50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
THANK YOU for a wonderful experience
We wanted to thank you for the wonderful trip you organised for us.
All the accommodation was fantastic, clean, great food, exceptional service in all the lodges, although Victoria falls hotel service, was a bit of a let down in the dining areas. Everything was organised exceptionally well with transfers and we had zero issues as first time travellers to Africa. Everybody was super friendly, with lots of great advice, knowledge and experience. I must say we thoroughly enjoyed the Houseboat in Chobe National Park and we consider this a highlight of our trip. Thanks for influencing our decision to go Victoria Falls (Magical) and the BOMA dinner (my daughter and Bill really got into it) as it would have been a shame to miss out on this.
Thanks for putting up with all our questions, changes and for us THANK GOD we had an experienced Safari specialist that consulted with us, had a point of view to help us make the right decision.
The recommendations and insights you gave us really made the perfect trip for us as first time visitors to this beautiful country and we cannot wait to return.
Thanks again
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The office personnel will rip you off here!
Let me first stop off by saying that the climbing team (Guide, cook, waiter, and 6 porters) was incredible. They were hard-working, fun, and were always positive.
I'm leaving a one star review because of the Emmanuel in the office.
At my hotel room the night before the climb, we went through what I had packed (even though he never sent a packing list beforehand). He stated that I couldn't wear the shoes that I brought and would need to rent shoes and a mattress to put under my sleeping bag for an additional $65 (extremely expensive). I gave him $70 and never got change back. He said he would be bringing the mattress. The next day we went to a small shop and searched the pre-worn boots (about 8 pairs) and left with one pair that fit. The first red flag was that we didn't pay for them. We just left with the boots.
A few hours later when we arrived at the park, another red flag went up. The office didn't send enough porters to carry the weight of all the bags, tents, kitchen stuff, etc. so when we got to the Kilimanjaro National Park gates, the park made us hire 2 additional porters to carry everything. The Unique Jungle office should have weighed the bags before they picked me up. Additionally, Emmanuel said that he didn't have any way to pay for the additional porters so he asked if he could borrow the $100 USD it would take to hire the 2 additional porters to get us into the park and start the climb. Once in the park, he asked me for a tip for the driver, which seemed odd. I've never tipped the driver in all my travels...its always included.
We finished the climb earlier than expected so there was an additional day to spend in the area. I had asked my guide about a safari and Emmanuel came to my hotel that night with the costs. A boxed lunch was going to be $50! Even lunch in the USA isn't that much! Needless to say, I declined his entire offer and found my own way.
I would love to hire the climbing crew again if I return. They were great. However, I will not work with Unique Jungle again because of Emmanuel. He is a thief, liar, and lacks any knowledge of true customer service in the travel industry. People are traveling to a new country where many don't speak the native language and because of this there's a certain vulnerability. Emmanuel will take advantage of this situation and of you. Its been a month since my trip, I've asked numerous times and have yet to receive my $105 refund from Unique Jungle.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic Reserve: Full of Animals, Not Full of People
Selous Game Reserve is a real jewel, full of wildlife and birds and intriguing flora with the added bonus of very few visitors. I stayed at Asilia Africa's Roho Ya Selous and it could not have been better. As a solo traveler, I look for places which allow me to be on my own (for meals or individual safari vehicles) and Roho was very accommodating. I could do as I pleased.
Selous' geography, with its river, plains, and abundant flora was a completely different experience than the Serengeti. I saw many hippos, giraffes, lions, and baboons there, along with the always-charming impalas. You will see almost all the great predators (if luck is on your side!).
The Northern Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater are fantastic to see; but if you are looking for a safari that does not resemble a drive-through 'zoo', with countless other vehicles surrounding a beautiful animal, Selous is worth visiting.
