20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Didn't meet expectations - we wish we booked it ourselves.
The itinerary planning and booking process was generally smooth. Communication during the planning phase was adequate, and it was easy to make adjustments to the itinerary both before and after booking. The platform and team made it relatively straightforward to build the trip.
Unfortunately, once the trip began, the level of service dropped significantly. We received no proactive communication from Viatu while we were traveling. Early in the trip we realized we needed to contact each hotel or safari lodge directly a few days prior to arrival in order to confirm check-in details. In multiple instances, the check-in times we received from the properties did not match the information provided by Viatu. For a service positioned as a curated travel experience, we expected more reliable coordination and support during the trip itself.
We booked this trip as our honeymoon, and candidly, we feel we likely would have had a better overall experience planning the trip ourselves. Over 16 nights we stayed in six different locations, primarily 4-star accommodations, ending with a 5-star luxury safari experience on a private reserve. In reality, only one accommodation truly stood out as exceptional (Tamodi Estates in Plettenberg Bay). We actually preferred our 4-star safari experience over the 5-star lodge, which cost roughly three times more. Additionally, one property in the Winelands was so poor that it was surprising to see it included in a professionally curated itinerary.
It was also uncomfortable that nearly every property asked the purpose of our visit and seemed unaware that we were on our honeymoon. In several cases, staff expressed surprise and said they wished they had known in advance so they could have done something special. This felt like a significant missed opportunity. One of the main reasons to use a travel advisor or agency is their ability to communicate key details to partner properties and help create memorable experiences for special occasions. That coordination did not appear to happen here.
Overall, while the trip itself was enjoyable, the level of curation, communication, and attention to detail did not meet the expectations we had for a professionally planned honeymoon experience. In hindsight, the value of booking through Viatu was not clear, and we believe we likely would have had a better and more tailored experience arranging the trip independently.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing safari supported by an amazing team
This Tanzanian Safari was one of the best experiences ever, it has been on our bucket list for a while, but we never expected it to be as good as this!
The abundance of wildlife was breathtaking, the scale and expanse of the Serengeti a sight to behold, while the serene beauty and tranquility of Ngorongoro Crater was a memory that will last forever.
But best of all was the Kiliclimb team behind this once in a lifetime experience.
Sadi our guide was an absolute star, we feel blessed to have been assigned such a warm, friendly, helpful and skilled guide. Nothing was too much for him, and he really went the extra mile to ensure we enjoyed the best experience we could ever have wished for.
His ability to spot some of the more unique and elusive wildlife was verging on supernatural. His punctuality was spot on, and his experience at handling some of the rougher terrain that the Serengeti occasionally throws at you was confidence inspiring.
As if this wasn’t enough, the support from the Kiliclimb office via WhatsApp was second to none. The speed of response to any queries we had was literally minutes, sometimes even seconds! Special mention to Janeth for all her support and hard work, checking in with us on a daily basis to make sure we were happy and enjoying the safari.
The final mention goes to Ruth who was our contact in Zanzibar, and not only looked after our main luggage, but also organised our transfers.
All in all, we cannot fault the wonderful service we received from Kiliclimb, and would not hesitate to recommend them.
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Excellent
My family has traveled with Mike Scott in Zimbabwe for many years, and after eight separate camping and walking safaris with him, I felt I should finally write a review.
These are true bush safaris, not lodge-style trips. My sons grew up hiking, tracking, and learning the African bush on these camps, and the experiences have been some of the best our family has ever had together. Over the years we have brought several different groups of our sons and their friends, and every trip has been consistently exceptional.
Mike runs a traditional Zimbabwe safari with simple, well-run camps, deep knowledge of the bush, and a calm, experienced style that makes you feel comfortable even in very remote areas. The days spent walking and tracking, and the evenings around the fire, are the kind of experiences that are getting harder to find today.
A special mention to Bernard, one of the finest trackers I have ever spent time with anywhere in Africa. Watching him work is part of what makes these trips so memorable.
In a time when many safaris have become commercialized, Mike still offers an authentic African bush experience, and I recommend him without hesitation.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fabulous experience
Our guide, Esaya, was extremely knowledgeable about the animals, plants, landscape, and even the insects. He freely shared his knowledge in a story telling way that made you feel like old friends catching up.
We saw elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, warthogs, impala, leopards, lions, eagles, cranes, ostriches, and even dung beetles rolling their dung balls. We saw too many other animals, birds, and insects to list them all.
