20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Adventure
We did a 10 day safari through Uganda with Brian as our guide. It was a great time full of wildlife, beautiful scenery, and interesting culture. Of course the gorilla trekking was the highlight but we were surprised with how much we loved other parts of the itinerary like Golden Monkey trekking.
The safari van was comfortable for the long drives and be prepared for the bumpy roads of Uganda which add to the excitement of the trip. All the accommodations were great, as a group of 4 from the U.S. we weren't prepared for the level of attentiveness and service at each lodge.
Brian made our trip extra special with his knowledge of Uganda, the wildlife, and how to time excursion appropriately. He took some amazing photos of us as well as the animals on our trip that will be treasured. We felt lucky to have a guide like him and would recommend him to any friends or family coming to Uganda.
Thank you Lulu Safaris and Brian for an amazing trip!
CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Axis Safari: great guide, amazing trip, minor non-satisfied point cost one star.
We joined a safari with Axis Safari for 7 days.
Our guide, Rogers, was professional and experienced. He picked up us on time at the agreed locations and time every day and helped us complete the itinerary as planned.
During the safari, Rogers explained animal habits and characteristics. Most importantly, he was an expert at finding animals. He always spotted key animals in places we could not see and helped us find the best angles for photos and observation.
Thanks to Rogers’s professional ability, we quickly found all of the Big Five in the Masai Mara and saw wonderful scenes such as lion prides playing, a leopard walking, and giraffes eating leaves around our vehicle.
In Nakuru, we saw flocks of flamingos and rhinos at sunset.
In Naivasha, on the Island, we had close encounters with giraffes and many other animals and even walked among them.
In Amboseli, we saw elephants walking beneath Mount Kilimanjaro and lion cubs walking with their mother.
It was truly a complete and wonderful trip.
However, there were a few areas that affected the experience, which is why I am giving four stars rather than five:
1. On our first day in Amboseli, the full-day safari ran from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. We missed the only morning window that day to see Mount Kilimanjaro for that day, and the safari ended before sunset, we also missed the good views potential in sunset. I understand the reason might be the next morning will start very early and last time was arrived late. However this arrangement was not fully communicated to us, otherwise we would choose to stay 1 hours more to see the sunset or start earlier instead of 1 hours rest to have had better views. The first day of Amboseli safari only included elephants, lions, and some birds before ending early. Fortunately, the excellent second morning in Amboseli made up for the disappointment.
2. We chose a shared-group itinerary, and group members may stay at different hotels. This usually does not have a big impact, but one day the drive from a fellow traveler’s hotel back to ours took over an hour because of traffic, which seriously affected our rest time. According to Google Maps, the congestion could have been avoided by taking another road.
3. Rogers was professional and detailed when explaining things, but during safari routes or other transfers he spoke less, or talked with the trainee sitting next to him. More details and small stories would have made the experience even better.
4. The Hell’s Gate cycling experience on the second morning in Naivasha was very poor. Although the travel agency included the entrance ticket, we were charged extra for bicycle rental, bicycle entry, the walking, and guide tips. The experience was cycling 16 km on a dusty and sandy road, plus additional walking, which left us exhausted. We saw some interesting sights along the way, such as a canyon and rock walls with special echoes, but these were far from worth the physical exhaustion and repeated extra costs of tens of dollars.
Of course, these four issues only affected certain parts of the trip. Overall, this was undoubtedly an unforgettable and excellent safari. Rogers was an outstanding guide, and Axis Safari’s itinerary covered the main highlights. if the above 4 points could be improved, It would be rated more than five stars. I would recommend it to all travelers who want to see animals, but I suggest confirming the daily schedule and extra costs in advance. And adjust some detailed plan like Hell’s Gate.
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
professional, friendly, and efficient service
We were with George; he accommodated all our requests and showed us around. Exceptional service.
Delivers an authentic, personalised and high-quality experience
This adventure blew our minds! Of the various tour operators we explored when we began to plan our lifetime dream trip, Tanzania Explorer engaged with us on a personal level from the outset and stood out as the company most able to offer the highest quality, most individualised experience for us. Their ethical and ecological tourism priorities impressed us, as our goal was to experience the true spirit of Africa without exploitation of the land, it’s wildlife or it’s people. I enjoy the memories of my trip more knowing they/we did this.
Our months of communication with Tim via email, WhatsApp chat and Zoom calls was always prompt, responsive and professional, but also personal, friendly and filled with good humour. As a group of four, we all had our particular goals for the trip; Tim listened carefully to each of us and created a draft itinerary which we then tweaked multiple times over many meetings and emails before agreeing on the final plan and cost, culminating in a trip that was personally tailored to our specific needs and wishes. I have to say, Tim really understood the brief and delivered exactly what we wanted, and more! Tim took all the tedium out of planning by organising all internal flights and transfers, booking sensational accommodation that included extremely high-quality meals and service, arranging tours and activities that we wanted to book ahead in various countries and in each place we were provided a personal guide and vehicle for our group so we could tailor our time and movements each day to our own needs. We felt like we were in control the entire time, and Tim was in the background making it all happen for us. Throughout the trip, there was ongoing communication and check-ins to offer support and solve any problems we encountered (which were few).
