JP
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Mikumi National Park by Jumbokedama
Too many people, not many big cats.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Really wanted to like them, left some things lacking
I went on a 3 day Rwanda gorilla trek with Encounter Africa. While I really want to like them, there are a few things that were lacking.
Pros:
1. The driver was nice and friendly. He also spoke good English and very helpful.
2. The car was good and comfortable for the two of us.
3. Accommodations were but clean, safe and hotel staff was friendly.
4. Price: The price was fair.
Cons:
1. Communication troubles: Not sure what it was but the office was extremely responsive at first via email which I why I wanted to go with them initially. But then fell radio silent. So I followed up on skype and had some challenges getting a hold of them. They said that there were issues with their email, so may that is fixed?
2. Quoted a price, and then told us that they didn't have any more availability at the lodging and then wanted put us in a lower quality hotel. Ended up paying the original price for a lower quality hotel. The hotel was fine, but the experience of that change was frustrating.
3. Finally, the biggest issue was that the driver was 2 hours late for the initial airport pickup! This was extremely inconvenient because we did not have Rwanda phones and had no way of contacting the driver. For a minute, I thought we had been completely scammed. He came in the end, but this resulted in us driving back in the hills in dark, getting to the hotel extremely late, and missing a proper dinner (that we had paid for in our room/board).
However, what frustrated me most was they claimed that it was the Uganda / Rwanda time difference that caused the delay. However, Uganda time is 1 hour ahead, so of anything, they would have arrived an hour later rather than 2 hours late. When I mentioned this to them, they then said that it was because they had to pick up the permits. If that were the real reason, then tell the truth the first time. Do not lie or try to pull one on me.
So all in all, I'm mixed on this group. While the rest of the experience itself was incredible (highly recommend the gorilla trek to anyone), there were logistical things that were a lacking and the lying about being 2 hours late was a huge detractor.
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Mokala National Park by Raffaella
Nice place where to see ungulates
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Mapungubwe National Park by Raffaella
It's nice to see lot of baobad
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve by Raffaella
we didn'see very much, maybe we where unlucky
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Balule Nature Reserve by Raffaella
Yuo can't drive around by yourself and you always need a guided safari.
ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Basic safari billed as luxury, disappointing
Ryan is knowledgable and enthusiastic but customer service is not his strong point, it felt almost like we were following him around on his safari. Despite being billed as a luxury safari the food and accomodation were basic at best. For some reason he asked us in advance for our preferences for food, wines and spirits but then completely ignored what we had asked for. He only supplied one bottle of cheap wine which he shared with us so I ended up buying him more drinks than he provided. I would happily have paid more for the luxury touches I had specifically asked him for but he seemed not to have read my emails - he initially turned up at the wrong airport terminal.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
great animal viewing from the hotel, but disappointing game drives
Sitting at the restaurant/bar at our lodge, we could spend all day watching animals come and go from the watering hole. This was the highlight of our visit in this park. Our drives were very disappointing with brush so dense, that animal sightings were rare. We booked Tsavo west in hopes of seeing Mount Kilimanjaro and seeing Rhinos. We didn't see either. I would plan extra time in the Masai Mara instead of Tsavo West.
US
Review about Katonga Wildlife Reserve by Alvin B.
I didn't see enough of birding to decide; and I don't know what bush vibe means.
IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Tarangire National Park by arif
less animals then serengetti .. so if you are doing northern circuit serengetti is a better option .. but here huge herds of elephants ( we spotted a group of about 40) are spotted which i doubt is spotted anywhere else.. giraffes leopards can also be seen .. it can be a prelude to serengetti and ngorongoro but ceratinly not worth after it