DK
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Incredibly close to "The Gentle Giants"
We walked for one and a half hours before we found the gorillas. They kept moving and was in a dark part of the forest. It was a photographic challenge. Eventually they appeared in a sunlit glade and sat down to eat. All too soon, our hour with the gorillas passed and we had to go back. We were back in one hour.
It was an amazing experience to be so close to the animals and really be in the jungle. It takes effort to go through the jungle but if you are in normal shape it is no problem. It is possible to make all the breaks you want on the way out there and on the way home. We needed to keep pace with the gorillas when they moved, but it was not that hard.
The day with the gorillas, I will never forget.
The only thing I think could have been better was if we had had the energy to see more of the forest and its other inhabitants. We were all (tourists and guides) so focused on gorillas that I did not see other animals on the 4-5 hours I spent in the forrest.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
In two words: Absolutely fantastic
Cuan helped us (family of four with two teenagers) with putting together our first safari. We had some wishes that we discussed with Cuan. Based on his experience he made further suggestions and we discussed advantages and disadvantages regarding timing, places and travel options. We went through several iterations of trip itineraries during this process and nothing was too much for Cuan to rearrange or look for other possibilities. Cuan’s accommodation suggestions were fantastic. Guides were fantastic. All pick-ups and transport was arranged by Cuan and worked smoothly, and he met us at Johannesburg airport as he was in Africa at the time.
We decided on a (for most parts) private safari through North West Botswana to get the most out of our time, without the feeling we had to follow a strict schedule. On occasions we spent over an hour observing lions, leopards and hyenas drinking, stalking prey and playing or elephants drinking, and getting mud baths. This is what we felt to be the ultimate advantage of your own tour: you decide what you want to focus on and for how long. For this it was tremendous to work with Cuan and Ubuntu Africa Safaris to put it together.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a lifetime!
I cannot recommend African Ubuntu Safaris highly enough. Cuan was friendly, helpful and informative. As I do not live in Sydney, all communication needed to be done via phone or e-mail , but information was given and questions answered fully and promptly. The tours were amazing and went far beyond expectations. Excellent tour guides, small group (4-6) safari vehicles and incredible accommodation. In southern Africa I wanted to do some tours with a different company and Cuan was able to arrange these for me as well which was invaluable, as he could then tie everything together with flights, transfers and pre/post accommodation so everything went smoothly. I am a solo female traveller and was in Africa for 10 weeks. No problems, no hitches, just an awesome, incredible experience. I have already recommended African Ubuntu Safaris to others and will definitely be using them again next time. (Yes, there's still more to see!)
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great company and employees!
I was very satisfied with my safari with this company. The manager, Richard, was very helpful answering questions before I arrived and made me feel quite welcome when I got there. Everything went very smoothly and the staff went out of their way to take me to bank machines and to the bus station, even the day after the safari when I was no longer technically their customer.
The driver and guide were super friendly. We felt very safe sleeping in the open campsites even when we heard the lions roar because we knew Stanley was watching over the campsite with his rifle.
The cook was great, the food was good and I never once got sick (better than I can say for other companies).
Also, Stanley's english is very good. He was able to answer any questions I had and joke around with us.
Throughout the trip I really wanted some seeds from one of the trees. I saw this tree a couple times and always asked Stanley to stop and let me gather some seeds but it wasn't safe in the parks. At the end of the tour we stopped for souvenirs and Stanley brought me back some seeds that he had gone to find for me! Just an added touch to the hospitality shown by World Tours & Safaris.
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing trip with TMS
We had a two week holiday and wanted to go to South Africa.
After that our friends booked with TMS for their trip to South Africa, we got also in contact with TMS to see if we could meet each other somewhere in the Elephant Coast. The email contact was very good and quick. TMS made a nice self-drive trip for us. And than just two weeks before we left, we got a beautiful self-drive pack! Amazing.
First week we stayed in the Drakensbergen and St. Lucia and the second week we met our friends in the Elephant Coast and spend 6 days with them at 3 different accommodations. All the accommodations were great! And we have stayed at places we would never have found alone if we didn't book with TMS.
