NG
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our five day safari was simply an exhilirating worthwile trip that we intend to repeat in no distant
Mrs Mwajabu and her driver received us at JNIA in the middle of the night (Sunday 01:00hrs) like long lost family members. By 04:00hrs we hit the road to Mikumi where the ever busy Mwajabu stayed with us till Tuesday when she along with her driver took us back to Dar, boarded us on a light plane to Zanzibar and kept in touch daily for the two days we stayed on the Island. Even though our paid tour ended on Thursday, we were booked into Slipway by Mwajabu and given a no expense tour of Dar. The drivers, especially Fredy and Horizon are just wonderful. Another Hello Tanzania tour is a plan for us in the no distant future, early next year by God's grace.
IL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
5 unforgettable days in safari with Meru Slopes Tours, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, lake Manyar, Tarangire
Five unforgettable days in safari with Meru Slopes Tours & Safaris, include Serengeti, Ngorongoro, lake Manyara, Tarangire!
At first I could not believe that I get transfer from the airport to the hotel and back, plus overnight at the hotel before and after the safari. But despite the concerns I saw good recommendations, and booked with Geofer Nassari by email after short correspondence. Everything was well organized and I got a good treatment and support from a staff. They answering me for all my questions and solve very fast each issue. In safari I didn't feel the difference between other groups that paid more without hotel before and after and without transfers from and to airport. The only thing I would improve it visit Tarangire and lake Manyara on the same day and not two separate days. This is because they are very close to Arusha and much smaller then Serengeti so half day per each it's enough.
Thanks again to all the staff of Meru Slopes Tours & Safaris and especially to Geofrey Nassari, for five unforgettable days in safari!
CH
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Short trip to Zanzibar, but awesome
Everything has been planned nicely and perfectly by Serene-Tours. Special thanks to Max and the entire team. I can highly recommend the services of Serene Tours.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome 12-day Kenya & Tanzania Safari
We did the "12-day best of Kenya and Tanzania Safari” end of September/beginning October 2016 with Absolute Holiday Safaris and we had a great time. As a note, you will get lost in the thousands of companies, but a lot of the safari companies are actually the same (I think Big Time safaris and another one is the same as Absolute). We started in Nairobi, where we were picked up at the airport (be it a bit late) and the day after for our safari. Mind that you will be taken to the office first to pay and transfer to the safari van. Traveling with a backpack is recommended, you don’t have to walk with your luggage a lot, but it will fit in the vehicles a lot better. Obviously visa, vaccinations (yellow fever is mandatory) are required and malaria pills recommended. After this safari we went to Zanzibar on our own, highly recommend Demani Lodge in Paje, and Stone Town is good for shopping. I've reviewed Kenya and Tanzania separately below, with as a main message: the Kenya part was awesome with... Read more a great guide, the Tanzania was good too but the experience suffered from bad management.
Kenya (Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, Amboseli): As we had seen his name mentioned in good reviews, we requested Patrick as our guide. We were very happy he could guide our trip, we felt very well taken care off and he made sure we saw all the animals and he was in touch with all the other guides through his radio. This part we travelled in a Nissan 4x4 pop-up van, which was actually quite comfortable. We travelled with 7 for a few days (which is a bit crowded) and 5 for the most part. Travel times in between parks can be long, with a big part of it on dirt roads (ladies, consider bringing a sports bra). The tented camps were a lot better than expected with actual beds and private bathrooms (including the one in Amboseli, which gets bad reviews online - we stayed in the wooden cabins which were great), and food was simple but really not bad and there was lots of it. Do bring some snacks, because there is not a lot of opportunities to buy something on the way and ‘picnic lunches’ are not great. I personally loved Maasai Mara for all the big cats and Amboseli for the elephants and hippos (take note that for Amboseli - in rain season it is just a big lake and animals won’t need to all go to the swamp to cool off so it is less fun). Lake Nakuru was good for views and we saw some (really far away) rhinos too. However, the flamingo’s have left that lake because of flooding. We made a stop and boat ride in Lake Naivasha which was really fun, seeing the hippos and there’s lots of birds if you’re into that. Patrick helped us getting over the border onto the shuttle to Arusha, Tanzania.
