Great experiance
It was great, we had a lovely tour. The driver was amazing, he know at lot about nature!!
We stay in hippo camp, the place and food are excellent. The logde shut need to be upgrade (holes in wall and Floor) no furniture outside, very old.
Selous parc makes it All worth!
THE most beautiful place in Africa.
Since visiting this park all future parks visited are compared to this absolutely magnificent place.Stunning scenery that leaves you humbled and misty eyed.Great accommodation options,fantastic guides,easy access from Lusaka,and such a large choice of activities from walking to game drives,fishing, canoeing and motorboat safaris. There is certainly nothing ho hum about this little Eden.God was smiling the day he created this place.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great Recommendations and Communications
Contacted Chris Worden not knowing he is an agent for Zambezi Safari (found him on tripadvisor and had a question for him about Vic Falls and area). I was impressed with his communication skills and timely
replies. Learning that he is a guide and safari consultant, we decided to use his services and had a great time in Zimbabwe with his recommendations and bookings of transportation and camps. He greeted us on our first day and visited us on our last for morning coffee, which we enjoyed. Wouldn't hesitate to use Chris' services again.
CN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Abakombe Tours is the great
On july 25, me with my fellow from South Korea we were meet at Kilimanjaro Airport and transfered to Moshi at Keys Hotel where our trip for a 5 days Marangu days marked the beggining followed with 2 days Ngorongoro crater safari!
Our trip was really good, we appreciated the arrangement made by Alphonce. He really took a good care of us and I can strongly recommend him to any one going for a trip in East Africa or Tanzania.
We were pleased by the service at Abakombe Tours and all the were perfect and panctual, the food was delicious and the guides were smart at every thing and especially Chacha and Martin.
Thank you all
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
The last bit of Africa from childhood dreams
I have driven nearly 60,000 kilometres around Africa through 32 different countries. Nevertheless, it is the Turkana region that still stands out in my mind. This area is the cradle of humankind. Not only have some of the earliest humans been found here, but also the oldest complete human skeleton (1.5 million years old). In some strange way, the place just feels like home. The surroundings are ever changing, but always rough and unspoiled. Very much like James A. Michener describes the Khoikhoi (San) people in Southern Africa in the first chapter of his book "The Covenant", the Turkana people are, to me, the true Africa, along with the Masaai. They are, as you might expect, barely clothed, unable to speak any common language and largely untouched by modern ways.
We drove unsupported, stacked with supplies and fuel and, according to some, a great deal of courage, through the Turkana region from the border with Ethiopia. For some 700-800 kilometres we didn’t come across a mechanic, supermarket or petrol station. We camped in the bush, found leopard tracks where we slept, spotted a cerval cat eyeballing us from a hill and watched the largest group of camels that I had ever seen. The terrain is, unfortunately, not ideal for spotting a lot of game, or perhaps that was just due to the drought. Nevertheless, we saw hartebeest, eland, duikers, bush pigs and a few other animals. Huge termite hills are dotted all over the landscape. And it was here that I was witness to the most astonishing African sunset I have ever seen.
Do realise that by travelling through this region you are representing a world that the people who inhabit it do not know. A modern world. Do not give into begging, for it kills any entrepreneurial spirit and causes people to lose their dignity and traditional values. Instead, trade with them so they can learn and explore the world beyond their dry savannah. One Turkana man, about my age (early 20s), came up to our vehicle and properly saw himself for the first time in our side mirror. That, to me, was the Africa as you imagine it in childhood dreams. Unfortunately, in the most accessible parts of the continent, that world no longer exists. Tread lightly, but never stop exploring.
