IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
“Highly Recommend this tour company!”
This safari was a once in a lifetime trip for us. The best decision we made was to use Face of Africa adventures.
Everything was made so easy for us, the company have great staff which is the key to their future success. We dealt with Betty in the Arusha office. Her email responses were quick and extremely helpful. She also allowed us to completely customize our tour. Throughout the whole experience Betty was extremely attentive and we genuinely felt like we were cared for.
Our guide was Patrick. HE IS AMAZING. I recommend (if you can) ask for him. He's very experienced, he drove incredibly well. We always felt safe the whole-way through. He can also spot leopards, cheetahs and lions from hundreds of meters away! He also taught us a lot about the Masai culture and the wildlife.
The accommodation was great; the Serena hotels in particular were faultless!
We went in mid-December - our favorite location was Ndutu national park, if you have the opportunity go there during this time period. Here you can go off road whereas in the Serengeti there are restrictions.
Visited December 2014
QA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
We had an adventure of a lifetime!
We enjoyed a 9 day tour through Uganda and Rwanda. Encounter Safari company was excellent! The tour guide "Tolbert" was knowledgeable, friendly, and adaptable to all of our unique needs. Their vehicle, a "4x4 van" was clean, reliable and cozy. Their package was one of the most reasonable for costs and we enjoyed gorilla, chimpanzee, rhinos and volcano trekking. We explored the jungles through vehicle and foot safaris. Tolbert helped us get across the Uganda/Rwanda borders smoothly. All in all we are very happy with Tolbert and Encounter Safari's services and would highly recommend them to everyone looking for a reliable and affordable tour company for Uganda and Rwanda. Thanks Tolbert!
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Good Service Good Communication Great Price
Book kili climb, 2 safaris and a boat rental with them. Helped a great deal with the planning. Everyone had a great time. The price was great as well.
NL
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Unforgettable
We had booked a safari from 16 days to South Tanzania with Matoke Tours from the Netherlands. We have been there from January 21 to February 4, 2015.
In Dar es Salaam airport, we were spontaneously met by Emanuel, a driver / guide of Easy Travel. Communication was very good. With the jeep you do many miles and you can tell so much. The knowledge of Emanuel about the country of Tanzania, the animals and birds is enormous. During the safari he gave information about the birds, which he knows by name. How quickly he is able to spot animals is phenomenal. What we enjoyed this trip. We have seen lions eating a wildebeest. After the stomach was full, three little ones were called by the mother. The hunting of 16 wild dogs in convoy on a prey was beautiful to see. Emanuel saw a sleeping elephant under a tree. He also saw a couple in love lions on 100 meters, which made for posterity.
The many groups of elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, baboons, wildebeest, zebras and other animals and birds we will never forget. Thanks to the flair of Emanuel. Our heartfelt thanks.
All of the Animals and More
We spent four nights with Bush Drifters, and had the opportunity to see all of the big cats (cheetah, lion, leopard), elephants, hippos, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, THREE rhinos, many types of antelope and gazelle, monkeys, and tons more. The guide was extremely knowledgeable about the numerous species we saw, including the birds.
A fantastic experience that exceeded my expectations.
The trip was fantastic from our initial email dialogue to the moment I was dropped off. Communication was exceptional. The service was flawless. The education and sights were world class. I would recommend Seven By Far to anyone visiting Kenya.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A very well organised tour which provided an abundance of new experiences for the senses.
We all know what turns a holiday into a forgettable experience, but on this occassion not a single one of those usual dramas occurred. The simple things were done to perfection.....our luggage turned up, the tour guides were at the airport to transport us to this new land, the accommodation was brilliant - from stunning ocean views in Camps bay, to a porch off our ensuited tent in the Okovango Delta, elephants saundering past our tent in the middle of the night, camp kitchens providing 5 star meals, lions rubbing against out truck while travelling in the Ngorongoro crater, and for a change of pace high tea at the Mount Nelson Hotel.........so many places, such a marvelous time........this traveller will return
CH
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
it was a great experience with a professional guide and unforgettable animal sitings
The professional and personal service that was given to us by Macho Halisi (office staff and driver guide) was more than we expected and made our Safari a once in a lifetime experience. The car was comfortable and in good condition. We enjoyed the trip tremendously and hope to be back one day.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
African Ubuntu safaris went out of their way to ensure that we were happy with our tour.
We are grateful to you and to all your affiliates who gave us a great holiday. The itinerary was extensive and gave us an excellent chance to immerse ourselves into the culture of East Africa.
Accommodation, food and transport was of a very good standard with seamless transfers throughout the safari. From our arrival in Nairobi to our departure from Dar es Salaam, we were greeted everywhere with helpful, smiling faces.
We will definitely recommend your company to anyone thinking about travelling to Africa.
US
Experience level: first safari
Great safari, exactly as described, knowledgeable guide -- Mwanje very responsive and professional!
Our Tanzania safari experience was everything we had hoped it would be -- with many thanks to Mwanje and Image Travel. We booked well in advance after reviewing proposals from several safari companies. Image Travel offered competitive or better rates and Mwanje was extremely responsive, getting back to us quickly with information, written proposals/contracts, and receipts for deposits/payments. Though Nairobi airport security prevented it, Mwanje even tried to meet us in person during our connection from Kenya to Tanzania -- but he was there to refund us about $500 in cash for an overpayment due us after we changed our itinerary (cash was transferred from Mwanje to an airport employee to us). We appreciated the professionalism and the integrity.
As for our safari itself, we had an amazing 4-day adventure split between the Serengeti and the Ngorogoro Crater. The Serengeti was by far the more exciting park. The view from the rim of the Ngorogoro Crater is spectacular, but the animal experience in the Serengeti was superior, at least for us. Our driver for the entire safari -- Joseph -- was helpful, friendly, interested in our needs, spoke English well enough, and was very knowledgeable about the animals and the Masai culture (he is Masai and enjoyed telling us all about traditional culture and life in that part of Tanzania). Our Serengeti tent camp was clean, situated in a beautiful spot, and very well staffed by incredibly hospitable people -- stewards to pour you hot water for showers in the morning, carry your bags or hold an umbrella, cooks to prepare delicious and huge breakfasts, box lunches and dinners, etc. Our lodge at the Ngorogoro Crater was exceptional -- great accommodations, welcoming staff, wonderful entertainment, delicious food. And finally, all the animals "cooperated" -- we saw everything except leopards.
Transfers from and back to the Kilimanjaro airport were covered in our safari price and were done by Joseph himself (who had to come out twice for our "arrival" due to Kenya Airways delays).
Mwanje, we are totally thankful for your expert and reliable help with our trip. We are happy to highly recommend Image Travel to anyone planning an African safari! Cheers!
Cons:
1. Our Toyota Land Cruiser safari vehicle was decent, comfortable enough. But it was older and not all features were functioning (eg, seat belts, one of two battery chargers).
2. In the Ngorogoro Crater, the eagles can swoop down uninvited and attempt to grab your chicken lunch right out of your hand -- exciting yes, but dangerous too, and it would have been nice to have been properly forewarned.
3. Nothing to do with Image Travel, but we give low marks to Kenya Airways -- the planes and in-flight service were fine. But we had several flights cancelled or severely delayed during our trip planning process and/or mid-trip, costing us valuable safari time -- without apology or compensation.