20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
good service love it
Good service love it alot. Look forward to more.
FR
Exceptional organization with a great team : 3 weeks organized by Franck Mella and it was wonderful
We asked Franck Mella to organize our 3 weeks journey to Kenya mount + Animals park + Kilimandjara + Zanzibar and result was outstanding!! Great team during montaineering and excellent housing booked in Zanzibar. Special key points was good mood of all the team (guide, porters etc...) and also expetional flexibility of Franck when we asked him to bring some late changes to our planning. Result was we successfully arrived at the top of Kenya mount and Kilimandjaro and Zanzibar trip was great. So I warmly recommend you organize your journey with Franck and his team ; guaranatee of successes!!!
By the way Just I'm not part of Franck's family or friends so no personal interest in my testimony :-)
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
200% recommendable
Friendly and experienced tour sales staff, reliable Safari vehicles, very contented tour guide. Kenya Safari planners is the contact for whoever is looking for a Safari in Kenya
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
"Perfect" is insufficient a word to describe the experience and Ute's service
Every detail was handled from beginning to end with a level of professionalism second to none. Ute took our interests, desires, and timetable and put together a program that was amazing. Her experience with the lodges, ground transport companies, and charter air companies made all aspects of our 12 days in the bush seamless leaving us to only enjoy every moment of our amazing journey. By the second day my wife was so impressed with the experience she was asking "When are we coming back?" Tip: Let Ute handle all your transport from your arrival in country to your airport departure to remove any chance of stress and distraction so you're left to only enjoy your safari.
The four &Beyond lodges we stayed at offered a level of luxury and service we honestly could not believe. Everything to the smallest detail expertly handled with the brightest and biggest South African smiles. Game drives with their ranger/driver and trackers were extraordinary with up close encounters with so many animals we couldn't keep track. We need to go through the thousand or so photos we took to make a list. Food was excellent and offered something like eight times a day so expect to gain a pound or two.
Just a few tips: The lodges do your laundry so it isn't necessary to over pack. South Africa has a electrical plug that is different from what most of the adapters we've used all over the world so be sure you either bring one with you or buy one on arrival. Pack a lightweight windbreaker that resists rain and packs down to nothing for use on the early morning drives as the wind created while driving in the open vehicles can be chilly but as the morning warms just pack it away. One warm jacket is a necessity as the weather will change and don't get caught short. Be prepared to have your face in a constant smile, your eyes startled, your brain over stimulated, and your heart warmed.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Unbelievable experience with Mercury Tours
We went to Mikumi National Park with Mercury Tours, it was a greatly experience, we really enjoy safari. Our driver guide is a great person. I recomende this companie because they have very good relation, and they are very seriously .
SE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
With Mega Adventures nothing can go wrong, best insider tip I ever got!
Our safari was nothing but a m a z i n g ! You'd think we were part of the discovery channel. I'm so happy I got this insider tip from a friend who used to live in Tanzania. Mohammed (our organizer), Abu (our guide and driver) and Mudi (our chef) were such good hosts. I'm forever grateful for Mega Adventures' extreme kindness and helpfulness. Without these guys, I'm positive that we'd have spent at least twice as much for half the experience. We saw more then we could have wished for (and more than the other groups we met along the way..) And with the land rover nothing could stop Abu! The Migration, the Big Five, cheetahs.. you name it, we saw it! (Once I've finished the editing of my camera material, I'll share the link of a short movie, and you can see for yourself.) Oh, and the food was incredible! Thumbs up :)
If you're interested in why and how it was so great, here's a longer excursion of what happened:
First we went on a walking safari with a ranger (I advise you to bring water!). It was extremely interesting, we saw so many traces of animals, got to know much about them, and then we just bumped into more and more of them and followed them around. This day we saw a lot of giraffes, and to see them up close on the ground was breathtaking.
We camped in a little town with a pool and showers and good food..
The next day we went through Serengeti and saw the migration.. first you see a couple of zebras, and you're amazed, then some antelopes. Then the antelopes are everywhere and you see a dark gnu, and your amazed, then you see zebras and antelopes and gnus absolutely everywhere, the horizon is just a black line in every direction, made by these incredible animals. Once passed the great migration. We saw a lion on the side of the street, gazing in the sun.. further away another one pops up.. and then another three.. and it just goes on and on. We saw at least 20 lions in total!
Then, all of the sudden the car stops. We've apparently arrived to our campsite - in the middle of the park! This night made us feel so alive! There were hyaenas screaming and running past our tents at night. It's not a joke: you're in the wilderness. You could obviously choose to stay in a lodge if you don't feel comfortable. But for our group this camping experience was something we were grateful and happy to experience.
