CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A well organized, insightful exploration of Tanzania's wild
We greatly enjoyed our safari and how wonderful our guide Zepha was.
Zepha's hospitality was apparent as soon as we met him at the airport, and he was friendly and conscientious throughout. His understanding of animals and their behaviours made it feel like we had a scientist onboard with us. We learned so much from him about the Serengeti and Tanzania. He is a great ambassador for Swala and Tanzania.
In terms of the trip it was wonderful how seamless everything was was - no issues with lodges, meals etc. Rose was very prompt and helpful throughout the booking process.
A relaxing time!
DK
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic what you can experience in just one day
We had one day of on a business travel to Johannesburg and used this day on a one day trip with Mmilo Tours to Pilansberg. Interested in nature but never been to Africa before we had really great experience, the guide was very knowledgeable, both of where to go in the park and the livestock of the animals. As we where picked up in JB at 4 in the morning, we experienced sunrise i Pilanesberg and the time of day where the animals are most active. 4 of the big 5 and a lot of other animals on a one day experience. Fantastic!
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A dream came true - Amazing Gorilla tour
The organisation starting with the booking until the end of the tour was perfect. Our driver was on time and super friendly, the 2 lodges I stayed in were clean, comfortable and the service was great. The final jungle tour with the guides was very professional. I can recommend this operator and hope that everybody enjoys the trip the same way I did. Thanks to all who were involved in my dream....
IT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Perfecly understanding customer needs
We went for a 10 days gorilla tracking and safari in Rwanda and Uganda. It took some time to select on the web the right travel agency, and after several contacts, we chose Africa Adventure Safaris, as costs, answers speed and flexibility to adapt the offer to our requirements were sensibly better than other companies'.
Organization: all was very well organized and even a trouble that the car had has been perfectly managed, without impacting on the activities planned. Anna, who was our reference contact, has been truly outstanding
Drive/Guide: William Kirie has been a great guide, a lovely trip companion, a stunning birdwatcher and a cautious driver (shared taxis or matatu make this aspect rather tricky). We appreciated all of him.
Lodges/accomodations/food: were all perfect, very well selected: nice rooms, good food, and perfect service.
Activities: it's easy to arrange gorillas and chimps tracking, but we enjoyed a lot also unexpected activities that were part of Africa Adventure's proposal. I think that due to a deep knowledge of what both countries offer and to a deep attention to customer needs, Africa Adventure is able to organize and propose what customers really enjoy.
Not one single criticism, sorry but this is reality.
I will copy this same comment in Tripadvisor, and I will add notes to each lodge visited.
IN
Well organised, accessible, reliable
Each detail of our travel was impeccably organized by Arthur and equally efficiently executed by our guide Dennis. The game drives were thoroughly exciting and enjoyable.
Arthur’s planning and communication is prompt, professional and always with great inputs for maximizing one’s scope of travel. Accommodation, food, transport, safari vehicle were all in top order...we couldn’t have asked for more.
The company and staff are reliable, friendly, dependable, committed and thorough specialists in their field. It has been a fantastic safari experience. I would recommend Travel Hype Adventures to anyone visiting Tanzania.
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
evrything was good, both the organization and the country; monutain gorillas are top experience
we googled by chance for "gorilla tours" and it came out that there was a tour operator named Gorilla Tours. we found immediately the trip we wanted to do. we checked even other tours but this one was the best for quality and price, according to us. we exchanged emails with the lady running the tour operator and she was always fast and clear with their answers and explanations. the organization was very good, we didn't experience any issue in two weeks. I was very happy of the variety of activities during the tour, even because the country areas and animals are very different. the car and the guide/driver were perfect. the accommodations, even not self-contained as we chose, were comfortable and clean. the food at the lodges was always good and made with the fresh things the country offers and the quantity they give you is surely more than enough. we were very happy with Gorilla Tours and I surely advise to use it to visit Uganda. the tour we chose was not with luxury accommodation, but you have all comfort and cleaness you need. even the plugs in your tent to recharge cameras, phones and so on. the ratio of quality vs price was correct, I believe. for those who love dogs as me, they also keep a friendly dog in most of the lodges visited (especially I loved Sushi in Kisoro Travellers Lodge and Simba in Entebbe Airport Guesthouse). I thank Gorilla Tours people for making our vacation special and unforgettable.
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Challenge 2017 – 5 Germans, 12 days, camping only
We're not the average safari tourists. Moreover, we're Germans. Having been to Southern and Eastern Africa more than 50 times, my husband and I had never before hired a tour operator. Having accompanied us on a few camping safaris in the past, my parents are now almost 80 years old and thus entitled to their own driver and luxury camping. On our 12-day-itinerary were Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater, Ndutu, Serengeti and Lake Natron, camping was to be on special campsites in the parks only (these are remote places in the bush with no facilities whatsoever and rented to one party exclusively).