We visited 6 countries in 23 days and stayed in 10 different accommodation venues. Every thoughtfully chosen destination was unique, interesting, comfortable and absolutely exceeded our expectations. The staff treated us so well that I felt like royalty at times. The people in Africa are truly the most friendly, hospitable and open-natured people you’d hope to meet and their warmth and generosity meant we felt at home in each place we visited. The tented campsite experiences were surprisingly indulgent and luxurious but also allowed us to feel a little rustic, authentically immersed in the African landscape and connected to the environment.
Our tour guides, Garth in Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Zambia, and Joshua in Tanzania, were highly experienced, passionate and knowledgeable, and their planning and leadership on our safaris significantly enhanced our adventure. Their deep understanding of the environment and wildlife increased our sense of awe and respect for all that we experienced and we are forever grateful. We came up close and personal with all of the Big 5 and so much more, with every day bringing more unexpected awe-filled experiences and surprises, so much more than we could have planned or anticipated.
I do (and will continue to) recommend Tanzania Explorer to any friends who ask about our trip, and we will use them again without hesitation for any future travels to Africa. Thank you Tim, and all the team, for a trip that makes me smile every day.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
High class.
We are stoked.
We just climbed Kilimanjaro to the peak, & it was a peak experience for my new wife & I.
This is our honeymoon trip, & we couldn’t be happier.
I’m from Australia, & I’ve never done any hiking like this before. I’ve never owned hiking boots, thermal layered clothes, or a puffer jacket.
I’m letting you know that if you’re a generally fit person, you can get up this mountain. (You will need those layers & clothes though).
The most genius thing I noticed our guides - Samwell & Freddy - doing, was sticking to the rule of “poley poley - slowly slowly.”
We walked in single file behind 1 of the guides at all times. Small steps. None of our group had major acclimatisation sickness at all. No one vomited. And I really think it’s because we were moving deliberately slow, so we can stay in the game until the end. (We did also take the acclimatisation pills of course. Half at brekky, half at lunch).
We took Machame route - which is 7 days total. It’s not the easiest route. It’s a fun one, & feels like the right amount of time to acclimatise.
The meals were amazing. More food than I expected, & to a higher standard than I assumed. My wife & I are vegetarian, & the chef - Paulo - didn’t miss a beat with making us enough beans, rice, oats, vegetables, fruit, eggs, even veggie pizza that my partner said is “the best pizza she’s ever had.” And we were 4000 meters high, & porters had carried the ingredients up that mountain for us.
Paulo if you’re reading this. You’re 1 in a million. We miss your smile. If you open a restaurant, we’re flying here to visit. (We hope your wife finds out that you can cook one day 😉).
Jonathan served us every day. He was our morning alarm, gently saying “Habari za asubuhi,” & bringing us tea or hot chocolate in bed every morning. They call it “beddi tea.”
He heated water for us & brought it to us every morning, & every evening.
We thought we were going to use wet wipes all week, so this was a blessing. (Remember to bring a quick-dry towel).
Jonathan even came to the peak with us on summit day, bringing extra water, tea, & biscuits.
Seriously, what a human being.
Big thing: There was a portable toilet.
Are you serious, Dan, I hear you saying. Yes. Jeremiah carried a portable toilet on his head, with a little tent that goes around it, for the whole 7 days so that we had a private place to go to the bathroom.
Again, this was unexpected, & relieving.
Now, tips. In Australia we’re not a tipping culture, so I was shocked when I found out that tipping money is EXPECTED as part of the process. To me, I’m like, “The employer should pay the staff,” but I’ve come to understand the culture of cash, & how far this money can go for community here. I know that we’ve just paid the school fees for a lot of family members of our porters that went up.
Every porter & guide has stories about funding their way through school by going up the mountain as a porter when they could. Or paying for their brother, sister, niece, nephew etc.
And the calculations for the tips were shocking to us. It basically doubled the price of the trip.
Guys, pay it. They’re worth every penny. Just calculate it into the budget. When you see what these guys do for you, you’ll want to give it.
We were 3 people (our new friend Maggie from Germany was also with us).
And that means we needed 13 porters, 2 guides, & 1 chef. A lot of people.
The WEIGHT determines the amount of porters. A porter is only allowed 20kg on their heads (not including their own backpack). That’s food, water, tents, toilet, & more.
We highly advise getting to know your porters by name. They’re a blessing. I had a notepad in my pocket all week, & started writing names, & lyrics to Swahili songs from the start.
- Kili Climb songs more than every other crew on the mountain. It was a vibe. We weee part of it. Always singing. I genuinely think the songs got me up the mountain.
It gave my mind something to focus on.
Pasco, thank you for being such a great camp manager, singer, & friend.
Noeli, young Sam, Christian, Riziki, thank you for being smiley & bringing that happy young excited spirit to the camp.
