DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The amount of wild life we saw far exceeded expectations; we felt safe and well taken care of!
Right from the start, the communication was friendly and trustworthy. Cliff and his team was highly recommended to me by a colleague who had lived in Tanzania for many years. I brought a group of teenagers from Germany to Tanzania for a service trip and we ended our time there with a 4 day safari with Africa Tried and Tested. I was given options to choose from , they organised the safari according to our budget and wishes. There was no variance from the price quoted to the fee we paid. There was room for flexibility, even once we were on the safari. We were picked up from our location, given the option to leave excess baggage at the office. At the end of the safari we returned to the office, given time to repack and then delivered safely to the airport, even waiting until we gave them the thumbs up through the window that we were fine, checked in and on our way to the gate. The meals on safari were all hand made and prepared on location. The bread was baked on the open fire- the best any of us had ever eaten and served with real butter. We occasionally ate alongside other safari groups at lunch stops and in the evening, and our meals far surpassed what other companies were serving their guests. Truly amazing since we were on, what I would consider, a budget safari. But we certainly didn't feel like it as we ate filet, mangoes, hand made sausages, English breakfasts, stir fried veggies and rice, and freshly baked cakes. They also specially prepared meals for one of our group with allergies. The equipment, tents and sleeping bags were all top notch and the crew worked right along side with our kids to set up and break down camp. Drivers were friendly, experienced, knowledgable and I never felt unsafe. I recommend without hesitation and with loads of enthusiasm-Africa Tried and tested.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best Guide and Amazing Experience!!!
Going on Safari has been on my wish list for as long as I can remember and my experience with Chabo Africa Adventure exceeded what I ever imagined. Ernest is incredibly knowledgable about the landscape, local history and has an almost magical instinct. We saw everything we wanted to see and more. He took great care of our group, made us feel safe at all times and provided an excellent experience overall. The food was outstanding and it is a trip I will never forget. No need to go with anyone else.
US
Excellent experience!
I booked through krugerpark.com, stayed at Tydon Safaris, and visited both Sabi Sands and Kruger Park.
What an awesome experience. Everything was perfect from the booking through the whole adventure.
I worked with Donna at krugerpark.com to book. I waited too long to actually book a safari and I was rushed to line up my travel for the safari with my work travel when I finally contacted Donna. It was basically 36 hours from the time I first called and talked with Donna until my trip was booked. She was excellent, working through a 6 hour time difference. We emailed and talked on the phone a few times. She even logged back on to finalize some things from home after work hours because I needed some time in the afternoon in my time zone to verify some things before booking. She wanted to finish the booking on her end as I finalized my international travel to be sure everything lined up correctly. Thank you Donna!
Donna books for multiple outfits throughout the park. She selected Tydon Safaris for me, and we settled on the 5 day Kruger Park and Sabi Sand combination. I didn’t know about Sabi Sand before now, and Donna suggested that the combination of the public Kruger Park with the private Sabi Sand reserve would be a great experience, and she was right!
I reached out to the owner Gavin with a couple of emails before the trip, and he was quick with responses and helpful. I worried about taking too much to the camp since I was traveling for business before the safari, and I worried about security for my laptop. He assured me that bringing extra luggage and keeping my laptop safe would be no problem. I flew to the airport about an hour away in Nespruit, and Gavin picked me up.
I thought I was going to stay at the Tydon Safari Camp, but I was at the Tydon Bush Camp instead. Although both are great, I really lucked out with this change! I did spend one day at the Safari camp when we went into Kruger, so I’m glad I experienced both. I talked to one couple who was splitting their nights between the two camps which is another idea to consider.
The Safari camp is small but bigger than Bush. It has about 6 tent cabins, whereas Bush has 3. Both have excellent staff including wonderful cooks who overfed us often! Safari sits between Kruger and Sabi Sands, so you are about 20 minutes from either outing. Bush sits right in Sabi Sands, so you are about 40 minutes from Kruger and right in Sabi Sands. Safari has a small swimming pool and more people; Bush doesn’t have a pool and is smaller. Again, both have pros and cons, but I would definitely pick Bush. You can hear the animals close by (and some stop in the camp!), you wake to the birds, and you are RIGHT THERE! And you might even get an extra outing. We had come back for the evening and were getting ready for dinner when our guide heard that two female lions were nearby… so he asked if we’d like to go take a look. Well heck yes! So we found them at night. Cool!!! People at Safari couldn’t do that. Also, I believe that Bush is adults only which is also nice in my personal opinion.
The tent cabins are very comfortable. I think the Bush tents are slightly smaller. You have two twin beds (but I think one had a single double bed), which were very comfortable. And you have a full private bathroom with shower. Each has an air conditioner and heater, but I didn’t need either.
