PT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The real deal
I did a 7days safari (Lake Nakuru, lake Naivasha, Masai Mara, Hells Gate, Amboseli) In the overall i have to say that was a superb safari. We had a excelent driver (John), who was a important part of the experience . We had extraodinary moments in the safari itself, and inside the parks we were as good or better than the people of much more expensive companies. The amenities are a littlebit rough but acceptable. I think is a very good relation quality-price. Imran was very attentive with our questions, and always happy to give us any advice we needed.
CH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable and fantastic trip - better than everything we could ever have imagined!
We've participated in a 12-Day Hwange and Mana Pools Parks safari trip with Mike Scott and his partner Bernard. We’ve spent 12 absolutely amazing and outstanding days in Hwange and Mana Pools: Tent camping (with camp cots, mattresses, duvets and pillows) with all imaginable amenities (from Birchermüesli and Nutella to excellently constructed bush shower/toilet) at really remote camping sites - particularly Chitake Spring Camp 3 and Croton Camp in Mana Pools were in complete wilderness; the first Mandavu picnic site camp in Hwange to a lesser degree - with only very few people but lots of game…! The mix of walking safaris and drive safaris was adjusted to the guests wish. To get an idea for interested visitors – here is the link for a video a former guest has uploaded: http://youtu.be/sfvT23_t7J8.
Mike Scott, a licensed tour operator, and Bernard who speaks various local languages including Ndebele, Shona and Chitonga were an excellent, super-friendly and very competent team. If inquiries are done in time, one can tailor one’s safari (duration, parks, remoteness etc.) completely.
We can absolutely recommend Khangela Safari to everybody wishing to visit beautiful Zimbabwe and to observe (and to walk into...) impalas, elephants, birds, hippos, leopards, giraffes, lions etc. The unique landscape combined with this fantastic team is an unforgettable experience in all respects.
We're already looking forward to coming back, not only but also for watching the spectacular sunsets while enjoying a cool lion beer under a majestic baobab :-)
Thank you, ngiyabonga, merci vylmol/vöumau!
DK
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A good safari (but with disappointments!)
Prior to our safari we spent much time studying the northern wildlife parks to make our perfect safari itinerary. Michael Ndallo from Northern Circuit Adventure could offer us the perfect safari trip according to our plans, 5 days and 4 nights camping. However, on departure day when on our way to begin the safari, Michael Ndallo informs us that he has changed the agreed itinerary without noticing us - to fit more people into the group. By doing this he left us no choice but to go on a safari which was not what we had planed.
Our driver and guide, Masha, did an excellent job through the entire trip, he is a bomb of information regarding wildlife and nature in Tanzania. We always felt very safe and comfortable in his company. He delivered game drives of highest quality. Our chef, Rodriguez, shared with us his good cooking skills, varying between traditional and European food.
Camping on the second night our equipment was wet from rain. The mattresses and sleeping bags were so dripping wet we were able to squeeze water out of them. Waking up the 3rd day with freezing cold bodies and wet underwear, this was not how we imagined camping. The day was spent sleeping and feeling ill in the safari car - a ruined safari day. All other days camping facilities were fine, except the matresses kept being squeezingly wet and the sleepingbags humid.
Before reaching the first park on the 1st day the brakes of our safari vehicle broke down, why we had to spent time in the mechanics. During the five day trip we had a flat tire four times and in addition to this we had to spent time in a police check point, because the tires were in so bad condition the police would not allow us to continue. Finally when ascending the Ngorongo Crater the battery of the vehicle caused problems and we had to make another stop. Michael Ndallo is a great guy, we enjoyed his always happy attitude and eagerness to help us with flight tickets to Zanzibar after our safari. He came to pick us up upon arrival to Arusha and was awaiting us when returning from the safari.
In summary: If you want to support a local Arusha company Northern Circuit Adventure is a choice. If you have spent time making an itinerary and you have a signed contract, do not expect Michael Ndallo to respect it. Bring your own sleeping bag if you want to stay warm. For lost time in the safari, e.g. the day after our wet night, Michael Ndallo refunded us 30USD, to be spent on a night in his partnership hotel, equal to less than 2% of the total amount paid. Additionally we spent very much unnecessary time with a broken car and learned how to change tires. In contrast to this our guide did the best game drive we could ever imagine, the food was above average and the atmosphere good. Safari is about seeing animals and so we did to a maximum.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great safari from a wonderful staff!
These guys were great! A trustworthy company with fantastic drivers. Jones and Julius did a great job putting me in position to get great views of lions, elephants, rhino, cheetah, and a plethora of other animals.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Outstanding driver, great food, good accommodation
We are a young couple from Germany and booked an 11-day budget safari: Samburu- Naivasha- Masai Mara- Nakuru- Amboseli- Tsavo W- Tsavo E.
We picked Terminal Tours because we found reviews convincing and the communication was very transparent and easy while the price was reasonable.
I am writing this because it is very complicated to plan a safari from home and prices are crazy.
Finally, we are very happy with the trip and would book with Terminal Tours again. We had a lot of fun with the entire crew and enjoyed some amazing game drives, although we did not see this freaking leopard!
BOOKING
The initial communication happened completely via email with Nelson. We agreed on an itinerary and agreed that we will pay in cash at arrival after the airport pick-up. We liked the transparancy, all accommodations were named so we could google them. It was very clear how the route is set up, where we have meals and when the game drives are scheduled.
After arrival, we settled the payment with Debbie.
DRIVER
Sam is awesome. He is a very experienced driver and guide. He knows his wildlife as he knows his roads (every single bump of them- and there are lots). Without him, we would have been lost and probably dead. Driving in the parks is something between a skill and an art form - which he masters very well.
