US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Richard is the owner and an excellent and extremely knowledgeable guide!
Excellent service and communications! We took two weekend tours Tarangeri/Lake Manyara and Serengeti/Ngorongoro Crater and also a day Safari to Arusha National Park. We experienced abundant wildlife in every park and Richard provided knowledgeable commentary. My daughter and I highly recommend Mali Kale Safaris!
IE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable experience!
I was informed about Shemeji by a colleague of mine who already had a good experience. The previous communication with Froukje was alsways very friendly and helpful. And the 6-day Safari exceeded my expectations. Our driver/gide was really funny, smart and patience and because of him we have seen so many beautiful animals up close. Beside the driver we also had a private cook who travelled with us for a couple of days. The food was delicious and it was an absolute privilege to have him as our private cook. We have absolutely enjoyed the journey! It was an unforgettable experience and hope to return one day!
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Stick to Kenya and don't expect great customer service
We had combined 10 day safari in Kenya-Tanzania. Everything was great on the Kenya side. Driver was fine, would answer questions if you asked, but you did have to ask. Accommodations were better than expected with private bathrooms and actual beds in tents. They definitely work to find animals and make the most of the time in the parks.
Tanzania - nothing went right at all. We were supposed to be met by the director Abraham at the bus depot and he was not there. So very confusing getting us to our hotel in Arusha.
Day 2 the driver, George, brought us to Lake Manyara when our itinerary said to go to Serengeti NP. We were dropped off at camp around 430 near the lake, not in the Serengeti. He refused to t call anyone to check on the mix up for us. Basically that it was not his problem and we were stuck.
Day 3 We should have had a full day in Serengeti national park. We did not arrive until 2 or 3pm. George told us breakfast was at 730 and we would leave at 8. . We did not depart until 10am. No one could give us an update on when we would leave. They claimed the delay was due to the chefs. Who produced fried chicken so burnt we couldn’t eat it at lunch. We had our driver changed 3 times that morning. Though Etome ended up as a very good guide. The Serengeti camp ended up being far superior to where we stayed near Manyara
Day 4 The game drive was very good this day though it was only 6 hours not the full day we paid for. We had a brunch and dinner instead of 3 meals. No time on the trip were we given the chance to visit Olduvai gorge and the museum. Also no evening nature walk was offered at the Simba camp.
Day 5 The game drive this morning was very good. However we did not enjoy a picnic lunch in the crater as described. We were driven back to camp to have lunch which was not as scenic. David did meet at at the border for our transfer back to Nairobi airport and did not ask us for additional money when the police pulled over our car and asked for bribes to continue on.
However, he claimed that he would rectify the situation that had happened in Tanzania and we would hear within a week. When we contacted him a week later he said he was still working with his Directors and Abraham in TZ. 2.5 months later and we have never heard from him again. No refund or any other compensation for going to the wrong park and wrong lodging.
Kenya was great but avoid working with the TZ company. They will lie and not stick to the paid for itinerary. And once on the trip you have paid and are stuck going where they bring you. Very disappointing that David appears to communicate greatly until they have your money then they don't care what happened to you.
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tour guide, Ismail, made our trip!
I personally did not arrange this safari but someone in my group who had previously been did. She said they were incredibly accommodating in making a personalized package. We had such a wonderful time and the facilities where we stayed were wonderful. They were clean, had excellent food, service and all the amenities needed. Ismail was an incredible tour guide and we were all extremely impressed at his knowledge of the land, agriculture, history, language, culture and of course animals. He made it his personal mission to make sure we saw and did what we wanted to. Would recommend 100%.
SE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Perfectly tailormade tour taking all our wishes and requests into consideration.
Best tailormade presentation seen and all expectstions fulfilled or beyond.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing and wonderful experience. I would not mind doing it all over again. LOVED IT!!!
Touring various parts of Namibia has always been part of my bucket list and finally l managed to do it. l had an unforgettable experience with my hubby thanks to the organized tour by Discovery Transfer and Tours. The lodges we stayed in during this tour met our expectations and the service and hospitality left both my husband and l awed. The tour guide was also good and very informed as he answered all questions and even went an extra mile to provide us with information we did not know about the country, wildlife and the various cultures in Namibia. Despite the gravel roads that resulted to us spending more time in the car because one can not drive fast(which of course was for own own safety) am happy to say the company we had made it worth every minute in the car.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Giltedge Africa went above and beyond creating our trip of a lifetime.
From the moment of contact with this company they did everything to ensure all our desires were met. They are very accommodating. They tweeked every little thing to make our wishes come true. We only started planning this vacation 1 1/2 months prior to our departure date. Never in a million years did We think we would get to do everything on our wish list in such short notice. Due to the hard work and perseverance of Tanya Drummer, all our wishes came true.
Everything went as planned with the detailed itinerary book they provided us. When we arrived in Johannesburg there was someone waiting for us with our names on a sign to guide us through customs. This happened for every flight, every road transfer and every lodge. We were never waiting or wondering what we needed to do. This service was impeccable. We are now spoiled!
The safari lodges and tours were beyond our imagination. All our accommodations were 5 star and exceeded our expectations. We stayed at Sabi Earth Lodge in Sabi Sands private reserve, Victoria Falls Island Lodge, The Chobe Princess House Boat, and Belmond Eagle Lodge in Botswana.
My husband wanted the “wow” factor, and WOW did we ever get it!
We were worried that nothing would compare to Sabi Earth Lodge, but every where we stayed at had its own WOW factor. The beauty of the lodges they recommended were 5 star, but a different feel to each one. The lodges could not be compared to each other, because they were unique in their own way. We loved them all.
All in all, I would recommend this agency to all our friends, clients and future travelers we meet. We travel extensively and this is by far the best agency we have ever used.
Thank you Tanya, you have now spoiled us! How in the world do we ever top this vacation that you planned for us? We will definitely contact you for our next African adventure! BTW, I left a piece of my heart in Africa!
NO
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A great, well-organized experience. Highly recommended!
Great communication, a small misunderstanding with a driver was quickly and painlessly fixed in a few minutes. Great lodging places with very attentive and nice staff, good food etc. And last but not least, first class safari guides who really excelled both in making us feel well, at ease and comfortable, in their David Attenburough-class knowledge about animal behaviour, the Rift Valley and the Masai people, which they shared in just the right amounts, and their general driving skills and skills for finding good spots for experiencing the magic of Masai Mara wildlife. Thank you for a fantastic experience and lifetime memories!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Top notch
We visited South Africa and Zambia with day trips to Zimbabwe and Botswana last month. Our travel plans were arranged perfectly to suit what we all wanted to do and more. The itinerary was very thorough and beautifully made. Kerry our agent was very quick to respond to all our needs. We did not encounter any problems at all. Overall we were very happy and impressed with their service.
UA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great tour, wonderful staff!
My wife and I did a two week tour with Tekko Tours and we can’t recomment them highly enough. Communication from the beginning was quick and easy, even though it was a somewhat last-minute plan. Our guide/driver was a pleasure to travel with and was very knowledgeable. In the middle of our tour, we had an emergency (not associated with the tour) and I am so glad we had such great people helping us because it made a horrible situation as easy as possible. Everyone working with us was absolutely amazing and I think that, under the circumstances, the tour could not have been better.