IE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a Lifetime
I was part of a group of four that went on a Safari in August 2015. I was with my girlfriend and another couple who were friends of ours. We knew that this was the trip for us just by looking at the website and seeing the amazing photos of places and things we might see. We booked an 8 day stay with 5 on Safari and 3 nights on Zanzibar. We never thought that our experience could live up to the pictures, we were wrong, our trip was even better. Once we arrived all aspects of our journey through Tanzania were arranged for us.
On arriving at Kilimanjaro Airport we were collected and brought to the Outpost Lodge in Arusha. This was a lovely hotel a short walk away from the main part of town. The comfortable hotel was exactly what we needed after a long day of travelling. The evening was ours to spend as we liked and the next morning we packed up the jeep and were ready to head off for Tarangire National Park. As we packed the jeep we met our guide, Hilary, and our chef, Dioniz. These were a fantastic team and helped to make this such a good holiday, i could not recommend them highly enough. Over the next few days we visited four areas (Tarangire, Lake Natron, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater). While this was a slightly personalised plan Justin was very accommodating in allowing us include the places that we wanted. Although there was some extra driving, we didn't mind as the landscapes you pass through are breathtaking from the dry scrub land in the dry season outside Arusha, to the vast Savannah around Serengeti with as much greenery as Ireland during the wet season. Each place we visited was different and had something special to offer, with the exhilarating encounter we saw of a lion stalking after a cheetah in Tarangire, to the amazing waterfall in the mountains around Lake Natron, the up close experience of being so close to a family of elephants that you could nearly reach out and touch them at Serengeti, and finally the incredible quantity of all types of animals at Ngorongoro.
We camped in the tents and sleeping bags provided which were of excellent quality. Each campsite was different but enjoyable as there was the chance to chat to other people on Safari. After the long day of driving we always looked forward to our chef's food. Everything was outstanding and his meals surpassed those of the restaurants we later ate in when on Zanzibar.
Our trip then took us to Zanzibar where we stayed 2 nights in Stone Town. Our itinerary included a tour of Stone Town and we added a trip to a nearby island where we got a tour of a prison, saw Giant Tortoise, and snorkelled in the clear blue waters. We stayed in the Tembo House Hotel which was quite comfortable with a beautiful location opening onto the beach (this was great at breakfast where you could look out and see the boats preparing for a day on the sea). On our way out of Stone Town we had a spice tour which brought us to one of the local farms. This was very interesting for anyone with a love of food or cooking to see how some (now common) ingredients grow.Our last night was in the Kendwa Rocks Hotel which had a spectacular location right on the beach. Unfortunately we had a few issues but these were purely to do with the Hotel and their staff.
Overall our highlights would be the sights on safari of the many different animals and the very enjoyable time we spent with our guide and chef. Both made our experience all the more enjoyable, with Hilary's hawkeye vision spotting the smallest animals way in the distance (be sure to bring binoculars so you can see them) and his endless knowledge of each animal, and then Dioniz's fantastic food and great company. Both men spent time with us each evening and we had great chats comparing life in Ireland and Tanzania.
I would highly recommend Tanzania-Expeditions to anyone interested in Safari and to try and get the team of Hilary and Dioniz!
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was amazing.
All of the service were good. They answer at all of need.
As the exception of the airline ticket. It was not very organised.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Gorillas in the mist
I took a solo two day trip to the see the gorillas in Volcanos National Park, Rwanda, and it was incredible. I'd highly recommend the company - and in particular my wonderful driver and guide, Enos. He was extremely knowledgeable and a real gentleman. I was travelling solo and he made sure I was looked after every step of the way. And of course - the gorillas were amazing! We got to see an entire family after just 30 minutes of trekking - and were privileged enough to see a baby that had been born the night before. It was a truly unforgettable experience and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Gorilla Trek Africa to anyone.
IL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing and fabulous Safari vacation
We were 2 families and Flash planned every detail of our vacation with professionalism and caring. As a smaller more flexible company, all special requests were met with understanding and a smile. Flash not only arranged our safari with a fabulous and wonderful guide named Adam - but all lodges and the tent camp were perfectly chosen to give us an amazing overall experience. They also handled our Zanzibar portion and that was carried out with the same professionalism and perfection as the rest of the trip. I can't say enough good things about Flash - from the moment we contacted them via email and until we were on our plane home we felt Flash with us, and how important it was to them that we have an amazing time.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
great service
Amazing experience in Amboseli National Park. Patricia, the operations director met us in the airport for a quick pre-briefing and was very nice to show us the best places for dinner around Nairobi. We ended up having dinner in an Italian restaurant which I do not remember the name but had awesome food and great Italian wine. Driver Faral was everything we needed: Knowledge, experience, humor and kindness in the same package :) Experience was top notch on all aspects.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing, out of the ordinary safari for a multigenerational family!
