US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
SMA provided the perfect environment and guide staffing for an unfortgettable safari adventure
SMA provided us with two guides, one younger and one oled guide/driver, which worked out wonderfully for our family of fourt (2 adults and 2 children 11+14), as we received a lot of attention and educaitonal information from the non-driving guide while the driver focused on the roads. we saw all Big 5 plus so much more. from black cobra and rock python fighting with Marabu Storcks to a Wildebeest defending itselfagainst a lion attack to lions going in formation to sneak up and kill their prey. we also saw a leopard and cheetah plus many elefants, lions, hippos and even a rhino.
we stayed in amazing plazes and could not have planned our 5 day rtip any better, spending 3 days in Serengeti and 2 days in and around Ngorongoro Crater.
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Jackson the Greatest!
What an amazing safari!
Our guide Jackson made our trip an unforgettable experience! His skill to see even the faintest hints of animals and his patience to wait for the right moments helped us see every animal possible, even the more elusive leopard (2x) and rhino (3x!). Also, all the lodges and hotels that we stayed at where fantastic.
I whole heartedly recommend Juvenile Safari’s! We will for sure book again!
NP
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Hyrax - Exemplary! Professional service, care and outstanding communication.
Pre-travel: I researched on Google and Safaribookings before planning my trip. After reviewing many options, I chose Hyrax, and it was a fantastic decision! Shout out to Irene! She provided prompt responses, customized planning, and thorough care, answering all my travel questions.
Safari: Brian, our safari guide, was very knowledgeable about the landscape and super friendly. We were lucky to have Edwin, an amazing and down-to-earth safari guide, join us. I stayed at the Ashnil Mara Camp, which was excellent! Brian and Edwin shared fascinating insights about the animals and their behaviors, taking great care of us throughout the tour. Everything was professionally handled!
Travel tips:
1. It is very safe. I had some nerves seeing photos on Google and being in an open Land Cruiser in the jungle, but as long as you stay inside the van and follow your guide's directions, it is very safe!
2. Always go with a trusted travel agency. If it's your first time, I highly recommend Hyrax. You'll receive professional advice with no hidden costs.
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The best tour operator you could wish for
We just returned from an 11-day trip with Juvenile safari’s with Jackson as our guide. It was an incredible experience. We saw so many animals (also from up close), because Jackson has a very good eyesight and great amount of knowledge about the animals and the environment. Furthermore, his enthusiasm made us fall in love with Tanzania even more.
After a day of rest from a night flight, we started with a trip to the Materuni waterfalls and a coffee tour. It was a nice starter of the trip. We had the time to adjust to our new environment, had a nice time outdoors (it is not a hard walk (around 45 minutes to an hour oneway), but it can be slippery) and also had a glimpse of the Tanzanian culture due do the traditional way of making coffee. We also had a great lunch, with surprisingly delicious traditional food.
Then we started with the real safari. We went to Tarangire and the day after to Lake Manyara. It is amazing how many animals you can see in just 2 days! And it is unbelievable that we got so close to them (without really disturbing them), especially to the elephants. We also encountered 1 elephant that was a little bit aggressive, but Jackson stayed calm and knew exactly what to do. Even other guides radioed Jackson to ask him what to do, as they panicked. So all in all, we were safe and the elephant just walked away.
We had a short break from the safari and we went to Lake Natron. An incredibly beautiful drive and a mesmerizing stay in an eco lodge run by the Maasai. I think we saw the most beautiful sunset ever there.
After that we went to the Serengeti for 3 nights. We saw everything we wanted to see and way more, such as the great migration, many (hunting) lions and cubs, leopards, cheetahs, serval cats, (fighting) hippo’s, giraffes, vultures, buffalo’s, elephants, antilopes etc. Jackson can spot an animal from 3 km away with his eyes only. So we literally saw every animal we passed by, as he notified us.
After the Serengeti it was time for the Ngorongoro. Again we saw so many animals, even the endangered black rhino’s! I literally could not see the rhino’s for 5 minutes, as I only saw grass through the binoculars. Eventually I saw the grey spot in the field he had already spotted earlier, but I did mot recognize it as a rhino (as he was laying down). Jackson was patient and we waited for 45 minutes or so. And we were rewarded, because the rhino’s got up and we could see them clearly!! Also the drive through the Ngorongoro is mesmerizing.
