TR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exceeded expectations
We did 5 day masai mara & nakuru & naivasha tour. We started with masai mara which was spectacular and the most incredible part of the tour. We couldn't spot a leopard and rhino there but we could see all the other wildlife in two days. Every animal was abundant. Nakuru was very nice too. It is a great place to see rhinos. Naivasha is mild safari tour with great excursions including water and bike safari. Overall it was a great experience, but our first driver Jack was a silent guy who doesn't communicate with their guests and doesn't explain about the tour much. This was disappointing and leaves you with an uneasy feeling. He was mostly just driving and answering our questions with small words. Our second driver John was an incredible guy who was very helpful.
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very professional, very good service, very experienced guide
Very happy with the service, communication, professionalism. Henry responded regularly through email. Due to his constant responses didn’t seem we were corresponding from abroad. The Safari Jeep we booked for 7 days was clean, in very good condition. Guide Julius was the best - knowledgeable, friendly, attentive.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent, out of this world experience!
If you want a wonderful and absolute perfect Safari experience, do not look any further.
We used Gosheni for our trip to Arusha, Tarangire and Seregenti last year and could not have been any happier. We put our trust in all their good reviews on Tripadvisor and it definitely paid off.
Before we even booked our trip, we exchanged countless emails with Peter. We were able to craft a completely custom 11 day trip, based on his recommendations, our requests and recommendations from fellow Tripadvisor users. Peter was always very patient, extremely helpful and fast to respond. My wife is also severely allergic to gluten (celiac disease) and we had to make sure that she is well taken care of. He reached out to all the lodges and also provided us their names & contact information, so that we can also discuss our concerns directly with them. All of them did a fantastic job and the lodges they recommended were wonderful. She did not get sick!
Our guide, Hubert, went completely out of his way to ensure we are having the time of our life. He took care of us like we were family. Thanks to him we saw the big 5 and lots of other incredible animals. We took over 6,000 pictures and still have not sorted through them all.
During our stay we also learned that Peter used to be a guide himself, before he started his own company. He still embraces that role today and takes very good care of everyone, incl. his guides - which is not necessarily given in this industry. The vehicles that Gosheni is using are very new, comfortable and well equipped custom safari jeeps with power outlets, a cooler with various drinks, coffee, tea, Wifi etc. We could not have asked for more!
When we had an issue at one of the camps that we booked (based on the camp's Tripadvisor reviews), Peter, Hubert and their office immediately came to our rescue and secured us a fantastic, brand-new lodge nearby. We even got to meet the owner, who owns over a dozen lodges in Tanzania, and got to hear his incredible story.
This trip was an out of this world experience that we will cherish forever. It is definitely worth it. We have recommended Gosheni to several coworkers, friends & family members and would not hesitate to book with them again.
Asante sana, Peter & Hubert! Until we meet again!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great company and great experience
As a solo female traveler, I chose Aardvark Expeditions Ltd. because I wanted to book an extensive and safe, adventure filled trip to Tanzania. I, also, wanted to use a company that was locally owned by a Tanzanian, and not a US or UK based company, all for a reasonable price. Aardvark Expeditions exceeded my expectations on all fronts. From the first email, the owner of the company, Philemon Joel, responded to my every question promptly and respectfully. My entire trip was arranged for me starting with a hike to the summit of Kilimanjaro, then to a safari, then to a relaxing beach on Zanzibar. The price tag for all of this was much less than other companies I researched, sometimes by almost half. All in-country travel was included in the price, so I had no need to arrange for taxi service at airports. All meals while on the mountain and on the safari were, also, included. My hotel, Arusha Giraffe Lodge in Arusha was wonderful! Comfortable and cheap with a very attentive staff. I was picked up by my guide, Freddy, and the rest of my porter team to head to the mountain. My climb up Kilimanjaro was amazing. Freddy was extremely knowledgeable about the mountain and had been to the summit over 250 times. I was provided with fresh fruit and veggies daily, along with hot water for tea, coffee, or hot chocolate every morning and night, as well as daily water to wash. The meals were delicious, variable, and filling and the team was strong and kind. With the help of Freddy and Chobias, I was able to make it all the way to the top. My safari guide was, also, very knowledgeable about each eco-system at all of the parks we visited, including Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Lake Manyara. The accommodations while on safari were fabulous and very comfortable and all the delicious meals included. I was able to view, close up, all the animals one would want to see while visiting this area of the world, including; elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, zebra, etc. Transportation to Zanzibar went with no problems, and I was picked up to spend 1 night in Stonetown at the Tembo House Hotel which was beautiful and right on the beach and had a historic walking tour arranged, and then transferred to the Z Hotel in Nungwi Beach for 3 days of rest and relaxation. Aardvark Expeditions kept me safe, kept me happy, and made it affordable for me to take the trip of a lifetime. Thanks Philemon for all your hard work arranging all of this for me. I will be back!
CA
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolutely Amazing!
