50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A magical stunning experience in Kidepo.
I travelled with Buffalo and another company while in Uganda recently. Buffalo was outstanding and professional from beginning to end. Buffalo were flexible and accommodating and went out of their way to ensure a fabulous trip. They are very efficient with replying to emails and the entire booking process was very easy. I did the 5 day trip to Kidepo and it was absolutely stunning, words cannot describe how amazing Kidepo is. The food and the driving was excellent as was the knowledge and friendliness of the crew. This was the perfect end to my Ugandan adventure.
I would recommend Buffalo without hesitation. I will certainly travel with them again. They are the best.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
High Dollar tipping required ??
Good day
It has come to our attention by a couple that has completed a tour lately with your organization that they were required to tip $20 per day to the guid and $10 each to the assistants.
Kindly advise why this is required from the tourists. I was a tour guid in RSA and this was not the norm.
Percival Fourie
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very easy to deal with and the itinerary was fantastic!
We has such a wonderful safari. We booked everything on line prior and it was so easy. Quick responses to email etc. by Wild Africa Travel Company. We got a very detailed itinerary and everything was exactly how they had described it. We loved the itinerary as it was the perfect blend of safari vs. cultural activities. Some of the Safari days were very long drives sometimes up to 10hrs driving, with a few rest breaks. With that said we could not have asked for better drivers. The accommodation that we stayed at was beautiful and a nice mix of tented camps and lodges. Each day got better than the last, even when we thought that the previous day could not be topped. We saw so many animals and experienced the Big Five almost daily. We witnessed leopard kills and other amazing experiences. It was definitely a trip of a lifetime and lived up to every expectation we had. We can't wait to go again.
CA
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
A SAFARI AND AN ASCENT OF KILIMANJARO THAT BLEW EVERYONE AWAY
Four friends and I recently returned from a most wonderful adventure in Kenya and Tanzania organized by Dickson and Adventure Africa Expeditions. My friends were "blown away" by our wildlife safari in Kenya and then the climb of Kilimanjaro and finally 3 days on Zanzibar. But visits to the giraffe centre and elephant orphanage near Nairobi, a tour of a spice farm on Zanzibar and meeting local people were great added experiences. It was the first visit to Africa for the others, although I had been before. I did a similar trip with Dickson and Adventure Africa in 2011 with other friends and felt enthused and looked forward to another trip with Adventure Africa.
Our guide, James, for our safari to Masa Mara, Amboseli and other locations was very knowledge and is to be highly recommended. James led us to wonderful encounters with lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, vultures and much more but nothing surpassed our 1.5 hour encounter with 2 wandering leopards. James also knew the birds we saw and the variety of trees and other vegetation. He was excellent! Our accommodations and food were first class.
Our ascent of Kilimanjaro, led by our guide, Siraji, and his assistants, could not have been better. We ascended the Machame route to the Shira Plateau, then spent 3 days traversing the southern slope of Kilimanjaro. We passed the Lava Tower, Barranco Camp, Karanga Camp and on to the Barafu Camp while getting acclimatized to the high elevation. Then it was the night ascent to the top. Despite an average age of 65 we made the top with no headaches, nausea or other altitude effects although saw people in other groups struggling or even having to give up and turn around. Although less than perfect weather (except for the ascent to the top) our guides, porters and cooks did a fantastic job of looking after us. The tents and food were great. We could not thank Siraji and his crew enough for the good time and successful climb.
In short, we would strongly recommend Dickson and Adventure Africa Expeditions for a wonderful and varied adventure in East Africa.
Dave King, Prince George, BC, Canada
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
BEST SAFARI I have ever done in the unique Ngorongoro-Crater!!!
