US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
More than Safaris!
I have used Blue Mountain Trekking (BMT) for other services multiple times and, I without a doubt, plan to continue using Ann and her team going forward. I travel into Uganda and Kenya, and BMT has provided roadworthy vehicles and trustworthy drivers for my travel adventures. If there is something I need local insight into, I contact Ann, and she is always willing to assist and help where needed. Ann and her team have gone out of their way multiple times to make sure I have had what I needed, and more so. BMT is truly a trustworthy company with a desire to go above and beyond. If for some reason you are not satisfied with your experience, for whatever you hire BMT for, just contact Ann (owner) and she will do all she is able to make sure things are made right and you are satisfied with your experience.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
10/10
Sangeeta was brilliant in helping me plan a small group safari to South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. She understood my vision and her operations team executed the logistics flawlessly. Shout out to Malvika who handled a few last minute requests with no problem. I will definitely use Chalo next time I go to Africa (already dreaming about that!)
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
3 of the big 5 in one day!
I carefully read many reviews and looked at what was involved with a day trip and the price. I chose Africa Beast because they included it all and the park fees were included. The only extra was a tip for our guide. We live in South Africa for 3 months of every year and have been on countless game drives both paid and self drive. This was the first time we have ever seen a lion on a drive! We saw a lioness and later 2 males. We also saw cape buffalo and elephants. The rhino have been removed to safety dut to poaching, and there were no leopard to be seen during our day time drive. Chobe river is beautiful to drive along and then motor in it seeing crocodile, hippo and elephant among many birds. We also learned that we were in an international waterway as one side of the land is Botswana, and the other side is Namibia. It was an expensive day for our family of four, but the tour made it so easy: picked up at our hotel, brought to the border crossing and escorted through the process for both leaving Zimbabwe and entering Botswana, a drive, a lovely lunch at a stunning lodge, motoring through the river, and then being ushered through the border crossing and brought safely back to the hotel. I'm so glad we booked!
IN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Jungle heaven
It's amazing country, rich in culture, nice and caring people. Very informative wildlife safaris and it's provided by safaribookings(dot)com.
MX
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing. Everything was perfect, the trip, the food, the camp site.
The experience was amazing, Tanzania is a big country, I chose an exceptional tour, the guide used to explain everything about the place and, the animals. The food was better than I expected.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very interesting country with friendly people. Lots of wildlife and great scenery
Spent five nights in all. Three in Nyeri, which is a nice sized town to explore on foot, also with a few museums. Two nights in Samburu reserve, which has much to see. We booked a tour and stayed in Sopa Lodge, which is well inside the gates. Five game drives in all, with much to see. An unforgettable experience
PA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A Disappointing and Unsafe Experience
Our recent stay at Ulusaba was supposed to be an unforgettable adventure, but it turned into a distressing experience due to serious safety and emergency response issues.
Our Experience Before the Incident: I want to start by doing the following disclaimer. We did spend three magical days at the hotel before the incident. The staff were amazing and incredibly kind. Dinners at a shared table with all the guests led to some unforgettable conversations. Breakfast and drinks served by our guides after the game drives were amazing and created a special bond. We were thrilled to see all of the Big Five during our stay, with particularly incredible leopard sightings and wild dogs unlike any other place we visited. Our private pool was warm which is a rarity in safari lodges. And food was incredible.
The Incident: On the morning of our final game drive, my wife slipped and fell in the shower of our suite at the Rock Lodge. The lack of a shower curtain and the poor design of the bathroom left the floor wet and slippery, causing her to sustain a serious head injury. We immediately informed our guide, but the medical response was delayed and inadequate.
Emergency Response Issues: Upon checking in, we were assured that there was an onsite doctor available for emergencies. However, when the accident occurred, the doctor never arrived. Instead, we were left waiting for a prolonged period (3hrs) without proper medical assistance. There was no backup plan in place when the primary emergency responder was unavailable, leaving us without sufficient help. This lack of preparedness in a remote location is very concerning (we saw two black mambas the previous day very close to the hotel - imagine getting bitten).
Response from Ulusaba and Virgin: Despite acknowledging the issues, even going as far as saying that they will be remodeling the bathrooms, Ulusaba’s compensation offer does not cover our expenses or the distress we experienced (a ruined vacation). Even the involvement of Virgin, their parent company, has not led to a satisfactory resolution.
Final Thoughts: While the staff at Ulusaba were kind and tried their best to assist us, the management’s failure to address serious safety and emergency preparedness issues is disappointing. For a luxury resort, such oversight is unacceptable.
We hope that by sharing our story, Ulusaba and Virgin will take the necessary actions to ensure the safety and well-being of future guests. Until significant improvements are made, we advise potential visitors to consider these risks before booking their stay.
MX
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Ngorongoro Crater by Ivan Melesio Montalvo Aguilar
Exceptional. The crater is a huge area with many different species of animals.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
He was very accommodating and friendly.
Our group was very pleased with our guides. They were very friendly, knowledgable and made every effort to be accommodating to our needs. They went out of their way to make our experience memorable and it definitely was!
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very informative
The first day was really good. I don't care for to see the rhinos the second day
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