US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Greatest safari experience I've ever had!
We've just returned from the most incredible 8-day Migration Safari that Ernest Chiwanga of Worldwide Safaris led for our group of ten (which included our twin 11-year old grandsons!). I must say that given all the safaris I have been on over the past years (and there have been more than 15 of them!), this was by far the most incredible in many ways. The destinations they chose for us and the guides who patiently drove us for miles across the Tanzanian bush were knowledgeable, friendly, courteous and engaging - especially with the young boys traveling with us. The array of wildlife and the unique sightings were among the most prolific and exciting I have ever seen -- among the highlights we witnessed were one active lion kill, the crossing of what must have been hundreds of thousands of wildebeest across the Mara River with 4 being taken by crocodiles (although I'm sure we saw over a million in total!), the immediate aftermath of a lion kill that attracted hyenas and vultures surrounding our vehicles, leopards dragging their kill up a tree, and lions sleeping in a tree were sights I had never witnessed before. And then there were the cultural visits that put many things into perspective for us -- our visit to a Massai community was enlightening, and our visit to a local school at the end of our safari was inspiring. Thank you for this wonderful experience -- and for accommodating the children as well as you all did. Your organization was impeccable, and your team, exceptional. I plan to return soon.
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Up-close and Personal in Sabi Sands Game Reserve
To go on a safari is a lifetime opportunity. But when the opportunity appears, the reality also kicks in. Why is it so expensive? Which game reserve to choose? How to get there?
"It's a walking zoo! Why would you spend so much money on it?", said my friend and declined to go on a safari with me. For months, I debated and researched whether to do one. Finally I decided that I shall go big or go home. To fly for 30 hours and not to experience the true Africa, the one that I as a kid watched on Discovery channel was not an option. So I went, crossing the country all the way to the border with Zimbabwe and Mozambique, to Sabi Sands game reserve.
There where three requirements that had to be fulfilled in my mind: I wanted to see the big five in natural setting where they roam freely, I wanted to stay as close to them as possible - hence, in the bush, and I wanted to see leopards. The former one was the most challenging requirement because leopards are masters of disguise and could be seen only when they allow to. However, for some reason leopards love Sabi Sands, which turns to have the greatest concentration of them. Without a doubt this was the place where I had to be!
Following South African plantations of oranges, bananas and olives, behind the mountains of evergreen trees, lies the wilderness disconnected from the civilization with an electrical fence. This is the place where nature sets the rules and men oblige to them if they do not want to be hurt or in the worst case eaten. Little did I know that after three days of staying in the bush, my life will never be the same again.
What really changed is my appreciation of nature and my understanding of human vulnerability. National parks are the last pieces of wilderness where human involvement is forbidden; where African elephant dies from starvation after loosing its sixth and last set of molar teeth and where the lion leading it's pride will kill all cubs that are not his in order to secure his hereditary line. This truly is the survival of the fittest. For the first time ever I also felt vulnerable but in an odd way.
The night before flying over from Cape Town to Johannesburg to embark on the journey to Sabi Sands, I ate a kebab that consisted of ostrich, impala, kudu, and wildebeast meat. 24 hours later I saw those animals in the natural setting, and realized that I would have to turn vegetarian because I would not know how to kill these huge and rather vicious beasts.
The safari was everything and so much more. It is an unpredictable game where one roams at dawn and dusk looking for animals in the waste land that is occasionally disrupted with an acacia or marula tree and an elephant right below it. Yet after 1.5 days of looking for big cats, I got impatient. I stopped caring for zebras, elephants and giraffes. What I wanted were lions and leopards that were hidding somewhere in high savannah grass, but there was no sign of any.
After series of false baboon alarms on a potential predator sighting, our fortune finally turned around. Our tracker received a call that a leopard was spotted, and we sped to the location in what was described by everyone as Ferrari safari. My last wish of what to expect from a safari was about to come true.
What happened in the next 12 hours following the news of leopard sighting deserves a blog entry on its own. It was National Geographic worth material, and the experience that defined awesomeness of my safari trip.