Normally we travel around on our own and do not book any place to stay. But this was really wonderful! We will recommend anyone who want to go to South Africa to book with TMS. It's worth your money. Thanks TMS that you made us an unforgettable and wonderful holiday in South Africa. We will see you again in a few years to see another part of this great country.
QA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing safari, made extra special by wonderful people
We had an amazing time on this safari, made possible by a great group of people in It Started in Africa. We had emailed a few tour operators to help in planning for this trip, and this company stood out on so many levels. We found their email correspondence to be very prompt, professional and comprehensive which made it very easy to customise our trip. They were also very reasonably priced compared to some other operators.
We did a 6 day safari trip, alternating between camping and staying in lodges and covered Lake Manyara, Central Seregenti, South Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Lake Eyasi to visit the Hadzabe tribe. We got very lucky (plus thanks to our guides' eagle eyes!) and saw the big 5, lions mating, a wildebeest giving birth, elephants, thousands of zebras and wildebeest, plus also had the special experience of having lions surround our car to take shade from the sun. The trip to go hunting with the Hadzabe tribe was also another highlight, and we couldn't recommend it more.
What made our experience extra special though was Alfred, our guide, Zaire, our driver and Peter our chef. They were so friendly, so helpful, knowledgable, professional, and nothing was too much trouble for them. They went out of their way to make us feel comfortable, and even after 6 to 8 hours driving on the road in rough terrain, they still had a big smile on their faces for us. At the end of 6 days, it was very difficult to say goodbye and as Alfred said, we came as tourists but left as friends.
Asante-sana to It Started in Africa for making our trip so wonderful, we will always be grateful for the experience.
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An experience of a lifetime !!
Our 2 week safari with Legendary Adventures was an unbelievable 'bush'experience which far exceeded our expectations.
Besides the amazing game viewing and beautiful, lush countryside we were particularly impressed by two aspects, namely the exceptionally professional and super helpful management and staff plus the wonderful attention to every detail such as the accommodation , furnishings ,cuisine and refreshments.
Every member of our party of 8 share our sentiments and have no hesitation in recommending Legendary Adventures !!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
wonderful trip to Serengeti and Ngorogoro crater
We had a four day trip to Tarangire, then the Serengeti and coming back to the Ngorogoro crater. This was a first such trip for the three of us (i.e. on safari) and we enjoyed it enormously. Highlights included seeing many lions, especially one in a tree and climbing down. We saw two black rhinos, crossing the road between two lines of jeeps. Magnificent animals. There were huge numbers of giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, gazelles, and many elephants, buffalo, ostrich, hippos etc etc. We "saw" a crocodile, but if i'm honest i would have to admit i was only really sure of it when i got the photos and enlarged them!! There was no mistake, the guides obviously saw it clearly!
Our guide Jimmy seemed to have eyes everywhere - only once we saw a lion before he did - and then he said "2 lions". He was an excellent guide, patient, thoughtful, and explaining many things as well as the major animals. He answered all our questions clearly.
There is a lot of driving, a lot of time in the landrover, but it was absolutely worth it. It was all well planned and organised, no problems we were aware of. During the trip one of us was not quite well (not at all serious) and there was appropriate concern and help at the pharmacy in the Serengeti.
PL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Car rental
Actually we did not book any trip from East African Jungle Safaris, however, we rented a car (Toyota Land Cruiser) with the driver from this company and travelled from around in Rwanda and Uganda. Briefly speaking, nice people, good and professional service. All people from East African Jungle Safaris we had contact with are reliable and really nice (Fred in Kampala, Frank in Kigali, and our driver Twahibu).
Kris
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
lifetime experience
Gosheni Safari organised our Safari during our Honeymoon. Peter, the director, gave us a really good option and he accommodated us with our requests. Our guide Zadock was very knowledgeable and also a good companion during this amazing trip, we highly recommend him. Our next Safari is going to be 100% with Gosheni safari.