BE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Safari - Unbelievable experience
Last august, we did a 6-day “great Migration” private safari with Uro Adventure, starting in Zanzibar.
We were looking for a mid-range safari for a family of 5 (3 teenagers) starting in Zanzibar (our entry port into Tanzania). We requested quotes from 5 different travel agents with good user reviews, and Uro Adventure had the best price (others were up to 30% more expensive).
So we first flew to Zanzibar where we stayed at Tembo House Hotel for a few nights (booked separately). On the first day of our safari, Uro Adventure picked us up at our hotel to drive us to the airport. After a short flight to Arusha on Flightlink, Erick and our driver/guide Ommy were there to pick us up at the start of our adventure : Tangerine NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Central Serengeti NP, Northern Serengeti NP and Lake Manyara NP. On the last day we flew back to Zanzibar from Arusha, where Uro Adventure drove us to a beach resort (7 nights) which we had booked separately.
Overall our experience was truly amazing.
First, a big big thank you to our driver and guide Ommy, who was super nice, kind, pleasant, knowledgable, funny, great with the kids (even thought them some Swahilii), respectful of the rules and animals (others were not) and most important drove us very safely. We saw too many cars driving crazy and felt safe with Ommy, even when driving through rain and mud in the dark! Our vehicle was a stretched version of a Toyota land cruiser, a vehicle type used by most in the parks. You do spend a lot of time with your guide, so having someone like Ommy is so important for a great experience.
We stayed at 4 different locations : 2 lodges (Hhando Coffee Lodge and Escarpment Luxury Lodge) on the first and last nights, and two tented camps (Kon Tiki and Sero Tented camps). The two tented camps were absolutely magical. We had family tents in both, which were very confortable and set in beautiful nature. The first night at Hhando was nice but not special like the tented camps. The last night was an upgrade to a luxury lodge (more like a 4/5* experience), which was luxurious, but in hindsight not necessary.
All meals were included during our trip, and were all of high quality and delicious! For lunch, Ommy found inside the parks places to have lunch, and prepared a nice/luxurious table for us (with a red table cloth) with plates and metal cutlery. Food was typically some meat (Chicken), rice, vegetables, dessert, and a choice of drinks (wine, beer, water, sodas for the kids). We noticed that other tours offered lunch boxes, which did not seem as special as our nice meals on proper plates. Dinner/breakfast were at the lodges/camps, and mostly buffets (with an egg stations for breakfast), except for the last lodge which was had an a la carte menu. The Toyota also included a lot of drinks and snacks.
There was a lot of time in the car when visiting the parks, up to 12 hours per day with breaks and stops to see wildlife. The roads were unpaved in the parks so a bit rough, but it was all worth it: we saw an amazing about of animals, especially wildebeest, zebras, hippos, girafes, elephants, hyenas and various kinds of antilopes. We also managed to see 4-5 lions close by, 3 cheetahs, one leopard and 2 rhinos (a bit far). Our 3 teenagers did not complain once.
Also interesting was driving across villages, seeing all the inhabitants. As an optional extra for $50 we also visited a messiah village on our last day, which was interesting but felt a bit commercial.
On the last day, my wife managed to leave an expensive sweater behind at our hotel. Not a problem. Uro Adventure had it shipped to Zanzibar, and we could pick it up at the airport on our departure day.
In summary, we had an amazing safari thanks to Ommy, at a a great price thanks to Uro Adventures. I couldn’t recommend them enough. We were naturally a bit nervous to book directly with a local travel agent, but very happy we did book with Uro Adventures. Happy to answer questions (ask Erick for my number).
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Beyond the expectations!
Beatiful experience: we spent 5 days in different national parks, finding different astonishing landscapes and lot of animals, under the guide of Mandela, the guy who professionally took us everywhere and answered all questions we had on animals and the parks. Lodges have been simply amazing, completely sorrounded by the nature, but elegant and comfortable as well. Staff has been always very smily and kind, so appreciated that.
