35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Safari
I had a great time with my wife and daughter at Masai Mara, Nakuku, Nivasha lakes. Mr Otieno and out guide Shuma were very professional, attentive and made efforts to enjoy and see wildbeest. We were happy to see lines of Zebras, Elephants, Buffalo, Lions and so on....Leopard was beautiful and Cheetah.
Lodges provided were great especially the one in Masai Mara.
The car was good too. Keep in mind we stayed for 6 full days we visited most it...long hrs of travel but worth it.
We are returning again and probably will do Masai Mara for 4 days.
Mr Otieno was in excellent in terms of email communications. I trusted him all along also when making payments given that I booked it all from London. I will use the same company again.
Thank you Shuma and Mr Otieno.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
From first contact with Encompass they were enthusiastic, listened to what we wanted and delivered.
We have just returned after spending 3 weeks in both Kenya and Tanzania.
From our first phone to Encompass who we hadn't heard of before doing some internet research.
Initially we were going with the popular named tour companies before we stumbled across Encompass.
We didn't really know what we wanted but with the help of Jonno, Boss of Encompass( who is South African) he drafted up an itinerary and sent it to us.
The email had a link to our own web page which had everything set out in it, including costs
We thought we would be part of a small group but no, it was just going to be the 2 of us plus it was cheaper than the other crowds for similar itinerary.
Going to Africa for us was a bit scary and we were trying to cover all the what ifs' but there were none for us.
From our first contact with Encompass to arriving home everything went like clockwork.
We saw some amazing sites, felt perfectly safe at all times, accomodation 5 star
Most of our time was on dirt roads, so yes it can be a bit rough at times.
We visited these parks in this order:-
Samburu National Park
Lake Nakuru National Park
Lake Naivasha- water safari and walking amongst the animals on the island
Masai Mara National Reserve
Serengeti National Park-saw migrating wildebeest and zebras which we didn't expect in May
Ngorongoro Crater
Tarangire National Park
Amboseli National Park- saw Mt Kilimanjaro.
Our tour started and finished in Nairobi.
We had some long days driving between parks.
The longest was supposed to be 10 hrs from Masai Mara to The Serengeti which included crossing the border but it ended up being 11 and a half hours as, early into the trip we had a fan belt break.
Part of this trip was extremely rough.
In hindsight, I may have looked a cutting out 1 or 2 of the parks and included Victoria Falls.
In saying that, I throughly enjoyed what we did.
As we went in May, it was before the main season so the parks were a lot quieter which was to our advantage.
We had a little bit of rain which didn't affect us and some grey skies(not so good for photos)
Happy to answer any questions
IN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent tour at an amazingly affordable price
We had a great experience with Bobby tours. All the stays we're arranged as per itinerary and the hotel stay we're amazing. Our tour guide Moses was knowledgeable and helped us spot wildlife throughout the Safari.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exceptional, an unbeatable safari
My husband and I, plus 6 other friends, undertook an 11 day Kalahari Skies Tour in mid-April 2017 - starting from Maun and ending at Vic Falls..From the very first, of many, enquiry, each and every one was answered promptly by Eddy. The camping set up exceeded expectations. As hardened outback campers we were delighted with our 'glamping' set up. Bed, cupboard and en suite with hot water supplied each night - luxury. At the end of each day of game tracking what a sight it was to come into camp to find the campfire burning and the G and T's waiting to be poured and, whilst reliving the wonders of the day, the delicious aromas of campfire cooking.
Our guide, Newman, was exceptional - what a wonderful understanding and love of nature he has. We saw 127 species of birds (excluding the LBB's and doves) and 32 species of animals - the only one missing was sadly the rhino however seeing a pack of 10 wild dogs made up for our missing rhino.
I must not forget the support crew who cooked, boiled water and packed up our tents every two or three days and had every thing set up and ready at each new camp - very professional.
HIghlights were the mokoro trip through the lily pads of the okavango swamp, skirting snorting hippos, sighting beautiful birds and the silence of it all. Then the unexpected brunch set up under a giant baobab tree with giraffe and impala serving as a backdrop. But then when the elephants ambled past our camp - what a thrill to see these giants from ground level. Well I guess every day was a highlight.
The transfers between Botswana and Zimbabwe were spot on and the 'smoke that roars', the Vic Falls, were indeed roaring - we were soaked right through, rain jacket or no rain jacket, great fun.
