IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Tour Operator was Mr Japhet and tour Guide was Mr Martin
I would love to thank Mr Japhet for his nonstop support and communication with me. As I had many questions and queries but Mr Japhet was always there to answer them. He assisted me in getting the best accommodations and best package with the places I wanted to go. He ensured that I do have a memorable tour with him and his tour guide. My tour agent Mr Japhet and Mr Martin my tour guide did wait for me and husband until we come out of the airport. My Tour agent Mr Japhet also visited us after our tour so bid us farewell. So kind of him to do that. Hope Mr Japhet and Mr Martin progress in their career ahead as they are doing a great job.
My Tour Guide Mr Martin was exceptional, knowledgeable and Strong man. He never made me and my husband feel uncomfortable. He ensured we enjoyed our experience. We did made few jokes on our way to our tour but he ensured we had a safe and comfortable journey. Mr Martin ensured we see the Big 5 and we get to see the animals very close and take pictures. He ensured we have enough pictures and videos. He is a very knowledgeable man. I salute for a man so knowledgeable.
Our tour was in the peak season. Due to Migration of animals and the wild beest. So our tour was value for money, expensive. However It was the best decision at the right time.
My tour was as follows Amboseli 2 nights Lake Nakuru 1 night and Masai Mara 2 nights.
We stayed in the following accommodations with meals onboard.
Amboseli Tulia Camp.
Lake Nakuru Sarovar Lion Hill Game Lodge.
Masai Mara Sentrim Mara Lodge.
I would say Tulia camp was one of the best accommodations. As our tent was right across the forest and we could see the animals in front of us. The camp was super clean and the staff was so kind and polite they ensured we had an amazing dining experience.
The fireplace was great and view below the night sky with the chilly weather made it romantic.
They also offered us picnic boxes which was filled with a lot of items to eat. Great way to enjoy your tour with the nature.
Sarovar Lion hill game lodge was great experience. They had an amazing place to see different kinds of birds in their hotel. They actually dedicated a space for the birds and a detailed information is given across the bird feeding place. Their food was amazing as well. The staff was polite as well. They ensured that we dined for our Lunch, dinner and Breakfast.
Please cross check with the hotel reception if your tour guide is staying with you or is having an accommodation. As it is not fair that My your guide Mr Martin had to go and stay in another hotel as we arrived little late.
Sentrim Masai Mara lodge was another camp for us to explore. At first we seen monkeys but they were not harming. Tents were cute.
Food was great. They did have an amazing bar and a fire place to explore as well.
Sentrim Mara Staff can be a bit better and polite with tour guides as I felt bad for my tour guide as here as well they did not provide any information if he will be staying with us in the same accommodation or not. I had to cross check with the reception if my tour guide is having a room to stay or not.
You have to take care of your tour guide as they are the ones who make your vacation a memorable and exceptional one.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Emanuel curated my trip of a lifetime!!
I loved my 5 day Safari with Crater Explorer! I traveled solo and was added with other people to form a group. I had the BEST groups and drivers!!
Emanuel, the owner, was easy to work with and went above and beyond in customer care. He wants everyone to have the best experience and it was evident in his prior communication and personal interactions face to face. Plus, the curating of an exciting adventure.
This adventure was nothing short of extraordinary. My journey took me through Tarangire National Park, the Serengeti National Park (for two days), the Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara, each offering a unique and awe-inspiring experience.
Tarangire was a favorite because it was the first wild animals I saw and they took my breath away. I was so moved I got teary-eyed.
The Serengeti is massive in size! Extremely bumpy with washboard roads and bumps...kinda fun and numbing! Lol. The diversity of animals was exciting to see! The TV program, "Wild Kingdom" was coming to life! I saw hippos and crocodiles here where I hadn't yet seen yet.
The Ngorongoro Crater was another highlight of my trip. The crater’s breathtaking views and the rich wildlife within its walls made it feel like I had stepped into a natural paradise. I saw an abundance of wildebeests and zebras numbering in the thousands!! The crater’s unique ecosystem is something everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime.
My safari concluded at Lake Manyara, which offered a completely different environment. The lush greenery and the tranquil lake provided a perfect backdrop for birdwatching. Home to 400 elephants made it an intimate experience.
Throughout my journey, the accommodations were comfortable and exceeded my expectations. Each lodge and camp was well-appointed, offering a blend of luxury and authenticity. The service was top-notch, with staff members who were not only friendly and welcoming but also incredibly knowledgeable about the wildlife and local culture. Their passion and enthusiasm added a special touch to my experience.
This safari was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that left me with unforgettable memories. The combination of diverse landscapes, abundant wildlife, and exceptional service made it an adventure I'll cherish forever. I highly recommend this safari to anyone looking to immerse themselves in the natural beauty and wonders of Tanzania.
Thank you, Crater Explorer!!
FR
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Perfect trip
We had a perfect stay, the wildlife and payasage did not disappoint us and the Kenyans are so pleasant and easy to talk to.
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Who needs to be done to be competitive in the world of safari travel.
My overall trip was very good. However, the distances that we covered on the ground were long and tiring. I would also have enjoyed activities other than Safari. Perhaps visits to some tribes, or other cultural events. I would not recommend Zambia in general for a first time Safari Planner.
That being said, working with Christa at Bundu Safari’s was very good. She was a good communicator. Likewise, our guide and driver, Andrew did an excellent job throughout the entire trip. He was knowledgeable, patient, and did his best to find animals. I highly recommend him.
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Kafue National Park by Lorraine
The Busanga plains in the northern part of the park was a highlight for me. It’s absolutely beautiful, with amazing sunrises and sunsets. It should be a UNESCO world heritage site.
