AE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Top guide
From the start of our inquiry through finalizing the itinerary for our 8 day northern circuit safari in mid-September and all the logistics, Msangi, the owner, and Rukia, his delightful office assistant, were prompt to respond to emails and were true professionals. It was such a pleasure to meet them when we arrived in Arusha!
Little did we know that Msangi had chosen a man to guide us who, quite honestly, none of the four in our group can describe with words alone. There just aren't enough superlatives for Onema Junga. (Everyone calls him "Junga".) I'm sure all of Msangi's other guides are wonderful but do yourself a favor and juggle your trip dates if that's what it takes to make sure Junga is your guide.
This man went above and beyond in every way imaginable. From dealing with broken leaf springs in the Serengeti at night and getting us to a camp site at midnight to turning around as we were leaving Ngorongoro on our last day when reports of a rhino sighting came over the radio he was superb. Junga could have just called it a safari and headed out of the crater but he was relentless in his pursuit of our satisfaction. We got the big 5 and more.
He has an uncanny ability to anticipate what animals will be doing and putting the vehicle in the best viewing position possible. Other safari companies' guides weren't doing what Junga did and trust me, we were treated to better viewing than many others. He was also relentless in his search for animals in spite of the long hours behind the wheel. Junga did this even though it meant extra work for himself and Jamal. He would also stop to offer help to any other vehicles or guides that looked like they may need help. He struck us an overall good and trustworthy man.
Here are a couple of examples of how Junga went above and beyond. We were at a hippo pool and were enjoying the scene for quite some time when he popped the driver's hatch and announced that he was going to find us a snake. Five minutes later he announced that the game was on for us to find it with our binoculars. He described generally where it was and said its recently shed skin was nearby. We had the best time spotting this snake, a boomslang, and it was a treat. Its bright white skin being right next to it was just a great bonus. While I can't guarantee that the other safari vehicles parked near us didn't spot a snake, I highly doubt it.
He brought us in the "back entrance" to Lake Manyara which was absolutely the right call. It seemed we had one entire section of the park all to ourselves. It made for a longer day and another late arrival at camp that night but Junga really did put our interests ahead of his and Jamal's comfort.
As for Jamal, our wonderful cook, again there's good news. We had some onerous dietary restrictions and this man bent over backwards to accommodate us. I gained weight on the trip due to his huge portions of delicious food. It was simple but delicious and exactly what you'd expect on a camping trip. We even had a scratch baked cake and banana custard a couple of evenings! I was glad to have brought plenty of snacks, though, as it sometimes got be a while between meals.
Msangi went above and beyond as well. He met us at the Mvuli hotel at the end of our safari to see how things went and to say goodbye. When he learned we were going to Zanzibar for a few days he arranged for a taxi driver to pick us up at the airport and take us to our hotel. He told us that even though our safari was over, we were still his clients until we left Tanzania and to let him know if we needed anything. How gracious!
We forgot to pick up a couple of t-shirts at the Bright African office and Msangi learned this after we were on Zanzibar. Imagine our surprise when his taxi driver arrived at our hotel with the t-shirts. Msangi had them sent to Zanzibar on a flight later that day and arranged for his taxi driver to deliver them to us! Unbelievable service!
Here are a couple of helpful hints for you. Number one is tipping. I'd read many formulas for what constitutes an appropriate tip and saw one of Msangi's posts that suggested 10% of the safari price. We ultimately took the 10% as a base and increased it significantly for Junga and Jamal going north of 15% to make a nice round number. I also gave each of them our headlamps to help with future night breakdowns and tent set-ups in the dark. Last, I gave them what remained of the roll of duct tape I brought. Do yourself a favor a bring a roll along - we made good use of ours several times.
I could write a novel about the vehicle breakdowns (yes, plural) but be advised these vehicles take a beating on those roads and if you don't have at least one breakdown I'd be amazed. We saw other victims of the worst washboards you'll ever drive. Just be patient and realize that AAA does not exist in Tanzania. No complaining. Hakauna Matata. You're all in it together and you'll have a great story to tell.
If you're doing the budget camping trip like we did, be prepared for very refreshing, almost cold, showers at some campgrounds. Take sturdy sandals and expect no place to hang your towels or set your shampoo. It was also helpful to have some good sturdy sandals, like Keens, for the campgrounds in the evening. The first night I used flip flops and got a few nasty stickers in my foot that were difficult to remove. It is also a good idea to bring toilet paper as it was frequently in short supply in their bathrooms. Oh, and I saw a fairly creepy spider on/under a toilet seat so be prepared to do a toilet sweep and sit at your own risk.
I was a little nervous about the comfort of tent camping expecting to be sleeping on the ground but they provided very comfortable cots and sleeping pads with good wool blankets which I found surprisingly comfortable. I was still a bit chilly when we camped on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater so bring some warm clothes and socks if you itinerary takes you there.