The staff was awesome. I met staff at both camps, but I was mostly with the smaller staff at Bush. My guide was the amazingly awesome Jared. He knows so much about the parks, the animals, South Africa in general… he educated us on so many of the animals including their culture. It was great to go on outings with him and then later sit by the fire and just talk. He really made the experience extra special. Angie was our cook who prepared amazing meals (and I thought she was always expecting double the people… so much food… so good…) and Abigail was the house cleaner. Just really excellent staff.
The two parks are really different. I agree with Donna that it was a great experience to see both. Kruger is bigger, you drive on the paved and dirt roads, has more rivers and water, but has LOTS more people and vehicles. Sabi Sand is smaller, less people, and you can drive off road to get a better view. And the only vehicles are safari vehicles which look much better in pics than just another car! And each evening we watched the sun set in Sabi Sands with a glass of wine watching the animals, but there is no alcohol or getting out of your vehicle in Kruger. I liked the mix, but if I could only have one, I would definitely pick Sabi Sands. It was just sooooo special.
What is a typical day like? I was there in winter, so you get to sleep alittle later. Staying at Bush Camp and visiting Sabi Sands was basically: get wake up greeting at 6, quick coffee and snack, out at 6:30 for a ride, back around 9 or 9:30 for a huge breakfast and talk about the morning, then nap/read until lunch at 2, then back out at 3:30 including wine with sunset followed by a night hunt, then back to the camp for dinner and wine around the fire, then bed, then start over! Summer schedule is a bit different… I think you are up earlier and have more afternoon time (when it is hot).
I really liked the winter experience. Although things weren’t all green, it was still beautiful. You could see the animals in the bush, but they also blended really well with the browns of winter. That surprised me a bit. In summer, I’m guessing they stand out more against the green, but you can probably only see them when they are in front of the bush. I’d like to go back some day in the summer to see the difference.
My best advice would be to just enjoy what you see. Every corner can bring an wonderful animal or a beautiful landscape. Just enjoy it all. If you go with your mind set on seeing a specific animal, you will miss out on everything else. Just enjoy it… it is nature… you don’t know what you will or won’t see. On one outing, we were with a guy who just wanted cats… and it felt that he missed all of the other beauty just waiting for cats. Relax… enjoy it all!!!
You never know what you will see. Unfortunately we only saw a couple of cats while two friends in other parts of the park (different parts) did see lots of cats. My guess is that it was because they were close to a big river and we weren’t. And this part of Sabi Sands was somewhat dry in the winter, but I think there are more water areas in the summer. Again, my experience was awesome, but just wanted to mention that there might be more cats elsewhere in the winter if that is all you want to see. (But my favorite was the elephants… I could watch them for hours!)
So how long should you stay? I would suggest no less than four days. Some people were there for fewer (including the guy who was just wanting cats), and less than four days doesn’t give you enough outings to see a variety. Remember, this is real nature… If you want to be sure of what you will see, go to a zoo… this can be so different every outing and around every corner. That is the beauty. I stayed five days which was great, and as I was leaving I talked with people staying for six. So, minimum of four, but I would recommend five, but as I left, I thought one more would have been nice!
I was worried about malaria… and I even got some of the prevention drugs from my doctor. You really have to decide this personally. When I was there, there were no mosquitoes. I decided not to take the meds because of the terrible side affects and I was happy with that decision. Just spray on some OFF in the mornings and evenings.
If you go in winter, bring lots of layers. It can be cold in the morning, you are out before sunrise, and there is a wind chill in the open vehicles. And the temp drops again after sunset in the evening. I took safari pants that transition to shorts and then back to pants, short sleeved shirt, long sleeved pull over, and jacket. Oh… and definitely bring a hat. I wore my winter cap in the mornings and it definitely helped to keep me warm. They provide blankets in the jeep, but keep your head warm.
I traveled solo. I was in SA on business so I wanted to take advantage of this. It was no issue at all being a solo traveler. I got my tent to myself (I think there was a slight extra charge, but very low), and it was nice to meet other people. So if you are considering going alone, you will still have a great time.
There is no internet access. Yes, I was worried about being so disconnected, but that actually helped me to let go. My cell worked with international roaming in the Bush camp but it didn’t work in the Safari camp. They also give you a number so people can reach you if there is an emergency at home.
So…. Just book it now! You won’t regret it! It is a terrific experience! Oh… and keep a journal. Write in it after each outing. I really enjoyed looking back at my thoughts as I reviewed all of the pictures. Oh and there were soooo many pictures!
CH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Luxury among the Widerness
We stayed at the Pondoro Game Lodge in Balule Nature Reserve for a couple of days - and we can absolutely recommend it.