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience
We just had an exceptional experience with Suricata Safaris. The teams are very attentive to us. The guide is a real professional, he knows where to take us to find the best spot to see the animals and he is also a very good driver. Thanks to Mandela! Thanks also to James for the more than generous and beautifully presented meals! It is an unforgettable stay. The nights in the campsite are incredible, we sleep among wild animals. I highly recommend their services to anyone who wants to travel serenely and fully enjoy their destination!
(automatic translation from French)
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
One of the best experience of your life with Suricata Safari!!
Doing a 5 days Safari with Suricata was One of the best experience of my Life. Our guide Mandela was so professional and Really kind, lodges where we stayed was at their best, they offer kindness and the staff Is Always smiling. We do see Also all the big 5, also the most difficult rhyno :)
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Game / guide great, food did not meet quoted standard
We undertook a 6-day five-night Safari for three adults and three children opting for package B out of three choices. The difference between A and B was the provision of toilet/shower enclosure behind the tents and an enhanced meal package. Although the food provided was good, it fell well short of that outlined in the itinerary. Cereal and scrambled egg for breakfast, no brunch, a cooked lunch, no afternoon tea and only a one course evening meal not the three advertised i.e soup, main and sweet . Only on one evening we did had a sweet.
Particularly disappointing was the absence from the package of the night drive.
When I raised this with Mark on our return, he " express(ed) our sincere apologies for the mix-up- it was our mistake and we are completely responsible for it" .
He stated that our guide Voice, who was absolutely great, had said we were not keen to do the night drive. In fact I had asked about it and was told it had not been arranged.
"For meals we will refund you $350."
I pointed out that the difference between the two packages amounted to around $1,600 and that in fact our meal package did not even meet the standard set out in package A, but did include the toilet/shower enclosure which surely didn't amount to $1,600?
Mark's final response was " the camping standard was the one you booked and you were not happy about the standard of the food which was breakfast" despite his earlier acknowledgement and apology.
The game drives themselves were excellent but that would have been the case whoever we had booked as the area itself was fantastic.
CA
Amazing safari trip with Easy Travel!
We had an amazing safari tour with Easy Travel through Tarangire, Ngorongoro, and Serengeti.
We were able to see many elusive animals all thanks to the experience and persistence of our driver, Adrian.
It was an unforgettable experience, I can’t recommend them enough!
CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Genuine care and warmth
This is a belated review, as I went on the safari last year with them . I nearly forgot to write about it until my iPhone memory moments reminded me today!
We were a group of three from China, visiting Tanzania for the first time. With so many operators to choose from Safaribookings, we randomly picked them, and it turned out to be the best decision we made. Pendo and her team were incredibly patient and accommodating as we customized our itinerary, and carefully considering our budget limits. They put together a fantastic trip that offered the best of what Tanzania has to offer. From start to finish, we felt welcomed and genuinely cared for. The safari itself was absolutely outstanding! Our guide was both knowledgeable and passionate, making the wildlife encounters very fun and exciting. Thanks to his expertise, we managed to see almost very animal on our wish list, from lions to leopards to more. The attention to detail and commitment to ensuring our safety and comfort were truly appreciated. I remember that we encountered an unexpected issue with the hotel charges. Pendo and her team stepped in and helped negotiate the situation. While we couldn’t get back our extra charge with that hotel, the way Pendo and her team stood by us and tried to resolve the issue was truly heartwarming and appreciated. They may not be as famous as the bigger operators here, but they are operating with their heart and dedication. Their love and pride for the land of Tanzania is truly touching. As a visitor, I was deeply moved and found myself sharing in that pride for this beautiful place. I hope that we can all play a part in protecting this land, its wildlife, landscapes, and culture for generations to come.
ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
excellent experience
Serengeti Morning Dew has organized a wonderful 5-day route for us through the best natural parks with a very good quality-price ratio compared to other companies. They have made us feel very comfortable at all times.
We have been very lucky to have Barto as a guide who has made our experience wonderful looking for all kinds of animals, showing us his culture and the best of Tanzania. It will always be in our hearts. Thank you Barto!
