LV
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Our quide and manager were excellent
The program and the service were very good. Just sleeping in the tent was difficult during the trekking.
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Average safari at Selous Reserve
We booked a 2 day, 3 night safari to Selous Reserve. Communication with Mack was good, our driver was punctual, and there were no surprises with payment. We were told that we had been upgraded to a better lodge at no extra cost, as Kiliholidays had received complaints about the lodge they typically book. This was appreciated and a good business decision. The lodge (African Safari Lodge) was beautiful and the rooms were great, but the food was average (we have had much better in Tanzania thus far).
Our driver and guide was friendly, but he did not seem to have much experience with the reserve itself. We were disappointed with the game drives, though to be fair, I know any safari is a gamble and our lack of sightings may not have had anything to do with our guide at all. Coming to Selous is a trade-off-you won't face traffic jams like you would in the Serengeti, but it is also harder to spot the big animals.
Finally, I was disappointed that the we didn't follow the schedule/description we had agreed upon prior to booking. I was told that we would have a chance to swim in a hot spring at sunset on day two, and was really looking forward to it. When we asked our driver/guide about this, he seemed surprised, and said there is a hot spring, very far away, and that the only time we could swim is in the late morning/early afternoon. We declined, as this would cut into our game drive time, and a hot spring at 14:00 in the heat isn't appealing. Very misleading.
I should add that we had come from Maasaii Mara in Kenya and had an AMAZING safari experience for a much LOWER cost! Our guides in Maasaii Mara were incredibly enthusiastic and knowledgable and we were on game drives from 06:00 until 18:30. We saw so much wildlife, mainly in the morning and evening. With this safari, we left one day at 07:30 and returned at 16:30, and the second day left at 09:00 and returned at 15:45.
To summarize, our experience was very average and not the best value.
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amaziong Personalized safari experience at an affordable price.
I would like the owners Ryan and Thale for organizing the tour and arranging the bookings and transfers, and thank my guide Chris and his assistant Ben for their great service and responsiveness.
The tour took me to several camps in different areas in Kruger NP allowing for viewing different habitats and different assemblage of animals.
This tour enables you of having your own guide and tailor made the drives to your own interests for example we found a leopard on an impala kill and spent two hours watching him and on another drive we encountered two lionesses with 6 small cubs and could spend an hour with them as well; this is hard to do in with a large group with many participants.
I would use Wild Planet Safari again in my future trips to Kruger.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Terrific, fantastic, superb.....do i need to say more?
Encompass Africa were simply awesome in every respect - would use them again at the drop of a hat - our Safari was arranged by Jono and Katie - thank you. Their expertise and knowledge in the planning staff were invaluable and when we got there all arrangements worked seamlessly. Not one single hiccup. Would highlight their on the ground mobile camping safari partner, Safari Life, is equally as good. Simply brilliant all round
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great experience with precise, flexible and very available operator!
I booked our family experience from Italy. We have been introduced to Ngutu by one of our hotels and we managed to easily plan our tour via email.
We really appreciated the flexibility and full time availability of Ngutu responsabile who suggested us a very detailed plan according to our needs.
Once arrived we enjoyed a very nice experience with very friendly guide who drove and guided us for the whole stay. We enjoyed our holiday in complete relax while Ngutu managed all park fees and hotels issues for us.
We managed to see all the things and animals we came to see and really had good time and hope to get back to Tanzania soon.
We therefore recommend this operator!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A once in a lifetime experience ...
A truly wonderful experience
Thank you Endless Summer Tours for a wonderful personalized Safari Tour and a hearty THANK YOU to Steven Morris for being the best guide .
We had deliciously prepared meals , great drives , great photos and made a new friend .
Thank you for your excellent service .. More than I expected and very pleased !
I highly recommend Steven and Endless Summer Tours ...
A 5 star operation !!
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic trip, tailored to what we liked
Probably couldn't ask for more given the notice, the high season and the budget.
Ines managed to book - and made us discover - some beautiful places, which were an experience in their own more than an accomodation.
Also, she managed to accomodate all our requests in terms of minimizing the stays in cities and booking the places we knew we wanted to visit.
We literally just had to drive and discover what amazing thing would happen to us at our next destination.
ES
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic experience
We enjoy a lot the safari, the lodge and camps were wonderfull.
The dirver/guides were very nice specially two of them one from Tanzania and the other from Kenya.
It's a very reliable agency.
i would repeat with them again if I had the chance
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Had a wonderful time in Masai Mara and Tsava West with the company.
Our driver Johnie was the best. He knew when and where to spot the animals, and the accommodation as organized by their staff was second to none. You need a safari, truly Sun Up is the best under the African Sun.
HK
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Quick communications, professional, and able to handle issues/last minute changes
Our experience with Lilian was very positive. She was excellent in communications, from providing a quotation to our specific itinerary and requests, and during the trip as well. More importantly, she handled issues during the trip when things went wrong (as we experienced horrible issues with a third party company that she had to hire because we wanted an open jeep, or when Adventures Aloft overbooked our original hot air balloon date and we had to change dates at the last minute). She also handled well any late changes (such as when we decided to book a flight to the Mara from Nairobi one day before). This is a sign of a good agent as people can experience difficulties with companies in the tourism industry in Kenya (from our experience and also what we saw/was told by other tourists during the trip), so it is good to know she is reachable at any time. There was some slight miscommunication during one point with the itinerary/place we assumed we would go, so it is best to confirm beforehand the exact details and places you will travel to (do your research on where you want to go, to see what you want to see as I believe the normal packages in the industry is quite a rushed itinerary). Overall, I recommend Lilian, as you will be in good hands.
Our itinerary was a 6 day safari visiting Ol Pejeta and the Masai Mara (Lemek Conservancy and the game reserve), including hot air ballooning and flights to and from the Mara (both highly recommended).