35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Big Five on day two, a Mara balloon ride, a surprise upgrade and two fantastic guides
From our first enquiry, Shanjoy’s communication was excellent. Rodah and Beth responded almost instantly, answered every question and accommodated all of my suggestions. My wife and I customized both the itinerary and the accommodations, and they happily reworked the plan to suit us, swapping a long drive for a lake day with a boat trip at Naivasha. They also sent clear visa, insurance and border guidance well before we left, and Beth and the team kept checking in on us throughout the trip to make sure everything was going well. The Kenya to Tanzania handover at the Isibania border was smooth. My wife and I cleared customs, switched vehicles and met our new guide with no hassle.
We booked in early May for a mid-June trip, which was fairly last minute for peak season. One of the lodges didn’t honor our reservation, but Shanjoy handled it well. They kept us informed and offered a lodge in the same or a better category. In the Masai Mara they went further and upgraded my wife and me to Mara Plains Camp, with a better room and a tent right next to the river with a fantastic view. It was one of our favorites of the whole trip.
The wildlife was incredible. My wife and I saw the Big Five on our second day, and we had an unforgettable hot-air balloon safari followed by champagne and a bush breakfast.
One of the biggest highlights was our guide in Kenya, Steve. His knowledge, dedication and genuine passion for wildlife made an enormous difference. Spotting animals on safari is one thing, but having a guide who knows where to find them and goes the extra mile to get you the best possible view is something special. Thanks to him, my wife and I saw rhinos multiple times, and his dedication to finding the animals you want to see is amazing. We usually started our game drives early in the morning, with lunch packed by the lodge, and stayed in the park until sunset. My only regret is that we didn’t spend more time enjoying the beautiful lodges and camps, so if you can, plan a little downtime.
Hasan, our guide in Tanzania, was just as good. He knew the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater very well, brought plenty of energy, and listened closely to what we wanted to see. When my wife and I wanted to see the migration, he worked out where the herds were and drove us there, even though it was about three hours away. That kind of effort is what made the experience unforgettable.
Thank you to the entire Shanjoy team, and especially Steve and Hasan, for an incredible experience! My wife and I came away with amazing memories, wonderful photographs and a greater appreciation for the beauty of Africa. This safari exceeded our expectations, and we would absolutely recommend it!
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A top-notch safari
We have just had an absolutely extraordinary and unforgettable experience in Tanzania. Everything was perfect from the very first second to the last, but the real highlight of our trip was our guide, Pascal.
From the moment we arrived, Pascal stood out for his exceptional professionalism and truly impeccable customer care. He anticipated our every need with kindness, patience, and a contagious, cheerful spirit. He never just went through the motions; he went above and beyond to ensure we felt constantly pampered, safe, and special.
His deep knowledge of nature and wildlife led to incredible sightings, but it was his attention to detail—from the cleanliness of the jeep and his punctuality to the perfectly organized lunches in the savanna—that truly made the difference. Thanks to his passion and attentive guidance, we discovered the most authentic and magical side of Tanzania.
We highly recommend this safari to anyone, and if you are lucky enough to travel with Pascal, know that you will be in the best hands imaginable. A heartfelt thank you to Pascal for making this the best trip of our lives! Asante sana! 🇹🇿🦁✨
(automatic translation from Italian)
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Jackson helped us see everything!
Jackson was an excellent driver. He was very friendly and proactive in ensuring that we get to see as much as possible! I really enjoyed my Safari with him, and would highly recommend both him and Axis Safaris.
We saw lions, elephants, buffalos, rhinos(!), leopards(!!), hippos, crocodiles, hyenas, a cheetah, giraffes, zebras, and many more.
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Incredible safari
I did a 4-day safari with Pascal and it was simply wonderful, extraordinary! I managed to see all of the Big Five, which is definitely not a given—he searched and searched until he found them all. Spectacular landscapes, super delicious food, and an unforgettable holiday! Wonderful!
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Team and Safari !
This tour was fantastic for us, beginning with the excellent communication with Rodgers via Whatsapp to organize and continuing with Nelson, our really knowledgeable and compassionate guide. With him, we saw the Big Five as well as a variety of other creatures, including lions in action. Jambo Mara Lodge was lovely, the accommodations were clean and comfy, and we had a great time on this safari. I suggest Roju Safari Updates Team!
PL
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Best in Uganda
I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart for the wonderful trip and the beautiful days I spent in Uganda with Pamba Tours Uganda Limited.
A very special thank you goes to Isaac, my driver and guide. He was incredibly kind, patient, helpful and professional. I always felt safe and well taken care of with him. Thanks to Isaac, the whole journey was even more enjoyable and relaxed.
The gorilla trekking, the chimpanzees and the time spent in Kampala were unforgettable experiences that I will remember for a very long time.
Thank you, Pamba, for organizing everything so well, and thank you, Isaac, for being such a wonderful companion during my journey. I truly appreciate everything you did for me.
I will warmly remember my time in Uganda and I will happily recommend Pamba Tours to other travelers.
With thanks ❤️
Bernadette, Poland
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Punctual, reliable, and a great safari experience
We had a great experience with Shian Tours & Travel. They were punctual and kept to the agreed schedule, which we really appreciated. The tour was enjoyable overall, and we were very happy with the experience. It was a memorable trip, and we would recommend them to anyone planning a safari in Kenya!
JP
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Provided us with great properties and made our experience unforgettable
James from Twinkle Star Tours made our experience very memorable and gave us an experience of a lifetime.
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent communication. Smooth and memorable trip.
Georgious had excellent communication, and except on a couple of occasions would usually get back to me within the day. At my request, she also made sure I can use my credit card to pay, even if it comes with an extra 5% processing fee. It would be nice if this was present as a default option though. At $1680 USD, this is decent value for money for a first-time traveler. However, in the future, it should be easy enough to book things on my own as well, since there are only 3 components here: book the short-haul flight, book the camp which includes everything, get an Uber to and from the airport. This would save some money, but since I had no idea what planning would entail the first time around, I am grateful for the assistance that ensured everything went super smooth. I was also very happy with the choice of the camp -- Zebra Plains River Camp, and would go back in a heartbeat. So much amazing wildlife I got to see up close! I would wholeheartedly recommend this company to anyone who wants a hands-off approach and just wants to have an amazing safari.
Well organised
Me & my boyfriend will were very impressed with the tour! Well organised from start to finish, saw sooo many animals. Accomodation was amazing and clean, would recommend, worth every penny!