US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Extremely Positive Review Though We Had to Cancel the Tour
This review of Pembury Tours is a bit different in that we had to cancel the tour due to a medical situation.
Planning and booking the tour with Heidi was very professional and went very smoothly. We are in the US and Heidi often answered her phone and e-mail after hours in SA. We were able to book the exact itinerary we wanted including both of the safari camps we had previously chosen as our top choices. The prices were very good.
The most exceptional component of our relationship with Heidi and Pembury Tours was after we canceled the tour. I expected to lose all of our deposit, however, upon cancellation, Heidi said that she would do what she could to get us a refund. She did a heck of a job because she was able to get us more than half of our deposit refunded to our credit card.
The Pembury Tours offerings are excellent and Heidi went above and beyond the call of duty in taking care of us. I highly recommend Pembury Tours and cannot recommend Heidi highly enough.
Everything we were hoping for!
Thanks to the organisation by Grassroots and our excellent guide and driver, Fikirin, the logistics and travel were all completely trouble free. This allowed us to relax and enjoy a very individual and personal safari experience. We had close encounters with an amazing range of wildlife: elephants (right outside our hut), lions, hunting dogs, hippos, giraffes, zebras, hyenas, many different types of antelope, bush babies in the bar, and we were lucky enough to see a leopard and a huge python. The walking safaris with local guides were fascinating and gave quite a different perspective on the environment. We loved the accommodation in bandas and guest houses and the food was very good. What a great way to experience the landscape and wildlife of Tanzania!
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Informative Lifetime Experience
My wife and I were planning our honeymoon to East Africa and of course, had to see gorillas during our travels. We came across Encounter Africa online and couldn't have been happier with our choice. From the very beginning communication with the agent was clean, cut and clear and provided us with an enjoyable trip from the time we were picked up at our lodging in Entebbe to Bwindi and until the time we were dropped off at the airport in Entebbe.
Going into detail a little further, we were picked up by a driver named Paul. Words cannot express how grateful my wife and I were to have Paul as our driver, guide and in the very end, a friend forever. After all, you spend 8 hours in a comfortable van each way from Entebbe and Bwindi National Forest, so there is a lot of questions and discussion to be had. Speaking of which, Paul answered so many questions that we had for him. He explained in detail everything we saw from plants, trees, villages, farming, economy, food, animals and of course, gorillas. I could type more about everything we discussed, but trust me, every questions was answered in length and we both felt fully informed on everything Uganda has to offer.
Upon arriving to Bwindi, we were greeted by kind hosts who showed us our lodging which was accompanied with a bottle of wine and flowers for our honeymoon (we were not expecting that). Our lodge was overlooking a valley of the rain forest where we sat for some time watching the wildlife up close. We had two double beds in our tent that were extremely comfortable and dressed with heavy blankets for the chilly nights. The bathroom was extended off the back of the tent to a solid foundation that was very clean and open.
Food: Amazing. Really it was. My wife and I planned our safari and gorilla trekking for our first leg of the honeymoon thinking we would lose some weight roughing it for a week before hitting the beaches of Kenya for our final week. Well, we were wrong. The food was unbelievably great. Superb job by the chef. I still talk about the fish we had one night.
Gorillas: Words can not describe the rush during this experience. The pictures, video and even the extremely close encounters we had with the gorillas was breathtaking. The guides were friendly and very helpful making this experience the way it was. Again, I can go into length about this experience but I'll just sum it up as you cannot miss out on this opportunity during your lifetime. If you are contemplating going gorilla trekking, just go. You will not regret it.
One last shout out goes to our driver Paul. He went above and beyond his service provided. Thanks for stopping roadside so we could buy raw honey. Thank you for stopping at the bank so we could pick up cash. Thank you for dropping us off at a restaurant for dinner on our last day since our flight wasn't for several hours later and then you came back to drive us to the airport. You're a great asset to your company.
Thank you again for everything!
BY
It was professional and joyful
Everything was good. Team was professional and welcoming.
