US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Our Rwanda experience with Katona Tours & Travel was the BEST!
After researching and finding out that Rwanda was the “easier” destination to see the Mountain Gorillas, we sent out requests for quotes from five different tour companies. Jackie at Katona Tours and Travel was the quickest to respond with a full recommended itinerary and reasonable prices. We massaged the itinerary until it completely fitted our needs. The four of us did a 5 Day, 4 night trip which included two Gorilla treks and a Golden Monkey trek. Baker, our driver and guide, picked us up from Step Town Motel in Kigali (great place recommended by Jackie). We stayed at the Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (excellent!) for three nights during our treks. Baker was nice, very professional, and knew the routes like the back of his hands. He seemed to know everyone, including the people at the Kinigi Ranger Station, where the many groups were assigned to specific gorilla families. He took us on a Rwanda city tour, walked us through the Musanze Marketplace, and shopping at the local arts and craft market. This was an unforgettable trip and we would recommend it to anyone. Katona Tours and Travel made it all possible with its great service and price. At the end of our tour, Jackie spoke with us over the phone to make sure everything went well. Oh, one more thing – it seems that she never sleeps. Jackie answered all our emails almost instantly no matter what time it was.
CA
Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience with Big Time Safaris
Big Time Safari provide a wonderful service! We are always companied by someone from the company, from airport pick up till airport drop off. I am solo traveller. This makes me feel safe in Kenya. Same for other group member. A couple was taking a coach to Mombasa on the roadside when the trip finished and we were back to Nairobi. Our driver Patrick stayed with them and made sure they got to the correct bus before we left. Very happy and lucky to have Patrick as our driver. He is humorous, sharing us many animal stories and his experience, brought lots fun to the trip. He is also very caring, ensure everyone is good during the trip. Foods are fresh and tasty. At least better than what I cooked at home :). The price is really budget. the 6-day budget safari is $720, while total entrance fee paid to national parks is $400. It means remaining $320 cover everything from transportation, food, accommodation, driver's salary, cooker's salary..etc. Yet they still provide such great service! I will definitely recommend Big Time Safari and Patrick to my family and friends.
Here are suggestion based on my experience.
1. Choose a safari that include a full day in Masai Mara.
when we left Nairobi, some ppl in our group have 2-day Masai Mara safari. First day we arrived Masai Mara in the afternoon. We entered reserve at 4:15 pm and came back at 7:30 pm. The 2nd day, those 2-day trip had a morning safari for 3 hrs and head back to Nairobi. Most likely they went same far as the previous day. We spent full day in reserve, drove all the way to Mara River. I saw all Big Five except rhino, also saw Great Migration! in my view, it does deserve one full day in Masai Mara.
2. Avoid sleeping alone in a tent in Masai Mara camp site. bring a torch or put up torch function in cell phone
The camp site we stayed have power only from 7 pm to 10 pm. After 10 pm, no light. Try to find someone you are comfortable with to share the tent if travel alone.
3. bring after-bite in case got bite
Every one in our group brings repellent but no one has after-bite. Someone still got big bite under cloth. if sensitive to them, better bring after-bite as well.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Professional company with professional guides
I'll be honest, if the information on the internet had said that we would be canoeing on a gigantic river with thousands of hippos, we probably would not have booked this trip. And that would have been a shame. Despite the fact that the safari was not what we were expecting does not mean we did not have a great adventure! We expected quiet waterways and seeing game up close. Well we DID see tons of game but there was nothing quiet about paddling the immensely wide Zambezi, zig-zagging around hippos. It certainly got the adrenaline going! Nevertheless, our favourite moments were when we arrived at our island for the night and set up camp as the sun was going down. We would then have a sundowner, help with supper, and chat quietly for a while. At night we would listen to lions roar, hippos call to each other, and elephants walking around our camp, eating with contentment. This was all done while lying on our backs in the tent, looking at the stars. Perfect! Thanks for a great, if unexpected, adventure!
NZ
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Highlight of the year!