Take along some type of plastic bag in case you have to relieve yourself in your tent in the night because the buffalo/lions are too near to risk going to the restroom. Better to go in your tent than die by buffalo.
Get the best binoculars you can, they will make the animal viewing even more spectacular. We rented Swarovskis from optics4rent.com - Todd, the owner, is great. When Junga first saw them, he immediately told me they were the best. No kidding! We were all amazed and trust me, when your Rhino and her baby are 400 yards away or you can count the whiskers on the leopard in the tree you'll be glad you brought them.
The Mvuli hotel has basic clean rooms - it's not a Hilton but you're not paying Hilton prices. It's really off the beaten path at the end of a very bumpy dirt road. Going into town will require a taxi. The food was good. Check out your shower before you accept the room. The first night we stayed there, our shower had virtually no pressure. After our safari, I made sure we had a different room. They will also do laundry for you for a small fee and have it folded and ready by morning.
Start your safari with a trip to Arusha National Park. Do the walking safari with an armed park ranger. It's a great appetizer for what lies ahead at the crown jewels of the northern circuit. It also gives you a day to get over jet lag before you start driving long distances. If you do it at the end of your safari it won't have much of an impact.
They did not ask for additional passport photos or a copy of our passport when paying for our visa at KJO airport. Just $100. Be prepared to stand in lines for about 45 minutes.
Be careful at the roadside curio stands. They are ruthless, high pressure negotiators and we ended up paying higher prices than we found later in Zanzibar and even at the airport for the same articles. As much as I would like to support them I felt the prices were pretty outrageous.
We tried to pack light and do laundry every few days but if I were to do it over I would just pack enough clothes to get through the whole trip. Since you are sitting in the vehicle most of the time you don't really get too hot and sweaty so it's no problem to get a few days out of shirts and pants. Laundry was difficult to do in the showers and did not dry by morning causing unneeded hassle. The zipper pants were handy as the mornings were a bit cooler but as it warmed up it was easy to unzip the bottoms and convert to shorts.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very experienced and good communications.
I don't really like to write reviews for many reasons, however I feel it's fair to highlight the smooth and professional experience we had with African Travel Consultants. Sally Saidy planned our Madikwe safari and Tau Game Lodge was recommended to us since we didn't know what to expect. Everything went as was promised and we had a wonderful 3 nights stay at the lodge. We highly recommend Sally and African Travel Consultants if you are looking for a hassle free reservation service.
Malcolm Yates
Cape Town
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
High Dollar tipping required ??
Good day
It has come to our attention by a couple that has completed a tour lately with your organization that they were required to tip $20 per day to the guid and $10 each to the assistants.
Kindly advise why this is required from the tourists. I was a tour guid in RSA and this was not the norm.
Percival Fourie
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
This new safari company goes above and beyond to give you a unique and incredible experience!
This safari company exceeded all of my expectations. Brian and Chris were amazing guides going way beyond what was in the itinerary to show me local villages, peoples and unique landscapes in addition to showing me all the amazing wildlife found in QE National Park. Chris was a very knowledgeable guide and while I myself am a biologist, learned a lot from him about local wildlife and plants. Beyond that, Brian and Chris took great care of me even going so far as to take most of my pictures for me so that I was free to just focus on the experience! The driving was excellent, the food great and the accommodation superb. I would fully recommend this safari company as they are wonderful guides that will give you a really unique experience for a great price. Thanks to both Brian and Chris!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Well organised, nice accommodation and food, the safari trip is incredible!
Perfect 4-day trip to Masai Mara for my partner and I. We saw everything except the rare black rhino. Best bit was seeing a leopard climb up a tree to eat its kill. Balloon trip is well worth the extra price. Mara Sopa lodge accommodation is fantastic and not far from the park entrance. Food is fine. Obama is a very knowledgeable guide and was very accommodating to our requests. Simon responded to all my emails in a quick fashion before the trip and also called me afterwards to check how the trip went. You travel around in a 10-seater Nissan safari van with a pop-up roof. Really useful to be picked up from Nairobi hotel and dropped off at airport. I would highly recommend Wild Race Africa!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
What started out in frustration ended in satisfaction.
This is a follow up to a previous review posted several weeks ago regarding lost keys. At that point, I felt that Africa Travel Co. had chosen to forget about the matter. I was pleased to receive a follow up email from Matt at ATC informing me that they hadn't forgotten. They arranged for a U.S. traveler to bring the keys back to the States and then mail them to me domestically. This unfortunate episode will fade. What won't fade are the remarkable memories of the trip. Our tour dynamics were amazing. Will, our guide was sarcastic and fantastic. His knowledge and love of Africa was obvious. He, along with our driver Stevie and our cook Monga created an inclusive environment for a pretty diverse tour group. We brought our two teenage sons and were concerned that there wouldn't be anyone for them to interact with. It was just the opposite. This was very much a family trip and all of the kids bonded quickly. As has been stated in other reviews, this is not a trip for everyone. ATC makes that clear in their materials. It's a trip that demands participation and engagement. After sleeping under African stars, you're up early and moving all day. You're pitching in to help clean, cook and manage the campsite. I found this expectation to be a bonding agent and not a chore. If you have an adventurous spirit and a lot of energy, then you should be good to yourself and take this trip with ATC.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Welcoming, interactive with wide Knowledge of Tourism but welcoming any feedback.