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Lower Zambezi National Park by Lorraine
I loved our lodge along the river. It was a beautiful setting to watch and hear the hippos, elephants, another wildlife. I was able to see the wild dogs here which was an amazing experience.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent short safari experience
We booked a 4 day safari through African Polecat Safaris. Dixon was our personal tour guide (only two of us in our group, my husband and myself). We ran into problems before we left the US when Delta Airlines cancelled all their flights on the day we were supposed to leave for Tanzania. We were put on a flight three days later. African Polecat rescheduled the dates of our safari ($250 change fee since he had to rebook two plane flights). We finally arrived in Dar es Salaam and the driver picked us up at our hotel early in the morning and took us to the DAR airport. We arrived in Arusha quickly and were met by James with Polecat and Dixon our guide and driver. Dixon was an excellent guide, very knowledgeable about the animals, very helpful and kind of everyone around us and very nice to talk to. We were very impressed that he helped another jeep driver get to the top of the Ngorongoro crater by pulling his vehicle with a rope. We had very very nice accommodations at Jungle Pearl and two tented camps in the Serengeti. Our rooms, the dining rooms and lounges were all excellent. The food was very good. We had a hot hamper lunch each day at a picnic area which I really enjoyed. Dixon provided drinks for us including, water, diet coke, beer and wine. The jeep was very roomy and the expandable top was convenient for watching the animals. We saw lots and lots of animals including a lion pair mating. Four days is pretty short for a safari and we spent a lot of time driving. Dixon was a very safe driver. The only slight drawback was that the jeep didn't have a charger or wifi as was advertised. But we had plenty of time to recharge our camera batteries at our nightly accommodations so that was not a problem. We took lots of good photos and Dixson was always willing to stop if we saw something we wanted to take a photo of. At the end of the 4 days a Polecat driver (also very nice person) drove her to the Kilimanjaro airport for a short flight to Zanzibar. All in all a wonderful safari experience.
MX
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic trip, great tour company
The trip with Maasai Mara Train company experience in Kenya was fantastic. The travel coordinator Wilson is reliable, service oriented and always responsive. He was very patient putting together this private road trip with all our wishes and within our budget. I paid the whole trip by credit card over 6 months in advance and everything worked out well. Also the pick up from the airport worked perfectly
Mr Ruffus was our guide. He is very friendly, knowledgeable, great service and good driver.
Our tours were fantastic.
1. Nairobi: city tour visit street children walk along the street around the city.
2. Lake Nakuru National Park game driving. We saw lots of animals including many Rhinos, several lions, a leopard, buffalos, girraffs, hyeanas, monkeys, zebras etc.
3. Naivasha hell's gate the only unique park in Kenya you can do walking and cycling viewing the animals
4. Boat Ride to Crescent island for your nature walk with the Animals: we were so close to zebras, Antílopes, Giraffes, etc. Amazing.
5. Maasai Mara Game drive. Awsome. You see the big five animals and many more like cheetahs, Warthog, Topi, Eland, Hippo, etc. During August you have the chance to see the vast herds of wildebeasts, gazelles and zebra migrating over from Serengeti National Park to Maasai Mara
We stayed at Ziwa Lodge near Lake Nakunu. We spent nights at Naivasha Resort and Sopa Lodge in Maasai Mara. All highly recommendable.
Thanks a lot for everything
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very professional and trustworthy
Communication was timely and the payment process went without a hick. It was secure. The tour itself was well organized and everything went smoothly. We had so much fun.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
One of the best tours I have ever taken
It had been my dream to travel to the national parks in Kenya and see Africa's rich wildlife including the Big Five (elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard). I am glad that I chose Africa Flash Mc Tours & Travel. I first found them through safaribookings.com. They had good reviews and their contact person Peter was responsive from the start regarding my inquiries on their 5 day private safari package covering Amboseli, Nakuru and Masai Mara. Though a bit on the expensive side for us, it seemed to meet our requirements in terms of the itinerary as well as the accommodations and so we booked it about three months in advance with 50% of the payment made at the time of booking and the remaining 50% completed closer to the start date of our safari.
The safari vehicles provided during the tour were 4X4 Land Cruisers which is what you need for navigating the terrain in these parks. The top part of these vehicles can be opened during game drives for proper wildlife viewing and photography. We had two excellent tour guides cum drivers, Jackson and Simon, who left no stone unturned to help us spot and identify the different wildlife around us, and went above and beyond to cater to the needs of our family during the tour. I told them that we love to see all the wildlife but my favorite one was the leopard which is the hardest to spot among the Big Five.
During the five days of safari we spotted more than thirty different species of animals and birds, including elephants at Amboseli, rhinos and buffaloes at Nakuru and cheetahs and lions in Masai Mara. The crowning moment was perhaps our encounter in Masai Mara with the elusive leopard - a female and her cub, thanks to Simon who was our driver and guide for Masai Mara. It was the last of the Big Five that we spotted and Simon was absolutely determined to make sure that we did not leave Masai Mara without seeing the leopard.
The accommodations provided during the tour were all consistent with those described in the itinerary. They were comfortable and provided the much treasured experience of living in luxury tented camps situated inside the parks (Flamingo Hill Camp at Nakuru and Mara Sopa in Masai Mara) or in the proximity of park entrance (Kibo Lodge at Amboseli). Lying down on a comfortable bed at night inside the tented camps and falling asleep while listening to sounds of all the wildlife around is an experience in itself that all safari lovers will cherish. The spreads at all the buffets were amazing and the boxed lunches provided during the day game-drives were thoughtfully put together keeping in mind our dietary preferences (we had one vegetarian in our family).
In summary, I was blown away by the experience we had during the tour: clearly one of the best that we have ever taken. I would give them 10 out of 5 stars if that were possible !