US
Superlative unbeatable wildlife viewing
We chose Mala Mala Rattrays because of its reputation for amazing wildlife viewing and we were not disappointed! Mala Mala has the Sand River running through it and abuts Kruger National Park. It is a huge private reserve (I believe it is the largest of the private reserves in the area) comprising 33,000 acres. Only vehicles from the Mala Mala camps are allowed on the reserve and they are allowed to go off road (unlike Kruger). There were never any more than 3 vehicles allowed at a sighting and we were frequently the only vehicle present. We chose to stay at Rattrays because there are no more than 4 people in each vehicle. The khayas are huge and luxurious with his and her bathrooms, plunge pool, and deck overlooking the Sand River. Mala Mala's motto is "It is all about the wildlife" and if you are interested in seeing the "Big Five" and more, this is the place for you. We were not disappointed! Highlights of our 4 night/5 day stay with our fantastic ranger, Greg Baldwin, were seeing a leopard dragging her freshly killed impala along the ground to a tree (our first night drive!) and the next morning (our second game drive) sitting among a pack of wild dogs as they consumed their kill and fought off a hyena. We experienced the excitement of following the dogs off road and watched them run down another antelope. The rest of our game drives were also wonderful and we had many leopard sightings, elephants, cape buffalo, lion, rhino, hyenas, warthogs, giraffes, mongoose, jenet, wildebeast, baboons, vervet monkeys, zebras, vultures, raptors, different types of storks, and a wide variety of antelope. I suspect that going during the dry season enhanced our wildlife viewing as the animals were mostly concentrated around the river. It is unbelievable how close you are able to get to the animals, just don't stand up in the range rover and you will be just fine. We appreciated the care the rangers took to minimally disturb the animals while we were observing them. You will be very very busy and we barely had enough down time to download our pictures between the early morning game drives, bush walks, meals, and night drives. Others have complained about the food which is served buffet style (we liked it just fine, we did have better food at other places during our trip to South Africa, but no place could beat Mala Mala in terms of the quality of the wildlife viewing and level of service and hospitality). If you want fantastic wildlife viewing that is unbeatable, come to Mala Mala! Yes, staying at Rattrays is expensive, but worth every penny!
35-50 years of age
Awesome trip to Africa
The trip was fantastic and a trip of a lifetime. We will have so many memories of the wildlife and Tanzania in particular Selous game reserve. Many thanks for arranging the trip and giving guidance and recommendations as to the Camps and itinerary. We would also like to recommend our guide Innocent who was with us for the entire 7 days, we found him personable and extremely knowledgeable and made the trip so enjoyable.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent…! You are the best Charles (Mwema Africa Safari)
Mwema Africa Safaris made my family trip to the great Rift Valley a memorable life time event, being our first trip to this place we found Charles and his team knowledgeable, accurate to details and well organized, we had tried other operators for the same request but Mwema Africa Safaris came out the best after another friend introduced us to you guys, Charles offered us a nice package in less than 2 days, his responses were timely and honestly we couldn’t resist taking his nice offer, we appreciate the excursions to Lake Naivasha, Hells gate and the nice views of Aberdares, the hotel accomodation was superb, nice food and accomodation, the staff were friendly this was wonderful. We promise to travel again with Mwema Africa Safaris, I have no doubt to refer any of my friends to you because your services are excellent, we truly appreciate your hospitality and now will be planning to visit Amboseli National Park / Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara any time next year
Will keep in touch.
Happy Holidays…..
IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The Great African Safari!
1. “It seemed that we were at another planet – ourselves Aliens, and the vast wildlife and wilderness – its true inhabitants” – There is not an iota of exaggeration in what I say, to describe the Great African Safari at Maasai Mara. The “Absolute Holiday Safari Experience” started with the introduction to the one man Army – David. He methodically chalked out our schedule(of almost entire East Africa), painstakingly working out each detail to perfection. We were introduced to our group, which in addition to five of us, were three Germans – one of who symbolically termed us “The Lion Squad” :-) .
2. The journey, to the “God’s Own” Maasai Mara, started with our pick up from Nairobi, a short break at the view point of the Great Rift Valley, and on-wards to the National Park. The very sight of the camp rejuvenated us, seemed to bring us closer to nature, with the well laid out tented accommodation, amidst picturesque flora, neatly scooped out of the jungle.
