US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Amazing experiance
Booking on line was a bit shaky and because of the huge time differences it was difficult to contact the office by phone. But when I did get hold of Talbert he was very polite and helpful. Joseph met us at the airport and he was a gem throughout the entire trip. He went out of his way to make sure our every need was met. Joseph's knowledge of each area and the customs was outstanding as was his knowledge of the birds and animals. His driving skills on some difficult roads was amazing.
Our accommodation was basic but comfortable and the food was good. Some of the hotels were a little far from the activities which required early morning starts. Both the gorillas and the Chimps were an awesome experience with super guides. The guide, Leo, we had on the swamp walk was excellent his knowledge and enthusiasm was amazing.
Joseph was a remarkable person with a fabulous sense of humour and he really made the trip so special for us. He showed us Uganda in its entirety, it is a beautiful country with any different facets. We came to love Joseph like family and we were all sad to say goodbye.
AT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable experience!
I went to Selous Game Reserve with a friend in September. At first we didn't know what to expect, because it was our first time in Africa and doing a safari was something new to us. We took the 3 day pack and stayed at Hippo Camp. I made reservations online, and everything went just as planned. From the very beggining we felt this was a great choice because we trusted on what we were booking. So, Davis picked us up in Dar es Salaam and we drove all the way to Selous. Since the moment we got on the jeep until the end of the trip, nothing but great things happened. We are VERY happy we met Davis. We were treated as family, we had an awesome cook that gave us delicious food every day. The people from Hippo camp were very friendly and took care of us all the time. We felt very happy and comfortable there. The safari experience was Great. We can't think of anything wrong about this trip, it was the best travel experience of our lives. Davis has a lot of experience, he could see the animals from a very very far distance, he showed us everything in detail, and also explained a lot of things to us about the animals, their behaviour, etc. We enjoyed this safari 100% and will never forget it. Next year we are going back definitely with Davis as a guide.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The best holiday ever
My family of four (two adults and two kids aged 8 and 10) booked a 12 day safari through Nature Travel Namibia based on great reviews on Trip Advisor. It's safe to say we were not disappointed.
We visited a range of parks in Namibia, Chobe in Botswana, and finished at Victoria Falls. Namibia was a stand out in terms of animals, and Mushara Lodge was outstanding. I would strongly recommend people spend some extra time at Chundakwa accommodation in Livingston at the end of the trip - my family could have spent a few days here with the hosts Doug and Gail. In fact, I'm already thinking about getting back thre to see more of Zambia.
Nick and his staff were always quick to respond to any questions. They planned out an itinery that perfectly suited what we wanted to see and the time we had.
Payment was straight forward, and although I am always a bit nervous about transferring large amounts of money via bank transfer, there were absolutely no problems, Nick and his team can absolutely be trusted.
Our guide for the safari was Kit - he was absolutely fantastic, and the kids loved him. He knew Etosha like the back of his hand and ensured we saw the full range of animals, including lions almost every day, and leopards on three separate occasions. Amazing is the best way to describe it.
I would highly recommend Nick and his team at Nature Travel Namibia - you won't be disappointed. Oh, and if you're very, very lucky, you might even get Kit as a guide.
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Experience
Affable was great while booking and gave us tons of information beforehand so we were very well informed beforehand. They were very flexible if you wanted to do anything outside of the itinerary.
The tour was better than anything I could have imagined. All the camps we stayed in were amazing, our favourite being the Kibo camp in Amboseli.
Our guide Robinson was fantastic. I could not imagine the trip without him. He was with us every step of the way and was very knowledgeable on everything about the animals and culture. He is a walking encyclopedia! We always felt very safe in his company. We managed to see the whole Big Five up close. Robinson would not settle for seeing stuff far off or in crowded areas but would search for your own special close ups. I do not believe we would have gotten to see so many animals without him. I highly recommend him and Affable.
Anyone unsure of a Kenya trip due to current travel advisories - Most of the parks are along the south border and the security issues are along the north (very far away). The areas we were in were very safe! The bonus is that it is much less busy right now so its great to take advantage before the crowds come back.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing!!!!!!
The best trip I ever had. The food, accommodations, and the safari, What an awesome experience! Our tour guide James, the best! Made sure we see all the animals, very patient. I will send all my friends who are going on a safari to your company. I'm in love with the people of Kenya. So beautiful.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Not having been there or done that, we put our trust in Thierry at THSC, and all went extremely well
When I was training for a climb up Kilimanjaro, I often would talk to people about my up coming trip to Tanzania. When the conversation turned to doing a safari, 1 local company kept being mentioned by those who'd been on one. The Heritage Safari Company was being recommended to me by random chance. I contacted Thierry and he recommend a 7 day safari for my son and I that was a tented camp experience through 5 parks. There was never a dull moment, or wasted down time. The variety of camps, parks, experiences and sites were excellent. Including our guide "Saffi". Thierry's knowledge and guidance made our experience an excellent one. Hakuna Matata!
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic safari experience in Tanzania
In short, our safari was a visual extravaganza accompanied by sensory saturation...the trip of a lifetime!
