TW
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Feliz Travel is well organize safari. Looking forward to safari with Feliz Travel again next time!
The safari is well organize with well guided. We can explore the elephant cave, Eurok tribe and Ngorongoron Crater tour.
YT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
One of the greatest nature and human experience of our life!
We climbed the Kilimanjaro on January 2018 with EAV team and it was great! Contacts by mail (very kind), explanations, value for money...
But most of all, our guides and porters were absolutely PERFECT! We really "shared" this experience with them. Thanks to them, we felt always safe (our guides had impressive medical knowledges (we are doctor and physio)) and comfortable (good camp material and organization). The food was also delicious!
We STRONGLY recommend East African Voyage and our team:
- Guides: Goodluck Daniel and Godwin Makwaia
- Porters: Charles, Ocea, Antony, Emmanuel, Amisi, Poki, Ela, Saïdi, Elea, Swahibu, Adam, Moïsi, Heavenlight, Ayoub, Ceravino, Tegemea and Daniel (sorry if mistakes).
Asante sana to all the team!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The trip was put together in a very seamless way.
Living afar and trusting in an organisation with whom you have no previous knowledge can lead to feeling of mis trust and wondering whether what we have paid for actually exists. A little more proactive communication would have eased those feelings. In the end, it was all perfect. The choice of lodges, the timing of travel, the flights, and the whole experience was worth every single penny. Thank you so much for such a memorable trip.
CH
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Gifts of the Kalahari has excellent bush-knowledge
coming from Switzerland and having lived for many years in southern Africa we know about tourist traps, cheap Safaris (15 people to one game viewing truck...) and rip-offs, experienced in the past.
with Gifts of the Kalahari Safaris we experienced a private Safari with a most knowledgeable guide, excellent service and the most enjoyable day trip we ever had. Its their personal know-how and willingness to show and teach you something about Africa and the way of animals that makes a huge difference.
We can recommend this Company to anybody looking for something authentic.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
I would never book an African safari with anyone else - Exceptional customer service
I have just returned from a month in Tanzania and Kenya over December 2017 / January 2018. This was the second time that I have booked with African Ubuntu Safaris and I would never book with anyone else. I think that I was Cuan's first customer nearly 6 years ago when I found him 6 weeks before I was due to travel and a much larger, international tour provider cancelled my trip at short notice. Cuan came to the rescue then, and exceeded my expectations, and there was no doubt in my mind who I was booking with for my second safari to Africa. His customer service, ability to listen and shape your safari for the better, knowledge of the operating environment and tour providers has only gotten better from the exceptional service that I had received last time.
This trip involved a private safari throughout Tanzania with friends (including Serengetti, Ngorongoro Crater, Zanzibar); as well as me travelling solo on a scheduled tour through Kenya (Masai Mara, Lake Nukuru and Amboseli) and some highlights in Nairobi (Giraffe Manor and Nairobi Tented Camp). Wow, wow and wow. I had such a fabulous trip (and hopefully have inspired some of my friends to travel to Africa to experience it for themselves). Sure - the destinations are incredible, but pulling a trip together like this needed product knowledge, awareness of the best locations for viewing wildlife and contacts with quality accommodation and tour providers. These are things that Cuan and African Ubuntu provide in bucket loads.
The whole trip went smoothly, from transfers, to animals turning up where and when they should be (how lucky!) to the check in call and email from Cuan upon returning home - nothing was ever a hassle or too much travel. At one point I sent an email to clarify that a change of flight had been communicated to the transfer provider on the ground - Cuan was straight back with reassurance and attention to detail. This is very reassuring for a single woman travelling throughout Africa - but really, for any traveller to this region. Whilst on the trip, I had opportunity to speak to many travellers, and I really did walk away from many a conversation feeling like I had the best agent - Cuan had provided exceptional advice, tips, service and hints. This is not necessarily common for all agents.
I cannot recommend African Ubuntu Safaris more highly. I truly would never book an African safari with anyone else
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing 16 Night private family mobile camping safari
Having used Ulinda Safari Trails in 1995 we had no hesitation booking our safari with Ulinda again this time (with 3 kids in tow this time, aged 16, 18 and 20). Jane runs a very professional business and her 33 years guiding experience is second to none. Her communications were always prompt and she answered all of our questions before the trip. We left the itinerary up to her and were not disappointed. Jane is very patient with early morning sluggishness, she drives with skill and care, she is respectful of the environment and will even stop to pick up other peoples discarded rubbish, she always positions the truck for the best photo opportunity and her staff are amazing. They kept us comfortable and so well fed it was unbelievable what Gase, Victor and Manga could cook up on an open fire place! We saw so much wildlife including 40+ lion, 5 leopard, 4 cheetah, 4 honeybadgers, 1 African wildcat, 7 African Wild dogs as well as 100's of elephant, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, impala, lechwe, steenbok and many kudu, giraffe, waterbuck, tsessebe, baboons, jackal and an amazing array of birds. It was hot in the CKGR to start but as we moved north toward the parks with water it cooled off and the landscapes became greener and more lush. It was still a very comfortable time of year to go, not much rain this year compared to last years floods which just shows no weather patterns (or animal movements) are predictable anymore.
