AT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing last-minute safari with great value and unforgettable experiences
We booked our safari super spontaneously and had an amazing time! Everything was perfectly organized, and our guide was incredibly patient and knowledgeable — he explained everything so well and made sure we had the best experience possible. We managed to see 4 out of the Big 5, which was truly unforgettable. The price-performance ratio was great, and we felt well taken care of from start to finish. Highly recommend Eliteways Travel and Safaris!
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The perfect trip!
Went on a great safari with my family. Stayed in Tanzania for 3 weeks, with 16 full days of safari. Went to all the great parks, saw everything we hoped for and more, stayed in lovely lodges and met amazing people.
The Green Hippo put a great trip together. Not once did we feel bored or did we feel like we were repeating a previous day. Every new day had something amazing to look out for and to enjoy.
This was all made possible by maybe the best safari guide ever: Valence. I doubt there's something or somewhere in the national parks Valence doesn't know about. Always anticipating our needs and helping us to make an already great trip even better. From taking great care of his landcruiser every day, organizing extra trips and excursions, spotting every single animal on our list, greeting us with a happy smile every morning and mainly just being an overall great guy!!
If you have the chance to go on a Green Hippo safari you should absolutely take it. And don't forget to ask for Valence.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wheelee was amazing and friendly, had a great time with him. Always on time, thank you so much.
Highly recommend services, took us way far into the bush and even collected us on time despite the very bad roads after the storm, thanx so much
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Fantastic experience!
Our visit to the churches of Lalibela was unforgettable thanks to Ayalew. He’s incredibly knowledgeable, kind, and passionate about sharing the history and culture of his hometown. His stories brought each church to life, and he showed us beautiful spots around the area that we would have missed on our own. We highly recommend Ayalew to anyone visiting Lalibela - an excellent guide and a wonderful person!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fraudulent Company/ Scammed
The reason they are cheap is because the owner (Gashaw) books your flights as if you are an "Ethiopian National" which is 1/4 of the price it should be... Ask me how I know? Because on my final flight back to Addis Ababa I was stopped by the gate agent who said my flight was not for foreigners and took my ticket/ passport away... I called Gashaw in a panic (who played dumb) and said he "didn't know what the agent was talking about" but said he would handle it... As the departure came closer the gate agent said Gashaw still had not paid, and with less than 5 minutes to departure Gashaw said his "internet was not working" and that I would have to pay, but that he would "reimburse me with a wire transfer after"... I knew it was sketch, but I didn't have a choice as it was the last flight out of Lalibela and I needed to catch my international flight that night. As you can guess, he stopped answering my calls and texts after this, and I have not received the reimbursement for the additional flight I was forced to buy... I have spoken to the driver's from my tour, but they have been unsuccessful in getting Gashaw to reimburse me or even respond to my messages either.
Additionally, for each of the flights, Gashaw would text me the confirmation code the night before or morning of, never the full ticket information or payment itself. This was extremely frustrating as someone who likes to plan ahead, but after experiencing this I now understand why... He doesn't want you (or presumably Ethiopian Airlines) to see that he has listed you as an Ethiopian National... When I dug deeper and looked at my other flight tickets, I can see that they were the same and I was simply lucky the gate agents didn't catch it for those ones as well...
Book with ANYONE else, as even if you're ok with the fraud (for whatever reason), the stress associated with his terrible planning/ last minute tickets and lack of communication is not worth the headache...
My previous (positive) review was the day before this occurred. I am working with Safaribookings to have it taken down.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A reliable and competent tour operator, capable of offering well-organized and high-quality services
My experience with Luitours and Safaris was exceptional. The communication was clear and professional from the very beginning, and the team was always available to answer my questions. The service was well organized and exceeded my expectations, offering great value for money. The guides were knowledgeable, friendly, and reliable, making the whole tour unforgettable. I highly recommend Luitours and Safaris to anyone looking for an authentic and well-managed travel experience.
CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
quick to respond
The advantage of this agent is their quick response time. Whether during the booking process or throughout our journey, they assisted us in resolving issues as promptly as possible. However, they seem to be more specialized in the Kenya portion of the trip. The Tanzania part was likely outsourced, which resulted in a less than satisfactory experience there.
First, for the Mount Kilimanjaro itinerary, we were not informed in advance that the accommodation was a mountain camp instead of a hotel, so we didn’t know we need to bring sleeping bags and other essentials.
Second, when we were about to enter a certain reserve, the guide asked us to wait for an hour to avoid paying next day’s entrance fee. However, we had already paid extra for this ticket. Although the agent communicated with the guide promptly, it still negatively affected our travel experience.
Third, while we were waiting to witness the Great Migration, the vehicle seemed to have an issue. The guide didn’t inform us and simply decided to abandon the wait and drive straight to the camp for repairs. While I understand that fixing the car was urgent, they should have at least let us know.
What’s more surprising is that on the last day, they simply left us at the hotel and told us to either wait an hour for the hotel’s shuttle bus to the airport or pay an additional fee for a direct transfer.
Additionally, I had specifically requested three binoculars, and they agreed. While the vehicle in Kenya had them, the one in Tanzania only had one for the guide.
Overall, the service was average. I wouldn’t highly recommend them, at least not for the Tanzania portion. Their Kenya arrangements were acceptable though.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic, personalized service!
I feel so lucky to have landed with Bavuma Wildquest for our six day safari in Tanzania and Kenya. After checking out a dozen other companies, Joshua Bavuma, the owner, contacted me immediately and helped plan a personalized trip that worked for our schedule and interests. Every detail went perfectly. From the moment he picked us up at Kilimanjaro airport to the day we arrived in Nairobi, every step went smoothly. Great accommodations, food, tour route, safety, and more animals and birds than I thought possible. Our drivers were excellent spotters—I would have missed many without their skill.
Joshua is reliable, honest, and flexible. He answered every email and text promptly, and even called several times. I highly recommend his company!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Attentive, knowledgeable and well connected for a great Safari experience
Tina at Magical Skies really made my safari to the Masai Maara into a memorable trip. The price was right, the hotels they selected were comfortable/beautiful, and the driver guide/vehicle Joseph was experienced and respected (this is an important aspect when they are talking to each other about sightings). I got to see all the big five!
CR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Best tour operator
I had the best 7-day safari of my life with Magical Gorilla Adventures in Uganda. All communication and safari planning was very effective and clear from the start and they were supportive and patient with all the amendments and requests. Also, they give you great suggestions for the tour depending on your needs or wishes. Aina suggested me to do chimp trek, which was my favorite part of all the safari (thank you Aina!). As for our tour guide Eddie, he was the absolute best. He really went above and beyond for me to see all of the Big 5. I went to different safaris in Africa and had several tour guides and they all were good, but Eddie really was outstanding. I suggest that, if possible, book your safari with Eddie. Eddie always made sure to talk to other drivers and/or the national park’s authorities to look for the animals and he is also a good tracker, he knows where and how to look for the animals. He also made sure we were always safe and taking necessary precautions which is also a very important thing to look for in a tour guide. I strongly recommend Magical Gorilla Adventures for your safari, you won´t regret it.