65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Compare Kruger Park with Sabi Sand (Private game reserve) I would only go private in future.
The game reserves were excellent and showcase Africa's unique wildlife. Spent 2 days in Kruger and 2 days in Sabi Sand. There was more game in Kruger but a greater variety in Sabi Sand. I would only go to a private game reserve in future. Accommodation and food were far better in the private reserve as well. Weather was mixed - cold at first but much hotter later. We also visited Johannesburg and O.R. Tambo airport has to be the worst international airport in the world. There are no signs anywhere to assist you in checking in and we had to go to the domestic terminal to check in for an international flight to Zimbabwe. Compare this with King Shaka in Durban where for every flight, the check-in desk is shown on a very large information board. We also visited Cape Town. Trying to go up Table Mountain as individuals is almost impossible. There was a queue which took 3 hours to get onto the cable car and another queue that took another 3 hours just to buy a ticket. We gave up eventually. Same issue with trying to go to Robben Island. Unless you are prepared to pay an exorbitant amount for a private tour, you can't get on a boat. Again, we had to give up. The V&A Waterfront is well advertised but in the end is only a shopping centre with some restaurants - quite disappointing. For an Australian, the prices in South Africa seem very cheap and it's a good place to go for a holiday once. Not enough different things to do to keep returning though but I would recommend it to anyone who has never been.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
You are in excellent hands with Yellow Zebra
Thank you Yellow Zebra (Emma) for sharing your knowledge and answering all of our questions, listening to our preferences and helping us to make the all important decisions on planning our trip to South Africa. We deeply appreciate your expertise at putting together our trip, from having someone to help us through the logistics of immigration, to packing lists and suggestions on how much to tip when we were there. We felt extremely comfortable with the detailed itinerary and support you provided. Everything went smoothly from our arrival in Johannesburg, to our arrival and departure from Mala Mala.
During our trip we had the opportunity to speak to many other travelers and after hearing of some of the problems they encountered we were especially happy to have used Yellow Zebra and felt very lucky to have your assistance with all of the details.
Our safari at Mala Mala exceeded our expectations in all respects. The style and warmth of this establishment is unparalleled .
It is a beautiful camp with accommodations that are truly extraordinary The game drives are incredible.
We were not prepared for the true beauty, hospitality and attention to detail at Mala Mala. You get the sense that everyone is really paying attention to you and your interests, to help create the most wonderful stay.
It was sad to say farewell, but we smile when we think of the amazing experiences we had and hopefully will have the good fortune to return.
BE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Allan for Safari hero!
I write this review some weeks after our wonderful trip to Masai Mara with Back Of Africa Adventure. We had some time to digest our overwhelming experiences in Masai Mara, and although we have seen many other national parks and game reserves in the meantime, I still appreciate our experience in Masai Mara a lot. We arranged the tour in Nairobi the day after we arrived in Tanzania with our incredibly helpful and trustable tour organizer Allan Milambo. I have to admit, it took us some time and effort to look for a decent tour with a democratic pricing we trusted. However, finding a company like Allan's, makes up for this little adventure. Regarding the tour: everything was perfectly arranged and according to expectations (we did the standard three-day package). The guides were well informed, the travel company was great, the food was good (not as good in the Tanzania parks though). There existed a charming collaboration between the guides of other companies (an ‘if one car stuck, everybody stuck mentality’). Accommodations were perfect. On the way back to Nairobi, I forgot my powerbank, phone charger and electricity converter during one of the stops. I contacted Allan, who did everything to get me back these items. He could only recover the phone charger and electricity converter but compensated me in cash for the powerbank. An extremely warm sign of hospitality and craftsmanship. We would travel again with Back Of Africa Adventure. Good luck Allan!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
We had such a marvelous time on our safari.
Our trip was so well planned. Our guide was knowledgeable and the transportation was great. We saw all the large animals that I hoped we would see - elephants, giraffes, lions, hippos, crocodiles, jackal, hyena, plus the antelope, water buffalo, and birds were plentiful. What a great African experience. I highly recommend Moses, Kenny, James, and the rest of the Kisa team. We will be back again!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great 13-day tour of Rwanda and Uganda
We had an amazing couple of weeks touring Rwanda and Uganda. Organisation before we left was really smooth with Teresa, who answered all our emails promptly and gave us a great personalised programme.
Our guide, Fred, was amazing; always full of energy and good-humoured. He ensured our trip ran smoothly, despite some challenges on the road. He impressed us with his knowledge of all the wildlife we saw, including the names all the exotic birds we encountered; he spotted so many animals that we would otherwise have missed between the trees or the tall grass!
We strongly recommend Wild Jungle Safari Trails - it was a perfect mix of nature, wildlife, culture and food!
US
AMAZING Experience!
I was volunteering in Tanzania and decided last minute I would like to go on a tour of Tarangire National Park. Even with such short notice, Enchanting Tanzania Safaris was able to quickly set up payment, plan our day trip, and make lunch accommodations for me and my companion. We were picked up promptly at the set time and brought to the park. Our tour guide, John, drove us through the park where he was able to navigate to amazing locations full of wildlife. The jeep had a pop off roof and we were able to freely view our surroundings without having to look through glass windows. We saw many animals throughout the day (elephants, antelope, baboons, zebra, giraffes, etc.) He knew I really wanted to see a lion and tried very hard to locate some for me! (Unfortunately no guides that day had spotted any.) Not only was he incredibly accommodating, nice, and knowledgable about the animals and agriculture, he also taught us a lot about various aspects of African culture and daily life. We even stopped at a marketplace on the way back! Overall, it was an incredible experience and I would highly recommend this company (and tour guide) again and again!!
