FR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Masai Mara National Reserve by Oussama
The Masai Mara was the highlight of our safari in Kenya. The wildlife viewing was incredible, the vast open landscapes were breathtaking and the whole experience felt like a true African safari. Every game drive was exciting and offered something different. The combination of wildlife, scenery and atmosphere made it an unforgettable experience and a destination I would definitely visit again
FR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Lake Nakuru National Park by Oussama
Lake Nakuru was a very enjoyable safari experience. The landscapes around the lake are beautiful and the park offers a good variety of wildlife in a relatively compact area. It was a great place to enjoy nature, take photos and experience a different atmosphere from the Masai Mara. Definitely worth visiting as part of a Kenya safar
FR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable safari experience in Kenya
Kenya was an amazing destination and one of the highlights of our trip. The safari experience was unforgettable, with beautiful landscapes, incredible wildlife and a real feeling of adventure. We were lucky to see many animals in their natural environment, and every day offered something different. The scenery was stunning, the weather was pleasant and the overall atmosphere was very special. The accommodations were comfortable and made the experience even more enjoyable. Kenya is definitely a destination I would recommend to anyone who loves nature, wildlife and adventure
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A good mixture between modern and tradition. Depends of course where you are
We travelled as a couple and made a mixture between tour operator for Serengeti tour and self organized. We had a rented car for 11 days, this was perfect, sometimes challenging, but we enjoyed the freedom. Trafic was not as bad as expected and also police controls were easy.
I was a little worried about to much traffic Jam in Serengeti and Ngorogoro during high season. All over all it was full but not that bad. At the entrence everyone is together but after a while all cars go different directions and you can also enjoy the fantastic landscape alone.
But I heared that in July 2026 there were less tourists than expected.
All accomodations we had during our stay were fantastic. I don´t need it fancy but I must say all places had great atmosphere and great food.
I must say, the people in Tanzania are very very friendly!!!
But we also left the normal touristy paths and there is always a difference how people react to you as an obvious tourist
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
African Dream
I had a wonderful time. Can recommend Zambezi Quest and Brighton to everyone. It was all very professionally planned. Hotels were nice. We had Gerry as our Tourguide. He was great. He was always on time and made sure that we are happy. He is very knowledgeable. Had trouble with my luggage, which did not arrive and they made sure, that my vacation will go smoothly. They finally got it. They make sure that you are happy with everything. Would go with this company again. Thank you Brighton. Gerry and Prince.
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
It felt like meeting Rafiki from Simba in person.
Our trip to Tanzania with Makisala Safaris was such an amazing experience from start to finish. James, our guide, was fantastic and made the safari even more special with his knowledge, patience, and great sense of humor. Everything was well organized, and we always felt taken care of throughout the trip. We would definitely recommend Makisala to anyone planning a safari in Tanzania.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing 8D/7N Safari in Kenya and Tanzania
Shanjoy Tours organized an amazing 8D/7N safari with 3 days in Masai Mara, 1 day in North Serengeti, 2 days in Central Serengeti, 1 day in Ngorongoro Crater and 1 day Tarangere NP.
Ms. Rodah was our tour coordinator who was absolutely brilliant through the planning stages and checked in with us every day of our safari to make sure everything was going smoothly. She picked fantastic accommodations for us which were both luxurious and immersive. She was quick to respond to every question we had and giving us useful tips. She is excellent at what she does and provided 5 star service.
Our guide in Kenya, Mr. Jamlek is passionate about his work and knows Masai Mara like the back of his hand. He gave us some incredible sightings of the Big Five by day 2 and even a cheetah sighting as a bonus. We had an amazing sighting of a Leopard that walked past our safari jeep. We had a total of 15 sightings of lion prides including a lion with a buffalo kill surrounded by hyenas and vultures and a pride of 6 lions strolling in the Savannah early morning. He even went above and beyond to help us pick up our lost luggage from the Olkiombe Airstrip. He has an incredible intuition of sighting game. He is also a fantastic and safe driver with superb knowledge of Masai Mara. He dropped us off at the Isebania border crossing into Tanzania and helped us with a smooth transfer.
