20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The most amazing safari trip!
From the moment we contacted Kilimanjaro adventure safari club we have had an incredible experience! The manager makoninde was very fast at responding to any of our queries and was excellent when helping us choose what route we wanted to do etc! There was also an issue with missing bags when we arrived into Kilimanjaro airport and makoninde was just fantastic taking the stress away from us and dealing with it completely!
We did a 5 day tour starting with Tarangire national park - Ngorongoro Crater - Serengeti and then Lake Manyara. Our guide Boniface was just amazing! With 20 years experience of being a safari guide the knowledge he could share was incredible! He knew so much about all the animals, birds and their habitat and he was so patient when I would ask him thousands of questions daily haha! Boniface would drive for hours to ensure we saw lots of different animals and could spot animals from miles away ( we are still in awe!!) Boniface was the most amazing, kind, knowledgable, fun and just wonderful person and we honestly felt privileged that he was our guide! We honestly just had the most incredible time and it was better than we could have ever imagined!
All our accommodation was arranged for us nightly and we loved the different places we stayed! All our food was provided for us on the safari and at night we would enjoy the accommodation buffets which always offered a brilliant variety of delicious food! All the staff and people working in the accommodations were soo friendly and lovely! We just felt so comfortable wherever we went!
I would recommend everyone to book with Kilimanjaro safari adventure club as they are the company that goes above and beyond and you will have the most incredible time from start to finish!
Thank you Kilimanjaro safari club for everything! Our trip was so so amazing and we are so grateful for everything! Thank you Makoninde for your friendly and professional manner! The attention to detail was amazing! Thank you Boniface for the trip of a lifetime - we hopefully will meet again one day!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible Honeymoon
Me and my wife have just returned back to London after spending a little over 2 weeks in beautiful South Africa! Megan, our honeymoon planner absolutely nailed it with the hotels and guest houses she found for us within our budget and better still was on hand throughout our trip on Whatsapp which was very assuring!
After our international flight to Joburg and short connection flight to Hoedspruit we reached out luxurious safari lodge 'Simbavati Waterside' for 4 unforgettable nights. We both said upon leaving it was one of the best things we've ever done, we absolutely loved it!
Next stop was to Cape Town, staying in Camps Bay. This was a great location for us with plenty of busy bars and coffee shops plus an array of superb restaurants on the waterfront. We stayed Bed & Breakfast at 'The Marly' which is a boutique hotel Megan found for us, we went for the mountain view and the only regret we had was not booking a sea-view room. We did the open-top coach tour of the city, hired a car to Simons Town, Boulders Beach, Cape of Good Hope via Chapmans Peak. This driving route was insanely beautiful and we'd recommend this to everyone who visits!
Next stop Hermanus, we had done our research prior and had found a place roughly 2 hour drive east of Cape Town which is famous for whale watching, we were not left disappointed as we were lucky enough to see 20+ whales over the 2 days. Megan booked our tour with Marine Dynamics albeit we wished it lasted longer than 2 hours on the water! We stayed at the La Fontaine Guest House (mountain view), again we wished we'd gone for the sea-view. In truth the guest house itself was fairly basic but comfortable and we didn't spend much time there whilst our exploring.
Final stop was roughly 2 hours north further inland into the mountains to a small place called Franschhoek, we stayed at the Avonrood Guest House which was a lovely place to spend the final 2 days of our trip. The staff were so generous providing us with a bottle of champagne on arrival as newly weds and we particularly enjoyed the honesty bar where you filled in what drinks you'd had in the evenings. This place is famous for its winelands and we went on the tuk-tuk tour around the best ones sampling fine wine (and beer) for half a day. It was really enjoyable and the La Rochelle winery was a highlight!
We paid for transfers between all destinations throughout the 2 weeks, the company Megan booked us with was a very professional and extremely friendly company called 'Jarat' every driver was full of local knowledge and we enjoyed great conversation each time.
As a whole I would recommend Discover Africa to anyone, we've had the best honeymoon of our lives and fell in love with South Africa.
Thank you!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exceeded our Expectations- Best Guide Ever
We just returned from our 13-day Wonders of the World Adventure through
Kenya and Tanzania. This trip exceeded our wildest expectations.
Our Guide in Kenya, Manu was more than exceptional. He was excellent at sighting animals and very knowledgeable about their behavior and teaching us about the different animals. We were able to see so many animals up close and watch them in their environment. Manu even taught us a lot about Kenya and their culture. He was ready to go first thing in the morning and we continued our safaris until the parks closed in the evenings. He was enthusiastic and seemed to enjoy the adventure as much as us. Manu was more than willing to add things to itinerary if we desired to see something that was not previously planned. Not only did we manage to see the "Big 5" in Kenya, but then again in Tanzania. We also got to see the rare Black Rhino and a Serval Cat.
