IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trustworthy Company
Travel consultant Christine from Donwel Tours was very co-operative and helped us throughout our journey with everything we needed. Our package was customised with all the minute details that we wanted. She is very approachable, prompt, professional and a gem of a person. Over all I would definitely recommend choosing Donwel Tours & Travel to anyone planning a trip to Kenya. They helped us find Indian food at all the places, which made our travel even more comfortable. Their customer centric approach and also focus on giving the best quality experience is something I want to highlight and appreciate!!
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our tour operator ensured everything went smoothly, and was quick to fix any issues.
The safari was very well organised. Our guide Stephen expertly drove us around the parks, taking us to the best spots to find animals and knowing every corner of these places. Thanks to him we saw almost all of the most famous species. The accommodation and the food were very good too. I would happily recommend this tour.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a lifetime, organised by people who care
Brace yourselves this will be a long one!!
My wife and I travelled with Wild Pride Safaris in August and September 2024.
We had a week on safari in Tanzania and a week at the beach in Zanzibar.
From the first contact with Lillian at Wild Pride Safaris they were absolutely fantastic to deal with.
Initially there was quite a bit of back and forward with Lillian producing several fantastic itineraries to fit in with different dates and activities we were thinking of doing while on holiday.
Each of these detailed itineraries showed the camps that we would be staying at and also the routes and plans for the safari. Very professional and helpful, queries were answered rapidly and nothing seemed to be a problem in the planning of the trip.
Lillian even managed to get us a Nikon camera with a 18-300 f3.5 Nikkor lens on hire for the duration of the safari, although this was quite expensive it was cheaper than buying a camera I will never use again and the pictures we have from it are absolutely stunning! I would say to anyone going on safari to have a good camera, phones just do not cut it for the shots you will be taking.
On arrival at Kilimanjaro we were met and taken to our first hotel, a lovely place just outside Arusha where we had the day to chill and get over the overnight flight. Lillian and her boss came to the hotel to meet us and drop off the camera, we even received a couple of travel mugs and Masai blankets. Only a small thing but it shows the detail and friendliness of the company. They explained the trip and what would happen over the next couple of days, all very straight forward and up until this point, exactly what they said would happen happened.
After a comfortable night we met our guide the next morning and loaded up the truck for our adventure.
Our guide was Deo, he is a very nice guy, knowledgable, polite and he knows where to go in the parks to get the most out of the experience. One of the most pleasant things for my wife and I was the respect that he has for the country and the animals. Unlike other safari destinations, Tanzania does not allow you to go chasing down animals that you see. You have to stay on the tracks, this is strictly enforced by rangers and creates some interesting moments with trucks jostling for position and right of way.
However as Deo explained, if you have animals doing their thing and going about their business they do not want to get harassed and stressed by people in trucks doing anything to get the best picture. For Deo it is about appreciating the animals in the environment that they live in and creating the best trip for us. The other side of this policy is that the animals are not scared of the trucks, they have no reason to be since the trucks are not allowed to chase them. This means that the animals will interact and go about doing the animal things they do right beside you, lions walking in between the truck or guarding a kill right beside the road. Literally nothing runs away, to the point of it being difficult to move on the road sometimes for buffalo or antelope refusing to move.
First day on safari was at Tarangire NP, this was a great way to get broken into the safari life, it is a big open park with plains and little bits of forestry and bush. Animals are everywhere and there are specific places that are better for certain animals. Highlights from this day were the train of elephants who just wandered across the road in between the trucks, incredible to be so close the these magnificent creatures without them bothering at all. From here we travelled to lake Manyara to our next camp.
Maramboi tented lodge right on the lake front, beautiful location and a very special place. I had my birthday here and my wife had asked Lillian if she could organise getting the room decorated, a cake and some champagne. What a surprise and what a fantastic way to spend your birthday evening, overlooking a stunning lake from a private infinity pool drinking champagne. Memory that will last a lifetime. Again Lillian pulled out the stops and made it happen!
