NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Kilimanjaro Machame Trek and 3 Days Safari
I have just returned from Tanzania where I successfully summitted Kilimanjaro and then went on a 3 day safari.
Teacher Lazaro the owner of KWESA is a good man, he kept organized the whole trip for me. He organized for me to join a group of 4 other climbers from Chile and Finland.
He gave us experienced guides, wonderful porters and an amazing cook all under the leadership of William the chief guide. They were friendly and knowledgeable about Kilimanjaro. The climb was nice with good food and comfortable sleeping tents. We had regular health checks to ensure we were safe. If you are doing Kilimanjaro it is important to hire a private toilet because some of the public ones are not clean!
After my successful climb I went on a 3 day safari tour with driver Ernest to Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Lake Manyara and it was just amazing. The parks are endowed with different species of wild animals roaming freely in their natural habitats.
I enjoyed my trip to Tanzania and recommend KWESA as a fantastic operator for Kilimanjaro trekking and Safari.
BE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Great experience!
We did a tour starting in Entebbe, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Murchison, Kibale, Queen Elisabeth NP, Lake Mutanda, gorilla, chimpansee and golden monkey trekking, then to Kigali to visit the Genocide Memorial.
We had a great time, everything was well organized, friendly and professional driver and guide.
I hope we can come again!
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
This Safari we will remember for rest of our life
This Safari we will remember for rest of our life! It was great, we took 3 Day Masai Mara Crossing with small kids 2 and 6 yrs old. Kids were not bored, not tired. The guide was so experienced, we have seen all animals. Thanks for everything!
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable experience for budget travelers who come for the animals, not the accommodations!
Best aspects:
Guides work hard to ensure optimal viewing of animals including optional times of day and close encounters with all types of animals.
Each of four parks offers a unique and enjoyable experience.
Seven days was the perfect duration. My husband and I felt satisfied by what we had experienced.
We both agree that this was the best safari experience for us and we were very happy that we chose this company and didn’t waste money on a more expensive trip. Please read the draw backs below if you are deciding whether or not this budget trip is right for you, but keep in mind that we came for the animals, not the accommodation.
Draw backs to consider: Please note that all draw backs listed are to be expected at a lower price point. If the things I list are an issue, consider booking a luxury or semi luxury trip instead. If you like the budget, expect the following:
Long drives over bumpy roads. Drivers sometimes drive very fast. The only way to avoid this would be to fly.
Included meals are virtually the same every day. Some fellow travelers complained about the lack of variety. But, if you like to get a local experience, you can count on local food.
Some locations accommodate vegetarians surprisingly well. Vegans should make prior arrangements. I doubt that vegans could be accommodated based on my observation, but I did not ask ahead of time.
WiFi at budget hotels is not reliable. It is affordable to get cellular internet access in Nairobi before your safari if you wish, and for a good price. Just make sure the phone that you bring is unlocked!
Camping accommodations were nicer than expected at Maasai Mara, but worse than expected in Amboseli. Be prepared for dogs barking all night, disruptive other travelers, and bugs or even mice in your tent.
GR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing Expereinces in Rwanda and Uganda
The last 2 weeks have been amazing as we explored Rwanda and Uganda with Devine African Safaris. Nicholas was great when we were putting together the itinerary with his experience and insight as a tour operator for many years. He arranged the logistics making bookings for accommodations, parking fees and permits, organized reliable and timely transport and also gave us Hebert a wonderful driver guide during the safari.
We had an awesome experience in Rwanda touring Akagera by boat, day and night game drives and Genocide Museum. In Uganda we had a whole day tracking gorillas in Bwindi then visited Queen Elizabeth, Kibale, Murchison and Kidepo parks where Nicholas had arranged for various activities.
In general the whole trip is 5 stars because of the wonderful service that we got from Devine and the partner lodges that we were booked into.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing 4 night/5 day safari with Soul of Tanzania
My daughter booked the safari finding Mei Ling Lee, Journey Designer of Soul of Tanzania extremely helpful in preparing the trip, making suggestions of accommodation, areas to see and ensuring the logistics were all in place to provide an excellent safari experience. Any queries were answered promptly and efficiently.
Our adventure started with a briefing the evening before meeting our guide ,Steven, the following day.