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
everything was perfect and excellent!
We had a wonderful experience with "Hello Tanzania" tour "3 Days/ 2 nights at mikumi and uduzungwa".
First of all Mwajabu is a lovely person, always so kind and helpful in all the way, she came personally to pick up us with the driver and she help us in many other things. All the "Hello Tanzania" staff that stay with us in our trip was so kind and qualified too.
The organization was excellent and the timetable was exactly as it was written in the brochure.
Nothing has been missed.
At least, Camp Bastian, the location where we slept, was a wonderful place with a magic atmosphere, a so gently staff and a very very good food.
We are very happy to have chosen "Hello Tanzania" and we sincerely recommend this tour operator to everybody.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We were catered to from the moment we touched ground to the time we were dropped off back to airport
Mr. Otieno did an amazing job getting our dream Safari and Beach trip together. We did some extensive research, reading books and online reviews, etc looking for a reputable outfitter because this was our first trip to Africa. He was very prompt in his communication and worked with us in putting together itineraries based on our budget. He was also readily available during our trip when we wanted to make last minute changes on our trip. It was the perfect wildlife and cultural experience and can't thank Kenya Walking Survivors Safaris enough in putting together an unforgettable experience for us! Asante Sana!
ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience !!
We had an amazing experience in Tanzania thanks to
Get Away Adventures , they organized everything carefully to make the most of this experience. Regarding our guide and driver ( Samuel and Freddy ) They were very helpful and nice with us always taking care of our necessities. I highly recommend Get Away Adventures you won't be dissappointed
US
8-Day Lemosho Route - Awesome!!
I recently (and successfully!) did a climb and safari with Barafu Tours and Safaris and I could not recommend them highly enough. One of the things I liked is that they are a locally owned and operated company. As we were comparing companies, and throughout the entire experience, Chance the owner was always available and cheerfully answered all of our exhaustive questions. He was there to meet us when we arrived and made sure every detail of our trip was taken care of. He even went far above reasonable expectations when my brother had multiple flights cancelled and arrived two days late without his baggage; Chance made sure he was taken care of and provided the necessary equipment, transportation, and help to get him caught up with the rest of us!
Our group of 8 had 4 guides, Mohammed, Raphael, Mohamud, and Abu. They were all experienced and very knowledgable, and as the trek went along it became evident how attentive they were to each of us and aware of our individual needs, plus they were fun to be around. I couldn't help but notice on summit night they were the most positive and energetic guides on the mountain, and this went a long way to helping us reach the top.
This trek was one of the hardest things I've ever done and I know I couldn't have done it without our great team. The food was excellent and plenty, and delivered with a smile. The level of physical, technical, and emotional support from the entire group was fantastic. The singing and encouragement from the team goes a long way when you're nearing your physical limits. We left with 25 new friends and feeling truly part of the Barafu family.
After the climb we took a 4 day lodge safari also with Barafu, visiting the Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorogoro Crater. We had really high expectations for this part of the trip and we were still blown away. The quality and quantity of close animal encounters, and stunningly beautiful accommodations and cuisine were truly top notch. Our guides Chris and Joseph were a pleasure to be around and extremely knowledgable about the animals and plant life. The vehicles were state of the art LandCruisers and provided comfortable and reliable transportation. They have the pop-up tops so you can stand up inside the vehicle and have a 360 degree unobstructed view.
If you're planning a climb on Mt Kili or a safari and considering choosing Barafu, do it!! You will leave with an unforgettable experience, new friends, and the satisfaction of memories that you know couldn't have been any better.
US
Pamoja Tours goes above and beyond to provide excellent, quality service.
Sperito was always prompt in his communications. He handled all the details of our trip with excellence. He and his team were a pleasure to work with. I highly recommend Pamoja Tours and will definitely be using their services again in the future.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
I had an amazing experience with them. Very professional and concerned about our enjoyment.
Fantastic! The Safari was an amazing experience! If I travel to Uganda in the future, I would definitely use their company again.