Next day safari was in Lake Manyara NP, this is a completely different type of safari, mainly forest and woodland driving very slowly trying to spot the animals in the trees, this is where the climbing lions are although we never saw them it was still an amazing day of wildlife and nature. Highlights here were the elephants in the river and the monkeys and baboons. From here we headed off to Kitela lodge for our next night. Again a beautiful place, calm and blended perfectly into its surroundings.
From here it was off to Ngorongoro crater, what a place this is, I am not going to list all the animals and birds because it would take forever but some of the sights were incredible. This really was when the camera came into its own, some of the shots that we managed to get are beautiful. Four separate prides of lions and thousand of animals on the plains. We left here just after lunch as we had a fairly long drive to the Serengeti ahead of us.
The road is extremely bumpy, like driving on corrugated Iron sheets for about 4 hours. If you have back pains or issues with this kind of travel then you should consider flying.
On arrival at the Serengeti we had another game drive of several hours before we arrived at our accommodation for the next few nights - Kubu Kubu tented lodge.
This is another beautiful lodge camp on the edge of some hills giving absolutely stunning views down onto the plains and into the distance of the Serengeti. From our room we could watch the giraffes and elephants strolling across the plains, not to mention the buffalo and Hyena who seem to hang around the camp at night. We have never before thought that an escort was needed to walk 75m to dinner, we did here! This is a beautiful relaxing camp with a chilled vibe in the most incredible of surroundings.
This was our base for the next few days as we explored the Serengeti with Deo. Although we had missed the great migration it was still an unforgettable experience. Seeing the animals and birds going about their business with very little consideration or interest in the humans who are gawking at them is a wonderful thing to see.
Balloon trip - we had taken the option of a balloon trip with Serengeti balloon safari, this was booked for our second last day. However when we arrived at the launch site the wind was out of limits and the balloon trip was cancelled. We got the option of doing it the next day and although we were flying to Zanzibar the next day we were able to make the timings work. And we are so glad we did!
The balloon trip was a highlight for me, having never done it before I would recommend it to anyone who fancies it. The experience from start to finish was fantastic.
Another game drive on the way to Seronera airstrip before we said our goodbyes to Deo and got on the plane to Zanzibar. What a fantastic opening week to a holiday. The trip to Zanzibar and the transfers all went without a problem and again Lillian had organised everything perfectly.
Even when we left a phone in the safari truck Lillian organised it to get taken to the airport at Arusha the next day, flown across to us in Zanzibar and delivered to the hotel reception!! For this incredible service all we had to pay was the taxi fee from the airport to our hotel. I just wish you got customer service like that everywhere in the world.
On Zanzibar we stayed in a beach front pool villa at Ycona villa resort, that will have its own review so I will not go on here apart from to say........ WOW. What a beautiful chilled place.
From there again it was a smooth trouble free transfer to the airport and back to reality.
All the camps we stayed at on the safari were amazing, really high quality of accommodations and food. They far exceeded our expectations and they really were not what you would expect in the bush in Africa. All of the staff at these hotels were so lovely, I know that customer service is the job, however coming from Europe we are well aware that doesn't always mean a great deal. The staff were friendly, helpful and seemed to be very proud of their country and keen to share the beauty of it with tourists. The group who own this hotel chain are called Tanganyika wilderness camps. Big thumbs up to them, whoever is running them knows what they are doing and is making it happen.
Wild pride safari, Deo and Lillian made this a trip of a lifetime and I would recommend them to anyone.
So what did we learn that might help people?
1. If you can get a private safari, the difference in the experience is immeasurable.
2. Take or hire a good camera and lens, take the time to find out the settings it should have.
3. Balloon safari if you can.
4. Do not wear navy at the Tsetse fly areas.
5. Tip if you can, it is all appreciated.
MY
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable Adventures: Exploring the Heart of the Wild on Safari
I recently completed a safari tour with them, and I can't recommend it highly enough! From the moment we arrived, the experience was top-notch. Our guide, Peter was incredibly knowledgeable, helpful and passionate about wildlife, making each game drive both informative and thrilling.
