IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exceptional Service and an Exceptional Experience!
Everything was perfect!
I arranged my holiday in Tanzania with Landside Adventures help and everything went very smooth: from the welcome at the airport during the night, our driver, a very competent and really nice person. We had a new jeep assigned, which was extremely comfortable and clean and made you feel safe. Our lodge was very nice.
Maxon, the person at the office who took care of us is a really competent, always present and nice person and it was a pleasure from me to cooperate with him.
Plus, I hade the chance to visit Landside Adventures office and believe me: you really understand you are in good and extremely professional hands, a very nice and organised staff, mechanics, jeeps, drivers, everyone cooperates in a nice and professional atmosphere.
Go ahead and book through Landside Adventures! A unique experience for sure, it will be worth the price!
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Awesome safari
First of all, let me apologize for the delay in writing this review. The service provided by Africa Flash Mc Tours was incredible! Peter stayed in touch with us during the whole trip, making sure we were okay. We chose to do 2 safaris with because their prices are extremely cheap compared to other companies, even though we were afraid this would be a scam or mean average service but that was not the case at all! Their guides and drivers have a lot of knowledge and try their best to make your safari an memorable trip! We would definitely choose them again!
AE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good in communication but bad in service
It is quite unfortunate that I have to be the first (an only) one to be writing such a review.
My wife and I booked two tours (Kilimanjaro day trek and Ngorongoro crater day trip) in Tanzania through them. The man in-charge, Muksin, was extremely cordial - answered my innumerous queries via e-mail before we landed in Tanzania and made me feel comfortable about the whole trip. He also came a day before the Kili trek and briefed me about both trips.
However, our actual experience during the tours was far from this experience.
1. Kili trek - The guide, Nikolas (I think that's what his name was), was completely detached - seemed more like a person who's carrying our lunch packets. Moreover, he did smell strongly of alcohol - not sure whether he had it that morning or the previous night. No real 'guidance' or information about the park or the flora/fauna was provided by him. The lunch packet had stale chicken and funny-tasting yoghurt in it.
2. Ngorongoro crater - This experience was much worse that the previous one. I specifically asked whether there were group tours available with them and they said yes. However, it seemed more like they were partnering with some other local tour guys who had their separate bookings and pooling us together into the same vehicle. At the outset itself, the information provided was wrong. We were told that we will be 4 people for the safari. It turned out that there were 6. The vehicles provided were rickety and the guides/drivers seemed to care least about it. At one point there were 7 people (a cook sitting on an ice box) in the vehicle and the whole vehicle was completely cramped.
I have rated 3 stars just for the initial communication part and because I would like to believe that the Ngorongoro trip was handled by other tour guys. Else I would've rated you even lower.
I accept that we were provided a competitive rate for our trips but we would not expect a highly reputed tour agency like you to be compromising on the quality. There is a difference in providing 'less' and 'bad quality'. For example, you can provide less number of items (of good quality) in the lunch packet but you should not provide bad quality stuff.
Another piece of advise - If you do not have a group tour available, please be honest about it. Else, if you depend on other local operators to organise/manage your customers' trips and they end up like ours, it would only tarnish your reputation.
Thanks
Vipin
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We did the lot! Well planned and well delivered Safari experience!
We were greeted at Entebbe airport and from there we knew that we were going to be in safe hands with our guide Moses. We travelled across 5 of the National Parks over 12 days, which was a lot of travelling but totally worth it. We started our Safari at Murchison National Park, enjoyed all of the wildlife including seeing the stunning falls and a Leopard! We then travelled South to Kibale Forest, due to a unavoidable diversion the journey took longer than originally planned so we arrived in the dark at Chimps Nest which wasn't ideal as the showers were outside but the food was great and had good conversation with other guests that evening so just one of those things. The next day we did the Chimp trekking in to the forest and it was so incredible to see a whole family of Chimpanzees come down from the trees and join us. We then travelled further south again and stopped at Queen Elizabeth National Park, from the lodge we stayed at we could see and hear the Hippo in the river below. In this National Park we finally were able to see the King of the Cats a pair of Lions and then separately in Ishasha a Lioness climbing in a tree! Our next stop was Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the hospitality of staff here at Trekkers Tavern was so wonderful and it truly was the highlight of the trip to see Gorillas and spend over an hour with a group of 12 of them. It was a real moment in life to treasure. Our final National Park that we went to was Lake Mburu National Park were we were nearly scared by a cheeky monkey trying to jump in to the car (fortunately only nearly!) It was also lovely that we were able to stop for a while to see some friends of our in Lukaya on our way back towards Kampala. We also managed to then have a day trip to Jinja which was nice to see including one of the sources of the Nile!
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great Company-Great Experience.
Peter and his team did a wonderful job creating our itinerary and changes had to be made almost at the last minute because of changes to our flights from the UK. All this was handled expertly. We packed in as many game drives as possible and very quickly saw the "Big 5". Peter has a phenomenal knowledge of all the animals, birds and plant life and there was never a dull moment. He made our holiday great fun as well as being educational. He went out of his way to make our time in Tanzania a most memorable experience. I would also add the he is a superb driver. I have no hesitation in recommending Manna Expedtions & Safaris Ltd for a truly memorable holiday and safari experience. This was our fourth safari holiday and probably the best so far.
