CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An unforgettable African adventure with outstanding service!
Travelling with Shadow Africa Safaris was a smooth and worry-free experience. The team was professional, transparent, and always prompt in answering our questions. The itinerary was well-planned, giving us great value for our money while keeping everything comfortable and safe. The safari itself was spectacular, thanks to our friendly and experienced guide. 10/10 service!
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Missions done, but...
Hello Mr. Peter K Katusiime and Big Apes Africa Team,
We're back from our 8-day tour, which started in Kigali, Rwanda, and ended in Entebbe, Uganda.
We're down-to-earth people, have been traveling for 12 years, and have some safari experience.
First, the positives.
We were warmly welcomed by our tour guide, Ronald, who was friendly and approachable throughout the entire trip.
He was very knowledgeable about the flora and fauna and explained life in East Africa to us during our journey.
We clicked really well with him after just a few days, and we were sad when the trip was over.
We would definitely travel with him again.
All the best to you, Ronie, and much success! 🤝
The itinerary was well-organized.
Peter's team changed the route and some hotels at our request.
This made our dream of seeing and experiencing primates in their natural habitat come true.
The mid-range accommodations they selected were excellent.
... The food, the service, the views were breathtaking.
As a European, you don't need to be afraid, and you rarely find such friendly, dedicated, and helpful people these days.
However, some things need to be addressed and seen as tough criticism, with the hope of improvement.
First, the car.
We drove about 2,000 km in a dilapidated, old car.
Make, no idea, 300,000 km.
Some of the seatbelts didn't work, no air conditioning, some of the windows were broken or unusable.
There was a smell of exhaust fumes inside the car, and the reserve tank didn't work, which is why we had to make a two-hour stop in the middle of the bush and get help.
Yes, we know, it's Africa.
But when we pay €5,500, we expect something different; it was better in other African countries.
You sometimes felt sorry for our tour guide, Ronald, even though he never complained and made the best of it.
``` Second point: the fuel situation.
If the offer states that fuel is included, then it's included.
Even in Uganda.
Trying to squeeze more money out of tourists through any tricks is unacceptable.
Sending money via SIM card is common there and usually works perfectly.
This sometimes led to situations where we were told we should pay, as it would be faster.
Oddly enough, after a stern phone call from me, everything worked perfectly again.
This shouldn't happen and is annoying.
I also hold this against Peter and the office team around Calvin and Peace.
Third point: trust, communication, and honesty.
I asked several times via email how the remaining 60% of the payment would be handled, but received no reply.
So we took cash with us and hoped for the best.
Then we suddenly had to pay for several things in cash: a hotel, a full tank of gas, and two national park entrance fees.
You can consider this normal, but you don't have to.
After that, we received instructions from the office to stop at a bank along the way and transfer the remaining balance.
Funny.
After 1.5 hours, we were out of the bank and had lost more time on our trip, just like the previous days due to the situation with refueling, car repairs, etc.
If these issues were improved, we would gladly come back.
In conclusion, we have to say:
We managed everything? Yes.
Were we satisfied? 50/50
Regards, Robert and Anne
IT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Everything Excellent
We went on a 3-day safari in Tanzania, visiting Tarangire, Manyara, and Ngorongoro parks. It was a magnificent trip—a unique adventure. It was a spectacular sight to see such a vast array of animals in their natural habitat, and from such close range. A special thank you to our guide, Richard; not only does he speak excellent Italian, but he is also a wonderful person—helpful, professional, cheerful, and friendly. We will always cherish the memory of his morning song: "Jambo Jambo, Hakuna Matata." We highly recommend it to everyone!
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Attentive to every detail, highly efficient, and always available and helpful throughout the safari.
We had an incredible experience with Fondness Vacations! Stephen was absolutely fantastic from start to finish. He arranged our transfer from Kenya and was incredibly flexible, adapting the tour to our needs. He was always attentive, helpful and quick to reply whenever we contacted him. He even went the extra mile and arranged a lovely surprise for my boyfriend’s birthday, which made the experience even more special. Everything was well organised and reliable, and we truly felt looked after throughout the whole trip. We highly recommend Fondness Vacations and would definitely book with them again!
SG
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exceptional guides, incredible wildlife, unforgettable memories
We engaged Salt and Pepper for a 10-day safari across Kenya and Tanzania, and everything went smoothly from start to finish. Helena and Isaya were always prompt in responding to our queries. As there were only two of us, they were also able to customise our itinerary, including arranging a sunrise hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti, which was unforgettable.
