35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Superb! This was our dream holiday and we were able to see all of the wildlife we hoped for and more
We spent two weeks touring the northern part of Namibia with Wild Dog Safaris. It was an incredible experience and Wild Dog were brilliant throughout. Our tour was expertly put together by Memory Garises who was friendly, flexible and professional at all times and worked hard to secure us our dream holiday. Our tour guide Milner Kandjavera was amazing, ensuring that we made the most out of every day and was great company for two weeks. We would highly recommend! Anna, Mark, Matt and Elspeth
JP
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good communication and nice hospitality
Communication was so fast and smooth, it was comfortable. That’s why we chose this tour immediately.
And Adam’s hospitality was so nice. He took us around the city of Arusha which is not included to tour. Also he gave nice T sharts.
Thanks to Adam, we had exiting experience in Tanzania!
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
You won’t regret it!!!
This is one of those rare times when I wish there was an option to rate 6 stars instead of 5. 2nd time out in Africa for a safari and was pumped to get in some camping and outdoor time,being from Canada getting away from the winter and enjoying the outdoors.Definitely glad that I decided to go with them again and glad I was fortunate to go for a second safari and delivered !!! On alot for wildlife
incredible guide. He is very knowledgeable, super friendly, easy going and very accommodating.If you are on the fence , do yourself a favor and just go for it You will not regret it.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Lake Nakuru National Park by Y. S. W.
The water level was high, so the road near the flamingos was blocked. We saw both white and black rhinos.
it was agreat experience touring Mara.My family and i really wished we could stay alittle longer.
It was really a perfect choice of a 3- day trip to Masai Mara for my family and I. we at first were very anxious to see all what we had viewed on the Google’s web page. The most interesting part of the first three days was The Great Wildebeest Migration. My children enjoyed that the most. We learnt that the several species mostly antelopes, zebras and the large herds of buffalos were migrating to the close by national park in Tanzania in search of greener pastures.
Mahali Mzuri was a great accommodation experience with the great hospitality and really not far from the parks entrance. I really enjoyed the well served African cuisine onto the great view of Africa’s great sunset. The evening bonfire was excellent where I got a chance to create best moments with my husband still enjoying the great service of the well served Mara wine which is freshly Kenyan made ,kids having gone to rest after the long scotched day.
Felix who was our great tour guide was always all happy and every day nicely responding to my children’s questions about life at the Mara.
I lastly wish to send my gratitude to Simon for his quick response to my email messages and calls before and after the tour . I thank His team and the entire wildraceafrica.com for been the best choice I made for my family tour .It was such a great experience having visited places me and my family have always been dreaming to be.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible lifetime experience!
We had a great 7 day Big Game safari with Boundless Africa Journeys. Our rep Annette was extremely organized and thorough with our itinerary. Upon our arrival in Nairobi she was also most kind and helpful with a half day short notice tour ahead of our safari start. This is where we met Enock, our guide. He is the guide extraordinare, punctual, organized, knowledgeable with excellent driving skills. We completed seeing both the Big Five and the Samburu Special Five with credit to Enock . Top marks to BAJ for this trip of a lifetime !
AT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing wildlife experience
We had a four day safari with camping visiting Serengeti, ngorongoro and tarangire. We had a chance to see most animals including the cats, lions cheetahs and serval cats. The experience of having zebras and hyenas walk into the camping sites was amazing. It was very nice to be so close to nature.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Better than expected adventure of a lifetime
The ride was a bit long and rough. If you can afford it, fly in to the reserve. The wildlife was fantastic we saw every animal except a leopard. Accommodations were quite comfortable, and we never encountered any mosquitoes. Food was excellent. Weather was perfect, cool, not chilly, and clear. We have a baboon climb into the land cruiser and begin to help himself to some food, which was a little frightening, but very cool also.
A stunning experience, from views and wildlife to the welcome and the people
This was a big holiday, so we spent a little extra on everything. The two week holiday was a stunning experience, from views and wildlife to the welcome and the people.
One of the first things we noticed was the poverty. The country is one of the poorest in the world. Children under ten work the fields, carry bricks, and generally do what they can to earn a living. Seeing children searching a rubbish tip to find items to either recycle or sell is not uncommon. To make an income this results in the nation, arguably, leading the way in recycling and reusing items. We visited one shop where miniature replicas of bicycles, Put-puts and trucks were made from tin cans and expired medical tubing. They sold for 10,000 MGA (about US$2.50)
The lodges we stayed in were top end of the range, although they varied in quality. All were clean, and though we didn't have any issues with mosquitoes, a couple of lodges did have nets.
