20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Dream safari in Kenya
Me and my girlfriend recently went on a 7 day safari in Kenya (our first!) with African Sunset Safaris.
The trip was fantastic from start to finish, in large part due to our fantastic guide Sam. He made sure our every need was met and took great pride and effort in guiding us on this trip. We saw the animals one could possible expect to see (big 5 + all other cats multiple times etc.) largely due to the fact that Sam knows the parks inside out. Overall the trip was perfectly organized and everything was as promised. I want to add that we loved how personal the service was as the whole team (Haron and Sam) went to great lengths to ensure we were happy with the safari and their service.
NZ
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience of the Chagga tribe and the Marangu Village
I went on the 2-day Marangu village tour with two of my friends from New Zealand. Godfrey took us on the tour.
We started with a visit to the Marangu Gate at the base of the Mt Kilimanjaro. Godfrey explained to us the geography and history about this world-famous mountain, and my time here inspired me to book a Mt. Kili hike with the same company afterwards.
We then visited the picturesque waterfalls to appreciate its natural beauty, followed by a visit to the coffee farm where we were shown how the coffee is produced from start to finish. The coffee song that Godfrey taught us was particularly memorable, followed by a nice coffee time enjoying the very coffee we just ground ourselves. Maisha marefu!
In the afternoon, we visited the Chagga cultural museum and the caves. Being from the Chagga tribe himself, his knowledge and ability to provide an enjoyable guided tour with his friendliness and humour is unparalleled. While having so much fun and laughs, we learnt so much about the history of the Chagga tribe and all the intricate designs and strategies weaved in the caves that they constructed.
After an overnight stay at a comfortable accommodation in Moshi, we proceeded to the hot springs where we spent hours swimming and relaxing in the clear blue waters. Godfrey then prepared the delicious chipsi mayai, which is a must-try dish during your stay in Tanzania.
Overall, I would definitely recommend to my friends and other future travellers the African Traits company. It is a great introduction tour especially if it is your first time in Tanzania and want to know about their culture. I had great two days on this trip and came away with fond memories.
Asante sana Godfrey!
BR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Can't speak highly enough
My family just came back from South Africa. Justin was responsible for four fantastic days. We stayed for three nights at Elephant Plains and one night at Hippo Hollow. He arranged for everything, including transfers and tickets to Moholoholo, Hoedspruit Endangered Species Center and Elep´hant Whispers.
We forgot out iPad at Elephant Plains and he went above and beyond to help us get it back.
He gave us his private number to contact him while in SA and was very quick to answer anything.
I really hope to come back and use PaperJet again!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
They did not deliver what was promised
We were not given the trip that was guaranteed. we did not get to the hot springs played for a full trip and were back to our home within five hours. They deliver terrible service.
BE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
On adventure with Hillary to Tarangire and Ngorongoro
At the end of July I went on safari with Hillary to two of the most famous national parks in Tanzania. Tarangeri and Ngorongoro. It was amazing. Where other guides did not succeed in other parks, I was shown cheetas that brought their boys to a group of friends, monkeys who were mating and rhinos inside the crater. These things are very rare. It is not easy to say whether it's a coincidence or the guide to see these things. But it were two days apart, I do not think it's a coincidence anymore. That's why I say a big "merci" to Hillary !!!
HU
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great service, reliable company
We selected Wildebeest as a result of a thorough research. Owner/manager Noah was very helpful with prompt replies who really understands client needs and can read between the lines. As a family of 4 with two younger kids (8 and 11) we had quite specific needs and also clearly defined our budget. After a rather long iteration we designed our final itinerary with 8 days safari and 5 days beach in Kenya.
We started in Nairobi, then 3 nights at Masai Mara (Mara Crossings), 1 night at Nakuru (Sarova Lion Hill), 2 nights at Amboseli (Ol Tukai) and 1 night at Tsavo (Serena). After the safari we have been taken to the south beach for a 5 night stay at Sands at Chale before we flew back to Nairobi.
