50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A great driving safari covering a cross-section of Kenya
We booked a complex safari with 4 different destinations only a week or so ahead of time in peak season. John was amazingly quick and efficient at setting things up, including changing one of the lodges for something more out-of-the-way. Our driver/guide, Richard, drove well and worked extremely hard each day to give us the best possible experience (including handling a breakdown by replacing parts rather than trying to patch things together until we got back to Nairobi). It did feel a bit rushed at times, but that was partly because the itinerary we chose covered a lot of ground and both Nakuru and the Mara were pretty crowded in peak season. Landscapes and game viewing were amazing – including all the big 5 and much more. I would definitely recommend if you’re looking to pack a lot into a short trip.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic planning and an even better adventure
We booked our first safari through Spirit of Kenya and had an excellent family adventure. Filipa was wonderful to work with during the planning phase – very responsive, knowledgeable, and provided great options.
We had good luck with the animals (saw the big five) and really enjoyed the Melia Hotels – facility, staff, food and views that cannot be beat. We were grateful that Zebra River Camp was able to accommodate us given the flooding not too long before we arrived. The upgraded “tents” were hardly roughing it and the staff, food and animals (elephants, hippos, cape buffalo, wort hogs, and mongoose) that came by were great. We appreciated the Masai tribe members that kept vigil throughout the night.
A few highlights:
• following a leopard around while it was hunting for about 30 minutes before it walked under our vehicle (close enough to touch)
• the pride of lions that crossed a field straight to our vehicle then split and rejoined on the other side (close enough to touch any of them, including the male)
• a group of 24 elephants (with 5 babies) did the same thing (close enough to touch)
• multiple pairs of cheetahs (some as close as 3 meters)
• a herd of cape buffalo that meant business
• seeing 3 different pairs of rhinos in the crater (not close enough to touch)
• a dozen giraffes surrounded by hundreds of zebras and some wildebeests all running together
• a pond with over 100 hippos and a couple of crocodiles
• many different birds including bright pink flamingos
• many smaller mammals (warthogs, baboons, jackals, hyenas, mongoose, various types of antelope)
A very memorable experience was the balloon ride going directly over the great migration – thousands of wildebeests/zebras, a family of elephants, several hyenas and ostriches, as well as some lions on the hunt – and the fantastic champagne brunch out in the bush.
Bosco was a fine guide in Kenya (Nairobi to Masai Mara) and Francis did excellent work in Tanzania (Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha). They could somehow find/spot animals while managing the challenging terrain.
We highly recommend Filipa and Spirit of Kenya~
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing time with Lion King Adventures
I am writing to express my sincere appreciation for the outstanding 4-day safari experience we recently enjoyed with Lion King Adventures in Tanzania. From start to finish, the level of service and professionalism exhibited by your team was truly exceptional.
Our guide, Khalifa, was absolutely superb. His extensive knowledge of the wildlife, flora, and fauna enhanced our safari experience. Khalifa's passion for the animals was evident in every aspect of our journey, making each moment memorable and educational. His friendly demeanor and expert insights into the local environment ensured we felt safe and engaged throughout our adventure.
I must also commend Nickson for his excellent organizational skills and attentive service. His meticulous planning and attention to detail ensured that our safari ran smoothly from beginning to end. Nickson's personal touch and dedication to creating an unforgettable experience were evident throughout our trip.
The 4-day itinerary was well-structured, allowing us to witness an incredible array of wildlife in their natural habitats while taking in the breathtaking landscapes of Tanzania. We visited Tarangire, Serengeti & the Ngorogoro crater. The combination of Khalifa's expertise and Nickson's organizational prowess resulted in a truly life-changing experience that we will cherish forever.
I wholeheartedly recommend Lion King Adventures to anyone considering a safari in Tanzania. The professionalism, knowledge, and passion demonstrated by the team have set a new standard for what we expect from a travel experience.
Thank you for providing such an exceptional safari adventure.
BR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience
Amazing experience, thank you so much to my guide “good luck” and the kibokoland. Best experience in my life
IT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
very efficient and able to organize fantastic tours across different areas of Madagascar
We had a terrific tour with 2 4WD cars and excellent drivers who took us from Tana to Antsirabe to the Tsiribihina river, where we left for three days in a boat and slept for two nights in tents on beaches along the river. The two guides from 261 Exp stayed with us on the boat. We got in touch with people from the villages and had a great time on the boat with marvellous views, lunches and dinners, as well as fire on the beach and music. Then we went to Bekopaka and stayed there for three days to visit the Tsingy of Bemaraha, with walks in the big and small tsingy, caves, pirogue on the river. After one night in Morondava where we arrived just after admiring the avenue of bobabs at sunset, we drove back to Antsirabe. We had a problem with one of the cars, but our guide made it possible to let us continue the trip. The day after we reached Ranomafana and visited the rainforest. For every visit, we had a local guide. The next day we went to Ambalavao after a quick visit to Fianarantsoa, and then we went to the Andringita national park where we had a great walk and marvellous views of the mountains as well as great time with the people from the village. The next stop was Ranohira and the Isalo National park, with beautiful walks, rocks, waterfalls and natural pools. Then we finished our tour at the seaside, in Mangily where we did snorkeling in the coral reef and a tour with quads on the beach. Then back to Tana, a brief tour of the old town, and back home. The tour was great, well organized and scheduled but at the same time flexible and matching the needs of the tourists. We enjoyed the company of our guides.