The following day we started out at dusk. Driving around in complete silence. We couldn't see a thing. Some elephants walking along the horizon as the sun rises.. We almost lost hope in seeing anything.. But then my sister saw something along the road. We thought it was a lion, but as we came closer.. the shape get's more and more obvious: a leopard, and further away another one (this is very rare, since leopards are mainly seen in pairs when they mate). We followed them, as they walked through the high grass. Then one of them climbed the tree and the sun was just right.. And then, as if that wasn't enough, Abu saw something further away - something the leopards hadn't seen yet - a cheetah with three little cubs were gazing and playing respectively. We were just a couple of meters away from these animals, without distracting them, and could peacefully follow them around. These five cats were my highlight! Later on we stopped one meter in front of one of those typical elephant crossings. It must have been at least 20 elephants crossing the street. So playful and nice. We saw some lions on the way to Ngorongoro and got to our campsite just next to the crater. Elephants kept coming there, to drink water from the well. At night buffalos came up the hill to eat..
Following day we went out to see the crater. All of these animals gathered in the greatest unfilled volcanic crater in the world. The sight itself is enough to stay stunned. We went through the park and there, not far away, a black rhino is walking towards the vehicle. Closer and closer, and then across the road just in front of our car. It was such a precious moment. Later we saw another two black rhinos further away, along the horizon.
Even after the safari Mohammed sorted us out and gave us tips on what to do with the rest of our days in Tanzania and Zanzibar. He never stopped to amaze me. Just the kindest person!
It was just such a nice experience, we were all extremely happy and overwhelmed. The food, the kindness, the engagement, the nature, the animals…
Wish you all a wonderful trip if you decide to go to Tanzania, and especially Mega Adventures, then nothing can go wrong!
Pole Pole, Hakuna Matata :)
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Top-Notch Experience thanks to the Flight of the Eagle
Elize and Johan make the perfect team for an unforgettable experience. Whether you have already visited South Africa and Kruger National Park or it's your first time in that beautiful part of the world, their experience will match your desire to learn and see all there is to discover. Elize's knack for organization will assure a smooth transition from place to place and she will make sure you're well-informed for what *you* specifically want to experience. Johan's and Elize's combined knowledge of the area's history and natural beauties will keep you interested every step of the way. Elize and Johan are two people who clearly love what they do and value the relationship between humans and the wilderness. Their warmth and attention will make you feel like you have old friends taking care of you on your trip, and they will make you feel at home from the first moment, not because it's their business, but because they actually care.
The accommodations they choose are always top-notch for the area you will visit, and even though you're steps away from the wilderness, the amenities offered will allow you to make the best of your rest time.
I highly recommend The Flight of the Eagle to anyone who is looking for the best way to experience South Africa and all it has to offer.
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
all you would expect
We, a family of 4 (kids 13+16) travelled for 4 weeks thru tanzania with Active Tanz. Adv. We had a schedule in mind for which I asked some german and tanzanian tour operators to give an offer, basically for the first 2 weeks in the famous northern parks. Because of already existing reviews and the friendlyness, knowledgeability, professionality and flexibility in their mails and we decided to go with ATA, finally arranged the whole trip with them and can highly recommend to do so.
After some recommendations of Mary and Thomas to change the route here and there, do this, leave that, they offered a taylormade safari with most of it booked and arranged by them but some accommodations booked by me, because I got them cheaper than they.
So from being picked up at the airport by our guide Mzangi, a very friendly, perfectly english (and spanish!) speaking guy, who seems to know everything about his country and finds all the wildlife, you could ask for, is a safe driver and an interesting guy to talk to about all the traditions and cultures of Tanzania until leaving our last hotel in stone town, zanzibar, everything ATA arranged was perfect!
So: take ATA as your tour operator and ask for Mzangi as your guide!!!
If you want details about our trip and reviews about parks, lodges and activities, keep on reading:
We arrived at Kilimanjaro airport, spend a night in Arusha and left the next morning for Tarangire Safari lodge (2nights). Great park, great camp!!! Gorgious view, antelopes in the camp, a giraffe passing on the path in front of our tent early morning! Skip the walking safari, if you did it before elsewhere.
We continued to Lake Natron (4hours dirt road = african massage...) passing ol doinyo lengai (great views!!!) and stayed in lake natron tented camp. nice people, good food, accommodation ok. we had a highly enjoyable walk/hike to Ngare sero waterfall with river crossings and swimming underneath the falls. Great! Do it!! the lake itself is impressive, though we didn't have many flamingos there.
