35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Attentive operator for a fun filled trip with lots of wildlife
We chose the 6-Days comfort Safari for me, and my two parents (60s) during Christmas 2021. This was a trip of a lifetime for them due to their age and wanted to do something special and chose Shemeji after shopping around a few other operators.
Overall it was a fantastic trip - caring/responsive safari operator, very helpful and knowledgeable guide, saw a ton of animals (even the elusive ones like the cheetah, leopard, lions) and got to catch the early part of the wildebeest/zebra migration which was lovely to see.
Pros
+ Guide: David was our guide and was amazing - first, he is very kind and nice guy - so fun/great to be around. He was receptive to changes we wanted to make (e.g., impromptu stops for bathroom, wanted to go souvenir shopping at a reasonably priced market), and made a pro-active effort to find animals (we saw Big 5 minus the enigmatic rhino but they are endangered species so makes sense) as well as patiently answer all my questions about animals (there were a lot of questions!). I also appreciated that he kept the car very clean as well every day since there is a bunch of dust/dirt that can creep in the car from the game drives and supplied us with ample water.
+ Communication/Service: Before the trip, I was contacting Shemeji quite a bit due to potential Covid restrictions (Omicron was just announced a few weeks before the safari) and about pricing, logistics - they were all very responsive via Whatsapp so definitely appreciated that. During the trip, I had Whatsapp working most of the time (due to my phone plan) and when I had concerns, it was easy to contact Michael (GM of hotels), Fidelis (operations), and David. The context was that there was a mix up between HQ and the hotel which they 1) 2nd camp did not know my dietary preferences, 2) how many days to stay at a hotel, 3) did not know there were 3 people in one room vs a room prepared for just 2 (for 1, 2, and 3 - this was communicated to Shemji when we paid a few months ago) and 4) did not pack two of our bags when we went from 1 hotel to the next and we only realized when were hours into the drive. I flagged this to Shemeji (Michiel, and the hotel manager) and the next day this was rectified (i.e., able to accommodate to my dietary restrictions with the following meals, gave an extra room for the last night, bought key items from the misplaced luggage like toothpaste toothbrush) and figured out a plan to get the luggage back (last day but luckily there were not tons of critical items). Really appreciated the responsiveness and the customer service/attentiveness to solve the problems.
+ Accommodation: For a comfort safari, though the accommodations were great - clean, high quality tents. Highlight was that for the Lake Manyara safari there were zebras grazing on the grounds!
Things to note
+ Food: The lunch boxes could be a little more varied/higher quality food - a lot of chicken legs, some rice, and hard boiled eggs. i think this is a matter of the price we paid for the safari though and the fact we are in the bush so it's not something I really minded. Sharing this info for people who are very food minded.
+ Car: Overall our car worked great - there was 2 large cracks in the window but it didn't affect our trip (David said it would be fixed and the company knew it) and great to have phone chargers in the car and a fridge. What I noticed was that across our 6 day trip, the two other Shemeji cars broke down for various reasons (one was a car malfunction issue with a sensor and one that was human error (the driver drove over something in the evening but no one was hurt). The result was that we had to tow one of the cars for 2~ hours in the Serengeti instead of going on our game drive. Of course we wanted to help out other car (and did) but the opportunity cost is that we were unable to really see the Serengeti which was a highlight. Understandably, things like this happen on this type of terrain but my observation that this frequency seemed a bit odd to me. Not sure if this frequency of car problems is something typical of all companies or just Shemeji.
+ Covid protocol: The servers all wore masks but the drivers/other staff typically did not - I am sure that if we asked David to mask up during the game drives he would have but we did not since there were was mostly a lot of air blowing through the car. Also, almost every other driver we saw also did not wear masks so this is not Shemeji specific. Depending on how Covid cautious you are, you may want to set expectations upfront!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Unique African Experiences curated specifically for us and executed flawlessly!
Bernard and his team at Nziza Hospitality make the magic happen for your African experience. From listening to what you would like to experience while you are there and creating an amazing itinerary just for you, to making sure your travels from country to country go flawlessly. Our itinerary was a very intense itinerary because we were there to learn as much as we could so we can go back and make our client's dreams come true. We traveled to Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Zanzibar. The team made our travel days very easy for us. The resorts we stayed in were so unique and five star all the way. We had breakfast with giraffe's at Giraffe Manor, we hiked a mountain in Uganda and spent the afternoon with gorillas, we stayed at the Original Maasai Lodge and got to experience how the Maasai people live and their customs. We got to witness the most spectacular sunrise over Mount Kilimanjaro, witnessed a pride of lions feasting on a kill, watched a 3 legged lion climb a tree and hang out on it and witnessed the Great Migration of the Wildebeest crossing the Mara River in the Serengeti. And ended our trip at the most beautiful resort in Zanzibar on Mnemba Island.
Life is all about collecting memorable moments. We made so many incredible memories on this trip thanks to Bernard and his team. I can't wait to go back again and again. Africa is more than I ever imagined it would be.
