KH
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Truly a trip of a lifetime!
My friends and I had an incredible 10-day adventure with Widman Tours & Safari, exploring Ruaha National Park and Udzungwa Mountains. From the moment we booked, their team was professional, friendly, and attentive to every detail. The safari experience was unforgettable—wildlife sightings, stunning landscapes, and expert guides made each day special. The accommodations were comfortable and well-chosen, adding to our enjoyment. Exploring Udzungwa’s lush forests was a highlight, offering a perfect blend of adventure and relaxation. I highly recommend Widman Tours & Safari for an authentic, well-organized Tanzanian safari experience. Truly a trip of a lifetime!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Unresponsive and elusive
I was in contact with the owner Joshua throughout the process. I inquired about a 3 day chimpanzee trekking tour with 2 other travelers. I liked the itinerary and made a deposit. I had various questions and he was unresponsive. I had to follow up 2 or 3 times for him to respond which he was a red flag. My flight into Kigoma was canceled, so I should have been able to request a 50% refund of the deposit I made per their refund policy , as it was over 30 days prior to the trip. When I requested it, He never responded. I followed up various times without a response. Effectively, the refund I was owed was not given to me. I do not recommend this company if you plan on going on holiday unless you want to deal with an unresponsive and elusive owner.
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exceptional adventure
We had a superb safari with the team: Freddy, our driver and guide, and Baraka, our chef.
We chose a private safari to fully enjoy the adventure, and we were not disappointed. The food was perfect, thank you Baraka!
The accommodations were excellent: one night in a lodge, followed by incredible experiences in tents, sleeping in the savannah, surrounded by wild animals.
Upon our arrival and return from the safari, we stayed at Hekima House, where Shannel gave us a warm welcome and with whom we had a wonderful time.
Upon departure, we even shared a friendly drink with the Hekima House team.
⚠️ Important information: if you are in contact with Richard, aka "Pilipili," please note that he is not part of the company.
(automatic translation from French)
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Stress Filled Trip
Our group of twelve began planning this trip in Sept 2024 and hired Craig and Bianca of Southern African Tours to organize what we hoped would be a seamless, once-in-a-lifetime Safari and Cape Town experience. Instead, it turned into a stressful and costly ordeal.
After making our final payment in June, we repeatedly requested confirmations for hotels, internal flights, and Cape Town activities. Bianca assured us everything was paid for, but never provided any documentation. Upon arrival, we were shocked to discover that nothing had been paid for at all—no hotels, no flights, no activities.
Bianca stopped responding to all messages, leaving us completely abandoned and in disbelief.
Our first safari lodge confirmed Bianca only called the day BEFORE to request rooms, without payment. She had held our group’s money for nearly a year yet failed to secure a single booking. As a result, we had to pay out of pocket each day at higher last-minute prices for flights, safari resorts, hotels, tour guides, and Cape Town activities. To make matters worse, internal flights were so limited we had to split our group across different planes.
Instead of enjoying the trip we had spent a year looking forward to, we wasted precious hours daily researching, calling, and booking the rest of our own itinerary—tasks we had hired Southern African Tours to manage.
Thankfully, the staff at Kapama Game Reserve went above and beyond to help us find rooms and salvage part of our trip. Their professionalism was the only bright spot in this otherwise mismanaged experience.
Please learn from our mistake: do not use Southern African Tours. They took our money, failed to book or pay for anything, and strung us along with empty promises before going silent.
South Africa is a breathtaking country and truly worth experiencing—but do yourself a favor and use another travel agency that will handle every detail properly and give you the trip of a lifetime.
BG
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
100% recommended, professional and well organized safari
Very satisfied with everything from pre-communication, organisation, service, the whole safari experience and value for money. Many thanks to the whole team and mostly to Jeff who was a great guide and driver!
BE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Attentive, patient and personalised service
Great communication with Sian who answered all my questions fully and rapidly, allowing me to make a considered decision on lodges and areas in Botswana to visit.
