US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
First Class Company and a Lifetime Experience
From my initial communication to plan the trip to months after I arrived home, Maasai Magic Safaris proved to be a top rated company. Our guide Gabriel was so knowledgeable and did everything to make sure we had a wonderful time. Sometimes in Africa you get many once in a lifetime opportunities and I had at least five of those on my trip. As a photographer sometimes patience is needed to get the photo and each time Gabriel was accommodating to ensure that I had enough time to do so. Other times I just put the camera down to take it all in. I could go over a list of the things we did, but that would take up much more room than needed on this review. Throughout the trip I always felt safe, though my own mind would play with me on what ifs, but Gabriel helped me understand animal behavior and was a fountain of knowledge throughout the whole trip. We stayed at many great places including beautiful lodges and tented camps. The tented camps were fantastic, another reviewer shared her thoughts and didn't seem to like them. I'm sorry, but when you are in Africa, a tented camp is awesome. You have all the conveniences that you need, but also the ability to enjoy a campfire under the African stars with perhaps some thunder rumbling in the distance.
I will be joining Maasai Magic Safaris at the end of 2015 again and can't wait to share this trip with other travelers.
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Etosha National Park by michielbesseling
Etosha is a huge safari park. Each game drive here is unique. You'll see a lot of animals, but it will be a surprise what it will be. I was three days in Ethosa and we saw a lot of rhino's. From a distance, but also up close near a water hole. We saw two cheetahs watching gemsbok. And then a large group of giraffe walking on the road. We did not see any elephant. That was a disappointment.
A large proportion of the park cannot be visited: the Etosha pan and the area north of the pan. That's the part of the park where National Geographic photographers do their work.
We slept one day in the park in Okaukujeo. The rooms and restaurant are OK, but not great. I prefer lodges like Etosha Safari Lodge & Camp just outside the park.
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing beauty of dunes and desert
Namib Naukluft National Park is a beautiful park, but not a your typical safari destination. You won't see much game, nor will you see many birds. You will see a lot of sand, but it's beautiful. The patterns in the sand, the variations in colors of the dunes (older dunes are darker then younger dunes).
Visit Sossusvlei, Dead vlei and climb the popular Dune 45, the most photographed dune. Dunes can be as high as 300 meters.
I flew with a small plane from Dessert Air over Namib Naukluft national park and saw the endless desert, the fairy circles en de red dunes from above. A day i won't forget, ever.
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The perfect Journey
The days I spent in Serengeti National Park during my stay in Tanzania have been amazing. Immese strethces of flat land surrounded by nothing but the horizon and the most exciting animals making you company during your safaris are breathtaking emotions, not comparable to the everyday routine that we are used to all along our lives.
Moving through the park by the jeep, with a local prepared guide who drives you to the most precious locations makes it even better than it already is.
The weather I found in August was great, a fresh wind always accompanied us, even when the temperature under the sun got higher.
The accommodations are very limited, as there are quite a few lodges. But their quality is just superior; but food is not what makes the difference in this kind of journey.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Incredible primate experience!
We visited Kibale Forest in May 2015 and the main reason for our visit was to see chimpanzees, we were certainly not disappointed! The experience was outstanding and the quality of the guiding was second to none. As someone who has visited all of Uganda's National Parks, I would say that seeing the chimpanzees in Kibale was up there with the best experiences in the country and I would highly recommend it to anyone.
We did the trek on a clear sunny day, which apparently helped with the viewing of Chimpanzees. We were lucky to find 3 of them within 5 minutes (having driven for 10 minutes away from the starting point, due to the chimps being some distance away). We then tracked them for about 30 minutes and found the rest of the group, around 25 individuals, whom we were able to get close to and follow for a good period of time. The walk is through fairly thick forest and quite hilly in places. We were with a mixed group, but the guide set a pace appropriate for all.
Review about Ngorongoro Crater by Terry Divyak
Ngorongoro Crater was one of my favorite places to be in Tanzania. We stayed on the rim in the Serena Lodge and the stars at night were brilliant and I was lucky enough to have a full moon night while there too. The amount of wildlife in the crater was almost mind boggling with scenes looking like the garden of eden with many species of animals all gathered together.
Elephants everywhere and a true magical kingdom
My first visit to Africa was filled with anticipation and excitement and all I knew to expect was what I had read online and in books. But nothing can prepare you for what you really experience and how each day is filled with wonder and awe at seeing animals roam as nature intended. I know most people have a long checklist of animals they want to see and seeing the Big Five are how some people measure a successful trip to Africa. Looking back on my trip now to Tarangire, I have to measure my trip by the number of magical moments. As the dust kicks up as the guide speeds down the road, you start to see the ancient Baobab trees come into view. The trees are so big and they watch over the landscape like giants in the hot sun. With the ability to store a large amount of water, many of these trees will have hollowed out trunks, the results of direct contact with elephants and their search for water. My excitement for going to Africa was to see Elephants in the wild and I was not disappointed, especially in Tarangire. After awhile you see so many that they become almost common place, even showing up at hotels to roam the grounds. Our Guide, Gabriel from Maasai Magic Safaris was so knowledgable about animal behavior and obviously loves what he does. He was very patient for this photographer to get the shots I needed and made sure that my trip met all my expectations.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Uganda by danjamo
The country is visual diverse and stunning in a number of ways. The size of Uganda ensures that you can cover a lot in a short time period if necessary. The wildlife is, again, highly diverse and although it may not have the grandiose of Kenya and Tanzania it is certainly impressive in its own right.
Review about Tanzania by Terry Divyak
Tanzania has so much wildlife diversity and every corner seems to be a new adventure. The people of Tanzania were always so friendly and they have such a wonderful love for their country and are very educated.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very good budget safari
I went on a very good budget safari organized by the owners of Agama. Am currently volunteering at their orphanage. Lara organized for me a 5 day camping safari. Everything explained perfectly for me, no bad surprises. Great service for a budget safari. Recommend anybody to contact the Agama team.