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
thanks to Speke Uganda Holidays we had a spectacular and absolutely great trip to Uganda
right from the beginning it was a wonderful trip.
we had an exceptional good driver (Vincent) who was also an excellent guide and a really good guy with a lot of humor and a german speaking guide (Wahab) who was always very friendly and had always a good solution for our very rare problems.
The accommodations were outstanding either about their locations and also about their luxury. No wish was left open.
all was very very well organized and everything went out perfect.
Thanks to Speke Uganda Holidays it was a phantasmic an unforgettable trip.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Straight forward and simple to book and incredible experience from professional tour guides
Me and my husband booked Jocky Tours to visit Amboseli for our honeymoon trip. Our guide Andrew picked us up from our Airbnb and drove us to the destination. Throughout the trip, Andrew was very attentive to our needs and went above and beyond to ensure we saw the Kilimanjaro mountain during various stages of the day and also for us to see as many of the wild animals Amboseli has to offer. We stayed at Kibo Lodge Amboseli which was 10/10. The staff, the food, the view and overal ambience was the best I have experienced.
I cannot thank Jocky Tours & Safari, our guide Andrew and the staff at Kibo Lodge Amboseli enough for providing us with the most incredible honeymoon experience ever!
If you are thinking of booking, don’t hesitate and make sure you ask for Andrew as your guide.
Kind regards,
Nina & Ahmed
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Full of fun Adventure
We really enjoyed our safari in Uganda, it was fun to trek the gorillas for the first time, all hotels were incredible and our guide made sure that we don't miss anything about Uganda.
I recommend Dav Safaris
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Please beware of this sweet speaking cheater
I booked my 3nights and 4 days Salous safari through this travel agency and that's the biggest mistake I have done in 2021 before the year end.
I have spent $645 per head for 2 of us for a private tour instead of direct booking through the hotels website which would cost me $404/person for the same tour. I want a peaceful safari during the year end and change of career as per my choice Beavis of photography and what I got
1. The open Car - the car they provided as per my request, doesn't have the permit to enter in national park and stopped by the official today morning.
2. The 2nd car, which take us from Dar es salaam to Salous and back had different problem, once that car stopped you need some help to push the car to start, it's almost a 40 years old car, I feel pity for the driver Mike who is a nice person and good driver and always try to help with a smile.
3. I would like to take a name knowingly it's the great Joshua(owner of the Gombe tours company) the great story teller and full of commitments which never be fulfilled and he will definitely will never talk to you once you started complaining about anything during your tour instead one of his so called agent(Yusuf) will speak to you and always try to prove that everything is your luck and fault and they are the best.
For your information I back to Dar es Salaam after 2 nights without spending the 3rd night there because I can't tolerate such nonsense service anymore. What a bad start of new year.
I don't recommend this guys as I feel I got cheated and not be treated well after paying full amount on the first day.
It's better to book hotel directly and book car from hotel for your safari, so that you can pay at hotel and there will be someone in person present to listen your complain if any. This middleman short terms traders are the problem in Tanzania. Most of them doesn't have their own car, doesn't have their own guide they just have ample time to response on your first query to make you fool and then they take good amount and pay for worst service to serve you, they will ensure 3rd graded rooms in a hotel, old hired car without any maintenance or paper sometime and you never saw them in person.
However I have visited, Tarangire, Manyara, Ngorongoro, Ndutu, North Serengeti, Zanzibar, Mikumi during last one year with few other renowned travel agencies who are really good and professional., Shadow of Africa, Amo Zanzibar tour and safari, African quinsang adventure safari are few of them where I got full value for money. Good luck.
SA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing team and wonderful experience
We had wonderful 4 days in Safari with Daniel and his amazing guide Titho, visited Tarangire, ngorongoro, and Serengiti, we been lucky to see the big 5 and cheetah.
The trip was well organised, even when we had comment on one of the hotels, Daniel took immediate action to keep us comfortable.
Titho is an amazing guide with massive knowledge, answering all of our questions and doing the best to ensure you are satisfied and see all animals.
The cost of the trip was the best we got as well after talking to many agencies.
I would recommend Daniel and Titho for sure.
CN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
what a safari in Kenya!
we enjoyed our safari sooo much. the climate was sunny, chilly; animals were so diverse, we saw all animals we expected to see; about hotels, it was so comfortable and we loved to stay at tent. our guide was professional and no language barrier in communication. recommend them!
PL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Lovely experience with Hello Tanzania
I highly recommend safaris organized by Hello Tanzania. They took me and my daughter to 3 days safari to Mikumi National Park. Fom the beginning contact with Sylwia was very good - before booking the safari trip I received a detailed offer and an answer for every of my questions. Everything was well organized, drivers nice and helpful, lodge at Camp Bastian comfortable, food delicious and the safari itself unforgettable - we saw so many wild animals. Hello Tanzania offers very good value for money.
RO
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Certainly the RIGHT CHOICE
We had a 5 days safari and it was amazing!The staff organised all perfect!The accomodations was very good with friendly people,the car was very good and our guide,Apollo,was the best we could have!We wish all of them a very very Hapy New Year!!!