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Masai Mara National Reserve by Juergen Fichtenau
Just AMAZING
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Lake Nakuru National Park by Juergen Fichtenau
Plenty of Buffaloes and Rhinos, Flamingos nearly all gone
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A fantastic experience
The wildlife and the landscapes were amazing, the weather was colder than we expected, the accommodation was fine. Our guide and cooker were so kind and they knew a lot of things. The food was so good!
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A must see once in your life
This was my second time to Kenya, after a 23 year break, and the wildlife experience was terrific and amazing as experienced already in 1996. The Masai Mara is a life time experience, I cannot imagine a better place for such an experience. The flamingos though have moved away from Lake Nakuru, most to be found at Lake Bogoria now, another life time experience. My first trip to Kenya did not include the beaches, this time we spent a week at Diani beach south of Mombasa, another amazing experience........such a long stretch of white sandy beach along the Indian Ocean (it must be around 80 km) is amazing. Downside in Kenya are safety issues (one is advised not walk around after dark), lots of traffic jams in Nairobi and Mombasa, lots of bad roads in dire repair and the precautions for diseases like Yellow Fever, Malaria and such. Bottom line however is, that Kenya truly is a wonderful and unique destination.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolutely fantastic! The trip meets and exceeds our expectation. Highly recommended.
Our guide from Bee Eater Safari was excellent. First class driving skills and sharp eyes to find wild animals. We were lucky to see several dozens of lions, two sightings of leopard and cheetah and wildebeast crossing the Masa Mara, although we did not manage to see any Rhino. The lodges and camps we stayed in the national parks were very comfortable with good food and services. The weather was also very kind to us. All in all, an excellent safari trip!
AT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great safari, but be careful with tipping in Zanzibar
Wildlife in Tanzania was incredible: we saw a lot of animals (lions, giraffes, hippos, zebras, leopards, etc.) and beautiful landscape like the plains of Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater. We did a safari with "Bestday Safari" and made great experiences with them: delicious food, awesome guide, game drive in a great car. Overall it's a safe country with nice people, although on Zanzibar you have to pay attention to the people selling all kinds of stuff (from snorkeling tours to marihuana): they are sometimes a bit annoying, although you probably have people wanting to sell you stuff all over the world. What we really didn't like was the thing about tipping: no one is going to do anything for you without wanting to be tipped. We arrived for example at the airport in Zanzibar, went out of the building and got asked by a guy in safety vest what we were looking for. And just thinking that someone in safety vest working for the airport was probably trying to help us was a mistake. Of course he wanted to have money from us afterwards, like a lot of people do. So pay attention if someone really wants to help you or is actually just looking for your money.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable experience with a company that plans everything well.
From the first communication I had with Shemeji, I was impressed. I asked so many questions and was never pressured into purchasing from them. They answered each one pleasantly and thoroughly. After deciding to book with them, Emma took over all preparations. She was thorough, very polite, and extremely timely with her responses.
My wife and I went for our honeymoon, and Shemeji was very kind in providing us flower petaled bed spreads, a bottle of wine, private dinners, and more special treatment. We didn't expect any of that and were very pleasantly surprised.
The Safari itself was exceptional. Our guide, Elemesi, was extremely knowledgeable about the area, and we let him truly guide us. We let him do his job, which I highly recommend. I guarantee he is a better driver than I would have been, knew the landscape, and was able to communicate with different parties to give us the best experience. We LOVED our time with him. We were very fortunate to see what we saw, and there's no guarantee anyone may see the amount we did -- baby lions, lions eating, lions hunting, cheetahs actually making a live kill, multiple leopards (and cubs), cheetah cubs, and of course, elephants, giraffes, and grazing animals galore.
After the safari, Shemeji arranged a Zanzibar getaway for us as well. We loved the resort and appreciated the relaxation time there as well as the excursions to prison island, the spice tour, swimming with dolphins, etc.
This was truly a memorable trip, the perfect honeymoon, and I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to experience true thrills.
P.S. We saw literally one single mosquito between the two of us and never, ever, felt unsafe. The people were extremely professional, kind, and respectful to us both.
