35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing Rwanda experience from end-to-end, including amazing lodges, chimpanzees and gorillas
Going to Rwanda to go gorilla trekking was a dream trip for me. I had been considering it for about a decade -- and even started planning a first version with Kathi and African Welcome Safaris back in 2019. I ended up pausing at that point, and only finally came back late 2025 to plan our August trip. Kathi has always been incredibly patient and helpful. I came in with a starting budget and based on the first itinerary realized that I wanted to go with a higher tier of lodges that would need a bigger budget. I worked with Kathi on what that right range would be and found a sweet spot that worked for my budget and level of luxury I was looking for. This included about 4-5 different iterations before making my final decision. Note: This is the second time I've worked with Kathi, as she also planned our 2017 safari in Sabi Sands. Kathi communicated clearly on costs, itinerary and payment timelines, which all went smoothly.
As for the trip itself, it went off without a hitch. Our driver -- who we had for the full week and appreciated the consistency -- met us at the airport upon arrival without any issues. He brought us to our first hotel (Hemingways Retreat Kigali) and briefed us on when he would pick us up the next morning and plan for the day. Our room at Hemingways was above and beyond thanks to Kathi. We were in the Royal Suite, where King Charles has stayed, and it was spacious with it's own plunge pool. Our driver took us around Kigali for the day with a planned itinerary while also being flexible to things we wanted to add in. Each day when he dropped us off, he would tell us the time and plan for the next day -- so we always knew what was coming without needing to worry or keep track of details. From Kigali, we went out to Nyungwe forest where we stayed at the One & Only property there. It is among the best we've ever stayed at and was a recommendation from Kathi for a not to miss. We went chimpanzee trekking in the area (excellent!) and spent time relaxing at the hotel where they have many included activities (we did a tea tasting, drum performance and hiked around the property). After two nights there, we drove up to Volcanoes National Park -- making a stop at Lake Kivu for lunch, which was beautiful to see without needing to spend an overnight. We stayed at Wilderness Sabyinyo, a recommendation from Kathi. This was the perfect match for us based on cost, luxury and service. The lodge is community owned, so profits go back to support the people in the area with things like education, water, financial literacy and more. About 90% of the staff is from the local area, and they are fantastic and incredibly caring. They also had gaiters, gloves, rain jackets and pants for guests when trekking. It was truly full service. Now, the gorilla trek! It was unbelievable and so so special. Looking back, I would have ideally done two gorilla treks with a golden monkey trek in between as a rest day. (Albiet that comes with cost and vacation time.) Then, we drove directly from the lodge to Kigali airport on our departure day -- which was quick and smooth. The whole week was seamless and well managed, and we felt taken care of at each and every stage.
I enjoy working with Kathi and appreciate her flexibility to go back and forth on the itinerary to ensure it meets our needs and budget. And I plan to continue working with her for future Africa trips. One thing I would have appreciated was a bit more information up front before we left on things like who our driver would be, that we would have one driver for the week, hiking gear provided by each lodge, etc. The preparation document that was shared was more general and not specific to our trip, which would have been helpful. I ended up doing more of my own research through lodge reviews, blogs, etc -- and then trusted that Kathi had taken care of everything else. (Which she did!)
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very organised and flexible. Our ranger was fantastic
We had a great time experience both planning our trip and making adjustments within the trip.Edwin our Guide was lovely and knowledgeable. We did the water and walking safari on our last day and it was beyond our expectations. Our guide Justin was an encyclopaedia on animals and birds.
Don’t worry your in great hands with Woodbridge
GR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent organization from start to finish - everything was seamless, and perfectly planned.
This safari was, without a doubt, one of the best experiences of our lives! A huge part of what made it so unforgettable was our incredible driver-guide, Jacob. We honestly felt like he had a sixth sense for the savannah! He always knew exactly where to take us. Thanks to him, we witnessed some truly breathtaking moments that we will remember forever. His knowledge, instinct, experience, and passion for wildlife were exceptional, and we felt completely taken care of throughout the entire journey. Jacob is the real king of the savannah! 👑🦁
FR
Unique experience with incredible animals and humans
Our guide Filex was really passioned by his job. Flexible, helpful and teach many things about animals and his cultur! And a very Good view to see details we can't see before him!
And Lukas was our incredible Cook-chef. He prepared many delicious plates from Tanziana. Each meal was generous and shared in a Good vibe!
Thanks a lot at the Team Suricata for this experience.
