US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Odyssey created a magnificent vacation experience for my family that far exceeded our expectations.
From my first conversation with Mark and Lucy, I felt like my family was in good hands with a supportive, caring team. My many calls and emails were answered promptly. Mark, who bore the brunt of my novice questions, answered all my concerns with patience and good humor. Even during our trip, when I had a question, I received a very quick response from an Odyssey team member in Kenya, as well as an email from Mark. This, to me, showed that Odyssey was on top of every aspect of our trip and had our back.
From the moment we touched down in Kenya to our departure at Kilimanjaro Airport in Tanzania, our drivers/guides took care of all our needs. Charles, our driver/guide in Kenya met us with a bright smile. He was an exceptional guide and driver who had a great sense of humor. I'm sure our trip was enhanced because of Charles. We feel very lucky to have met him and have him show us his country. Charles was able to find a leopard as soon as we entered our first game drive. We joked, that everything else is downhill now. This was not true, every game drive was incredible. If we get to return to Kenya, Charles has to be our driver/guide.
Charles passed us on to our Tanzania driver/guide Gibson at the Kenya-Tanzania border. Gibson had big shoes to fill, and he did just that. Gibson was another excellent guide/driver. He was very accommodating with our schedule and needs and was very knowledgeable. I would definitely request him again if we are ever lucky enough to travel back to Tanzania. I was very touched when he presented me with a gift at the end of our tour.
All the lodges or tented camps we stayed in were good to great. Be prepared to not have wifi, hot water or even electricity at some of the places during certain hours (mostly overnight). It was kind of liberating to be disconnected for a time. Most of the place we stayed had amazing views. I do have some favorites, but they were all very nice. Most meals were buffet style, which my family enjoyed. While I didn't mind the few times we had a pre-packed picnic lunch, my husband would have liked to have been given more of a choice of options.
We spent long hours in our safari truck driving from one location to another, but I would never trade the six-hour drives for an internal flight. We were able to experience so much more while driving, getting to stop along the way and meet some local Kenyans. We also got to really get to know our guides. The drives passed quickly due to so much to see.
We did do a few extras while in Kenya. While in Nairobi, we had previously fostered a baby elephant at The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. We were able to meet all the baby elephants and watch as the came in for the night. I highly recommend this experience. We also went to the Giraffe Center. While we enjoyed feeding the giraffes, this is something we've done in the US.
While staying at The Sopa Lodge in the Maasai Mara, we scheduled two private bush meals; one dinner and one breakfast. Both of these experiences were great and something we were glad we got to do.
If we got to do this same trip again, the one thing I would do differently would be to add a few days, in the end, to relax in Zanzibar. This was a once in a lifetime experience for us and it exceeded all expectations. I will be recommending Odyssey Safaris to anyone who is interested in going on Safari.
FI
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome safari in Serengeti!
The experience of a 5-day safari in Tanzania with Afrishare was absolutely amazing. Everything was organized by Ibrahim in a perfect way: transport, accommodations, meals, beverages. Our guide Haji was excellent in meeting all our needs during game drives! With his experience of more than 10 years in this job, he was able to drive us in the perfect locations and spot animals from far away; he explained us many things and curiosities about the different species we saw and he respected our requests for time while taking photos, being always very professional, serious, available but also nice and friendly. Thanks to his skills and patience we managed to see, besides many kind of animals, the “big five”, including two wonderful black rhinos! The vehicle was also comfortable and spacious for two people, the packed lunches were good and all dinners and breakfasts in the lodges and tented camps were simple but really tasty and genuine. We must say that our experience with Afrishare exceeded by far our expectations on a safari!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Everything as planned!
Communication was always very prompt and clear. I just did the gorilla trek, so other than transfers to my camp, the park, and the airstrip, I did not have much of a "safari" tour. My guide was fine. Not very interested in engaging with me directly, but he was polite and did the job without any problems along the way. I would recommend Encounter safaris.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome trip; comfortable in everyway imaginable.
My husband and I had a honeymoon trip schedueled by LUESA travel and tours company. Went to Zanzibar for 1 week. It was awesome, accomodation was lovely; food was tasty, tour trips we had included dolphin hunt, spice island, stone tour and local village evening walks were all super cool. We would love to travel again and we definately will contact LUESA travel and tours company for their guidance.
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Avoid !
Did a Masai Mara Safari with Bencia end of July. It was supposed to be 3 days and we only spent 24 hours in the park, our guide pretending that the car broke down to force us to go to the Masai Village to force us to go to the Masai Village and to avoid paying the entry fee for another 24 hours.
We've had to complain and got 80$ back, so that we wouldn't put a bad review online. They pretended it was the guide's fault, and told us they gave him all the cash to pay the park fees. Although the park fees can't be payed by cash.
I met later a couple who told me the same thing happened to them, so it must be a regular thing.
Later on I met two Italian guys stuck in Serengeti campsite for two days without getting on any safari because they booked with Bencia and their driver never showed up!
Avoid!
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Awesome team, Great quality/price ratio
Did the Kilimanjaro climb with TransKibo, amazing trip!
The team is so nice and friendly.
Food is great and guide is very knowledgeable
Price very attractive
Recommended !
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A wonderful journey we enjoyed much. Thank you William and Nassary for your thoughtful arrangements.
Everything is nice,they offered luxury tends and lodges wherever we stayed,food is good and work staffs just like old friends,they are so kind and sweet.
We look farward to visit Tanzania again with our families with Overland safari.
CA
Unforgettable
The safari was wonderful. Our guide, Ninah was very knowledgeable and did a great job navigating through the Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater. It was an unforgettable experience overall.
FR
safari rich in diversity of landscapes, terrestrial wildlife and underwater, very welcoming people
Fauna very rich and accessible, amazing landscapes "red and gray tsingy", pleasant weather even in the rainy season, different accommodation and food according to the choices, pay attention to hygiene for food and water.
Delicate local transport due to poor roads. Relatively good local guide. Tour very rich in emotions and sensations.
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable safari in Tanzania thanks to Makasa Tanzanian Safaris and our chauffeur Robert
We have just returned from an eight-day safari in Tanzania followed by a five-day beach holiday on Zanzibar Island organized by Makasa Tanzanian Safaris. Selma and Ngomi happened to be there in our first hotel and waved us goodbye as we set off on what would later appear to be an unforgettable safari. Our stay in the two different tented camps in the Serengeti being one of the highlights! Our chauffeur Robert was the best guide one could hope for: he was very friendly with a great sense of humour and had extensive knowledge and expertise in wildlife, nature in general and birdlife. Furthermore we could ask him anything including questions about life in Tanzania in general.
Not only did we see the Big Five, including the leopard, but also the annual great wildebeest migration. These experiences left an undelible impression on us. The safari also covered the famous Ngorongoro Crater and the National Park Lake Manyara: especially the view at the rim of the Crater is spectacular. After our safari in Tanzania we spent 5 days at the Z-Hotel in Zanzibar where we stayed in a beautiful villa at a 10-minute drive from the hotel. Very helpful and accommodating staff who did everything possible to make our stay a pleasant one. We could also enjoy the full use of hotel facilities: we recommend dining on the beach. It should come as no surprise that we will recommend Makasa Tanzanian Safaris and its chauffeur Robert, should you consider a safari in beautiful Tanzania!
Fam. Kruijt and Bosch from the Netherlands
