US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Best Safari Operator around
I recently took my wife and two of our best friends on our third trip to Africa through Targa Safaris Africa. We are all amateur photographers , we shoot Nikons and we love the look of big glass lens. As you know there are weight restrictions set by the airlines. It is very hard to fit computers, cameras, clothes, chargers and a 500 mm F 4 and a 200 to 400 F4 and all the support gear in the stated weight restriction.
However, Mark lives in South Africa and has excellent connections with the camps and the airlines. He is an insider! He is more than familiar with the difficulties and frustrations facing international travelers with photog gear .
So we pared down our equipment to the bar bones and trusted Mark. Needless to say, we were met at the airport by Marks driver, who took some very tired travelers to our lovely hotel in Johanesberg, where we crashed out for the rest of the day and night. Early next morning, there was our driver who wisked us to the airport and from where we flew up to Maun. We collected our luggage and gear and loaded into the smaller "puddle jumper " planes to fly into the Botswanna Okavango Delta . On a previous trip we had stayed at Duma Plains and just missed a Buffalo kill by the lions and then the lion pride was well fed while we where there. We got a lot of cool photos but we missed the difficult to see Kill shots …
So we flew out to Duba Plains, made our selves at home in our lovely tents and set out of our first Safari right after lunch . We faced a lot of water which the guides expertly drove us through, it was fun picking up all our gear as the water washed over the floor boards and of course, there was a superb Malachite kingfisher sitting on the reeds as we drove by in three feet of water. The bird was quite used to this and didn't flinch. However, we could not slow down for fear of sinking into the mud. this was frustrating but when we got out in the delta we quickly found the buffalo herd with a very hungry pride of Lions with their ribs showing. We were glad as we thought the lions would be forced to feed and soon! It took almost two hours see the great wheel of life turn! Talk about the right place at the right time.
We also found when we drove through a certain area of tall grass that we were being straffed by Carmen Bee Eaters! Why would this bee? I figured out that the truck scared up insects and the bee eaters would swirl around us scarfing up grasshoppers. Great photo opportunity, but when I stopped the Land Rover they flew away, everytime. Time for a new game plan. I asked the guide to turn the truck around and drive the same speed as last time. Only this time I pushed the ISO up, focused the lens on manual, same for the camera body and when the Carmens raided us I would go to 10 frames per second and estimate the distance and machine gun them .. Huge fun running up hundreds of exposure a couple of which turned out fabulous !
The camp made us amazing dinner and deserts and told us amazing stories. We ate under the stars and enjoyed great wines. The guides walked us back to our tents and we stayed there. We had a great time listening to the millions of Rhodesian tree fogs all singing their little hearts out. A great way to fall asleep. Around 4 AM we heard a huge roar about a mile away. We were really sleepy and it was only once, but something big had happened.
After an early breakfast, we were on safari again…..We drove throught the deep waters, past our pet Malachite, and watched the cat and mouse game between the lions and the buffalo. The large herd of Buffalo where holding their turf while the lions moved around them probing for weakness. The buffalo , would respond and send out a half dozen "bouncers " which where very large and muscular buffalo in their primes. They were fearless and the lions gave way choosing not to challenge them. This went on for an hour or more, then through the binoculars the guides figured that one of the buffalos had given birth and they needed a few hours to let the little one get up on his legs. The herd was protecting the little one, buying it time to get used to its legs ! After another hour or two as if on command, the whole herd suddenly retreated across the river with the little new born last in line. As soon as the buffalo's retreated the lions ran across shallow standing water in the meadow, one of the guides hit the gas and got his photographer across the shallow pond for a stunning series of shots with lions running through shallow waters at break neck speed. I really wish we could have gotten that image. But between the shallow meadow pool and the fast retreating buffalo herd was a small forest. So we saw the lions running after the herd. The herd running into the river, the little one slowly struggling in the water, the scene was set for disaster ! We kept waiting and watching and the lions didn't make it through the little forest. The newborn buffalo was noticed and the herd sent back a couple of bouncers to protect the little one again and they made it. We picked up some great images of the herd migrating across the river, our driver then drove us to the little stand of trees and it was there we found the source of the great noise the previousl night.
What had happend was that two alpha male buffalo had duked it out for top dog honors, one had gored the other and that was the source of the great sound, not a new large male lion announcing his occupation of this territory!
The looser of this match had been penetrated by a very large horn to the diaphram and he just layed down and died at the same time another had given birth. So the buffalo elders had held council and worked out a brilliant plan. Send out the bouncers, keep the lions off balance, slightly intimidated, give the baby time to get his legs working, then as one they retreated across the river and "sacrificied " their fallen commrades body to the lions to buy time for the little one cross the river. A life saved, a fallen hero's body given up to by time. Nothing short of brilliant. I did not think Buffalos had any game plan or planning abiliity. We were impressed totally.
We did work the scene of feeding lions for two days. We got some really amazing images and then took a boat trip down the river for other less intense imagery.
My point is, you never know what you are going to see . You need to figure out what it is you want to see, you need a great safari booking person to get you into the territory and camp offering you the best chances. I would highly suggest Taga Safaris Africa as Mark certainly knows his stuff.
We then went to Selinda Camp in the Selinda Spillway and found some other really great images. They are located on a large system of canals or rivers with a very large population of hippos. On a favorite evening we boated out to the hippo pool and celebrated the sunset with cocktails and watched the hippos pop up out of the water like giant jack in the boxes.
The food at Selinda was nothing short of phenomenal , We thought the staff was superb .