A typical day at Pondoro used to start at 6 am in the morning with the morning safari drive. Safaris were on a open jeep with a guide / driver and a tracker. Our guide and tracker (Rulani and Andries) were absolutely wonderful. Rulani always gave us a brief description of the animals we sighted - which was very helpful for us city people. Both were very friendly and absolutely motivated to provide us the best safari experience. We still remember the time when Andries went out on foot in search of lions, and after half an hour we saw a family of lions heading our way with Andries following them calmly with a stick in hand. We managed to see not only the Big 5, but also zebras, giraffes, hippos, etc.
Robbie and Lize maintain the lodge as a family home and you are always made to feel very welcome. Returning from the morning safari (around 9 am), there is a luscious breakfast waiting for you. It is indeed an exhilarating experience having breakfast out in the open, with the sound of a stream flowing nearby, where different animals often drop by for a drink. After breakfast, you are free to relax, roam around a bit and explore. The cottages are beautifully designed with modern amenities such as air conditioners, fully equipped bathrooms; and a bit of wilderness such as showers and a jacuzzi out in the open. So you might be taking a shower when an elephant decides to drop by for a visit :)
For a more detailed review, please refer to our blog: http://travel-pics-tips.blogspot.ch/2015/08/south-african-wilderness.html
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A positive, personalized memorble experience of a lifetime awaits you with Msafiri Travels.
Msafiri Travels organized us the trip of a lifetime! We had a fantastic Arusha-based guide, Charles Benjamin, who knows where to find wildlife, has great informative insights, and a great personality--which is a great asset when you are together for a multi-day safari. We saw every wild animal we imagined we might see with Charles's insightful leadership on a 7-day safari. We stayed in luxury tents, with bed, western toilet, showers and high-quality meals. The leopards, cheetahs, and hippos were most memorable. The rich array of birds in Serengeti was also a treat. The rough roads were made bearable by Charles's competent driving skills and underlined the fact you are in East Africa, removed from your normal world, experiencing the majesty of a sanctuary for wildlife. Msafiri and Charles were great communicators, and they were very responsive and willing to accommodate our interests--essential elements in making each day of this memorable week a true, unique treat. We highly recommend Msafiri to anyone seeking a personalized experience seeing bountiful wildlife with competent commentary.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The best 11 days in Tarangire, Lake Eyasi, N'gorongoro crater and Serengeti
My wife and I toured Tarangire, Lake Eyasi, N'gorongoro crater and the Central and Northern Serengeti in 11 days. The experience was absolutely flawless, thanks to Grace's perfect preparation and David's fantastic guiding!
We initially requested some information from multiple tour operators, and Grace's was by far the most comprehensive and detailed response, and the closest to the brief we had given. Grace then took the time to tailor further the tour through multiple emails, improving it to the point where it looked absolutely perfect on paper.
And David absolutely delivered on it! It was clear from the beginning that he was very experienced, but every day we spent on the tour confirmed it further. David has been guiding for close to 25 years, and has an incredible knowledge of the parks (where to find what animal and what time of the day), the animals (from the scientific name to their place in the ecosystem to interpreting why a specific animal behaves the way he does, and what he's likely to do next), the people (he seems to know absolutely everyone) and how to be an awesome guide (he clearly cares about making your experience memorable, and managed to surprise us with something new every day). He has the sharpest eye you can find, which means he doesn't have to rely on the radio to find animals like many tours do. You will often be the first, and sometime the only one, to see a leopard in a tree, or a lion family playing. But the best is that he clearly loves his job, which means every day will be another great experience for you.
US
Great value and great experience!
Our safari experience greatly exceeded our expectations. Additionally, we felt the safari experience was a very good value, and I would book through this same company in the future. All transportation and hand-offs went very well. Our guides were knowledgeable and friendly and enabled us to see everything that we wanted. We felt safe at all times, with no problems or hiccups along the way. The food provided was good, and we were never hungry. They fed us well. Finally, the communication of the office was fantastic, allowing us to experience the exact safari we were looking for. A terrific experience and highly recommended!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Custom Safari Adventure
Was referred to Marianne by a friend in the States. She was excellent. I have planned trips for my friends before and we are always looking for something out of the ordinary that would not be found on regular tours or searching the internet. Marianne was very familiar with the countries in Africa and the various Safari lodges and arranged a tour around our interests. She spent months narrowing down the choices with the result being a once in a lifetime experience that was well within our budget. She knew what was important to spend money on and what was not. In coordinating the trip the fact that I lived in the United States and Marianne was in South Africa was not a problem. Excellent all around.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
First Class Experience with African Welcome Safaris
From the time we first contacted African Welcome Safaris to the very end of our trip, Kathi was top-notch in helping us have the best vacation ever! Kathi worked with us and our schedule to figure out the best dates for our trip. She was then able to figure out how to put everything we asked to do, which was a lot, into our time in the country. Kathi was extremely easy to deal with and everything was ready for our trip to South Africa!
