20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
I cannot speak highly enough about Makasa Tanzanian Safaris!
We contacted Makasa Tanzanian Safaris for information about where to go on Safari and also noted that we were on a budget. Selma responded straight away with detailed information on all the different National Parks and what we could see at each one. She also went above and beyond and came up with an idea of joining with another group to make it cheaper for us as she knew we were on a budget. She went to a lot of effort to join us with a group who we would get along with and joined us with two girls around our age and put together our whole Safari package which included the Serengetti, Ngorogoro Crater and Tarangire National Parks. Our accomodation was in tented camps and in a hotel for our last night. The tented camps were amazing, something out of a movie! We made made great friends with the girls we were with and had an adventure of a lifetime. Selma picked great accomodation for us and we could not be happier with the stunning parks we visited. Our Safari guide was always polite and full of information. Selma and Ngomi were just so helpful on our visit to Moshi and did not hesitate to help us with whatever we needed. We decided the service was so great fpr our safari that we booked our Kilimanjaro climb and also a trip to Zanzibar with Makasa. Selma and Ngomi arranged everything for us and again the service was flawless. Our Kilimanjaro climb was the best thing I have ever done and our guide, Genes and his team, absolutely made the climb as fantastic as it was. Zanzibar was beautiful and our accomodation was exactly what we were looking for. Climbing Kilimanjaro can be a dangerous task but we were blown away by the extent of care we received before and through out the climb.
I am so happy we found a company as honest, caring and trustworthy as Makasa Tanzanian Safaris to help us plan each of our adventures. The service we received and the tour itself completely exceeded our expectations. I would not hesitate to recommend Makasa to anyone planning a safari, Kilimanjaro climb or trip to Zanzibar. Our experiences in Tanzania were all made incredible, without a doubt, to the efforts of Makasa Tanzanian Safari's.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful, personalized trip with amazing experiences! Close Up and Personal!
The safari was better than I EVER could have dreamed of. We went independently (2 of us), and saw so much in several parks. We chose the tented camps which give you a real up close and personal feel for the bush. The guides were all Masai Mara and knew their country and animals. The vehicles were dependable, open-aired, and allowed us to get close to the animals....safely. Staying outside the major parks in the conservancies was ideal....off-roading was possible and NEVER crowded, yet we also ventured into the amazing parks: Amboselli, Masai Mara, and Pejeta. Everything was pre-arranged and went like clockwork, from airport pick-up, to our last days in Malindi and Nairobi. The one-on-one experiences allowed us to really talk with the Masai and learn a lot about their life...then and now. It was truly a trip of a lifetime!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great Safari, Wonderful Guide
We are now back home and I would like to take this opportunity to say thank s to Tracksberg travel who made our recent safari trip to Kenya such a great success. We had an amazing time in Kenya, the tour met all our expectations and more. Everything went well as per our itinerary put together by Erick without any hitches at all. Erick, the company owner went out of the way to be our drive cum guide as well! The choice of lodges and the two camps were excellent, great staff from the moment we checked in until we checked left. Very friendly and “nothing is too much a problem” attitude to their work certainly made the experience even more enjoyable.
We saw a leopard in three locations, something that was so special as we have been on several safaris without seeing one, many thanks to Erick, our hawk eyed Guide- very knowledgeable and fun to be with.
We had a great time from start to finish.
Would we recommend Tracksberg Travel? A definite yes!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A wonderful introduction to an amazing country
Julian and I first met Pieter and his wife, Tessa, at a travel show in London in 2009. Their friendly and personal approach immediately appealed to us, so when the time came to plan our visit to Namibia, we turned to Pieter. He provided initial ideas for an itinerary, but was very patient in working with us to put together a tour to suit our interests, timetable and budget. As an example, at our request Pieter incorporated kayaking among seals in Walvis Bay – a unique experience that was as new to Pieter as it was to us. That flexibility extended to the tour itself. Pieter made sure that we covered everything we'd planned, but he was also happy to deviate where he thought our experience would be enhanced. One instance of this was when he added hours to his driving day in order to show us the Orange River.
Pieter's sturdy people carrier is designed to carry six people, but there were just the two of us on this trip. Fortunately, Pieter is an excellent travelling companion and very good company. He is extremely knowledgeable about the history, geography, politics and social aspects of Namibia and shares what he knows with enthusiasm. Where he really comes into his own though, is with his encyclopaedic knowledge of the flora and fauna of his adopted country. This ranged from being able to tell me the name of more or less any bird I spotted to turning the car round to go and take a closer look when I thought we had run over a cobra in the road (we had, but fortunately it survived the experience and we got an unexpected close-up view!). In a country as photogenic as Namibia, Pieter's interest in photography was a bonus. It meant that he was just as happy as we were to stop and take that special shot.
We stayed in a wide variety of accommodation, which was, without exception, clean and comfortable. Particularly memorable was Terrace Bay, a government run lodge in what was an old diamond mining community right on the Skeleton Coast. In a country, which, while generally safe, does not have the infrastructure that we are used to, it was also good to be with someone like Pieter, who knows the country well and is always prepared and resourceful when the unexpected occurs.
