An excellent safari with a fantastic guide.
We had an excellent safari with Hyrax. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and we're already talking about doing another safari in the future.
Our driver and guide, Ben, was excellent. He was a very safe and considerate driver, knowledgeable about the wildlife and the area, and generally very easy to get along with. We saw a huge amount of wildlife and had a fantastic time in the Maasai Mara.
I was also impressed with how Hyrax responded when we had an issue with our original vehicle. It was a small four-seater Land Cruiser and wasn't really suitable for game drives, particularly for someone tall. It was difficult to stand up properly and get a good view through the roof. We asked if it could be changed, and Hyrax arranged a replacement as soon as they could. The replacement was much better. Problems happen, and I think responding quickly and fixing them is what matters.
The reason I'm giving four stars rather than five is mainly the organisation before the safari. The paperwork and payment process sometimes felt a bit sloppy. Most concerning was being given an incorrect routing number for the bank transfer. That's not something you want to find out when you're about to transfer around US$6,000. Their bank also deducted an additional US$30 fee, which Hyrax asked me to cover rather than absorbing themselves. It wasn't a large amount compared with the cost of the trip, but it added to the frustration with the payment process.
Overall, though, the most important thing is the safari itself, and that was excellent. We had a great experience, Ben was a fantastic guide, and Hyrax dealt quickly with the one problem we had during the trip. With a more organised booking and payment process, I would happily have given them five stars.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very communicative, great experience, lovely hotels and good food.
Very good value for money. Seen some incredible animals. Communications were good. Our driver was great. We were a group of 6 and had one solo traveller join us which meant someone had to go in the front seat which had a restricted view. We found out later in the trip that the roof to the front could also be opened which would have been good to know on the first day. The food was excellent and consisted of chicken, rice and pasta and some vegetables. I cannot comment on the Materuni waterfalls as we have been asked to write this review before that part of the trip has been completed.
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Knowledgeable and friendly
Jacob is clearly very experienced in the park and was able to navigate around easily to get us quiet sites of elephantsand big sites like a lion hunt. He was a great guide for a multigenerational group ranging from ages 5 to 70+. We had a great time and would recommend him to friends.
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
They are well organised and communication lines are short
Last July, our family went on a month-long holiday to South Africa. We came into contact with Safaries op Maat through friends. Communication has always been good and pleasant. We were able to contribute a lot of our own ideas, and they listened carefully to them. Together, we planned a wonderful, varied trip that included everything we wanted. The tips they gave us always worked out well. The travel guide we received by post shortly before our trip began was also absolutely lovely and very useful.
What we particularly appreciated during the trip was that whenever we had questions or needed help, it was provided very quickly via WhatsApp. We always received an immediate helpfull reply within a few minutes.
We can highly recommend Safaris op Maat to anyone who wants to discover the beautifull country of South Africa. .
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Thomas is Impressive and caring. Quite attentive and provided good guidance
Wonderful and inspiring tour. Willing to take it again.
CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
absolutely unforgettable.
The team’s communication was clear and prompt from the very first inquiry, answering every question we had patiently. The guide was incredibly knowledgeable about local wildlife, helping us spot the Big Five effortlessly. The service felt personal and thoughtful, and the entire trip was well-organized, making it 100% reliable with zero unexpected issues. It’s fantastic value for money, far exceeding our expectations. We will definitely book with them again and recommend to all friends!
