US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic Experience
We asked "Crazy Dave" to arrange a 4 day tour for us, 3 days in Kruger and one at Sabi Sand. We gave it 5 stars and would give more if we could. Dave accommodated all of our requests and personally guided us on an extraordinary trip.
Dave was an expert at finding animals and also at tailoring the tour to our interests (birds, wild dogs and more). We stayed at Old Vic, which is also run by Dave and Bella. From the moment we reached Nelspruit to the moment we left, Dave arranged everything. When we had trouble with the airline, he resolved that too. We were able to relax and enjoy the park and all of the animal sightings. The tour was the vacation of a lifetime and better than we ever would have expected.
We spent 2 days at Kruger and saw the big 5 and much more. We then went to Panorama and the scenic canyons which should not be missed. The tour ended with lunch at the "famous" Harrie's Pancakes. We asked Dave for an extra Day and traveled to a wild animal rehab center which we really enjoyed. Dave was flexible and accommodated whatever we wanted to see.
I highly recommend Kruger Flexi Tours
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An excellent 29 days in East Africa
I was really fortunate to come across Aurelie from E-Trip Africa, who organized a once in a lifetime 29 day tour throughout East Africa. I started organizing the trip on my own with my trusty Lonely Planet. It did not take long before I realized this was beyond all my travel experience to Europe and South America.
While Africa might not be all that more complicated, the lack of current information leaves you turning in circles. So after I was completely frustrated, I contacted 7 different companies to see what they could offer. Most of them seemed to only know about one country or another and it quickly became clear they were going to pass me off to some other unknown person once I crossed the border. I even had a good laugh when one gave me only part of my tour request and that the other countries would be added 4 or 5 days later. Hmmmm.
There were two that clearly had on the ground staff in the countries we wanted to visit. Each proposed an incredible proposal to fill the 29 days, but the prices were far from similar. I worked with Aurelie a lot to modify the trip to be exactly what I wanted, as her initial suggestions were much closer to what we had requested. In the end I then also asked the other company to give me the price of the same trip so I could have an idea. E-Trip Africa’s price was nearly $250 per day cheaper, which was enough to decide to book with them even though they are a lesser known company than the other.
We started our trip in Uganda and drove from Entebbe to Kibale where we spent a full day with the Chimps. This was one of many suggestions that Aurelie had given me and it was worth paying a little extra for the experience. Then we headed to Queen Elizabeth and had a fantastic visit to the park. The boat cruise is another very memorable experience.
After that we drove to Buhoma and spent a night there at the beautiful Mahogany Springs before hiking through Bwindi to the south side of the park. This hike was a nice way to meet local people and learn a bit more about their everyday lives. From the South part we tracked the Nshongi family. Spending that time in nature with the mountain gorillas is the most magical thing that I have experienced. From here we slowly worked our way to Rwanda, visiting several of the lakes between Bwindi and Lake Kivu. We spent 3 days resting at Lake Kivu before going to Nungwe Forest. The forest was very nice with a nice canopy walk. We then went to Kigali to visit the genocide memorials. Now Kigali is quite a modern city to my surprise and seemed to be very safe.
From here we flew on a small plane straight into the Northern Serengeti and then worked our way south to catch the migration on its way North. While it is not as emotionally intense as the gorilla encounter, the migration is also an amazing experience.
We finished up the safari through Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara, and then Tarangire before heading to Mafia Island to do some diving. We had thought about Zanizbar, but Aurelie suggested Mafia to avoid crowds, and again she picked the perfect location.
Everything went surprisingly smooth. E-Trip Africa provided us with excellent guides that have a passion for wildlife and sharing their countries with those who visit. Even though our budget was for mid-range, the hotels were carefully recommended by E-Trip Africa to provide us with the best value, allowing us to upgrade our stay in Mafia.
EE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic 5 days safari
We had fantastic safari for 5 days, which saw three different natural parks - Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire. I comment our guide David Maro, who met us at the airport and was with us all the time.And we were also very pleased with cook, for good food. Many thanks for Kili Slope tours and safaris for good service.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Went to Kenya with Java
I recently booked a trip to Kenya with Java. I was blown away at the start with the attention to detail in the planning. They asked tons of questions about myself and my partner and built what turned out to be a superb itinerary around it. We would not have changed a thing all the way through. The the three camps we stayed at were quiet and the level of service couldn't have been higher. The guides were amazing and we saw so many animals. Java managed everything from afar and checked in with us along the way too always make sure we were happy and if we needed anything. The beach in Kenya was great and a great way to unwind after a long trip. All in all a great trip and I would highly recommend Java Safaris to anyone looking at Africa for a holiday.
IT
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
A great Safari with two great guides
My safari was organized by a friend who lives in Nairobi. The guides were helpful, careful and always sure we were given the information and assistance we needed. I was also impressed the way the tour guides helped others who were in difficulty in the park, for example low battery, stuck in mud etc., real community spirit. The tent accommodation was good - loads of hot water - the cook was delightful, conjuring up meals for tired tourists. We saw so many animals, so close to, it was amazing, it was as if Keith and Lamech called them on cue for us.
I would thoroughly recommend African Suburbs Advenctures and Travel for a safari.
