BR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Good experience - Kilimanjato
I had a good experience with Ilmaasai to climb Kili. Price vs benefits I think was good. Is not the most complete company but all the services was good. All crew during the climb was very friendly and helpful, and the office efficient with emails.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A personal and responsiv experience even with a phone call to England
The safari lived up to expectations although more background literature would have been helpful on locations of the lodges and comparisons between the facilities at each. The guide was very friendly and passionate about everything!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
3 nights at Twee Rivieren
I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the park with Kalahari Tours and Travel. I had a busy schedule so I could only spend three nights at Twee Rivieren, from which we drove up towards Nossob and Mata Mata. My guide Dennis was incredibly helpful and great at spotting wildlife that I would otherwise have missed.
The wildlife was very impressive, with large numbers of the typical herbivores as well as a few giraffe, southern kudu and red hartebeest. We enjoyed fabulous views of a leopard, two cheetah groups and several honey badgers, but we were unsuccessful with lions and hyenas. The night drive was well worth the small fee and cold temperatures, with six wildcats, a bat-eared fox and many springhares and spotted eagle-owls.
Observing the small birds was difficult as we were confined to our vehicle. However, this was more than made up for by the number and diversity of raptors, including tawny eagles, bateleurs, goshawks, secretarybirds, black-shouldered kites, lanner falcons, martial eagles and jackal buzzards. We also saw the majority of my other targets, such as kori bustard, Burchell's sandgrouse and both southern yellow-billed and African grey hornbills. The scenery was beautiful and provided a great backdrop for photos.
All in all a great trip, although a longer stay would have been great for seeing more of the park's inhabitants.
DE
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wildebeest Safaris arranged a very pleasant and unforgetable trip to Massai Mara and Amboseli,
Wildebeest Safaris tried their best to accommodate our wishes. They were polite and friendly and helped us to get an individually planed safari. The driver was very competent and helpful and tried his best, so that we saw many animals and the stay was an unforgetable experience.
We had to change dates and accommodations but the price structure was very intransparent. It would have been easier to understand the prices, if they would have been given individually for the various items like, vehicle and driver, accommodation etc. With one price for all, one never knew what one had to pay for and why the price went up.
But all in all it was a worthwhile experience, which can be recommended.
BR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very attemptive!
They are really very attemptive and kind. Mwajabu was always ready to help and support us. The room of the selected Camp was really amazing and the pictures of the site should be increased. The safari car is old and has no ar conditioned, which was very necessary during the came back trip. Food was not good, except for the breakfast when it was kind of 'ok'. The games were very interesting.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great safari!
We just returned from our travels and I’m happy to report we had an outstanding time on the safari! We saw way more animals than we expected, the accommodations were great and the ground crew (Erastus, Simon and Eliud) were knowledgeable and friendly. The trip was well worth the costs and we are super happy we went.
I don't give this trip 5 stars because we had some issues with the air travel part of the trip prior to leaving . Specifically - getting assigned seats and tickets with correct names. Based on conversations with other people on the safari, my own problems with air travel were not isolated issues. Several people remarked about air travel problems. Although in the end our flights, seats and air travel were fine for my wife and me, we did experience some stress leading up to departure.
Once again we are glad we went and are still speaking excitedly about all we saw and did!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Stunningly impressive
Everything was superb. The only downside: poor Internet connection at the hotel. OK, it was a time to relax and savor the habitat.
SI
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great safari experience in Tanzania with Foot slopes.
Me and my boyfriend were in November on a 3-days Safari with Foot slopes. We visited Ngorongo crater, Manyara Lake and Tarangire. It was great. Everything was good planed. They picked us up on Arusha airport and brought us to our hotel. The next morning the safari started. Our driver was really kind, communicative and he also knew many things. The accomodation camp was great. It was clean and nice, all people were helpful, always smilling and kind. I would always go with them again.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent budget safari, knowing before going is important
Overview:
Karibu Safari is well reviewed by many people. Competitive price for 5-day budget safari. Had a great overall experience. 5-day safari was good but could be condensed into 4-day safari (see below under "Cons"). Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, and Hell's Gate were all worth going to. If we could have done only one, we'd do Hell's Gate since you can rent a bike and bicycle next to the animals and then hike in slot canyons (see below in "Details"). Unique and very nice after so much driving. Lake Nakuru is similar to Maasai Mara in that you game driver looking for animals. Lake Naivasha you see hippos and water birds. Robert (trip coordinator) was prompt in his responses. Peter (driver) was great at finding and pointing out animals. He really cared about providing the best and most well-rounded safari experience. Note: It appeared the budget safaris were more aggressive at finding animals then the more luxury safaris.
