35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Definitely Recommend--Tony and Friendly tour Guide Madagascar
I had an EXQUISITE time. Working with Tony at Friendly Tour Guide Madagascar made everything possible. I highly recommend working with Tony and his team.
I wanted to travel solo for part of my trip, so I carefully researched travel guides and locations. Once I contacted Tony--who has a very good record and reputation for customer service and reliability--he immediately offered to talk in real time on WhatsApp. Our conversation helped me gather a lot more relevant information and narrow my options. From there, we crafted a week-long itinerary.
Importantly: At all times, I felt safe. This includes going into different areas of the country, meeting new people, and traveling by car across some rough terrain. The driver Tony hired was very professional and practiced safe driving habits, even when other drivers did otherwise.
My general advice in planning a trip to Madagascar is to really narrow your priorities because every region of the country is different and unique in its own ways. I would ask Tony a lot of clarifying questions to make sure you understand the type of experience you would be getting. And remember that it often takes longer than you think to travel by road in Madagascar so build in lots of extra time!
I recommend Tony and the team at Friendly Tour Guide Madagascar! Enjoy your trip!
AR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Terrible company. I Don't know how they can have 5 Stars. The Worst Safari Company.
I don’t understand how this company can have 5 stars. Unfortunately, our experience was not good, and we would not hire them again.
During the planning phase, Judith was very kind and accommodating. She put together our itinerary, accepted changes, and answered our questions. However, once the trip began, the experience changed completely.
I want to distinguish between Acram, our Spanish-speaking guide, and the safari driver, as our opinion of the two is entirely different.
- The driver’s attitude:
From the second day on, he began to show annoyance regarding the tips we left at the accommodations. He gave us a lecture in the vehicle about how much we should be tipping him and the hotel staff—a conversation that felt like a demand and made us very uncomfortable.
We have never had an issue with leaving tips, and we made sure to distribute them among the various staff members who assisted us. What bothered us was the way he demanded them; his attitude made it clear that he was primarily focused on money.
Throughout the entire safari, he never sat at the table with us—unlike other drivers, who would share those moments with their guests. We aren’t sure if it was personal, but while other groups’ guides or drivers would sit with their tourists, we were always left on our own because he never wanted to join us for meals. Furthermore, right from the start, he instructed us not to speak to him and to direct all our questions to Acram instead. His behavior was arrogant and unpleasant, and it left us feeling as though we had no real support or companionship.
- Safari schedules and duration:
While we observed other groups heading out around 6:30 AM and returning near 6:00 PM, we typically didn’t leave until 8:30 AM and would return around 4:00 PM.
WE WERE ALWAYS THE LAST ONES TO LEAVE. For the last two days, we asked to head out at 7:00 AM to make the most of the experience, but the driver kept asking us repeatedly if we were sure we wanted to leave that early. We were always the last ones to depart, and he constantly looked sleepy.
- The vehicle and the snacks
The van was old, and the snacks promised in the itinerary turned out to be nothing more than cookies and popcorn—leftovers from the packed meals provided to other tourists at the accommodations we visited. In other words, the snacks given to guests at their lodgings were simply left in the van for the next group of tourists. 🫠
On the final day, while we were on our way to the airport, another van broke down, leaving us stranded in the middle of Arusha.
- Transfer to Zanzibar:
When it was time to head to the airport for our flight to Zanzibar, the driver asked us what time our plane was leaving. We had to contact the company ourselves to confirm the departure time—something that should have been handled by them. Very unpleasant.
- Judith
She was very attentive during the planning phase, but once the trip began, she practically disappeared. She never checked in to see how the experience was going or if we needed any assistance. It felt as though the support ended the moment the payment was made.
The highlight of our experience: Acram
We want to give a special mention to Acram, our Spanish-speaking guide. He was kind and incredibly knowledgeable about the animals and the environment. Thanks to him, we were able to learn so much more and truly enjoy the places we visited.
ALSO, ON THE LAST DAY, THE VAN CAUGHT FIRE—WITH US INSIDE! WE HAD TO START SCREAMING JUST TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE.
Conclusion
The experience fell far short of our expectations, particularly due to the driver’s attitude, the scheduling, the duration of the outings, and the condition of the vehicle.
We paid a significant amount and expected a level of service to match. It is not about an unwillingness to tip or a desire for unnecessary luxuries; rather, it is about being treated with respect, having good organization, and being able to fully enjoy the experience. We felt a great deal of contempt from the driver toward us.
