US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible Experience and Value
We had a wonderful time with Christopher and I Dream of Africa (his company)! He provided a top notch safari that exceeded expectation. His goals and day plans are guided by years of experience. We are especially thankful he made efforts to avoid the large crowds that can occur at the big parks in the busy season.
We did a "budget camping safari", but it was the highest class camping we've ever done. Military grade tents, cots, and bedding, with a skilled full-time cook proving three fresh made multi-course meals a day. Camping allows you to be on-site at the national parks so you can get off early see the wildlife all by yourself, before the crowds of other safari groups get there. Also you can stick around to see the sunset over the wild savanna, hours after the lodge-staying crowds have left.
It is also clear the Christopher cares for the wildlife and conservation, and doesn't just look at it as a business opportunity. He knows the flora and fauna extremely well, and dives into the books if there's any uncertainty.
Finally, many of the popular safari companies are foreign owned (lots of Indian and Chinese). It's a great way to support a local entrepreneur in a country that needs all the help it can get. You'll be doing this with the opposite of a sacrifice: getting a top of the line safari as well.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
The operator has passion and enthusiastic about what he does and want the best for his clients
The communication is great and they provide the best service to their clients and always respond our needs. The safari tour has the best guide and knowledgeable. The vehicle they are the best for safari
BE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent service: fast & relevant
I booked this safari (5 nights Manyeleti & Timbavati) only two weeks upfront, with quite specific requests. In spite of the period being high season, Alex provided me with an itinerary very quickly and was able to change one of the lodges according to my wishes, again very fast. The kind of customer service interaction that makes you happy :-) The safari itself was excellent and surpassed my expectations. The lodges were exactly what I wanted, and the rangers were a credit to their profession. Really, really nice!
Thanks Alex for putting together an unforgettable experience for me.
Cheers!
Dimitri
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent tour operator
This was truly a great and unforgettable experience, the guys of Pride of Africa are very professional and accurate in the description of the packages on their web site. I was contacted via by them via safaribookings.com, and since the first contact by Stephen everything was perfect and what I expected of an experienced tour operator. I booked a 3-day Masai Mara visit, and as i was travelling solo i joined a group of 6, with our driver and guide Jeff. Due to skills of Jeff we were able to view Lions, Leopards, Cheetahs, Elephants, Wider beast, Gazelles, Baboons and many other animals in their natural environment. I had chosen the camping option, and that too was out another experience all together, the camp was very comfortable, with hot showers and more importantly the experience of it all was amazing, although they can arrange for other accommodation options as well.
I would definitely use Pride of Africa again if i get the chance if adventure and exploration in this part of the world.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
a great experience, life chsanging
excellenrt service and good clean envuronment. also the safari was exceptional.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
It's a personal AND professional company that exceeded our expectations
We had 6 adults in our party (ages 26-71) with lots of individual requests for places to see. From the time we first inquired about a safari, Salim was extremely helpful and very flexible since we changed our minds a number of times. Once we got to Arusha, we met our wonderful driver and guide Rajabu. He was very knowledgeable of the birds and mammals and made sure we saw every possible animal. He was patient, considerate and careful for our safety in many ways including solving a mechanical problem with the vehicle very efficiently. The problem occurred in a remote place in the N. Serengeti and Rajab was able to figure out how to get the vehicle springs repaired and the vehicle back on the road capably. We really liked the tented camps and the employees there were very attentive (the lodges were less personal and the food in those was only fair). In addition to seeing the wildlife, we really liked our visit to Olduvai Gorge and the day with the Hadze (Bushmen) near Lake Eyasi with a local guide (Sadi). Both experiences should be added to a safari trip in order to better understand Tanzania's pre-history and culture. We had a fabulous experience and would highly recommend Bright African Safaris.
BE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Selous in three days
Thanks to Ahmed, the owner, and Ibra, my driver-guide, for the quality of the safari: 2 nights at Jimbiza camp in Selous with one boat safari, one all-day game drive and one walking safari.
The price is attractive and the offer is good value for money compared to others that I saw.
All was perfect from the begining to the end of my trip.
Beautiful landscapes in Selous, very nice staff at Jimbiza camp, delicious food and perfect game drive.
IN
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Honest people and always try to give their best
As I wrote in heading , they are honest and try to give their best. The price they charge , it may not be possible to expect more what they provide. We were 30 persons group and sometimes it was really a challenge to make all happy. Arun, their leader guide need special mention for his leadership quality and attitude. Rest all three were very good and well mannered. We enjoyed our safari and was of course a life time experience .
Regarding stay and food, I would say food may be repetitive, it all depends what you want there? Safari or food? Regarding stay Amboseli camps: some tents are really good but many of them are really rundown condition. We managed. Nakuru Hotel: Very good and clean. Food both dinner and breakfast was buffet and not bad at all as someone wrote. Mara springs camp: was very good . All camps had water supply hot and cold 24 hours. Electricity was by generator run from 6:30 pm to 10 pm and 6 am to 8 am. It was never a problem. few tents has charging point of its own and some has not. The caretaker Williams was the nicest person I saw there , I had no problem of charging my gadgets despite I has no charging point in my tent.
I will definitely recommend and will again visit but keep expectations low....you will enjoy
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Parks and wildlife were great, tour operator was not
I booked a 6D/5N with Meru Slopes, reading great reviews on SafariBookings.com.
I was dismayed to find out that they had shuffled me into a different company's safari, for unknown reason. This group was called Arunga Expeditions.
The guide spoke maybe 100 words the entire safari, we had battery issues with the LandCruiser, the lunch boxes were awful (dry muffin + banana + FOUR pieces of plain bread + juice box), and we were always rushed. When we would stop at say a large pride of lions and want to spend 5-10 minutes, the guide would try and start driving away after 1 minute to find something else. We'd have to ask him to stop so we can stay and watch the lion and actually take photos. He was never happy with this and often very rude. Often we'd leave something like this after 2 minutes and not see anything as spectacular the rest of the day. He'd mutter something like "many more lions later". The itinerary was to have FULL safari days at certain spots (Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, Serengeti) but this only meant 4 - 5 hours to the guide. He would sleep in, start slow, and end early, so he could take off from the campsite and go drink a couple beers and watch football somewhere. We were always the last vehicle out in the morning and first ones back. The itinerary had a full day booked at Ngorongoro but we were finished BEFORE lunch time. How does this work?
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing safari experience!
We had the best time. The guide Kikitu was the best we could have. So energetic and funny. He truly made it his mission to let us have a good time and with great succes. Everything was perfectly organised. We saw amazing wildlife(including the full big 5). And all of this for a very cheap price.