RU
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
A wonderful two week trip to Ethiopia
We had the Ethniopian Mammal Watching tour for 14 days; the initially 12-day program itself was adjusted and extended by two days.
Armaye knows the nature of Ethiopia and its inhabitants very well. Since we were focused on locating and photographing animals, he fully supported us in this task and gave us great assistance in identifying those species with which we had questions. It was very interesting to discuss the animals of Ethiopia with him! It’s great that he implemented his area of interest and knowledge into his own business.
All Armaye team members are friendly and responsible, you can absolutly trust them.
The nature of Ethiopia is very different depending on the parts of the country and is very beautiful and even fantastic.
We also got to know the local cuisine and its specialties.
We will miss the time spent and the company of our new friends on this trip. But I think we will be back in the future!
If you are planning to travel to Ethiopia, I would recommend traveling with Armaye Ethiopia Tours.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
The unprofessional service of Ambula was characterized by rude behavior and lack of accountability.
I am not one to publicly complain about service, but I had a horrible experience with Ambula Tours that I feel someone who is considering using their service should know about. I booked a transfer for my brother and on the way to the airport, they were in an accident. He ended up missing his domestic flight and international flight - leaving my family with over R40,000 in unexpected costs. Accidents happen and luckily everyone was okay. The communication from Ambula was shocking (they said another car was on the way and would be there in 40-45 minutes, and it didn't arrive for another +2.5 hours!) and they did not help to cover any costs or, at the least, refund the cost of the trip. I would not suggest this service to anyone who values a company with integrity and safety.
AE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
A review that could have been very different
Taking a safari with Mufasa Tours and Travels was, for the most part, a good experience. We are frequently safari goers and based on the ratings we'd seen, there were high expectations in our minds. The incredible wildlife, wonderful accommodations, and having a dedicated guide, Nelson, contributed to many memorable moments. However, our encounter with the company's refund policy left us with mixed feelings about our overall journey.
The Positives:
Our safari with Mufasa Tours and Travels initially promised an exclusive and flexible adventure, and in many aspects, it delivered. The personalized game drives facilitated by Nelson were informative and tailored to our preferences. The company's commitment to providing an exclusive vehicle and guide allowed us to immerse ourselves fully into bush therapy. Caroline, who coordinated our bookings, demonstrated prompt and professional communication when addressing our concerns, and made the entire booking a pleasant experience. Nelson was a good guide and ensured we had the best sightings based on what he heard over the radio.
The Disappointment:
We had opted for a 4x4 Land Cruiser instead of a Minivan for more comfort. However, the vehicle we received was probably one of the older ones if not the oldest. It was quite different from what is advertised on their YouTube video. The vehicle was rickety, glass windows used to vibrate vigorously during the drives and the pop-up roof had rust and loose metal shreds which can be a big risk. When we reached the Mara from Nairobi, the backdoor got jammed and it took hours to retrieve our bags and other luggage (which included baby food!!). For a company of good reputation, it is imperative that vehicles are kept spic and span and regularly maintained.
From the reviews we read online, we had requested for Nelson to be our good. While he was good in several aspects such as stopping when we ask or changing the angle when photographing, one thing we did not appreciate was that he used to be on the phone all the time. Instead of giving us some insights about the animals we see (simple things such as what pride of lions is this, how big it is, etc.), it felt more like a race from one sighting to the other. Even though we are bird lovers, most of them we had to ask him to stop otherwise he would just drive past without even looking.
Additionally ... our journey regrettably took an unexpected turn when our baby fell ill, forcing us to cut our safari short. Upon inquiring about a partial refund due to the unforeseen circumstances, we encountered a rigid adherence to the company's no-refund policy for last-minute changes. While we understand and respect the importance of policy adherence, we had hoped for more flexibility and understanding given the exceptional nature of our situation.
Conclusion:
Our overall experience with Mufasa Tours and Travels was a tale of two halves. The wildlife and photographic opportunities made the safari portion truly memorable. However, the disappointment stemming from the company's inflexible refund policy has left us contemplating our future travel choices. While the company provides an undoubtedly unique and exclusive safari experience, potential travelers should be mindful of the company's strict policies, especially in unforeseen circumstances. As we reflect on our safari with mixed emotions, we may consider alternative options for our future adventures, seeking a balance between policy adherence and customer understanding.
FR
A magnificent trip, a dream ever since, we don't speak English, we had a guide for a long time.
Thank you Philppo and your team, We had a wonderful trip. Every day was a new adventure, thanks to our guide Anagoud, an extraordinary culture who listened to everyone.
