20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Friendly, efficient and knowledgeable
Christopher acted as an agent to book us a safari in Sabi Sands and Kruger, South Africa. He was extremely responsive by email, and was able to contact multiple operating companies on our behalf to check availability at late notice.
The camp he suggested - Tydon - was superb on all counts. The guides were knowledgeable, the accommodation comfortable, and the food was exceptional. The size of our tour group was much smaller than some of the larger operators, and the camp had a really intimate feel. We particularly appreciated having access to the Sabi Sands reserve in addition to Kruger - each had their pros and cons (different landscapes, wildlife and regulations), and by having game drives in both, we felt like we really got the most out of our trip. The transfer from Johannesburg worked seamlessly.
In addition to arranging the booking, Christopher was able to offer information on the Johannesburg area, and gave us advice on arranging our travel itinerary to maximise our time out in the bush.
Highly recommended.
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Uhuru Travel Brings you at the heart of the Wild Africa
The tour started from Arusha. Mr Loy met us in front of the hotel and after a short briefing we left, very early in the morning, by car, a huge 4by4 driven by the best driver we have ever known: Abraham. He brings us for a couple of thousands kms from lake manyara passing through ngorongoro, serengeti, lake ndutu, tarangire back to Arusha again. Everything was simply perfect, no other words I can use. Than mr Loy met us at the Arusha airport and stayed with us until the check-in. We arrived in Zanzibar in two Hours. There a taxi send by Abdallah, brings us to the jambiani whitesand boungalows, a very nice and comfortable resort really on the beach. We than met Abdallah in Stone Town, at the headquarter of Uhuru Travel. He is a very good and gentle boy. We had a wonderful holiday thanks to Uhuru Travel.
SE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic safari experience
The safari experience me and My wife had with Hazina Afrika was fantastic from the beginning to the end. The lodges that we stayed in was way over our expactitions in accomendation, service and food. The guide had big knowledge and was service minded, and made shore we saw all animals we wanted to see.
ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great safari, terrible management
Our safari with "It Started in Africa" could not have started in a worst way... We had booked a 5-day safari in Serengeti and Ngorongoro (plus 2 nights in Arusha, one before the safari, and one after it). When we arrived at Tanzania we had to pay the remaining 60% of the safari. A driver took us from the airport to our hotel in the outskirts of Arusha and told us that a representative of the company would visit us at the hotel for giving us a briefing and for telling us at what time would the guide pick us the next morning.
At dinner time no one had appeared, so we sent an email to the company using the WiFi of the hotel. They apologized and told us that there was a problem with the person that had to visit us, but that the next morning at 8 a.m. the guide and a representative of the campany would appear at the hotel so we could pay the remaining amount directly to him/her and start our safari right at that moment.
The next morning only the guide appeared. No apology and no explanation given. He took us to the office in the center of Arusha and we payed the remaining amount. While we were at the office, I saw by chance that the accommodation that we had chosen for the Serengeti was not the same that was written on the paper that was given to our guide. We had chosen Serengeti Heritage Migration Camp (not the Serengeti Heritage Seronera Camp), but they had changed it for Ndutu Savannah Camp. When we asked why, the office employee just told us that "it was better". As Ndutu Savannah Camp was not even an option for accommodation when we booked the safari, we had no idea if this was true, so we had to accept it and continue the trip.
Based on our stay and the internet reviews, now I can say that Ndutu Savannah Camp was of similar category that the one we had chosen, and that the location was probably better. But we spent the whole first day thinking that we were being scammed, because no one had tolds us that our accommodation had been changed, and we only learned it by chance.
Our guide (Elia) was good but maybe not great. He is a polite and nice person, a careful driver and a very experienced guide. He always found the perfect spots for wildlife watching and he was probably more experienced than most of the other guides. Also, one day, while we were returning to our accommodation, he saw some lions and we stopped to watch them. After some waiting, we watched a hunting scene while he patiently waited. Finally, we arrived at our accommodation almost 2 hours later than the agreed time, and he never complained.
On the negative side, he is not the most talkative person. When he sees an animal, he usually just points at it and says one or two phrases. If you want to know some details, you always has to ask. Not a big deal for us, but may be for others. Also, on the Ngorongoro day, when we asked him about the lunch inside the crater (as was clearly written in the contract). He said that it was not possible because of the 6-hour permit (we have passed the entrance gate at 7:15 a.m. approximately, so we had to leave before 1:15 p.m.). We asked him to have our lunch in the viewpoint outside the crater instead, but he said that it was not possible either, because we had to leave earlier. After finishing watching the wildlife of the crater, we passed the exit gates at 11:50 a.m., with more than hour left before the permit expired, and we had lunch on our way back to Arusha. Again, not a big deal, but then, why does the company write it in the contract if there is no easy way for the guide to comply with it?