We ended the trip with a relaxing day (consisting of getting up late, shopping and visiting the Maasai).
EVERY accommodation was great and all the staff was so kind. My personal favorite was the tented camp in the Serengeti (luxury view camp), but everywhere we stayed was amazing.
All in all, I can say that you are in more than good hands when you book your safari with Juvenile Safari’s. I am especially grateful to Jackson and his capabilities, but I am sure that the other guides are also very good. 10 out of 10 would recommend!
ES
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent atention, information and organization
From our first contact with de Company, we had very friendly attention, the advice was very accurate because It made our experience a total delight. It is a Company that we sincerely recommend due to seriousness, committed to the best care and Service, Extensive Information in spanish during the Safari. Wonderfull experience.
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
UNRELIABLE
I really need to write this review because tourists need to know that Swahili Paradise and Tours is completely UNRELIABLE and with a TERRIBLE ORGANIZATION.
In summary:
- our contact Jimmy disappeared once we did the payment
- No timely answer about how to pay the balance amount that finally had to be payed with their own personal exchanging rate (+10%)
- Lodge with employees that does not speak English and not helping during 2 blackouts and not working showers
- Wrong informations about how to use the showers in the lodge
- Terrible organization to collect our luggage
- Employees asking for the wrong amount of money (they discounted 3$ on an amount of 665$) and after all that we were asked for the remaining 3$.
- After all that, Jimmy did not even understand that there were SOME problems
- Before writing this review we gave Jimmy a feedback about the whole experience and he did nothing to improve the situation
I WOULD ADVISE YOU NOT TO TRUST THIS COMPANY.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The best 6 days of our lives
There’s no word of exaggeration when I say that Telly Safaris provided us with one of the best 6 days of our lives. We had a rough start with losing our luggage on the way and the team constantly tried to help us get it back and organise a way to get it out to us on our safari. We were also delayed quite heavily with our transfer from Zanzibar to the Serengeti but they still gave us a 4 hour safari on the day we arrived and we literally saw EVERYTHING on the first day all up close and personal. The rest of the safari itself was nothing short of spectacular, our driver Godson was unbelievable and had such incredible knowledge of the parks and went above and beyond to see the animals from all angles and sometimes raced through the parks to make sure we saw animals when knowledge came through on the intercom he used. He drove for hours and kept an incredibly keen eye for animals at the same time which made it so key in seeing literally all the animals you possible could in Africa. We saw full pods of hippos, lions catching and eating prey, baby lions with their mother and cheetahs hunting. Check out our Instagram highlights @dannyjhirst @kateehopkinson
Aside from the safari we stayed in 4 hotels on our way round Tanzania and they were all incredible, genuine 4/5 star calibre with beautiful food, settings and staff who constantly made you feel welcome. You were provided with brilliant lunches on the tour and kept you going the full day. One piece of advice is to take a few jumpers, the mornings and nights can be bitterly cold till the sun comes out.
I honestly don’t think we could have got better product for our money with any other company in the world, we will be forever thankful for the experience they gave us.
TR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very attentive to customer wishes
This was our first safari. We were at 3 national parks, and every day we were exploring something new.We saw all the big 5, and other wonderful animals. The guide was very attentive and tried to do the best for us. We are grateful for such the wonderful experience. We can confidently recommend the safari operator
RU
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Everything was organized at a high level.
I liked everything very much. Everything is clear and coordinated. We booked the tour with a 30% prepayment, paid the rest just before departure, there were no problems. We saw all the animals, including the leopard and the black rhinoceros, thanks to our guide driver. We took a lot of cool photos! The loggias where we were accommodated for the night and the food we were fed were very good.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very knowledgeable about the safari work.
Loren Safaris offered a one day safari tour at the Ngorongoro Crater. It was a lot of driving however, the whole process felt like hour due to our tour guide being full of knowledge about the safari, and the culture of the area and willingness to answer all of our questions. These guys are nothing but professional. They are personable and VERY funny. The process was smooth as he walked us through it. I recommend Loren all the way.