NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic
Tailor made safaris,has done a great job!
We had a fantastic trip,the game drives were magnificent.
And the accomodations were super.
DK
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The best budget safari our family could have
Thank you!!!! - says the family from Denmark!
My family and I had the best budget safari in Maasai Mare, Amboseli (Nakuru was disappointing no flamingos, but many rhino)
David is as everybody write very quick on mails and he is very friendly and extremely helpfull in real life to :-)
The budget tent camp was very fine in Maasai Mara, bit more "rustic" in Ambolseli - but it worked fine.
Patric our driver was a very good driver, and told us a lot about the animals, and had an answer to all our questions.
We were a Danish family who found this company on the Internet, took the chance by the reviews and that's why I write this..... You can count on these people! They handle all were well:
Pick up in airport
Hotel in Nairobi (budget, but ok)
Tours in Nairobi with Bon'fiss a nice young driver, who drove us round town.
I highly recommend this company!
CA
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A fantastic trip that far exceeded our expectations.
We were a group of six, myself and my husband in our mid 70s, our daughter and husband in their late 40s (who live in another country) and their children, a girl aged 9 and a boy, 7, on a 27 day (including the days of arrival and departure) trip through Namibia in late July through August 2015. The intention was to hire a self drive 4x4 vehicle and have a family holiday while we were still able to travel and our grandchildren would be old enough to remember it. However, I was unable to find a vehicle with six seats using the major operators. With time running out (about six weeks before we were due to arrive) I emailed multiple companies I found on the internet and received an almost immediate reply from Derek Jacobs at Blue Crane Safaris. He explained that we could do the itinerary I had sent him with a 2 wheel drive and suggested a van and trailer combo which he could supply but also offered to organise the whole trip with a driver and cook for a very reasonable price. We decided to take him up on the fully organised trip and after numerous back and forth emails an itinerary was settled and I sent a deposit. Then cold feet set in. I knew nothing about this company and could only find two small reviews on the web and I started to worry that the very reasonable price was, in fact, too cheap and that the whole trip was going to be a disaster. So it was with great relief and delight that everything went like clockwork. We were met and debriefed on arrival by Derek's charming mother-in-law Troudy. The next morning we were picked up by our driver, Rusten, and cook, Job, both of whom also guided, and then met the ebullient Derek, reviewed the itinerary and we were off.
What followed was a really fantastic trip - magical day following magical day, all of us enthralled by the scenery and the animals. We had a roughly 60%/40% mixture of camping and hotels, mostly small, simple hotels though some were more luxurious than others but all were very clean and pleasant and had everything we needed and the campsites were very well equipped with clean flush toilets and hot showers. We had good tents with thick mattresses and camp cots if wanted; the sleeping bags were rather thin but we had two each which we needed as nights were cool. A large camp table and chairs were provided and a camp kitchen.
The vehicle was quite new and in excellent condition with good seat belts for every seat and we pulled a trailer for the camping equipment. We had only one flat tire despite many gravel roads, some quite rough.
But the best part was our great crew, Rusten and Job, who are friends and work really well together, so there was never any tension and always a lovely atmosphere. Rusten is an excellent, careful driver with great decision making skills so we had complete confidence in his ability and judgement. He knew the country and the routes very well and was also able to give us many insights into Namibia and its peoples. Job cooked up good, tasty food every day while we were camping; cereals and eggs for breakfast, nice crispy rolls with cheeses and cold meats and salads for lunch with an occasional hot dog much to the delight of our grandchildren. For dinner, grills or very tasty big, one pot stews with rice or pasta - all on a wood fire so we had the added delight of a camp fire to sit around at night. Both Rusten and Job were excellent spotters so we saw lots of wildlife all over the country. They were also really good with the children, both of whom became very attached to them and were sad to leave.
Our trip was a counterclockwise circuit from Windhoek - Waterberg Plateau, Etosha, Opuwo, Sesfontein, Palmwag, Twyfellfontein, Skeleton Coast at Terrace Bay and Cape Cross, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Sossusvlei, Luderitz, Orange river, Fish River Canyon, Mariental and back to Windhoek. The extra side trips that Derek had suggested over and above those I had requested, turned out to be some of the best of the trip - a 4x4 day trip up a dry river valley from Sesfontein in search of desert elephants, and a walk in the bush with the San people, speaking their click language. He was also very accommodating when I made a couple of last minute changes the day before the trip started - no problem!!
In summary, it all turned out to be a really well organised but very relaxed trip through an amazing and very beautiful country which far exceeded our expectations in every respect.
PT
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
A reliable travel agency with profound knowledge of Zimbabwe
We started planning our 2015 journey in Zimbabwe and surrounding countries well ahead with Nyati Travel.