Thanks to my son's suggestion, we went on a father-son safari to Tanzania...something I had long dreamed about but never thought would actually happen. It was a truly amazing experience from top to bottom. Shadows of Africa is a top-notch company that accommodated our every need and was very responsive to our numerous questions and requests. (Thanks Jake & Stacy!) I highly recommend using them for your safari adventure in East Africa.
We quickly bonded with Edwin, our driver-cum-guide, who was terrific in every respect. He made the trip with his affability, local knowledge, driving skills and ability to spot animals we would have never noticed in passing. A real pleasure.
We were fortunate to see the Big 5 plus large numbers of other exotic critters such as giraffes, zebras, ostriches, hippos, hyenas, jackals, warthogs, crocs, baboons, monkeys, mongooses, 13 antelope and many bird species. Also witnessed the spectacular Mara River crossing; the wonders of the vast Serengeti; a lioness stalking/killing a male gazelle & holding it down so 4 younger family members could chow down; a few dozen vultures feasting on a fresh roadside zebra carcass; 18 lions sauntering off into high grass; 2 mature leopards sharing the same tree (mating season); an elephant family taking a river mud bath; a cluster of 16 adolescent ostriches; marching columns of wildebeest/zebras/buffalo; and lots of baby animals. Many of the animals were on or near the road making for great photo ops.
During our 10-day safari in late September, we stayed at several unique lodges and 2 tented camps which added greatly to our enjoyment. The staffs were welcoming, friendly, efficient and helpful. The food, especially the tasty hot soup for every dinner, was a special treat. Assante!
I really enjoyed visiting 3 local tribes and being exposed to the fascinating local culture. Our specialist guides for the day trips were outstanding.
After returning home, I made a lengthy list of my memorable experiences to savor in the future. Thank you Shadows of Africa!!!
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We wouldn't do it any other way
There is so much good packed in the experience that Chris and Nicky made possible that I am having a hard time deciding what to talk about first. They were genuinely welcoming when we first arrived and made us feel comfortable right away. It was more like meeting up with old friends than the typical business transaction these tours/safaris tend to be. Chris' cooking skills on a campfire are enviable. We never felt rushed even though my wife and I are chronically late people: Chris kept us on track to see wildlife until our heart's content.
As far as the amazing vehicle that Chris has constructed, well in my opinion, it would be tough to get a better situation for seeing an abundance of game, even in a busy location. It has just about everything you need and is kept well stocked with drinks. We have been trying to explain how awesome it is to our friends but it is hard to illustrate the cleverness of it until you get the full picture and are actually there.
Chris and his wife, Nicky, are extremely knowledgeable but even in instances where they did not know the answer to our question, they made sure to check and let us know.
Overall, we honestly couldn't have imagined such a great experience. We plan on doing another trip in a couple of years when our daughters are older and we wouldn't consider booking it with anyone other than Chris and Nicky.
A million thanks from Brian and Angela.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
What a great experience with a very good guide. Everything ran like clockwork
I booked the trip for my Dad's 60th surprise birthday present so I was in charge of all the arrangements. Daniel was great and really helped in changing the initial itinerary to suit our needs. We spend 9 days in Kenya, doing safaris in Amboseli, Tsavo West and Masai Mara. We had a day in between in Nairobi to break it up. Our driver Peter was excellent. he couldn't have been more friendly from the moment he picked us up from the airport. I'm very glad I took Daniels advice on board because there is a lot of travelling and over bumpy roads. Just trust him, he'll do well. peter's knowledge was excellent as well and his English very good. I also enjoyed his sense of humour. The campsites were fantastic, in particular the one in Nairobi. it may have been just because it was busier than the rest. Some of the places we stayed were very quiet and its a shame that Kenya's tourism has been hit since recent events. General observations were the staff in every camp were so amenable and friendly. The camps were of great standard and although you are in fact in a tent, it doesn't feel like that when you're in them. The only recommendation I would give is to take an extension lead if you have quite a bot of electrical equipment. There aren't that many available plugs and in many of the camps electric was only available for 4 hours in the morning and 4 hours in the evening. Honestly this does not cause any problem because it's a tiring holiday and you're ready for bed fairly early anyway. My head torch came in handy for reading. The beds were firm, which I liked and clean. There was one day where my Dad was unwell, again Peter came to the rescue and took us to a doctor, the staff at the hotel that day kept checking on my Dad to see if there was anything he needed whilst i was out which was really appreciated. Overall I couldn't recommend this experience, but don't think you're going to relax. It's busy and tiring but one of the most incredible things you will ever do. Thanks Daniel and Peter :-)
CZ
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excelent personal approach
I want to thank Jackson and Grace for organizing such a lovely one day trip to Tarangire NP. Not only that the trip was great, I would really want to thank both of them for their personal approach. Grace came to greet us to the hotel and to ask if everything is satisfactory so far. After she left, Jackson came and helped us with stuff which had nothing to do with the safari trip and which took his personal time off, like walking with us to the money exchange, internet place and to buy bus tickets for the next day. Many thanks Jackson, it was great to get to know you.