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
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Thank You!!
I wish to thank Zippy and her team for putting this safari together, it was a treat from my daughters so I never had to arrange anything but from what I heard it was beyond my daughters expectation so I wish to state that a lot of effort went into it and it made our holiday so memorable. Our guide Symo was amazing both in hospitality and in knowledge.The country is full of very happy people not forgetting the lovely wildlife and beautiful landscape , I could have swapped it for my country !!!!
BE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very interesting and educational days in Moroto about the real life in the tribes
We had a wonderful experience during the tour with Anyakun Paul in Karamoja.
We did a beautiful hike to the Tepeth community and visited the manyattas of the Matheniko community and a nomadic warrior camp (the kraal).
Thank you for the unforgetable tour with touching story. We want to recommand Paul as a very interesting and friendly guide!
KR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Everything for us
Operation manager, Tiago kindly answers every mails, meets every my requests and prepares everything that I want.
Our guides, Moses who opens the door of this tour and Charles who takes us to amazing world of safari, are best guides in the world I have ever met.
If you are the one who hesitates to decide your tour operators, I strongly recommend Spirit of Kenya, especially Tiago, Moses and Charles. I am who mailed more than 10 operators and compared to the options they presented. It was not the cheapest one, but I do not regret at all because of above.
I am not backed by them. I write it with my own heart, so you can trust me.
SE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Reliable and service-minded operator
We went on a 4-day / 3-night safari tour to Selous game reserve with Kiliholidays and were completely satisfied.
Booking the tour were smooth and we got quick responses to all our questions from Mack. The only thing we didn't like was the payment, which was in advance or with cash at arrival. Generally we don't like to pay in advance or travel with lots of cash, but everything went smooth anyway.
Our guide Paul were really good and made sure we felt comfortable and that we had enough water and snacks for the long days in the car. He had all the knowledge and drove the car very good.
All in all a superb vacation and we can higly recommend Kiliholidays for your safari.
AR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Incredible experience
My girlfriend and I did safari in the Kruger park, South Africa, on our own with a rental car. We saw a lot of animals, no cats or rhinos, so we decided to do the private safari in Kenya - Masai Mara, the people of South Africa told us that the safari in Kenya was better than there in South Africa. We decided to hire Axis for a 2 day safari and we are very happy and grateful for the experience they gave us. The company reserved our safari simply with a whastapp message with our data, without any previous payment and they complied with everything they told us. The guide that touched us, Raheem, fulfilled above our expectations and demands (since we told him that we had seen everything but felines in the Kruger). Always friendly and predisposed to get into recondite places so we can see the animals, making the excursion an authentic safari. We are very grateful and we recommend 100% to Axis and Raheem!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent experience
This was a 5 star service. Tour guide was on time for pick up and provided us an amazing safari. We were at Amboselli Park and then visited a maasai villlage. Guide was very professional and cordial all the time. I truly recommend this company. Not to mention that breakfast and lunch included in the price were at these amazing lodges and food selection was humengous.
NO
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We are very happy because they made our fantastic trip
Great Tour Safari with a lots of Adventure.
Tour Year 07/2018
Our trip it was 8 days in Tanzania.We visit four National Parks which is Tarangire ,Serengeti,Ngorongoro and Manyara.We are four of us and we do photographic safari,our driver tour guide(Felix)was great,he show many animals and we got fantastic site for taking great picture.He has a excellent knowledge of Africa,animals,trees,birds,flowers and culture.With my team,we recommend this tour company for those who are photographer to book or to travel with ABOVE & BEYOND PHOTOGRAPHIC TOURS AND SAFARIS LTD. We are very happy because we made our fantastic trip.Thanks our driver tour guide for great job you done for us.We think to come back next time with more people than this time.
Thanks.