Tanzania (Arusha, Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro crater): The Arusha Center Inn hotel (were the office of the safari company is based) is awful, consider getting an upgrade or pick out another) hotel yourself (we did this for our second stay in Arusha). The city itself is not very nice either, not much to see and unsafe. The safari company here (led by a man called Abraham, subcontracted by Absolute Holiday Safaris, we never really found out what the name of this company was, really vague) was not great, bad planning and scheduling all around. We were picked up very late on our first day, and got put with people staying at different places. This meant we all had to wait for each other each day, which made it impossible to get into the parks in time to see the rhinos and lions awake. We had researched our trip extensively and knew the ‘budget camping’ was not for us, so we upgraded to lodges and luxury tented camp. This was one of the best choices we made, these accommodations were fantastic. The lodges in Manyara and the crater were close to the camping site where the others were staying, however, the tented camp in Serengeti was different from what was in our itinerary and an hours drive from the others. Not ok. We travelled in a 4x4 pop-up landrover, which was allright but surprisingly less comfortable than the van. Also, when you’re tall you might want to check whether you can stand up comfortably (I’m 1.82 and just about could in this vehicle). We were with 5 people in total, however, some of the longer drives we had to take the chef in the front seat, which meant we were a bit crammed in the back. Our guide Estomy was allright, he made an effort to make sure we saw all the animals, but I feel like he was a bit to timide and could have taken a stronger standing point at times (‘if you want to see the animals awake we have to be there at 6 and not sleep in’). Also his radio was not working, which really is unacceptable because you’re always the last to know about the animals. I loved the Serengeti, and the crater was cool too. Even though we saw a lot of giraffes in Lake Manyara, it was not a spectacular park (again no flamingo’s and lots of smelly pelicans). When we had to be taken back to Arusha by another car, we waited on a junction for 45min for someone else to join, without any explanation or apologies. Very unprofessional.
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very good safari
Thanks Michael for this great time. We had the chance to view many animals. Maybe we would have like to see a bite more of the local life in villages (massai, etc) but it was great anyway! I definitely advise Nothern circuit for your safari.
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good service provided by Ewamann Safari
We did a Kenya+Tanzania tour for 13 days (12 nights) and was very beautiful!
Erick has solved all of our questions since the beginning of our first communication. I had many because it was the first time that I contacted with a local agency and I wanted to be sure that everything was fine at our arrival and during the trip. During the itinerary, we had some problems to get our daily water and problems in some accommodations, also at our arrival in Tanzania because it wasn't any body waiting for us at the bus station but this is all. After request some help to the bus driver, we got the solution but when you are in a foreign country, you feel very strange and a little bit confused. These problems came also by the own country, it is not only agency fault because Erick is always glad to help you in any problem you need. From my point of view, if you are an European/American tourist, you cannot except to receive the same service as in your country. You have to go with open mind and understand... Read more that you are in Africa! I missed more information from drivers but for instance we had one in Kenya who is called Maxwell who was lovely! Very brilliant person and friendly! He helped us to love the natural parks and to enjoy during the game drives.
To sum up, please do not hesitate to contact this agency to buy your safari because everything you need, Erick will be there to help you and to do your stay comfortable between Africa can offer you :).
We saw the big five, also to hunt in Tanzania so was an amazing and beautiful experience. Each park is different. I would recommend you to visit both countries to feel the sensations of sleeping in the middle of Serengeti, in Tanzania and enjoy the marvelous views in Kenya parks as well. There were stay places very kind and nice as Panorama Campsite and the one in Amboseli where people was lovely.
You can trust 100% in Erick who will be worried for your interests!!!
Thank you Erick&team!! We will always remember this trip :) Contact me if you are planning to come to Spain!
CN
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The Okavango Delta and Vic Falls was amazing!
