65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very well organised.
We got very good service. The driver came on time and had very good knowledge of the park. We saw more animals than expected. Good value for money. Definitely we will come back. Majid and Asa
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent!
We did the 4 day safari to Maasai Mara and Lake Nakuru. Beautiful trip, great accommodations. Our guide George was excellent! I will definitely recommend this trip to friends! Very well done!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Excellent service and safari from Bencia
After a lot of research on safaris to Masai Mara and lake Nakuru I chose Bencia because they offered great value for money, they (Alfred) were very responsive and answered all my queries promptly and in detail. Susan from the team escorted and assisted us with purchasing a Sim card whilst our guide George escorted us to an ATM as requested before we departed. We opted for the luxury accommodation option which was great and the tour itself was amazing. George made us feel very comfortable in the vehicle and drove safely. He was punctual, reliable and knowledgeable about a lot of the animals we saw, trying his best to take us to areas where we could see lions, cheetah, etc. I would highly recommend Alfred and his team at Bencia.
NO
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Wonderful experience at Mikumi National Park in rainy season with a professional guide
We have been before to several parks in Tanzania but this trip to Mikumi exceeded all our expectations. It was a wonderful experience and Isaya has been such a fantastic guide! We were in doubt if we should take a safari or not for only 3 days in the raining season. Our son of 12 years convinced us to take it and we are so glad we did it! Isaya was very prompt and clear in the communication before the safari, both on email and WhatsApp and we liked that very much. We drove from Dar on a rainy Saturday and the road was blocked because of two trucks that crushed on the road before Morogoro. Isaya was very clever in driving, very calm and in a good mood despite the chaos around and the long cue of trucks and busses blocked on the road, bringing us safely to Mikumi. Despite the short stay, we saw so many animals, and our son was thrilled to see baby lions baby elephants, baby giraffes and zebras. Isaya was very patient and waited for us to observe again and again families of elephants, giraffes and lions
TR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent, well organized safari
From reservation negotiation till end of safari they are really care so much and give wonderfull service, cause we are a family with two child safety and flexibility was important for us and thanks to our guide and driver he care about so much that issues he is so gentle and fulfill all our requitements as well.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great service from start to finish
Golden Rwanda Safari were great from working with me to modify the tour to fit my interests and time, through to first pick up and drop off at the airport. Jean Claude, my driver guide, was thoughtful and attentive, providing me with useful information throughout our time together. The experiences in Volcanoes National Park were exceptional, as was the accommodation at the 5 Volcanoes. Definitely recommend, and I hope to be able to travel with them myself again soon
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Frank and team were everything we hoped a tour operator would be: caring, responsive, honest
GoldenRwanda were excellent tour operators, as good as we hoped for. Frank and Gad were extremely responsive and communicative by email, always got a response within a few hours. They were able to adapt quickly to our changing plans both before and during the trip. The trip was exactly as promised, no "bait and switch", and given the expense of individual permits, was good value for money. The residences were stellar and top quality even in remote areas, clean and with great hospitality, Our driver Jean-Claude became our friend and family. The cars were very comfortable and we felt completely safe and secure even on poor roads. Our tour covered Kigali and 3 NPs in 3 different corners of Rwanda, Nyungwe, Volcanoes, and Akagera. The encounters with gorillas and chimpanzees we shall remember for the rest of our lives. Our experiences in Kigali, including the genocide memorial, were unforgettable, and Rwanda is a moving tribute to the human spirit and its ability to move beyond unimaginable horror to recover humanity, humility and hospitality. Rwanda is one of the most beautiful places in the world, both visually and spiritually, and noone should miss the opportunity to visit if they can. And for those who do visit, GoldenRwanda will be among the best possible hosts and guides for the trip.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Superb experiences of East Africa, secure travel and a wonderful, informative guide who has passion!
I travelled to Tanzania earlier this year, in the hope of really experiencing an authentic journey through this part of East Africa and with the help of Asili Explorer and it's head guide Joseph, I really left feeling totally satisfied I had-as well as not wanting to leave! It is important to note, I travelled as a lone tourist this time around, so issues of security and understanding everything around me was being taken care of well was paramount and with Asili this was every bit the case.
After viewing his informative website and choosing which excursion and safari I wanted, I did really feel he was catering it just for me and really listening to what I wanted to get out of my journey, rather than just providing a 'brand' package without much consultation. Asili is expertly run and their spacious and hand-wearing transportation, camping equipment and lodges he advises on, were to me personally, of a really good quality and I think would also be more than adequate for larger groups/families too. My trip around the Serengeti/National parks gave me such a unique experience and travelling with Joseph meant I got all his first hand knowledge on the wildlife (Lions and Wildebeest migration) and spectacular views, along with some very interesting immersion into the life of the local tribes....namely the famous Maasai Pastoralists and Hadzabe people! Asili is approachable, amusing and always got back to my queries prior to travel swiftly and answered all questions well.
The price ranges for the various packages were also very reasonable to me as it is easy to get very confused with all the competing tour companies out there but Asili did stand out to me as one of the most cost effective on a limited budget.
I always felt at ease and being new to travelling and as a lone female, I felt content and safe at all times, even in Arusha whilst not on the road. So a big 'Asante Sana' to Asili and Joseph, you created some really lovely and ingrained memories for me and I definitely hope to use your services again!
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Amazing wildlife, beautiful places and wonderful people - an excellent safari!
