65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Helpful and professional advice, bookings, communications and driving
We had a wonderful time with our driver James who was a brilliant spotter and was excellent at positioning the Land Cruiser so that we were in an optimum position for photography. We loved his enthusiasm for his job which shone through. Always punctual and willing to adapt to us. Never a dull moment. Took up the challenge to find wildlife we wanted to see and always delivered. Very good knowledge of wildlife.
The planning was well managed by Brenda in the office and she followed up regularly. Good customer care culture in the company obviously.
We thought some aspects of outsourced services were highly priced such as the externally run night drive, the balloon and the charge for booking internal flights. Not a comment on Splendid but worth knowing if you are thinking of doing these. Be aware you will rarely get 8 hours sleep because of the early starts!
HU
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very accommodating, it was a great experience!
I can only highly recommend! Very accommodating, very polite. We saw the big 5 and so many more animals! We got a lot of information about Kenya and life there. We had the best driver, Steve, make sure to ask for him if available!
CH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
We saw every animal that we could see with a very expierienced Tour Guide.
We had a great time with Gilbert. He knows very much about the animals and about the emotions of the animals too, which makes the safari really safe. We never had to wait for gilbert and could always bring in our wishes too.
IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Better than everyone
Our guide made our Masai Mara safari unforgettable. He spotted all of the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino) in a single day, which is rare even for seasoned visitors. His sharp eyes, deep knowledge of animal behavior and patience meant we were always in the right place at the right moment, and he never rushed us when we wanted photos.
He was also friendly, funny and safety-conscious, and he made us feel completely comfortable the whole time. I'd recommend him to anyone wanting a first-class safari experience. Thank you for the memories!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Outstanding
Our whole experience with African Big Cats Safaris was outstanding from beginning to end. We started planning our safari about 2 years ago. Both William during the planning phase and Naomi in Operations were extremely professional, organised, patient, helpful and flexible while still providing a warm, personalised and individual service. They were quick to respond to emails and messages (of which there were many) and were also happy to speak over the phone. They arranged everything from the time we landed in Tanzania to the time we left Northern Serengeti, including our hot air balloon ride. It was great not having to worry about anything. Emanuel, the owner, met with us at the beginning to make sure that everything was in order with our itinerary, to ensure our expectations were understood and to reinforce that we were on a private safari, so we were able to choose how much or how little we did each day. He also checked in at the end to hear our feedback.
We added a 1 day hike of Kilimanjaro to the beginning of our itinerary and we are so glad we did. It was a great way to start. Our Mountain Guide Imran was fantastic. He was so encouraging, experienced and full of knowledge about the mountain which he shared with us throughout the hike.
After a day in Arusha, we then spent 7 days on safari visiting Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, Central Serengeti and Northern Serengeti and what an incredible experience this was. We had high hopes, but everything exceeded our expectations.
Our Safari Guide Obedi was just amazing and he made our trip what it was. His love of Tanzania, nature and what he does was evident from the beginning. He was like an encyclopaedia of animals and could spot and name them from such a distance. We learnt so much from him. He was patient and calm and went out of his way to give us the best opportunity for every possible sighting and position our vehicle well, while still showing great respect for the animals and other vehicles. He knew and handled the roads so well and had so many contacts within the parks, so if there was a sighting in a different location, we could get there quickly. We will never forget having a pride of lions circle our vehicle and watching them position themselves for a kill. He looked after us like family and for that we are truly grateful. We trusted him and always felt safe and in good hands. He has the best smile and we had so much fun and so many laughs along the way too. We made a new friend.
The animals…WOW. We saw everything we hoped for and way more. The Great Migration and Mara River crossings, a kill, The Big 5, The Ugly 5, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, hippos, baboons, cheetahs, serval cats and so many beautiful birds to name a few. We didn’t just want to tick off a list but wanted the time to stop, observe and take everything in and that is exactly what we did.
