20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Seamless safari experience
My husband, his parents and I have just returned from a 4 day safari with Lion King Adventures. We couldn’t have been happier with our experience! From the initial inquiry to the goodbye at the airport, Lion King was professional, thorough, high quality and friendly. Anna, the manager, was responsive to every question and comprehensive in her explanations of the various packages while also allowing us to tailor the safari to our liking. In addition to the great reviews online and the positive email exchanges with Anna, we decided to go with Lion King because their package included the hotel on “Day 0” – that is, the night before the safari was covered in the cost. This made it convenient for us to arrive in Arusha in the afternoon on Day 0 (Lion King picked us up from the airport) and have a good night’s sleep before kicking off the safari early in the morning on Day 1. The Toyota safari jeep was very nice and came equipped with a built-in cooler, wifi and pop up roof, which was easy to open and close. James was a fantastic guide! When he picked us up from the Kilimanjaro Airport on Day 0, we explained that we were scheduled to go to Lake Manyara first, but he suggested we switch to Tarangire NP instead because there were more animals and action there at this time of year. We happily agreed and were so pleased that we did. Tarangire was teeming with animals, especially elephants! And it has an amazing landscape, with dramatic cliffs and rivers and many watering holes. On Day 2 we were scheduled to make the long drive to Serengeti NP. James suggested that instead of taking the main road, which is very bumpy and packed with other safari vehicles, we go “off road” through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Again, we happily agreed and were again so pleased with his suggestion. We were quite literally off roading through the Ngorongoro plains (not the caldera), where there were no other vehicles in sight and only the most experienced guides can navigate where they are going. We saw many animals, including a family of cheetahs resting in the shade. We set up lunch under a huge acacia tree and ate surrounded by endless plains. Day 3 we spent in the Serengeti, which was vastly different in landscape from Tarangire, but also full of animals. We were lucky enough to see lionesses hunting! And an elephant walked through our lodge site in the middle of the night! It was spectacular. Day 4 we spent at the Ngorongoro caldera, which was breathtaking and had a distinct landscape from both Tarangire and Serengeti. If you only have a few days for safari, I recommend these three parks for their diversity in animals and landscapes. James provided us with endless facts about the animals and the regions we visited. He brought an African birding book that helped us identify all of the species we saw. He was an especially great sport with us because we were determined to learn all the lyrics to the “Jambo Bwana” song. He taught it to us and we recorded a video together! The only animal that we didn’t see was the rhino, but that didn’t disappoint us because the entire trip was beyond our expectations. We highly recommend Lion King – they are experts and provided us with a seamless safari experience!
UA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Friendly chaps. Very helpful and informative. Generally awesome go to guys for any info.
Robert, our agent, was a saviour in our case and a major help with respect to all the travel arangements going above and beyond to make sure that our trip was a wonderful one. The lunch place on our way to Maasai Mara could do with an overhaul. Tented camp was very good but showers were too rusty. The staff there were a joy. The safari was superb. Food at the camp was a super treat especially the chapati
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
I highly recommend Bigfoot Adventures
We have used Bigfoot Adventures multiple times. Their service was impeccable. Communication from their home office was timely. All of their staff have an entertaining personality which adds another level of fun to your trip. If you want a super memorable trip for a lifetime book with Bigfoot Adventures.
IN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
DriveTanzania Ltd proved a lifetime experience of great pleasure travel
My willingness for the African exploration saw the light of the day while I explored and approached Drive Tanzania Ltd for a tour package. It remained an exclusive one in many ways but what impressed me the most was its Tented Lodge Safari. It was unique feeling being so much close to the nature that I felt as if I was in the new world which was far from the maddening crowd.
The apprehension was my past nightmarish experience of mismanaged Safari packages but DriveTanzania Ltd offered me beyond what I was looking for. Attentive support team, safe and secure atmosphere during the tented lodge to prompt local transportation did appeal to me. I hardly realized that I was travelling to a different continent and a place whose culture and living varied from that of mine.
Besides attentive and highly disciplined support team, I was made to enjoy the best of dining experience during this Safari exploration. Coming close to wild animals and being protected by the team made me feel why my decision to go for this package remained a prudent one.