We saw an amazing variety of animals, including lions, elephants, and even a cheetah on the hunt! The accommodations were a various of natural and luxurious yet comfortable, with stunning views of the landscape. The meals were delicious and catered to all dietary needs.
What truly stood out was the commitment to conservation and local communities. The tour included visits to local villages, allowing us to learn about their culture and support their initiatives.
Overall, this safari exceeded all my expectations. If you're looking for an adventure filled with breathtaking scenery and wildlife encounters, look no further than them. Five stars all the way!
MY
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
My perfect safari dream
The tour was very well organised! Our guide Peter is highly experienced, he is very knowledgeable in everything you need to know about safari and I really like his sense of humour! Highly recommended!
GP
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Calvin Fransic the best
Calvin Fransic was my guide during the whole stay and it was really great!!! He answered all my questions, there was a good atmosphere and we had a really good laugh!
In addition to all the explanations about the animals he told me the history of Tanzania and I even learned a little Swahili
And frankly thanks to him I will come back
If you are looking for a guide who speaks really good French and/or Italian to make you understand I recommend him with my eyes closed
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FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safari Tarangire / Ngorongoro
Thanks to Colin for organizing this safari and his warm welcome at the airport in the company of Loth, an extreme driver 🤩 We spent two exceptional days in the company of our guide and Loth who did everything so that we could see as many animals as possible.
It will remain an unforgettable experience. Thank you to the 3 of them for making this trip memorable and thank you to them for their humor, humanity and kindness. We will recommend to our entourage without hesitation 😍
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CH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Kilimanjaro and safari experience with Kilimanjaro Heroes Adventures
Climbing Kilimanjaro with Kilimanjaro Heroes Adventures was an absolutely fantastic experience from start to finish. We decided to do the 7-day Machame route. Right from the beginning, the communication was excellent—we received lots of helpful information prior to the trip, which ensured we were well-prepared for the adventure ahead.
During the trek, our guides, Wency and Bubusha, were incredible! Their positivity and extensive knowledge were key in helping us make it to the summit. We wouldn’t have made it without their support, guidance, and encouragement every step of the way. A special mention also goes to the chef, who provided us with fresh and delicious meals throughout the entire trek. It was amazing to have such high-quality food even in the middle of the mountains! The team of porters were some of the kindest and most cheerful people we've ever met. Their positive energy and hard work were truly inspiring, and they always made us feel welcome and comfortable during the trek.
We had an incredible 6-day safari through Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Tarangire National Parks. Our guide and driver, Mbisi, was fantastic—super knowledgeable, a great animal spotter, and we learned so much from him. The food prepared by our chef was delicious, and the atmosphere after game drives, sharing meals and stories, was perfect.
Overall, we are amazed by their service, value for money and reliability and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Highly recommend this team for an unforgettable Kilimanjaro trek and safari adventure!
TW
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience
It was truly wonderful to go on a safari trip with African Big Cats. Our guide Ricky was very knowledgeable and showed us a lot about the wildlife. Our trip was great. Would recommend planning your trip with them.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fabulous place to start your Wild Life Safari experience
We embarked on a 5-day safari covering Amboseli, Lake Nakuru, and the Masai Mara, and it was truly an incredible adventure! We chose Osnet Tours for our trip, based on insights from Safari bookings, and couldn't have been happier with our decision.
We had a fantastic experience. The trip was worth every dollar spent. We were fortunate to see the Big 5 and a wide variety of animals and birds across all three locations. The boat tour at Lake Naivasha on our way to Lake Nakuru was a lovely addition to the trip. We capped off our journey in the Masai Mara with a breathtaking hot air balloon ride—an absolute must-do!
The arrangements were excellent, from the hotels to the vegetarian meals. Despite the long road trips, everything was well-organized and engaging. The weather in August was pleasant, although we missed the chance to see Mount Kilimanjaro due to cloud cover.
If you're considering a safari in Kenya, go for it with Osnet Tours!
This trip is worth every moment