My husband and I have been travelling since December last year and by far, our trip with Absolute Africa was an absolute highlight. We did the 32 day Wildlife and Spice Island tour with Vee (the host) and Patrick (our driver). They were amazing - we were always well informed and knew what to expect and prepare for each day. The truck was well equipped and the tents etc were fantastic and well looked after. Africa is an incredible continent and overlanding is the best way to see it! We would definitely like to tour with them again and would highly recommend them!
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An amazing experience from start to finish
Creating the best vacation was made extremely easy with the help of Southern Destinations. They gave their expert advice on where to go and when to fit our schedule and have us experiencing all we wanted to. Along the many country journey, we never had to wait to be picked up or transferred. Everyone was always there waiting for us with a smile. Our guides were fantastic and the accommodations were exactly what we were looking for. It was truly an amazing experience. I would like to thank Lise in particular, for helping us from start to finish, and fitting in such a great trip within our budget. Would recommend Southern Destinations to any of my friends/family heading to Africa.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A Perfect Day in the Mara
My husband and I chose the Masai Mara to celebrate our 35th anniversary and we stayed with Asilia Africa at Naboisho for seven nights. What an impeccable choice. From the moment we arrived until we tearfully said goodbye we were treated with care, concern and pampered beyond belief.
Helen and Roelof were wonderful hosts and arranged for our every need including our driver in Nairobi and a tour of the Sheldrick elephant orphanage. Roelof was a fabulous and knowledgeable guide for the walking safari. Helen was gracious and checked in regularly to be certain we had every need ( including my considerable dietary needs) well tended.
Naboisho...beautiful immaculate accommodations, kind and attentive staff , phenomenal food and wine and amiable hosts, how could we not fall in love? The Mara did not fail us in putting on a marvelous display of wildlife and those amazing Kenya animals!
Our perfect day was designed by nature and hosted by Nelson our wonderful Naboisho driver. We went into the reserve and saw animals galore. Great weather, loads of lions, cheetahs and elephants marked a memorable day.
We look forward to a return one day and will book with an Asilia Africa property.
really good fun
had a whole new experience in an atmosphere of fun and learning
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent Maasai Mara Safari thanks to Africa Flash Mc Tours (Peter and his team)
We (myself, my wife and my parents) went on Mara safari which was very well arranged by Africa Flash Mac tours - Peter was always ready to give different options and accommodate all our requests and adjust the plan as per our requirements. Good part is that he is so much flexible in the whole planning process and the actual experience was much ahead of expectations - be it the Land Cruiser, Driver-cum-guide, the hotel property including food and the amazing beauty of Mara experienced with the games drives on our Safari. It was a like-never-before experience for all of us and we would definitely plan all our next Safaris in East Africa with Peter and Africa Flash Mc Tours. Thank you Peter and the entire team!
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Holiday of a life time with Makasa
We wanted a safari holiday for many years but were unsure how to proceed. When we found Makasa Selma made the design of the safari to our needs. We had a 9 day visit with 3 different parks - Lake Manyara, Serengeti (central and northern) and Ngorongoro crater. It was remarkable how quickly Selma responded by Email. No question was too trivial for her. We were only 2 people to share one guide, David, who turned to be wonderful. With his guidance we saw all of the big five, many, many different animals and the thrilling crossing of wildebeest of the river Mara - crocodiles and all! The lodge accommodations before and after safaris were excellent and tented accommodations were luxurious and exciting with animals freely walking between tents at night. David looked after our every need so well and was a mine of information. All in all it was brilliant and we thoroughly recommend Makasa.
2-day trip to Mikumi with 2 families and lots of kids
We took a 2-day trip to Mikumi from Dar and this included pick up and return to Dar-es-Salaam. The coordination and logistics were handled fantastically both by the 7Wonders HQ staff as well as their tour guides/drivers. We had 7 kids in the party ranging from 18mths to 17 years old so we could have been quite a handful but they managed our transportation and drives into the park seamlessly. Only possible downside was the monotony of the food provided. Nevertheless, we saw all the animals we had wished to see including a pride of lions thanks to the guides' impeccable tracking. Highly recommend.