Moreover, he is a great guy and easy to talk to. This sympathy is important when you hang out for 11 days.
CAR
It is the standard pop-up roof safari van that almost every company uses. It is no 4x4, but we got everywhere -on and off road. We got stuck a couple of times, but that is inevitable on a safari. Either another safari driver helped out or we got creative. The car has no wifi which turned out to be a blessing - real holiday without email access.
FOOD
Sometimes food was prepared by our chef Kyoko. The food was simply great. Unfortunately, he raised the bar for the food in the hotels. Sometimes Kyoko went back to Nairobi and we had hotel food which usually could not match the Kyoko-standard.
SAFETY
As said above, Sam knows his business. At no time, I was scared that we get into an accident (although traffic and the condition of the roads in Kenya are a nightmare) or that an animal attacks us. On the other side, I am not really in charge for the worrying part in this relationship. If there is anything to worry, it is exogenous and no one would be better to face it than Sam. On the road between Amboseli and Tsavo we were escorted by an armed man for protection.
SAMBURU
Is a very nice park that many skip because it is far away. It has a different landscape and wildlife than the following parks. We found it very worh visiting. The samburu villiage is also nice, but the clearly overcharge (do some bargaining). The accommodation was the Steto Guesthouse (this was the only unknown in the itinerary as it only said "at umoja camp" which a women's village around there). It is an African budget hotel, not great but alright.
NAIVASHA
We did a little detour to the Thompson falls. They are nice, but ain't no Niagara or Iguazú. In retrospective, we would have skipped it and taken an early morning game drive at Samburu instead.
At Lake Naivasha we only did a boat tour where we saw some birds and hippos. It is nice, but clearly not the highlight of the trip. If you like to see hippos, you have better opportunities at Mara and Amboseli. However, doing a boat tour is a welcome change to sitting in the car.
The Tapeh Guesthouse has a very nice garden and looks nice from outside. The room was not as nice, but acceptable.
MASAI MARA
Masai Mara is absolutely great for game viewing. There has been said so much about it already. It's all true, great place.
We missed the crossing of the river, because we were waiting for another herd of wildebeests to cross at another spot. We only got to see the last few of the herd. They rarely cross the river at all, you are very lucky when you see it.
The Mara Sidai camp is also an outstanding camp. The Masai there are kinda business-minded.
NAKURU
We were a little disappointed, because the lake was flooded and for this reason only few flamingos were present. Apparently, they go somewhere else then. Ask before you go. However, we saw the only two rhinos of our trip which was nice.
The golden palace is a little tacky, but nice and comfy.
AMBOSELI
Great park for seeing huge herds of huge elephants! Also the setting with Mount Kilimanjaro is awesome.
Kimana camp is a good choice. One morning an elephant was right next to our tent.
TSAVO WEST
It's very different to the other parks. It is very bushy and thus game viewing is almost impossible. We did not see rhinos, even in the fenced rhino sanctuary.
But we liked the red soil and the baobab trees. Mzima springs is nice.
The Rhino valley lodge is simply amazing. An alltime favorite. Great room, great service, AMAZING view! They have a waterhole where you can see elephants right from your room or the restaurant. They even have light at night!
TSAVO EAST
Game viewing is a little better than in Tsavo West. We had quite a good game drive with huge red elephants taking a bath, lions and cheetahs.
The Nzomeni Lion Hill Lodge is also excellent with a superb view.
After the trip, Debbie helped us in trying to resolve an issue with another driver and hosted us at her home for free.
All in all, great trip - we would do it again: Outstanding driver, great food, good accommodation. Thanks a lot!
Highly professionally organized and run mixed camping/lodge safari through five Kenyan parks
Best Camping Tours And Safaris has been in business for over 25 years , and so they know the safari business extremely well . Have been on safari with them perhaps a dozen times over many , many years , and always have a wonderful experience . Above all , their attention to game drives , connections between the parks and number of parks offered is fantastic . There is great variety in their safaris .Their camp site at the Masai Mara on the Talek River is in a superb location for wildlife viewing .
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
EVERYTHING WE ASKED FOR
We booked a 4 day safari and had an amazing time. Mohammed the driver and Jacob the cook were very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. The accommodations were comfortable and the sights were amazing. The roads were a bit bumpy at times, but we were out in the middle of no-where so ...
Anyway, if you want a good safari experience, I would recommend Kenya Walking Survivors.
IL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Sincere thanks from Flamm family
Hi Zuzana, My family and I want to thank you for the amazing trip we had Safari was excellent, the driver / guide was professional, nice and interesting. We saw all the animals you can see :)
All Lodge were good and comfortable sea cliff resort in Zanzibar was excellent.
I have emailed you some pictures and a video clip link.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Magical experience amongst organised chaos and control over the forces of nature.
Our first safari-my wife and I and 2 teenage children did not know what tour to do or what to expect.Safarihub from the beginning simplified matters and discussed our various options.Eventually we went for the Northern Highlights Safari and an all-inclusive Hotel in Zanzibar to recuperate and reminisce our wildlife experience.What can I say?More animals in terms of variety and number than you could imagine,whose habitats and mode of life were fully explained by our courteous, knowledgable and friendly driver who we already miss.This together with the Lodges expertly chosen by Safarihub and our wind-down in the Zanzibar Hotel overlooking the Beach made this an unforgettable experience.Well done and thank you Safarihub.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Hassle free and well organized Safari
For our 30th Anniversary we decided to book the Sky Safari via Safarihub, we were offered a discount and all bookings including flights were taken care of. We had an incredible 8 days and this was our best holiday ever, with memories to cherish for a lifetime. I have never taken so many photos in my life. Great service and will recommend to family and friends. Ahsante sana.