The safari started at Tarangire moving on to the Serengeti for a couple of days and finally to the Ngorongoro crater. We saw so many animals in the variety of environments which was truly astounding.
Hot lunches were provided which were most welcome, no disposable packaging was used which was good.
Throughout the safari Steven shared his knowledge of the areas, the people and the animals which was extremely informative, spotting animals hidden away and finding areas where we were able to observe them in their natural habitat. Also driving from area to area covering considerable distances on interesting terrain was impressive. Steven also had a good sense of humour!
This trip surpassed our expectations, the planning, logistics and the days on safari were brilliant.
I would recommend Soul of Tanzania to anyone wanting a thoughtfully planned and well executed trip and if you have Steven as your guide you are in very good hands!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
fantastic guides make for a phenomenal safari
We were a large group (8 adults, 3 small children) and Encounter was so helpful, flexible and accommodating to our needs. Our guides, Jason, Abdul and Alonso, were friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. We couldn't have asked for more. I highly recommend Encounter.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great Customer Service
The customer service was excellent and very accommodating to our specific needs. My mother and I booked a trip to Vic Falls with about six activities through different operators over a three day period. The execution was seamless, the operators showed up on time (except for one, but it wasn't an issue) and also delivered excellent customers service. We also did a 2.5 day safari trip to Hwange park, which was lovely. During the whole trip, Safari Source was calling the hotels and operators to make sure all was going well and sending us messages directly to make sure all was well. My mother and I loved Zimbabwe and hope to return again someday! It was a trip of a lifetime!
MY
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An incredible trip by an amazing team!!
My parents and I are just back from an amazing 6 day safari with Soul of Tanzania. I cannot begin to describe how amazing this company was at organizing this trip for us. From the first enquiry email sent, till the very last day of departure, they were spotless.
Our journey began with Mei Ling organizing and planning the entire trip for us. As we really wanted to witness the great migration at the river crossing, she suggested us to stay two nights at Northern Serengeti to maximize our chances. It was the best decision we did as we got to catch the migration at the river 3 times. We were quite lucky because the first one had only started the day before. Special thanks to Mei Ling who was very efficient at replying any queries, however silly it may be! The itinerary, price and details were laid out very clearly prior to our trip.It was the most professional correspondence I’ve had with in terms of travel planning. You could do any tweaking of the trip with them with no issues at all. They were very accommodating. Plus, it was the most value for money compared to the rest of the companies.
I cannot repeat myself more, on what an INCREDIBLE guide we got, Sadat. He deserves a lot of credit and appreciation for his work. He was extremely passionate about the animals and was constantly explaining to us everything needed to know. He always put in that extra bit of effort to make sure we get to see as much as possible. Thanks to him, we got to witness many ‘live’ scenes out on the wild life and was always helping us take the best shots. We got to see so many lions, cheetahs, leapords etc plus a special cobra vs mongoose duel which ended in a draw! Also, Sadat’s friendly,funny, extremely caring and helpful nature won all our hearts. We left Tanzania feeling very sad as we had to say goodbye to our new friend Sadat. Memories created during such trips are always special, so when you have found a friend in your guide, it makes it that much more of a memorable experience! You could have a nice trip with any safari sure, but I can guarantee you, if you go with Soul of Tanzania, you will definitely get an amazing guide that will turn your nice trip to a trip of a lifetime! The company is very diligent on making sure they only have the best guides around. You can never go wrong with them.
The special hot lunches provided truly made you feel special amongst other travelers who only got lunch boxes. You’d be dining behind beautiful sceneries with cutleries, place mats, wine and delicious African food. It was truly something special. And beware, you will have many jealous eyes staring at you during lunch lol! The accommodation arranged throughout the trip was also perfect and comfortable. Everywhere we stayed, we were welcomed very warmly and was taken care of very well.
So, I guess all I can say now is, don't think twice to book with Soul of Tanzania. I am 110% confident they will exceed all your expectation on your trip of a lifetime! They definitely did with us. They deserve much credit and recognition! I repeat again, book with them!! Asante sana Soul of Tanzania!! :)
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Kurula Lodge
The tour provided everything as promised, and a lot more. Communication was to the point and accurate. The accommodation and service received, were excellent. The safari tours, morning and afternoons, were very informative. The guide was extremely knowledgeable and went out of his way to teach us as much as possible and taking us as close as he could, to the animals