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
So attentive & committed
I just did a 10-day safari tour with Inspired Feet Safaris & it was incredible!
From the initial price/detail request right up until the end of the tour Fiona was so attentive & professional, answering all the queries I had & also offered lots of advice along the way (even with a 10 hour time difference I never had to wait long for her reply!). As a single female traveller this really put my mind at ease that I was choosing the right tour.
The tour itself is something I’ll never forget, 10 days covering 6 parks in Kenya & Tanzania. By the end of day 2 I had seen so many animals, including 4 of the Big 5 (I got to see #5 to complete that list a few days later in Serengeti!). There is nothing like seeing these animals in their natural habitat and also seeing them up so close (my only regret though was not bringing binoculars for even closer/finer viewing).
I would not hesitate recommending Inspired Feet Safaris to anyone interested in doing a safari, Fiona is amazing & while the prices are budget friendly there is no compromise on service & experience provided.
CA
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fun experience with a very professional and caring tour
This is the review for the 5-day African Pangolin Safaris visiting Mikumi and Nyerere park.
We are a group of 12 travelers in the mid 50s to the 70s from Montreal, Canada, experiencing the first so called safari in Tanzania. We are fortunate to have signed up with this band of brothers (seriously two brothers Mansour and Yunus) who led us through the rugged terrain of Tanzania national parks for 5 days in two Toyota Land Cruiser with pop-up tops. There was apprehension in the group at the beginning of the quest when we were to give up the comfort of city life for the dusty trails.
It seemed that the brothers could read our mind, stopped at the right time for nature calls, picked the best lunch spots in the middle of nowhere that were accentuated by some memorable spots such as the humongous baobab tree that smugglers used the hollow trunk as a hideout from the law in recent pasts. They arranged the most convenient lunches midday at a stop when we were prearranged to bypass the long line of customers at a buffet that provided delicious local food. That's a privilege appreciated by the weary travelers who looked for a cool spot to rest the battered body.
It took awhile for the group to get in sync with the operation focusing on the big five animals of the territory, bouncing "aimlessly" through endless pathways at idle pace, ... and suddenly, here we were switching into what seemed like neck breaking pace on the not so smooth trails when, over the radio, there was a "point of interest" that turned out to be two full grown lions taking a nap by the roadside, oblivious to the presence of the uninvited guests.
Observing the majestic animals (giraffes, Wildebeest, hippos, .. ) along with birds in the wild made all the trip worth while. Now we have first hand view of the African Eagle to compared to our Canadian bald eagle. The brothers will not hesitate charging through narrow passages that made us cringe when tree branches gave the sides of the vehicles a brush jobs that will require serious detailing to remove the scars off the paint. The brothers provided ample of time to take in the scenery without feeling pressed for time, an undeniable quality felt and can hardly quantified.
It was a well paced program allowing the group to enjoy the ruggedness of nature, get the questions answered that revealed the in-depth knowledge of the professional guides. That was an educational experience that I personally appreciate. The brothers were patient, courteous, friendly throughout the long days searching for the best spots, the most unique scenes, answering multitudes of questions with facts and back story, contrasting the calmness when traversing the rugged terrain that required technical skills to overcome.
The food choice was excellent, blending local cooking with some traditional western dishes that help balance the adventure with home cooking. Banda bungalow Selous was top in the group's mind.
In all, I would be amiss not admitting the overload of sensation during the 5-day adventure. The recall is spotty at best but the memory etched deep in this memorable vacation.
There are not enough words to thank Yunus and big brother Mansour to make this safari a wonderful possibility. They are a big factor in making this vacation a success. Now, we have plenty of time to peruse the photo collection for a recall of the many details of past events and relive the adrenaline-packed five-day adventure.
The group is very happy to have chosen African Pangolin Safari and we were amply rewarded.
The big brother Mansour is discretely a bit stricter than Yunus on when to stand while the vehicle is moving, I later found out. Well, all is in the name of safety for all aboard and we appreciate it.
Thank you Mansour and Yunus. 'til the next time.
