PL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent service and unforgettable experience
I was on a 3-day gorilla tracking safari which I absolutely loved!
All went pretty much as expected. My overall experience was great. I had no problems during the entire tour. They were very responsive to all my emails.
I appreciate their willingness to discuss and adjust the itinerary according to my tight budget. That made it the cheapest reliable option I found.
I would recommend them to anyone.
Take note that nights are cold in Bwindi and days are not boiling hot either. The Batwa community walk was not authentic.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
16 Day Kenya-Tanzania Solo Safari - Exciting to Say the Least
16 days with 8 different accommodation spots and a border crossing, there are bound to be a few things that might go off the rails. I would suggest anyone undertaking such a challenge have an open mind and be able to roll with the punches. I did a lot of research prior to booking my Safari with Orongai and in the end, they offered the best value for what I was looking for; a mix of luxury and tented accommodation with a full itinerary. First what needs to be noted is Orongai is relatively new to the Safari tour industry, but the Founder, Asseri is not. As such, they are continuing to learn and grow. If you are looking for that PERFECT nothing better go WRONG experience, then I recommend you pay the $10 to $15k US per person and book with a company that has been around for 30 years. If you are looking for value and won't get absolutely rattled if things don't go 100% according to plan, then you will have the trip of a lifetime like many others have indicated in their reviews.
Like a few others, I had changes presented to me upon arrival in Nairobi that had not been communicated prior to leaving Canada. I addressed the lack of communication with them in this regard and we came to a mutual agreement. Like some others, I too had accommodation changes that I was not expecting. Again, I stressed the importance in communicating changes to their clients prior to them arriving for their Safari - no one likes surprises, especially if they are going to be perceived as negative.
So here's my adventure:
- I arrived in Nairobi to learn my luggage did not. Martha and Asseri delayed departure for my Safari while they tried to figure out how they could retrieve my luggage once it arrived and get it to me while I was on the road. They helped make arrangements with the hotel, etc. They didn't have to - they didn't lose my luggage, the airline did. I was 5 days without my luggage!
- As a single female, they were concerned with pairing me with a young, male guide. They hired a new guide/driver that was supposed to be more experienced. James turned out to be friendly enough and very aggressive when it came to maneuvering the safari vehicle into position for the best wildlife shot. I got the best photos and did not have a professional camera with a 2 foot long lense. The downside was James' english was not very strong and he was not as outgoing and personable and I would have liked. An outgoing, personable driver with a good sense of humour was part of the criteria I requested for my Safari. As I was travelling solo, I needed to have a driver that was willing to engage. He also ended up taking more risks then he should have with the vehicle; taking short cuts that were not authorized by Orongai.
- Due to 'confusion' with regards to my itinerary my driver chose to skip taking me to the Nakuru Rhino reserve/drive and I missed out on seeing any Rhino's on this trip; a big disappointment for me. To make up for this, Asseri had my driver take me to Naivasha where I was treated to a private boat tour on the lake at Orongai's cost.
- Asseri met me at the Kenya/Tanzania border to take me to the Serengeti for 2 days. Crossing the border, and getting another Visa is quite an undertaking and to have the assistance and support to be guided through that process by him was very helpful and appreciated. I was hosted by Steve at the Kati Kati Tented Camp right in the park - it was amazing.
- Most of the lodges and tents that I stayed at, although there were some changes were quite nice.
- The biggest concern with accommodation was in Nakuru where I was placed at The Legacy Hotel; a hotel, not a lodge or a tented camp. In the middle of the night a man entered my room with a key. I suspect with the intention of stealing from me; as he had a key, he must have been an employee, but I will never know as he took off before anything could be done. I addressed this with Martha who addressed it with the hotel. The result is Orongai will not be placing any clients in that hotel in future.
- My driver made another unauthorized deviation near the end of my trip on the way to Mombasa. Because of this, Asseri again paid to have me taken on a private 5 hour tour through Mombasa to make up for it.
- The end result is 'James' will not be hired for any future safari work with Orongai
Communication, communication, communication. It is key, especially with a trip that was as complicated as mine was. And remember, you aren't always going to have internet or wifi access when you are out on Safari - be prepared for that.
Orongai is new, they are continuing to learn as they continue to grow; this is to be expected. They did their best to make right the things that went wrong; that is all you can ask of any company. Even with the few bumps in the road along the way, I had a fantastic experience - something I will never forget, and I now have friends in Arusha; Martha and Asseri.
If you are planning a 5-7 day Safari, you will not be disappointed like the many others that have posted reviews. If you are planning a Safari that is longer and has you moving every day or two to another location, be prepared for some hiccups along the way.
I definitely recommend them. Just confirm your itinerary prior to leaving your country of residence.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Selous Game Reserve by Beatrice Svanström
Everything was great, the staff was wonderful, lovely nature and we saw animals all the time!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Mikumi National Park by Beatrice Svanström
We didn't see that many animals as in Selous and we missed our driver Dulla from Serengeti.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Perfect tour!
