35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A Trip of a Lifetime
I arranged, at late notice, a 1-day Safari trip for my son's birthday via Telly Africa. I researched the best company for this and came across Telly Africa. Telly Africa's Glory was amazing and despite the short notice request from me, she pulled out all the stops to ensure that we (myself, wife and two children) were able to not only embark on the trip but also have a wonderful time. Glory and Telly Africa arranged our pick up from our hotel in Zanzibar, drop off at Zanzibar Airport, plane journey from Zanzibar to Selous National Park in Tanzania and return trip to our hotel in Zanzibar. We also had the privilege of being accompanied by our knowledgeable, pleasant and experienced guide, Mr Martin, and a very friendly driver who looked after us (did I mention lunch?) and made sure that we were comfortable throughout the trip. I do not have enough superlatives to describe the service provided by Glory and Telly Africa. We intend to return again to Zanzibar and when we do, Glory will be one of the first people we call to arrange another safari trip. Telly Africa is highly recommended by me and we are incredibly grateful to Glory, Martin, our driver, and Telly Africa for making my son's birthday a magical one. All communications, service, reliability, the tour and costs were all amazing. In fact, Glory called on our way back to the hotel to check that we were fine and had had a good time...wow! Thank you Glory and Telly Africa for everything. You are the best!
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
SUPERB
My ten-day safari with Taswira was one of the most memorable and full-of-wonder experiences in my life!! Caroline is an excellent organizer and communicator, happy to answer all my questions promptly. George is an excellent guide and driver, very knowledgeable about finding those magnificent creatures. We often went off the beaten track and I saw all the animals I hoped to see AND the wildebeest crossing which was a highlight!!!
I was travelling alone and was so well looked after! The accommodation (wonderful tents or excellent lodges) was first-class and the food was terrific. We had lots of bush meals which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Because I was travelling alone the safari was quite expensive but it was worth every cent!!
I can't sing the praises of this small, ethical company high enough and recommend it highly!!
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic and friendly
In September, we took a trip through South Africa. The itinerary was put together by ‘Safari’s op Maat’ (Tailor-made Safaris) in consultation with us. We had an amazing trip! We saw the ‘Big Five,’ a variety of other beautiful wildlife, and stunning natural scenery. We stayed in wonderful locations, ranging from hotels to tents. The food was delicious, and we were exceptionally well looked after everywhere we went. We also really appreciated that many of the parks and places we stayed were on the smaller side, which created a very pleasant and intimate atmosphere. In short, it was a truly fantastic trip. If you’d like to experience the beauty of South Africa, I highly recommend booking with ‘Safari’s op Maat’—a fantastic travel organization.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Kenya part did not follow the confirmed itinerary, and my complaints were never answered
I booked the 13-day Kenya & Tanzania Group Budget Safari (25 September to 7 October 2026) with African Paradise Safaris. Before paying, I asked specific questions in writing. I was told that the safari was guaranteed to operate according to the confirmed itinerary and that African Paradise Safaris would manage and operate the complete safari.
The Kenya portion did not match this. The Maasai village visit that was included in the itinerary was skipped completely, and the guide told me he did not know it was part of my programme. The confirmed Lake Nakuru morning game drive did not take place. Instead I was taken to Crescent Island, which was not in the itinerary and which I had to pay for separately.
We usually left the parks between about 4:45 and 5:30 p.m. On the full day in Amboseli we entered at about 9:15 a.m. and left at about 5:15 p.m. The announced morning game drive on my last day in Kenya lasted from about 6:45 to 8:15 a.m.
The guide gave almost no explanations, answered questions in a few words, drove fast through the parks and did not actively look for wildlife. The other guests in my vehicle were unhappy with the guiding as well.
After I raised these problems I was moved to another vehicle without a clear explanation of how I would get to Amboseli. The handover at the Namanga border was badly organised, and on that day there was no bottled water in the vehicle although it was included.
I reported the problems during the safari. The company replied that this was not the standard it expects and promised improvements, but the early departures and itinerary changes continued.
This is not about which animals we saw. It is about confirmed services, guiding and how the available game-drive time was used.
After the trip I sent a detailed written complaint on 7 October, a follow-up on 12 October and a refund request on 14 October. I have not received any reply. What I did receive were two automated emails asking me to leave a review.
The Tanzania portion was run by a separate local team and was excellent, with a patient, knowledgeable guide. It showed me that my expectations were realistic.