Although this was a Budget safari, we found that our lodging was very nice to excellent. The tented camps in Masai Mara and Serengeti were exceptional.
I would recommend BlueRange Connect, Ltd to anyone wanting the trip of a lifetime and make sure to ask for Manu to be your guide, you will not be disappointed.
FR
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
A Life Changing Experience!
I just returned from the trip of a lifetime! My cousin and I did a safari with Tanzania Exclusive Journeys at the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park. The only complaint I have, is we should have made our trip longer! I'm a frequent international traveler and have been all around the world and this is by far the best trip I have ever been on. The Tanzania Exclusive Journeys team was great to work with from planning in the beginning all the way through arriving back home after the trip. Tony helped us plan and prepare for our trip answering all of our questions and assisting with everything. We had Jane with us in Arusha and she even helped retrieve items left at our hotel. Marc and Ian were our guide and driver and we had the best time with them. We definitely left Africa with new, life long friends. We are already planning our return trip (which we really started planning our second day because we knew we couldn't get enough) which can't come fast enough. I still can't stop smiling thinking about our trip and giggling about our jokes we shared with Marc and Ian. I haven't laughed so much in so long! There aren't enough words to describe how spectacular this trip was. Everything was planned so well and executed flawlessly. We saw so many rare sites and had prime viewing spots and it was all because of the expertise from Marc and Ian. We could definitely tell the difference in caliber of Tanzania Exclusive Journeys versus other safari companies while we were watching the animals and there's a reason Tanzania Exclusive Journeys is the best! Don't tell the animals, but the people were the best part of the trip! (But the animals are a very close second!) I'm back home now and find myself scanning for animals in the grasses and trees. And dreaming about our next trip back!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exceeded expectations
Suricata safari exceeded my expectations.
My friend and I booked the 4 day camping safari and visited Tarangire Park, Serengeti as well as Ngorngoro.
Quick summary:
- The staff was very friendly
- The sights were amazing
- The food was excellent
I would highly recommend Suricata safari.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing first Tanzania experience
Our 4 day safari through Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater was fantastic. Our guide showed us the best spots to see all kinds of animals and always made sure that we were doing great. Our chef prepared the best meals along the way. The campsites were very adventurous and close to nature. At night we even got to spot some of the big five next to our tents. It was a great adventure and I would definitely book again with this company.
IE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very professional and great service
Travelled with my family to Kenya and we had booked a safari with Kiboko. Gibson was really helpful and the service and experience was fantastic. I highly recommend the company.
CH
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
7 spectacular days
We spent 7 fantastic days with our excellent guide, Wilson, visiting Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro crater and Serengeti. Wilson was very knowledgeable about the wildlife, the regions and local cultures - he couldn't have been more helpful to make sure our trip was a success.
All of the camps were very good with great food and fantastic people. Every day was a new adventure - fabulous, ever changing scenery and of course magnificent wildlife.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional and friendly
We are a family of 4 with 2 young children and its our first time going on safari. The whole experience has been absolutely wonderful. Our guide, Champion is punctual, knows the parks well and is very good with the kids. Not just the guide, the office has also been very helpful too. We left our ipad at one of the lodges and only realised it the day after but the office very quickly communicated with the lodge, found the ipad and arranged for it to be sent back to us. I will definitely recommend Serengeti Smile!
IL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Above and beyond!
Before my trip I inquired with four different safari companies. Anna, the owner of Porcupine Expeditions was the first one to reply, and did so within about two hours.
After that she remained incredibly responsive and answered all my questions right away. This made me feel I was in good hands, and I stopped worrying about the company being small and relatively new.
When I first got to Arusha, Anna really went above and beyond to make sure I was comfortable. Since I was traveling alone, she took time off her day to give me a tour of the city herself!
Also, later that night she arranged for the company's driver, Godi, who also drove me to Arusha and was likewise a very nice and kind person, to take me out to explore the city's nightlife since we were about the same age.
The next day began the safari itself. I joined a group of 6 more people from different nationalities and we had a great time together. Our driver/guide, Jonas, was extremely knowledgeable and professional and would spot animals from very far away, time and time again. He was also a great storyteller and a fun person to be around.
Overall it was an amazing experience and I am very glad I went with Porcupine Expeditions! If you have time I would also recommend going on the waterfall and hotsprings tour the day after!