NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing!
It was really a beautifull experience! We went from zanzibar for 1 day to selous game reserve and we enjoyed it so so much! Really amazing!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Maximum wildlife and great people
We booked a 3 night Masai Mara safari with Bigmac Safaris. Having lived in South Africa for a few years we are not strangers to Africa or safaris. The Masai Mara proved to be fantastic game viewing. It can get busy with other safari vehicles but 99% of guides are polite to other drivers/guides and they all keep each other informed of good locations and move around animals with care. The quality of the lodge and food was good. I would recommend Kenya for a first time safari because of the sheer number of animals you are likely to encounter. Kenyan people are friendly and always willing to go the extra mile.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Flawless! The experience was absolutely flawless!
It's difficult when you're from another country to book a safari with a local company. You just never know what you're going to get. That said, Tanzania Roadside Expeditions gave us everything they said they would and more! Everything, everything was perfectly timed. Guides, drivers, everyone involved were where they said they were going to be when they said they were going to be there. The accommodations were perfect...comfortable, and luxurious! The food was excellent!
More importantly the guides were knowledgeable and friendly. They found all of the animals we wanted to see. They educated us on them and the ecosystem. The 'safari car was comfortable. All of the bad parts of a safari we had read about...bugs...sun...weather never affected us because of the vehicle.
There is nothing they could have done better! I have already recommended Roadside Tanzania to friends. If you're thinking about a safari; if you're wondering who can trust...trust Roadside Tanzania Expeditions. They are the best!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a lifetime
It’s difficult to describe what an amazing trip we’ve just returned from. From the moment we initiated contact with Lizbeth until the day we left, she has been fantastic. She helped us design the perfect bespoke trip for our family of 4 (2 adults, an 11 year old and 9 year old) taking into consideration our wishes and used her extensive knowledge to plan the ideal itinerary (7 nights safari). Email responses always came quickly- every detail was discussed and explained and no question was left unanswered. We travel as a family frequently and extensively and we are yet to encounter a company with this level of customer service and attention to detail.
We had contacted a number of key UK operators beforehand but not one could match what Easy Travel were offering and the level of care or responsiveness
Our arrival was smooth, with George picking us up from the airport. He chatted and made us feel welcome. We only took hand luggage to avoid the Heathrow chaos, so he swung by a supermarket en route for us so we could pick up toiletries. He then took us to the Easy Travel office where we could finally meet Lizbeth - she talked us through our itinerary again and made sure we didn’t have any questions and if we had any concerns along the way to contact her immediately for her to rectify any situation. The welcome was so warm, the rest of the team joined her and they sang to us all in Swahili (you’ll get to know the song by the end of your safari) and gave us gifts of Masaai blankets and games for the children. I was celebrating a special birthday so they also presented a cake. These were all such lovely touches. It’s such a slick operation there - we were surprised at the actual size of the company, their significant presence in Arusha and across Tanzania - it’s 30 years experience and family ethos. They are used by global operators mostly in the US and Asian markets - but the UK are missing out!
Don’t bother with overpriced big name UK operators. We felt nervous sending that amount of money overseas initially - but these worries were unfounded. If you’re unsure … Don’t hesitate! You won’t be disappointed :)
We stayed at the African Tulip Hotel in Arusha before we started our safari. The hotel is a lovely boutique hotel with character. The staff were very friendly, the family room was very spacious and the kids loved playing in the small pool outside. Beware it’s not heated - so is weather dependent - or how hardy your kids are! The meals were buffet style and plentiful with a variety of dishes to cater for all. The bar served international and local spirits/beers/soft drinks at a reasonable price.
Our trip involved a flight from Seronera central Serengeti to the north Serengeti for the Mara river crossing, as a result we had 2 guides. They were Adrian and Emmilian, they are both exceptional! They both are highly experienced guides who know the areas, the terrain, the wildlife …and the other guides - which helps!
There wasn’t a question they couldn’t answer and were both very friendly, we all felt comfortable with them. And we saw everything we wanted to see … and yes that includes all of the big five! They say we were very lucky, but it was definitely a mixture of not only luck, but also Adrian’s skill! We also didn’t have to wait for the Mara River crossings - Emilian had us there at the right times and got us in prime position for the best views. Nothing was too much trouble and we were happy to take their lead on start times and planned routes for our games drives - they are the knowledgeable ones after all!
The accommodations were also superb. We had a family tent at the Tortilis camps and each camp is set out the same so you feel at home when you move from one to the next. (Tarangire/Lake Manyara/Serengeti). The tent was huge - we had a super king bed, while the kids had a bunk bed and a single. All 4-poster with mosquito nets - our daughter said she felt like a princess! There were 2 showers and a toilet. We had to give the staff 10 mins notice when we wanted a hot water so they could prepare it but this was never an issue.