In the late afternoon, a male leopard was taking a nap hidden in the tall savannah grass before heading for a stroll, marking his territory, and coming to a clearing to look for a prey. His meticulously planned hunt went well into the night until he interrupted our dinner. Around 9.30 pm as we sat down around the lodge fire, our guide started shouting at us to jump back onto the truck and head into the bush because killing sounds were heard. Not even 100 m from our camp, same leopard that we spotted earlier today, was dragging a baby deer. Grabbing the deer by its neck, he dug his claws deep into the tree bark, and in few jumps, climbed up, securing the prey on the branches right above me. Deer's urine and blood started dripping right in front of us while ripped deer's hair flew in the air like fluffy feathers. The leopard moved from the deer's neck to buttocks, and the feast finally began. So there I was - in the deepest part of Africa and away from civilization - witnessing something that only a few get to see. At this point there were only two sounds that I could hear - crickets in the distance, and leopard's teeth ripping deer's flesh, fiber by fiber. As grotesque as it sounds, it was one of the most beautiful things one could experience and the act of nature at its finest. Mesmerized with the view, we all watched the leopard eat for over 40 min. before heading back to the camp to have our dinner.
Many say that an African safari is one of the lifetime experiences. But once you experience it, you realise how addictive it becomes, and how one safari is not enough. After visiting Kruger National Park and Sabi Sands, I want to experience this continent so much more. I want to go to Namibia where red desert sand dunes collide with the Atlantic and where lions roam on the beaches, to Botswana where hippos and crocodiles fill up river banks, and to Tanzania where thousands of wildebeest and zebras create stampedes that are earth shattering. ...
The following was an excerpt from my blog. For more entries and pictures, visit: http://wohesitation.wordpress.com
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Tarangire National Park by Simone
not as the Serengeti .. but second best. we saw our first leopard .. he was Amazing and few sleeping young males .. they really sleep as our domestic cats!! it is great!
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Ngorongoro Crater by Simone
we were a bit unlucky .. it was a bit cloudy and cold .. not too many cats but a lot a lot of wildebeast and buffaloes .. we might give it another try coming back from Serengeti as it is on the way!!
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Lake Manyara National Park by Simone
We did not see any cats .. the least actractive parks of the northern circuit!! you can skip it but for the marvellous Hippo Pool
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
once is not enough!!
After visiting South African private game in 2013, we decided to go for the top ... and the difference is evident!! Documentary scene every single day! we did not experience a kill but we saw a total of 50 lions, 2 leopards and 2 cheethas in our 3 game drive .. plus all the other animals which at the end were "almost" boring .. but never so because seeing 50 elephants or 200 zebras or 100 buffalos together is something that we did not see in South African private game ... they simply do have that many!
we did the North Parks of Tanzania in 5 days but next time we will spend the Whole time in Serengeti .. trying to catch the Migration.
Amazing Amazing Amazing!!
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Tanzania by Simone
Tanzania is the best and Serengeti is the best of the best!! we will be back and soon
FR
Unmatched price and first class service delivery
What can say, Swift Travel organised the trip of a lifetime without any hitches and at a price we could not match elsewhere. We booked flight only to Nairobi and were picked up from the airport and taken straight on Safari by Joseph in our own Safari Jeep. We passed many buses/Jeeps with 6 or even 7 passengers and stuffed with luggage. Tsavo East, Tsavo West, Amboseli (our favourite), Mount Kenya, Treetops (least favourite), Samburu, Lake Nakuru and The masai mara- (we missed the migration as it was late this Year but saw loads of other wildlife) then flying down to the beach for a few days- what a trip, but without Joseph we would have missed so much!
Again, a huge thanks to Peter and crew for organising it all.... even taking us back to the airport for our sad return. We would recommend these professional people to everyone thinking of holidaying in Kenya.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Tarangire Trip
I just got back from a private safari with the East African Safari & Touring Company (EASTCO) based out of Arusha, Tanzania. As a seasoned backpacker who has traveled to well over twenty-something countries, I must say that I have found this trip to be one of my most extraordinary.
