20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very professional and friendly
The safari was so amaizing, the team is so friendly and ready to give a helping hand at any time.The guide was so professional and so friendly to everyone in our group.
All in all the hospitality we received was awesome.
CA
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
They were very professional
I booked a trip with Go Touch Down Travel for a Kruger safari and Victoria Falls tour. Angie and her staff were very professional. The accommodations provided were top notch. Meals were well prepared and tasty. The tour guides were very knowledgeable and friendly. I gave them a four-star rating as part of the safari required me to take a flight to one of the safari locations, however only a last-minute observation prevented me from being left at the location after the safari. The flight did not include a return. This return flight became an additional expense. Notwithstanding the return flight mix up, I would recommend Go Touch Down Travel to others.
AE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
I had the best time in Kenya!
I did the 5 days Masai Mara budget tour with Jimmy as our driver and guide.
Everyone in our jeep felt safe with Jimmy as our driver expertly navigating the rough rocky/muddy roads with mad skills. He was always checking up on me, and being a female solo traveller I find that to be really thoughtful.
The highlights were that we saw some Nat Geo worthy scenes in real life and some animals came real close to the jeep which was just incredible to watch. Definitely pay a little more to visit the Maasai village and learn about the Maasai tribe.
Whilst the food and accommodation was really simple and basic, it’s really good value for money in terms of the experience gained and friendships forged.
The trip was nothing short of incredible and would definitely recommend it to my friends and family that are interested in going on a safari.
DE
under20 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Benson Safaris is the best Tour operator, for the best price you get the best quality.
At first we thought that is was quite much for a three day Safari with the Ngorongoro Kreta and Serengeti but as soon as we reached the Serengeti we knew that is was definetly worth it. You will have this kind of experience only one time in your life. Everything was perfekt, from the pick up to the drive with Lunch boxes to the drope off on the third day. We are so delighted about Benson himself and his stuff because everybody is so kind and heartwarming. It made you really feel comfortable. It was my second time with Benson Safaris and I will do it a third time again this year because I just love it.
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The best company to get you safely up the Kili!!
Our experience with Inno Africa was perfect from the start! Really easy and clear in communication and were always helpful with solutions and thinking along with us. From pick up to drop off we always felt we were in the perfect hands.
Communication, service, value for money, guides, porters and chef, the whole trip was literally perfect. We loved the positive vibe, experience and support of our guides (Angelo & Roland, 10/10!!!!) every single moment.
Even though the porters mostly just spoke Swahili they made us feel as part of a team the whole trip.
Two tips if you read this as a traveller:
- learn some Swahili, everyone loves it so this will make your trip even better!
- Inno Africa also does safaris, we only found out after we already booked our safari. Otherwise would 100% have booked with Inno!
Asante sana to everyone who made the trip unforgettable ♥️
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An exciting Africa Adventure
We used Good Earth Tours to book our trip to Tanzania and South Africa, and I would highly recommend them. They made everything extremely simple, they had excellent communication. Narry could not have planned a better trip. We simply gave him our travel dates, preferences on level and type of accommodations, and a budget and he took care of the rest! We were given very detailed itineraries with all the information we could possibly need.
The vehicles were of high quality, and the guides drove us extremely safely. We stayed in both lodges and tented camps, all of which were very clean, great meals and great locations!
We had a fantastic experience and would wholeheartedly recommend Good Earth Tours!
CO
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very good
I liked it a lot
Excellent atention
The park is very nice and well cared for animals
The guide Eddie was very friendly and made a good job
(automatic translation from Spanish)
PT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
PT
I would recommend Suricata Safaris to my friends and family
The tour was very well organized. The guide Ezequiel was very competent, friendly, punctual and knew how to answer all our questions. We felt safe during the safari and at the same time, able to see animals up close. The accommodation was comfortable, especially the Suricata Boma Lodge which was a beautiful place overlooking Lake Manyara. The accommodation staff were very friendly. The food, although a little repetitive, was quite tasty.
Tanzania natural Wonders are a Humankind treasure to preserve!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing Budget Safari Experience (aka "Glamping")
Our safari provided by JungleRoam was exemplary. We saw all the animals on the list except the very elusive leopard. The title "budget" is misleading as it is much closer to "Glamping" than some low-budget solution that skimps on the details. Yes, the housing was basic, but the tents all have bathrooms and should be considered one-room cabins with walls made of canvas. During a brief rain shower, we saw no leaks or electrical outages. The safari drives are relatively the same whether you go "budget" or high-end; all drivers are certified, the vehicles pass government inspection, and almost all tour providers use the same two or three vehicle types.
JungleRoam was very accommodating, had many options, and was quick to respond to emails - usually within three to four hours, unlike other companies that took two or more days. Despite the trepidation of money transactions in a foreign country, the final payment was exactly as quoted, there were no surprises, and it was relatively painless in their home office. It was safe and very business-like; we were even given a receipt!
A few notes about safari in Kenya:
1) Bring snacks. Trust me, the same variation of rice and beans for breakfast and dinner gets old quickly. There are a few options to stop and purchase them, but you have to let your driver know on the day of.
2) A cell phone with a good camera is sufficient. Yes, you can bring high-tech gear and cameras that can take pictures of the moon, but in general, for most, a cell phone camera is sufficient. Make sure you have a panorama app!
3) If money is a concern, skip the add-ons to the village, boat, and balloon. They are unique and interesting, but in terms of value, they do not add much to the overall experience.
4) If given the option, get the Jeep/Land Cruiser. First, all guides start as van drivers and graduate to the jeep, and there are some places a 4x4 van might not be able to go.
5) Maasai Mara vs Amboseli - if you have to pick one, go with Maasai Mara. You will get closer, and it’s a quality vs quantity thing. In Amboseli, you will see elephant herds, flamingos, and animals in abundance, but in Maasai Mara, you will likely see more and at much closer ranges. Both are amazing, but I was sad when I met other travelers who chose Amboseli instead of Maasai Mara.
6) Don't forget to tip. Yes, the trip is expensive, but your tour guides have families too. A simple 5000 to 10000 Ksh ($5-10 USD) per person goes a long way. Remember, his job is much more than a chauffeur to see animals; he’s your host to Kenya.
Special Shout Out:
Steve, our guide, was amazing. He was far more than a guide; he was a gracious host to the wonders of Kenya. He was absolutely amazing. Having taken tours across the world, I can attest to the difference the guide makes. We heard tales from others on tours about guides who said little, spoke poor English, and were not knowledgeable or accommodating.
Steve was quite the opposite. He seemed to genuinely love animals and helping others experience them. His knowledge and study of the animals were exemplary. He even went beyond the tour and answered a lot of questions about Kenya, the life of average Kenyans, the Maasai Mara, and anything we could think to ask! He was very accommodating, helping us find tourist gifts, SIM cards, snacks, postcards, and even cold medicine. All delivered with a smile, perfect English, and on the spontaneous whim of a needy traveler.
I hope your guide is as good as Steve; he made the difference between a good trip and a truly memorable one we’ll take with us for our lifetimes.
And shout out to Joshua at Camp Manjaro... even though he’s a local tribesman who will never read this.... our conversations around the campfire about your people were unforgettable! Truly Amazing!
Thank you!