The staff there were fab. Their welcome, their singing and dancing all add to the cultural experience and the special feel of Tanzanian safari. They escort you to and from your tent when it’s dark - this is no joke as the camps are not fenced and animals roam freely. You’ll hear them and get to know their distinctive sounds when you are zipped up safely in your tent :) The camps were quite busy so we had
buffet style evening meals which catered for a variety of tastes - simple but sufficient. Lunches were either individual packed boxes (e.g. pizza slice, egg, sandwich, sweet treat, juice box, fruit or pasta in a tub, chicken, crisps, sweet treat, veg/fruit) or a hamper - which was more like a meal and shared with the group. So your guide sets up at a picnic table with Maasai table cloth and serves food like spaghetti Bolognese and veg, sweet treat, fruit and a bottle of wine. There was always more than enough food and we never felt hungry.
We also stayed at Lion’s Paw and Serengeti Mara River camp which are “Karibu Lodges and Camps”. We had read a review that said Lion’s Pae was closer to the crater than the Tortilis camp so it definitely meant we had longer there to explore. All the camps we stayed in are in the national parks so you can start driving from 6am (the gates open at 8am) and you dont have to leave when the others do to be out by closing. My favourite time was 4-5:30pm when it’s much quieter and while the sun is low in the sky. Felt like a special time of day.
So Ngorongoro Crater was much colder, especially when you drive round the rim and the accommodation is high on the hill. So take layers! I couldn’t quite believe it would be so chilly, but we were grateful for the heater in the restaurant and the rooms plus the electric blankets in the beds! A nice touch. The rooms were enormous and had fabulous views over the crater.
We visited a Maasai village on the way out of Ngorongoro National park recommended by Adrian and were so pleased to have the honour of being welcomed into their homes and learn a little more about their culture. A donation to the chief’s son helps contribute towards their water deliveries and to send the older children to boarding school.
In summary, we had the most incredible trip and are grateful to everyone who played a part in making it so special. Definitely a once in a lifetime experience that we will never forget. We’ll be singing Jambo Bwana for years to come!
Thank you all so much
(We had over 2700 picture so choosing just 10 for the review was impossible!)
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Make your journey safely and reassure as their very passionate of what they do moreover I’m going my
It’s a very affordable...as they can pick you up from airport depending on your vacation
I have always use Discovery Tour
And they have wonderful hospitality and tour guide as for experience.
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Another great Tanzania experience with Dancing Zebra Safari Company!
This was our fifth trip with Dancing Zebra Safari Co. and I have said this in previous reviews, but it’s worth saying again -- Jessica Matthews, the owner of Dancing Zebra, is the best out there in organizing a private custom safari! She has all the connections and knowledge to put together a great safari.
Several years ago, we went the cheap route and did a “group” safari with a large tour company. They have rigid itineraries, and we really did not have much say in where we went and what we did. It was ok, but we decided to do a private custom safari next, and after shopping around, we came across Jessica and Dancing Zebra in 2019, and we have been with her ever since! We consult with Jessica about where we want to go, how long, the luxury level of the lodges to fit our budget, and she puts together a custom itinerary for us.
Our Safari driver, Ian Kiwelu, who calls the Serengeti his “backyard”, seems to have a detailed map of the entire Serengeti in his head! He knows every road in this vast wild area, no matter how small or remote, and has something of a sixth sense of where to go to find the animals. We saw all the usual African animals, including all the big cats. And we saw thrilling events, like full speed cheetah chases, and large wildebeest herds crossing the Mara River as part of the Great Migration. We were there towards the end of the river crossing season, but we saw two river crossings the first two days, with only minutes of waiting. Later we found out that others at our camp had waited for up to 8 hours at different spots of the river, and did not see anything. So it really pays to have a driver like Ian, who just seems to know where to go. The Lemala camps where we stayed, were great as always. After 8 trips total to Africa, I can say they are the best. So thanks again to Jessica and Ian for making this another great safari!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Recommended!
Nice trip to Pilanesberg with MoAfrika Tours, definitely recommended!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Experience!
I highly recommend Big Cat Safaris! I had a wonderful experience. Our driver Venance was excellent, very friendly and knowledgeable about all of the parks and the animals there. We were very lucky and were able to see pretty much all of the animals. The accommodations were lovely and all of the travel between parks was well organized. The tour is definitely worth the price and I would absolutely book with Big Cat Safaris again.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience
Me and my wife booked our tour to Kruger through Red Safari and it was one of the best times we’ve ever had. We had a private tour with Jaco that included a scenic drive through the countryside. Jaco was very kind, and extremely knowledgeable not only on the wildlife in and around Kruger Park, but also the history of all the areas we visited. He was very attentive to our needs and made our stay very comfortable.
We left feeling like we knew a LOT more about South Africa overall and we would 1000% go again to be with Jaco! If you’re not sure about the price or what the experience would be like on the private tour, all I can say is that it is definitely worth it!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Reliable, experienced and everything else you could wish for.
I have been with Peter on two tours through Kenya now, and I can honestly say he is top notch. Besides being extremely experienced with the mammals and birds, he is a pleasure to be around and makes the trip so enjoyable. Other little things put his company further ahead of competition, such as extremely timeous, a clean vehicle everyday, perfect driving and positioning of the vehicle at sightings. He caters to all clients needs and this only comes with years of experience.
All of the above, with an utmost understanding of all the fauna and flora, makes him the only choice.