Our guide Jackson was fantastic! He was helpful and professional the whole time, and we felt very safe with him. He was also very knowledgeable about all the animals and birds we saw, and he made sure we had a great time. The food and accommodation was also excellent, it was the trip of a lifetime! Maggie was helpful and responsive when it came to answering our questions, could not have asked for a better trip!
US
Packed with wildlife
South Luangwa was an excellent choice. We stayed at Kafunta River Lodge which was very nice. They have a photo hide which nobody else was using so it was my own private retreat where I got some great photos of the animals at the watering hole. The game drives in the park were led by excellent guide trackers. We saw lions and at least 7 different leopards, in addition to the elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, crocodiles, hippos, etc. We also saw quite a few birds, including the bee eater. No need to trek from place to place every other day when you can see so much right here. Highly recommended.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable trip!
Hello tanzania were so helpful before the trip with everything, Madame Mwajabu met us the day before to tell us all about the following days and made sure we were well prepared. All during the safari days the staff took perfectly good care of us! We had an amazing time and loved the "Hippo camp" in Seleous where we stayed! Our guide Michael was the best, he had all the answers and you could tell that he loved his job! He made everything interesting and we were so impressed. All of the staff in Hello Tanzania and on the camp were absolutely amazing, and we are so grateful!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unique experience and wonderful scenery but need to pay premium price to enjoy it
The geological location of Kenya made it an ideal place to travel during norther hemisphere summer time(July,August). The weather is neither too hot nor cold. Most of accommodations(lodges) have good food, tasty grilled vegetables and meat. Coffee and tea are superb! When you travel among those developed countries, sometimes you might need to find a good coffee/shop so that you can enjoy a good quality cup, but in Kenya this is something that most lodges would serve. I don't like the transportation honestly. The roads are powdery and ridiculously bumpy. Even in good road condition i.e., from Nairobi to Navasha where we need to cross a mountain, once there is a conjunction many drivers keep on jumping the queue and we all end up stuck into a total jam and no way to get out of it. However, good news is that there are many roads under construction by Chinese companies. For example, the way to Masai Mara is half completed during 2018 summer. Imaging going there next year would be much better. A good guide is somewhat a lucky one, he is the person that critical to the whole experience. Hot air balloon over Mara is an unforgettable experience. You will enjoy the quietness and the beautiful savanna sunrise, though a bit cold in early morning generally but that warmness from the balloon make you feel like sitting next to a living room fireplace.
CZ
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safari experience in mid-range package
We enjoyed Serengeti and Tarangire national parks a lot. Each of them has a different character. Tarangire is nicely shaped by the river. You don't need to drive long distances to see wild animals. Serengeti is impressive by the endless plains and classic safari experience. But it tends to be overcrowded at some places. Also you need to survive the dusty transfer from NCA to Serengeti on bumpy road (2 hours each way). Ngorongoro wildlife has left us behind our expectations but maybe we weren't lucky enough. The crater landscape is breathtaking. Be prepared on cold weather in the morning (below 10 degrees Celsius). Our driver Jackson has done a good job, especially when tracking the wildebeest migration. We were sharing the car with four other travellers which was fine and caused no limitations to us. The only concern was that they had different accommodations. It caused extra miles driven every morning and evening on transfers which was a little bit annoying. The accomodation in Serengeti Mawe tented camp was excellent and is well worth it. The communication with the tour operator was fluent and friendly. Online payment of reservation fee would be welcome instead of bank transfer which can't be insured. We can recommend Kili Slope especially for good value for money of our mid-range safari package.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Uganda safari Highlights with Gecko safaris = AMAZING
Gecko safaris provided prompt response when looking at booking the climb at Mount Rwenzoris and the wildlife tour in Uganda. Even after the booking was made, they provided a quick response when questions were provided. From start to finish there was nothing to be faulted.
Kenneth, our guide was extremely knowledgeable, safe and accommodating and made the whole experience fun, entertaining and educational.
The properties we stayed in were wonderful - the staff were extremely friendly and no request was ever too difficult.
Papaya Lodge was one of the most beautifully scenic places I've stayed at - the rooms had the most incredible view of the Lake and Valley and it was the most incredible view to wake up too.
Mweya safari lodge also provided a flawless and accommodating environment. The tented rooms were amazing from the spaciousness to the comfort, to the slippers! The lodge itself also had a large range of extra activities - the spa treatments are definitely recommended.
The National Parks we visited provided us with sightings of a large range of wildlife - the knowledge our guide Kenneth had was next level - what an amazing and enjoyable trip - something I will remember forever and happily recommend to anyone wanting to visit Uganda. Thanks Gecko safaris!