50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Attentive and responsive from the beginning of the planning process through to the end of the trip
This started out as a bucket list trip for my very able bodied 86 yo mother. I reached out to Matt about a year before to solicit information and he got back to me immediately with a few questions regarding time and budget and then a full itinerary landed in my inbox the next morning. We chose the luxury level- Matt and Tapestry of Africa did not disappoint. We ended up being a group of 5 women, ranging in age from 33 to 86, and everyone had a wonderful time. Our safari was 11 days and we traveled/drove through 5 National Reserves/Parks in this order Maasai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, and Amboseli.
Our safari was during a 'shoulder' season - which has its pluses and minuses. The major plus was a more intimate experience with the animals. In the Maasai Mara we were one of no more than three cruisers at any given location looking at a group of animals, and many times the only vehicle. We saw 13 different animals on our first day alone. This plus also translated to accommodations that weren't busy and a private hot air balloon ride. Another plus was the mild temperature - we had maybe one or two 'hot' days, but the rest was very comfortable and minimal bugs. A minus was the rain - realizing we had no control over this and this was a risk we took going in March. But what we weren't prepared for were the road conditions and the time it took to travel from one location to another. For example, our drive from the Maasai Mara across the Tanzania border to the Serengeti took all day and the roads were terrible - my smart watch congratulated me thinking I had exercised - just to give the reader an idea.
Accommodations - these ranged from upscale tent cabins with ensuite bathrooms to 5 star hotels, all with excellent service and care. Everyone was so kind and generous. The food was outstanding and just got better and better at each location.
Packing - we were all able to do the the trip with carry on luggage- all of the accommodations offered laundry services, with some being complimentary - so that made it easier to pack lightly.
Animals - They didn't disappoint. A couple of the game drives, just after some rain, were on the quiet side, but overall the Maasai Mara, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire did not disappoint. The only animal we did not see up close, but did through binoculars, was the Rhino. Everything else including cheetahs and a leopard shared their space with us.
Tapestry of Africa - Our point people on the ground were Hilda and Albert - and they were always available on a moment's notice to answer questions or give directions and we were lucky enough to meet Matt at the end of our trip as he was just arriving in Nairobi with a group of volunteers. Our drivers - Joseph in Kenya and Andrew in Tanzania - were outstanding and very skilled drivers. They were so knowledgeable and enjoyed sharing that knowledge and also had great senses of humor - which made the trip that much more fun.
If I do it again ....I will bring more cash ($1000-$1200) and in small denominations - the cost of the Tanzanian Visa at the border was $100 in cash, and the small denominations help out with tipping ie: $1 to attendant in the public bathrooms, and having the cash allows you to tip your guides directly.
I would fly in between a couple of the locations instead of driving - we spent A LOT of time in a vehicle. For example, I would fly from Nairobi to the Maasai Mara or Maasai Mara to the Serengeti and then from Amboseli to Nairobi.
Overall a fantastic experience and adventure. We would definitely recommend Tapestry of Africa.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
He was very professional, attentive to our vacation needs & ensured all our expectations were met.
I reached out to Golden Eagle Tours to plan a vacation for my family in Naivasha. I spoke to a gentleman called James who quickly linked me up with options as per my budget. He is very professional & attentive to details. Our arrival & stay at Lake Naivasha resort was seamless & more than amazing. The rooms were clean & comfy, the meals were good & variety was served. The kids enjoyed swimming, the lake & movie nights in the movie theatre. Being ferried on a golf- cart to & fro provided extra fun for the kids & convenience for me. With 4 kids & one being a 10 month old, we found a baby cot already set up, a feeding chair & baby food options was always available during meal time & a to-go pack upon request. James did not only follow up on our arrival but also on our stay to ensure we were comfortable. I highly recommend Golden Eagles tour for family vacations & I'm considering a couples re-treat with them in July/August.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Excellent
Incredible experience! Friendly and knowledgeable guides, great transportation, excellent accommodation with far too much delicious food. The whole program went smoothly. We were always on time everywhere.... even at viewings!!! Not to mention the surprises in the bush. Would recommend it to anyone. Absolutely one of our adventure HIGHLIGHTS!
(automatic translation from Afrikaans)
AE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Safari of a Lifetime – Exceptional Service, Incredible Wildlife, and Outstanding Value
My husband and I recently completed a 5-day private safari with Ron Adventures (25–29 May 2026), and it was truly one of the best travel experiences we have ever had. From the moment we first contacted Ron until the day we said goodbye in Arusha, everything was organised professionally, personally, and with great attention to detail.
Before our trip even began, we encountered some airline issues that required last-minute changes to our arrival plans in Tanzania. Ron handled everything without hesitation, making all the necessary adjustments to our itinerary quickly and efficiently, and without charging us any extra fees. It immediately showed us how much he genuinely cares about his customers and their experience.
Another thing that stood out was the value for money. We compared several safari operators before booking and found Ron Adventures to be very competitively priced. Having now completed the safari, we can honestly say that the quality of the experience far exceeded what we expected for the price we paid.
Ron organised our flights from Dar es Salaam to Seronera and our return flight from Arusha back to Dar es Salaam, as well as all accommodation, meals, park fees, and transfers. Everything ran seamlessly from start to finish.
When we met our guide, Rogers, we were greeted by a wonderful surprise. The safari vehicle had a custom spare wheel cover on the back featuring our photo, which was such a thoughtful and personal touch. The following morning, we were also presented with personalised drinking bottles displaying our names and photos. These little details made us feel truly valued as guests and perfectly reflected the personalised service that Ron Adventures provides.