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The experience of a lifetime
We just finished our 6 days safari and what a week ! The organization was perfect from the pick up at the airport to the very end of the week. Our guide Filex was highly qualified and kind. He taught us a lot about all the animals we saw and was always very respectful to the wild life which is for us one of the most important thing. He taught us also a lot about Masaï culture and we are really thankful for that as it made our trip even more rich. We also had deliceous hot cooked meals prepared by our cook Lucas and nice camping sites. I would highly recommand Suricata Safaris and our guide Filex to anyone thinking about doing a safari trip to Tanzania.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent service
We had an excellent experience. Communication was detailed and timely and our tour was designed specifically for us with all my requests in mind. The service was reliable and timely- all drivers and guides were excellent. I would definitely recommend toying with this company for anyone considering this.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Opany was an amazing guide
The trip was amazing and opany made sure that we saw all the big five
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
A Trip of a Lifetime with Camptrek Safaris
A Trip of a Lifetime with Camptrek Safaris
Our 15-day Kenya and Tanzania safari with Camptrek Safaris was truly the trip of a lifetime. From the very beginning to the very end, everything was incredibly well planned and organized, and we could not have asked for a better experience.
A special thank-you goes to Rose, who was so patient and helpful while planning our trip. She took the time to answer all of our questions and helped put together an itinerary that gave us an amazing variety of experiences. Once we arrived, our guides Ben, Shobani, and Robet made the safari even more special. They were knowledgeable, friendly, professional, and always worked hard to make sure we had the best possible experience.
We were fortunate enough to see the Big Five, along with several incredible leopard and lion sightings and lots of elephants in Amboseli, with the beautiful backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro. The Masai Mara and Serengeti were massive parks with animals seemingly everywhere we looked. Every park we visited was different in its own way, and each one gave us new and exciting experiences.
One of the highlights was our hot-air balloon ride over the Masai Mara. Seeing the landscape and wildlife from above was absolutely breathtaking and something we will never forget. We were also lucky enough to witness a Great Migration river crossing, which was an incredible and unforgettable experience.
Visiting a Masai village was another meaningful part of our journey. We enjoyed meeting the people, learning about their culture and traditions, and hearing about how they live. It gave us a greater appreciation for the people and communities that are such an important part of Africa.
The Ngorongoro Crater was fascinating as well. It was amazing to see so many different animals living within such a unique and beautiful area. Everywhere we went, there was something new to discover.
We were also very pleased with the accommodations, meals, transportation, and overall organization of the trip. Everything was handled so well, which allowed us to relax and enjoy every moment without having to worry about the details.
This safari was so much more than just seeing incredible wildlife. It was the people we met, the places we visited, the incredible experiences we shared, and the memories we created together. Every day brought something special, and we came home with memories that we will treasure for the rest of our lives.
We highly recommend Camptrek Safaris to anyone considering a safari in Kenya and Tanzania. They made our trip an incredible experience from beginning to end, and we are so grateful for everything they did to make our trip of a lifetime so memorable.
FR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An exceptional experience from beginning to end!!
We first spoke with Almachius to organize our safari, and he was extremely attentive from the very beginning. He really understood what we were looking for and created an itinerary that perfectly matched our expectations. The lodges he selected were all very well chosen, with beautiful settings and some truly unforgettable moments, including enjoying a drink at sunset while watching buffalo just a few meters away!
But what truly made this safari so special was our guide, Barikhi. He is an exceptional person: warm, kind, passionate and incredibly attentive, while always knowing when to give us space and simply let us enjoy the moment. Over the course of the safari, he shared so much of his knowledge with us, but above all, he passed on his genuine love and respect for wildlife and nature.
What we particularly loved was his approach to safari. Rather than chasing animals or trying to get as close as possible at all costs, his philosophy was to observe, be patient and appreciate whatever nature chose to show us. He taught us to take our time, understand animal behavior and really observe what was happening around us. Watching a lioness hunt from a distance, understanding her movements and trying to anticipate what she might do next can be just as extraordinary as seeing her from only a few meters away.
Beyond his knowledge and professionalism, we will especially remember the moments we shared with him, his kindness and his passion. After spending several days together, we were genuinely sad to say goodbye at the end of the safari!
A huge thank you to Almachius and Meru Slopes for organizing such a wonderful trip, and especially to Barikhi for making this experience so memorable. If we were to go on safari again tomorrow, we would choose to go with Meru Slopes without hesitation!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good experience
The whole experience was good, would recommend it to anyone who would like to experience safari but don’t have too much time for it.