Reviews

Sort By: Date Most Helpful Rating 81-90 of 122 Reviews
Kathryn Nance   –  
United States US
Visited: December 2016 Reviewed: Feb 3, 2017

Email Kathryn Nance  |  65+ years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Our guide the cat whisperer
5/5

Communications with David Maro where easy, once i figured out he was using WhatsAp. My friend and I were coming from different places and the transfers were smooth for both of us. The accommodations in Arusha were clean and pleasant with a lovely garden. Our driver/guide, Ziggy, really had an uncanny connection with animals, he not only knew where to find them but how they would behave. At one point dozens of other vehicles were watching a leopard in a tree near a small creek. Ziggy knew what the cat was looking for from his perch and drove us downstream where we waited a few minutes. Sure enough here comes the cat strolling down the stream and sits down in from of our vehicle to get a better view of the prey, a warthog across the road. We got to watch it get lunch! Pretty special. That gave us the Big Five!.
Accommodations were wonderful as was the food, especially at the Serengeti Mawe Luxury Camp where George of the Bush greeted us warmly and offered free drinks from the bar, as it was Christmas Day. Hanging around the fire at night hearing tales of animal encounters was so welcoming. And when it was time to leave we got a drumming-singing send off.
We decided to amend our program and go to Tarangeri Park instead of Lake Eyasi. I turned out to have walking pneumonia and Ziggy and David were quick to find me a doctor in Karatu, at the Lutheran hospital. My doctor has 30 years experience and was very kind. Visit and meds totaled $25! Having mobile phone connection made changing plans easy. David was so willing to be flexible for us; I felt very well taken care of. Ours wasn't a luxury tour, rather a mid-range, but the attention to detail and willingness to work around our needs was quite touching. We enjoyed it so much we added another day. David even called me after I got back home to make sure I arrived safely and was healthy. Now thats service!

Michael   –  
United States US
Visited: January 2017 Reviewed: Jan 17, 2017

20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

A great safari with an excellent guide!
5/5

Simon Juma proved an excellent guide with his driving, wildlife-spotting, and English skills; but what really set him apart was his extensive knowledge of animal behavior and wildlife. You could tell he really has a passion for learning about animals and sharing that knowledge.

The facilities provided by Kili Slopes -- the land cruiser, tents, sleeping bags, foodstuffs -- were all in good working order. The campsites selected were particularly fun! In the Serengeti, we had buffalo and then lions on the edges of the campsite. In the Ngorongoro area, there were a dozen wildebeest upon our arrival and you could see into the crater from the campsite. (I should probably add here that even with the animal life so close to the tents, we always felt safe.)

The wildlife we saw was beyond amazing: all of the big 5, a cheetah hunting and killing a Thompson gazelle, part of the great wildebeest migration, and two families of lions. But these were just the highlights.

All in all a great experience, well-organized by Kili Slopes. I would highly recommend both the company and the guide Simon Juma.

JUAN   –  
Spain ES
Visited: November 2016 Reviewed: Nov 16, 2016

Email JUAN  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: over 5 safaris

excellent kilislope
5/5

We were 4 Spanish we talk by mail and give us a very good price, they pick up us in arusha airport and take us to the office, we talked about all and deceided to the safari with them, they take us to the hotel jevas very nice!!!
The next day we started with Rajabu an excellent guide-driver and Ramma an incredible cooker, the safari was excellent, all the car, the tends all was incredible.
David the manager will do all he can to make your safari good, also he is an excelent person.
If you want to do a great safari do it with kilislope!!!!

