20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
What a great experience!
We are a (relatively) young couple and although we travel the world as much as we can, this was our first visit to Tanzania. We found Loth from Ilmaasai through Safaribookings. After doing an extensive research that lasted several months, we felt that Ilmaasai offered the best overall package for visiting Tanzania, and best value for the price. During the arrangement of the safari, we always felt that Loth would try his best to meet our requirements.
With the help of several guides, internet forums, and Loth's expert advice, we tailored a bespoke safari visiting most of the northern circuit.
The experience itself was fantastic from start to end. Our driver and guide, Bryson, was very very knowledgeable and always looked after us. I was impressed with the care he took to ensure that we learned about nature as well as enjoying the safari. We were also accompanied by Osman, our cook, who was good fun and prepared delicious food! I mention this because spending many days in a car with other people can be difficult, but these guys made us enjoy it. On top of that, both (but especially the guide) were fantastic at explaining every single detail of animals' behaviours and the environment they live in. They are very passionate about Tanzania and they really made the difference to our adventure.
On top of the educational safari, the amazing landscapes and the good company, the trip was organised to include some small excursions that were the icing on the cake: canoeing, hot springs, hiking, etc.
In summary, we don't hesitate to recommend Ilmaasai for a Tanzania safari. We'd like to be back soon, and when we do, Loth's number will be the first one to dial.
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great birding safari
I spend one of the best hollidays of my life in the safari called "Uganda birding Paradise". This safari consists in 15 days visiting some of the most important hotspots for birding in Uganda: Mabamba swamps, Lake Mburo, Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth Park, Semuliki, Budongo Forest, Kalinzu Forest, Murchinson Falls, etc. I travelled by most of the southwest and western part of the country and I visited several kind of hábitats: swamps, Savannah, forests, etc. I sighted more than 420 bird species, with very interesting findings, like the shoebill, the African Green broadbill, the Black-casqued Wattled hornbill, the Crested Barbet, the Ruwenzori batis, the Papyrus gonolek, the Grauer's Swamp-warbler, etc In addition, I also observed more tan 40 species of mammals, including gorillas, chimps, lions, leopards, rhinos, buffalos, elefants, giraffes, etc. I can hardly imagine a better place in the world to see more biodiversity in a short time.
I was guided in all my journey by Tony and Paul. Two outstanding field guides and even more outstanding persons. I am sure that part of my excellent experience in Uganda was thanks to their company and help. They arranged all the accomodations, meals, permisons and excursions.
In sum, I strongly recommend to anyone to visit Uganda with mamaland safaris. You will not be dissapointed.
EE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Happy in Africa
We did choose It Started in Africa as our tour operator for a 4days safari ( Endless Plains) in Tanzania based on the reviews in internet solely and these were all 100% positive. And so is ours - 110% positive. By the moment the other operators we asked a quota did answer, we had our tour booked already with It Started in Africa. We loved it all - the speed they react to every question, their professionalism, their thorough explanations and very well thought through tours, their flexibility and the people ! We had Isaac as our tour guide for 4 days and we still miss him ! His ability to drive and spot the animals as well as his knowledge and experience were truly impressive and he has such a good sense of humour ((-: So we truly recommend this company if you are genuinely interested in having a good safari. The choice of hotels is totally up to one–s expectations - we did try different categories and they all were different, but good. If you–d like to experience the true feeling of nature- a night in a tented camp is a must. All the comfort is there and much more waiting for you at home ((-: But pampering yourself after a tent experiment in a lodge is nice too - so our recommendation, try different options.
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good service, good planning, everything perfectly arranged.
Excellent communication with Jude. She kept us well informed and sent us information by mail. We where picked up for the safari tour (great).The northern safari was amazing, especially because this was the first encounter with the wildlife. The tents were fine and the food was good. The hotels were also amazing. A taxidriver picked us up. The Southwest safari was even better. The company was excellent. The driver and the tourguide had mach knowledge of thee area and the wildlife. The hotels al Zanzibar were also great. Good beds, good breakfast. Ik was a holiday to remember. Thans a lot.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best travel experience ever
Marianne Birrell Safaris put together the most fantastic trip for us, giving excellent guidance and advice from beginning to end. Our four-day stay at Ngala Safari Lodge was outstanding in every respect, and our five days in Cape Town were superb. This was our first safari experience, but--as former airline employees--my wife and I are experienced travelers, including destinations in the Far East, South America, the Caribbean (lots!), Russia, and Europe (30+).
Marianne gave us excellent advice with respect to when to travel, what to bring, where to stay, and what to see.
She advised us to travel to the Kruger Park area before the bush vegetation started to fill in, which makes game viewing more difficult, and then continue to Cape Town to get slightly longer days and warmer temperatures. The weather was indeed ideal at the game reserve and the game viewing experience at Ngala could not have been better--notably rhinos, hippos (in the water), leopards, and plenty of lions, elephants, and buffalo. The Cape Town weather was also nearly perfect--one gray day out of five and just an occasional need for a light jacket. Marianne certainly knows the South Africa weather patterns!