We would not book with Full Package Adventures again, nor would we recommend them. Given the price we paid, we expected much more—especially in terms of how we were treated. The only real highlight was the work of Acram, our guide. I cannot write any more, as anything else I might add would not be positive.
(automatic translation from Spanish)
NO
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A wonderful experience with Manka Safari!
My experience with Manka Safari was absolutely amazing! I visited Tanzania in 2025 while conducting fieldwork for my master’s thesis, and I’m so grateful I got the opportunity to experience a safari with Manka Safari during my stay. Everything was wonderful, and the experience was truly unforgettable. The hospitality, kindness, and care made me feel so welcome, and getting to experience Tanzania’s incredible wildlife and nature was such a special memory. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience, and I would wholeheartedly recommend Manka Safari to anyone visiting Tanzania! <3
BR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing
We had an amazing safari experience with King Mufasa! The team was incredibly attentive and helpful throughout the entire trip. The vehicle was very well equipped, the hotels were great, and our guide was excellent, always willing to help and making sure everything was perfect. We truly loved the experience and highly recommend them!
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Kiliholidays-drivers you can trust
Mark and Immanuel were our drivers for our Hope Mobility Team. Their service as our drivers was outstanding! It's easy to just assume you will have good drivers but that is not always the case. They were GREAT drivers and wonderful hosts! Thanks for keeping us safe and putting up with my humor. This would have been a 5 star but our vehicles had a few mechanical issues which slowed us up a bit. Our drivers saved the day in each case.
-455538.jpg)
-455539.jpg)
-455540.jpg)
-455541.jpg)
-455542.jpg)
-455543.jpg)
-455544.jpg)
-455545.jpg)
-455546.jpg)
-455547.jpg)
-455548.jpg)
-455549.jpg)
-455550.jpg)
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Alex was absolutely amazing, he was full of knowledge and made it so much fun. I highly recommend!!!
I highly recommend Sundown African Adventures. Alex made it so much fun, always in a great mood and so full of knowledge. You won't regret booking with them!!!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a lifetime!
I ended up finding CampTrek through Viator, but was so happy I booked directly with them. Simon (and Lucy) were great to work with in creating an amazing itinerary. And the guides that were assigned to us for the two weeks were amazing - friendly, knowledgeable in so many subjects, and spoiling us with their over-the-top service. The various camps were all incredible, much nicer than I ever could have imagined. And then there was the wildlife and scenery throughout the trip that was mind-blowing! Would absolutely use CampTrek again, and would highly recommend them to my friends as well!
ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great organisation, excellent service and fantastic value for money!
Great experience with Best Time Adventures – Mount Meru trek and safari!
We booked a 3-day trek to Mount Meru and a 4-day safari visiting Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro with Best Time Adventures, and we were very satisfied with the overall experience.
A special mention goes to Ivone, who coordinated everything for us. She was always available on WhatsApp, responded very quickly, and was consistently clear, friendly and helpful. Throughout our activities, she also checked in regularly to see how we were doing and asked for our feedback, which we really appreciated. It made us feel well looked after throughout the trip.
She also helped organise our transfers and accommodation, making the whole process much easier and smoother.
Overall, we were very happy with the service and the organisation. We would definitely recommend Best Time Adventures, especially if you are travelling on a budget but still want to maintain a reasonable level of comfort and have a well-organised experience.
Thank you, Ivone, and the whole Best Time Adventures team, for making our Tanzanian adventure such a great experience!
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable 4-day private safari with Joagro Safaris
We booked our 4-day private safari for two the evening before we set off, and were so glad that everything worked out! Jonas from Joagro Safaris was our saviour.
From the first advice to the booking and the entire safari, everything was easy, smooth and perfectly organized.
Our guide Hassan was fantastic! He was a very good and safe driver, knew so much about the animals and always catered to our wishes. We visited Tarangire, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater and saw an incredible number of animals.
The accommodation was beautiful, including a lovely lodge and a tented camp in the Serengeti. The food was very good and we received lunch boxes every day.
We had a fantastic experience and can highly recommend Joagro Tours, even for last-minute bookings. A big thank you to Jonas and Hassan, who made our safari truly special!
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An excellent tour operator offering an unforgettable safari experience
We had an amazing experience with Kimgoni Tanzania Safaris. The organization was excellent, the team was professional and friendly, and the safari was truly unforgettable. We highly recommend this compagny to anyone wishing to discover the beauty of Tanzania