We had a great one-day safari to the Ngorongoro Crater with Enchanting Tanzania Safaris. I already booked it before our trip to Tanzania and it was very easy to communicate with them. In Tanzania everything was well organized and also as a friend of me wanted to join us at short notice (we had one empty place left in the car), it was no problem at all for them to make this possible. We had a great time and a lot of fun and were lucky to see many animals (Lions, buffaloes, zebras, hippos, elephant, rhino,...). James, our amazing driver and guide, was professional and very funny. With his huge knowledge he could answer us all the question we had concerning the animals and wildlife in Tanzania as well as Tanzania in general. Besides Swahili and English James is also fluent in German, so I would absolutely recommend him to all people that prefer a tour in German. My next safari will be definitely again with Enchanting Tanzania Safaris!!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Super adventures with Compass Safari
Compass Safari took us through 4 parks in 5 days and each was a spectacular adventure. We had soo much fun and the staff and jeep were excellent. Hotels were clean and either in the park or very close by. Can't wait to come back and we 100% recommend Compass Safari to anyone who asks...and who doesn't :)
SE
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Nice but to noisy and shaking.
Tree day Safari tenting two nights in Etosha.Nice idea which can be made better. All was excelellent,views, animimals(lions,rhinos,a chheta,elefants, camping sites,lovely swimmingpools at the fist two stops, but No one did take a swim in the last pool -green and slimy(namutoni). The food good, explanations of animals and nature ok for me..BUT...the vehicle. I would like to recommend the Wild dogs as their safari was not so expensive but I would not go again.The vehicle without ac, was extremely noisy on the way to and from Etosha..,You had to put Your earplugs in. And on the gravel roads we several times asked ourselves,"how can the suspension stand this jumping and shaking."The right answer was" that there were no suspension to be broken" we joked with each other.
Imagine a much more comfortable ride from and to in that case one could have stand the shaky ride..I want to be ernest with You,I do think that people will hesitate before they go with this company again(Wild dog) if the will have to travel in that kind of a noisy vehicle
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An efficient and bespoke service, fantastic value for money - highly recommend!
Trying to organise four different people from two countries with varying tastes and preferences and temperaments (!), to go on a trip spanning three countries is no mean feat. However the team at Intek, specifically Olivier and Diana, did an amazing job of it.
Over a month of to and fro emails, midnight phonecalls and endless tweaks culminated in a once in a lifetime experience including gorilla trekking, exploration of Mafia island and Victoria Falls. The whole itinerary including flights, transfers, hotels and excursions (as well as catering for vegetarian meals) was effortlessly and seamlessly coordinated and the trip was a resounding success.
If you have a busy schedule or just don't know what to do or where to go on your next adventure, I would definitely advise calling Intek as a first port of call.
CH
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Our tour was booked with Go 2 Africa Luxury Safaris but conducted by SandLand Tours
We booked our individual tour with "Go 2 Africa Luxury Safaris". They confirmed the itinerary and all accomodations. They did not tell us anything about a different company making the safari.
These were our experiences:
The tour:
Day 1:
- Due to the bad logistics (people for the tour where missing/coming from a different place, cars where not fueled!) of that company we started at around 11:00 in Arusha although we should have started at 8:00!!! That was our Safari- and holiday-time we missed!
- Accomodation at Jambo Lodge (due to easy logistics for the company) which was not part of our itinerary and of much lower standard than the ones we payed for!
- We asked for local food (as part of the contract). The dinner was planned to be separately from the others. As we said we would like to be together with the rest of the group, after some discussions we got our dinner first with the European food and the local food afterwards?!
Day 2:
- There was no breakfast for us, but prepared for the others. We received our breakfast after longer discussions. There was no coffee for everyone left.
- There was no toilet paper in the lodge. So we had to use our own one.
- We where told that we would get local dinner at Kati Kati tented Camp, but only got bad, cold food.
Day 3:
- We should get breakfast at 6:00 before being picked up at 6:30. Breakfast was ready after the group arrived at around 6:40. After telling the „guide“ about that problem we got some breakfast and the rest of the group had to wait. - Lost Safari-time again for the whole group.
- At around 11:00 we had brunch for the tented-group and lunch-box for us: There was no place at the table for us, no chairs, no plates. We had to sit outside on the ground in the sun with the lunch box! - That time we told the „guide“ that we do not except that kind of treatment, that we pay a luxury tour-price and want at least a part of our money back. He was supposed to call and inform his boss - we did not get any feedback or excuse.