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent!
My wife and I had a fantastic time on our honeymoon with Frena Adventures! We did a 2 day trek in Rwanda and Uganda, and our guide Farouk was amazing! He was perfect and we were so lucky to have him as our guide! It was a wonderful way to kick off the honeymoon. Farouk was very knowledgeable, made us feel so comfortable, and was a fantastic driver!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best Holiday Experience Ever!!!
It was our 10th wedding anniversary we found King Mufasa Expeditions through Safaribooking.com.
I liaised with the company regarding the details of the trip and at every step of the way they went above and beyond to make our experience special.
We booked a 2 day safari flying from, and back to Zanzibar. On arrival in Arusha airport we were greeted by them. The tyre covers at the back of the 4x4 were personalised with a lovely picture of us and anniversary message.
Our driver and safari guide Manfred made us feel more than welcome. He was knowledgeable of all the animals and an amazing driver. He even became our personal photographer a few times on the trip!
The whole trip was organised amazingly with no hiccups, even though we had a flat tire on safari the 2nd day which Manfred had no issue fixing it.
The accommodation (Escarpment Luxury Lodge) was lovely, from the room, to the view of lake manyara from the main building. We also was given a uniquely African anniversary celebration at dinner, it was the highlight of our stay.
Only issue was the flight back to Zanzibar with Precision Air. The flight was delayed by an over an hour with no information on the boards. Had to ask the attendants for more information a few times receiving little info. They served nuts to passengers on the plane and my wife has a mild nut allergy she had a slight reaction of hives.
I would suggest asking not to use Precision Air if you are booking this safari. Flightlink & Air Tanzania are better airlines. The safari experience itself an 11 out of 10 overall!
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Amazing Animal and Africa Experience!
Primate World Safari provided an incredible safari adventure. Geofry, our guide and driver, provided warm, safe, professional yet personal care for every aspect of our 11 day journey through amazing Uganda. Accommodations were top-notch with eco friendly places, many solar powered. Each lodge created a true Uganda ambiance, with comfy beds, in separate bunglows (except in Bwindi Gorilla Park), and local materials for finishes, dining areas, lounges, and sitting areas. Geofry tailored out tour to our unique wants. We enjoyed game drives, gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, community tours full of a peek into the life of the locals, markets, and other truly Ugandan side trips. All locals guides and rangers offered knowledge of the animals, birds, plants, and local area with pride in their country and their animals. Food at the lodges and stops on the road was of excellent quality with options for local foods or more international fare, with accommodations for gluten-free. My favorite meal was matooke (plantain) with chicken. All food is prepared fresh with local items. Everyone is very friendly and welcoming. All employees at lodges and restaurants displayed top notch customer service. Jackson the owner offered help with a visa glitch. Truly, the best safari company for an amazing safari experience where we became family, not customers.
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Kind and well organized tour operator
Not only Dickson, ceo of Hooves of Africa Safari, but also Stuart, driver of the whole tour, they took care of me from the beginning to the end with professional manner.
My emails were replied right away and all the questions about the trip were answered quickly by Dickson.
Stuart drove the jeep as smooth as he could and guided me all the places with kind introduction.
I was very satisfied with thi trip.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional, thorough, safe, and gave us the holiday of a lifetime.
Very impressed with the service we received from Ant in advance of the trip. Organising an itinerary that suited our timescales and requirements over WhatsApp, email, phone and facetime was all done with a minimum of fuss.
Upon arrival in Harare, we received a detailed briefing from him and Beaven in advance of departure. Because one of our party had been held up due to a cancelled flight, we had to re-jig the schedule and, again, this was done in a heartbeat and without any anxiety.
The trip itself was fantastic. Beaven was magnificent and negotiated the dreadful Zim roads like the pro that he is. At the sites we stayed, erecting the tents and sorting out the facilities became second nature and we were made to feel like family. The food was great (including one of our number who was vegan) and nothing was too much trouble. We visited Mana Pools, Chitake and Chizarira national parks - all of which had their own differing appeal which meant that we all had different favourites! There's not enough space to talk of the amazing experiences at each of the camps and sailing on Lake Kariba. All magnificent!
At every stage, Beaven's expertise and knowledge shone through. He looked after us and we felt we made a friend for life. There were some early starts and by the end, some of the teenagers were less than enamoured with getting up at 0600, but we saw it through and came back to the UK with memories that will last a lifetime, all thanks to the Mane Pools Tourism Services. 10 out out 10, guys!