Loved it and enjoyed the most. I recommend to my friends and explorers to at least evaluate unique wildlife packages from DriveTanzania Ltd once to feel the difference. One is ascertained for a guaranteed enjoyable tour. Your package comes with many options thus you have the freedom to customize it. The true beauty of this wildlife package from this website has literally appealed me to look for future options.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
10 star! Unsurpassed expeeience
I have been to over 60 countries, using private tour operators in many of them- and Easy Travel is by far my top experience along with Travel Buddies in Mongolia. Without hesitation i would recommend them for any trip to Tanzania ! Traveling alone with 2 teenage boys, they arranged a private tour for us- after literally many hundreds of emails! I was very particular about what i wanted to see and do- and they made sure to maximize my chances of seeing the wilderbeast migration- and we did and it was fantastic! They were perfect in strategizing our itinerary to leave multiple chances to see the migration depending on the unpredictable travel patterns of the wilderbeasts. All The recommendations of Emmanuel and Godfrey were perfect! The Toyota Land Rover was spacious, immaculate clean and comfortable during long drives (they had special padded seat coverings). Even had a fridge for cold drinks and food- and electric outlets! Emmanuel and Godfrey were fantastic in promptly (almost instantaneously) to all my questions and itinerary requests. Patient as saints ! Even on-site last minute requests in itinerary change were accommodated like magic. Their prices were fair and on target with the competitors. The attention to detail, striving (and accomplishing) to provide the best tailored experience and commitment to the guest are unsurpassed! Emmanuel even packed my suitcase for me- bubble wrapping all the breakables which arrived in perfect condition!!!!! Emmanuel went above and beyond to ensure our trip was memorable. Even their lawyer, John Massangwa, was fantastic- above and beyond committed to the well being, safety and great experience of all the guests. Our driver/guide was unbelievable- Endeni- patient beyond belief, knowledgeable (beyond belief), an expert eye for sighting wildlife and energy to keep up w my teenagers' 5 AM departs for game drives (!!!!) , driving til sunset- for 12 days straight! He was hands down the top driver / guide i've had- including trips to Kenya, S Africa and Namibia. Congratulations to the entire Easy Travel team- and particularly to the owner Musaddiq , who clearly is the Captain of his ship and leads by example. Dont even consider another Tour Operator for your Tanzania trip- i cant wait to return with Easy Travel.
AE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Disappointing - Would not recomend them to any of my friends.
Communication- Fair
Service- was pretty bad. they dont stick to the timings . On the day we were to leave from Nairobi to Masai Maara, we were quite appalled with the quality and cleanliness of the mini bus that we were driving to Masai Maara. When we were told that this would be the vehicle that we would go on the game drive , we politely refuse to take that vehicle considering the rough terrain that we would be covering as the Van was in really bad condition without propoer upholstery and bad seats.
when we insisted they had the vehicle changed to a slightly better one.
Day 1- Evening -on reaching MM ,our Tour guide (Fred) was not able to locate our lodge amidst the Savannahs and we aimlessly wandered for about an hour searching and then he decided that we would go on the game drive after which we will find the lodge.
Day-2 was the best day of the 3 day tour as we were on the game drive from morning to evening. Packed lunch was provided.
Day-3 : our schedule was to leave for another game drive from 630 to 830 am after which we were to drive back to Nairobi. However when the tour guide came to pick us up he said that there was some technical snag and the car battery was having problems. We hardly took off and the van stopped twice in the grasslands. We then suggested that he go to the mechanics available in the town to which he agreed and after a 40 mt drive we reached the place but none of them were available. it was already 820 by then and he quitely filled petrol and said that he suggests that we skip the drive as we would reach Niarobi only between 7pm-9m if we went for the drive. We agreed to that as we were a bit concerned about the Vehicle giving way in the middle of the Savannahs with animals around us.
Little did we know that this was a ploy by the tour operators as half way through on our way back to Nairobi , the guide stopped for lunch and after lunch he told us that there would be a change in plan and that we had to move into another car which was parked beside ours and that the passengers in that car would travel in the vehicle we came from MM and we would go to nairobi in their car.
at that point of time we actually wondered how could they take them on a game drive if the van had technical snags (stoppped at least 3 times in Masai Maara when we started the game drive)??
It was just a pretext used by these guys as they needed the car by noon to make the swap.
Overall - Althoguh i would want to visit MM again , i would not take another package with them as their service was quite disappointing and would not recomend them to any of my friends.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Not great
No hot water in the Chalet and nobody answers the " after hours" numbers to fix the problem. Not a lot of game sighted at all. Actually nothing sighted but the impala at the Chalet.
IT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Terribile situation
We had a safari planned by ISIA from 22nd to 27th August. Four days before our leaving from Italy, the sales office emailed us to cancel our last bank transfer as the company was going bankruptcy.
Thereafter we emailed many times to them, to the Chairman of the company, to the Italian Embassy in Tanzania and to the Tanzania Tourism Board.
Till the day before our leaving the Chairman wrote that our safari was on and not to worry about that. We ourselves contacted the accomodations and many of them answered that no booking had been made for us by ISIA. Moreover we read recent reviews (now cancelled) on TripAdvisor of people whose safari was on in August telling that they had to pay for their accomodations and for park fees. At that point we decided not to leave to avoid to loose some more money.
The total amount we paid to ISIA for the safari was 4,600USD so we contacted a lawyer whose name was given us by the Italian Embassy to ask him to assist us to recover our money.
ES
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amaizing!
It was a great experience.
The Servicies of Dunas Safari was perfect.
They booked for us the Lodges and rent the car and everything we needed before and during our trip.
And they was "on life" during our hole trip giving us the support and knowledge that we answered.
We felt so secure all the time, we felt so comfortable and they built our trip in a great experience
FR
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Kilimanjaro and safari
We are to french guys and we use to walk in the Pyrénées
We wanted to climb Kilimanjaro
A friend of us had climbed one year before with Arrow trekkings and recommended us to be in touch with them.
Because of the top quality of our two guides, the kindness and the quality of all the packmen, this trip is an unforgettable moment.
And, discussing with others trekkers, we know we had more for less money
At the end of the trek, we had with Arrowtrekking a one day safari in Tarangire park. Excellent organization and the pleasure to see, very close, numerous elephants, giraffes, zebras, monkeys, warthogs....