Baraka, Daniel, Abdullah, Sudi, Abraham, thank you for being strong like lions nguvu kama simba all week. You made it look seamless, the way you’d carry anything & run, made me feel like if there was an emergency, you could save the day without breaking a sweat.
I’m beyond impressed.
I already have friends asking me if I’d do it again, because they’d like to do it, but not alone. So I do think I’ll be coming back one day.
I felt your love before you guys even said it. And when we cried at the top of the mountain, & said that we love you, we meant it then, & we still hold that love for you now & forever.
Thank you a thousand times. We didn’t know how special this would be. 🙏🏼
CN
Amazing mobile safari, great guide, lots of wildlife, new tents & good food.
This 5‑day mobile camping safari through Botswana was absolutely the highlight of our southern Africa travels, and we could not recommend this operator more.
The route was thoughtfully laid out across Chobe, Savuti, Khwai and Xakanaxa, complemented by a breathtaking helicopter flight above the Okavango Delta. Our guide was incredibly skilled at locating wildlife; he was warm, genuine and endlessly patient. On our night safari in Khwai, he dedicated extra hours exploring to seek out animals for our group, rather than sticking rigidly to a set schedule.
One of our favourite surprises was just how much wildlife roamed close to our campsite. We spotted lions, hyenas, elephants, cape buffalo, leopards and black‑backed jackals right around the mobile camp — a magical, immersive encounter unique to mobile safari camping.
The tents were new, well maintained and comfortable out in the bush. The meals prepared daily by the camp chef were delicious and satisfying. Every member of the crew was attentive and worked flawlessly to look after our group throughout the trip. If you want a true deep wilderness safari experience in Botswana, this tour company is an excellent choice, and we would love to travel with them again!
CN
The guide Jack is the best.
The service was extremely considerate and personalized. The schedule was well-organized and the care was thorough. Most importantly, the guide Jack was the best！
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A great tour operator with excellent service and unforgettable experiences.
We are incredibly grateful for everything this tour operator did for us during our trip to Zanzibar. From start to finish, everything was perfectly organized, and we always felt safe and well taken care of. We never had to worry about anything because everything was arranged so smoothly.
The communication was excellent, the service was outstanding, and all the activities were well organized and enjoyable. What really stood out was how solution oriented and helpful the team was whenever we had a question or needed anything. They genuinely went above and beyond to make our trip as comfortable and memorable as possible.
Thank you so much for making our time in Zanzibar stress-free, safe, and unforgettable. We would absolutely recommend this tour operator to anyone visiting Zanzibar!
PL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable and Memorable 7 days adventure with Africa Starpal Safaris
Thank you so much and sorry for delay on sharing the review.The safari very well planned by Paul,wonderful from beginning to end. Both from the office and our guide were extremely attentive and accommodating on all our request, even when we had additional requests along the way. With them we also learned the importance of booking with a tour operator for instance when our Amboseli hotels overbooked and wanted to change our hotel the team rejected the move immediately and all was well sorted.
We also had such an amazing experience and truly enjoyed every moment of my trip! Our guide, was mike, very knowledgeable, friendly, attentive, and always willing to go the extra mile to make sure we had the best possible experience. With him we were able to see alot of wildlife and birds on our 7 days to masai mara,lake nakuru,amboseli and tsavo east safari. I would highly recommend them to anyone planning a trip to Kenya.
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
we had an amazing experience in Madagascar, with a well-organised itinerary, excellent guides and dr
From the very beginning, Mr. Harilala was in constant contact with us and was extremely helpful in organising our trip to Madagascar. He helped us decide which places to visit, sent us useful information by email, answered our questions, and organised everything for us. We really appreciated his support and communication throughout the planning process.
We had a two-week holiday in Madagascar, with our accommodation, drivers, and guides all organised for us by Madagascar Tours. Our itinerary took us to Antananarivo, Andasibe, Morondava, Kirindy, and Belo sur Mer, allowing us to experience a great variety of Madagascar’s landscapes, wildlife, and local culture. Having everything organised for us made the trip much easier and allowed us to simply enjoy the experience.
On the east side and also for the Kirindy part of the trip, Solo was our driver. He was very good, drove carefully, and we always felt safe with him.
From Morondava to Belo sur Mer, Toky was our driver. The roads were quite complicated in some places, but he did a very good job and got us there safely. There was just a little difficulty communicating at times, but we managed well.
Our guides, Reena and Hoby, were both very good — helpful, friendly, and always willing to assist us.
All the national park guides were excellent. William, Nina, and Liantosa were all very knowledgeable and did a fantastic job finding lemurs for us. Mission accomplished! 😊 Nina in particular was superb at spotting chameleons — he seemed to have eyes everywhere!
Overall, we had a very good experience and really enjoyed our trip to Madagascar. Everything was well organised, and we felt well looked after throughout the journey.
Thank you very much for organising everything for us and helping make our Madagascar trip such a memorable experience!