We just returned from an indescribable safari with Safari Infinity. Our group was a multigenerational group of 6, so it was a tall order to meet the needs of an 11 year old and 75 year old grandparents. From start to finish, Safari Infinity was just spectacular. I researched quite a few safari companies, and Lucia at Safari Infinity was so great with communication and I never felt pressured to book. It really sealed the deal early on that we would choose them as a company.
Lucia did a great job of guiding us towards an itinerary that worked for all of us and was also within our families budget. No question was too silly for her to answer, and it was so great to have such good communication because, while our family has traveled a lot, we had never planned out a safari.
Once we got to Tanzania, we were met by Kelly, who made us feel at ease at once. I don't know how to describe Kelly other than he's really a special human being. His excitement about being a guide is intoxicating, and we never felt like he was just going through the motions like some tour guides. My parents, who have done extensive traveling in India and Asia said that Kelly was by far the best tour guide they'd ever had. Kelly is very bright and an expert in wildlife, and was able to navigate questions and conversations from my political science professor dad about Tanzanian history and also do a foot race with my kids. He went above and beyond to show us his country, help us understand the people and also taught us so much about wildlife. Kelly did not take us on a standard tour, but really went beyond what we expected. Many days, we were the only jeep that we saw for miles. He would get his binoculars out and find animals for us. His tenacity allowed us to see the unexpected…a lion eating his kill, 2 wildebeest crossings, a dung beetle, rhino, leopard..the list goes on an on. Kelly really made the safari a real trip of a lifetime. We all felt like it was so much more than a safari, but really an educational experience, an adventure (the day our truck got stuck in the Northern Serengeti), and a bonding experience for our family. By the end of the trip, he was truly a friend of our families.
The safari itself was fabulous. Lucia chose accommodations that met our budget, and to be honest, they were much nicer than I expected given that our family did more of a "low budget" safari. The accommodations were really nice and the food, especially at Kati Kati Camp and Mara Under Canvas was fabulous. I had no idea that we would eat so well while on the trip. We loved the tented camps, and the service was incredible, especially at the tented camps. We loved the sundowners and the popcorn (who knew Tanzanian's loved popcorn so much!).
After our safari, our family went to Tanzania for a week. We planned this separately, but Safari Infinity picked us up to transport us to our flight back home. Our guide/driver en route back (can't remember name), was also fabulous. My daughter developed a rash in Zanzibar, so the Safari Infinity driver went out of his way to find us a chemist so we could get some medications. It really was great because being sick in a foreign country is the worst.
All in all, I cannot recommend Safari Infinity more highly. We have only been back a week and have given their name to numerous friends of ours after they saw our photos. We truly hope that our safari experience isn't the trip of a lifetime, and that we'll be able to go back with our kids again and hopefully our grandkids. If so, we will certainly use Safari Infinity again!
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
An efficient and well organised tour. Some incovenience but first class for animal sightings.
A good company to deal with. Prompt airport pickup started an enjoyable holiday.
Knowledgeable guides with clean and well maintained vehicles.
Some of the accommodation left a sore taste. Sopa Hotels mainly with its electricity and hot water off all day.
If you decided not to safari for a day you were left in the dark with no hot water. Also check your account carefully before paying.
The long road trip to Lake Nakuru was a wasted day. You need to re arrange this day.
The Kirurumu Tented Lodge was a 2 star at best, but the meals and service 4 star.
Review about Lake Nakuru National Park by Ronn Spencer
Few Rhinos and the flamingos have gone.
An experience spoilt in one day.
Our visit to the Masai Mara was spoilt in one day by a visit to Observation Hill. Was a disgusting scene to behold. The area is used a toilet stop except that there are no toilets. Hundreds of people a day use this area as a viewing point and a makeshift toilet. As the only stop for the day, one had no option. I am told the female area was particularly disgusting. The area is a disgrace to the National Park system and to the Kenyan Government. Were does all the money collected as park fees go. One wonders.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Serengeti.
A well maintained park with teeming wildlife. Roads are very rough and dusty. Toilets and lunch areas well maintained and clean . No off road allowed so areas are in good condition. Great weather.