Zimbabwe is generally not regarded as a logic destination due to the reporting in the international media about the present state of affairs in the country. But we can wholeheartedly recommend all aspiring travellers to plan a longer stay in this fantastic nation. The natural beauty is unrivalled but above all, it is his population that makes an unforgettable impression: welcoming, open, communicative, helpful and with a extraordinary drive to make the best of it. We encountered no problem whatsoever, not from the authorities, let alone from the public. At the numerous police checkpoints we were consistently waved through. No attempts of theft or to fool us in any way, not in the cities or anywhere else.
About the service and assistance of Nyati’s partners Goof de Jong and André Bongers & staff, we can wholeheartedly recommend them. They had good suggestions for places to stay, they were fast and punctual in their follow-up of our numerous mails with extra requests and alterations of reservations in hotels and lodges.
Through Nyati we hired an extremely reliable and comfortable 1996 Nissan Patrol jeep that took us without any problems for 5100 kilometers through Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and Mozambique. Not even a puncture…
It was a pity they forgot to mention that it is now possible to buy multiple visas upon entry in Zimbabwe for Zambia, for example.
However, do seriously consider to book your next Southern African journey with this professional and friendly travel agency that throws it’s heart and soul into Zimbabwe and the travel business.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
What an awesome experience!!
Wow from beginning to end! The thing that really stood out for me was the personal service we received. My partner and I were collected by the most warm and friendly tour guide Blessing. We had the kombi all to ourselves - no squashing and trying to fit in with others. The tour really was all about us and what we wanted to do and when we wanted to do it. Africa Zim Travel are focussed on being flexible and accommodating and prefer to take small or well acquainted groups - that really does make for a far more enjoyable trip. This really was a trip to remember and I would highly recommend using Africa Zim Travel to plan your next memorable experience.
Recommended tour
We just finished the Hemingway Safari which was loads of fun plus we made new friends on this trip who will likely become lifelong buddies. Good value for money!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Namibia-Trip of a Lifetime-Swakopmund, Skeleton Coast, Etosha, Luderitz, Sossosvlei, Fish River Cy
Namibia is truly a magical and timeless destination providing diverse natural landscapes & abundant wildlife and big game. Bluecrane Safaris' designed an itinerary that was perfect for our 'self-drive' experience. Even though my two adult children and I were unaccustomed to driving on the left side of the road on 90% gravel and sand in a 4X4, we felt confident and comfortable the entire time knowing that Bluecrane, specifically Derek, was available to assist. We even experienced a blowout on our drive to Etosha but was met in the middle of our trip by Derek to provide us replacement spare (even though we had an extra one left). Outstanding customer service! Namibian's are extremely friendly and customer service focused and take tremendous pride in providing a consistent outstanding experience. I would recommend Bluecrane Safaris and Namibia. Though I've never hesitated going to any country, even if I don't speak their language, but going to Namibia English is their primary language.
AE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A Tourist Guide either Makes or Breaks your Safari
Ours was a first-time visit not only to Kenya, but also the entire continent of Africa. If you are travelling to the savannah for the first time, rapport building with your tour operator is essential, especially if yours is a short trip. There is so much to explore that communication gap between you be best minimized. We were blessed to be in touch with a tour operator, namely Nakupendakenya (nakupendakenya.com/en), who made our safari a success. Ms. Bettina Leka, the owner of the company, exhibited excellent communication skills from the very beginning of our correspondence. Her rapport building skills are so strong that I felt an instant chemistry with her. Ms. Leka tirelessly kept on furnishing comprehensive responses to all our queries concerning the safari. On the spot, we met with Mr. Bakari, who was our guide for the entire game drive. Mr. Bakari shares a passion for the wildlife, and displays fair wisdom in that he makes a perfect balance between time spent on driving, pausing at interesting spots, disseminating info on wildlife, and most importantly has a keen sense of judgement concerning the tourists’ attention span. The team were always accommodative of our wishes and demands, even at the eleventh hour. The minors among the tourists receive a souvenir at the end of the trip. What’s more to ask for!
DK
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful time without bad surprises
Edward was very open and helpful from the beginning. The driver/guide John was on time to pick up from and drop off. We had a safe trip and everything was according to the itinerary - no bad surprises. The guide introduced all the animals in the park and took our preferences into account. Finally I was taken to the airport after a dinner in Carnivore restaurant, which was organized by Edward. Overall, wonderful time at Masai Mara and very good experience with Budget Africa Safari. Thanks!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wildlife and beach relaxation
The Safari was well planned and everything turn out as promised. We saw thousands of different animal species and stayed at some iconic Safari lodges with a charm of their own. At the end of our Safari we caught an Auric Air flight to Zanzibar where we spent the rest of the 5 days lazing on the beach and exploring the quirky Stone Town. We found the local people to be very friendly whether is Zanzibar or Masai hut the glowing smiles always welcomed us.