50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A Once In a Lifetime Disappointment
I'm really shocked by all of the 5 star reviews. For an experience that costs so much money, I was dismayed at the barely adequate level of service that was provided. Did we see animals? Sure. But they are had to miss and there HAS to be better operators to go with.
Some tips: Make sure your guide speaks English well. Ask about the quality and presentation of lunches you'll be provided while you're out on game drives. If possible, book a tour that provides a guide AND a driver. They are two different skill-sets. Don't over-extend yourself trying to see too many areas. You don't want to spend more time driving from park to park than seeing animals. We felt that Shayona failed in all of these areas for us.
First, our guide (Ndika) was awful. For my standards, he barely spoke English. He couldn't answer to our satisfaction our questions about the animals or numerous other questions that arose on the tour. We gave up after a while, which significantly diminished how much we could've learned through the experience. Also, he had horrible body odor. Admittedly, that may not be a big deal to some people, but when you're stuck in a vehicle for 4-5 hours a day for multiple days it's a miserable experience. We brought this up with Ajay when we first met our guide, but the situation was never resolved. Ndika also drove like a mad-man, over-taking vehicles like he was on a race and at one point, while driving up a narrow cliff-side road as we entered Ngorongora park, one of our rear wheels started to slide off the edge of the road (cliffside). He had to do a crazy drifting maneuver to right the vehicle. I've never been so scared in my life.
Beyond that, as a tour operator, you expect them to apply their expertise and experience to help ensure a pleasant tour. Nope. One small example was our daily lunch. Most other tour groups had picnic blankets to drape over the picnic tables which, understandably had bird droppings on them. They had food that was stored in hot or cold packs. Our lunches, which had perishable items, were kept on the front seat with the driver. There were no picnic blankets so we had to sit at tables covered in bird droppings. The cooler in the vehicle didn't even have ice or dry ice to keep drinks cold during our long outings. These are small things, but you'd think that an experienced company would have figured out these basic things to ensure a good experience for their guests. Remember, these tours costs thousands and thousands of dollars.
The tour organization was also very half-hazard. Flight itineraries weren't read in advance, so we were left scrambling at the last minute for lodging when we arrived. As mentioned earlier, our guide, didn't seem to know what was on each day's itinerary from one day to the next. Most critically, the itinerary Shayona provided was completely impractical. We spent WAY too much time driving from one place to another when we could've spent that time looking at animals. The operator should've used his expertise and experience to tell us if we needed more time or needed to cut down our wish-list of places to see, but he didn't. There was no guidance that could've made for a better trip. To be honest, there wasn't much communication leading up to our trip, which should've been a red-flag.
Sadly, this was a once-in-a-lifetime trip so there are no do overs for us. What should've been an amazing experience was ultimately a huge disappointment. Choose your operator and guide wisely. If I were you, I wouldn't choose Shayona.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wonderful
I loved everything. Nice tour around tanzania ans highly recommend the company
ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
All the staff answer us really quick and solve all our problems really fast.
The safari experience with Kilipath was incredible from the very beginning. I requested a quote and they responded very quickly, answering all the questions we had.
Our safari guide, Raymond, gave us lots of information about all the animals throughout the trip. We were very lucky because we got to see lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, rhinos, hippos, and many more...
We also enjoyed amazing and varied breakfasts, lunches, and dinners thanks to our chef, Pasco.
Thanks to them, the whole experience exceeded our expectations.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent!! Mama Anna and Samantha make you feel like family!
Following the safari, I am recommending Mama Anna and her team to everyone I know.
Mama Anna and Samantha treat you like one of their own. And there were several examples of this. She insisted we had breakfast before the safari, insisted we had dinner afterwards and then insisted we get a private transfer back to Moshi, all on her own dime and arranged beforehand as a suprise. Mama Anna is truly wonderful!
The safari itself was wonderful. Saw all the Big 5 and the guide was great! Super knowledgeable and paced it just about right.
Only regret is that I wish I found Mama Anna and her company sooner!
JP
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A trustworthy , sincere and friendly safari partner
I went on a 2-day mid-range group joining safari to Tarangire N.P and Ngorongoro Crater. As a solo traveler, I found this tour to be safe ,fun and an amazing value for money. From my first contact with the manager Yohanes, I felt they are reliable and trustworthy.
The game drives were full of surprises, and our driver/guide, Ali, was exceptionally friendly and making me feel completely welcome. On top of that, Kankari Lodge located in Karatu was lovely, peaceful place that combined local charm with comfort.
The whole experience was a perfect escape from reality, making me completely forget the busy outside world. I highly recommend Tanzania Pilgrimage Safaris to anyone looking for an affordable yet high-quality safari!
ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible experience in Tanzania with Kilipath.
We received excellent service from all the staff. The company we booked the activities with always responded promptly. Everything was perfect. Special mention goes to our guide, Raymond, who made our safari experience truly unforgettable. Our chef, Pasco, prepared an excellent meal.
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35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An Unforgettable African Safari with Making Memories in Africa! 🦁🐘🦓❤️
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An Unforgettable African Safari with Making Memories in Africa! 🦁🐘🦓❤️
Our family of 10—6 adults and 4 children—had an absolutely incredible experience with Making Memories in Africa! From beginning to end, the level of care, hospitality, and attention we received made this trip truly unforgettable.