CH
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An unforgetable mobile tented safari
2 wonderfull safari weeks with Eddy, Marie-Noël (Mano) & crue in the Nature very closely to the fauna. We appreciate the top logistic organisation, the very good meals of Mano, the helps of the crue and ouf course the very bright knowledge of Eddy, the guide (and boss).
We can only recommend this safari for all nature friend people.
US
under20 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing time spent in Tanzania
My overall experience with the company were nothing short of amazing. The drivers were always aware of their surrounding, very tentative to our needs, and above all knowledge on the wildlife and geography. Our stays at the coffee farm, the Serengeti and visits to Ngorongoro and Manyara were all planned with us in mind and made for a very relaxing couple of days. I would recommend this company above many of the others I saw operating in Tanzania, especially my favorite driver Philemon.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
A fantastic experience guided by passionate people who know their stuff
I have been dreaming about visiting the mountain gorillas for nearly 20 years and finally I got to do it. A & A Gorilla Tours made the whole experience fantastic and I will never forget it. From the moment I landed in Entebbe they were there smiling to meet me and welcome me to Uganda. All the hotels/lodges we stayed in were lovely and during the long drives our guide Paul told us lots of interesting facts.
It was like a long safari drive through Uganda where we stopped to see large birds, sample the local food or watch the sun rise over Lake Victoria. Paul would have dinner with us and brief us on the next day so we knew what was going on and would speak to hotel staff on our behalf if we had any quires. When the local children were singing and dancing for us Paul would tell us what they were doing so we understood it more. Also, we got back to Entebbe the day after seeing the gorillas and Paul took us to the Uganda Reptile Village which was very interesting; then to a local restaurant.
I could not have wished for a more amazing experience and would highly recommend using A & A Gorillas Tours.
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable trip
I went to the Masai Mara park with Suburbs Adventures this spring. The trip was unforgettable! We saw so many animals, almost all the big five! we saw buffalos, elephants, giraffes, leopards, lions, hippos, secretary bird, baboons, servon, not to mention countless zebras, gazelles and many many more. They were really good at spotting the animals and making sure we had a good spot when all the other vans were there too. We stopped any time we wanted and they made sure that we had enough water and were enjoying ourselves. We even went down to Tanzania! The camp we stayed at was comfortable and we had everything we needed. The trip in the park in the early morning was the most memorable where we saw a family of lions finishing off their kill. Suburbs Adventures were really good to us and excellent value for money, I would highly recommend taking a trip with them :)
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Outstanding game viewing, first rate accommodation... A fantastic time to be repeated soon!
We are proud to have been the first to provide a review for this fantastic team and we are so please that every review since has been just as positive. Well here we are less than 12 months since our last trip with Tailor Made Safaris and again we have to congratulate them on providing another first rate vacation, now that has to be a good recommendation! This trip we thought we would pile on the pressure, so my wife and I brought our daughter, her partner, my Mum and Dad, we were to meet up with Ollie (our son) again and his girlfriend was to join us for a few days at the start of the trip! To add further interest, my parents would do a different tour after 6 days and then meet up with us again for the last day. I have to say that even with all these complications the Tailor Made Safari team just got stuck in and came up with absolutely fantastic tours for everyone. Mum & Dad did the more scenic/cultural side of things. Ours was much more of the wildlife direction with a little rest in the middle. I would consider this to be quite a complex pair of trips and jet the response to our many and probably sometimes annoying questions was always prompt, efficient and clear.
The accommodation recommendations were varied (B&Bs to 5* lodges, first class tents to hi quality beach hotel) but all were great. Little things are what often count in the customer care game. We mentioned in our pre-booking questionnaire that my wife likes Earl Grey Tea with skimmed milk. That was what was provided at every accommodation, great attention to detail!
To pick up the format of our last review we had more things to tick off our respective Bucket Lists; Cheetah in the wild…not one though but six…and on a kill!
Ollie saw an Aardvark which is extremely rare.
We saw Black Rhinos …with calves which were had not managed to see last year.
Memories – this time in addition to the cheetah, there was sitting in bed in a tent at Tembe while a wild elephant roamed in the camp just feet away.
Sitting in an open game viewer while two lioness, one adolescent male and four cubs pass just feet away.
Visiting the Zulu village and seeing and playing with the kids at the crèche.
Sitting in the deck at Ithala Lodge enjoying a fantastic fillet steak salad while laughing and joking with my family and Nick (now also part of our family weather hi likes it or not).
The whole trip was so full of new and fantastic experiences and many very happy memories that are far too numerous to list here.
Tailor Made Safaris again created a diverse, interesting trip with plenty to see and do, good quality accommodation and importantly fantastic game viewing. Ollie was kept engaged and learnt things that he otherwise may not have and the rest of us saw and learnt more than I could have imagined.
The mix of B&B, in park, luxury safari tent, reserve lodges and hotel accommodation was great.
Again, I will have to repeat myself from the last review, “With any holiday of this type there are two important questions
1) Would we pay good money to go again?
2) Would we recommend the guide company to friends and family?”
Our answer in both cases is again a resounding yes and while still in Africa, Mum & Dad had already started planning another trip with Tailor Made Safaris for 2015!
Thanks Nick for being a fantastic guide and for putting up with us, keep up the good work.
The Weaver family
United Kingdom