CA
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A bit rushed but a memorable experience
It's a bit of cliché to say a travel experience was the trip of a lifetime. But in the case of the Bujo Tours 8-day tour of the Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater, it's an apt description.
First up was a game drive in Tarangire National Park, a perfect way to ease into life on the road. The park is small compared to its more famous neighbours but the wildlife is plentiful and easy to see.
The second day we took the long drive to the Serengeti. It was just as spectacular as it looks in the nature documentaries -- a never-ending plain of dry grass, studded here and there with umbrella-like acacia trees. Because of its size, the animals were widely spread out and there were many periods when nothing much was visible. But when they appeared, the animal sightings were memorable: Plenty of giraffes, warthogs, gazelles, antelopes, hippo, crocs and even rarely-seen serval cats and a leopard in a tree. Several times, we got very close to lions, including an entire pride of a dozen animals, just a few yards away. We were amazed at how nonchalant lions can be, casually walking within a couple of paces of the truck, studiously ignoring us.
One of the sights we most wanted to see was the Great Migration -- more than 1.5 million wildebeests on their way north toward Kenya. It was fascinating to see huge herds grazing just off the road, then suddenly forming single-file lines to continue their northward trek. The only disappointment was that the wildebeests were not ready to make the spectacular crossing of the Mara River. It's completely a matter of luck and our timing happened to be bad.
Perhaps the most enjoyable part of the trip was in the Ngorongoro Crater. The early morning mist and the the sun slowing creeping down the crater wall made for an enchanting atmosphere and animals were everywhere.
The tour was very well run. It was a private tour, meaning we had our own driver/guide Freddy and our own cook, Aresto. Freddy has a keen eye and was usually the first to spot wildlife. He's very knowledgeable and happy to stop whenever we wanted a longer look. Aresto's meals were mostly delicious stews and curries.
You should be aware that the accommodation throughout was safari tents, big enough for a 6-footer to stand in. We slept in sleeping bags on foam mats. If you're used to camping, you'll have no trouble with the accommodations. At night we could hear lions calling nearby, sometimes sounding like they were just outside our tent. (According to Freddy, one night they actually were!)
I have few criticisms, but I do wish the pace of the safari was a little slower. Sometimes it felt like we were racing to fit in as much as possible. That was most notable in the Ngorongoro Crater. Soon after coming to the crater floor, Freddy got word that a black rhino was nearby. In our race to get there, we sped right past a huge herd of water buffalo right on the side of the road. In the end, we saw only a glimpse of the rhino about a kilometre away. I would far prefer to have spent time close to the water buffalo.
We were only in the crater half a day. I would recommend spending a whole day there, even a day and a half. It's too nice a place to race through.
But overall, it was a wonderful trip and I give Bujo Tours five stars.
SE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The tour operator was exceptional,a truly immersive safari experience that exceeded all expectations
Our safari adventure was absolutely unforgettable! From the moment we set out, I was in awe of the breathtaking landscapes and incredible wildlife. We were lucky enough to see many animals up close, and our guide's knowledge and enthusiasm made the experience even more special. The accommodations were comfortable, with delicious meals that perfectly complemented the day's excitement. Every moment was filled with wonder, from the stunning sunrises to the peaceful evenings. I left with memories that will last a lifetime and a deep appreciation for the beauty of nature. Highly recommend!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Knowledgeable and kind
Early start but definitely worth it! Blankets are provided for the morning commute and the tour is very knowledgable.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a lifetime - highly recommend
Fantastic safari tour! The team was incredibly helpful and proactive in assisting us with trip preparation, both before and during our 5-day adventure. They were very accommodating when we decided to make some changes to our plan and provided excellent advice throughout.
Our guide Steve was great, helping us spot an amazing amount of animals during the trip. We saw so many animals, often multiple times!
CA
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Up close with our nearest relatives
We chose Amakula for our four-day Gorillas and Chimpanzees Trekking Tour in Uganda and we're glad we did.
