US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Using Lion King was the Perfect Choice for our safari honeymoon
Our Safari was amazing. We did a 4 day safari with Goodluck through Lake Manyara, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater. He was very knowledgable of the area and was willing to answer our hundreds of questions. This provided us a cultural experience as well as nice Safari. His amazing life stories about the area and the local culture touched our hearts forever. There were so many animals and seeing them close up was crazy fun! It was an experience we will cherish forever. Anna was so helpful and nice. She told us what to expect and do at every step of the trip. Everyone we met was so friendly and made us feel comfortable, start to finish. Although we were only in Tanzania for 4 days, we felt at home instantly and we already miss it. That makes us realize...we had an experience of a lifetime. We definitely recommend this company. Thank you Lion King!!!
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Be Careful with this tour operator
First of all Tanzania is a wonderful country, the people are great, and the animals are amazing.
About the tour operator. It appears that the owner Alpha made this great website offering tours but that's about as far as it goes. Alpha lives in Australia, not Tanzania, and wasn't there for the tour...
The motorcycles are old Honda 250's, the bike I was given was a 1991, twenty seven (27) years old. No horn, no speedo, but to Honda's credit the bike ran fine with only one break down in 7 days. When you're riding a motorcycle you need a horn, its dangerous not to have one. I complained, they fixed it but it stopped working a day later. The other bikes didn't appear to have horns either...
When we arrived Alpha was not there. We were met by his "associate" who picked us up at the airport and then dropped us off at the hotel saying someone would meet us there in the morning. The next morning we met Kalifa and David. There wasn't really any instruction or pre trip discussions about roads, hazards, hand signals, what to be careful of etc just hop on an go (David the lead rider, didn't speak english).
In retrospect the disaster that happened on the second day might have been avoided if the operators had talked a bit about the trip prior to setting off.
What happened is one of our party drove over a small road bump, wasn't paying attention and crashed at a low speed. He fell on his ankle and broke it, a freak accident but it ruined his trip. I know it was his fault but I think the operators should have emphasized to watch out for these sort of things. At least two other times we came over a rises in the road to find that the road was washed out. Numerous times there could have been horrible crashes. There was no warning from the lead rider David...
On that note, If you get hurt in this country you have a real problem. Seeing what happened to my friend with a broken leg opened our eyes to the level of medical attention in this area. In this area the hospitals are basically just clinics with limited resources.
If you are seriously hurt they have to get you on a plane to fly you out. Getting that plane can take hours... If you suffer an internal injury you could die waiting for medical attention. Subsequently you'd think that the operators would display a high level of safety... nope. If you take this tour make sure you bring pain pills in case you are hurt otherwise you will suffer as there is no pharmacy close by. (Tanzania for the most part is a third world county).
Having ridden motorcycles and dirt bikes (I'm 60 years old) for many years my understanding is the tour operator riding out front ( the lead rider) is responsible for leading the way and pointing out hazards to the clients. There was none of this.
Also the front rider tour operator constantly placed himself in front of me so that I was constantly covered with his dust. I complained twice but he just keep riding there, when I tried to pass he just accelerated. Finally I got him to back off and stop spraying me with his dust but I ended up with an eye and nose infection from the constant dust at the end of the trip.
We had 7 days riding and then got into a truck for a safari through the Serengeti. When we got to the park gates, the guy driving the truck (who had been subcontracted from Alpha) didn't have the money for the entrance fee, nor did the credit card that was given to him work. I had to pay the 475 dollar US fee.
They promised to pay me back when we got to town at the end of the trip, didn't happen. They promised to email me the payment by the end of the week, didn't happen. As of 7 weeks after the tour Alpha is paying me about 100 dollars every 2 weeks, and I am still owned a couple hundred dollars at this point. Having paid Alpha $4,800 US Dollars for this trip this is unacceptable.
I understand how things can happen, but when you make a mistake you should fix it and act responsibly. If I didn't harass this operator I don't believe he would have ever paid me anything.
The drivers, Mohammed, Kalifa and David were all nice, professional but I think they could use some feed back from the owner who is just absent. They should make the effort to stop every once in a while to explain to clients about the area and points of interest. I think these 3 guys did an ok job but the owner should give them more instruction, or the owner should be there...
