RU
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safaris in three parks (Serengeti, Ngorogoro, Tarangiri)
I went on a Safari from the company Suricata. I found them on the website: www.safaribookings.com I really liked the service provided. The price was average market. But the price included meeting from the airport and transfer to the airport after the safari. The price also included hotel accommodation before the safari and after the safari. The hotel is very decent. The company is run by three very active and friendly men. All with good English (one of them is American). The service was provided at a very good level, so I recommend choosing them.
If we talk about the Suricata company itself, I liked the guide, the cook (as it turned out later, in comparison with all the others he cooked very tasty). Every evening, as a gift, well, dinner was given a bottle of wine. Food was always prepared in excess. The guide drove fast, but very carefully. Car: six-seater Land Cruiser.
Now about the trip itself: the safari lasted 4 days (3 nights). Parks: Ngorogoro, Serengeti and Tarangiri. Tarangiri is separate from the other two parks. All parks are different and differ from each other in nature and animals. Therefore, it is interesting to see all three, but you need to correctly evaluate your strength and desire. Drive 300 km from Arusha to Serengeti Park, the road is bad, so be patient or choose other parks. But the Serengeti is the largest park.
I went in August 2019. When they tell you, take warm clothes, this really means that you will need them. Be sure to take pants, a sweatshirt, a windbreaker, possibly another sweater. Also bring along a headlamp, pillowcase, soap, small shampoo, wet wipes, mosquito repellent. Personally, I did not take a windbreaker with me and regretted it. In the evenings there is a very cool and strong wind.
Bargaining in shops, taxis and markets should be 3-4 times. Everyone wants to make money on white tourists.
Yellow fever vaccine is best done just in case. Whether to be vaccinated against malaria, everyone decides for himself. Locals get malaria like a cold. Many tourists even having vaccinated have a high chance of getting sick. Just fly to Tanzania, before you go on a safari, buy a malaria test. If your temperature rises, you can immediately use the test.
Paying all the more profitable in shillings (you pay the safari in dollars). Therefore, change dollars at the airport or immediately after arrival in the city.
Have a good holiday and interesting adventures!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
It was an amazing experience! I could see the amount of work put in to make my family comfortable.
They were beyond my expectations! Everything went smoothly and according to plan.
SA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
It was marveloous tour keep on telling my friends
I think u will keep same spirit so that u will acquire more guests,
Expecting to hear more positive feedbacks from my friends and relatives
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We experienced tailored service from start to finish
We had no idea about what to look for in a safari holiday, so we got quotes from a number of operators we found on the web. All we told them was our planned dates. We went with Bensons because their response was full of positive suggestions and a detailed itinerary from the off. Pendo was a very responsive correspondent as we thrashed out the final itinerary and she got us hotels in all the price brackets we requested, mostly mid-range but one luxury two-night stay.
The only question mark in our minds at this stage was over payment of the deposit (and subsequently the balance of the account); if a potential client does not have a first-hand recommendation, it does feel a little risky to transfer large sums of money overseas to people we have never met! Surely there is a way to facilitate credit card payments? PS FYI sending scans of cards isn't a lot more reassuring than money transfers.
All that said, we couldn't fault the care taken of us when we got to Tanzania (a late arrival due to a missed connection was accommodated seamlessly). Throughout, we were in the care of our guide Amini, and travelling in a very comfortable Land Cruiser. We started with a long day's drive (10 hours) to the Western Serengeti. Even though this must have been a challenge for Amini, he still accommodated our desires to stop regularly to see wildlife, just because it was the first time for us, although he knew better views were available later in the trip. The Lahia Tented Lodge was a very special experience, all-inclusive with great service and excellent facilities, perched on a commanding bluff.
Amini took us for two days seeing every animal the Serengeti had to offer, we visited a Masai village then Ngorongoro, a staggering "lost world" where we enjoyed picnicking next to the hippo pool. Then we went to Lake Manyara, experiencing our only disappointment of the safari in not seeing tree-climbing lions (no fault of Benson's!). After a night at the Farm of Dreams, we rounded off our tour with a tour round the village of Mto wa Mbu. We got a great insight into a number of traditional lifestyles and crafts, followed by a nice lunch. We did rather regret having bought wooden souvenirs at the African Galleria when we visited the very craftsmen who were making and selling those products!
In summary, we had a wonderful trip with a friendly and knowledgeable guide, and from initial enquiry until our departure we were well looked after throughout by Benson's.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
From the beginning, Maryke was prompt with her communications with me. The transport staff was ++
Timely, prompt, thorough and professional. It was a pleasure working with the team.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a lifetime
My parents and I took a 5 day safari through Tarangire, Ngorogoro Crater, Serengeti and Lake Manyara. Had a wonderful time that surpassed all expectations. We were very satisfied with all parts of our trip including the itinerary, lodgings, communications, etc.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An all-around excellent experience
From our initial communications with Tukio Safaris till our guide, Josh, dropped us off at our hotel following our 6-day safari for my wife and I’s honeymoon, we had a truly incredible experience. On the planning side, Tukio was quick and thorough in answering all of our questions about our itinerary, and even made a few changes per our unique requests. In terms of the actual safari, we could not have had a better time. Our driver was personable, flexible, polite, and incredibly knowledgeable. He navigated the three parks we visited masterfully, and was just as masterful in thinking through every detail of our other travel, lodging, etc. We could not recommend Tukio Safaris more highly!