KJK   –  
Netherlands NL
Visited: July 2016 Reviewed: Nov 4, 2016

Email KJK  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Kili Slope did it!
5/5

We were in between two companies that offer budget safaris with visits to (1) Tarangire National Park, (2) Serengeti National Park, (3) Ngorongoro Conservation Area, as well as (3) Lake Manyara. Eventually, we opted for Kili Slopes, for multiple reasons. Firstly, Kili Slopes promised a slightly more varied tour than its direct competitor. Secondly, the reviews here were very (very!) positive. Thirdly, the Kili Slope staff always responded promptly to any questions we had, and were always very clear about what to expect, for example what was included in the price (lunch, dinner, drinking water, transport from and to hotels, tents, and sleeping bags, etc.) and what wasn’t (e.g. towels). Perhaps relevant to know for potential future customers: As westerners (Europeans), we were quite hesitant to transfer a deposit to an account that – at first sight – appeared to be a personal account rather than a business account. However, the payment went safely and smoothly. So no worries (we would encourage to develop alternative payment methods though, e.g. through a secured website).
While in Tanzania, we had a little bit of a false start, because we needed more than an hour for our pick up from our hotel, despite the assurances of the chauffeur that he was near. We became a bit anxious. The delay turned out to be due to road constructions, so in the end that story made sense. We were more than compensated, though. Every other arrangement was carried out perfectly and with top service. David Maro, the owner of Kili Slopes, turned out to be a warm and cooperative person who listens well to the whishes of his customers. He also has a large social network with many connections throughout the country (and beyond), of which we made use in Zanzibar where we went after our safari. Taxis are crazy expensive there. David also takes good care of his personnel, which we found important. No wonder, because our driver, Francis, and cook, Khalid, were the best hosts we could ever imagine! Apart from Tanzia’s great wilderness, it was the staff and the employees of Kili Slope, who made our safari trip so unforgettable!
As they promised, we saw the big five - and many more species. From close distance we saw them migrating, grazing, resting, feeding, yawning, pooing, peeing etc. This may not come across as very spectacular, but realize… where do you see that in their natural habitat, this spectacular surroundings? Occasionally there was more action we spotted a lion about to attack a herd of antilopes, one going after an baby elephant, while mother elephant was warning the rest group; hyenas walking next to the car, acting as if we didn’t exist, lions eating from the carcass of an hippo, and the like. Francis showed immense respect towards the animals and the nature in general. He told about them and their behaviors with true passion. He was always full of stories and knowledge and often triggered our curiosity by giving us some kind of puzzle or riddle we had to solve, which made the long days traveling very entertaining. On the mountain road from Lake Manyara to Serengeti, for example, he would point to the many holes in the steep walls next to the road. How would ask how come – we think – did they arise. We had no clue of course, so he would and tell us elephants are; they dig them with their trunks. Next, our job was to come up with a reason why they would do such a thing (after which he would tell us this reason, of course, which I won’t tell here. Ask Francis!).
Almost always we had the best spot to capture the animals on film or photo. Either we were first to arrive or Francis knew some kind of alternative spot away from the many other tourist vehicles that could block our view.
Camping was a real adventure. From the first night on, we slept in tents. The first camping site and test can be called luxurious - at least if compared to the other camps and tents. We had a private shower with warm water directly next to our tent, for instance, and light (yes light!). Camping in the desert was a different story. We slept literally next to the hyenas, whose eyes we could see lighting up in the darkness and that were following every single one of us if we would leave the tent. And those who didn’t dare to go out could still notice their presence, either by their smell or by the fact that the garbage bags were torn. We were warned not leave our shoes outside the tent unless we wanted to get them stolen by those animals. Generally, there was no electricity in the desert camping sites, hence no light, and no true kitchen. But, like every other chef, Khalid used a flashlight on his head and fixed a menu on a single gas fire pit (which he needed to bring himself). Despite these ‘handicapping’ circumstances, Khalid was always able to prepare a fantastic meal, often better than the dinners we had in the restaurants in Moshi and Arusha.
One might think that a near $1000 for just a few nights camping under such conditions is much, crazy even, but then please do not forget that a major part is formed by the entrance fees to the national parks (already hundreds of dollars). Actually, it is quite amazing that Kili Slope can offer such a varied tour for such a price!
Tips for future tourists: (1) be prepared; it can be freezing cold at night, for instance! (2) Be realistic; don’t expect you’ll see as much hunting as in those documentaries on National Geographic or Discovery Channel (chances are great you don’t see any kill or even an attempt). A film crew stays there for three months, and often during the great migration, when food is plenty, so that attacks are also plenty. In addition, hours and hours of film material condensed to an hour or two that only shows the highlights, which are thus rare. Realize you are there for 5 days, so expect maybe a few minutes comparable to that documentary material. If more, consider yourself very lucky. The most important thing about safari, we found, is that you’re there, in Africa, surrounded by wild animals, by the exotic smell of the desert, by beautiful colors, by !@# heat !@# and cold!. The experience is that you’re part of that nature (not watching your t.v. with the remote control and pizza slice within reach), (3) realize you’re a guest. I would be curious to read some reviews of guests by safari tour operators, but I expect ratings of people who take budget tours to be more positive (on average) than ratings of people who take luxury tours. Perhaps that can be even considered an additional reason take a budget tour, like the one we took with Kili Slopes. In this regard, the company deserves another compliment. They dealt well with the very … how to say … different personalities on board. Partly as a result of this, we enjoyed our company to the last minute. We hope Francis and Khalid did so too. We thank them, as well as David.