DE
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent guiding, open for specials wishes
The safari was exceptional, most interesting, guiding in perfect german, super driver, well informed about the spots to find the animals, very kindly, punctual, and always open for special requests! It was just great! I always would recommend the company again!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Down memory lane
This was a trip with a difference rather than a traditional safari as I was revisiting parts of Zimbabwe I knew and loved as a child growing up.
Experience Africa were pivotal in making the trip such a fantastic success. Nothing was too much trouble for them and the result was that everything went like clockwork. Zimbabwe is a fabulous country. its very safe and its people are charming. Go there before the crowds return! I have no hesitation in recommending Experience Africa to anyone who wishes to really experience this wonderful country and amazing wildlife.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An amazing experience with amazing guides
First off, there is nowhere more beautiful than east Africa. The people of Tanzania are warm and friendly, the landscape is mesmerizing, and the animals are wild and gorgeous. John Foya is an exceptional safari guide whose English is perfect. He is more than willing to answer all your questions (I had many), and even teach you some Swahili! He knows where to looks for animals and can tell you anything you need to know about Tanzania’s many beautiful national parks. You need to go to Tanzania and you need to do it with Enchanting Tanzania Safaris.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip to Tanzania in Oct 2017 to see the animals, meet Masai and snorkel/swim off Zanzibar
Hi Thomas,
Tina and I both feel that our trip to Tanzania was outstanding. It far exceeded our expectations and combined viewing nature, with learning about the people, the culture and a final couple days lounging on the beaches of the Indian Ocean while on Zanzibar.
Visiting Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Parks was amazing. We saw elephants, giraffes, water buffalo, zebras, hippos, lions, baboons, monkeys, hyenas, ostriches, a leopard, a cheetah, a crocodile, flamingos, 2 jackals, wart hogs, wildebeests, numerous beautiful and interesting birds, mongooses, impalas, Grants and Thompson's gazelles, topi's , dik dik deer, water bucks and assorted other animals. It seemed like every few minutes we were coming across a new animal. Our safari driver Sham was a wealth of information and did an excellent job spotting animals we might have otherwise missed. On top of just seeing the animals, we witnessed them living their lives and dealing with challenges of being wild. We saw a hawk catch a guinea fowl, a young lion who had just caught a young zebra, two bull elephants challenge each other, an elephant push over a large tree so the herd could eat the tree tops, a baby zebra nursing the mother zebra, a baby elephant nursing a mother elephant, two male impalas fighting by ramming each other, a mother lion with her 2 cubs, baboon mothers picking fleas or dirt off their young baboons, a hyena catching and eating a fish and more. Every day was a new adventure. The natural beauty of places like Ngorongoro crater and the Serengeti plains with billowing white clouds and blue skies was also spectacular. On top of that, the Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge and Serengeti Sopa Lodge were great hotels. After riding through the wilds on dirt roads for a day it was amazing to come upon such nice hotels, with fantastic rooms, good food and fabulous views of Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti plain. We watched water bucks, topis and zebras walk by our rooms while we enjoyed cocktails on our balcony.
As for the people, the folks we met were both charming and/or interesting. Our tour of the Masai village was like a trip to the past. These people are living much as they have for hundreds of years. When they asked me to dance with them, it was a surprise but it was lots of fun. Where else could I have that experience but Tanzania! Learning about some of the Masai's culture and traditions directly from them was also a treat. The folks we met in Arusha and Zanzibar were fun too. It gives an American a whole different perspective to be in a third world country. Here are people living with much less then we have in America but making it work. Granted some folks have it hard but for the most part everyone seems happy and is friendly. Also some of the art work we viewed was spectacular. The tour of the Cultural Center in Arusha was particularly impressive when it comes to art and crafts. The would carvings, tapestries and sculptures were gorgeous. Not to mention, we scored a great Tanzanite ring for Tina at that site.
Finally, the days we spent on the beach in Zanzibar, sailing and snorkeling in the Indian Ocean along with touring a spice operation were added benefits. This was totally different from our safaris to see the animals or our visit to the Masai. However, it was like dream to swim in a clear unspoiled lagoon with some of the bluest water I have ever seen. The white sand beaches were picturesque and not crowed like those in parts of Hawaii or Mexico. Also, the hotel was a spectacularly located right on the Indian Ocean. It was reeked with history and charm. My wife Tina kept joking that she expected to see Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamar come walking around the corner remembering their movie "The Road to Zanzibar" .
So to sum it up, Thomas and Visit Tanzania Tours and Safaris did a great job picking wonderful hotels, choosing a great safari company, choosing great places to visit, helping us while we were on the tour and striving to make everyone happy while managing to get it all done in a reasonable amount of time without burning us out. Not to mention, they did all this for a very reasonable price! THANK YOU!