Before returning to the hotel in Arusha, we were taken to the office to fill a customer survey about the guide and the jeep, while the guide and one office employee looked over our shoulders. Not the most comfortable moment of our safari. Also, as we were in the office, we asked at what time would the driver pick us the next morning to take us to the airport. No one knew that we had already booked the transfer, even as it was written in the contract, so they arranged the transfer at that moment.
While we were accommodated at Ngorongoro, a manager (Silvia) called me by phone to tell us that he wanted to meet us in Arusha. We thought that maybe she wanted to explain to us the problems previously described. After arriving at the hotel in Arusha, our guide told us that she would visit us at the hotel. Again, at dinner time no one had appeared, so we sent an email to the company. They apologized again but no explanation was given. We left Tanzania the next morning but she did not appear.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Best holiday
Exploring Nambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe with Impala Tours was awesome. We had a lot of fun and beautiful sightings during our tour with them at the Okavango Delta. The self-drive trip was planned excellently by them. We will come back very soon...
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable experience!
We had 4 of the most fantastic days of our lives in Kruger Park in February 2016 with Wildlife Safaris.....Hoppy was an excellent guide, for whom nothing was to much trouble. He has an in-depth knowledge of the bush which he is keen to share with his clients and which he uses to great effect in finding the wildlife....through his efforts we'd seen the 'Big 5' by the afternoon of our second day...The rest camps were in fantastic locations with great views of the Sabie river and the wildlife which come to drink from it at dawn and dusk.....This really was a most memorable experience provided by a fantastic guide and a company with a vast experience of providing quality safaris...thank you so much and see you 2017...!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The Best African Safari With Family!
Hi, my Husband and I went on a safari with Chris and Nicky a few weeks ago and are back home ready to plan the next one. What a Holiday! They checked all the boxes and really made us feel welcome, It felt like we were on tour with Family. The food was delicious, Good Wholesome meals that made overeating all too easy! The Truck (Truck Norris) was really exceptional, its fully organised from coffee machines to books. Its super tall too. It was hard not to feel extra important when all the other Kruger vehicles were well below our heads. We could see miles into the bush to spot game and everything was just so great. Chris and Nicky's combined knowledge is amazing and they seemed to always go the extra mile. Thank You, Chris and Nicky for a wonderful holiday! see you soon...
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Holiday was beyond expectations.
Makasa did a great job organizing our vacation, especially since we only booked a few weeks in advance. We decided to do an 11 days safari and a week on Zanzibar. Selma suggested to also visit Ndutu so we could watch the migration, very happy we did as we would not have wanted to miss this, what a great experience. The contact with Selma was very easy, and all our questions were answered promptly. In was also a nice gesture that someone of the Makasa team came to meet us at the fist lodge to welcome us. Our guide Victor was really great, he safely drove us through Tanzania and managed to find us the big five and rescued a baby wildebeest to find it's way back to it's mother, really exciting ! He was great company and with full enthusiasm told us about the country, the people and animals. Thanks again Victor ! All in all we had a great time! Asante sana!
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
5 Day Gorillia / Queen Elizabeth - "Big 5" made it amazing!
If you are planning a Ugandan Safari, you have to get in touch with Big 5! Geoffrey is prompt at replies, and can work with you to arrange your perfect Uganda experience! We had the choice of 3 price levels for our accommodations and chose the mid-level. It far exceeded our expectations!
- Our driver, Richard, was amazing! A fine gentleman who ensured the 4x4 SUV had plenty of water & pop, and drove like an excellent driver.
- Gerrard was the perfect guide/host (Big recommendation if you are there for birding! Its his passion!!). He provided lots of information and has eyes like a hawk. He saw Lions from a mile away!
- Our lodges were Buhoma Lodge in Bwindi, and Twin Lakes Lodge in Queen Elizabeth NP. Both were incredible! (see other reviews)
- The food was very accommodating and flexible. If you're a picky eater (thats too bad you miss out on lots!!) you will have no problems eating the food.
Don't hesitate to email Geoffrey at Big 5, and get the ball rolling! Enjoy!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Outstanding guide, wonderful camps, more animals than we could have imagined. Many, many thanks!
Extremely well run. We did not have to think about anything from the time we got of the plane to returning to the airport. Just great.