We are very happy that we chose to book our safari with East African Safari! In 13 days, we visited Ngorongoro, the Serengeti, Tarangire and Zanzibar and the trip more than met our expectations.
We found communication to be very good. During the planning process, Simon King kindly took our desires and expectations into account while also giving us very good advice. Later, when we ran into a snag on Zanzibar (concerning transport from Stone Town to Fumba Beach), Simon promptly solved the problem and also kept checking to make sure that all was well.
All of the staff, whether employees of the lodges or of East African Safari, were friendly, kind, and attentive. Our guide/driver, Ezekiel, was fantastic! We appreciated his expertise, his willingness to try to find the last of the wildebeest/zebra migration for my husband, and his sense of humor. Having visited game parks before on our own, we now understand how important an expert guide is. I cannot praise Ezekiel too highly! It is easy to measure a safari by the number of animals seen, but I felt that it was really all the wonderful staff who made our trip so memorable.
Some of the highlights of our trip included an afternoon walk with a ranger on the rim of Ngorongoro Crater, the spectacular views from the rooms at Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge, the beautiful camp in the Serengeti (complete with a leopard for a neighbor), all the wildlife we saw of course, and Boundary Hill Lodge. There is no word for Boundary Hill Lodge, but magical. I loved every minute of our time there. The beauty, the quiet, the remoteness made me want to just stay. On Zanzibar, we wish we had spent less time in Stone Town (our choice, not on Simon’s advice) and more time at Fumba Beach Lodge, another wonderful place where you can sit by an infinity pool and watch the white sails of the dhows passing on the blue water of the Indian Ocean.
I am already thinking of another trip to East Africa and will certainly arrange my safari through East African Safari Co.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Tarangire Trip
I just got back from a private safari with the East African Safari & Touring Company (EASTCO) based out of Arusha, Tanzania. As a seasoned backpacker who has traveled to well over twenty-something countries, I must say that I have found this trip to be one of my most extraordinary.
Before my trip, I spent a great amount of time researching safari/tour companies and exploring many travel options. First and foremost, I was looking for a company that was respectful of the environment as well as the Tanzanian communities & people who work for them. It was also important for me to have opportunities to meet and interact with the locals. And as a woman traveling alone, I wanted to feel safe and comfortable with my driver and cook.
I decided to go with EASTCO for many reasons. I really liked that they are a local company invested in preserving the cultural integrity and well being of surrounding communities. I was also impressed with owner Simon King, who has worked with neighboring Maasai villages to create opportunities for collaborative partnerships, dramatically decreasing poaching practices within a conservation area just outside of Tarangire National Park.
After making my decision, however, it was nothing less than a true leap of faith when I wired off my hefty triple-zero deposit to a bank in Australia. I worried that I might be in for a scam or that I should have chosen a company who has an office in the US. My concerns, however, ended as soon as I traveled to Arusha, met Simon, and planned out the final details of my safari. At the end of my six-day stay that encompassed the Nogorongoro Crater, the Serengeti, and Tarangire National Park, I was so happy that I had chosen to go with EASTCO.
This was my first safari. Therefore, I cannot compare EASTCO with other companies except to share with you the things that I appreciated the most about my experience. First of all, Charles, my driver and guide, taught me the art of observing animals. He also helped me to refine my eyesight and learn how to observe the amazing, yet obscure eco-systems of East Africa. Charles could spot the tiniest of things and share a depth of knowledge about everything we saw. He also somehow knew where we might find animals, and most of the time we were the sole spectators, as we did not travel in caravans with other tourists. Charles also knew where to position the truck when we did have a crowd of people. One day we saw a family of thirteen elephants. He anticipated their crossing, maneuvering our vehicle to the perfect place where the animals, one by one walked right in front of our truck. After crossing, Charles predicted their path and drove to a point where we could see them walking a perfect line into the horizon. It was a magnificent moment! My cook, Michael was a wonderful travel mate as well. He always kept me laughing and cooked up amazing meals. I thoroughly enjoyed traveling with both of these gentlemen and felt as if I was saying goodbye to two dear friends when my safari ended.
Lastly, I really enjoyed most of the places that I stayed at. The first campsite, Simba was my least favorite. It was a beautiful location but was quite crowded, thus creating a disgusting bathroom scene thanks to the many tourists who did not know how to use squat toilets. Also due to the crowds, people became very territorial of their eating spaces. I was so grateful that Michael had staked out a good spot for me early, so I did not have to participate in all of the drama. My Serengeti experience, however was remote and peaceful. The campsite was full of wildlife. Teams of Mongoose would run wildly about in packs. A family of baboons would make their daily rituals, playing around my tent during the day and climbing a nearby tree at night. Cape Bull grazed within sight of my tent, and one day an enormous elephant wandered onto the grounds to eat the garbage out of the community trashcan. My last night on safari was spent at Boundary Hill Lodge, an upscale yet rustic lodge that enables views of wildlife from every angle of your suite and boasts a private bathtub on the balcony that overlooks Tarangire National Park.
As with any trip, I am sure that if I thought hard enough I could pick apart my safari and find some things that could have been better. However, I know that nothing is perfect, and these minor flaws are insignificant and would be dwarfed by the incredible things that I experienced each and every day on my safari. It was a trip of a lifetime, I was living the dream, and I feel so fortunate to have traveled to this part of the world and to have met so many amazing people, both through EASTCO and the other places that I visited.