The first big highlight was a stop on Day 2 at the Kibale National Park in the north-west of the country. It's a thickly forested park that's home to some 1,500 chimps in four different communities. After our guide Julius parked the truck it took just a few minutes for the park staff to find them, screeching from the treetops as they searched for food. Unfortunately for us it was a dull overcast day, making it hard to see the animals against the sky, but one of them spent a lot of time on the ground and was easily visible. Even in the dull light, it was thrilling to see the animals so close.
After seeing the chimps, we made our way south over the rough potholed roads and high up into the mountains at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home of the mountain gorillas. We stayed in a rough hewn cabin with a stunning view down a valley in the middle of the park. Early the next morning we headed out in the safari truck to look for a gorilla family that the trackers had spotted hours earlier. This time, luck was really with us. Usually, there is a fair bit of trekking through the vine-choked jungle to get to the animals. But our family was just a few paces off the road.
It's an experience like no other to look into the eyes of these human-like creatures. This was a family of about a dozen, including the head silverback, a couple of smaller silverbacks and several females and young ones. We were told not to get too close but the gorillas don't know that rule. Sometime the young ones ran within a foot or two of us. The family is amazingly laid back and the silverback grunted contentedly as he drifted in and out of sleep.
The tour ended with an overnight stay at Itambira Island in Lake Bunyonyi. The small island has its own semi-tame wildlife, including zebras and a large flock of crowned cranes. There's an option for a boat ride on the lake that we didn't take. It was a pleasant and restful way to end the tour.
We highly recommend Amakula. Our guide Julius was knowledgable and friendly and willing to stop whenever we wanted a better look at something, including the abundant bird life. This was a private tour, meaning we were the only clients in the safari truck, but of course there were many others from other tours who joined us in viewing the the chimps and the gorillas.
If it were possible, I would have stayed an extra day at the little cabin in Bwindi and done a little walking and bird watching. It's too pretty a site for such a short visit.
Amakula gets extra marks for supporting a school for orphans in Arusha, which we visited after the tour.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great 4-day safari experience!
JungleRoam was a great safari tour provider. They were very responsive on whatsapp before and after booking my safari. My guide was knowledgeable and knew the best spots to see animals. We saw the big five and even saw leopards which are rare in Maasai Mara. I do wish the guide shared more information with us about the animals (although he did say a couple times that we could ask him questions, I wish he took the initiative and shared his knowledge unprovoked). When we got to Nakuru he improved on this and shared more info with us without us asking specific questions, which I appreciated. However, he did not always speak very clearly or loud enough for people in the back to hear. He also did not keep us informed on the general itinerary of where we are going/how long it will take to get places, etc. Maybe he assumed we would be looking at our emailed itineraries, but there was a lack in general etiquette I would expect from a tour like this. The accommodations for the tour were great for the price and the food was decent. Overall, the main thing I wanted was to see lots of animals and get great photos, which I was able to do. I think at their competitive prices, this tour is definitely worth it and I would book it again.
SE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Well-curated, hassle-free travel company that combines customer service with expert local knowledge.
Rove ventures delivers exceptional, personalized experiences with seamless planning and a strong commitment to customer satisfaction.
My family & I will definitely book with them again, for our next trip.
PT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A safari to always remember
The safari my family and I went on with Beacon was perfect in every way. From the program conception phase to the days spent in Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru, everything went well and fulfilled the dream of going on safari. Congratulations to the whole team and especially to Robert and Leonard (our driver).
AT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great Joining Safari
Was the bedt experience to went on safari with Serengeti African Tours,everyone in our group was happy,we had delicious food and drinks.
Thanks Serengeti African Tour for your good services
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An efficient personal service to see some amazing wildlife
Our safari was efficiently arranged, with prompt responses to our enquiries. Our guide and driver was equally attentive, knowledgeable and friendly, finding us a range of wildlife.
The lodge was spectacularly located with fantastic views over the savannah, but also sensitively designed and eco-friendly.
The whole experience was as good as promised.