I started looking for a company willing and able to embark on „Challenge 2017“. Most of them first „hakuna matata'd“ everything but then suggested their fixed package tours and showed zero flexibility.
Brenda was the first to answer my email saying she was positive they could provide just what we were looking for. She organized camp beds for my parents, a mobile bucket shower and portable toilet. She promised we'd travel with a chef serving more than just canned food, noodles, and toast. She provided fantastic customer service and outstanding communication although my parents' health seemed to upset our travel plans more than once. If not for her, I might have just cancelled the whole trip at one point.
My parents and sister travelled in the Landcruiser with Kakasii driving, chef Moshi and camp assistant Vera occupying the empty seats. My husband and I drove along in our own vehicle but rode with Kakasii for the game drives when the camp was set. We were happy to see that Kakasii is an excellent driver since the roads and tracks can become a challenge during the rains. He was on the radio nonstop chatting to other guides and drivers to find out about the road conditions and where to find the game. Even though we've seen our fair share of wildlife Kakasii managed to delight us with some extraordinary sightings like tiny lion cubs, lions up in a tree, cheetahs hunting, and many more. And there was plenty of time for birds and smaller creatures as well.
Although it was the first time Kakasii and his team have stayed on special campsites they quickly established a routine and made sure my parents in particular were always comfortable and never had to lift a finger except when holding a fork full of Moshi's treats. For chef Moshi it was a real challenge to pamper us with culinary delights like self-made pizzas and pies, tasty meat and fresh vegetables and fruit from his makeshift kitchen consisting merely of a gas cooker and a small fire under a tarpaulin against the rain/sun. Not only was it relaxing to have someone cook for you in the bush but Moshi's cuisine is a true delight (as is the man himself). He has spoiled us beyond belief and we've all gained weight.
Since Tanzania Choice Safaris have been perfectly able to meet „Challenge 2017“ you can be sure you're in the best hands for your own personal safari adventure whichever way of accomodation you may choose for yourselves (staying in lodges, however, means you're missing out on Moshi's food!).
Enjoy your Tanzania(n) Choice Safari!
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Above and beyond expectations!
Mwajabu was so helpful in planning this surprise safari trip for my husband during our honeymoon! She is absolutely the BEST! She is so sweet, well organized and goes out of her way to make sure your experience is unforgettable. True five star service.
We were staying in Zanzibar for our honeymoon, and Abdul picked us up from our hotel and took us to the airport. The night before I realized I forgot to pack the SD card for my GoPro camera. Knowing that it was Ramadan, and the only shops that sell these kinds of tourist goods would be closed I was sure we were out of luck. In hopes of a miracle, I messaged Mwajabu who had Abdul running around Stonetown to find a particular SD card after sundown when everything was closed. Abdul somehow found someone to open their shop to sell him an SD card for our trip the next morning. Above and beyond!!!
After taking a small plane from Zanzibar to Dar Es Salaam then to Selous, we arrived at Lake Manze camp. We went on 3 game drives in our short 36 hour trip to Selous. Our guide Kalisti and driver Mgoma were so knowledgeable and showed us tons of animals including African elephants, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, buffalo, zebras, hyenas, as well as several species of birds and so many other amazing animals I couldn't list in this short review. The food at Lake Manze was also incredible. The staff was great, the tents were not just tents, they had a shower, vanity with sink and flushing toilet. True glamping!
In all, the experience was one that we will never forget, and hope to return with the help of Mwajabu and her staff again in the future.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent all-around
Susan at Pembury Tours was very responsive to our interests and arranged an amazing first trip to southern Africa including safaris in Botswana and a visit to Victoria Falls. She was flexible, attentive, and did not inundate us with options but instead gave a couple choices for each location that suited our criteria. Of the ones we picked, all the accommodations were fantastic. The transportation and all other logistical arrangements were also perfect, which was even more challenging given that my mother had an accident while in a remote location and had a be treated at a hospital. When this occurred, Susan was immediately available and made all the arrangements for a smooth and timely transport so that my mother could have good medical care. Her services and local knowledge were indispensable to us as first time visitors to Africa, and even allowed us to catch up with the others in our party to finish up our vacation together. I would definitely recommend Susan and Pembury Tours and would use them again not just for their excellent product but also for the peace-of-mind they provide.
US
Once-in-a-lifetime trip.
African Safari for your Safari adventure. About the only thing I might reconsider is whether to go to all four national parks. They all had something different to offer but we saw almost all of the larger wild game (lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, cape buffalo, giraffes, wildebeast, zebras, etc.) in Serengeti--obviously Serengeti is a must see. The one major animal we did not see in Serengeti, the Rhino, we spotted in Ngorongoro--a thrilling volcanic crater created millions of years ago. I might conclude that Tanzania seemed to be a safe country. Despite being populated by Muslims, Christians, Catholics, etc., and having numerous tribes, there did not seem to be the religious and tribal strife you see in some other African countries.