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic Game drive in Moremi
For a safari through the Moremi Game Reserve we can highly recommend Shipungo Safari & Tours with its guide and driver Thata. It was wonderful and nature sensitive, we learned a lot about the local animals and plants. We had a very nice experience and saw a lot without disturbing the wild animals too much. We can only recommend this company.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent tour!
Myself, my wife, and our driver/guide, Victor just came back from the "Best of Kenya Classic Safari". Everything went according to the itinerary that Seven by Far made out for us when we booked last October. Victor was an excellent guide and driver. The six to eight hours of driving between the lodges went fast because we could relax and watch the scenery and people through the window without worry. On game drives because of Victor's good eyesight and help from his fellow guides on the CB radio we saw just about every animal we could have hoped to see (lions, leopards, cheetahs, rhinoceroses, hippos, zebras, giraffes, elephants, antelopes of every size etc, etc). Because we booked early, they also included a hot air balloon ride, so we could see the herds of migrating wildebeests from above. The hotel and all the lodges they picked for us were very comfortable, and clean. The buffet meals had a huge variety so we never had to eat anything we didn't like and could have just enough so we had room for dessert after. I think the best part was that we didn't have to share Victor or the van with anyone else. When asked, Sylvester the owner said that they never put strangers together. It's always spouses, families, or friends so you know you'll be travelling with compatible people. I know people don't always trust reviews they see on sites like this, so check out my review on Tripadvisor (402jmcc) so you can see my previous reviews and know I'm a real customer.
AE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Outstanding Safari.
After thinking over a year and making a lot of correspondence with Spirit of Kenya we chose to take a plunge. This 6 days safari in the heart of Kenya was made in the first fortnight of August 2019 included Lake Naivasha Lake Bogoria Lake Nakuru and finally Masai Mara. The response from customer service (Mr.Tiago), Logistics, Quality of cottage, vegetarian food and most important Guide (Mr. Eric) who was with us through the entire tour were par excellence. First Eric, from being a guide he evolved to become a friend. His knowledge of the terrain is immense. If at all we could see all the possible animals you could, the credit goes to him. Gentleman to the core he has shown humbleness, commitment, and service attitude that could envy any corporate employee. Full marks to him. Next, our expectations were surpassed on the choice of stay. We were brought so close to Africa's nature and unpolluted environment. Best experience of seeing Big 5 so close as well as other great creatures such as Zebra Giraffe Hippo countless flamingoes and a world of fauna unparalleled anywhere. Day 1-Hells gate trekking down volcanic remains was literally breathtaking. It called for pulling reserves of stamina but to see such natural beauty you need to exert a bit. Lake Naivasha Camp Carnellys -loved that stay close to the beautiful lake, the food was delicious. Drive on lake truly marvelous. Africa's lakes are too huge and glorious. We marveled at Hippos playing with family. Day 2- Bogoria Flamingoes -they say a Million of them- not possible to prove them wrong. You see them adorning the vast stretch of lake shorelines. Breathtaking and very beautiful. Hot springs breed them and indeed the springs were too hot to touch. Due to rising water levels, they are seen in the form of subsurface bubbles instead of raising stream (the sign of global warming). Stay at Camp Roberts was unique and calm and close to breathtaking lake Baringo where we had an evening ride by boat. Birds and sky made the ride more than colorful. Day 3 at Lake Nakuru, the safari was too good especially the Rhinos, Zebra, Warthog, Giraffe and countless Impala and Baboon monkeys. The stay at Punda Milias was class. Food was service were remarkable. Day 4 To Masai Mara- from Nakuru a 5-hour drive over the picturesque bumpy mountain route with fields of wheat maize and muti colored greens - children lining up on the roads waving hands-sharing their joy of seeing guests to their country. Kenya - nature, and humanity thrive in their smiles. Camp Oldaparai (2 nights stay) - a lovely one nests below a lovely hill -the young smiling team of hosts welcomes you to a couple of days of memorable stay of life. Conservation at best. A brief trailer of what we could expect next day was shown during a brief 2-hour drive inside the park in the evening. We almost were to sight the king on the hunt for its prey in its natural preserve. For some reason, it retreated. Day 5-Game drive at Masai Mara - looking at Big 5 - (Lions Elephants Rhinos Buffalo and Leopard)filled our entire day. We could see countless Wild beasts grazing the grasslands close to banks. We aspired to see the crossing of the river by hordes of these beasts but this is something possible if luck favors you. For us, it didn't. Crocodiles waiting for prey and Hippos noticed on the river. The vast terrain (any untrained driver would be lost in wilderness). The close coordination through Walkie Talkie symbolizes sharing and teamwork at best. Each and every guide helps one another to bring a great safari experience to their customers. We also could look from distance the side of Tanzania (Serengeti) from our side. Never we imagine going so close to big cats like that. They pass a brief look at you as if a sign of welcome and move on to their routines. With countless cars around they have got used to us seeing them it appears. Day 6 visit to Masai village- their humbleness and zest for a life closely in sync with nature brings you a new perspective to life. Return to Nairobi and en route, we stepped into Giraffe camp that breeds Rothschild type Giraffes (never miss). Our 6 days came to an end before we could even realize it. Our camera and cell phones had to work overtime to catch the glimpse of mother nature and its creations. Big thanks to Tiago who made it possible with his superb coordination till the tour started for us and Guide Eric for making it most memorable tour for us. All rolled into one-its Spirit of Kenya's safari tours kudos for the excellent job.
