US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing Cultural Safari with Adventure Makers Tanzania
My adult son and I are just back from an amazing week with Adventure Makers Tanzania guided by the wonderful and knowledgeable owner Stephen. This was my second trip to Tanzania - the first trip being a luxury wildlife safari. For this trip, my son and I sought something much more distinct and special, with a locally owned company that could give us a customized, flexible, and intimate visit to Tanzania with knowledgeable local insight. We wanted to experience in depth the cultures of Tanzania - and not limit ourselves to the amazing wildlife - which we saw in great abundance! We could not have done better than spend a week with the very personable Stephen - a kind, warm, humorous, knowledgeable, flexible guide - deeply local but with perfect English and a very keen knowledge of Tanzania, its wonderful peoples and cultures, as well as all manner of wildlife - plants, birds, wild game. We spent amazing days with the Maasai, Datoga, Hadzabe and other tribespeople - days that were truly experiences of a lifetime. We also visited local villages showing us an insight into local Tanzanian life with its great diversity of cultures, foods, beers and peoples. This was definitely not a "Disney" tour - but an honest visit with truly authentic local people and lives. For each experience Stephen paired us with a specialized guide who spoke the local tribal languages of these very traditional cultures which enabled us to see unvarnished life as it happens. Special appreciation to Andrew who showed us in-depth daily life in the village of Mto Wa Mbu and to Faustin - a Datoga tribesman who was our lifeline to both the Datoga and Hadzabe peoples. We danced with the beautiful Maasai, tried our skills with handmade bows and arrows with the resourceful Hadzabe people on their daily hunt, and experienced the Datoga who skillfully turned crude charcoal into blazingly hot fires using goat skin bellows to melt, forge and hammer metals into fine arrow tips and jewelry. What amazement to experience the resourceful Hadzabe create fire in remarkable speed from skillfully twirling dry wood, as well as experience them living a hunter-gatherer life as they have for at least the last 10,000 years. Trying to track with them through the very wild bush including towering ancient Baobob trees will never be forgotten. Every step put our daily lives in very real perspective, and gave us an appreciation of the talent and abilities of these people to maintain their traditional ways in the face of overwhelming change all around.
In addition to the cultural aspect, Stephen treated us to a memorable day in the amazing Ngorongoro Crater. In our one day there we saw a staggering array of all the wildlife that Tanzania is famous for. Our day in Ngorongoro with Stephen was filled with steady wildlife viewing across the caldera floor. We spotted several wildebeest herds moving through the grasslands, and a couple of warthogs trotting along with their characteristic bouncy gait. Near the hippo pool, where we stopped for our packed lunch, we watched the resident hippos surface occasionally with loud snorts. The day's highlight was finding a black rhino - though quite far off, it was still clear enough to observe. A pride of lions rested in the grass, sleeping, and we came across a small group of hyenas moving purposefully across the plain. The Cape buffalo were perhaps the most numerous of the large animals we encountered, scattered in groups across the crater floor, among many different species of antelope - large and small. It was quite a day.
Many thanks to Stephen who was knowledgeable, ever-resourceful and happily willing to be flexible at each turn to give us the wonderful experience we enjoyed. If you want an authentic experience with an outstanding local company - we highly recommend Adventure Makers Tanzania and Stephen. Communication was outstanding and prompt starting in January when we started planning all the way through the safari in October - not sure when Stephen sleeps!! You will enjoy the experience of a lifetime.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great safari company
My husband and i have had a great experience with the tour from communication with company staff to tour crew
Our guide Mr Gabriel was knowledgeable and we had alot of fun in the park with the animals
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
so glad we met! I made a great friend, and he showed us the best time!
Incredible! My friends and I had an amazing trip, and saw so many animals up close!! We had the best tour guide, Peter Leweika, who made sure we had the best experience ever, and gave us memories that we will cherish forever! He organized everything for us so we didn't have to worry about anything. He knows the park extremely well, and was able to locate all the animals, and get us up close to get great views and photographs! He is very knowledgeable and answered all of our questions and told us all about the park and it's history. The whole time we were laughing, smiling and sharing stories. Peter became a great friend of ours, and I highly recommend exploring the park with him, he will show you the best time!
Afterwards he took us to the elephant sanctuary to watch the elephants playing, and it was one of the highlights of our trip!
