US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Tsavo West National Park by Alda
Tsavo West is enormous. In December, the animals are quite scattered, so it seemed like we had to do a lot of driving to see the animals.
The scenery is excellent.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Masai Mara National Reserve by Alda
Masai Mara was terrific, especially for the lions, cheetahs and leopards.
It is also so lovely
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Lake Nakuru National Park by Alda
Lake Nakuru was lovely and had many rhino. I was there over 20 years ago and recall it being pink with flamingos. This is no longer the case.
(it may have been the time of year).
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Amboseli National Park by Alda
Amboseli was tremendous. We saw so many animals.
There was an enormous rainstorm on the day we were supposed to leave that flooded out the roads. It was quite the adventure leaving the park.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Aberdare National Park by Alda
Stayed at Ark Forest Lodge. The viewing platform is spectacular
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Memorable 9 day safari in Kenya with Africa Safari Classics
My 21 year old daughter and I went on a 9 day safari trip in Kenya in December 2018 and it was wonderful and memorable. We saw the “Big 5” animals and so much more.
Maurice of Africa Safari Classics did a superb job of organizing the trip, which included 5 game parks, and was exceptionally responsive to emails regarding details prior to the onset of the trip. He even made a special effort to see us at our hotel in Nairobi the day before the safari started to ensure the details were clear and kept in contact with our driver, Muli Jones, and with us throughout the trip.
Our driver, Muli Jones, was tireless and enthusiastic, even after a full day of game drives or driving us on the heavily trafficked roads between the parks. His love of animals and for Kenya was clear. He had an amazing eye for lions and cheetahs, and, on several occasions, saw a lion walking far in the distance and did his best to take us to see it. He also did an excellent job of getting us out of Amboseli after a heavy rainfall turned the only exit road into a flooded and raging river, arranging for a Land Cruiser to tow us out. The water of the river reached up to our vehicle doors but we were one of the few vehicles to make it out of the game park that morning so we could continue our trip. He was a safe driver as well and never seemed to let traffic congestion or slow downs frustrate him.
Our lodging was also excellent. It included both tent camps and lodges. I would like to make special mention of Severin Tent Camp in Tsavo West. The food was truly excellent with 4 course meals. Also, the Ark Forest Lodge in Aberdare had a wonderful viewing area where one could sit and read or relax and the animals would come to you. They had a buzzer that woke you at night if certain animals came, so we were able to see the group of 4 elephants who were protecting the baby from the hyenas at 12:45 am. We both wished we could have stayed there another night or two.
I recommend Africa Safari Classics without hesitation and hope to travel with them again in the future.
RU
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible
It was a short (3 days), but impressive journey. We've visited Serengeti and Ngorongoro, have seen a lot of wild animals and beautiful nature sites. Definitely recommend.
IL
Beautiful country, proud people, unique landscapes, amazing culture.
Highlights of the trip to Northern Ethiopia were the Danakil Depression, with amazing springs and salt lakes, and the active Erta Ale volcano.
These are among the most desolate places on the planet - no wildlife to speak of around these locations, although we did spot some wild ostriches and antelopes en-route. The terrain in these areas is very rugged, Jeep with a local driver were really needed.
Day treks to the Maryam Kurkor monastery and Abuna Yemata church were well worth the effort. On the way down from Abuna Yemata we spotted a group of monkeys in the distance - very impressive!