Pros:
- We got what we paid for. We had to have our driver call our trip advisor to send him more money to buy more water since we ran out by day 5.
- Accommodations were fine with running water and electricity. The "tents" are large canvas tents with a ceiling over them and not like backpacking tents.
- Meals were fine for budget safari.
- Peter (driver) was excellent at finding and viewing animals. He provided enough time to view and take pictures, not rushing us. He really emphasized the safari experience. He was a safe driver amidst the more crazy drivers and matatu's.
- The season was excellent which was mid- to late-November. Not crowded. Although this was claimed as the rainy season, it did not rain on safari, but only when driving and near Lake Naivasha and Nairobi. Also, all the animals just had babies so we got to see baby animals of almost all animals seen!
Cons:
- The itinerary should include estimated drive times.
- The itinerary should include more details. For example, on our 4th day, we were dropped off at a hotel after our game drive at Lake Nakuru en route to Lake Naivasha. We spent the whole afternoon there (from ~12noon and on). We were disappointed because we didn't fly half way across the world to sit in a garden. It would be nice to have known this. This is where the trip could be condensed to 4-days instead of 5-days.
- Peter could have provided more information to us. When we began we didn't know exactly where we were headed, how long it would take, etc. It would have been nice to review the day's events with us each morning.
- Peter could have offered us more information on the animals, landscape, plants, etc. He did if you asked, but it would be nice for him to just tell us.
Good to know:
- All 5-day safaris are pretty much identical in what they offer and pay for. So email to find best price when you go.
- There is a lot of (bumpy) driving. Not all in our van was prepared for this.
- You may get shuffled around since they mix people with different safari lengths. We started with a van that included people who booked 5-day, 4-day, and 3-day safaris.
- You may not get a window seat (right next to window). This was not a big issue though. They pop the van top and you can stand during the safari. But if this is a concern, have the van agree to rotate seats throughout the safari.
- The meals are pretty much the same for lunch and dinner, local food (rice, lentils, veggies, usually meat, etc.). So if you don't like the food, you will need to bring your own or purchase.
- The driver is contracted by the safari company. This is important should issues arise based on itinerary or pricing of certain things.
- There can be lots of traffic leaving and coming back from Nairobi, so plan for this when booking other trips or flights.
- Sunday has less traffic so leaving on this day was great.
- We tipped the driver ~$20 USD per day for the whole vehicle. So with 7-8 people in the van, this was ~$2-3 USD per day per person. Other than that we did not tip anyone else. (Our native Kenyan hosts said that tipping is not expected most places and even if it is, it is not as much as the USA.)
Details:
- Maasai Mara Village Tour: This may or may not have been worth the $10 USD. This is quite touristy. You can get some good pictures and see them dance and sing. But you need to ask them to show you everything. For example, we asked to taste the Maasai beer as our driver said we would. If we didn't ask, they wouldn't have done this. We also asked to see the school. If we hadn't asked, they would not have done this. When they take you into the traditional home, they will try and sell you stuff then and afterward. The Maasai markets in Nairobi have more selection and you can bargain more.
- Boat Ride at Lake Naivasha: This is expensive at $20 USD per person but we thought this was more worth it than the Maasai village tour. You see hippos and many birds and it was fun to be in a boat. You can get great pictures of the African fish eagle diving for fish that the boat driver throws in to the water.
- Hell's Gate bike and hike: The bike rental was $5 USD. You don''t need a guide for this. You stay on the main road to get to the gorge. Go in the early morning to see more animals. When we rode back, there were hardly any animals. At the gorge, more people will offer to guide you. We did not take a guide, but a Maasai man ended up going with us anyway. It ended up being a necessity as the trail is not well marked. Our group of 4 tipped him 700 Kenyan shillings and shared some nuts and instant coffee.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great tour, great time
Did a 4 day safari and had a great time, nice accommodation with amazing views. This is my third safari and the crater just blew me away, Lions feeding and resting with in meters of the car, could have reached out and touched one...if i were crazy