Use caution with this operator
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Chobe National Park by Myer Bornstein Photo Bee1
Chobe National Park has the greatest concentration of elephants along with multiple of the species of mammals, birds, and reptiles that are easy to approach from the boat
ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Chobe River National Park in Botswana is a Wonderful Location
Except for Airfare to and return from Johannesburg, tips for guides and staff, alcoholic beverages, and miscellaneous the cost of the Safari is all-inclusive. It includes overnight stay in Johannesburg the first night and air transfers during the Safari. The boat that the CNP safaris use on the Chobe River is custom-made with 360° rotating seats with an adjustable camera mount which has a Wimberley gimbal head. This gives you the option of photographing in different directions, high or low and the ability to follow moving creatures. It also means that you do not have to carry as much camera equipment that you would normally have to. I brought with me was a camera body, and three lenses, 17-35 mm, 35-70 mm, and 70-200 mm.
CNP also supplies professional Nikon equipment for the use of the participants. To give everybody a chance photographing from the front of the boat, for the first two trips, you used the seat that you were assigned, and for each succeeding trip everybody moved one seat up, and of course, the front person transferred to the last position.
you are able to photograph multiple species of mammals including wild dogs, elephants, hippopotamuses, Cape Buffalo, and baboons. There are multiple species of birds ranging from raptors to Passerine's along with wonderful scenery
The average day started at around 6 AM with coffee; then we will head out to the Chobe varying locations. We would photograph, and had an instructor available to help with any of problems. We would return to the dock in time to have a late breakfast. After breakfast, the group would gather in the boardroom four a lecture and/or instruction plus time to download our images from the morning’s event. There was time, for a rest before the afternoon’s trip. We would leave by 3 PM at the latest or earlier depending on the distance that we need travel on the Chobe to get to a location. Returned to the dock around 6 PM, where we went to our room freshened up before meeting for supper.
We follow the same itinerary daily, except for the last day, where we left for the morning shoot, returned, finished packing up, checking out, and being driven to the airport we would board the plane for the flight back to Johannesburg. The nicest part was at the airport actor Kasane; we could check our bags right through to our final destination plus get all of our boarding passes.
Included in the cost of the trip was everything from when you arrived in Johannesburg and until you left, excluding tips for the guides and helpers. The cost of the flight from JFK to Johannesburg range from $1000 to $1400, depending on when you booked.
The rooms Chobe Safari Large were large with two double beds side by side, mosquito netting, available, a work desk, stall shower and a large bathtub. In each room were a fan and air conditioning. Breakfast and supper were buffet style with multiple items available for your gastronomical pleasure. There were omelets and eggs cooked to order, cheeses and bread, different juices, coffee or tea. At suppertime, you could have a different soup every day, salads, stir-fry, at least 4 to 5 varieties of meat, fish, and vegetarian.
Two nights, we ate in the other dining room which was more formal with tablecloths and prepared appetizers and entrées.
Alcoholic beverages and wines were available, which you were charged separately for, and their prices were very reasonable.
We had to great captains on the boat, Kawana, and Mokamba, who knew the river, how to position the boat to obtain the best pictures and could identify flora and fauna for us.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Surpassed All Expectations!
This trip surpassed all of my expectations. We booked everything through Ker & Downey Africa (Emma and Razaan were incredible!) I traveled with a group of five to Cape Town and then to Sabi Sands Reserve Park. We stayed at the Elephant Plains Lodge which included a beautiful pool overlooking a plain frequented by elephants (so it lived up to its name!). Our first two game drives and we had already check all boxes for the trip! All the Big 5 to include being in the middle of a herd of about 70 elephants. Lions feeding their cubs. Leopards in a tree and out of a tree. African Buffalo and Rhinos. We also tracked wild dogs as they hunted and caught a warthog. We were all in shock! I truly expected to drive around a while and see some animals...not to be as close as we were! We went on 4 game drives after that which were just a cherry on top! The game drives were out of this world, bush walks were exciting and informative, the food was incredible, accommodations were extremely clean and comfortable. It was a dream. Really I can't recommend Emma and Razaan enough. They made the entire trip personalized and special for me and my group (and arranged several birthday treats for me along the way!). I can't wait to come back!
LT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing! A lot of animals. This was realy unforgettable.
Our guide and driver Patric was excellent. Very friendly and professional. Thanks a lot for him. Obviously Tanzania is calm and safe country. I definitely recommend to take at least 5 days safari and after relax in Zanzibar.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolutely perfect!
We used Godson for safari and hiking Kilimanjaro. Godson was absolutely incredible. Him and his team looked after us so well. For me in particular as I have dietary requirements (coeliac) I was a little nervous but the food was not only safe but really delicious. The whole experience with Godson was very professional and extremely friendly. I would highly recommend Godson for Safari's and hiking, he certainly went above and beyond my expectations.
US
nice one
Tanzania was simply an amazing country to visit , price was a bit pricey but , was totally worth it
CH
nice one
A memorable experience which we will never forget. Our guide Hubert looked after us and new where to be for the best photos and answered all our questions, we will never forget his kindness. The accommodation was excellent.