35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Superb experience on a private tour of Uganda and Rwanda
I was a little apprehensive about booking a private tour on my own - female, travelling alone, booking with a local company outside Australia. I could not have wished for a better trip (aside from Emirates losing my luggage). My 11 day tour took me from Entebbe to Kibale for the fabulous chimpanzee experience, Queen Elizabeth National Park where I got up close to many many elephants as well as on the Kazinga channel cruise, wonderful day Gorilla trekking in Bwindi, then onto Rwanda where the trek to Dian Fosseys grave was a highlight as well as visiting the genocide museum in Kigali. My guide Milton was excellent - such great company at breakfast and dinner with lots of local knowledge which he was happy to share as we were on the road. Accomodation in lodges throughout the trip was really very good - meals were extremely generous and tasty and packed lunches were included for most excursions. Overall I felt very well cared for and would rate my private tour as exceptional value for money compared with other tours offered through companies based in Australia. I fell in love with east Africa and hope to return sometime in the future.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Kudos Crucial Tours, I can't think of any other tour operator that can deliver such quality services
Our trip to Lake Natron and trek of Mt. Lengai remains a memorable one beyond our expectations. Thanks to Crucial Tours crew, the precision with which you execute your work, I can't fail to recommend you guys to any of my colleagues and friends any time.
CZ
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing African experience
My first safari experience was indeed a wonder, we have visited Serengeti park and Ngorongoro Crater as planned, and National park Tarangire, which was not originally in the plan, but our guide changed it according to update on animal quantity, which we were very grateful for! Tarangire NP was great, even though its area is relatively small, the richness of wildlife was enormous, number of elephants was the highest I have ever seen!!!
We have been staying in tents for the whole time, which was very adventurous, unfortunately there was quite a lot of rain during the nights and in Serengeti park there was quite some water coming through the bottom of our tent. Due to that we did not sleep that much that night, but the morning animal watching compensated it hundred percent, the chance to see the cheetah family on one side of the road and lion family on the other side was just stunning!
We were very grateful for the services of our guide China, who was very helpful and always did everything he could for us to have the best pictures and told us many interesting things about the area and the animals we saw.
We also had our cook to prepare meals for us everyday, which was very nice. Since we have chosen the budget form of safari, this was quite, what we have been expecting. Only thing was that our stomach were obviously not that expecting that and this made some of the meals difficultly digestible. Together with the one wet night in Serengeti made the day really an adventure, which was not super pleasure.
However, as I was saying, the animals and the nature were so stunning, that we were able to go through everything.
DK
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
It´s the perfect place to see animals and birds.
All was perfect, the only minus could be the accomodations, some of the place we visit was miserable treetophotel Aberdare and Elsamer Naivasha.
IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The safari was an incredible one. I planned another one this year also
The accomodation on Ashnil mara is very beautiful.Indian food is also available there.
I want to tell about beacon safari. The driver John was very cooperative and an excellent guy who knows very well everything about Masai mara. But sadly I want to tell another thing. I am extremely sorry to tell this. The beacon safari owner ROBERT cheated me 350 dollars by giving me a duplicate bill when we reach NAIROBI. I was in contact till February 8 .he is not interested in giving my money back. Be aware of this company as they can also cheat u.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Beyond our Expectations!
Zicasso found the perfect travel specialist for our Tanzanian safari. We were introduced to our safari travel designer. She planned a custom trip for my daughter and I, and every detail was thoughtful and flawless! She was very communicative and easy to talk to, returned calls and emails quickly. It was the most relaxing trip I have ever experienced since our travel designer planned every detail based on extensive conversations of our hopes and wishes of what we hoped to see and experience. It was a truly magical vacation! Our 8 day trip to Tanzania was well beyond our expectations!! We stayed in amazing, elegant lodges and spent 3 nights in a Serengeti tented camp. We had a private guide for the entire trip who took us on daily game drives based on what we wanted to see. We experienced the Tanzanian culture and the Massai, and saw and studied oh-so many animals in their natural habitats onlya few feet away from our Land Cruiser. We soaked in the beauty and natural wonders of the Seregenti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara. Everything about this trip was relaxed, well organized, and stress-free. It truly was a trip of a lifetime that we will treasure forever!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good Time Safaris Ltd is a RIP-OFF!!