lior   –  
Israel IL
Visited: October 2016 Reviewed: Nov 1, 2016

Email lior  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

best safari ever!
5/5

Very nice guides.
Took us from the airport strait into the wild safari without wasting time, as we especially requested.
Champions in findind annimals!
Exellent driver.
Ones in a life time experience.


Daisy   –  
Italy IT
Visited: September 2016 Reviewed: Sep 29, 2016

Email Daisy  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

I'm in love with Tanzania
5/5

This was not just a safari, it was a truly experience of life. My guide Ziggi is such an amazing and deep lover of his country that I couldn't refrain from falling for it too. I saw a lot of animals, nature and learn Tanzania people's aspects that I didn't know. Lodges were very luxurious but cheap in comparison to other tour operator. Food and staff were simply perfect and I felt like a speciale guest all the time. So, if you're looking for an expert tour leader, a friendly and experienced guide, clean and outstanding lodges at a cheap price, just go for it! I would recommend it to anyone. Hakuna matata!

Ingvil Gjelsvik   –  
Norway NO
Visited: August 2016 Reviewed: Sep 20, 2016

Email Ingvil Gjelsvik

Breathtaking safari in Serengeti: Excellent guide, beautyful camp sites and very good service!
4/5

Everyone should visit Serengeti, it is just like that. Our guide Zigi was very competent and friendly, and we talked about a lot of different topics, and he shared from his life, we truly appreciate that. He knew a lot about the animals behaviour and where to find the best view spots. He was also very observant and service minded regard to our needs. The car was a little bit small, and it would have been nice to have some fruit and coffee along with us on the quite long drives. The camps were just perfect, good service and ok food and the feeling of being in the middle of the home of the wild animals, that was fantastic. I will recomment this company and especially Zigi as a guide to my friends any time. Thank you so much for this memorable trip!

Tereza and Vaclav   –  
Czech Republic CZ
Visited: August 2016 Reviewed: Aug 29, 2016

Email Tereza and Vaclav  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Amazing safari with Kili Slope
5/5

The tour operator was good. The agency manager is very kind and you just feel right about going on safari with his company. What we really loved was our guide Emmanuel and chef Masaka. It is true that the whole safari thing relies on the guide and he was just amazing. For example he was able to ensure the sleeping bags for us because the operator somehow forgot to provide them... Otherwise we had good tents, nice food, great group and lot of fun! I can only recommend Kili Slope as these guys really know what safari is about :)

Amine   –  
United States US
Visited: August 2016 Reviewed: Aug 22, 2016

Email Amine  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Action Jackson is great
5/5

Great service adventure and comfortable accommodation with a good price

Maria   –  
Norway NO
Visited: July 2016 Reviewed: Aug 15, 2016

Email Maria  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Great safari
5/5

We were in Serengeti and Ngorogoro, and we were so pleased. Our driver, Ziggy, was amazingly good at finding the animals, and we saw all of the big five, as well as many more. I hope to come back one day, and then I will know which company and driver to use!

Average User Rating
4.8/5
Rating Breakdown
  • 5 star 113
  • 4 star 6
  • 3 star 3
  • 2 star 0
  • 1 star 0
Write a Review

Disclaimer

  • All corporate and/or tour info is provided by Kili Slope Tours And Safaris , not SafariBookings