. And the most perfect package. Our long planned honeymoon was finally taking shape. Pamela offered us an extremely accommodative package at affordable prices.
We all have our doubts going into a new country and spending a holiday. But what changed was how Pamela personally came by to greet us at the airport. To me it felt like a warm feeling I would get at home. And we were taken to our hotel. We had a fabulous time at the capital enjoyed buffets, baby elephants, kissing Giraffes and a lot more.
We headed towards the much awaited Masai Mara (primary reason why we visited Kenya). My husband being an animal lover and me scared of everything that moves, we didn't opt for a resort which was in the middle of the jungle. But instead in the corner of the jungle just to balance what both of us needed. And spent an evening with the locals too! (A big plus)
The next day was the Safari. Unlike the evergreen forests, the Masai Mara is a grassland. And the best thing about it, you can see lot of animals as far as your eye can see. And also eat some packed lunch sitting in the jungle beside them. So you're sure to be satisfied. But some how I got extra lucky in Kenya, we got to spot the big Five (I've not spotted :( a tiger in the Indian jungle for the last 5 times that I've been). It wasn't just my luck that played, I think it was mostly Livingstone Masagha our safari driver (he drove us around the entire journey in kenya too!). His enthusiasm was like it's his first visit to the park. But his experience in spotting animals, was like he belonged in the jungle. I still remember it was 17:30 and we were heading back to the gate (gates close at 18:00 hours) completely exhausted after close to a 10 hour journey in the jungle, Masagha heard on his Walkie talkie one of the other safari cars had spotted a Rhinoceros (the one animal left in our big five list to spot) he made sure to drive us all the way back into the jungle and show us the Rhinoceros. We still remember him for his kind gesture. Post Masai Mara we headed to lake Naivasha before heading back to the capital.
Here are somethings that I took away from kenya.
Kenyans are really warm at heart, so make sure you show them some love. They might even invite you for a meal at their place.
Masagha had told us about the great African massage. A 70 kilometer stone road drive on the way to Masai Mara. It's quite a massage we had underestimated it! So stay ready for that.
The animals are always best in their home, so respect them when you step into their home. Noise scares them away.
Don't depend on real time navigation, traffic is random.
Apart from that enjoy kenya :)
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Professionally organised, reliable, amazing experience, highly recommended
We booked our 12 day Masai Mara Nakuru Ambolis Tasvo East / West tour including the balloon ride more than 13 months in advance and with full payment. Of course we have been concerned a bit if the company would be reliable and if the trip would meet our expectations. To make it short, the journey was outstanding, excellent value for money, really a good experience. The correspondence with KWSS was professional, the staff very friendly. Our driver Benson was one of the best East African driver and at same time an excellent tour guide with a bride knowledge of plants and animals. Remarkable, he dit not need any road map on our 2 weeks tour of Kenya and it´s National parks. We recommend the KWSS company without any limitation, 5 stars!
Ursula and Michael from Germany.
CH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Traveling in Uganda as a Couple/Mountain Gorilla Tracking
If there was just one description for the Instinct Safaris staff it would be "caring"! Our short four day safari in Uganda started on the 30th of December in Kampala. My girlfriend and I work for a NGO in the city and before returning home for a longer period, we definitely wanted to see mountain gorillas. Instinct Safaris and a few other travel companies came up. After discussions on the phone and in office, they made us a great offer for the 3 night trip and we started the safari. Weather was a little unpredictable and so was the traffic. On the 9 h drive down to the rain forest, we got stuck in traffic a number of times and ran late to get to our lodge, fortunately, our guide Raban already called in to the lodge to make sure that our dinner would not be luke warm by the time we would get there. Instead, he also organized a hot shower for us upon arrival. The gorilla tracking hike was just incredible. We opted in for another community hike on the following day, which took us to some community settlements and waterfalls in the area. As we are both keen bird watchers, we were delighted to see that our guide had some fond bird knowledge. We would highly recommend the company. If you are going, ask for Raban to be your guide!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A magical adventure
It was more than I expected! Our bushman guide Mike was truly passionate about his animals & country. We were well looked after. The food was plentiful and good. The other 3 bushmen set up our tents, made our beds & cooked the food. We were very close to the animals, no fences anywhere!
PE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Loving atmosphere
The second time i go to Uganda to visit the loving hearts and im so happy to see how the kids grows and seems happy even though the circumstances has not been the best growing up as an orphan
The teachers are doing a great job, fully engaged in each child
IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exceptional Service and an Exceptional Experience!
Everything was perfect!
I arranged my holiday in Tanzania with Landside Adventures help and everything went very smooth: from the welcome at the airport during the night, our driver, a very competent and really nice person. We had a new jeep assigned, which was extremely comfortable and clean and made you feel safe. Our lodge was very nice.
Maxon, the person at the office who took care of us is a really competent, always present and nice person and it was a pleasure from me to cooperate with him.
Plus, I hade the chance to visit Landside Adventures office and believe me: you really understand you are in good and extremely professional hands, a very nice and organised staff, mechanics, jeeps, drivers, everyone cooperates in a nice and professional atmosphere.
Go ahead and book through Landside Adventures! A unique experience for sure, it will be worth the price!
ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
4 days and 3 nights campaing safari, one of the best experiences in my life!
We arranged a 4 days and 3 nights safari with James (dilunga), including Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro. He explained in advance all the details about the tour, like locations, meals, game driving schedules, etc. The experience later on was accurated to his previous explanations. in summary, we got what he promised we would get.
James helped also to make part of the payment using our credit cards without paying any fee. He kindly proposed us to pay the entries to the parks for the whole group, and pay the difference in cash. Thank you again!!
We decided to go for a budget safari, sleeping in tents, but the experience was unforgettable. We saw the Big 5 and I personally had the best experience in Ngorongoro Crater, amazing place! (try to be down in the crate as soon as possible when you visit it).
At the end of the trip, James came to the hotel and asked us about our feedback and suggestions about what could be improved.
SAfari is an amazing experience, and Big5 Voyage made it great for me!!
Asanté!