Mama Savanna handled the Tanzanian portion of our tour. Mr. Marley our guide in Tanzania is exceptional at his work. He has an incredible knowledge of the bird and animal wildlife in Tanzania. He was brilliant at spotting wildlife and we had the opportunity to see two leopard sightings including Leopard cubs, multiple sightings of lions including a pride of lions resting 10 feet from our safari jeep as well as a cheetah sighting. In Ngorongoro he showed us a herd of 4 White Rhinos which we were able to watch from close quarters for a half hour. He took great care of us for the five days we spent in Tanzania. He is a very safe driver and a professional safari guide.
Thanks to our amazing guides Mr. Jamlek and Mr. Marley, we had amazing sightings of the Big Five in both the Masai Mara and Tanzania.
All in all we are glad we picked Shanjoy Tours and Safaris who were very transparent from the beginning and provided a five star experience from start to finish.
CH
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Unforgettable 6-day safari in Rwanda andUganda
I recently completed a 6-day safari in Rwanda and Uganda as a solo traveler and photographer, and it was an experience I'll treasure for a long time.
The office was excellent from the start — quick to respond to every message and very accommodating with all my customization requests. They arranged a good mix of lodges throughout the trip, and importantly, they gave me confidence and reassurance about my reserved gorilla tracking permit, which was one of the main reasons I chose this trip.
My guide, Edgar, was punctual and flexible with all my ideas along the way. One thing that really stood out: since we entered Uganda by land, I hadn't had the chance to withdraw any local currency. Edgar kindly offered to help by exchanging USD for local currency whenever I needed it — a small gesture, but one I truly appreciated.
Edgar is also a clearly experienced driver with solid knowledge of the animals in the field. His eyes were incredible — he could spot something as well-camouflaged as a monitor lizard hiding in a tree from a good distance away. It was also obvious that he's well-regarded and well-liked among the other guides.
Of course, safaris don't always go exactly as planned — there were a couple of days when the wildlife simply wasn't cooperating — but Edgar never stopped trying, doing everything he could to help us find animals.
One of my favorite memories came on the last day. We finished our activities a bit early, so Edgar organized an adhoc community visit, where I got to learn about local coffee-making and try tasting banana beer and banana gin. It was such a thoughtful addition, and I'm really grateful he took the initiative to make that happen.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable safari experience, and I'd highly recommend both the company and Edgar as a guide.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
A Great Guide Makes All the Difference
This will be a practical review about the tour's logisitic. I will not speak about the experience because we all know that animals are amazing.
Tour Guide Review – Alan
Alan is a real asset to the company and, in my experience, was a key part of what made the tour so enjoyable and memorable.
While many tour operators offer similar itineraries, it is the guide who can truly make the difference. Fortunately, Alan is an exceptionally competent and personable guide. He manages expectations extremely well, keeping you informed about what to expect each day so that you are never left feeling unsure.
Alan consistently went above and beyond to check in with me and make sure everything was okay. He genuinely cared about whether I was enjoying myself and did everything he could to ensure I had the best possible experience.
What particularly stood out was that Alan understands the bigger picture. He isn't simply taking tourists from one activity to another; he understands the importance of showcasing Uganda in a way that creates a lasting and positive impression. His knowledge, professionalism and genuine care make a significant difference.
My experience with Alan was so positive that I am now seriously considering booking the Rwanda tour offered by the operator — as long as Alan is my guide!
I would highly recommend Alan and believe he is a tremendous asset to the company.
The Tour review:
1. Communication prior to tour- email communication has generally been quick, and questions were answered in a timely manner.
2. Hotel pick up- hotel pick up was at 7am, Alan had arived at 6:40am, and waited for me to finish breakfast, somehow i took too long and he patientaly waited an hour for nearly me (30 mins after the scheduled time), for me to finish eating and packing
3. Drive from Kampala to Bwindi
I would like to give my 100% appreciation and thanks to Alan for how he handled the journey from Kampala to Bwindi.
Our drive happened to coincide with Uganda’s National Cleaning Day, which takes place on the last Saturday of the month between 7:00am and 10:00am. During this period, vehicles are generally not permitted on the roads, with certain exemptions, including tourists. As this was a relatively new rule for local residents, there were numerous checkpoints along the route, and Alan had to repeatedly explain to the authorities that we were exempt because we were tourists.
We encountered two particularly challenging checkpoints, where we were held on the road for approximately an hour. Throughout this situation, Alan remained calm, professional and determined to resolve the issue. He made phone calls to the relevant governing bodies to clarify the exemption and did everything within his power to get us safely on our way. When the authorities asked him to help with the road cleaning, he even got involved and helped them.