I booked this trip through Pembury Tours working with Tammy Harding - what an amazing travel agent! She was recommended to me by a friend who had booked his trip with her and he was thoroughly impressed. I had the same experience! She got everything organized for me - flights, lodge, type of room and, activities; she responded to emails within a day and was quick to take action when required. The lodge, Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, provided a room with a view of the watering hole, it was clean and well equipped; the service was excellent as was the food. The Sunset Cruise was relaxing, provided great views and the boat would come close to land so we could see the animals. The guided tour of Victoria Falls was excellent with a very knowledgeable and friendly guide. The game drive safari experience was exciting..the driver didn't just stay on the main trail but went off-road so we could see the animals up close - a longer arm would have enabled me to touch some of them. I really enjoyed my time in Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls.
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic Day Trip with the Gorillas in Rwanda
While in Kigali for a Business trip, i booked a day trip with New Horizons to the Volcanoes National Park. On the trekking date,i met a professional driver who become my friend Mr.Chris; with timely departures early morning from Kigali and check in at the park on time. I enjoyed meetings the cousins in the mists and i thank Christoper for driving me safely as well as facilitating paper work and showing me around along the way. Rwanda is Awesome, Gorilla Experience is the best.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The most spectacular African vacation
All of my communication with African Welcome (Alex Simon) was excellent and prompt. I simply identified where in Africa we wanted to visit, budget and duration desired and African Welcome produced a trip of a lifetime! All of our lodges met or exceeded our expectations, everyone of the drivers designated to transfer us from one place to another were prompt, pleasant and efficient.
We saw "The Big Five" by the end of day two!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The most AMAZING vacation ever!!!
My husband and I are seasoned travelers so trust me when I say that this is the BEST vacation we've ever had! Thank you Ker & Downey and specifically, Sarah and Pippa, for putting this all together and exceeding our very high expectations! They did an outstanding job of listening to our wishes, promptly responding to our many, many questions, and offering outstanding suggestions that fit our time and budget constraints. Sarah and Pippa know Africa and the companies in operation there. You can trust their expertise. And, they did this all with a charming attitude eager to make this the vacation of our dreams. My only regret is not visiting Capetown and meeting them in person. I guess we have to save this for our next visit.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A LIFE CHANGING TRIP
This trip has been number #1 on my husbands bucket list of vacations. A photographer friend recommended Celebrity Tours to us. We couldn't have been happier with the experience. My husband is a photo enthusiast and this has been his life long dream to travel to Africa for a photo safari. From the moment we landed in Nairobi and met Joseph and Muli I knew that we were in good hands. Joseph was our drive/guide for almost 10 days of safari. We traveled to Amboseli National park where we stayed for 3 nights. Joseph knew exactly where to go and was voice connected with other drivers so that once a animal was spotted we were able to get there quickly to get photos. Next was Lake Nakuru National Park which was breathtaking. We went out on a boat and were able to photograph hippos in the water and many animals as well on land with a walking guide. We also visited Lake Naivasha which was equally beautiful. We then drove to the Masai Mara for 4 nights and were able to see and obtain amazing photos of these beautiful animals in their natural habitats. The entire experience from start to finish is one that we will never forget. The team especially Joseph and Muli were amazing. We were able to see all of the Big 5 thanks to Joseph and his amazing driving. We went out for long days of safari and Joseph was right with us saying where we need to go to see the next animal. We are already planning with the Celebrity team another safari this time to South Africa. We cant say enough great things about this company and the people who are associated with it. They made a trip of a lifetime and experience of a lifetime!!!!
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
OUR GUIDE THOMAS
Recently my spouse and I undertook a trip to the Maasai Mara in Kenya. We had a very warm welcome at the Nairobi Airport , driven to our hotel and pickled up the next morning.
We where then introduced to our tour guide and general factotum , Thomas Nudunda Kioko , who was to be our guide , mentor and all round advisor for the duration of our stay.
On the first day of our visit to the Maasai Mara , Tom dropped us off at the hotel and picked us up an hour later to take the group on an evening drive. I ( we ) thought well this was going to be just another game drive , but to our surprise Tom showed us 4 out of the BIG 5 in the Mara within an hour of our afternoon game drive.
It became quite evident that over the next few days which the group spent with Tom was going to be something out of the ordinary and special.
His knowledge of the Flora and Fauna ( check spelling ) was to say the least , very exceptional. He spoke with authority on the various animals on their way they hunted and ate amongst the many other bits of information that one could only glean from a textbook or a learned professor at a university. He always made our tour as pleasant and comfortable as possible . The manner in which he handled the vehicle was a sheer delight, something that I've never seen before. We are truly thankful for his insight into the animal world and for making our stay so enjoyable and pleasant.
A real asset to his company and to the Kenyan people as a whole.... well done Tom and hope that you prosper in the years to come and continue with your good communication skills .
We would whole heartedly recommend Thomas Ndunga Kioko to anyone wishing to get a very knowledgeable tour guide.
His contact details are :
Cellphone +254 722 751 268
Email : [email protected]
All the best,