The cities we stayed at, Mekale, Adis Ababa and Axum, were less impressive, for me at least.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A Perfect Holiday Thanks to African Scenic Safaris
We worked with African Scenic Safaris to arrange our safari and related activities in Tanzania for a 12-day, January 2019 safari (including Tarangire National Park, Ndutu area within the Ngorogoro Conservation area, Ngorogoro Crater, and the Serengeti), a day in Managua on Kilimanjaro, “cultural” experiences with tribes (a bush walk, observing blacksmiths at work for making traditional weapons and jewelry, and a visit to a traditional Maasai village), as well as all lodging and guides. I have been fortunate to travel extensively around the world for holidays as well as work and would put this trip at the top of the list. African Scenic Safaris – owned and managed by husband and wife team, Amanda and Simbo, created a seamless itinerary and experience for my husband and me. They have extensive knowledge of the country and relationships between the time of year and what we would want and be able to see on safari. They customized our trip to fit our interests, based on email ‘interviews’ about preferences for experiences, types of lodging, any special needs/requests, and time available. They helped us problem solve when we had to postpone our trip for medical reasons, keeping any losses to a minimum and rescheduling our trip as soon as we were ready – and do so in such a gracious way.
There are hundreds of agencies available for organizing a safari. I cannot imagine any company organizing a more worthwhile experience than African Scenic Safaris did for us.
Below are additional details, for those who may wish specific examples about lodging, guides, and general comfort.
***** Additional Details *****
LODGING: We think of ourselves as the adventurous backpackers of our youth, but in our 70s know that this is not our reality. Amanda was able to create a series of lodging experiences that were authentic to a safari experience, while keeping our comfort in mind throughout. We wanted to experience tent camps in the middle of the parks for part of the trip but were okay with lodges in the parks for part of the trip. They set up our lodging in a perfect order. We started in two Angata tent camps over 5 nights in Tarengire National Park and in the Migration area of Ndutu. Service at each was exemplary and lodging was comfortable with ensuite bathrooms, hot water, but very tent-like in feel. We even had Internet and chargers in our room as our tent was near the lounge/dining tent. We could hear lions at night as well as water buffalo, but felt perfectly safe at all time. As we moved to the Serengeti, we stayed in Kubakuba Tent Ldoge, a highlight of the trip – fabulous views, beautiful lodging, outstanding food, an infinity pool that overlooked the Serengeti and beautiful sunsets from our room’s deck. Sopa Lodge, next, was perfectly comfortable and while not as much fun as the previous places, situated most conveniently to the entrance to Ngorogoro Crater, and in a room that overlooked the crater from a little sitting area with full windows. One of our favorite spots was a lovely tent camp – Kisime – on Lake Eyasi, one we would have liked to have visited for more than one night. The order of lodging was perfect while the order of sites could not have been more wisely chosen.
GUIDES: Throughout our guides were personable, knowledgeable, helpful, and addressed both similarities and differences in my husband’s and my interests. I appreciated how our guide for the safari, Hafidhi, balanced between my focus on photography with my husband’s more general interests in animal behavior and local culture. Hafidhi took me on one evening and one before-b’fast drive where I could concentrate on photography. He planned with us each evening on what we hoped to see the next day and then followed through – we were never disappointed! He could spot the smallest movement (e.g., a leopard’s ear wiggling in the grasses), size up the situation, and then would determine whether and how long we should wait. That wiggling ear led to us witnessing (and me photographing) the leopard catching a reebok, dragging it to a tree, then up the tree to settle in for dinner. Similarly, we witnessed mating lions and mating zebras. We saw a lioness catch a warthog and carry it off to her cubs. We saw cheetah brothers and a cheetah mom and cub. In fact, there was not a single animal on our list to wishes and dreams that we did not see in action.
FOOD: While not a ‘foodie’ destination, each of the areas provided food that was adequate to our needs and in Kubakuba and Kisime in particular, the food was excellent.
VEHICLE: As is typical, our vehicle was a Toyota Landrover with a top that is raised for easy and safe viewing of animals. For the two of us, we had a six-seater (drive/passenger, then two additional rows), giving us plenty of space and viewpoints for photographing and viewing on the game drives.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
affordable package,quality chef,lodge,vehicle.driver and guide
first they were on time on responding and sending quotation and their communication was clear with great channel which make us feel we were special people, the driver and tour guide was amazing they were very friendly and helpful supporting us visa processing, and the hotel was more great with amazing chef, i will recommend them to anyone who want to visit tanzania for safaris and zanzbar holiday
