MX
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Erasto is the best guide EVER. If you plan to go to Africa, Erasto is a MUST.
I think Africa is a special place. When planning our trip, we planned to get the best tour since we live in Mexico, it is very far, and maybe it would be the first and only time to go there. Erasto excelled our expectations by far. He is proud of being a Masai warrior which gives him a superior knowledge of the animals, plants, and places compared to the other guides we met in the hotels. This knowledge was very important when looking for animals, we found all: zebras, elephants, cheetahs, lions, rhinos, hipos, leopards, etc, even a pangolin! He not only showed us the animals, but told us how they lived, what they eat, if they migrate or not, everything. So it was not another zebra and another lion, but learning to understand their behavior. Besides he also knows about plants so we learned about natural repelents, natural sandpaper, etc. Many times in the safaris we went farther away, or to other places just to find whatever we wanted. He made our safaris personalized.
On top of all this he had everything prepared at the several hotels we went. We were always expected, received, and had everything ready for us. He was always ready and planed everything to perfection.
I have recommended Erasto to everyone I know. I want to return some day and I'll surely call him to prepare our trip.
Erasto thanks!! You made a special, unique, and unforgettable journey to me and my family.
Thanks!!!!!!!!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best trip I have ever been on. Highly recommend.
Would highly recommend. Lodges, Sunrock Guesthouse, Imbabala Zambezi Safari, Umlani Bushcamp, The Elephant Camp, were fantastic with excellent staff that were extremely helpful, friendly and nothing was a problem. Safari online asked questions when booking and were efficient and knew exactly what we were looking for in terms of accommodation and animals were wanted to see. Actually got to see the Big 5 which was perfect. Gave advice on a few little extras with no pressure, which we did and am very grateful which make trip even more exciting. Would definitely recommend booking with them.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Absolutely Worth the Effort to Get There
South Luangwa is a bit off the beaten path but a rich reward for whomever makes the journey. Confined between a dense forest and a wide river, animals are plentiful in this park. I have seen more cats in one day then weeks at other flagship parks in southern Africa. I have made to trek's there because the photo opportunities and wildlife viewing are unparalleled; even in the wet season. I stayed at Mfuwe Lodge twice! The people, the food, the guides and the rooms are above and beyond. On my first night during my first trip we found a leopard in a tree right above us...amazing. On my first night during my second trip we came across a leopard moments before it took out a bush hare. It was over before I could understand what was happening. I love this park and will definitely go again.
IN
The experience with karibu has exceeded all my expectations , God bless you.
The wildlife, scenery, weather, accommodations, transportation, our guide, all were excelent however the food could improve but not bad either.
CH
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wounderful wildlife! Modern Africa.
The Trip at all was wounderful. We saw a huge variation of Wildlife and svenery. The weather was refreshing and not as hot as expected.
KR
Just go.
1. Wildlife
You get to see what you only saw in books and TV. The animals feel more real than when you see them in zoos.
2. Scenery
I can only speak for Nairobi, Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara and the roads in between. I loved all of it. Nairobi is not as prim as Tokyo, which in a way adds to its vibrancy. Lake Nakuru gives you green forests. Masai Mara is the typical savanna plain you imagined but never really got to know. The roads in between gives you a glimpse into what Kenya is really like, with lots of villages, plantations, livestock, empty fields and lots and lots of dirt road.
3. Weather
Early October is pleasant and not so extreme, both in Nairobi and in the wild. Chilly in morning and night(13 degrees Celsius), warm in day(about 24 degrees). Mostly dry with occasional rain.
4. Accommodations
Accommodations in Nairobi are relatively inexpensive if you are from a developed country. However, you really need to research how much time it takes from your hotel to the airport. Because of traffic jams and roads that go roundabout, it takes more time to get to the airport than, for example, Google Map's estimation based on straight distance. Look into other travelers' reviews.
Accommodations in the safari area depend on how much money you spend. Safaribookings sort them into Budget, Mid-range and Luxury. I can only speak for Mid to Luxury(Sarova Lion Hill, Mara Serena Lodge). They provide great services, up to standards of good hotels in big cities. However, I think their real value is in their location. Lodges or camps on hills provide breathtaking views. Sometimes wild animals such as hyrax or baboons wander about near your room(so keep your windows closed, and get your camera ready for a close shot).
5. Food
Food is actually quite nice. Kenyan cuisine came across as hearty and healthy to me. Try staples like sukumawiki(a vegetable dish tastes something like kale and spinach) and ugali(steamed starch that is the Kenyan equivalent of rice in Asian food. They give you fork, but try them with your hands like the locals do if you want more cultural experience; it's oddly satisfying to handle your food like a bit of clay to soften it). The influence of Indian food is really strong too - you will find bits of Indian cuisine pretty much everywhere. You can also experience Ethiopian food in Nairobi, they have some good restaurants. And try tea. Kenyan black tea is great. They also have good coffee.