Our mid-range lodges and camps were all unique in their own way, clean, comfortable and welcoming and the meals were great. There was so much food.
Our safari vehicle was comfortable and well maintained. We called it our office. We loved the space to move around, the ability to both be on the same side when viewing animals, the cold drinks from the fridge, the power for charging our phones and cameras, the storage pockets for sunnies, sunscreen, wipes etc and standing up with the wind blowing on our faces as we moved around the parks. We appreciated the fact that the inside of the car was cleaned each day and that there was a bottle of water waiting for us every morning.
There are so many safari companies to choose from and we wanted to book direct and support a local company. We read so many reviews, watched social media, checked credentials and in the end just had to go with our own gut feeling. African Big Cats Safaris provided us with and incredible experience, so many ‘pinch me’ moments and memories that we will treasure forever. As experienced travellers, we have no hesitation in recommending African Big Cats Safaris. We loved every minute.
Asante sana Obedi, Imran and African Big Cats Safaris!
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent
Naomi was our tour operator, she was amazing, communicated constantly to keep us updated and to help with everything and anything. Great value for money, we enjoyed the tour to Vic Falls a lot.
IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Nkollo made our first trip to Africa and Tanzania life-changing!
When we started planning our Tanzania trip, we were stressed about which safaris and lodges to book and how to find trustworthy lodges and guides. On Safaribookings, I came across Nkollo and several other tour operators, all of whom sent free quotes promptly. But the responsiveness and supportive attitude of Annie Wallace from Nkollo stood out. She accommodated every customization we asked for and planned the trip perfectly.
Annie also helped with things that were never part of our booking: airport transfers, celebrations at the lodges we stayed at, free upgrades to luxury lodges, and more.
We also want to thank our friendly and amazing guide, Said. He was accommodating and deeply knowledgeable about all the parks and sighting areas. He didn't just help us spot wildlife; he helped us understand the parks and the behavioral patterns of the animals. That turned our safari into an immersive experience of observing wildlife rather than simply sighting animals. Before every game drive, Said would tell us, "Let the nature surprise us!" And surprise us it did, thanks to Nkollo.
Said and Annie went above and beyond to give us a beautiful, memorable first experience of Africa and Tanzania. Nkollo believes in prompt and honest communication and stellar service, at a price that was better than any other operator I spoke with.
I would also like to acknowledge the man behind this amazing organization, Alan, who is building a travel company focused on quality Tanzanian experiences at great value for money. Keep up the good work! We hope to experience Tanzania with Nkollo again the next time we visit this beautiful country.
We strongly recommend Nkollo to any first-time traveller to Tanzania.
PS: Our guide told us Nkollo means "Soul" in the founder's local language. That is exactly what every interaction with the Nkollo team felt like: soulful, warm people genuinely trying to give you a great experience in Tanzania.
Book with Kihindo and you will not regret it!
Kihindo Tours was very responsive and responsive from start to finish. Great communication and an enjoyable experience. I recommend!
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional and kind people with expertise to organize an amazing experience
I would describe our safari like an actual magical experience, from beginning to end. Even before day one everything went really smoothly; Susan was always available to answer all the doubts we had, and our driver and guide Kim was really patient and helpful taking us from Nairobi to Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli, and explaining us a lot about the animals we got to spot.
The accommodation in each park was very comfortable, with a good amount of food to choose in the buffet for breakfast and dinner, and the staff was always super friendly.
Weather was really good and it that really helped us to being able to spot so many animals, including the big five.
Excellent choice to do the safari in this time of the year and with this tour operator!
CH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Well-organized and safe Mount Meru trekking
We are a couple from Switzerland and did a 4-day Mount Meru tour with Serengeti Smile in early October. Everything went smoothly and was well organized, and we felt safe at all times. The whole team was very friendly and helpful. Communication could have been a bit more proactive, as we sometimes had to ask for information. Overall, a great experience. Thank you!
