65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
All started well, but we're completely abandoned for our stay in Zanzibar!
Avoid this company at all costs, they changed our itinerary, omitted many features of the trip, booked us into a substandard hotel, provided a vehicle which should not have been on the road, and a suicidal driver. Once we got to Zanzibar, all communications ceased, leaving us to arrange and pay for meals, drinks, outings, transfers and flights, which were supposedly included. Very disappointing. Only redeeming feature was Michael the guide who was a star.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Full wildlife Uganda experience with an excursion to Zanzibar
The adventure was certainly one of my best to date and will be remembered for a while to come!
We had an amazing time and the team from Matoke did an excellent job all round with the whole itinerary unfolding to perfection and to top it off Kasule (the driver) was a real champion who really took great care in ensuring we had the best trip possible. He was very attentive to our needs and we really could rely on him to coordinate and manage the entire logistics portion of the trip.
Accommodation in general was fantastic! starting at Murchison River Lodge and Bush Lodge but it was a close tie between Lake Mutanda and Mahingo which we really loved! I must confess that I was quite disappointed by Enjojo. Even though I consciously decided to do the Bamboo hut as a lower cost alternative it was definitely not worth $75 as the hut leaked onto the bed and when the camp management moved us, they put us in a very musty and partially rotting tent which I would have been hesitant to spend $10 to stay in. A word of advice is not to put any guests in this side of the camp as it is really not fit for paying guests. They tried to assure us they are building new lower cost alternative condos, so if I were you I would wait for those to be completed before sending guests back to the low cost alternative at Enjojo. But overall that is a very small blip on the otherwise near perfect trip.
I managed to see the Shoebill, the Gorillas and the Chimps so pretty much perfect from a wildlife perspective with some great pictures to boot, we just need to sort through them all now ;)
Matoke was a fantastic choice for this holiday and their team really looked after us so well!
I will certainly recommend anyone who asks, firstly that Uganda is a wonderful destination and secondly that if they go Matoke is the only option!
Hopefully I can save up and afford another trip to do the rest of the country we didnt get to this time such as Kidepo, Ruwenzori and another visit to Bwindi to find the African Green Broadbill
IT
My experience with Afrozone Kingdom Safari
I'm just came back form Tanzania... what a wonderful country!
Also my trip was perfect thanks to Afrozone Kingdom Safari. Adam (the owner) was so kind, reliable, quick in answering to all my question and very helpful in organizing my trip in each detail; I felt so comfortable and reassured even before my departure.
I booked with him a 3 days safari (the Lake Manyara, the Ngorongoro crater and the Tarangire) and a 1 day tour to the Kilimanjaro, that I strongly recommended for its waterfalls and coffee plantations!
Even Adam was so glad to help me to find a place where I could bring some clothes and toys for unfortunate children. He brought me to Mama Rose's house: please, if you can, plan a half day to visit her and the kids she takes care of...it was an unforgettable experience, they were so happy when received the gifts:)
In the end I strongly recommend Adam and his company, everyone well-prepared and everything well organised.
Thanks!!
IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The Great Tanzanian experience
We went on 6 days private safari featuring Selous game reserve and Mikumi national park with the tour guide Nico.
He knew a lot about animals and we could learn a lot from him. The game drives were super, he knew exactly where to go so we could see the animals from close. He was communicating with the other guides and helps him to locate the animals.
All the lodges we stayed at were nice and well equipped, some were better than others. Both breakfast and dinner were quite good quality. The lunch boxes were so fancy. It was a highly enjoyable safari with a very nice company and I would recommend it without a doubt to anyone going on a Southern Tanzania safari. Thank you Nico and Luitours and Safaris. Hope to see you again!
Fabulous! They created that once in a life time opportunity!
This experience is once in a lifetime and this tour guide and company made that happen. They set up everything we could have needed from housing, food and everything in between. The tour guide was fabulous. I couldn’t have asked anything better from Herman.
PL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a lifetime...
The overall experience with Meru Slopes has been very good. From the initial communication with the company's owner, Geofrey, to the day to day schedule of the safari. Our driver and guide, Spear, was a wonderful person. He was able to find the "Big Five" and was very pleasant to be around. The cook, Eric, was simply amazing. The daily food was great, and the variety was surprising for the remote conditions we were in. Overall, this trip ranks as one of my top trips and it was thanks to the smooth and quality service of Meru Slopes. Thank you!