6. Transportation
As I mentioned in 'accommodations', traffic situation in Nairobi isn't great. Give yourself enough time for moving around when you plan your trip. And you really need to take into account the ever-present dirt cloud and extreme bumpiness if you go by car to the safari region.
I recommend Uber in city and safari vehicle driven by a hired guide/driver outside the city. Reasons are because, in Nairobi, you stand out too much if you take local public transportation, and outside Nairobi, the road conditions are so bad you need a big vehicle made for such roads, and a local guide/driver who will be in charge of things so that you won't find yourself stranded in middle of nowhere if your car breaks down(I saw three safari vehicles with flat tires on the road. There is always a chance of a breakdown not only because are the roads bad but also because cars in Kenya are usually old and much worn down in the first place).
Of course, you can simply take airplane from Nairobi to Masai Mara(I think it costs about 300-400 USD, I'm not too sure). It would then take about an hour and you would have a view from above but miss out on the 6 hour trip, it really depends on your preference and budget.
7. Guide
Stephen, my driver for safari was also my guide. He is good at his job. He speaks good English(Kenyans usually speak English well because English is an official language there), gives enough commentary and explanation about things when needed but doesn't really tire you with too much talk. He knows his way around well and is both a good driver on the road and a good guide on the safari(we got to see all of Big 5 plus cheetas).
8. Other Highlights
If you go to Masai Mara, balloon safari is a great idea. It is definitely worth the money(430-450 USD).
I recommend that you try to buy or borrow good cameras and get some practice months before the trip. If you have a phone with a good camera it's usually fine, but sometimes you want to zoom in or open your aperture a bit more to give your photo some style and so on. Action cams(such as Go-Pros) are a great idea too, since you sometimes want to take videos of things while moving in a car on a bumpy road. It also helps that action cameras usually have a wide-angle lens that allows to capture more of the vast scenery.
it is just breathtaking
I love the wildlife, i love the people. No other place is as good and pure as Tanzania.
TR
Fascinating nature and amazing hospitality!
We did a Safari in Tanzania, visiting Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara, Tarangire and we had a night game drive. We booked our safari through this website and with Africa-Safari, a company tied with Hotel Zanzibar. The camping place was so amazing. Everything was so minimalist that you have everything you need, have an amazing comfort and feel like you are in Africa, unlike the unnecessarily luxurious lodges in National Parks. We still really miss the way we woke up and go out of our tent, having an amazing view with refreshing scents coming out of savannah. Besides, the location is very convenient, if you don't want to move with your bags from lodge to lodge every day. Finally, the staff and the food was much more than we expected. As it is the case in most of the country, people are very friendly and solution oriented.
Coming to our guide, Gaspar, he was like a nat geo dubber, giving us amazing information as we went through the parks. We understood that a guide with good eyes is very important, and his sight was like an eagle. We used to go around, looking empty at the trees in hope for seeing a lion or a snake, without seeing anything and he would point out a tree 100 meters away, telling which animal is on it with certainty! Apart from that, he was very friendly to keep us away from the tourist traps around the village, and to take us to a local bar to have some drinks each day.
It was really an amazing experience out there, looking forward to see those places and people again!
SI
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Experience
The owner was very flexible, the driver Fred was a cool guy. We saw almost all game exept the ceetah.
Only misfortune was the weather and the mud. We laost a few hour when we got stuck in the mud with AWD. But this is just a part of experience
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Timbuktu Created a Once in a Lifetime Experience for my Fiancé and I!
I wish there were more stars to rate Timbuktu!!
Katherine, our travel specialist, was able to put together a dream safari for us in 3 days! We e-mailed her 1 week before our departure and she went out of her way to book and plan a 13 day private, custom safari for us. We were ale to sort through the details in one phone call, then she sent an interactive link for our trip so that we could see all of the lodges and itinerary she had put together. She went above and beyond simply booking the trip. She pieced everything together and booked every transfer and flight, all we had to do was show up at the airport in Dar es Salaam. I am so touched by the arrangements she made for us to make our experience one of a kind.
Also, the guide she booked for us exceed all of our expectations. Ask for Charles if you can! He is so dedicated to what he does and filled our heads with an amazing amount of animal facts! He made sure we saw Everything and even laughed at our animal jokes :)
Thank you Kathrine and Timbuktu for creating such a memorable experience for us!!!