We then went to Chobe National Park . Our camp was great and we even had air conditioning and limited internet. Our first game drive out , we photod elephants, crocadiles, prides of lions, countless antelopes, amazing birds, hippos, we found giraffes drinking with the elephants which is unusual . Lots of birds, we really were impressed with the diversity and density of the wildlife . tons of animals and great food in the evenings.
We just felt this was one of our best safaris to Africa ever.
We talked with Taga Safaris about what we wanted to photograph and they made it happen!
Thank-you Mark at Taga Safaris Africa ! You are The Best !
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Splendid experience, great guide and some (really) exiting wildlife encounters.
We had a great guide, very experienced and good company. We saw 4 of the big 5, missed the leopard by a second! Some exiting moments with an elephant in must, I will never forget this. The sounds at night, the views, the wildlife, the special birds and photographic scenes, the male lion @ 2 meters distance from the vehicle, the unexpected moments and the fun with the group.
BE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great safari, value for the money...
I've been for several times with Northern Circuit Adventure on Safari, each time in other circumstances, with other friends,... I never got disappointed about the offered program. Especially Ngorongoro is astonishing and so beautiful, ... The reason for coming back and again and again ! Thanks to NCA no nonsense safaris !!!
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The Perfect Vacation!
The trip was amazing. Everything was taken care of! The whole experience was spectacular from the lodging to the food to the atmosphere. Justin was an amazing guide and knew everything. To see the wildlife in their natural habitat was breath taking. Our guide new all the good spots and would stop whenever we wanted to take pictures. Tanzania was a beautiful country - definitely book with Awaken to Africa for the trip of a life time!
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent service and an experienced driver/guide (Ben) made this the trip of a lifetime.
Image Travel was easy to deal with and plan with online. They promptly responded to all inquiries, and we received everything we were promised. The trip itself exceeded expectations. Ben, our very experienced driver/guide, made the safari itself thoroughly enjoyable and memorable. His knowledge greatly increased our safari experience. He knew where to go and when to make the most of the animal viewing activities. We would definitely travel with this highly reliable company again. Image Travel also arranged for our three day trip to Rwanda to trek for the mountain gorillas. That trip was also well-organized and resulted in the most fantastic, unforgetable gorillas sightings.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Thinking of Tanzanian Safari.... go with Safari Infinity
My wife and I were planning an African Safari for quite some time and once our minds were set, we started looking for tour operators. We got in touch with Lucia @ Safari Infiniti through a friend of mine who did his safari with Lucia's company as well. Although my friend rated Safari Infiniti the best, I still contacted 2 other tour companies to ensure we get the best. Soon I realized how easy was it to work with Lucia. Her level of commitment, professionalism, flexibility, attitude towards getting things right, knowledge about Tanzanian Safari was hard to beat. I remember calling her or she calling us multiple times to go through our itineraries, questions, etc. and making multiple changes to them as per our request(s). Since it was our first time, we were pretty apprehensive about the trip as well (things such as food options, hotels, travel, etc. ) but Lucia made it all easy for us. We ended doing a completely private safari with lodging in one of the best camp sites in Serengeti area. It was spectacular. Our tour guide Vince was the best one can get in a foreign land. He is so polite, down to earth, humble, and again knows so about the land and the way animals react. It was 7 days - 6 night safari with Vince and I would say it was the best trip ever. My wife and I make a lot of international trip together but this one tops it all. Vince was like a family member to us and was considerate to all our needs / requests, etc.
Tanzania is a beautiful country with amazing wild life. We did a few national parks such as Ngorongoro, Terengire, Serengeti and were lucky enough to see every possible animal specie along with The Great Migration and the Crossing - thanks to all the planning with Lucia and the actual safari with Vince. A special shout to Lucia's husband Simon as well. It was awesome to meet them in person and share a meal together.
We would highly recommend Tanzania and Safari Infinity.
Jambo,
Abhi
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Excellent game viewing and a professional staff
My best friend and I went on a 5-day safari with widllife safaris and had a great time. We first stayed a night in a private game reserve near Kruger and the rest of the days in Kruger NP. It was a great overall experience with excellent game viewing (we saw 4 out of the Big 5), quality mid-range accommodation and a wonderful and knowledgeable guide; Clive! Not only did he tell us a lot about Kruger and its wildlife, but also about South Africa and its historical and future challenges, which really added to the whole experience.
It was a small group tour and we had a lot of fun with the other guests as well. Too bad they specialize only in a couple of parks, because I would have loved to also use Wildlife Safaris to visit other safari destinations.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing Honeymoon
Makasa was recommended to us by one of my good friends in Tanzania. As it was our honeymoon my wife and I prefered to do a private safari as opposed to travelling with a group. We found Selma to be very knowledgeable and helpfull . We even decided to get Makasa to organise the Kenyan part of our safari as well. We had an amazing 3 weeks visiting wild life parks in Kenya and Tanzania thanks to Makasa.
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Well organized, accomodating, knowledgable and fun
We are a family of 4 with children 11 and 13 years and went on a 12 day camping safari through northern Tanzania with Easy Travel. During the planning, Easy Travel was helpful and always quick to reply to our e-mails and many requests. All the details were taken care of for the safari from the pick up at the airport in Arusha to dropping us off at our next destination in Uganda. The safari itself was amazing - we saw tons of wildlife and, thanks to the sharp eyes of our guide Adriano, we witnessed a cheetah hunt a gazelle up close. Just incredible. It was the trip of a lifetime for us and we will always remember it fondly.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
reliable
We did the northern safari from 14th to 18th August and everything was just the way we wanted. The lodges were beautiful with stunning views. They had provided us a good safari vehicle and the driver was very excellent in spotting the animals. We had the best time and would recommend them to anyone considering safari in Tanzania.