Outstanding service: friendly, honest, thorough, efficient and with plenty of initiative
In January 2015 I toured solo Rwanda and South Western Uganda on my bicycle. The opportunity to travel came unexpectedly so I was forced to quickly put together the trip’s itinerary over a few evenings. I knew little about the area and was worried about getting a gorilla permit with such short notice during the high season. Therefore, I drafted a mail with a long list of questions which I sent to over 25 local and international tour operators. I received lots of replies, with most limiting themselves to put pressure on me to book services without addressing my queries. Only one reply clearly stood out over all the others, including some prestigious American and European-run operations: Umbano Tours. The mail Herbet Gato sent me was perfect: it was concise, knowledgeable, accurate and friendly. There was no pressure to sell services; it just explained how they could help and brought to my attention issues related to my plan that I was overlooking due to my inexperience in the region. He also put himself at my disposal to discuss my plans over the phone/Skype, even if it meant for him working late in the evenings and over the weekend. What impressed me the most is that I was obviously a ‘bad customer’ for a tour operator because I was travelling self-sufficiently with my bicycle. Umbano did not make juicy commissions from fancy hotels nor enjoyed high margins from all-inclusive fancy tours out of me. I was treated like VIP even though I booked cheap budget hostels and only wanted a gorilla permit (without guide/tour/transportation). In summary, they were friendly, honest, thorough, efficient and displayed initiative. I ended up requesting tailor-made services like car collections for myself+bike from remote non-touristic locations which were carried out with Swiss-style precision and reliability. Herbet also arranged a custom tour to the Nyiragongo Crater in Congo which took care of visa, transportation and bicycle storage. This was also perfectly organised plus I could see my safety was taken very seriously. In Congo I met other travellers who had booked similar tours with other agencies at much higher prices, thus demonstrating that Umbano offers excellent value-for-money in addition to outstanding customer service. I cannot recommend enough Umbano tours and Herbert’s assistance. To make things even better, you will also have the satisfaction of dealing with a 100% African company and thus helping the local economy. Umbano: a no brainer win-win.
TR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Ngorongoro Crater by Mustafa Kasapoglu
The are has been naturally well protected. Because the creter has been surrounded by the mountains and the wild like has been surrounded like in a natural pool. The guides and and the animals seem to have agreed in timing. Every morning during the animals breakfast the guides are driving the visitors to watch the game. Hyenas are almost ther at the same place every morning.
CL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best trip ever!!
Amazing!! The team was great!
Every animal that we wanted to see, we found it!
Our driver... so pro! We had very high expectation about the trip, and it really was far better than we expected.
Best trip ever! The team, the lodgdes, the wild expirence.... awasome!!
All the booking process was very easy.. the team ansewr me hundred of questions... many thanks!!
TR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An elephant paradise
Tarangire is totally representing the typical African nature. But god gave lots of gifts to Tarangire. The land scape of Tarangire is extremely nice. You can view the whole plain together with Elephants and other animals. A pieceful atmosfer is surrounding you. becuase the elephants are so slow and the zebras are all arround. But we have also seen hidden lions between the long grasses. The old african trees are an incredible nature icon. We were 4 people and was like a private Safari. We enjoyed so much. I can not forget what we lived and will go again in the first convenience.
Great safari
I travelled to Tanzania early March... wanted to get to see the beautiful and breath taking Mount Kilimanjaro, The roof of Africa and I must say I enjoyed Chance's company while I was in Moshi, Tanzania. He tried his best to give me the information I required and I would definitely recommend his services!
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Wonderful Wildlife and Scenery that is protected and cared for
I visited Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara. In 4 days (3 nights) using Balu travel. Isaac was my private guide and he was amazing. Besides having a hospitality background and gaming experience, he was a friendly and caring guide who made sure that i had a great trip. The hotel in Nakuru ‘Sarova Woodlands’ in Nakuru town was ok with very friendly staff, good internet and buffet restaurant (but no gym) . The tented lodge in Masai Mara ‘Emayian Luxery Lodge’ was amazing. All inclusive and fine dining, jacuzzi in front of the tent and very friendly staff. The two parcs had abundant wildlife including the famous big five. But also many other animals. The facilities inside the parcs are less than in South Africa (no picknick areas with washrooms). This is inconvenient when traveling the whole day. In Masai Mara we made a stop at a crocoldile walk-centre and at the airport for a toilet break, both locations did not have toilet paper.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Serengeti National Park by JOHN WEIR
Visited the northern Serengeti, this was our first visit, knew what to expect but viewing it in real-time was overwhelming. Was keen to photograph the 3 big cats and they duly obliged, our leopard and cheetah sightings were incredible. Possibly got better Lion images in Tarangire.