There are so many animals you can't believe, as far as the eye can see.
(automatic translation from French)
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Keen to detail and very helpful.
I have done both a game viewing safari and Dubai trip with them and the coordination between is amazing. Flawless communication on all activities and great recommendations on my way around during travel. I would highly recommend them. Simply amazing teamwork was happy and grateful.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Reliable and attentive agency
We had great experience traveling with Trav-Interactive! They offer great tours at a reasonable price point. We went for 3 days at Taita Hills, all went great. The communication was always fast and conclusive.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolutely amazing safari
From start to end the experience with Jacob and Smile With Us was brilliant. We'd never been on safari before but Jacob made it simple, suggesting a fantastic 6-day trip from Dar es Salaam to Selous and Mikumi national parks. Nothing was too much trouble.
On the day we started the wonderful driver and guide Omari showed up with a rugged Land Cruiser, which is just as well as there had been a lot of rain and the vehicle's 4-wheel drive was needed at times as we sloshed through deep mud and water. Throughout Omari was incredible. Really knowledgeable and nothing was too much trouble. He also has a deep respect and love for animals and wildlife, even to the extent of waiting for a column of soldier ants to cross the road in front of us. We saw elephants, lions, hippos, giraffe, buffalo, wildebeest, impala, warthogs, hyaena, zebra and loads of birds and other animals. Perhaps one of the highlights was seeing a huge crocodile eating a zebra on land right next to our vehicle while hordes of vultures waited to come in for their turn.
Omari always seemed to have a six sense when it came to finding interesting things to see. He was also one of the most friendly and sociable people I've met, always stopping to chat and exchange info with other drivers and park rangers, or helping change a tyre on another car.
The accommodation was good, and we never had to worry about food or water. There were long distances covered, especially driving between Selous and Mikumi, but for us that was part of the fun, and having the opportunity to see ordinary life across Tanzania.
The last night was our wedding anniversary and Jacob arranged for a group of Maasai warriors to sing and dance for us at dinner while delivering a cake. Truly special memories.
We can't recommend Smile With Us Tours enough. If you choose one company, choose this one.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible
Pickup was waiting at the airport and took me to hotel. Then took me on a tour of Arusha, including the heritage centre and then for dinner, which was a great start.
The next day I met my tour group and we headed to Tarangire National Park where we saw our first elephants, lions, giraffes of the Safari. We got close to the wildlife so made for some great pictures and videos. The accommodation that night was nice too - room and a pool.
The next day we headed to the Serengeti for 2 and a half days. Here we saw elephants, lions, giraffes and hippos. Was also lucky enough to see leopards and cheetahs among others. Our tour guide, Salay, did everything he could to make us see the wildlife and was always talking with other guides to see if they spotted anything for us to see. Incredible place. Insane.These nights we stayed at a campsite that was standard but the group had a great night. Also heard lions and hippos. There were elephants close by too and a stork right in the middle of the site.
We then headed to Ngongoro Crater where we saw more animals, talking the tally of elephants, giraffes, lions and hippos to over 100 each. We also saw 3 black rhinos. Had elephants in touching distance (but we didn’t touch) and also had African traffic jams with animals in the road. Incredible place and a must do. We stayed at a campsite that was busy but had warm showers.
Final day I visited the foothills of Kilimanjaro. Huge waterfall and then stopped by for fresh coffee making and delicious food. Great end to the safari.
Overall, everything went smoothly and I would well recommend. Chef was great too. Water and cola provided, all food provided. One of the best experiences I have ever done.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Highly Recommended
Very nice trip. Well customized, Perfectly organized, good locations to stay for the night and good food. Managed to see the big 5 as well as several hunting moments. Baraka is an excellent guide knowing where to spot all the animals, very helpful and trustful. I highly recommend this tour operator ( Amshar Serengeti Adventures)
HR
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent service provided
We have recently done this safari and it really has been an outstanding experience.
We were unlucky at first because two times the tour was cancelled due to unfavourable weather but in the end we made it, thanks also to the extraordinary flexibility and friendliness of the operator.
The communication with Mansoor from African Pangolin Safaris was very friendly and open. Due to unfavourable weather circumstances, the communication was very intense and at all times the operator was responsive, reliable and forthcoming. I can really fully confirm that we were provided an outstanding service.
We chose African Pangolin Safaris in the first place for its good reviews and their rates which were competitive compared to other offerings. The service was top-notch and can only recommend them!