Our trip went fully to plan and everything was very smooth and as foreseen.
Good value - would definitely book another trip in the future.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An amazing experience with Silver Spark
This is our 2nd Safari in East Africa and our first time in Kenya . We chose Silver Spark Africa Safaris and it turned out to be a great choice. Communication with Abongo was very easy and he realised our wishes .He was always responsive and glad to help . We did 14 days safari + Diani beach , we have visited Lake Bogoria, Lake Nakuru ,Masaai Mara , Serengeti (Tanzania) and Amboseli and Diani.All accomodations were as described as in our itinerary. Our drivers in Kenya and Tanzania were great ,we had more game drives in Kenya so our connection with our Kenyan driver proved to be a friendship.Apart from Safari we had long transits between parks .This meant that we've seen a lot of villages,towns etc therefore we felt a great connection with the locals . Also I have to mention our city tour of Nairobi and Kevin who was our most helpful guide .He did a great job of helping us settle in to the big city on our first day . From the beginning Abongo and his team looked after us , greeted us at he airport and waited for us at Namanga border . Fantastic job and highly recommend Silver Spark .
Thank you Abongo ,Kevin and the whole team of Silver Spark
SI
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An Unforgettable Safari with LE KOBE ADVENTURES – Special Thanks to Boss Mathayo and Our Top Guide P
Our safari in Tanzania with LE KOBE ADVENTURES was nothing short of extraordinary — an experience we will treasure for the rest of our lives.
From the very beginning, everything was flawlessly arranged by Mathayo, the boss of LE KOBE ADVENTURES. His professionalism, attention to detail, and personal involvement made the entire trip smooth, comfortable, and deeply enjoyable. It’s clear that Mathayo is passionate about delivering authentic, high-quality safari experiences — and he absolutely delivered.
A huge part of what made this journey so special was Phillip – our top guide. His deep knowledge of the land and wildlife, his sharp eye, and his calm, friendly presence made every game drive unforgettable. Phillip seemed to spot animals before anyone else — sometimes even before we knew where to look! He also took time to explain animal behaviors, conservation efforts, and the unique ecosystems of each region we explored.
Thanks to Phillip’s expertise, we were incredibly lucky to see the legendary Big Five — a true highlight of the trip.
For those unfamiliar, the Big Five refers to five of Africa’s most iconic and sought-after animals:
• Lion – the king of the savannah, always thrilling to see in the wild
• Elephant – majestic, intelligent, and deeply social animals
• Leopard – elusive and elegant; we were fortunate to spot one resting in a tree
• Buffalo – powerful and unpredictable, often seen in large herds
• Rhinoceros – increasingly rare and a powerful symbol of conservation
Seeing all five in their natural habitats was a dream come true, and something we will never forget.
We explored the world-famous Serengeti National Park and the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater, where every landscape felt like a scene from a nature film. From dramatic crater views to golden savannahs, the beauty was endless.
Another wonderful and unexpected highlight was discovering Phillip’s passion for music. During our time together, we had the pleasure of listening to some of his original songs — and it made the experience even more special. His music added a personal, heartfelt touch to our journey, and we’re truly glad he shared that part of himself with us. It reminded us that travel is not just about places, but also about the people you meet along the way.
The lodges and camps arranged by LE KOBE were perfectly selected — comfortable, scenic, and full of charm. The hospitality was warm, the food delicious, and the locations ideal for early morning and evening game drives.
This wasn’t just a holiday — it was a life-enriching adventure.
If you're planning a safari in Tanzania, we can’t recommend LE KOBE ADVENTURES highly enough. With Boss Mathayo’s expert organization and Phillip’s outstanding guiding (and musical talent!), you are guaranteed a safari that goes far beyond your expectations.
Take care Mathayo & Phillip
Boštjan and the family - Slovenia Koper
CA
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Look no further than Safari 56, an excellent Tanzania-based Safari Operator!
