BE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wonderful nature, nice and reliable staff
I had a great experience with this tour company, managed and owned by local people. I did both hiking and safari with them and I truly suggest to do both of them, because you will be able to have a more comprehensive visit of different environments. Particularly, Mr. Castro Kapela was very nice and helpful. He is a very kind and reliable person: I had many big bags with me and I left them at his home while I was doing safari and he kept them properly without asking me nothing, while he also was very honest in dealing the prices.
During my 5 days safari I saw very different landscapes and literally all the animals. This area of Africa is definitely one of the best choices for safaris and I really recommend Kilimanjaro Trip Safaris.
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good communication, service and price!
It was easy to communicate with them before arriving to get some info regarding the tour. We were also happy to be picked up on time. We were very satisfied of our guide who was very knowledgeable and patient. He was also a perfect and brave driver.
IL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good safari experience, but a few minor issues
We were very happy with Selous River Camp which Gecko booked for us and with our Selous safari guide Magire, who although young was excellent at spotting animals, knowledgeable and patient.
Gecko's booking and payment process was smooth and efficient and we received vouchers for the flights, safari and accommodation quickly.
However, there were a few minor issues, and while they didn't impinge on our overall experience they are worth pointing out.
- Although Gecko booked us on a flight landing at Mtemere at 12.30, Selous River Camp was informed by the company that we would only be arriving at 14.00. So when we turned up more than an hour earlier they had unexpectedly to prepare us an earlier lunch (which they managed with customary efficiency and courtesy).
- While all the other companies' open-sided safari vehicles we encountered in the reserve had individual high-backed padded seats, the vehicle provide by Gecko came with harder bench seats with little in the way of padding or back-rest. We managed the eight hour drive along often rough "roads" just fine, but for anyone with back problems this could be an issue.
- Other companies served the picnic lunch provided on safari on a foldable table and chairs carried in the jeep and set up for the occasion, while we ate ours standing up, plates balanced on the bonnet of the jeep. Again, no big deal for us, but indicative of a slightly lower level of service than the competition.
To be fair, we booked our safari with Gecko at the last minute, less than a week before departure, and it could be that at this stage no other vehicles were available; however we would advise anyone booking with the company to inquire closely into just what sort of vehicle and service to expect.
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
IT was absolutely perfect!!!!!!
Everything was perfect, the pick up at the starting point, the facilities, the guide we had during the safari.
Above all, the guide (Joshua) was very good, he found out where all the animals were, he explained very interesting things to us and it was very pleasant during the 5 days that our experience lasted.
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Beyond outstanding!
We have just returned from an incredible trip to Mana Pools with Khangela Safaris, made all the more enjoyable due to the professionalism and expert knowledge of Mike Scott, our guide and his tracker Bernard. The camps were more than comfortable, hot showers provided every day, delicious meals (provision made for Vegans and Vegetarians). Evenings under the amazing night skies were enhanced by Mike's many stories, as well as visitations by hyena and ellies very close to camp. Both Mike and Bernard were excellent trackers which enabled us to see lions on foot on several occasions. However, just staying in the camp provided us all with many amazing sightings of wild dog, buffalo plus large numbers of baboons, who kept us all entertained by their antics . Mike's knowledge of birds and trees was beyond impressive, which augmented the enjoyment of each and every remarkable day we had in this very special place. Beyond amazing!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unsatisfactory
I paid $250 for this service with tour guide but our driver James was a driver only. He didn’t provide any info about the Masai or animals. Further, he yelled at us in the beginning of the tour for taking a photo when we didn’t know the rules. This ruined the mood of the safari entirely. He also made us feel bad for expecting water free when it was in the itinerary. Lastly, English literacy and customer service in general was poor. For $250 I expected more :(
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Mediocre at the best.
The Driver would take us no further than 10-15 Kms from our lodge and move in circles and follow the radio if there were any wild life sighting. Going so far from Canada we were disappointed not to go north to see the migration. Out of 3 days one day was a complete wipe out but we were fortunate on one day to see a lion pride and a Cheetah get on to a Safari jeep next to us.
They are nor trained to delight customers but rather make it routine and sometimes monotonous. We spent 3 days in the Serengeai, 1 in Tarangerine and 2 in Ngongoro crater but asides from moments of excitement the vast majority of our drive was boring. When we said that one day was lost in just driving, the driver got offended and confronted us and the rest of the trip lost all its charm.
BR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Marvellous honeymoon safari tour in Tanzania
I quoted about ten safari tour companies and in the end we chose Travelpartner due to the competitive pricing and careful and helpful support by their sales agent Belen.
At our arrival, our safari guide John picked up my wife and I at the airport and drove with us until our hotel in Arusha. There, him and Belen explained with more details the planning of our safari.
We had the first day at tarangire and the following days at Serengetti. We saw many many wild cats at central serengetti and we were able to check the first wave of the wildbeest migration arriving to the border of Mara river. We were expecting to see the crossing (it was about July 21) but unfortunatelly the crossing started a bit later this year. Anyway, seeing the magnitude of the great migration was an incredible and unique experience. The last safari day was in Ngorogoro crater.
A special reference to our guide John which made our safari tour amazing. He is natural from arusha and have been working as a safari guide for the last 15 years. He has a very deep knowledge of serengetti, is extremelly kind , helpful and polite, and speaks a fluent english and also a fluent italian. He is simply the best.
Also, Belen was aware that it was our honeymoon and she provided many complimentary surprises during our entire trip, such as a congratulations cake at the first dinner, a bottle of wine at our bedroom in one of the lodges, a special table at the restaurant in another night, a basket of fruits in another day, and also a bottle of cava and another of wine at the refrigerator of our car. Those kind surprises made our honeymoon trip even more special.
Regarding something that we could do different, if you have flexibility on budget, at the end of the safari consider taking a flight from kogatende to arusha to save hours of driving.
Regards.
AE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trusted Operator
Everything was really great, starting from e-mail conversation and informations provided before our trip (Lennox was our tour agent), until the day we were back from the safari. Our driver John knew literally everything what we wanted to know about animals, trip, place... Tent accommodation was excellent with bathroom attached. Food was fine as well. Only thing that we didn't like was our accomodation in Naivasha (unfortunately I can't remember the name if "resort"). That was faaaaaar from the resort, with extremely rude lady working there, with very limited meals and horrible rooms. If you want to get a beer there and you don't have exactly 300ksh, you're in a big trouble cause she said it's our problem and that we have to solve it, not her. They don't accept bigger bills, and they don't have Credit Card machine.
Besides that, everything was perfect and highly recommended!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic trip!
We had a wonderful safari with Kanyezi. The accommodations were all lovely and we had a good opportunity to see the sights in and around Capetown then enjoy a good length safari. When the weather was difficult in Capeton, Chris was flexible in re-arranging plans so we could see as much as possible. The Sabi Sabi Lodge was gorgeous and the service was perfect. I wish this trip could have lasted another 17 days!