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20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The Perfect Honeymoon!
First off, Laurette provided us with exception service and catered a set tour to our liking, adding a few days and helping us secure more private hotels as this was our honeymoon.
From the moment we landed in Zambia to the minute we left Cape Town, everything was perfect. Transfers were on time, hotels and locations exceeded our expectations, and the activities that were booked were incredible. We met many couples and didn't hear from them of one other thing we would have rather done than what was already booked with Laurette.
I started communicating with Laurette about a year and a half before the trip and she ensured that she stayed in communication, provided us documentation timely, and let us know promptly if she needed anything from us. This trip would not have gone as smoothly without her expertise.
I will be recommending all of my friends and family travel to South Africa and use Pembury for their bookings.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Good service and wonderful tour guides
Like my four friends, I didn't know what to expect of Speke Tours when our Team leader booked them to organise for us a four days trip around Uganda last week (between 12th-16th). Our destinations were Murchison Falls National Park and Mghahinga National Park. The two are famed for being Uganda's biggest park and home to Mountain Gorillas respectively. As I write this, it is two days since we concluded our trip and I am so glad we opted for this Kampala based Safari Company. Our guide Peter was fun and very knowledgeable, especially about big mammals and birds. He had his facts right and knew how to paint a picture with just words. Loved it. On the otherhand, the accomodation facilities where we were booked were simple but lovely. Such included Murchison River Lodge and Travellers Rest Camp in Kisoro. Even better, they were within easy reach from the starting points of most of the activities in the parks. As such, we were able to catch up with most of the animals on our list without so much hustle. The biggest highlights were gorillas, giraffes, elephants and lions. Generally, the trip was fun except for the drive on the bumpy-murrum-road connecting Hoima District and Masindi. Luckily, the car was in perfect shape to counter the challenge with ease. Given the above experience, I highly recommend this company, especially for group travellers and family travellers.
Solomon Oleny
[email protected]
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
My Nile River Adventure of a Lifetime
Planning this trip started with a spectacular documentary on the Murchison Falls where the Nile River drops 40 m creating a rich habitat for aquatic wildlife particularly Hippos. The internet revealed that East Africa Jungle Safaris based in Uganda were offering good value 4 day safaris featuring the Murchison Falls. I booked this first.
As a water engineer, I have always been fascinated with the Nile River and its contribution to the lives over 100million people living along the river from Lake Victoria in Uganda , through Sudan and ultimately through Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea. The Pharohs made good use of the Nile; making a rich contribution to human society. Remnants of that era are awesome.
I asked East African Jungle Safaris if they could put together a personal trip from Cairo to Alexandria by car then on to Luxor by overnight train. At Luxor I would take a river cruise to the Aswan High Dam where I would transfer to the ferry from the dam wall to Wadi Halfa in Sudan. In Sudan I would visit ancient relics and the irrigation based settlements along both sides of the Nile. At Atbura I would embark on the train to Khartoum where the Blue Nile joins the Nile. From Khartoum I would fly to Entebbe in Uganda where I would undertake the safari to Murchison falls, then visit Jenga where the Nile emerges from Lake Victoria ( the official source of the Nile). I also requested boat trip on the lake.
They put the trip together in conjunction with tour agents in Egypt and Sudan. The combined expertise resulted in a remarkable experience for me. In Egypt I had a personal tour of the Pyramids and Egyptian Museum, then by car to The Australian War cemetery at El Alemain and to the Roman Fort and Museum at Alexandria, followed by the first class train ride to Luxor, then the 5 day river cruise to Aswan stopping at the Temple of Karnak, Valley of Kings, Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Colossi of Morman and Temples of Edfu and Sobek. Finally a Tour of Aswan High Dam. The Dam was completed in 1968 with a primary aim of regulating the flow of the Nile. It has reservoir capacity of 132 Billion cubic metres and is the 6th largest artificial storage in the world. It serves the irrigation needs of Egypt 85% and Sudan 15%.
Lake Nasser is 550 km long. The ferry to Wadi Halfa has 1st and 2nd class sleepers and travels overnight once a week. Early next morning you pass Abu Simbel, 4 colossal (20m high) statues of Ramses in front of his temple. These were salvaged from the rising waters of Lake Nasser by a complex engineering feat in the 1960s. The ferry docks at Wadi Halfa and you are now in Sudan where I was met by my Sudanese guide with 4WD. The passanger train from Wadi Halfa to Atbura no longer operates.This is Nubian Country. The Nubians ruled Egypt prior to BC 3500. Today they live a simple life based on irrigated cropping on the Nile. I stayed in a Nubian house at Wawa; then camped on the sand dunes at old Dongle which was once the Christian capital of the Nubian Kingdom. We moved on to Atbura (railway centre) via Karima and Jerbal Barkal: a magnificent elevated view of the Nile on a bend in its natural state flowing through the desert.