US
Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Best tour anywhere
Our guide was Sammy on a Kenya safari. The most professional and pleasant guide to be with anywhere we've been. He knows his business. He knows the wildlife, the flora and he understands people. We were booked into exactly the type of accommodations we requested and they were all terrific no matter which level of quality they were.
We think Sammy can spot a mouse at 5 miles in tall grass (OK probably not, but he is just plain good at spotting the wildlife)
If you want to take an African Safari, you should not go to any company other than Goodman Africa Safaris. You will not be disappointed.
Safari njema
(Note we have traveled with Sammy previously with another company)
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Authentic, well organized and well delivered safari
From first communications through committing to the safari, to the actual game drives themselves, food, camping and camp life, this proved a very positive experience. We wanted a safari that was genuine and allowed us to experience as much of the Okavango as possible by camping over a ten night period rather than staying in a lodge and Ulinda Safari Trails delivered in spades. Food was excellent, the camp crew who looked after camp set up, shifting to new locations and of course cooking was wonderful, camp equipment was fine and our guide (owner/operator Jane Bettenay) exceptional. Jane has a wealth of safari experience in at least the 4 areas we visited/camped at (Chobe, Savuti, Khwai, Nxai Pan) found pretty much all animals we could ever have expected, placed us perfectly in locations for best viewing and photographing, drove endless kilometres in all these locations oftentimes in challenging road conditions and also ensured we enjoyed ourselves while in camp and sitting around the camp fire. One couldn't ask for more and we would highly recommend Ulinda Safari Trails and Jane Bettenay to anyone seeking a genuine, guided camping experience.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Great Safari with Baboon safari
I went to Mara for safari for 3 times, all with group and budget camp, and only this time with Charles (organizer) and Patrick (experienced driver), which made that trip was the best. We got big five, and many lions, cheetah. We were supposed to be in Naivasha on the way back, but seemed they forgot, after few minutes, they already arranged. Another driver came from Nairobi to pick us at transit place.
LT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
7 days trip in Masai Mara and lakes
We have spent 7 days in Safari in different places like Masai Mara, lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha. The experience was great. We had a wonderful time. Everything went as it was planned from the first moment: driver picked us up from the airport, took us to the hotel and the whole trip every single driver or camp manager took a very good care of us. We did have a great opportunity to make lots of wonderful pictures, find the link here: www.wildlife.lt
This operator is highly recommended if you plan your trip to Africa !!!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Expectations superseded!
We chose Manna Expeditions Ltd, as Peter Mapinda had been the valued guide for friends of ours, before setting up his own company and we wanted to support his new venture. He came highly recommended.
Peter was in contact by email regularly to discuss accommodation, game park preferences and the itinerary.
From initial enquiries, to dropping us back to the airport, the service was personal and exceptional.
We booked our own flights and Manna Expeditions booked everything else.
Our flight arrival date and time changed more than once and an extra hotel night booking was duly booked. An extra safari was also offered due to our early arrival.
We were a party of 6 -me, my husband, our 2 sons, 1 daughter-in-law and a future (hopefully) daughter-in-law. This is the 4th safari my husband and I have experienced, but the 1st for the other 4. Nobody was disappointed. It was the best so far for me!
The jeep was roomy, clean and ran well. There was a large fridge which housed plenty of water, beers and wine.
Our days were very full and not a moment was wasted. Peter expertly spotted animals which appeared hidden or far away for our novice eyes to notice. He was very keen to impart his expert knowledge on us and appreciated the many questions which were thrown at him.
Peter arranged a bush dinner for us one evening and surprised us with an anniversary cake, which was a lovely personal touch.
We stayed 2 nights in the Lake Duluti Serena Lodge in Arusha, 2 nights in the Ngorongoro Serena Lodge, 3 nights in Serengeti Serena, 1 night in the Lake Maseki Tented Lodge and our final night was spent in the Lake Manyara Serena Lodge. The settings for all of the accommodation were superb, with amazing views. Our favourite was the tented lodge, which was luxurious and very different. Staff in all of them were friendly and attentive, especially in the tented lodge.
Our safaris were in Arusha, Ngorongoro, Serengeti and Lake Manyara National Parks and Ndutu area. We saw everything, and more than, we had hoped to see, including a cheetah taking a kill up into a tree for her cub, lions, hyenas, cheetah and vultures feeding, many babies, including lion, elephant, zebra and baboon. And, of course, the migration! An amazing sight!
We visited a Masai village, where we were entertained and educated into the traditional lives of the Masai.
Peter is very supportive of Tanzanian people and their future and took us to visit an orphanage in Arusha and a small village and school on the shore of Lake Victoria. Here we were taken fishing by some of the villagers, which was a wonderful experience.
There were so many highlights for us all, but my personal highlight was watching the sun rise over the Serengeti from a hot air balloon.
Every evening, before dinner, Peter would meet with us and we would have a briefing for the following day. Nothing was set in stone and we felt that our opinions and requirements were valued and considered.
I would not hesitate to recommend Manna Expeditons Ltd to anyone who wants a personal itinerary, with a friendly, experienced, knowledgeable guide.