CA
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Carlos was always easy to reach.Always friendly
Saw lots of animals on safari. Did see the big five.The staff at the camps were so friendly and helpful.Divers Kikitu and Job were knowledgeable. Answered all our questions.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Not luxury but overall a great experience
We booked an 8 day private luxury tour to the Serengeti and Zanzibar. We had a nice guide Stanley and a great time. Saw the big 5 and more and loved all the lodges. The tented ones are very clean and “as luxury as you can get” in the middle of the Serengeti. We had some hot water problems and flushing issues. A lot of the meals are buffets, but they are delicious. There were just some discrepancies we didn’t like on this tour. Communication was great from planning to booking, however, when we got there the guide did not seem to know info on our flights or some other things on the itinerary. I felt like the itinerary wasn’t very specifically detailed, which I should have questioned earlier. Ie-listing our flight times and specific sights in destinations or tours. Also a price breakdown of day. The itinerary did list driving times to places, but not one was correct. They were WAY longer. This wasn’t really based on traffic problems, the roads everywhere are just unpaved and they should be more transparent about driving times. It is hard to have a luxury safari when you are spending 12 hrs in a car every day on bumpy dusty roads and eating hot food for lunch that has become cold over hours and also being out of the fridge that whole time. While tasty.. I was worried a bit about it. The jeep was clean and looked decent, but the ac didn’t work, the armrest broke off one seat during our time and the door was broken on my side. There was no acknowledgement of anything. Thank god we had no further problems on those roads! The first day we chose to hike Mt Kilimanjaro, and it was not stated what entrance we would be using or how long it would take to base camp. The entrance we used was not feasible for a day trip. We also wore sneakers. No one advised us that we needed literal hiking shoes for mud purposes only. This would have been nice to know and communicate! We were slipping everywhere (which is a norm) and it made it very difficult to enjoy. It was also told to us numerous times that the flight to Zanzibar was direct. It was not lol. Also every time we switched places/guides we had to ask the tour operator for names and who was picking us up and when. We shouldn’t have to reach out and do that. No one told us the time of our dolphin tour the second day in Zanzibar, we had no clue which day it was on. They also said 3 hrs long and it was over 5. It was nice and included lunch, but that would have been nice to advise us of all that! Also we booked an 8 day trip, but bc our flight was late night the 8th day they did not give us lunch dinner or anything else. I want to be charged for 7 days then! We complained to the tour operator Omar and he did absolutely nothing but make excuses or not respond. Bc he already had his cash money paid in full a few days prior of course. It’s not much to cover atleast a lunch! When we arrived at the airport the driver tried to charge us again aswell, even tho they stated that was the only thing included that day. Just a lot of discrepancies in communication and certain details that made the trip a little more troublesome and a not so luxurious feel that we were looking for. I’d prob just do more budget accommodations as you are mostly gone on game drives, and bring better shoes for mud and dust. Zanzibar water is nice, but the north might have less tidal/seaweed/sea urchin problems than the east? Just have to be transparent.. even tho we overall had a great experience. I wouldn’t steer away from this company, I would just cover extra bases beforehand. I think a lot of companies are very similar IMO and provide similar services in this poorer part of the world. It is what it is and it’s a once in a lifetime trip!
AT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safe and reliable private Safari to Tarangire NP
We booked a private safari to Tarangire National Park from Arusha for three people at a very reasonable price. We left super early and returned after dark, which meant we could enjoy a long day in the park without having to rush.
Our driver made us feel very safe. He was polite, respected the speed limits and drove very defensively. Inside the park, he also kept a respectful distance from the animals, which was particularly important to us. We saw several other drivers chasing animals around, so we really appreciated that our driver remained calm, waited patiently and gave the animals space. This allowed us to enjoy some wonderful wildlife encounters and get great photos without feeling that we were disturbing the animals.
The food was okay, and we had plenty of drinking water and even some wine! The vehicle had an electricity outlet, and binoculars were provided for everyone.
The only downside was that our driver was a little shy and quiet, so we didn't learn as much about the animals and the park as we would have liked. If having a very knowledgeable and talkative guide is important to you, I'd recommend specifically asking for one when you book. ;)
Overall, we had a wonderful day and really appreciated the responsible and relaxed way our safari was conducted.
SE
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Intense 4 day safari will all the Big 5. I was very pleased.
I was very pleased with our safari. Our guide was very knowable, and could answer all our questions. He also knew his way round the parks and found the animals.
A little minus was the booking. The accommodation for the third night was not working according to plan. Lizza was however very understanding and really tried to help.
Working seatbelts must be available in the vehicle.