Another 4hours dirt road brought us to the northeastern part of Serengeti NP, where we had 2 nights in Lobo lodge: nice spot, spectacular view with a terrace and pool overlooking a plain with waterholes, good food, nice people a little crowded, but not too bad. from there we had safari drives up to mara river, where we witnessed 3 spectacular gnu crossings!
2 more nights in a mobile safari camp closer to seronera (very nice people and food, the night sky!!! but bedbugs...). Seronera is great for the big cats and hippos, but can be nasty for the TseTse flies.
Next stop: Oldupai gorge and the museum (interesting if this is your topic, but not a must) on the way to ngorongoro crater. we had to nights in rhino lodge, which is not looking into the crater but has a nice setting and view. the crater was misty all the time anyway... we liked rhino lodge very much for the good food, and the spot itself. they have fireplaces in the room which they light for you which you appreciate in the evening, because it gets quite cold (also in the crater!!! be prepared). We had one hiking day in the crater highlands (do it!!!) hiking down into empakai crater (soda lake) and hiking up to olmoti crater with nice waterfall (no swimming). next morning ngorongoro crater itself. After having done and seen what we had done before, we found it too crowded with people for really being so excited. but you can come quite close to wildlife.
next day to lake eyasi, 1 night in tintiga tented camp. the camp is ok, but we should have booked 2 nights in Endoro lodge, where we spent the next night. it is only a 1hour drive from there and would have the better decision. We didn't know if we should go and visit the hadzabe (bushmen) and datoga (pastoralists) people or this would feel too much like a zoo for humans, but Mary recommended it very much and we are glad to have followed her advise. It is very interesting and the way Mzangi and the local guide arranged it was absolutely ok for everyone!
Next day we drove to lake manyara (not a must after all else) and then to arusha to change from a 4drive to a cheaper aircon 7seater. The Usamabara mountains were the next 2night stop (Avocado lodge, good food, friendly people, very nice walks and hikes in the area, horned chameleons!!).
We continued to the eastern coast (Emayani beach lodge - veeery nice, dive center with german diving trainer, went snorkeling with here close-by, nice!) just south of Pangani, then passing Saadani NP to Dar es Salaam , where Mzangi left us at Tanazite executive suites (good choice) for the night before flying to Mafia island next morning, having all the tickets and coupons for the rest of the journay.
Next to Mafia lies Chole island with the Chole Mjini lodge (see website), where we had 3 nights in our treehouse. we went snorkeling everyday, saw turtles hatch in a close-by island. Great!
2 nights in Mafia beach bungalows - rather a budget accommodation, but ok. Still, we shouldn't have done that, rather fly to Zanzibar earlier, where we spent our final 4 days, two in Pongwe beach Hotel (really beautiful hotel!!!! go there for accommodation, food and people, but don't snorkel there, it's a graveyard, rather go north 1hour). the other two in Dhow palace hotel in stone town (good choice!). We had a rented car on Zanzibar, organized by ATA, would have liked to spend 2 more days there, because there is lots to see and the touristic infrastructure is quite good, which one appreciates after 3,5 bumpy weeks.
So we left after 4 weeks, having seen so much (kids counted 77 lions, 3 leopards, 7 cheetahs...) but so few of Tanzania and enjoyed the trip very much. Thank you very much Mzangi, Mary and Thomas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CH
Great experience: Awesome lodge, great driver and many animals!
Many thanks to Raphael and the whole RA-Exotic-Safaris-Team for a great organized trip! We stayed at the Basecamp Explorer just at the border of the Masai Mara where we were warmly welcomed. The accomodation perfectly blends in with nature while being unbelievable cosy. The food was delicious. The best place to relax after a safari day. Our driver Joseph was great company! He is very experienced spotting animals and we learned a lot about the Masai Mara wild life. We highly recommend it.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Dream Work Through Team Work
History was made in supporting Chaeli Mycroft to become the 1st quadraplegic female to summit Kilimanjaro. What amazing partners Discover Africa are! Great communications from home team ensured that getting to Tanzania happened without a hitch. The arduous Kili Climb itself took many months of planning, logistical preparation - and Carel Verhoef was a brilliant Team Leader. The website created to document this epic adventure invited the world to share this historical experience in real time. Thank you, Discover Africa - you guys ROCK! Thank you for making this amazing adventure a reality and for ensuring that Team Awesome - including Chaeli - realised their Dream of reaching Uhuru Point. And a special word of thanks in bringing all of them safely home again!