I will definitely be coming back to Kenya soon, to reconnect with my new friend and share more adventures together! ❤️
NO
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very nice, polite and Good service
Me and my fellow exchange students (12 girls) had an amazing weekend with Enroute Africa. Our weekend included boat safari, game drive safari, walking safari and maasai village. We were also provided great meals. A weekend filled with many amazing experiences and memories we will take with us home! Recommend to everyone!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An Unforgettable Journey Through Johannesburg: A Tour with Thomas
I recently had the pleasure of embarking on a tour of the Lion Park and Soweto with Thomas as my guide, and I can confidently say it was an unforgettable experience. From the moment we set off, Thomas's passion for his work and his deep knowledge of the areas we visited shone through.
Our journey began at the Lion Park, where Thomas ensured that I arrived in plenty of time for the two-hour tour. The highlight of the Lion Park was undoubtedly the lion feeding, an exhilarating experience that allowed me to witness these majestic creatures up close.
After the adventure at the Lion Park, we headed to Soweto, one of South Africa's most iconic townships. Thomas's knowledge of Soweto is truly unmatched. He shared compelling stories about the history, culture, and struggles of the people who live there. His ability to weave personal anecdotes and historical context made the tour feel intimate and engaging. I learned about the significance of landmarks such as Vilakazi Street, where both Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu once lived, and the impact of the Soweto Uprising on South Africa's fight for freedom.
Thomas was not only informative but also incredibly personable. He encouraged questions and discussions, and his enthusiasm for the rich culture of Soweto was infectious which enhanced my understanding of the vibrant community.
Moreover, Thomas was attentive to my needs throughout the tour. His professionalism and warmth made the experience feel less like a tour and more like a day spent with a knowledgeable friend.
In summary, my tour with Thomas was a remarkable journey through the heart of Johannesburg, combining the thrill of the Lion Park with the rich history of Soweto. His expertise, engaging storytelling, and genuine care for his guests made this tour a highlight of my trip. I highly recommend Thomas as a guide for anyone looking to explore the beauty and complexity of Johannesburg and its surroundings.
PL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great
Perfect perfect. See U next time. Professionally recommend everyone to use the services.
CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Experienced, friendly, excellent!
A long-overdue review!
Huge thanks to Joseph for arranging this incredible trip for us! I highly recommend Rioba Safari!
First of all, Joseph provided me with ten different quotes during the planning process, each accompanied by a detailed price breakdown. After comparing, I found their pricing to be very fair, with no hidden fees, and incredibly cost-effective—much more affordable than many other agencies!
Secondly, the itinerary was arranged perfectly to meet all my requirements. On the day of our arrival, they even gifted us personalized cups, which was such a thoughtful gesture!
Lastly, our guide, Daniel, was incredibly professional. He has a great personality, excellent driving skills, and rich experience. Thanks to him, we witnessed the Great Migration twice! The vehicle Rioba provided was also in outstanding condition.
A heartfelt thank you to Rioba Safari for giving us an unforgettable African adventure. I will cherish this memory for a lifetime!
NO
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fun
Definitely worth the money! I had a great experience and got to see a lot of animals. I wish we could have had a more detailed schedule before the safari so I would have known how to pack better, other than that I have no complaints!! I would really recommend this to everyone who is considering going!!
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good spotter and always happy to inform us.
Well organized but sometimes information come when questioned.
PL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Dream Safari 2024
We were in 5 days safari with Meru Slopes. They are super helpful and reliable, we didn’t have to worry about anything during our adventure. Our contact was Gift. He helped us with all the arrangements and immediately answered all the questions we have had. We felt very taken care of 😊
We are especially happy about having Nuru as a guide. He spotted every animal on the way that nobody else could. We saw all the big 5 🫶🏻 He has a lot of knowledge and told us a lot of interesting stories ( his English is really great). He is also a really skilled driver and super nice person.
A big shout out to our cook Yohane as well. He stayed with us all that time and prepared us delicious local breakfast, lunches and dinners. We even had everyday at lunchtime fresh baked bread made by him! And he taught us some Swahili :) we absolutely recommend them - there is no better choice. Thank you guys for an amazing experience and a lot of fun and laugh 😊 Asante sana !