You do not go to Madagascar expecting five star food, although there is a French influence. The fruit and vegetables are closer to organic, as the farmers cannot afford pesticides. But the meat is a little tough, to say the least. Zebu is the principle cattle, and is a working animal. Chickens run freely across the road looking for food. Fish and seafood are fine, although menus usually just say ‘Fish’. Get used to the same food and menu options wherever you go. Rice is a staple diet item.
We had a driver for the two weeks. He has been a guide and driver for over fifteen years. He was experienced to know where to go, but ensured we decided what to do. We asked about tipping, but was told it was up to us. Took about three days to get a handle on the tipping for services. Do expect to tip, everyone expects it, and they are thankful when you hand over a couple of notes. Try not to over tip, although 2000MGA may not be much to most, whereas it is a lot to the Malagasy.
The roads are astonishing. The Route 2 main road is more like a field in places. The road is just about a two lane country road. At one point we were driving amongst three rows of various vehicles; trying to avoid pot holes; trenches; whilst over-taking. All whilst avoiding the oncoming three lanes of traffic doing the same manoeuvres. Think of the cartoon ‘Wacky Races’.
But the food, hotels and driving were not why we went. The wildlife and scenery were. Over 90% of rain forest has been cut done. Loss of forests, the introduction of Eucalyptus and Chinese pine and slash and burn (widely used by farmers), has had a devastating effect on nature and the environment. Thankfully some areas are now protected by national parks. In most cases the local villages have fought to protect their forests and wildlife. This improves the environment, and protects the wildlife. Lemurs are now preserved, not hunted.
Wildlife is not predictable, it is wild, so expect to be walking, climbing, and scrabbling through vegetation to find that elusive photographic shot. Visitors must have a guide to enter the parks and rain forests. This means you, thanks to the spotters, will generally be taken to where the wildlife can be found. The 6 hours walking through Ranomafana Rainforest can be tiring. It is up and down steep hills; uneven paths; as well as through the forest itself. Expect rain (as the name rainforest suggests), although we didn’t get any until we hit the beach. It is well worth the effort, seeing 6 or 7 types of Lemurs, including the Golden Bamboo. Listening to the cry of the Indri in a forest is spooky, but not as bad in the early hours of the morning. In all we saw about 15 types of lemurs on our travels.
This is also somewhere to go if you are a ‘Twitcher’, bird watcher. Although don’t expect to wait around in a nice cosy hide waiting for them to appear. You need to be quick as usually you only get a glimpse. If you are lucky then you may see a flycatcher’s nest right by the path at eye level. Or quietly snap a Hoopoe or a Fody, whilst just missing a Hawk. Listen for the chatter of Myna birds, introduced to kerb the rise in locusts.
Our aim was to see not just the lemurs, but also other endangered species, such as tree frogs and giraffe necked weevils. We were not disappointed, our guides knew what they were looking for. The guide in Andasibe National Park spotted a Mouse Lemur in pitch black high in a tree. The guide in Ranomafana found the Giraffe Necked Weevil just as we were leaving. I would never have seen these without their experience and vision.
To summarize: you go to Madagascar to see the wildlife, lemurs, frogs, insects etc. This is a poverty stricken country. The people are friendly and welcoming, on the whole. Lodges are clean, and the food is basic. We never felt unsafe, but then our driver ensured we didn’t stray. Crime against tourists does occur, but not often. As with anywhere in the world, be aware of your surroundings and your belongings. This was an experience of a lifetime, a very enjoyable experience I would highly recommend.
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Rich in beauty, wildlife and people.
While there are a lot of gaming farms and national parks to see the rich Namibian wildlife, going into the more arid areas of the country will show you as well many animals (Oryx, Baboons, etc.). November the right period to see seals off the coast of Walvish bay, it's some kind of show!
Namibians are generous, positive and welcoming. There are some prejudice between some tribes, but don't listen to nay-sayers: even if some other Namibians would warn you for their aggressive selling techniques, listen to what the Himbas have to say. Their culture is rich and the price not as expensive as in other "tourist friendly" shops.
I have stayed in Townships in both Swakopmund and Windhoek. They are not so as unsafe as what you might hear concerning South Africa, and the taxi drivers are fine. Just do as the locals and all will be fine.