What impressed me most was that, throughout the entire hour, Alan remained conscious of my wellbeing and made sure I was safe and comfortable. Although I personally never felt that my safety was at risk, I can appreciate that a situation like this could be extremely concerning or nerve-wracking for another tourist, particularly if they were unfamiliar with the country or the local regulations.
Alan handled the situation exceptionally well. His ability to remain composed under pressure, communicate effectively with the authorities, and continue to look after his passenger demonstrated a level of professionalism and care that I greatly appreciated.
As the drive is about 10 hours, Alan ensured i was comfortable , you can tell he was very attentive, as i didn't want to recline the seat backwards..but he wanted to make sure my neck wouldn't be jolted too much on the drive, and kept checking in as i was dozing offf.
4. Arrive at Bweza Gorrilla lodge- on arrival its pretty late, and you order your dinner and eating time. You will be eating with your guide. Lodge has wifi in common areas, no data or wifi in the room. Shower water a bit weak but not undoable. Note the walk up is qute a steep hill. Here explanation is provided on what to expect for the next day Gorilla checking. Alan checked in on how much i think i could trek, so the following day, he could speak to the trekking team to get the level of ease.
Here Alan also gives the option whereby after thr trek to head straight to the next location (as its a 5hr drive) or whether to go back to the ldge and then head. Note you will need to check out in the morning.
5. Gorilla trek day & drive to Enshama lodge - Was about 15 min drive to the trek location, which is great. You do your trek, all guides wait for their clients, once complete you can head off to Enshama lodge. During the drive there we stopped at a national park to have our packed lunch from Bweza gorilla lodge. Nice view.. We encountered a child who had asked for money, and Alan being the great guy he is offered his own lunch to the child.
6. Arrrival at Enshama lodge- again arrival is pretty late, you are asked what you want for dinner and when. NOTE, due to the location being with the wildlife, when it gets dark, you need to be escorted to and from your lodge to the main common area. Here Alan explained how the day will go
7. Chimpanzee trekking, Kazinga cruise & game drive - Note, you do the chimpanzee trekking at Kyambura Game reserve NOT Kibale National Park. After completion, you get a certifcate, i would recommend getting the walking stick, as there are some very steep climbs and downward hills. No porters are available, so pack lights, it's a very short trek. You then head back to the lodge for lunch and rest until the cruise.
Kazinga cruise, you get on a small ish boat, which is good because it means the boat can go faster to reach animals. compared to larger boats.
Game drive- this happens straight after the cruise - standard game drive.
8. Early morning game drive- pack up all your suitcases, as you'll be heading back to the city after the game drive. Alan has such as good eye for animals with the ability to spot things fro VERY far away.
9. Drive back to city- As mentioned its about a 10hr drive back to Kampala, you stop at the equator, and heading back. There will be a lunch stop. Please ensure to tip generously to your guide.
CH
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic week-long great migration experience
I recently returned from a week-long safari as a solo traveler and photographer, and it exceeded my expectations in every way.
From the very beginning, the office was fantastic to work with. They responded quickly to every message and were incredibly helpful in accommodating all my customization requests. The lodges they arranged were consistently good quality throughout the trip.
The vehicle itself was like-new and in excellent condition. It came equipped with cold refreshments, snacks, and even internet access — but as a photographer, what I appreciated most were the bean bags!
A huge part of what made this trip special was my guide, Makundi. He was punctual every single day and flexible whenever I wanted to adjust plans or chase a particular shot. Beyond that, he's simply an excellent driver and clearly very experienced in the field — his knowledge of both animals and plants was impressive, and I loved the facts and fun facts he shared along the way. He knows the parks inside and out, and it was obvious he's well-liked and respected among the other guides too. Some of my favorite moments were the storytelling during dinners, the bush lunch and coffee breaks, giving the days a nice rhythm.
What really stood out, though, was how much Makundi cared — not just about me as a client, but about the vehicle too. When one of the windows malfunctioned, he addressed it right away and got it fixed. He also cleaned the car every single day, which spoke to his overall attention to detail and pride in his work.
Overall, this was an outstanding safari experience, and I'd highly recommend both the company and Makundi as a guide to anyone planning a trip — especially photographers who'll appreciate the thoughtful touches like the bean bags or internet in the car.