JP
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Nice guy
I joined a 3-day, 2-night private tour in the Maasai Mara.
Our guide, Daniel, was very friendly and extremely knowledgeable about animals. He was amazing at spotting even distant wildlife.
During the game drives, we were able to see many animals up close—it was an incredible experience.
We also added the optional balloon safari and Maasai village visit, and both were well worth the price.
It was a truly satisfying tour, and I highly recommend it!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Masai Mara National Reserve by Lesley Brown
Best part we visited by far. Beautiful when driving round, wildlife in every direction, and interesting terrain.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Lake Nakuru National Park by Lesley Brown
Great for birdwatching. Nice scenery and drive up there interesting
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Amboseli National Park by Lesley Brown
Nice park to visit with the backdrop of Kilimanjaro, but quite flat, barren and small in comparison to Masai Mara. Wildlife more spread-out and not in same volume apart from the elephants. Good to see the super tuskers
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Everything you see is around the Shire's River!
Liwonde National Park surprised us because there were more animals than we thought there would, and it was easier to see.
Its not like you would see animals every two minutes, you need long drives to get to the Shire River, and from there you see every animal there is to see.
There are not lots of tourists, and the lodges are cheaper than other countries. We liked it!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Hidden gem of Africa
What a great country to visit. Lovely people, beautiful scenery once outside the big cities, and wall to wall wildlife. A true bucket list destination.
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional
Moses and Johnson were excellent tour guides. They were knowledgeable, professional, courteous, and friendly.
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Valuable experience at a fair price
I found Nhlalala Travel researching Kruger Safari Tours on the web.
I sent an email to several operators asking for information.
Norman (founder and owner) sent me a very detailed answer about offers, prices and conditions.
I decided to place my bet on Nhlalala Travel not only because of good reviewes, but mainly because Norman supported our needs and I found his offer a fair compromise in terms of quality and price.
Our experience consisted in a 3 days of Safari in Kruger Park (end of October 2025), including private transfer from / to Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport.
At the first day Loyd picked us up in a sedan car directly at the hotel near the Airport around 7.30 a.m. and drove us to Kruger Gate Hotel (we checked-in about 2 p.m.). We had a couple of hours to relax before Safari sunset drive at 4 p.m. . I really recommend Kruger Gate Hotel, it is a bit more expensive, but it is worth your money: it is located just outside Kruger Park, next to the main entrance (Paul Kruger Gate), rooms are nice and clean, the environment is typical, it offers good services (such as zero-edge pool with observation desk and pool bar), it includes dinner (served buffet style, but variety and quality are good, drinks not included) and breakfast.
Second day we started a full day private Safari (on a shared vehicles, we were a dozen of visitors on it), at 5 a.m., until 3 p.m. . Early morning is the best moment of the day to see animals (there is light and the temperature is not so high). Our guide Roger was very experienced, knowledgeable, and available in satisfying our requests: we saw a lot of animals very close (elephants, giraffes, buffalos, zebras, hawks, eagles, wild-dogs, leopard, hippos, hyenas... and of course baboons, a lot of antelope species; unfortunately no lions, no rhinos, but we couldn't pretend to see them all in a single day).
Third day Loyd picked us up at Kruger Gate Hotel after breakfast at 8 a.m. . Again, this was a private transfer in a sedan car. We travelled the panoramic route, that passes through God's Window, the Three Rondavels and blyde River Canyon: the duration is a bit longer, but landscapes are amazing. We arrived in Johannesburg about 6 p.m., directly at the hotel.
We spent about 800€ p.p. , that seemed a relevant amount at the time I reserved, but after the experience I can say it is a fair deal: we had two private transfers in a nice car from / to our hotel in Johannesburg (close to OR Tambo Airport), we spent 2 nights in a beautiful 4-stars Hotel just outside Kruger Park with breakfast and dinner included, we had a sunset Safari (3 hours) on a shared vehicle and a full day private Safari (9 hours) with a dedicated guide, we came back through the panoramic route (entrance tickets to panoramic spots included).
Norman was very clear and professional in all steps of reservation process: I paid 35% in advance when placing the booking, then the balance due (65%) just 72h before the trip (payments done through payfast link).
In the end, I absolutely recommend Nhlalala Travel.
Again, great thanks to Norman, Loyd and Roger who took good care of us: we really enjoyed the experience.
Keep up the great job!
Edoardo & Monica
Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Don’t book !
Our experience with this company was extremely disappointing and unprofessional. The service was poorly organized, and the company failed to deliver on its promises.
We were transported in a van that was unsuitable for passengers and eventually broke down in the middle of the road. At no point were we informed of any luggage restrictions for our trip from Nairobi to the Masai Mara. When issues arose, rather than offering assistance, the staff humiliated us in front of other tourists.
Instead of ensuring that both we and our luggage reached our destination safely, we were told to either leave our luggage behind or place it on top of a jeep — where it was exposed to rain and became completely soaked. The vehicle was also overbooked, leaving some passengers cramped with limited visibility during a four-hour journey.
Throughout the safari, we were unfairly criticized and blamed by the agency for bringing luggage instead of backpacks, despite never being informed of any such requirement beforehand. When we attempted to raise our concerns, the company refused to take responsibility and insisted the fault was ours.
This experience was mentally exhausting and deeply frustrating. We are currently exploring legal action against the company. I strongly advise others not to book with them