The entire trip was professionally managed with really minor discrepancies, so in general the service they provided was excellent. Our driver Joseph has 20+ years experince, great driver with deep knowledge of flora and fauna.
Do not hesitate to select Wildbeest, would opt for them again.
PT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was really amazing!
From the very 1st email Anne was quick to respond, very professional and very patient about our million questions!
I am so glad I contacted Amazing Memories directly instead of relying on portuguese tour operators to organize everything for us. Not only was it much cheaper, but it was easy, simple, quick and very professional. I will definetly rely on Anne again if I return to Kenya and will recomend Amazing Memories to anyone wanting a fun packed, safe and adventurous safari.
The safari itself exceeded our expectations and it was truly an experience to remember. Daniel, our guide in Kenya, was great, making sure we saw all the animals including the big five. We were very lucky as we were able to see the rhinos on our 1st day at Nakura, because after that they were nowhere to be seen! He always chose the routes that had hardly any other cars which was great, as it felt like we had Masai Mara all to ourselves. In the end I think he was a little bit frustrated that he couldn’t find us a leopard, but the pride of lions eating the zebra for breakfast was a big plus!
Lawrence, our guide in Tanzania was absolutely excelente at spoting the animals. What an eye! And not only did he manage to show us a leopard, he managed to show us two The big five was finally complete! Serengueti is truly beautiful but Ngorongoro blew my breath away. If you can, don’t miss this place.
All the tented camps that Anne sugested were pretty great and exactly what we were looking for. We loved Ikoma Tented Camp as it felt like we were lost in the middle of the savana, and Amboseli Kibo Safari Camp for the beautiful views of the Kilimanjaro.
There were only 2 things that we didn’t really like: the Lake Naivasha tour didn’t feel very safe and our boat driver/guide had no regard for the animals as he drove the boat into the middle of the pelicans and other birds so as to force them to fly. Apparently it made for good photos… And whistling for the eagle to come took all the magic away. It’s suposed to be a natural park, minimum human interference, not a show in a zoo. The other thing was the souvenir shops Daniel took us to as the prices they practice are absolutely ridiculous! Even after bargaining the prices into half, the souvenir shops at the tented camps were still cheaper.
TIP: If you are covering A LOT of kilometers like we did, I suggest you pay the extra cash and request a Jeep for the whole trip instead of the minivan. We didn’t do it and we regreted it. It’s much more comfortable.
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Outstanding—lots of variety!
My partner and I did an 11-day tour through Uganda and Rwanda this July, and we had an amazing time. Nicholas did an impeccable job coming up with a customized itinerary for us—he sent us 2 initial ideas, and in the end we pulled pieces from both to create our ideal trip.
Our driver, Richard, was friendly and fun to be around. And the accommodations (even though we choose the most budget-friendly option) exceeded our expectations. Altogether an amazing experience. I would recommend Africa Tours Adventure to anyone planning a trip to either of these 2 countries.
SA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent safari
We been on a few trips around the world before but this beats them all. We had a five day/four nights safari with Armand as our private guide and John as our private chief in Kruger park. Everything was arranged perfectly and we did not need to think about anything practical for the entire trip. We started the trip with arriving early at Johannesburg airport. We were there picked up and had a private driver that helped out with picking up the prebooked Nikon 600mm/4 before arriving to Kruger.
Armand then picked us up and we got a first safari before sunset the same day with good shots of Rhinos. John cooked food just of us in the evening. Very nice South African special food. An early start day two with a bush walk in the sunrise. Perhaps not the highlight of the trip but still nice to walk around where lions could be. Two armed guides made them stay away though. After special breakfast with John it was time to head out with Armand on the full day safari. We could see a lot of animals but second day was even better, we got all big five in one day then.
