US
Rwanda Uganda Gorilla Trekking
I highly recommended Simba African Expeditions. They were very responsive from the beginning and accommadatiing with any changes. Our driver and guide Jackson was fantastic. He is very knowledgeable in the history of Rwanda and well versed in the ecology of the area both Rwanda and Uganda. You'll have no regrets using Simba African Expeditions for your safari, gorilla trekking experience
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wonderful Experience
My recent safari in Tanzania was an unforgettable experience, full of exciting wildlife encounters and stunning landscapes. It was a trip we took as a family with my parents and sisters. (5 people in total, all adults)
Guide Dickson Robert added a special touch to the adventure. His deep knowledge of the local fauna and flora, combined with his constant kindness and attention, made every moment even more enriching.
The number of animals seen is incredible, and the guide Dickson had deep knowledge of each animal to identify them and explain in detail how they live and the main characteristics of the species. Always concerned that we could take the best photograph of each animal.
Something that is important to know is that possibly some small unforeseen events may arise throughout the trip (you are in Africa). In our case Dickson knew how to handle it perfectly without any repercussions for the overall trip.
I can say that the safari overall was an unforgettable experience for my entire family. The opportunity to see animals in their natural habitat is unparalleled, and the dedication of guide Dickson really elevated the quality of our adventure.
Without a doubt, for future safaris, I would highly recommend Dickson as a guide. A super professional and very kind and friendly guy. He was undoubtedly responsible for us spending some unforgettable days.
(automatic translation from Spanish)
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great!
I have never been a proponent of the whole ‘trip of a lifetime’ saying. I have always thought that every trip is amazing and there is more to come that could be better. Well, I think I am wrong after today. It was the most incredible experience I have ever had. Seeing these amazing animals in the wild is beyond anything I could have imagined. I saw 3 out of the Big Five! I am tired, sweaty, dirty and covered in red dust but it was so worth every second and every dollar!!!!
Aziz was so professional and knowledgeable it was a pleasure to spend this adventure with him. I didn’t want the day to end!
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience!
Amazing tour! Super guide, great knowledge of the animals, great views and overall perfect experience. Great cook, being vegetarian is no issue on this trip!
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Super organized
Everything was arranged really well. From pick up to drop off, the food was amazing and camping really cool. Tents were there and everything was set up by them. We just had to sit back and enjoy wildlife. We saw so many animals and they were super patient with us wanting to take everything in. Also, regular toilet breaks at super clean places. It was such an experience. 10/10 recommend the company!
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic tour guide!
Post
Overall, my safari experience was a mix of highs and lows, sprinkled with valuable lessons for future travelers. Here's my detailed review:
Before delving into the adventure, a vital tip: When booking through TripAdvisor, be aware that there are both luxury and budget options available. I mistakenly chose the budget option without realizing there was another tier. For those seeking a more lavish experience, it's advisable to book directly through Lenchada.
Here's what I wish I knew beforehand:
* During the safari, you'll rarely leave the vehicle, so there's no need for specialized "safari" clothing or hiking shoes.
Day 1:
Positives:
* Promptly picked up from our hotel at 7:00 AM, we arrived at the Lenchada tented camp around 2:45 PM, making a single stop for sightseeing, souvenirs, and restroom use along the way.
* The evening game drive in Maasai Mara was a highlight, lasting about 2.5-3 hours and offering sightings of three of the "Big 5" animals.
* Despite the long drive, the abundance of wildlife and stunning photos made it worthwhile.
Negatives:
* The camp's electricity was only available from 5:30 - 7:00 AM & 6:30 - 10:00 PM in the dining hall via a generator, making charging inconvenient. No outlets in room and lights only work during generator operating hours.
* Hot water in the tent's bathroom was inconsistent, despite assurances of continuous availability.
Day 2:
Positives:
* Full-day safari in Maasai Mara, lasting about 10 hours.
* Unique a sighting of a pride of lions (17!)
Negatives:
* Woke up at 5:30 to charge camera/phones but generator had issues and didn’t work until 6:00 am when we had to leave for the day.
* Lunch consisted of unrefrigerated items (6+ hrs - lunch meat, yogurt & chicken), leading to concerns about food safety as a non local. Limited restroom availability also influenced the decision to not partake.
* Some periods of the safari felt slow, with minimal wildlife sightings as we hunted for specific game or travel from location to location; no one’s fault - nature provides and can’t be rushed.
Day 3:
Positives:
* We had the option to visit a Maasai Village before departing for a travel day ($20 per person), providing unique cultural insights and experiences.
* Interaction with the locals and participation in traditional activities added depth to the safari experience.
Negatives:
* The visit to the Maasai Village included high pressure sales tactics to purchase goods from villagers. Instead of enhancing the experience, I felt swindled and disheartened detracting from the positive aspects of the trip.
* Discomfort from flies and cow manure was unavoidable at the village site.
Day 4:
Positives:
* An early start at 6:30 AM took us to Lake Nakuru, where we completed the "Big 5" sightings with memorable encounters with rhinos, flamingos, and a RARE leopard sighting!
* Brief hippo boat ride allowed for unique photos not available in the previous parks visited.
Negatives:
* The shortage of meat during lunch due to multiple groups converging at the same time was disappointing, impacting the overall dining experience.
* The presence of mosquitoes at Chambai Safari Hotel posed a problem, affecting the comfort of our stay - leave windows closed if at all possible (no a/c in room).
* Staff advised dinner at 7pm at arrival but then woke us in our rooms at 5pm to get our order and advise that dinner would be at 8 pm - dinner did not arrive until roughly 8:30 while we sat and waited as the only diners.
Day 5:
Positives:
* We enjoyed a scenic walk in Hell’s Gate with sightings of zebras and giraffes along the way.
* Visited geothermal generation station which I found very interesting!
* A quick but satisfying lunch capped off our safari adventure before being dropped off at the hotel around 2:30 PM.
In conclusion, while the safari experience was fantastic and filled with unforgettable moments, there were notable drawbacks. Positives: Staff throughout all of our stays were kind and helpful. The vehicle was in fantastic condition, immaculate, and had one window for every person which was great (especially for those of us who get car sick). During the safari, there were no constraints to getting the perfect photo, I always felt like I was right in the action either by looking out the window or over the pop up top! Our guide did everything to get us into the position to see the best animals and was in constant communication with other guides via radio and cellphone to ensure the best experience for every group. The relationships between guides was impressive and enhanced the experience, we would have missed the pride of lions and leopard otherwise! As far as drawbacks, the food was repetitive and very limited in selection, accommodations (specifically the hotels) lacked basic amenities such as functional TVs. Additionally, better communication regarding restroom breaks, lunch times, drive times, arrival times, etc. would have made for a better experience but truly, I couldn’t have asked for a better guide to get us right into the action of it all!
Guide: 4.5/5
Animal Sightings: 10/5
Accommodations: 3/5
Food: 2/5
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very Professional
Lucas is a very professional and kind person. We went on safari for our honeymoon and everything was perfect! I recommend him with my eyes closed and wish him a lot of success!
Also a very good quality/price
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent!
Great value for money. The experience surpassed all expectations. Sam, skillfully navigated the wild terrain. Most impressively, his ability to tell the way of life of the animals and insight added a layer of depth that made this safari truly unforgettable.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
She was welcoming and nice plus helped us learn alot
The service was topnotch...It was a successful trip we had great fun
SE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Sam has been very professional, kept every promise and met all my expectations.
I had an idea about what I wanted to do and see. Discover Africa met my ideas with different suggestions and refined my trip until it was exactly what I was looking for.