My family and I highly recommend Safari 56 for your Tanzanian safaris.
We booked two private safaris through Mega Wild Safaris in Uganda to take us to game parks in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The Tanzanian segments were operated by Safari 56 and timed to coincide with the Great Migration in the Serengeti.
The first safari with our two adult children began from the Namanga border crossing between Kenya and Tanzania, where we were presented with Safari 56 swag -- two Safari 56 t-shirts apiece with our names emblazoned on the back! -- much to our delight. Border formalities went smoothly thanks to the transfer agents from Safari 56 to assist us, then transfers from the border to our hotel in Arusha allowed us to relax and enjoy being cared for. From Arusha, we visited the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area and Serengeti NP (staying in different sectors of the park over three nights). Our days on safari spent in the excellent, well-equipped and comfy Toyota Land Cruiser pop-up-roof safari vehicles began after the crack of dawn and ended 11 hours later before dusk, which was exactly how we wanted them: filled to the max. Sightings were abundant and lavish, informed by our trained, experienced guide-drivers who tended to our every need, made us feel at ease from the get-go and knew how and when to get things done so we never had to fret about doing anything. From the Serengeti, we were seamlessly deposited at the Seronera Airstrip for our flight to Zanzibar (for a few days of beachside relaxation at the excellent My Blue Hotel),
Our second safari for my wife and I, included Ngorongoro, Serengeti and Tarangire NP. It was as excellent as our first.
Needless to say, we saw an incredible amount and variety of wildlife, including not only the Big 5, but 5 crossings of the wildebeest over the Mara River over two days. The sheer richness of the Serengeti/Maasai Mara ecosystem has to be seen to be believed and seeing it with expert guide-drivers like those furnished by Safari 56 made for an unforgettable and richly-rewarding experience.
Our Safari 56 guide-drivers, Martin and Jackson, were simply delightful -- mature, friendly, reliable, respectful, knowledgeable, safety-conscious, always on time and both took impeccable care of us. Martin, always smiling, doted over us and the kids, and Jackson summed it up perfectly when we first crossed into Serengeti NP and he said: "Welcome to my office!" We entrusted ourselves fully into their most capable hands.
The accommodation, both tented and lodge-based, was always comfortable and, occasionally, luxurious. The food, though sometimes repetitious in its buffet offerings, was nonetheless hearty and nourishing. Everything ran smoothly and like clockwork. Communication with Akida and Elisia in the office was excellent.
One important distinction to note. Safari 56 driver-guides are ethically-minded and respect all wildlife-viewing protocols and park rules, whereas certain other safari companies bend the rules when it comes to popular sightings. For example, during Great Migration crossings of the Mara River in the Serengeti, some drivers parked their vehicles directly in the path of the migrating wildebeest, or allowed their passengers to exit the vehicle to see better or get a better photo angle. While this is both prohibited and dangerous, it is done for the purposes of extracting higher tips from self-absorbed passengers too careless to bother about how their behaviour stresses and endangers the animals. Our Safari 56 drivers, Martin and Jackson, always maintained a safe distance from the animals yet managed to strategically position the vehicles for optimal viewing. This is where a good, experienced driver, who keeps the safety and protection of wildlife and his passengers in mind, is such as asset.
In short, you need not look any further than Safari 56 for your next safari in Tanzania. Book them alone or through Mega Wild Safari in Kampala, Uganda, which contracts them out when in Tanzania.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Well organised tour operator
I did the Dankali depression tour, which was well organised from pick up to drop off at the airport. This is a unique tour and well worth the price tag, as it includes domestic flights and over 500km of driving. You can communicate with Vowland via WhatsApp. I got a quick response. You can also pay for the tour when you arrive in Addis, which will give you more comfort.
The driver allocated to our tour was great, no speeding and took care whilst driving off-road, as roads are non-existent and you may not see another car for hours.