- Due to the bad logistics of that company we had to wait unnecessary long time after lunch until we could leave. (our Safari-time again)
- At the border to Ngorongoro NP we had to wait around 2.5 hours although we were first told it should take around 1 hour. During that time we did not get any information. (again: our Safari-time!). We asked a different guide from that company and found out that they made a mess with the wrong permits in advance. The guides had to clear that problem. Abraham told us something completely different, so someone was clearly not telling the truth…
Day 4:
- We left the Ngorongoro NP very early (no lunch in the crater, …) and arrived early at the Jambo Lodge again (cheaper lodge, easier logistics for Abraham) and did not have any program in the afternoon, which was our holiday time we payed for!
- In the afternoon we were told that we get a local dinner at 19:00, but when we arrived for dinner the chef wanted to seat us with a completely unknown group and serve something completely different. We found out that SandLand Tours just booked the room at the lodge and not the meals that we were told we would get. After long discussions our „guide“ came and took us to a local restaurant for dinner. We said that he would bring us to his boss after the tour that we could discuss everything with him.
Day 5:
- We had the first breakfast without any trouble (except at Rhino Lodge) but still without coffee, although there was a shop just around the corner.
- Again we had to wait very long to leave.
- After a short trip to Lake Manyara NP we were brought to our hotel directly, but not to the office. When I shortly talked to Abraham at the phone he said he would let us pick up the next day at 8:30 to talk to him and to let us bring to the airport afterwards.
- We were pretty much enraged but talking to the owner of the hotel were we stayed (Sinzia Villas) got us down a bit. He invited us to an excellent local food dinner as he was ashamed for that kind of treatment we experienced (although it was not his fault anyway).
Day 6:
- After some WhatsApp-messages we were picked up at around 9:15.
- The conversation consisted just of excuses, lies (like it was not possible to stay at a camp at Lake Manyara due to mosquitos) and contradictions.
- He said he would give us 150,-$ p.p. and everything would be fine with that…, but he charged us another 30,-$ for the transfer to the airport. He wanted to send us the money to our hotel in Zanzibar and also offer us a free transfer to the airport on our last day.
Safety of the car:
- The wheels did not all have enough profile and seemed decayed.
- The brakes were not strong enough, so you always had to put stones under the wheels that the car did not roll away…
- The ignition did not work properly why you had to push-start the car or park on a hill…
- Many parts of the car were broken (e.g. cooler-box) or temporarily fixed (fold-up-roof)…
- One car of that company was broken why we had to wait while it had to be repaired in Serengeti NP.
- In general the cars do not look well-maintained.
The tourguide:
- Was rarely with the group and did solve arising problems.
- Did not look for the group to find together as a group.
- Did not inform about the tour or times. Only if you asked (when he was there).
- Did not inform when there were problems leading to longer waiting-times (e.g. at the border to Ngorongoro NP).
- Did not maintain the car (at least clean the windows), or refuel during off-times.
One week later:
- After several messages we had not received any money yet, but he arranged the transfer to the airport. We had to drive through Stonetown to meet a friend of Abraham who gave us 230,-$ - He charged the free transfer with overpriced 40,-$ (usually we would have payed 25,-$)!
Two weeks later:
- Now it's two weeks later. We have contacted and informed Go 2 Africa Luxury Safaris. They blame us that we have not informed them before or did not give them all information about this case (although we can prove that we have sent all information in the first mail!). After a meeting between Abraham and Milambo from Go 2 Africa Luxury Safaris we are just accused beeing deceitful, because we want our money (the missing 40$ + a compensation for the resentment and the time consuming mailing back).
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Experience visiting Lake Nakuru and the Mara Reserve
Great experience. Our guide Anthony went out of his way to make sure we saw the big 5. Doing a Land Rover cost just a bit more, but really helped us get around. Liked the optional boat ride at Lake Naivasha. The Mara Reserve was awesome and the all-day Safari was an experience.