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
AMAZING 10 DAYS WALKING/CULTURAL TOUR/WILDLIFE JOIN CAMPING SAFARI
Just perfect safari with Kili Slope Tours and Safaris. From the very first communications exchanged with David Maro, I felt a strong interest in his offer for the 10-day safari. The speed with which I got all the answers to my questions allowed me to stop quickly on the product I was looking for and offered by Kili Slope Tours and Safaris. It was easy to make my choice among several companies, recent customer testimonials also helped to make my decision and start the process of transferring the deposit for the reservation. My beautiful safari in the parks of northwestern Tanzania ended in early November. Exceptional in all aspects, from the moment the driver picked me up at the airport until the end. Meetings with David Maro at the beginning and end of the safari were also appreciated from all points of view to clarify other details. The guide is also the driver of the vehicle throughout the journey is qualified and dynamic, always alert to spot the animals in the parks, careful on the roads, involved to ensure the comfort of participants, and what to say the cook who has accompanied throughout the trip, having prepared each succulent meal and always ready at the scheduled time, he is a member of the team very attentive to the participants of the safari. I just had a great appreciation for the equipment used during the safari, the sleeping bag was clean, the tent and the vehicle lived up to my expectations. Finally, I did not notice any lack with respect to the items mentioned in the contract and everything went off in an irreproachable way. Without hesitation, I recommend Kili Slope Tours and Safaris for the trip of your life.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A surreal experience
We had an overland tour booked with On the Go Tours. We added to this a couple of game drives in Zimbabwe and another in Johannesburg. In Johannesburg we went to Pilansberg on a drive booked through Mmilo Tours… it was absolutely amazing and our guide Norman was fantastic. In Zimbabwe we booked through Pure Africa for a morning game drive in the Zambezi National Park and an afternoon drive in the Stanley and Livingston Park. Both were more than expected our guides for both were superb. Our overland tour was a camping tour and it was exactly as we thought it would be and we loved every minute. We travelled from Victoria Falls to Jo'burg and it was just long enough. The experience was incredible the camp sites were spotless the food cooked by our chef Martin was delicious. The wildlife … well just as it should be.. wild and free. We spent time on the Okavango Delta too which we accessed on Mokoro which are flat canoes that are poled across the delta by a poler. Here we also spent time in an African village which was definitely a highlight. We were able to help one little girl and will be contributing to her welfare in the future.
We could not have had a more perfect experience of Africa.
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing people, scenery, wildlife viewing and accommodation. They made us feel like family.
The whole experience was perfect from start to finish. The people made us feel like family. The landscape and wildlife was an honour to witness so close and personal.
Our guides were funny and informative. Best school ever
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Can't ask for much more than that
Carlson and Oliver are the guys running Budget Safari Tanzania. They could not have been nicer and more helpfull. From arranging (and included in the safari price) accomodation (night before and night after) , picking me up at the airport (such a relief not having to think about that one!) helpfull tips before I set off, everything! In all fairness I didn't have a great budget, and it was 22h and I was trying to go on safari the next morning, and they still managed everything perfectly for me!!!
Six of us set off in a jeep, we all had window seats, which doesn't really matter because all the jeeps have hatch tops, so the minute you see something everyone is standing anyway. Bottled water was included in the price (which isn't the norm, so keep an eye out).
I had chosen 1 day in Tarangire, 3 in the Serengueti and 1 in Ngorongoro. We did 1 night at a lodge and 3 were in camp sites, which was great because of wild life walking around at night.
It's all super safe, our guide knew where to go and we saw more animals than we could of ever asked for.
Carlson and Oliver kept in contact with me, which is kind of impossible, but when we passed through the gates of the parks we got a few mins of wifi and a message from them. And of course they were there to receive me on arrival.
As a tip, defo bring binoculars (or rent there), always use local currency when travelling, but I think in this case it's best to travel with us dollars for the payment of the safari (they will apply the correct and up to date exchange rate) (and not old bills, best with recent date on bills). Everything else we payed in shillings.
Budget safaris have a load of different options for different budgets. You get what you pay for and I always ask people not to try and haggle prices way down, since the park fees are high, and the team has to be payed. <a href="https://www.toodlehub.com/breaking-sand-flea-bites-holiday-resorts-got-bad-make-decision/">Watch out for sand fleas</a>
I would suggest to contact Carlson and Oliver for any queries, because they are just so lovely they will help you with anything they can!
Good luck travellers!