5 stars to Eddy, Newman and his team
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great experience......
Great people. Learned so much... thanks guys will most definitly use you again....
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Bright African exceeded our expectations in more ways than we could have imagined!
The short version is this: You're in great hands with Bright African. Don't hesitate to arrange your safari through this locally owned company. Be sure to request that Junga guide you and Jamal do your cooking. Those guys are just great and we still stay in touch via facebook.
Here's the long version:
Just like you, I waded through the huge numbers of safari companies I found online. In the end, I relied on the reviews and a gut feeling about Bright African. Our group of four was sooooo lucky that I recommended BA.
From the start of our inquiry through finalizing the itinerary for our 8 day northern circuit safari in mid-September, 2016 and all the logistics, Msangi, the owner, and Rukia, his delightful office assistant, were prompt to respond to emails and were true professionals. It was such a pleasure to meet them when we arrived in Arusha!
Little did we know that Msangi had chosen a man to guide us who, quite honestly, none of the four in our group can describe with words alone. There just aren't enough superlatives for Onema Junga. (Everyone calls him "Junga".) I'm sure all of Msangi's other guides are wonderful but do yourself a favor and juggle your trip dates if that's what it takes to make sure Junga is your guide.
This man went above and beyond in every way imaginable. From dealing with broken leaf springs in the Serengeti at night and getting us to a camp site at midnight to turning around as we were leaving Ngorongoro on our last day when reports of a rhino sighting came over the radio he was superb. Junga could have just called it a safari and headed out of the crater but he was relentless in his pursuit of our satisfaction. We got the big 5 and more.
He has an uncanny ability to anticipate what animals will be doing and putting the vehicle in the best viewing position possible. Other safari companies' guides weren't doing what Junga did and trust me, we were treated to better viewing than many others. He was also relentless in his search for animals in spite of the long hours behind the wheel. Junga did this even though it meant extra work for himself and Jamal. He would also stop to offer help to any other vehicles or guides that looked like they may need help. He struck us as an overall good and trustworthy man.
Here are a couple of examples of how Junga went above and beyond. We were at a hippo pool and were enjoying the scene for quite some time when he popped the driver's hatch and announced that he was going to find us a snake. Five minutes later he announced that the game was on for us to find it with our binoculars. He described generally where it was and said its recently shed skin was nearby. We had the best time spotting this snake, a boomslang, and it was a treat. Its bright white skin being right next to it was just a great bonus. While I can't guarantee that the other safari vehicles parked near us didn't spot a snake, I highly doubt it.
He brought us in the "back entrance" to Lake Manyara which was absolutely the right call. It seemed we had one entire section of the park all to ourselves. It made for a longer day and another late arrival at camp that night but Junga really did put our interests ahead of his and Jamal's comfort.
As for Jamal, our wonderful cook, again there's good news. We had some onerous dietary restrictions and this man bent over backwards to accommodate us. I gained weight on the trip due to his huge portions of delicious food. It was simple but delicious and exactly what you'd expect on a camping trip. We even had a scratch baked cake and banana custard a couple of evenings! I was glad to have brought plenty of snacks, though, as it sometimes got be a while between meals.
Msangi went above and beyond as well. He met us at the Mvuli hotel at the end of our safari to see how things went and to say goodbye. When he learned we were going to Zanzibar for a few days he arranged for a taxi driver to pick us up at the airport and take us to our hotel. He told us that even though our safari was over, we were still his clients until we left Tanzania and to let him know if we needed anything. How gracious!
We forgot to pick up a couple of t-shirts at the Bright African office and Msangi learned this after we were on Zanzibar. Imagine our surprise when his taxi driver arrived at our hotel with the t-shirts. Msangi had them sent to Zanzibar on a flight later that day and arranged for his taxi driver to deliver them to us! Unbelievable service!
Here are a couple of helpful hints for you. Number one is tipping. I'd read many formulas for what constitutes an appropriate tip and saw one of Msangi's posts that suggested 10% of the safari price. We ultimately took the 10% as a base and increased it significantly for Junga and Jamal going north of 15% to make a nice round number. I also gave each of them our headlamps to help with future night breakdowns and tent set-ups in the dark. Last, I gave them what remained of the roll of duct tape I brought. Do yourself a favor a bring a roll along - we made good use of ours several times.