Our itinerary included four incredible destinations: Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara National Park, and Tarangire National Park. We spent two nights at Acacia Central Camp in the Serengeti, one night at Ngorongoro Coffee Lodge, and our final night at Serian Tarangire. Every property was excellent, comfortable, well-maintained, and perfectly located for exploring the surrounding wildlife areas.
Having a private vehicle for the entire safari made a huge difference. We were never rushed and had complete flexibility throughout the trip, allowing us to spend more time enjoying special sightings and taking photographs.
A special mention must go to our guide, Rogers, who was absolutely outstanding. His knowledge of the parks, wildlife, animal behaviour, and local environment was exceptional. He was friendly, professional, patient, and incredibly passionate about his work. It was obvious throughout the trip that he genuinely wanted us to have the best possible safari experience.
The wildlife sightings were beyond anything we could have imagined. During our five days, we were fortunate enough to see all of the Big Five — leopard, lion, rhino, buffalo, and elephant — which was a dream come true. In addition, we saw countless other species including hippos, giraffes, crocodiles, wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, impalas, antelope, monkeys, mongooses, warthogs, vultures, and many more. One of the absolute highlights was witnessing the incredible wildebeest and zebra migration. Many of our sightings were at remarkably close range, giving us unforgettable opportunities to observe and photograph these magnificent animals in their natural habitat.
Rogers consistently went above and beyond to ensure we had the best possible wildlife viewing experience. His ability to spot animals was remarkable, and he always positioned the vehicle perfectly for viewing and photography. Time and again, his expertise allowed us to witness moments that we otherwise would have missed.
What impressed us most was that Ron's involvement did not end once the safari began. He remained available throughout the trip and even took the time to personally meet us in Arusha when our safari concluded. That level of personal attention is increasingly rare and speaks volumes about both Ron and his company.
As a smaller operator, Ron Adventures offers a level of personal service that larger companies simply cannot match. Every aspect of our safari felt thoughtfully planned and tailored to us, from the personalised gifts and flexibility with our travel arrangements to the outstanding guiding and carefully selected accommodation.
This safari exceeded every expectation we had. The combination of incredible wildlife, beautiful lodges, excellent organisation, outstanding customer service, and the expertise of Rogers made it an experience we will never forget.
If you are considering a safari in Tanzania and want a company that genuinely cares about its guests while delivering an exceptional safari experience at a very competitive price, I cannot recommend Ron Adventures highly enough.
A heartfelt thank you to both Ron and Rogers for creating memories that will last us a lifetime. We would not hesitate to book with Ron Adventures again and will be recommending them to family and friends for many years to come.
CO
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good experience
We had an amazing safari experience with Serengeti Smile! Our guide Zac was absolutely outstanding — always attentive, knowledgeable and made sure we had everything we needed throughout the trip. The accommodations were wonderful and well chosen. Highly recommended!
OM
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Excellent value for money tour with very nice people.
Special thanks to Gloria and Robert.
Communication with Gloria to plan the last minute trip was very efficient and she was a great host at Nshongi lodge. Robert was our guide and chauffeur from Kigali to Bwindi Forest and back for the 3 days and it was perfect.
Everything went very smoothly and we enjoyed every moment of the trip.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The tour operator was efficient and planned our trip extremely well, ensuring our needs were met.
We booked a 9-day tour so we had several guides throughout our stay in Africa. All guides were well informed and very pleasant. We saw the Big 5 and the Ugly 5! We were beyond excited about each of our game drives! The lodges we stayed at were gorgeous and extremely comfortable. Camping for 5 nights was definitely an adventure but the beds were comfortable and we had en-suite restrooms with our tents. The Camp staff were amazing! Food was always delicious and our accommodations were always comfortable. I have never slept that well! The cost was what we expected and was reasonable for our accommodations throughout the 9-day tour. Thank you for the experience!
AE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Fantastic Caring and Attention to detail
We had a great time with Banok Safaris. Right from customizing the package, they are very adjusting to the customer budget and gave good camp/lodge options within the budget. Benson and Sky helped to curate a good package. We has a 7 night 8 day package and it flew by very quickly.
Tip: Always try to stay as much as possible inside the forest and try to choose Camps than Lodges.
Jackson the guide, the driver, the specialist, the expert, was awesome. He made our game drives fun, thrilling and knowledgeable. I would definitely recommend him for the tour.
We saw the big 5 and many others even though we went in the lean season. Even when we had some small issues in the lodges in Nakuru and Naivasha, jackson helped us through the lodge guys to fix everything for us.
All in all a great trup and we will definitely come back and travel again with Banok Safaris.
IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Sightings
Great sightings, saw the big 5 including 28 lions. Apparently not everyone witnessed the amount of wildlife we saw. Got to know our guide Caleb is known as Jungle master in the area. He was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable; he ensured we entered the park at the earliest and exit at the very end. Very lucky to do the safari with him. During the week, we were among the few jeeps who saw 2 cheetahs outside the Amboseli park.
Highly recommended to do private safari with Jungle roam and Caleb!
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Exceptional Service for Large Groups and Student Travel
Andrew and the Usoke Explorers team were fantastic throughout our two-week university trip in Uganda. They helped coordinate transportation, guided excursions, safari experiences and other activities for a group of more than 35 students, and professors.
What impressed me most was how easy they made everything. We simply had to show up on time, and they took care of the rest. From organizing activities like quad biking and horseback riding to guiding us through the day-time and night-time safaris, Andrew and his team were professional, flexible, and incredibly knowledgeable about the local area and wildlife.
They were also great at helping us spot animals, answering questions, and even taking candid photos throughout the trip. Managing a large student group is not easy, but they handled it effortlessly and made the entire experience enjoyable and stress-free.
I would highly recommend Usoke Explorers to students, large groups, or anyone looking for a well-organized and memorable experience in Uganda. Thank you, Andrew and team, for helping make our trip so special.
