US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Competent, honest, and thorough.
Secret Namibia managed to pull together my last-minute request for a solo trip in Namibia. They did a terrific job, at a very fair price. I highly recommend them for their local knowledge and excellent staff. Thank you, SN!
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Daudi was incredible and helped us plan the safari with ease and professionalism.
I didn’t know exactly what to picture when I was planning this safari for my dad and I, but it was everything we could have hoped for and then so much more. We did the 6 day safari and it was one of the most incredible experiences of our lives. Our safari guide Elia worked hard to make sure we saw every animal we wanted to see, including all of the big 5! He allowed us to tailor the experience to what was important to us, and had an impressive knowledge about each animal, tree, and landscape we saw. He was also super fun!
The lodging for this safari was next level. I don’t know what luxury includes but the mid-range safari had lodging that was as good if not better than resorts I’ve stayed at in the past. There was WiFi at each location so we could check in with family, the staff at each place was so welcoming and friendly, and the beds were sooo nice after long and exciting days of game drives. I could not write enough good things about the places we stayed, truly. The only wish I had was that there were more hours in the day because I wanted to spend more time at each lodge but without giving up any of the time we spent on game drives during the days!
Lastly, we started our safari the day after my dad’s 69th birthday. I told our safari guide Elia this, just as a conversation piece with no expectation of anything else. On the second to last day at dinner at our tented camp, the staff came out singing songs in Swahili and then happy birthday, with a cake for my dad. Elia had gone out of his way to set up the whole thing without either of us knowing. It meant so much to me and even more to my dad for him to go above and beyond to make my dad feel special and give him a birthday celebration he will never forget.
We saw elephants, buffalo, leopards, a rhino, lions, so many birds, hippos, crocodiles, giraffes, wildebeest, zebra, a black mamba, many types of antelope, monkeys, baboons, and more. It’s one thing to see these animals on television and just a surreal experience to see them in person.
I know I experienced a lot of anxiety about choosing the right company, especially from thousands of miles away in the US, for this safari. I can confidently say I do not have one single regret about booking with Meijo. It was a life changing experience and we will definitely be back for more.
IT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safari fantastic experience with our guide OMARY
The Safari experience in Tanzania was beautiful and exciting, emotionally involving all our senses.
We visited Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro and continued to the Serengeti in 5 days with our guide OMARY who accompanied us both physically and emotionally in our fantastic "African" adventure, showing us and explaining very well every natural feature of each park (animals and vegetation).
Through his patience and passion for his work, Omary managed to make us observe the "BIG FIVE", for which we are very grateful. This experience left us with wonderful memories and we will definitely do another adventure in the parks of Tanzania hoping to meet our dear friend OMARY again.
(automatic translation from Italian)
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Stanley was knowledgeable, friendly, accommodating and great at problem solving when the need arose
The best tour provider in Uganda!
Jan 2024 • Family
Alive African Adventures can only be highly recommended. Stanley and his friendly staff were highly qualified with knowledge of the different areas and were great at problem solving when the need arose and were able to adjust quickly to new and changing circumstances to make this truly a trip of a lifetime. We felt very safe and taken care of during our four day luxury gorilla trekking Tour. The Clouds Gorilla Lodge was exceptional and the food was excellent. We also visited a nearby Batwa village and had a wonderful luncheon at the Arcadia Lodge on the way to the Bwindi Impenetrable forest. We wish Stanley and Jane and Chris and the crew all the best and hope that everyone who comes to Uganda will be able to experience the wonderful service that Alive African Adventures has to offer.
Kind Regards, Petra and Paul
Vancouver, Canada
BE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very professional and satisfying
We went on a 2-day safari in Tanzania, visiting Tarangire National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater, and the experience was fantastic! From the start, the manager provided very professional follow-up, keeping us informed at every stage of the trip.
Our guide was not only friendly but also very attentive, which made the tour even more enjoyable. The parks are absolutely stunning, and we were lucky to see a wide variety of animals. The Heart & Soul Lodge, where we stayed, is a true haven of peace. Located in the Tanzanian countryside, it is not only beautiful but also very comfortable.
The only slight downside is that the transfers between the airport, the parks, and the lodge are quite long, which can be a bit tiring. However, it is definitely worth it! There are certainly lodges closer to the parks, but they are likely more expensive. In the end, we found that our package offered a good balance between comfort and a reasonable budget.
We highly recommend this experience.
FI
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We felt scammed
I booked the 3 day safari tour for the 5th of August 2024 for 3 people including me. Mariam requested i send her the first half of the payment which she received successfully. A few weeks before the safari I emailed her asking when the next payment was to be made and she replied a week before the trip. I sent her the money and it was deducted from my account successfully. Two days before the safari Mariam informs me she has not received the payment. I shoe her screenshots of payment and questioned why she did not ask me earlier about the payment and decided to inform me two days before the trip. She said if she does not receive the second payment the trip will be cancelled and no refund will be made for the first half. My friends and I obviously panic because we travelled to Kenya mainly for the safari and we did not want to miss it. I asked her to meet me the next day so I could pay her in cash because making a bank transaction would take days to reflect on her account. At this point we were taking a big risk giving her money again but we also thought the fault could have been with my bank but it would take me days to figure the situation with my bank all the way from Kenya.