All in all, our trip was one of the most memorable we have ever had, due in no small part to Pieter. Apart from all our wonderful experiences, we came away feeling that we had made a friend, and indeed, we have since met him in London and remain in touch.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
5-AlivewithClive during four days in Kruger tops great adventures that Michelle and I have enjoyed
Christine was incredible, informed and patient during our efforts to book a safari into Kruger during a busy month in South Africa. The continued professionalism and personal care of Wildlife Safaris was realized by the equally fine work of Clive Alborough, who seemed to sense locations that of the many exciting sightings Michelle and I enjoyed. Clive was patient, instructive an invaluable was we clumsily snapped our keepsake photos. Clive is a fine human with a deep feeling for The Kruger and its wondrous wildlife inhabitants. What we experienced was both fulfilling and joyous. As rather seasoned world travelers and animal lovers, we are grateful for Christine and Clive and the warmth we found as guests in Joberg at Wavery House managed so personally by Jonathan. These people are great ambassadors for South Africa.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Southeast Africa at your fingertips
I was looking to travel to Tanzania with my mum in 2012 and had decided to visit a game park and Pemba (Zanzibar), but had no idea of how to go about organising travel to get there or where to stay.
Chris at Indigo Safaris was a wealth of information, helping us to choose places that would suit us best, and then helping us to book our accomodation and organise domestic flights. This was particularly important as it is difficult to liase/book with small companies like the boutique airlines when you are overseas.
Chris has always come across as friendly, knowledgeable, reliable and,most importantly, someone who loves Africa.
Since our trip I have enjoyed hearing about his other planned safaris, even thought I have been unable to participate, and also hearing about his personal adventures and viewing some stunning photographs.
I would highly recommend Chris and Indigo Safaris to anyone planning a trip to SouthEast Africa, whether looking to join a safari group or obtain information about self-travel.
EASTCO excellent planning, knowledgable operater,and caters for individual ideas.
Here is our trip report from our safari to Tanzania with EASTCO, last September.
This was not our first trip to Tanzania, so we didn't do a normal safari.
We flew with Emirates from Melbourne to Nairobi and stayed the night at Silver Springs.
The next morning EASTCO had organised a private transfer for us to Arusha which was much more comfortable than the shuttles I had taken in the past.
Flexible departure time ,no crowds at the border, and more time to see the sights.
We spent a couple of days in Arusha visiting the markets , Arusha National Park to see the Colobus Monkeys and stayed at Momella Lodge. We stayed here before, my last time was over 10 years ago. The views of Mount Kilimanjaro across the plains each afternoon was the reason we came back . It has been renovated since my first visit and lost a lot of its charm I think as well. I was a bit surprised at how close to the park some of the farms and houses were now.
We then went to Ngorongoro Crater and stayed at the Wildlife Lodge for 2 nights. This was a special place for me as I stayed here on my first visit to Tanzania in 1985. No zebra steaks this time! But the views from my bedroom window were as spectacular as I remembered.
We had two trips into the crater, one early morning which was okay , but it was blowing a cold wind and we did not see as much as I would have thought. The afternoon drive was fantastic, a bit warmer and also not so many other safari goers. We did also manage to see a couple of black rhinos quite close near to the forest.
Then we headed to the Serengeti Wildlife Lodge again for 3 nights. One of the reasons we stayed here was the swimming pool which was built into the rocks, as we were travelling with a 9 year old child and wanted somewhere to relax as well as see the wildlife.
The Serengeti was superb as usual, lots of lions and 2 leopards, we also had a bit of rain and found some migration an hour or so away. The many hyrax around the lodge was constant source of entertainment as well.
The last part of our trip was a visit to Tarangerie, still one of my favourite parks and I never get tired of watching the elephants.
We stayed 1 night at the Safari Lodge , really enjoyed the views and the swimming pool.
We stayed 2 nights at Boundary Hill Lodge. The rooms were very private and the views spectacular over the valley below. I really enjoyed a bath on the veranda while taking in the views and the serenity around me.
We visited a Masai boma, it was about an hours drive to get there ,but the sheer remoteness only added to the overall experience. We did a night drive as well and saw a few impala, genet cat and bat eared foxes.
I think the combination of the Safari Lodge and Boundary Hill Lodge was perfect, two different experiences completely.
Everything on our safari with EASTCO was excellent and I am already making plans for a return trip. So far I have only been during the dry season, so I am looking forward to seeing the Serengeti in March.
CH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
a unforgettable safari - this was pure adventure!
It was perfect! kenya is such a great place to having a good chance seeing the Big Five! I have been in South Africa in Kruger Nationalpark and it was nice too. But you can not compare this. kenya is so a lovely country - very friendly people, great food, wonderful accommodations.. even our guide was talking in german...In africa! (: See my video on youtube: http://youtu.be/QlkHCs54Amw
CH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Kenya by Simon Kunz
People are so friendly and they let you really welcome in their country.
Fantastic Trip. Exceeded Expectations.
Brian is an experienced and excellent guide. His Land Cruiser was comfortable for our family of four. On our 10 day safari we saw more animals and birds then we could have imagined. Too many lions to count all close to our vehicle. We saw lions and cheetahs hunting. Countless elephants wallowing in the mud and water. Brian is trustworthy and really seems to enjoy his guests. Our 23 year old daughter celebrated her birthday while on safari and Brian made sure it was special. We'd recommend Brian's company to anyone looking for a Tanzanian safari.