If you are considering this company, get every item of the itinerary confirmed in writing and ask which company will actually operate each part of your trip.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible experience!
An absolutely unforgettable experience. So much more than I had hoped for. Damien was a great guide and found some incredible wildlife experiences in our 2 days visiting Tarangine and Ngorongoro. And everything was easy to book with great communication. Thanks!
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Adventure – It Couldn’t Have Been Better!
Eight unforgettable days on Mount Kilimanjaro were already behind me, but the adventure was far from over!
After a day of rest, I set off on a five-day safari through the Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro National Parks. I was accompanied by Joseph.
It quickly became clear that Joseph really knows what he is doing. He knows the animals, understands their behaviour and knows exactly where to find them. No matter what I asked, he always had an answer. Of course, a little luck is also needed to encounter the animals at just the right place and time. And honestly, I have to say: I was incredibly lucky!
Some of my absolute highlights, which are by no means guaranteed sightings, included:
* A giraffe drinking water
* Three leopards in total
* Five rhinos in total
* A huge herd of buffalo, estimated at around 100–200 animals
* Ten lions sleeping together in one spot
But then there was one experience I could never have imagined, even in my wildest dreams: I got to witness nature up close in a way that probably very few people ever get to experience.
During the night, a buffalo from a herd I had seen earlier that evening was killed by lions directly behind my tent. At first, I couldn’t make sense of the sounds I heard during the night. It was only the following morning that Joseph explained that I had actually heard the buffalo fighting for its life and dying.
Immediately after breakfast, we drove very close to the scene and were able to observe the lions and their prey.
An absolutely extraordinary wildlife experience that will stay with me for a very long time!
All these encounters and experiences were far beyond anything I could ever have dreamed of.
Even when problems arose with my connecting flight to Zanzibar because the flight was overbooked, Ally didn’t leave me on my own. He immediately offered his help and did everything he could to make sure I arrived safely at my hotel. This is by no means something to be taken for granted and once again shows just how much he genuinely cares about his guests.
In the end, there is really only one thing left to say: THANK YOU!
Thank you to Ally, Joseph and the entire team at Making Memories in Africa for this incredible journey, all the unforgettable moments, your kindness and your outstanding work.
I can wholeheartedly recommend Making Memories in Africa to absolutely everyone. If you are looking for a trip that goes far beyond your expectations and creates memories that will last a lifetime, this is definitely the right team!
Asante sana – and hopefully until we meet again someday!
JE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
very insightful and knowledgeable about the animals
great value for money, friendly, knowledgeable and insightful about the animals
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Amazing service and value for money
I would give Ecolife Safari and tours more than 5 stars if I could. Jonyo and his team was absolutely amazing. I started planning my holiday to Zanzibar by myself but Jonyo did it so much better than I could. He tailored my accommodation and itinerary to my wishes while staying within budget. Communication was great throughout the process at all hours of the day or night. His team on Zanzibar made sure that I had a smooth experience and it was so relaxing to not have to worry about arranging transport, haggling about prices or choosing the best spice farm to visit as the team was in charge of all of that. They obviously have a lot of local contacts and will make sure that you get the best experiences. While tipping was optional there was no hidden costs which was a relief. While the itinerary was pre-planned I also appreciated that they were flexible when I wanted to work in another quick snorkeling trip before heading home. As a solo female traveler I always felt safe and supported. I would recommend this company to anyone planning to visit Tanzania/Zanzibar.
CH
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Effective
The guide was well-organized, perfect, and highly competent. The accommodations met our expectations; however, the value for money seemed high to us, as we were charged a "high-season" rate—yet we were practically the only guests in all the lodges…
My Rwandan friends confirm this!
For our future trips, we will do things differently.
(automatic translation from French)
JE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolutely incredible safari tour!
From start to finish our experience on the 2 day 1 night safari tour was incredible. Mr Albert was so friendly and welcoming. He was very knowledgeable and gave us a lot of information which we really enjoyed. Considering we had a shorter safari, Mr Albert was amazing at finding all of the animals and wildlife and we even managed to see leopards and cheetahs within the first hour of the tour. The communication and service was great throughout the booking process and nearby to the start date of the safari. We also think the value for money for the safari was amazing. We had the best experience and would highly recommend choosing Kili Hike, and specifically for Mr Albert to be your tour guide!