20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A Safari...and Then Some
From sunrise to sunset, I had a terrific time with Breakdown. They recommended a one-day excursion because we stayed in a town pretty close to the park. And on my budget, it was the perfect fit.
We started out before sunrise. They have a comfortable SUV with a open top more than adequate for the four of us to stand up and see out the top in all directions.
Money was convenient. They took a lump sum for the whole day and then took care of park admission and food. They also pleasantly surprised me throughout the day with stops for tea and fruit that they brought along.
The park was beautiful--and of course so were the animals. We had some breathtaking shots of elephants in the river and giraffes right next to the road.
I found the team effort of Fanuel and Kathy to be a great mix. Fanuel is an an experienced Tanzanian lookout and guide who provided plenty of interesting info about the animals we saw and their behavior. He also communicated with the couple other guides we saw in passing in search for animals we hadn't yet seen. Meanwhile, Kathy is a fellow Westerner so knew how to make us extra comfortable with the great touches such as drinks and fruit.
My only minor criticism is that the day ended without warning and with some disappointment because we never saw lions. I know not seeing lions has nothing to do with Breakdown, but I wished they would have communicated their attempts to find lions rather than just have the day end abruptly. Also, the driving was a little jerky sometimes.
We got back to our guesthouse at sundown with plenty of great pictures and memories. I can't speak for multiple day experiences. But for this one day outing, I don't think I could have done any better.
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A great self-drive trip through Northern South Africa!
Geert and Freya, we want to thank you for the great service you have given us in the preparation and compilation of our self-drive trip. Tailor Made Safaris has provided us with good information, through the wonderful book produced by Geert and also via skype and email sessions prior to the holiday. The trip we did was a good fit for our needs and requirements and our perception of South Africa.
We can absolutely recommend Tailor Made Safaris! No better organizer!
A cordial greeting from Marcel and Brigitte Kramer, Ronald and Wiesje Kramer,
Hengelo, The Netherlands
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Every time a great safari!
First Safari in 2004 with Richards Company, that was already a great Camping Safari, and in 2008 together with my (now) husband, the African (safari-) fever got him, too :-)
We met Richard again in 2011, this time with our own Landrover, and he helped us a lot through Arusha.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! We will come back, next time with our son Jannik.
German speaking people may get an idea of our encounter on our homepage www.world-around.de or reading our book :-)
AE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The best safari I had with a great tour driver who has all the info we needed in our safari.
We did a 4 days group joining safari to Serengeti and Ngorongoro as part of
our honeymoon adventure,Moses the driver guide was excellent and very well
knowledgeable.I am looking forward in doing the Kilimanjaro hike with my workmates
early next year with the same company and hopefully with Moses again...thumbs up for the good work and the surprise honeymoon gifts.
Going Safari with Acheche Tours
Going to safari for the first time with Acheche tours makes me feel important..they serve more than what I expected. they make sure that you will enjoy your safari experience. they do everything for you, so no need to worry for anything. all you have to do is to relax and enjoy.
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A great experience
Our tour to Uhuru peak of Kilimanjaro was very well organized from the first to the last minute. Everyone of our group of 8 tourists made it to the summit. This was to large extent due our guides who were seriously concerned about this success, and proved to be most competent and considerate. It was important that they carefully set the pace in hiking and climbing. I very well remember other groups who did not adjust their speed to the altitude, and the disappointed, sick expression on the faces of those who had to give up because of - unnecessary - exhaustion and, perhaps, not enough adaptation. I also would like to mention the always friendly, pleasant atmosphere which we enjoyed with the whole team during the climb, and interesting conversations.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exceptional service ensuring a wonderful holiday. Highly recommended.
Attention to detail & service provided was first class, from our very first email to the last day of our trip. Walter went above and beyond to ensure that we were notified of any changes, even up to our last day with a change to our flight time, at short notice. The safari was so much more than expected, from the rustic to the exceptional, every camp was different in it's own way and our highlights are hard to single out just one as each camp was great.
NZ
Ruaha safari and day trips near Mbeya
Myself and 3 friends stayed near Mbeya for 6 weeks in 2011 while volunteering at a hospital. We stumbled across Gazelle safari's while walking around town. We arranged a day climb of Mbeya Peak through them and were overall impressed with the service - we had a fantastic guide 'James Bond' who spoke excellent English, was very friendly, was on time and knew his way around the mountain. The taxi he hired did break down on the way back, leaving us standed in the dark but James ran back to town and returned with another vehicle. After this good experience we decided to book a 3 day safari with Gazelle in Ruaha. Umang and Beena were very professional, always responding to our queries promptly. They gave honest advice about the best way to get value for money. The trip organization was superb, we had a great time and felt very well looked after. Umang and our driver worked hard to ensure we saw lots of animals. One of the best things about Gazelle is that with Umang having lived and studied in the UK his communication is superb, but being from Tanzania he has extensive connections and knows how things work, so you get the best of both worlds! Highly recommend Gazelle for any trips around the Mbeya region and safari's in Ruaha.
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A perfect combination of wildlife, nature, photography, adventure and relaxation!
We have come back from our lovely trip through Kwazulu Natal (Mkhuze, Kosi Bay, Tembe Elephant Park, St. Lucia, Hluhluwe, Drakensberg) and it has taken us quite a while to work our way through the many beautiful photos and videos.
The trip was a perfect combination of wildlife, nature, photography, adventure and relaxation. Tailor Made Safaris has shown us this beautiful part of South Africa in a special way, with a highly skilled and attentive private guide and a sturdy 4x4 Land Cruiser. An unforgettable safari experience! As active travelers and ‘hobby’ photographers the many "up- close and personal” encounters with Elephants, Rhinos, Giraffes, Lions and Wild Dogs, and the beautiful nature was a real treat.
The trip was diverse and varied: forest, savanna, tropical forest, dune, beach, marsh and rugged mountains; various environments and wildlife parks came into our over three week trip.
We can also tick off 2 more UNESCO World Heritage sites from our wish list: Ukhahlamba in the Drakensberg and the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Due to the good organization, the beautiful accommodations and personalized treatment of Tailor Made Safaris, we feel privileged to have been able to experience such a safari.
Darja and Sander (The Hague - The Netherlands )
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Passionate about wildlife. Superbly knowledgable. Excellent company. Fun. A real conservationist.
I am a professional conservationist but Isaac is the true expert in African wildlife. I have travelled with Isaac many times in different countries. We met over a decade ago and I am priviledged to call him my friend to this day. We enjoy watching and being together with wildlife, we are kindred spirits. Together we have watched awestruck as a herd of graceful impala drink from a waterhole while 20 elephants emerge silently from the bush to fill their empty tanks, we've had to brake suddenly to avoid hitting a lioness who killed a warthog directly in front of us, we've walked silently with dewy-eyed giraffe, we gazed in amazement as an eagle stole a snake in a successful mid air attack on a rival raptor, and we've reversed away at top speed to avoid being a charged by an elephant in must. We've milked Himba cows and shared Maasai milk and we've shared many a beer at sundown. So many stories. My most memorable wildlife experiences have usually been with Isaac. Forever friends. It is up to us to make sure there is always space on this earth where wildlife can live in peace. It is up to us to make sure we greedy humans do not trash our beautiful planet. Isaac is doing his bit. Travel with him and learn. You will not be disappointed.