Our adventure began when our tour guides picked us up in Arusha, carefully packed all of our luggage into the safari jeeps, and started our approximately 7-hour journey to Serengeti National Park. Once there, we began our first game drive, and it was AMAZING! We saw so many beautiful animals, including zebras, lions, gazelles, elephants, and many more. 🦓🦁🐘 Seeing these animals in their natural habitat was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for both the adults and children in our family.
The accommodations and meals throughout our safari were wonderful. Breakfast and dinner were provided at each of our accommodations, and lunch was also prepared for us each day by the lodge to take along on our safari. Having everything arranged for us made traveling with a family of 10 so much easier and allowed us to simply relax and enjoy the experience.
Our first night was spent in the Serengeti, and our second night was near the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater. Waking up surrounded by the beauty of Tanzania and experiencing these incredible locations as a family gave us memories we will cherish forever.
A very special thank you goes to our tour operator, Ally, who truly went above and beyond for our family. On our final day in Tanzania, we had several hours between the end of our safari and our flight to Istanbul, Turkey, for the second part of our vacation. Instead of having our family wait around for hours, Ally arranged an apartment where all 10 of us could shower, rest, and get comfortable before heading to the airport—and he did this at no additional cost to us. After several days of traveling and safari adventures, having a comfortable place to freshen up and relax before our flight was incredibly thoughtful and greatly appreciated.
Ally also surprised each member of our family with a Making Memories in Africa T-shirt featuring their monogram, along with a certificate commemorating our safari experience. It was such a special and thoughtful way to end our time in Tanzania. ❤️
Making Memories in Africa truly lived up to its name! They didn't simply take us on a safari—they helped our family create memories that we will talk about and treasure for years to come. From the incredible wildlife and breathtaking scenery to the kindness, organization, and hospitality shown to our family, the entire experience was exceptional.
If you are considering an African safari, especially with children or a large family group, we highly recommend Making Memories in Africa. Ally and his team made sure we were comfortable, well cared for, and able to enjoy every moment of this incredible adventure.
Thank you, Ally and the entire Making Memories in Africa team, for taking such wonderful care of our family and giving us an experience of a lifetime! 🌍🦁🐘🦓❤️
You truly helped our family make memories in Africa that we will never forget!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Friends Group Tour With Maseke Adventures
When we first inquired about our trip the first thing which made us choose Maseke Adventures was the staff customer care because they could reply in time and when we arrived in Uganda for our 3 weeks trip they went an extra mile to make us very comfortable. The tour guide was very humble and insightful with knowledge because he explained everything we asked very well. We where a group of 11 friends but we really enjoyed a lot especially the Gorilla Trekking which was one of our fun and scary trip and trust me the Game Parks drives where so good and the feel of the parks. I can not wait to come back again.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional, Knowledgeable, customer friendly, courteous, responsive.
It is a very friendly responsive company. Makes good recommendations
Very reliable. Good knowledgeable, English speaking drivers.
Makes good accommodation arrangements.
We suggested minor changes to make the vehicles ( jeep cruisers) more comfortable for long bumpy trail rides.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Extraordinary service!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ DAV Safaris — Extraordinary Service, Unforgettable Experience
If you are planning an Africa safari and want a company that will not only craft an incredible itinerary but genuinely take care of you every single step of the way — DAV Safaris is your answer. I cannot recommend them highly enough.
I just completed a 25 day journey across Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe and South Africa — and every single goal I set for this once in a lifetime trip was achieved:
✅ The Big Five — completed
✅ Gorilla trekking — breathtaking
✅ Chimpanzee tracking — spectacular
✅ Golden monkey trekking — magical
✅ The Great Wildebeest Migration river crossing — once in a lifetime
✅ The magnificent wines of South Africa — the perfect finale
But what truly sets DAV Safaris apart from any other company is not just the extraordinary experiences they arranged — it is the genuine personal care they showed me throughout the entire journey.
When I ran into a cash situation they personally took me to the ATM and currency exchange without a second thought. When I ran out of medication they took me directly to a pharmacy and made sure I had everything I needed before we continued. These are not services you expect from a safari company. DAV Safaris goes so far above and beyond the call of duty that they don't just plan your trip — they become your family away from home.
Every guide I worked with was outstanding — knowledgeable, passionate, professional and genuinely invested in making sure my experience was everything I dreamed it would be. Africa is more beautiful, more complex and more humbling than I ever imagined, and having guides who understood that and shared it with such pride made every single day richer than the last.
But I must give the most special recognition to Julius — who was absolutely extraordinary throughout this entire journey. Julius guided me through every single trek — gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest, golden monkey trekking, and the canopy sky bridge walk high above the rainforest. Each of these was physically demanding in its own way, and Julius was there every single step — patient, encouraging, supportive and completely dedicated to making sure I succeeded. Because of Julius I stood face to face with mountain gorillas. Because of Julius I watched chimpanzees swing through the trees above me. Because of Julius I did things I genuinely wasn't sure I could do.
Julius — you are one in a million. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. 🙏
This trip was the number one dream of my life. DAV Safaris made every single moment of it perfect. If Africa is calling you — and trust me, it is — answer it with DAV Safaris by your side.
You will be in the very best hands on the continent. 🌍🦍🦁🐘🦒🌅