I could write a novel about the vehicle breakdowns (yes, plural) but be advised these vehicles take a beating on those roads and if you don't have at least one breakdown I'd be amazed. We saw other victims of the worst washboards you'll ever drive. Just be patient and realize that AAA does not exist in Tanzania. No complaining. Hakauna Matata. You're all in it together and you'll have a great story to tell.
If you're doing the budget camping trip like we did, be prepared for very refreshing, almost cold, showers at some campgrounds. Take sturdy sandals and expect no place to hang your towels or set your shampoo. It was also helpful to have some good sturdy sandals for the campgrounds in the evening. The first night I used flip flops and got a few nasty stickers in my foot that were difficult to remove. It is also a good idea to bring toilet paper as it was frequently in short supply in their bathrooms. Oh, and I saw a fairly creepy spider on/under a toilet seat so be prepared to do a toilet sweep and sit at your own risk.
I was a little nervous about the comfort of tent camping but they provided very comfortable cots and sleeping pads with good wool blankets which I found surprisingly comfortable. I was still a bit chilly when we camped on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater so bring some warm clothes and socks if you itinerary takes you there.
Take along some type of plastic bag in case you have to relieve yourself in your tent in the night because the buffalo/lions are too near to risk going to the restroom. Better to go in your tent than die by buffalo.
Get the best binoculars you can, they will make the animal viewing even more spectacular. We rented Swarovskis from optics4rent.com - Todd, the owner, is great. When Junga first saw them, he immediately told me they were the best. No kidding! We were all amazed and trust me, when your Rhino and her baby are 400 yards away or you can count the whiskers on the leopard in the tree you'll be glad you brought them.
The Mvuli hotel has basic clean rooms - it's not a Hilton but you're not paying Hilton prices. It's really off the beaten path at the end of a very bumpy dirt road. Going into town will require a taxi. The food was good. Check out your shower before you accept the room. The first night we stayed there, our shower had virtually no pressure. After our safari, I made sure we had a different room. They will also do laundry for you for a small fee and have it folded and ready by morning.
Start your safari with a trip to Arusha National Park. Do the walking safari with an armed park ranger. It's a great appetizer for what lies ahead at the crown jewels of the northern circuit. It also gives you a day to get over jet lag before you start driving long distances. If you do it at the end of your safari it won't have much of an impact.
They did not ask for additional passport photos or a copy of our passport when paying for our visa at KJO airport. Just $100. Be prepared to stand in lines for about 45 minutes.
Be careful at the roadside curio stands. They are ruthless, high pressure negotiators and we ended up paying higher prices than we found later in Zanzibar and even at the airport for the same articles. As much as I would like to support them I felt the prices were pretty outrageous.
We tried to pack light and do laundry every few days but if I were to do it over I would just pack enough clothes to get through the whole trip. Since you are sitting in the vehicle most of the time you don't really get too hot and sweaty so it's no problem to get a few days out of shirts and pants. Laundry was difficult to do in the showers and did not dry by morning causing unneeded hassle. The zipper pants were handy as the mornings were a bit cooler but as it warmed up it was easy to unzip the bottoms and convert to shorts.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Safari with Kisoro Tours
A very good client services provided by Kisoro Tours to the Queen Elizabeth Park was wonderful, punctual and with no complaints. The safari was done all around the park and we had a privilege to see many animals (very near) including lions and elephants.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing adventure in Tanzania
As part of a Tanzanian safari, I spent 2 days/nights in Serengeti National Park. Our stay at Sopa Lodge Serengeti was terrific. The rooms are very large and comfortable. The staff is very accommodating.
The wildlife viewing in the park was excellent. We saw many lions, a leopard, cheetahs, zebras, wildebeests, antelopes, impala, warthogs and birds. If you have the opportunity, do take a hot air balloon ride. It was the highlight of my trip. Viewing thousands of zebras and wildebeests as well as hippos, warthogs, topi, impala from the air was a once in a lifetime experience and not to be missed.
NO
Search for Moley
Im looking for a ranger with the name Moley? I hope he is still at Ruaha? Im a friend that worked with him ? Can you please ask him to contact me via mail?
Kind regards
Rudi from Makalali Game reserve?
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Tanzania by andrea gordon
In our one week safari we visited 3 National parks and saw the "Big 5", the "Ugly 5" and more. The experience was beyond my expectations as far as the wildlife seen and the accommodations.