Pickup and drop off at the airstrips was punctual and smooth. Esaya's professionalism and warm personality made our Safari especially memorable.
Highly recommend!!!!
CZ
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Our operarors were exceptional, we highly recommend for excursions. ly ly
Our driver Ally was phenomenal. He was extremely experienced, professional, friendly and knowledgeable. We highly recommend our guide Ally and Samora Explorers.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
One of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had.
Our guide Renautuas gave us a very warm welcome right at the airport and picked us up personally. From the very beginning, he took wonderful care of us and always made us feel comfortable and safe. Everything was perfectly organized and ran smoothly. The accommodation was great, the food was excellent, and the tour itself was an absolutely incredible experience – truly unforgettable. I can highly recommend it and I’m very grateful for this amazing experience.
AR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent trip with Loren
Our experience with Loren African Safaris was excellent. If I could give it more stars, I would. From the very beginning, they handled all the organization efficiently and answered all our questions. Our guide, Ally, was fantastic; he taught us everything during the tour and went out of his way to find the animals we wanted to see (we saw them all—it was incredible!). The food was also delicious. We spent five full days on safari with them, and they also took care of organizing our visit to Zanzibar. We even had a problem with an airline that lost our luggage, and Loren personally came to Arusha airport to intervene and try to help us (even though he wasn't obligated to, as it wasn't his responsibility). We highly recommend this company. It's also important to support local businesses. We are Argentinians and we are very happy with this trip.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Outstanding
My family and I could not have hoped for a better Safari experience. George took care of everything. He helped us plan our trip. Then he picked us up at our hotel in Nairobi and drove us to Amboseli. Along the way, he pointed out things of interest. When we arrived at our lodge, George gave us time to eat, freshen up, and get settled in our rooms, making clear when and where we would meet to go into the park. Once we entered the game reserve itself (both that first afternoon and all day the following day), he really hit his stride. He seemed to have a sense about which animals would be where; and when we happened upon an unexpected animal—like a jackal with prey in its mouth—George would pull over and let us watch patiently to see nature in action. In the case of the jackal, George pointed out that the animal felt uneasy about crossing the water. We watched him try to cross repeatedly and eventually turn around and go bury his prey, presumably to dig it up later for his family.
George heard about a lion sighting from another driver and headed that way. Again, he patiently pulled over to the side of the road and encouraged us to observe the lions quietly. Several other drivers left, since the lions seemed to be inactive. George felt confident, though, that the lions would eventually pass very near our vehicle and cross the road to the patch of trees on the other side, as he knew they’d be seeking shade. Like clockwork, his prediction proved true, and we had a breathtaking experience. When we finally drove away from there, one of the drivers who had left earlier was chiding himself for not following George’s lead.
George spotted an eagle subduing a monitor lizard for lunch and another bird eating a snake. On both occasions, he let us watch as nature unfolded before our eyes. We saw hippos, monkeys, baboons, a cheetah, a civet, wildebeests, geese, moose, elephants, and on and on and on. FIVE STARS!!!!!
GH
The tour operator offered an exciting and well organized tour.
We had an exciting and well-organized journey through stunning landscapes, giving us the chance to see incredible wildlife up close while enjoying knowledgeable guides and comfortable tour.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Unforgettable experience with a local Ugandan company!
My husband and I just completed a 3-day Kigali to Bwindi Gorilla trek with Bamboo Ecotours, and it was truly unforgettable! Note: this tour is much shorter (5-6 hours drive vs 9+) vs from within Uganda!
From the start, Edison helped us plan the trip around our interests—adding a visit to the Ellen Center for deeper insight into gorillas and a Golden Monkey trek on the return journey. His communication was always prompt, professional, and incredibly helpful, even guiding us through visa questions.
Our guide and driver, Fred, was outstanding. A native of Kisoro, he shared rich knowledge of the region and navigated challenging rainy-season roads with skill and confidence. He was punctual, attentive, and made sure we were well taken care of throughout.
We loved working with a local Ugandan company that knows the area inside out. The trip was flexible, customized to our preferences, and everything went exactly as planned.
We chose the mid range lodge and will also highly recommend the Gorilla Leisure Lodge.
For both cost and experience, you simply can’t go wrong with Bamboo Ecotours. Highly recommended!