Once in country, everything that was set up for us to do was just plain awesome! Rhys picked us up at the airport and was our tour guide for our time in the Cape Town area. He was a wealth of knowledge, easy-going, and was a great guy to spend 5 days with. Laura was a great guide up Table Mountain and we enjoyed our time with her as well! Again, everything we did in Cape Town, Gansbaai, and the surrounding area was taken care of and the only thing we had to worry about was getting our luggage from the airline. Hikings, paragliding, cage diving with sharks, and a trip to the Cape of Good Hope were just a few highlights of our time in the area.
After our time in Cape Town, we headed up to Sabi Sabi Little Bush Camp for an amazing safari experience. Again, Kathi took care of all the bookings, including lodging and our plane trips from Cape Town to Sabi Sabi and later from Sabi Sabi to Johannesburg. Little Bush Camp was an amazing place and we wouldn't have picked it without Kathi's help. We would definitely recommend Little Bush Camp to anyone looking for safari.
This vacation was the best of our lives! We could not have had such an amazing time without the help of Kathi and African Welcome Safaris!
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Honeymoon Experience
We went on an 18-Day trip with African Scenic Safaris, 14 of which were on mainland Tanzania and 4 of which were on Zanzibar. We were on a private tour, just the two of us, and I can safely say that is THE way to go on safari. The whole experience was so personal. Being able to choose when we wanted to leave in the morning, how long we would stay on the game drives, and how long to stay at a particular location being amazed by the animals was a luxury that we noticed some of the larger tour companies and groups were not afforded.
Our guide David was so knowledgeable, creating two amateur animal behaviourists in us by the end of our safari. He had a great eye for spotting animals in the bush, but wasn't too proud to congratulate you when you managed to find one first (though he might tease you a bit if you were to get overly excited about a rock or branch which resembled an animal). When minor problems arose (like a broken zipper on the tent or a rock wedged in the jeep's brakes), David was quick to solve them, while making sure that we were still comfortable and happy. David was even a bit of a photographer, taking many great shots of us over the course of our journey together.
Our chef Ommy made sure we were well-fed. Correction: VERY well-fed. Daily, we had 4 or 5-course meals for dinner with no repetition of entrees or soups (which were something we looked forward to regularly). Breakfasts were similar every day, but had so much food that if you wanted to only eat one portion of them, you would find them very diverse. Lunches were usually packed to-go, so that we could spend the day on the game drive without having to return to camp, and was more than enough to satiate us. Several times, we had the privilege to enjoy a brunch prepared by Ommy when we had an early morning activity. What he can do with so little North American kitchen luxuries is astounding. Highlights include his fresh baked, pizza, lasagna, and a traditional African dish called ugali. Once or twice we had special requests, and he was very accommodating.
We chose to sleep in tents, rather than the lodges. The tents had more than enough room for the two of us, and with the provided mats and sleeping bags, were quite comfortable as well. Just to point out for any prospective safari-goers, tenting is the way to go if you want a cook; sleeping in lodges means you have to eat reheated frozen food, rather than the three square meals prepared fresh daily (again, which were always delicious and filling). Trips to the bathroom in the middle of the night should prove to be an adventure.
Each park we visited (Tarangiri, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater, and Serengeti) had something different to offer in terms of landscape, but the animals we saw were mostly consistent. That is not to say that it was boring or tired, as nature never ceased to amaze us. We saw all members of the Big 5, and a wealth of other animals (including a cheetah with 5 cubs!), all of which were incredible to see so close in their natural environment. Our add-ons to Ol Doinyo Lengai (a volcano near Lake Natron) and Lake Eyasi were wonderful experiences. The volcano was a gruelling hike (be prepared to double the time estimates given to you, and keep in mind we were the only group to reach the top that night of the many that attempted) for inexperienced climbers like us, but the sunrise view and the surprise at the top were worth it. At Lake Eyasi we had an unforgettable time of visiting a Bushmen tribe that MUST be experienced for anyone who has time.
In Zanzibar, Scenic Safari booked us into excellent hotels in great locations (the Stone Town seafront and a secluded beach resort). Transfers to and from the airport were all planned for us and ran very smoothly, although there was some confusion on our end regarding our final one, Amanda was easy to reach by email and phone from the resort and was able to clear it up for us.
There is only one concern we had on the entire trip and that was the estimated driving times given to us on the itinerary. The estimates were often far too low (we drove for double the posted time). As Canadians, we are used to long driving times to get to any other city, and were a bit annoyed to have to sit in a car longer than we were expecting. That being said, the trip was INCREDIBLE and an adventure of a lifetime (see the 5-star review) and African Scenic Safaris comes with a high recommendation from us.