All expected mammals were observed and photographed, and the birds were pretty impressive too, although I am not a specialist. Generally it was apparently quieter than other parts of The Serengeti (views of other travellers), which suited us. The exclusive use of a vehicle always helps in terms of species targeted, photographic opportunity and the capacity to avoid crowds. We hoped to see a 'River Crossing' but it wasn't to be, despite several near misses. Our main criteria for a successful camp is the potential quality of wildlife viewing available, so we don't get too excited about swimming pools, wi-fi provision etc. In fact it is, to us quite nice to leave a few creature comforts at home, it adds to a truly authentic safari experience.
We stayed at Sayari Camp which was of a very high quality in all areas and thoroughly enjoyed a 3 night stay. We will return to The Serengeti soon to hopefully witness a 'River Crossing'. The Serengeti certainly lives up to it's reputation as one of the world's top wildlife destinations, a remarkable eco-system.
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect. Could not ask for more
Having never been outside Europe, traveling to Africa was always a bit nervous in the beginning. Somehow, after starting speaking with Joao and Luis Gama from It Started in Africa by phone and email, we became more at ease. They were incredibly informative, trustworthy, always there for us and had a very transparent company and price structure. They were the reason for us having the best vacations in our lives. We had everything we could hope for and more. From wildlife to adventure to paradisiac beaches and fantastic people, from the guide to the cook and office staff. I will come back guys
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Beautifull and well organised and prepared trip to Malawi and South Luangwa by Matoke Tours
Me and my wife did go to Malawi and South Luangwa (Zambia) last September. We first did some research for South Tanzania, but finally Matoke offerd us a trip to Malawi and Zambia with private driver. The trip was well organised and good built form low habitated Animal Parcs to highly habitated Parc South Luangwa. The Parcs in Malawi arent filled with much Tourists but that is what we like. The accomodations were very luxury and good. We did 3 walking safaris and also a lot of Sundowners and night drives. Mkulumadgzi Lodge was very luxury and in drives we saw for example Few Lions (only five in the Parc), Elephants, Monkeys, Hippos but also Black Mamba and Scropion. In Mvuu (Liwonde NP) we did Rhino Track and gfinally we saw the Rhino in front of on about 2 metres. We also saw here Sables, which were very nice, and a Skunk at the night drive. AT Mount Mulanje we made a short trip with guide, but becaues of injury it was just enough and we decided not to made a great walk. But view was very nice. In between we stayed 2 times 1 night in Blantyre in a nice lodge. Ar the end we stayed a few nights at Lake Malawi at Norman Carrs. It was just like we were at the beach. Also calmly but nice and relaxing time and local people did there daily stuff like fishing, washing the clothes and thereselves in the Lake. Then we did go to Zambia by very small plane (only 3 persons included the 2 of us) and the pilot. SUitcases were at the bench behind of us. SO we could made very nice and good films and pictures from the plane during the short (about 1 hour) flight to Mfuu int. Airport. In Zambia at South Luangwa we had a nice Bushcamp were the Elephant walked at the evening almost at our table while we has diner. Also the drives here were very good and there was lot to see: Leopards, Lions, Buffalo, Zebra, Giraffe, Crocodile, Monkeys, Elephants Bushbocks and a lot of other deers. Also we saw Hyena, Owls at night drives, Cameleon some special birds were there a lot during this whole trip. At the Camp there were a lot of Mangoes as well and the animals did walk very nearby. And we did saw Lions eating a Buffalo and at other place eating a killed Elephant younger one. We also swa in the dark a fight between 2 Lions and a Crocodile fihting in the neighbourhood of the killed Buffalo.
So after all we were very satisfied, and has has a relaxing, luxureous, varioused and animalfull trip. Only thing missing was a live kill by a Leopard of Lion. Although we did saw a preparation for a kill by a Leopard as well as a misjudged kill of Leopard.
Also during the preparation and when we did arived back in Holland the contact with Matoke was very good and nice. This was also so when we did book a journey (1 week private and 3 weeks in a group) to Uganda 4 years ago. Even when this trip was very superb, the trip to Uganda still keep our best trip ever. So hopefully within a few yera we will book another trip to Africa again at Matoke.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Lovely country, not over-crowded (yet)
We highly recommend inspiredfeetsafari as an operator.
We had such a lovely stay during our vacation. Helpful people, nice landscape and wildlife.