But the big five is not the main thing. When sitting in the open vehicle you get so much of the open scenery and you soon start becoming your own animal scout. Seeing a family of elephants passing the road just in front of you is truly something special. And waiting for them there is all of a sudden an exotic bird sitting on the tree branch just beside the car. When looking at the hippos in a pond, there is a family of baboons next to the car stealing all your interest.
I got more and better pictures taken during the 4/5 days in Kruger than in most other places. If you head for a private reserve instead of booking within Kruger by itself the car can drive close to any animal. Even if that will give you much better closeup pictures, it will also mean more stress for the animals. I do prefer the Kruger way which brings out the need of a good tele-lens but leaves the animals more private.
Could anything been done better? Well, the park ranger tours with bush walk one morning and sunset safari an evening were less interesting, they would fall into the category of nice to have done but no need to repeat. It was truly Armands guided safaris that made the trip, and Johns food for sure.
I already recommended the trip to a number of fiends, not something I always do. And this is one trip I would like to repeat.
Reviewed yesterday
Excellent safari!
We been on a few trips around the world before but this beats them all. We had a five day/four nights safari with Armand as our private guide and John as our private chief in Kruger park. Everything was arranged perfectly and we did not need to think about anything practical for the entire trip. We started the trip with arriving early at Johannesburg airport. We were there picked up and had a private driver that helped out with picking up the prebooked Nikon 600mm/4 before arriving to Kruger.
Armand then picked us up and we got a first safari before sunset the same day with good shots of Rhinos. John cooked food just of us in the evening. Very nice South African special food. An early start day two with a bush walk in the sunrise. Perhaps not the highlight of the trip but still nice to walk around where lions could be. Two armed guides made them stay away though. After special breakfast with John it was time to head out with Armand on the full day safari. We could see a lot of animals but second day was even better, we got all big five in one day then.
But the big five is not the main thing. When sitting in the open vehicle you get so much of the open scenery and you soon start becoming your own animal scout. Seeing a family of elephants passing the road just in front of you is truly something special. And waiting for them there is all of a sudden an exotic bird sitting on the tree branch just beside the car. When looking at the hippos in a pond, there is a family of baboons next to the car stealing all your interest.
I got more and better pictures taken during the 4/5 days in Kruger than in most other places. If you head for a private reserve instead of booking within Kruger by itself the car can drive close to any animal. Even if that will give you much better closeup pictures, it will also mean more stress for the animals. I do prefer the Kruger way which brings out the need of a good tele-lens but leaves the animals more private.
Could anything been done better? Well, the park ranger tours with bush walk one morning and sunset safari an evening were less interesting, they would fall into the category of nice to have done but no need to repeat. It was truly Armands guided safaris that made the trip, and Johns food for sure.
I already recommended the trip to a number of fiends, not something I always do. And this is one trip I would like to repeat.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Amboseli was a dream tour
This was my second trip to Amboseli National Park, and my first time with Africa Celebrity Tours. The owner Muli was also my driver. I had a private tour so I had the large pop-top van to myself. On the tour he was extremely helpful and made all the arrangements - even a late check-out so that I could have more time on safari.
The safaris were great. He had an eagle-eye and spotted everything. He tailored the tour to the types of animals that I was keen to see, and the birds - all animals great and small. He had a knack for stopping at the perfect position to get a great view of the animals. Our patience was rewarded many times - such as viewing the most magnificent bull elephant passing right in front of the van; three separate family groups of elephants moving to the waterhole; a front view of four lions; sightings of many hyenas; a superb sighting of a jackal; a close-up snap shot of a baby eagle just a few feet away, and on and on. Hippos, elephants, ostriches, wildebeest, giraffe, waterbuck, buffalo, zebra, impala, vultures, and so on. I had many 'firsts' such as my first Kori bustard, saddle-billed stork, yellow-necked francolin, crowned plover, and the closest to the hamerkop than I've ever been, and the best shot I've ever had of the African Fish Eagle.
All in all it was too great for words.