SE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The safari was exciting and very interesting with very good guides.
It was my 2nd time in SA and the 1st time for my wife, so when talking about safaris I can compare the Kruger park with Pilanesberg which I think it's more preferable with a shorter ride from Jo'burg and also less driving around in the park to spot the animals.
The weather was perfect and the two places in Capetown and Jo'burg(Sandton) were we stayed at, were very good both of them.
Food was awesome and everything else during our time in SA worked out very well.....SA it is a highliht itself:-)
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
OUTSTANDING PATIENCE AND EXPERIENCE!!!
I had an unusual itinerary with my husband, daughter and grandaughter. My husband is African so we wanted to spend Christmas with his family. We started out with a "mud map" of the things we needed to do in Zimbabwe and Cuan filled in the gaps. Everything went like clockwork. We were picked up and moved about by professional guides, on time every time, with very comfortable transport on every occasion. I have been to Africa many times before and I know first hand how horribly things can turn if there is a vehicle break down or unreliabele operator, etc. We witnessed some extraordinary animal sightings which are now life long memories for my and my family.
I cannot praise Cuan enough for his patience and undertstanding. My itinerary changed a few times before we even left Australia and nothing was ever too much trouble for him to make everything just perfect.
I will definitely be calling on his services when we next venture back to Africa.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great day trip to Botswana from Victoria Falls
We were staying in Victoria Falls when a member of our group found this tour company for a day trip to Botswana. We all had our univisa so decided to try it after reading other good reviews online. On the day of the trip we were picked up at our lodge and driven to Chobe National Park where we transferred into a safari vehicle and toured a big portion of the park and waters edge. We had lunch at a nearby resort where there was also a pool we could use and a couple small shops. Then we were picked up at the dock of the resort for a great sunset boat tour. After the boat tour we were driven back to Victoria Falls and dropped at our choice of restaurant for dinner. We saw so many animals on our trip, both in the park and from the boat. Herds of elephants, hippos, baboons, so many birds and more! This was a great way to spend a day in Africa and my husband and I would recommend.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great planning, mediocre execution
We booked a 4 day Serengeti honeymoon through Walter with a 5-day Zanzibar add-on. We chose to book with him because he was easy to communicate with and seemed extremely knowledgeable. The detailed trip descriptions customized for the season gave me confidence that he would arrange a great trip for us.
Altogether, Walter's recommendations for lodging were all spot on. All the accommodation he recommended were truly outstanding.
Reasons for the 3-star review:
1) My most serious complaint was our guide named Anderson. While he was a safe driver, always punctual, and seemed very competent at finding game we had an unbelievably hard time communicating with him and that really put a damper on the trip for us. To give you some background, I have lived in the Middle East and Africa for extended periods of time so I would consider myself adept at speaking with non-native English speakers. However, both me and my wife found ourselves constantly frustrated. Anderson could not teach us much about the nature that we came to see nor could he answer our questions. To be honest, we would ask a question and usually get a completely off-the-wall answer as he didn't understand what we had asked. Eventually driving around gets boring if you don't know what you're really looking at with any depth! Other travelers and their guides we met along the way did not seem to have this issue.
2) There were some permit issues entering two of the parks, each one causing a 1-2 hour delay when we would have preferred to have been relaxing in the lodge. The driver tried to tell me it was the network, the park employees clarified it was poor preparations although didn't further elaborate. I ended up having to pay entrance fees to one park which I did get reimbursed for.
3) Our guide decided to go off the road in Serengeti to get closer to some lions. It was our first day and we had no idea that this wasn't allowed. Sure enough, the rangers came and we had to follow them back towards the airport (nearly an hour away in the wrong direction) for our driver to get a 'ticket.' About 5 minutes into this drive they stopped and motioned our driver out of the car. Next thing we knew our driver was asking us for money to bribe the rangers. I said I would not give him money. A few minutes later we were on our way without paying a fine. I have no idea what exactly was going on... I have no idea if this is a setup or common occurrence but it certainly left a bad taste in our mouth.
4) The airport transfer that Walter arranged for us in Zanzibar consisted of an hour of entrapped salesmanship. The transfer company he contracted was also a 'tour company' and spent the hour pushing countless tour options which we were not at all interested in. We both arrived with headaches.
Bottom line: I would trust Walter's planning again but I'd be weary of your guide. I honestly would go so far as to talk with your guide on the phone ahead to be sure you can communicate. Don't trust other's TripAdvisor notes mentioning guides because ours actually had a few decent comments!