At Atbura, I took the modern train to Khartoum where I visited more Nubian Pyramids and the museum before flying out to Entebbe in Uganda where I was met by Fred Ssebunya, principal of East African Jungle Safaris. He introduced me to his 4 day Murchison Falls guide and off we went on an awesome experience with the falls and the wildlife, staying in his villa overlooking Lake Albert. You could hear the hippos in the distance at night.
I wanted to interface with Lake Victoria so he took me to Jinga Town and out to the official source where Lake Victoria becomes the Nile River. A boat took me to the rapids and the local tourist shop perched on the rapids where I purchased my shirt "I've been at the Source of The Nile Jinja-Uganda".
I finished off with a 2 day boat cruise to Kalangala Island on Lake Victoria. I then over-nighted in Entebbe and flew out the next day.
This 30 day adventure in Feb-Mar 2017 met all my expectations for variety, excitement and value. I requested midrange accom and the total cost (Cairo-Entebbe) US$ 8000.
My trip was totally safe and comprehensive taking all history and excitement associated with the Nile River and its people. All guides spoke English and were excellent.
It is thoroughly recommended. Full Marks for East Africa Jungle Safaris. Fred Ssebunya
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Windhoek - Vic Falls Self-Drive Safari
The holiday is over, a pity, was wonderful. Thanks for the good preparation. Everything worked out very well. We flew over the Victoria Falls on my birthday. An absolute “Have to do”.
Chobe bush camp was great. A great cook. Thank you that you have convinced me to go to the bush camp.
The transfer with George was relaxed.
N1 is of course to wean, but the location is simply top. And 3 Monkeys right next to it, top.
Thanks again for everything.
We have recommended Irina and you already
TR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
better than our expectation
I always was wondering about Safari. I found an opportunity to meet Paul who is owner of safari tour. He suggested me to see ngorongoro and trangeri national parks. He did not recommend me to see serengeti since I had limited time. I was lucky because I saw hunting between lion and gnu in trangeri. That's way I do not regret to go to Serengeti. As I know, a person sees hunting during his life just one time. It was life time experience. Paul met me with his driver whose name is Alfa Mniko. He is great man. In safari, if you want to enjoy, it depends on driver because you are always with driver. His ability is so important to tell you about safari and animals. I spend three nights with Alfa by staying in lodges. I enjoyed too much. I suggest everyone to meet with Paul and Alfa.
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An amazing Safari
We stayed at the Africa Bush Camp. A beautifull place to stay at. The staff where friendly to us and the food was good. The safari itself was amazing. A dream come true for me and my wife. I hope i can comeback someday!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A truly special experience, a must on your trip to Africa
We loved everything about our canoe Safari. The animals, the scenery, the excitement, the peacefulness, the guides who were extremely knowledgeable, the equipment and the food. We couldn't fault it! It was the best part of our three week trip to four countries in Africa.
SI
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best safari experience
Our sfari driver was Hilary and he is the best. Full of energy and amazing stories and fnny jokes. We had a lot of fun on a 4-day safari (which is totally enough if you want to see all the antional parks). We saw the big 5 group, which was unforgetable. Staying in tents can be really exicitng since you're sleeping surrounded with zebras and bivols, so I would not change it to lodge. Only thing I would not miss is visiting Masai village. It's too commercial already. You better visit Hundzabi tribe which is really interesting (still living in caves).
IL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Don't book with this company, you'll be desappointed
We booked a group tour and paid for it a couple of months in advance. We aggreed with Tony on a particular itinerary that we carefuly planned out, including 4 safari NP, a walking safari, two tracks and a list of specific lodges we wanted.
When we started the tour it slowly became obvious that we were taken on one of the regular itineraries instead of the one we agreed on. Every day we had to argue about the schedule and make Tony change our route. After one such argument we got our walking safary, only to be taken to literaly a sheep-shit full field nowhere near the reservation. It took some more arguing and nerves for us to be taken on a "real" walking safari. Needless to say that most of the lodges were not the ones aggreed upon in advance, though it being the off season I have to say the lodges we stayed in were more or less on the same level. Still frustrating. Our driver guide was more of a driver than a guide, most of the time just driving us around in quiet. To top it all, the jeep was old and in horrific condition. The ceiling leeked water throughout the tour and we had no less than 6 flat tiers, the last 2 happening in the midst of the Serengeti NP with no spares and no cellphone connection. Luckily we were picked up by another tour group, but than spent the entire day at the hotel waiting for our driver guide to fix the car. No need to tell you how expencive a safari day is and how annoying it is to miss one like that. Got to say Tony paid us back half the price for the day, still waiting on the other half.
In short, very frustraiting. All that we agreed on in advance was completely meaningless as far as Tony was concerned. Don't book a tour with him.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable experience.
Our guides were very experienced and we had a wonderful 10 days in 3 separate camps. Our game drives were punctuated with morning tea and sundowners. When we got back to camp the fire was lit and we were served delicious meals. Having covered vehicles meant we were warm in the cold early mornings and felt secure all day. Jane's love and knowledge of the animals and Botswana was very obvious and we looked forward to her story telling around the camp fire each evening.