Mariam assured if the money reflects in her account she would transfer it back to me. The sum of it was nearly 1400 USD. We were able to leave for the safari and had a lovely trip. Our tour guide mentioned he does not work for Mamu Travels and the other people in our group had also booked with different companies.
After the trip I contacted Mamu Travels regarding the money and she claimed to not have received it. I told her my bank confirmed the money is in her account since it had been weeks. Mariam was very frustrated and accused me of being a liar. She was VERY unprofessional during phone calls and raised her voice MULTIPLE times at me. Mariam ended up blocking me and till this day we have not received our money.
US
Excellent communication and enthusiastic about the local tours
Prior to our 10 day safari tour, my family of 5 adults booked the Materuni Waterfall and Coffee tour with Leonard at ngoteasafaris in Arusha, TZ. Leonard was very responsive throughout our e mail booking process. His guide Dany picked us up in a very nice passenger van. Dany is very knowledgable about all the local culture and the Kilimanjaro area. We drove to the trail head for the hike to the Materuni Waterfall which is windy and bumpy. Dany was very patient with our questions and we started our education about the Materuni Tribe. The hike was beautiful - I'd say begineer to moderate level. The paths are narrow and it was a gorgeous day so there were other hikers. It is incredible to say you saw the waterfall from Mt. K. snows. The tour included a typical Materuni lunch made by the locals. All foods made on hot fires with natural grown fruits and plants. The banana soup was the stand out. My kids say it was their best lunch of our vacation! After lunch the Materuni members taught us how they make coffee up in the hills. What a great hands on experience. We crushed, roasted and drank the coffee that we made. The Materuni are wonderful people. They are welcoming and so joyful. Lots of singing! I would HIGHLY recommend this tour. It is a long day from Arusha but worth it.
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Incredible team for an incredible experience!
My friend and I booked our Mt Kenya trek through Phine Safaris and they did not disappoint. Right from the beginning, the team responded to my many questions, thank you Kelvin, and provided details about the packages they offer. We were able to customize our trip and add a stop at Ol Pejeta conservancy at the end HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!!
Our guides, Joseph and Tim, and our cooks, Harrison and James, worked incredibly hard to keep us motivated, and well fed. We ate delicious meals. They catered to my dairy-free, pescatarian diet. ALL the meals were delicious. They treated us like old friends and were very relaxed, kind, and knowledgeable, and were constantly checking-in with us. We also had the opportunity to learn about the various places, animals, and plant life along the way. They met with us each morning to talk about weather, hiking conditions, layering (clothing) advice, and what to expect.
11 out of 10 DEFINITELY RECOMMEND booking with Phine Safaris!
KW
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Friendly and supportive
I had an incredible experience with Good One Tours in my recent vacation to Tanzania, They tailored my trip perfectly to my requirements, ensuring every detail was taken care of. Our guides Joshua and Aly were knowledgeable and friendly, making the journey even more enjoyable. Everything was arranged smoothly, allowing me to relax and fully immerse myself in the adventure. I highly recommend them for anyone looking to have a personalised and hassle-free travel experience!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great value safari and Masai experience
Musa was very helpful in putting together this value for money safari with a Masai experience, at short notice. He is friendly and will find a solution to your needs, he even helped us with good value airport transfers after our trip.
We were picked up early from our hotel, as promised and driven out for an enjoyable breakfast, on our drive out towards the Serengeti. On the way, we passed by Lake Manyara, with baboons spilling onto the road and our driver kindly stopped to let us take pictures. After the short stop for breakfast, we transferred to the safari vehicle and began the drive via the Ngorongoro crater national park. On entering we saw an elephant amongst the vegetation and we were assured by our guide and fellow safari goer that we would soon be deleting these pictures in place of better ones - they were not wrong! Our guide, Fede, soon got us in a prime position to see three lion cubs feasting on a recent kill and then found the mother nearby. I think there is an element of luck with safaris but Fede's knowledge and experience, as well as good communication with fellow guides, got us to the right places at the right times. We got some great close ups during our trip, even with a male lion, as we were leaving the Serengeti. Although a brief rhino spotting eluded most of the group, one of our party managed to get a shot on camera and we were able to see as much, if not more than we could have hoped for, on a relatively short tour. Visiting the Serengeti and Ngorongoro, we were able to see a large variety of animals over 3 days (2 nights) and I think these are the best two options, if you are short on time/money. Although camping conditions are not for everybody, this is luxury compared to the Kilimanjaro camps - you have access to hot water for washing/showers and the toilets are mostly in good condition.
Fede was gainfully assisted by two young colleagues, who were both humble and friendly on getting to know them. We were served great meals by our small team and chef, given the remote locations and we got to make some stops for photo opportunities and comfort breaks.
I packed a 50L day bag for the 3-days and was able to fit everything that I needed, as food, water, tents and sleeping bags are provided. I would highly recommend taking a buff, as you will likely encounter a lot of dust.
This was my first safari and I thoroughly enjoyed it, standing up on a drive for the first time with the roof popped up was an unforgettable experience. If you have not encountered the Masai before, then a stop by their village for a brief tour and being greeted by some singing/dancing is a welcome and insightful addition to the adventure.
Overall, I am very happy with my experience and communications with Expedicion de Superheroes and would be happy to recommend their services.