This was our first time to Africa. We love the Delta and Falls. The trip was for 7 days and we camped in the African wilderness.The wild animals in the okavango Delta came very close to our tent and I take thousands' of photos. But also feel safe with Fleet Foot and the guides. Every night we had very good fresh food Hennie prepared on the open fire. We missed Chinese food but we tasted the meat and tasty food we forget about it. The South Africa wine of Hennie was great! I never drink so much wine. My wife also like it.
I say Fleet Foot is the best company to take you out to wild Africa and the bush. The hotel at the Victoria falls was beautiful and we had so many fun activities there. I hope we will go with this Company again and we hope Hennie is there again. Very good!
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Good safari Masai Mara
The safari to masia Mara was a wonderful experience, I had a great guide who show everything there is. The accommodation was perfect , what also count's for the food.
I hope to come back and I will go to them for another safari in Kenya
Best regards
Rex van der Munnik
IN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Marvellous bush tour....
Me and my friend Sudhen Pai took the safari from Oct 2nd to 7th, 2016. I should confess that it was much more thrilling than what we had anticipated. Pamela and the driver, Daniel met us at our hotel in Nairobi and we proceeded to Masai. We had opted for budget accommodation at Mara sidai camp. Evening we visited Masai village and interacted with the tribesmen. Next whole day was the safari. We could see almost all the wild animals, including a feeding Cheetah, lions, hyena, elephant, hippos, giraffe s and off course thousands if not more of gazelles, wildebeest and zebras..being a keen bird watcher, I had seen many varieties , but then we couldn't spare much time for them..next day we covered Lake Naivasha and Nakuru. Its a paradise for bird watchers. Our last destination was samburu, where we stayed at the posh Samburu Sopa lodge. The resort was fantastic including the stay, bar and the restaurant. The safari at samburu was phenomenal in terms of birds and animals. We could see the... Read more reticulated girafe, grevy's zebra, guinea fowl, hornbills, lions, cheetah in hunting mode , leopards etc. We headed back to Nairobi and had a lunch at the famous Seven sea grills at ABC mall where we could meet the celebrity chef Kiran Jethwa. All the while, our driver Daniel was enthusiastic. Maybe, if u need bird watching, you should inform earlier to get a guide who is well versed with them . Pamela visited us again and asked us about the trip. Overall, it was a very pleasant experience and we didn't have any hiccups whatsoever during the whole trip. Would recommend Magical retreats to anyone. Happy safari !
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing guides, a couple hiccups with the booking
We did an 8-day, 7-night safari through the Masai Mara, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro. It was an amazing trip, and our guides, Eustace (in Kenya) and Abu (in Tanzania) were incredibly knowledgeable. They also were obviously passionate about the wildlife. When your guide is as excited about the trip as you are, it makes a big difference, I promise.
There were a couple of issues with the booking, however. Before finalizing our booking, we added one extra night at the beginning so we could stay at the Giraffe Manor outside Nairobi. We received the revised itinerary, paid, and received confirmation. But when our guide arrived, we went to the hotel only to learn that the company had booked the wrong itinerary and the Giraffe Manor was completely full that night. We had to scramble to figure out an alternative plan, and in the end decided to start the safari a day early. Noah, the owner, refunded the price difference for the alternative accommodations, which I thought was a fair... Read more solution, but we were still disappointed (when else will we be in Nairobi to return to this legendary hotel?). Then, on our last night, we arrived at our hotel in Ngorongoro and tried unsuccessfully to check in. Wildebeest had accidentally booked us (and paid) for a hotel on the other side of the crater, an hour drive away. We called Noah to tell him we weren't leaving, and he eventually fixed the reservations (thankfully, that hotel had vacant rooms), but the process still took over an hour with us sitting is suspense in the lobby.
I give them credit for working to correct their mistakes, but when you pay so much money, you want to avoid mistakes like that altogether. I would still recommend Wildebeest--their guides cannot be beat and we had an amazing time--but you should really call each of your accommodations before you leave home to make sure they are expecting you.