We saw everything we had hoped for—the Big Five, two wildebeest migrations, lions mating, and three separate sightings of lions feeding on their prey. We were also fortunate to see giraffes and elephants, and most memorably, a pair of rhinoceroses crossing right in front of our vehicle.
All of these incredible encounters were made possible by our knowledgeable and experienced guides, Isaya, Derick and Dominic. From the very beginning, we knew we were in good hands. They had an exceptional ability to locate wildlife and always positioned the vehicle perfectly for photography, allowing us to capture some unforgettable shots.
Beyond the incredible wildlife sightings, what truly stood out was the respect and care they showed towards both the wildlife and the local communities. While they were committed to giving us the best possible safari experience, they never compromised on ethical wildlife viewing.
The accommodations exceeded our expectations. The hospitality was warm and welcoming, the rooms were comfortable, and the food was consistently excellent, with an impressive variety at several lodges.
This safari was truly a dream come true, and we couldn't have asked for a better experience. A huge thank you to everyone at Salt and Pepper for making it so memorable. We would highly recommend them to anyone planning a safari in Kenya and Tanzania.
KR
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was a fantastic tour!
It was a great! The tour program was excellent, and the guide was also satisfied with the attentive care.
AT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Awesome.
Chacha was really great. Friendly, caring and a great listener.
FR
Unforgettable
Best experience ever!!!
First safari for us, with our guide Nicholas, it was absolutely perfect!!
We enjoyed 3 days safari with 2 nights in lodges, with great people and great food.
I really really recommand that experience, especially with Nicholas’s knowledge, and stories.
CH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional, knowledgeable, and friendly-BlackSanta Safari turned our dream trip into reality.
If you are looking for an incredible and memorable safari experience, I recommend BlackSanta Safari!
We booked a safari to the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions of our trip. Everything was organized seamlessly, allowing us to just relax and enjoy the wild beauty of Kenya.
We were lucky enough to see so many animals! From giant herds of elephants and majestic giraffes to zebras, buffaloes,(big)cats, and various bird species.
BlackSanta was phenomenal. The driver/guide had incredible knowledge about the park, sharp eyes for spotting animals hidden in the bush, and a genuine passion for wildlife.
If you want an authentic, well-managed safari with fantastic game viewing, go with BlackSanta Safari.
Thank you to the whole team for making this trip so special-we will definitely be back!
HK
Splendid Vacations – A Truly Memorable Safari
We chose Splendid Vacations for our 8-day journey to Kenya and Tanzania, and it turned out to be a perfect choice. Before departure, Maryann was always patient and responsive, answering our many questions and adjusting the itinerary through email. Even after arrival, whenever issues arose, she was quick and willing to help, which gave us great peace of mind.
During the trip, we had three guides, each leaving a wonderful impression. Alex worked tirelessly to find the best angles for photography, often anticipating where animals would approach so we could enjoy close encounters with breathtaking scenes. We indeed captured many good pictures and videos during the trip！He also brought us much joy throughout the journey.
Samwel impressed us with his daily effort to keep the safari vehicle clean and comfortable after each game drive. His driving was steady, and he supported us with practical needs such as buying SIM cards, exchanging currency, and visiting shops. During our dinner with Samwel, we also learned quite a bit of the local language and listened to him share about his own life, which allowed us to understand more about the local culture. It was a fun and meaningful exchange.His humor and patience made the experience even more enjoyable, and we were lucky to witness both the Big Five and the Great Migration with him.
The third guide we met was Julius, with whom we spent a shorter amount of time.He shared with us a wealth of knowledge about elephants, and through our conversations we could feel that he is truly a nature lover, bringing us many detailed observations and experiences. He is also a humorous and cheerful “big guy” . Most importantly, from him we genuinely experienced the spirit of Hakuna Matata. On our last evening, while having dinner, we suddenly received the news that our flight had been cancelled, which made us immediately worried. After meeting him and explaining the situation, possibly needing him to extend his time to take us to the airport, he kept reassuring us with the phrase “Hakuna Matata,” which gave us peace of mind. We are grateful to him for finally escorting us safely to the airport, ensuring our luggage was handled securely, and bringing our journey to a perfect close.
Thanks to Splendid Vacations, our very first safari was complete and fulfilling. Every moment in Africa felt precious and full of happiness. We are deeply grateful for the team’s professionalism, care, and dedication, and we highly recommend them to anyone planning a safari.