3. Sooner we found ourselves entering the huge gates of the Maasai Mara National Park, against an overcast sky. This, coupled with the first appearance of the tall giraffes, popping their heads up and out of the trees, reminded me of an early scene of the famous ‘Jurassic Park’ movie, I watched as a kid. The next couple of days went in total awe, credit goes to our guide Mr Jackson – 11 years of experience in the field, no doubt why some of us believed he had instincts that of a Cheetah….literally! A scene which seemed to us of a lone vulture sitting atop a tree, presented an inference to Jackson about the presence of a “Cat” – just finished relinquishing his prey – and voila! “Cat” it was – there we saw a lion sitting smartly upright in magnanimity, as if reassuring his kingship! Few meters beside him lay the half eaten carcass of a zebra, which would have contributed to the up gradation of the gene pool of his herd, when the weakest of the lot, lagged behind and got discarded – law of nature! …..for survival of the fittest!
4. All credit goes to Jackson who made us spot the ‘Big Five(lion, elephant, African buffalo, rhino and leopard), apart from almost three dozen wild animal and birds. One could just close his eyes, think of an animal and the very next moment it was in front of you. We criss-crossed the entire Maasai Mara National Park, going as far as the Mara river, famous for the great migration which takes place across it, bordering Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.
5. The trip also gave us a peek into the lifestyle of the Maasai tribe, still unadulterated by the modern world. The evenings spent at the camp were equally interesting. Sipping into our favourite drinks(which one can either carry or buy from the small but well stocked bar counter), we indulged in topics ranging from the Indian Sub-continent to the European Union, and to the Aryan race with our German counterparts, not to mention, other tourists were at liberty to join up and free lance conversation. The food was excellent at all meals. The staff was very co-operative, and though we carried valuables, nothing went missing. In fact the only disheartening aspect was the fact that we had to return, and the two nights and three days spent at Maasai Mara, seemed over in a flash.
6. In a special way I would like to mention the unparalleled co-operation by our tour manager Mr David, of Absolute Holiday Safaris Ltd. I have seen many ‘contacts’ do business – but very few touch our hearts – David was beyond doubt, one of them. Also I would like to mention Cyrus, who guided us well around Nairobi. Thank you for your unflinching dedication. In the end I would like to conclude by saying :-
“There are two kinds of people on the Earth!
The ones who have been to Maasai Mara…..
And the ones who have not!”
CA
Thank you for an extraordinary and unforgettable experience!!
9 marvelous days of being on the road with three Safari trucks and tour guides from Savannah Explorers. Nothing could have prepared us for such an unbelievable experience!! From the very first moment we felt very comfortable with Greyson, George and Masaki. They were excellent and safe drivers and everyone in our group of 21 from Germany (including my two wonderful sisters Karin and Inke) had only good words to say about them. George was our guide in car No.2 and I felt that he had such an amazing intuitive connection with nature. I am sure he spotted every single camouflaged animal on our way that we would have missed for sure (never mind, we DID see the giraffes and elephants without his help!!), and we saw them all: Elephants, giraffes, Hippos, lions, leopards, monkeys, even a cheetah. George also showed an incredible knowledge about them and their natural habitat and never got tired to explain everything in detail.
Masaki knew a lot of German, so the company even provided the group with a German translator.
Greyson made sure that all went smooth and without problems. Did he ever sleep? He was always smiling and in a good mood and ready to answer any question or offer his help . After a long day when we relaxed in beautiful lounges, our tour guides cleaned the trucks, stocked them with cold water, soft drinks, breakfast and lunch boxes and yeah!!! an ice cold beer for lunch, with lions just sitting right beside our truck.
Thinking back of all these long but unforgettable hours in the comfortable safari trucks I feel that Savannah Explorers offered absolutely top quality service and I would love to recommend them to anybody who is looking for a very well organized and well prepared Safari experience with super friendly and efficient guides. All of us in our group agreed on this and my sisters and I hope to come back to Tanzania one day for another unique experience.