4 Reviews About Natural Life Experience (Tanzania)

kelly –

US

Visited: July 2005 Reviewed: Aug 29, 2019

Email kelly | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris

A Consummate Ambassador

5/5

I have had the great pleasure of being on two safaris arranged and guided by Kevin Mlay. Both occurred before Kevin began Natural Life Experience, but the fact that he and I have remained friends for many years speaks for itself and of my admiration for him. I am both pleased and proud that Kevin now has his own company and will continue to share his vast wealth of knowledge and love of country with future guests. His determination and drive have made this happen. Kevin is personable, organized, professional, and fully capable of arranging the endless logistics necessary to ensure the success of these unique adventures. Ours both involved nights of mobile tent camping, which makes planning even more complex. To say these safaris were remarkable would be a gross understatement. We've been fortunate to have traveled extensively over the years, and our nights with sundowners around the fire with family and close friends in these intimate private camps, strategically set up just for us and miles and miles from lodges and other people, are some of the most memorable I have ever experienced. But it's during the day drives that Kevin really shines. His unbridled passion and knowledge for and about the animals and birds encountered seemingly everywhere is truly impressive. His smile and sense of humor are quick and he possesses an uncanny ability to ferret out once in a lifetime animal sightings. I think of Kevin Mlay as a consummate ambassador of Tanzania, and I hope our paths cross again.

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Shane –

AU

Visited: July 2017 Reviewed: Aug 29, 2019

Email Shane | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris

Brilliant professional safari and inclusive for those of us from all walks of life.

5/5

Natural Life Experience safari company were a pleasure to deal with. They tailored the safari to our needs and were very helpful with offering suggestions and tweaks to ensure we made the most of our time in Africa. The transport and accommodations were perfect and the staff super friendly and inclusive. We all felt respected, safe and welcome. For some of our group, this was a once in a lifetime event, for others, we'll be back! Many thanks to Kevin and his team.

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Angie –

US

Visited: July 2019 Reviewed: Aug 11, 2019

Email Angie | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari

Kevin planned our trip with end to end design, attention to every detail and executed flawlessly.

5/5

Our trip exceeded expectations! Kevin was thorough in his briefing documents allowing for us to be well prepared ( packing, travel, etc.). When we arrived he managed every detail. His lodging selections were perfect for our group and the obvious great relationship between Kevin and the lodging teams added to our comfort and pampering. The safari was simply magical. We felt incredibly fortunate to have seen the animals we did and to have experienced the beauty of Tanzania. Kevin's personal hobby is bird watching. He has an uncanny ability to spot and identify birds then share his incredible knowledge. He gave us an appreciation for birds we did not have AND may have turned us into birders!
Kevin created a daily itinerary that afforded us the opportunity to have peak times for viewing and also accommodated if we wanted to return to rest and relax. Our trucks were well equipped and always stocked with our beverages of choice.
It's obvious: safety, comfort, knowledge share and client satisfaction are Kevin's driving principles. Kevin's knowledge is significant, we learned as much as we saw - to us, that exemplifies an excellent guide.

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Harold Robert Burg III –

US

Visited: July 2019 Reviewed: Aug 9, 2019

Email Harold Robert Burg III | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris

Best Safari Experience with Kevin Mlay and Natural Life Experience Safari's

5/5

This review may take some time. I first met Kevin Mlay on Safari in 2015. He was what made our first 10 days in Tanzania so special. At the time he was working for another company in Tanzania, but I could tell right from the start he was a special person. We kept in touch for the last 4 years and when I wanted to go back with a group of 6, I contacted him and discovered he had set out on his own and started Natural Life Experience. I had not one bit of hesitation booking a 10 trip with him just this month, and we have just returned to the US on the 8th of August and here is our review, and his first review as an owner operator.

First there are a lot of choices out there for one to book a Safari to Tanzania. After 3 trips there over the past 6 years, I can say that the guide and the services they offer are the most important pieces of making it both enjoyable and educational. Kevin put the 6 of us in first rate lodges in Arusha, Ngorongoro, Serengeti and Ruaha State parks. They were beautiful lodges, with exceptional service and food and amenities. There was not one detail left to worry about, from the minute he picked us up at the Kilimanjaro airport to the time he saw us on our plane ride back home, he was there at every step of the way. There was not one detail left for us to worry about. Everything was handled with care and professionalism. 4 of our travelers were visiting for the first time, and all are making plans for a return trip in the future. I can't say enough about the Duluti Lake Lodge in Arusha, Neptune Lodge in Karatu, Lemala Kuria Hills in the Serengeti, and the best of them all, Jabali Ridge in Ruaha. All 5 star properties, with 5 star meals, service, game viewing, and amenities.

But it was Kevin's expertise in the game and the birds that made it all worthwhile. This was a private tour, so we could do whatever we wanted when we wanted, and he was there all the time to see we had a great time and enjoyed Tanzania in the traditional way. We were the envy of many others as they stopped him numerous times asking for info and getting some advice on best game viewing. We saw the big 5 in the first 3 days, and then came the birds, and had the pleasure of seeing the Migration at its best. All in all, we had high expectations for this trip, and they were met and exceeded.

If you are looking for the traditional Bespoke Safari to Tanzania Kevin and Natural Life Experience Safari's is your place to go for personalized individual service. Great care to detail, great knowledge of the areas and the properties, and a great Safari vehicle. We come to find out that the real difference is the guide, and the second most important is the reliability and comfort of the Safari vehicle. Kevin had both! If you want to work directly with the person you are going to be with on Safari versus a broker or agent in London or Boston or far away location, then I suggest you give Kevin and Natural Life Experience a look.

I recommend Natural Life Experience without reservation, and I am happy to converse or correspond with anyone who is looking to have a trip of a lifetime!Show less