Before my trip, I spent a great amount of time researching safari/tour companies and exploring many travel options. First and foremost, I was looking for a company that was respectful of the environment as well as the Tanzanian communities & people who work for them. It was also important for me to have opportunities to meet and interact with the locals. And as a woman traveling alone, I wanted to feel safe and comfortable with my driver and cook.
I decided to go with EASTCO for many reasons. I really liked that they are a local company invested in preserving the cultural integrity and well being of surrounding communities. I was also impressed with owner Simon King, who has worked with neighboring Maasai villages to create opportunities for collaborative partnerships, dramatically decreasing poaching practices within a conservation area just outside of Tarangire National Park.
After making my decision, however, it was nothing less than a true leap of faith when I wired off my hefty triple-zero deposit to a bank in Australia. I worried that I might be in for a scam or that I should have chosen a company who has an office in the US. My concerns, however, ended as soon as I traveled to Arusha, met Simon, and planned out the final details of my safari. At the end of my six-day stay that encompassed the Nogorongoro Crater, the Serengeti, and Tarangire National Park, I was so happy that I had chosen to go with EASTCO.
This was my first safari. Therefore, I cannot compare EASTCO with other companies except to share with you the things that I appreciated the most about my experience. First of all, Charles, my driver and guide, taught me the art of observing animals. He also helped me to refine my eyesight and learn how to observe the amazing, yet obscure eco-systems of East Africa. Charles could spot the tiniest of things and share a depth of knowledge about everything we saw. He also somehow knew where we might find animals, and most of the time we were the sole spectators, as we did not travel in caravans with other tourists. Charles also knew where to position the truck when we did have a crowd of people. One day we saw a family of thirteen elephants. He anticipated their crossing, maneuvering our vehicle to the perfect place where the animals, one by one walked right in front of our truck. After crossing, Charles predicted their path and drove to a point where we could see them walking a perfect line into the horizon. It was a magnificent moment! My cook, Michael was a wonderful travel mate as well. He always kept me laughing and cooked up amazing meals. I thoroughly enjoyed traveling with both of these gentlemen and felt as if I was saying goodbye to two dear friends when my safari ended.
Lastly, I really enjoyed most of the places that I stayed at. The first campsite, Simba was my least favorite. It was a beautiful location but was quite crowded, thus creating a disgusting bathroom scene thanks to the many tourists who did not know how to use squat toilets. Also due to the crowds, people became very territorial of their eating spaces. I was so grateful that Michael had staked out a good spot for me early, so I did not have to participate in all of the drama. My Serengeti experience, however was remote and peaceful. The campsite was full of wildlife. Teams of Mongoose would run wildly about in packs. A family of baboons would make their daily rituals, playing around my tent during the day and climbing a nearby tree at night. Cape Bull grazed within sight of my tent, and one day an enormous elephant wandered onto the grounds to eat the garbage out of the community trashcan. My last night on safari was spent at Boundary Hill Lodge, an upscale yet rustic lodge that enables views of wildlife from every angle of your suite and boasts a private bathtub on the balcony that overlooks Tarangire National Park.
As with any trip, I am sure that if I thought hard enough I could pick apart my safari and find some things that could have been better. However, I know that nothing is perfect, and these minor flaws are insignificant and would be dwarfed by the incredible things that I experienced each and every day on my safari. It was a trip of a lifetime, I was living the dream, and I feel so fortunate to have traveled to this part of the world and to have met so many amazing people, both through EASTCO and the other places that I visited.
BR
Amazing experience
I spent two weeks in Tanzania, doing Kilimanjaro, Safari (Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Serengeti) and Zanzibar. Tomodachi was our choice for the entire trip and we couldn't be more satisfied. The team is amazing and we received wonderful care. It was great to get to know more about Tanzanian and African culture talking to the guides and to Joseph himself. Special kudos to the Kilimanjaro Guides Imanuel, Hebron and William, besides the kind porter Fuso. Unforgettable experience!