Marianne's recommendation of the accommodations was also superb. We started planning the trip in August, which narrowed the choices due to decreased availability. We were lucky that one of Marianne's favorites, Ngala Safari Lodge, opened up during our Sept-Oct travel window. At Ngala, the thatched huts were quite comfortable, every meal was excellent , and the service was highly attentive. Every game drive brought a new and exciting experience. It was as if the six of us in the vehicle, in addition to our ranger Andre and our tracker Joseph (both amazing at spotting the animals), had the 35,000 acre private reserve all to ourselves. I don't know how Marianne did it, but we had one of the most private locations at the lodge--no walkways to any other hut passing near us.
In Cape Town we stayed at the Mount Nelson. Marianne would have us stay nowhere else. We had a fabulous room with a beautiful view to Table Mountain. The hotel service is excellent, the grounds are gorgeous, and the area is quiet at night . The breakfast buffet rivals that of any hotel in the world, and the high tea is just amazing. Thanks to Marianne's advice, we were able to get the right tours to see the most important highlights in the short time we had--wineries, Kirstenbosch, the peninsula (not impressed with the penguin colony, however), the V&A Waterfront (including harbor cruise), and whale watching in Hermanus.
Marianne also has put together a most helpful list of what to bring. We try to travel only with carry-on (thank goodness Ngala does laundry!), and we had everything we needed (including binoculars and three cameras) and nothing that was surplus (except the mosquito spray--hardly any mosquitoes around anywhere).
Communications with Marianne Birrell Safaris were excellent. We exchanged probably fifty or more emails planning and confirming details of the trip, and the responses were always prompt. Marianne also kept in touch with us while we were traveling, either by email or text, which was quite comforting although we had no glitches (for the first time ever in all our travels) anywhere along the way. She made sure we had the contact information also for the taxi service she arranged for the airport transfers, but they were reliable and on time. Marianne prepared every aspect of our trip so that it could not have run smoother.
For our next trip to South Africa, we will definitely turn to Marianne Birrell Safaris!
AE
awesome lifetime experience wth Adventure Africa expedition
We are extremely satisfied wth all the services provided by adventure Africa Expedition in our safari tour of kenya for 13 days ..wish them a very good luck and looking forward for another safari tour wth them ..
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Well organised
Jo was very helpful and efficient and the arrangements were perfect. The parks visited and standard of accommodation is exactly what we wanted and we are glad we went for the private option and had the luxury of the jeep and private guide Thomas who knew his flora and fauna and was an entertaining person to be around. My parents will be visiting next summer and will want to do the same trip with you.
Great day tour during a long layover in Harare!
Nyati Travel & Tours organized a lovely day tour for our family during a layover in Harare. Terence from Nyati proposed that we go to Chivero, which is a lake and small nature reserve close to Harare. Even though we had just come back from Mana Pools, we agree that Chivero was a good choice, as we saw loads of rhinos and quite a few other animals. Seeing the rhinos capped off a great safari in Zimbabwe. Our guide/driver for the day, John was fantastic and took good care of us. Everything was well planned and executed: from providing tour options over email at very short notice, to confirming with us by reaching out to the remote wilderness camp where we were staying in Mana Pools (we did not have access to phone signal there, but Nyati called the camp to confirm), and ultimately picking us up and dropping us back at the airport on time.
I highly recommend this company and will look forward to using their services when I am again in Zimbabwe.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
My family of four had a tour to Masaai Mara and Lake Nakuru and the adventures was memorable.
We will definitely recommend it to our friends and family.
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing tour operator, great value for money!
We did a 7 days safari with Safari Multiways, Patrick being our guide. During planning, I had contacted around 20 tour operators asking a quote for the same tentative itinerary and requirements. Romeo was the only one who immediately understood our needs and came up with an almost perfect itinerary and unbeatable price. Only a few minor updates later we were ready to go for an adventure of a lifetime.
The safari vehicle was in good condition, serviced the day before starting the safari. We had no break downs at all despite the bumpy and muddy roads. And we think this was a bit of luck but mainly due to hard work of Patrick the entire time. He was not only an excellent driver guide but also a mechanist, who checked the car every night despite driving 12 hours non-stop. He noticed and changed a flat tire in the evening while we were enjoying our drinks. He is really a tough guy who doesn't get tired and works approximately 18 hours a day during safari tour. We felt great respect for him and his endurance. He was also great in spotting the animals. We made a wish, and he made it come true beyond our expectations. We wished to see a male lion, he found 3 of them within a pride with cubs and all that, up close. We wished to see a leopard, he found one with 2 cubs. We wished to see a cheetah, he found 4 of them planning a hunt. And the list goes on...We were also lucky to see lions having a buffet on a rhino, a rare thing to spot according to Patrick. He is also very friendly, and funny. All in all we had an amazing week with Patrick with loads of precious moments of laughter that we will remember forever.
If you are considering a safari in Tanzania, look no further and go with Safari Multiways - and ask for Patrick as your guide.
Romeo booked also our domestic flights, he is an official Coastal Aviation agent at the same time. It was very convenient to have everything organized by him.
Thank you Romeo and Patrick for such a marvelous experience!