Peoples Expectations are not easily met, hoever I would say mine went beyond, well organised as Tour company with Smart staff with wider knowledge of Tourism in the Region,always at hand during ones stay with them, but more importantly, welcoming any kind of Feedback as an avenue to improvement.
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
i had a wonderful service, thanks so much Kwanza Tours. everthing was very great.
Kwanza respond quikly and they have good safari prices, when we arrived in Kampala the guide welcomed us so nicely and we got all what they offer. The lodges were very nice and we saw alot of animals like Lions,giraffes,hyenas and so on. The food at every lodge were we slept was very delicious and people are very friendly. So i reccommed every one who wants to visit Uganda to use Kwanza Tours.
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Trip!!!
After several searches for a safari, we decided to booked a 4 days with Soul of Tanzania. We saw the following parks: Arusha, Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater. It was wonderful! First of all, thank you to Miguel and the customer service team who helped us to book this adventure. Professional and our questions were answered very fast.
Lodges were outstanding. Beautiful location : Tarangire Simba Lodge (Best Pina Colada), Lake Manyara Wildlife Lodge and the Rhino Lodge. Thank you to the staff who served us. Super clean and very good food.
Unlike other companies, Soul of Tanzania offers hot lunches with a flawless little set up. Lunches are taken in the parks with wine. The vehicles are in perfect conditions.
A big thank you to our guide, our man, Heaven! He was perfect for us. He has met our needs. Always ready to go miles to see all animals, especially lions and rhinos. Always listening to what we wanted to see. Very good knowledge and very patient. He knew how to find animals, and how to wait for animals.
Definitely, I would recommend Soul of Tanzania and our guide Heaven.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
The Trip of A Lifetime at Excellent Value
There are two Africas: one where Westerners see exotic wild animals in
safari parks, explore natural wonders and natural beauty, are waited on
in resorts with gourmet meals. The other Africa is the real Africa, of
everyday people striving to survive, of farmers and herdsmen, of
students off to class, of arguing politics in roadside bars over a
Tusker, of motorcycles and diesel trucks, of delays and happy surprises.
Trip Advisor Africa Safaris is the best way to see both Africas. The
Africa of television and movies and novels, and the Africa of the people
who live there.
For years my wife and I wanted to visit East Africa, and after some
research and comparisons of itineraries and cost,Trip Advisor Africa
Safaris won out for a 16-day trip covering Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Our trip covered a majority of the parks allowing us to see the Big Five
(including the elusive Black Rhino!), the Big Seven, Southern White
Rhino, birds galore, and a trek into the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to
view Gorilla's at close range. All-in-all, they delivered a
unforgettable trip.
The key difference between Trip Advisor Africa Safaris and other tours
is that we traveled by land, stopping in towns and cities along the way,
not just seeing animals, but observing Africans in their day-to-day
activities and understanding their way of life. Other safaris whisk
visitors across the country from park-to-park in bush planes and wind up
seeing little of what lies between. Those safaris seem just an expensive
visit to the zoo. I have great memories of this trip, many of the
animals, but many more of the people and places we saw along the way.
Our drivers were fantastic, Jack ,Kim , and Fredrick felt like close
friends by trips end. They made sure we were taken care of and safe.
Mindful of everything from finding a secluded grassy spot to go to the
washroom, to not taking pictures of the power plant or they'll take your
camera, to earning a red banana for every rare animal you spot. The
drivers were knowledgeable and kind and always looking out for our best
interest. My sincerest thanks to them all!
Our sincerest thanks as well to Nairobi office under the boss Seth
Vincent, for arranging the trip, providing wonderful drivers, and
getting us around the region and back to the airport early for our
flight home!
Lastly, A few small logistics and items of note. Trip Advisor Africa
Safaris, provided a mix of accommodation types varying from tented
camps, to local hotels, to five star resorts. Meals were provided, but
drinks were extra. Tipping is an art all its own, so make sure you
research what to give to who and when. Their tours can be customized
depending on your interests, preferred accommodation, etc. You need to
book in advance if you want to go gorilla trekking as the permits are
limited and go quickly.
Here is a list of our main stops between Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania:
Nairobi
Maasai Mara
Lake Nakuru
Lake Victoria/Source of the Nile in Jinja
Kampala
Lake Bunyonyi
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Lake Naivasha
Arusha
Serengeti
Ngorongoro Crater
Tarangire