Must sadly agree with others we were conned by Victor Godwin. Consider yourself warned if you book with him. Had the EXACT same experience as others:
We (a party of three) agreed to a safari itinerary via email communication and paid in advance, all inclusive. When we went on the safari, Victor called and asked if I could please pay for park entry fees. He promised to reimburse me once we got back to Arusha. Now the problem is that the drivers do not have funds for the park entry fees so you have no other option than to pay or not enter the park. Of course, he does not refund your additional expenses.
On our trip we had two vehicles on the tour, one for the three of us (a couple and an individual) and the other for a family. Long story short, he played the parties against each other, for park admission, hotel accommodation upgrades, etc. Each of us got taken for $600, for a total of $1800. The other family actually ended up missing their flight for a trip to Zanzibar!! When confronted, Victor claimed he would reimburse us all. We suspected, however, that being thousands of miles away in the US, we would never see that money.
It’s been 10 months since our safari. He stopped responding to my emails and we’ve never been reimbursed. I couldn’t make a claim against my credit card, as I didn’t pay Victor as part of the tour, but paid for entry directly to a park.
Victor is not a member of Tanzania Tour Operators Association. Make sure your tour operator is part of this organization. This essentially means that they are not able to help any customers who might have problems with Victor. Another reason for staying completely clear of this guy.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Fabulous!!
We are back in Canada and dealing with jet lag, but just wanted to say thank you for a wonderful trip that you arranged for us! Richard did an amazing wine tour for us, and the hotels you arranged were fabulous! We loved Majeka, and O on the Kloof was funky and fun to stay at - we just wished we'd had more time to stay at both! We'll definitely recommend you for friends visiting and we will be back in a couple of years too! Thanks for everything.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Owner Paul Mwangi did everything possible to make our stay in Nairobi pre and post Safari enjoyable
We used Simba Paka to drive us in and around Nairobi, to and from airports, to dinner in Karen, to elephant and giraffe sanctiaries and to markets for shopping. Communication was rapid and reliable, and and pick-up times were respected.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
African Adventure Specialists will fulfill your dreams and will change your life forever.
There is absolutely nothing but positive things that I can say about this entire group. I had the pleasure of dealing with Martin, Andre and Winnie and they take all of your worries and concerns away by managing your trip from top to bottom with the utmost professionalism, knowledge, customer service and FUN that you could possibly imagine. From the airport pickup to the airport dropoff (which leaves you feeling as if you are leaving friends and family behind) everything is arranged to your specifications and more. Their knowledge of the history, customs, animals, food, destinations, etc. is beyond your expectations. My niece and I spent a full day in Nairobi before a safari in Samburu and another in the Maasai Mara. Our day in Nairobi was full of adventure and fun and everything flowed perfectly. We were allowed as much or as little time as we wanted at each destination and at the end of the day, we knew that AAS had arranged the perfect day for us, based on our interests. The hotel in Nairobi was excellent and Martin was even nice enough to spend a lot of time the week we were on safari trying to retrieve a toiletry bag that I left at the hotel. He went way and above the call of duty to do that for me. We stayed at Elephant Bedroom Camp in Samburu and it was spectacular. They call it Elephant Bedroom Camp for a reason - the elephants enjoy a stroll through the camp, leaving you with the most exhilarating feeling that you can imagine to have an elephant join you for breakfast! From Samburu, we went to the Mara and stayed at my favorite camp, the Mara Ngenche. I have stayed there several times and it never disappoints, no matter how many times I go back. I literally cannot say enough wonderful things about this team and the experience of a lifetime that they arrange for you. The entire process is seamless and perfectly executed with the nicest people I've met in my lifetime. Thank you to Martin, Andre and Winnie for making our dreams a reality and even better than expected.
