HK
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Way worse than we expected
I am very disappointed with the service from this company, including the director and tour guides.
Upon our arrival at Kenya International Airport in the morning after a long and exhausting flight from Asia, we were shocked to find that no one was there to pick us up. We waited for hours, anxiously looking for any sign of our transportation. During this time, we attempted to contact George multiple times, but we received no response. It was incredibly frustrating to be left in such a situation, especially after such a long journey. Ultimately, we had no choice but to call a taxi and make our own way to the first hotel. George only reached out to us after we had arrived at the hotel, explaining that his Kenyan partner had made a mistake and forgotten to send someone to pick us up. This lack of communication and organization was unacceptable.
On the following day in Kenya, we encountered further issues. The tour guide did not take us to the destination specified in our itinerary. Instead, we were pressured into participating in walking tours that required us to pay out of pocket, despite our initial refusals. The tour guide insisted that we must join at least one paid program, leaving us feeling coerced and dissatisfied with the experience we had originally signed up for.
Additionally, the lodges where we were accommodated were clearly of a much lower standard than what was promised in our itinerary. The company claimed that the accommodations listed were overbooked, yet they failed to provide us with equivalent options that matched the quality we had expected. The food served at these lodges was unsanitary, and we were suffering from diarrhea, which significantly impacted our trip.
Throughout our experience, there was a constant push to make us pay for additional services that were not part of our original package. Unplanned souvenir shopping stops were added without prior notice, which felt more like a sales tactic than a genuine part of our tour. This relentless focus on upselling not only detracted from our enjoyment but also made us feel undervalued as customers.
Overall, this trip has been far from the enjoyable experience we anticipated. I hope this feedback will be taken seriously to improve the service for future travelers.
AE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
On time, special treatment, customized to your needs, amazing price
A once-in-a-lifetime safari with the most caring team!
Our safari with this company was absolutely amazing. From the very beginning, Mike was so helpful and responsive—guiding us through the many safari and hotel options and patiently helping us choose what suited our family (traveling with our 1.5-year-old daughter). The entire trip was seamless, from airport pick-up to drop-off. We explored the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Zanzibar, and our driver Ramadan took such wonderful care of us throughout. What stood out the most was how genuinely caring, professional, and accommodating the team was—they truly went the extra mile to make sure we were comfortable and enjoyed every moment. Highly recommended for anyone looking for an unforgettable safari experience!
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing trip through Botswana & South Africa, thanks Robert
Amazing trip through Botswana & South Africa. Our individual itinerary for four was put together with great assistance and suggestions from Robert. We stayed at Oddballs Camp in the Okavango, Motswari at Timbavati, The Portswood in Cape Town, Rhino Post in Kruger & Elephant Plains at Sabi Sands. All the accommodation & experiences were fantastic, everything ran like clockwork with seamless transfers & connections. We 100% recommend Robert at Wild Africa Travel.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a Lifetime!
My son and I recently returned from a 10-day trip to Uganda and it was amazing! It was a trip of a lifetime! Everything went as planned from the time we were picked up at the airport in Entebbe to when we were dropped off to return home.
I researched several tour companies and I'm so glad I decided on Lulu Safaris. Elvis, the owner, was friendly and accomodating during the entire booking process. He answered all my questions and responded to my messages quickly. He even sent me their operating license and certificates with the Uganda Tourism Board when I requested them.
Our guide was Derrick and he was fantasic! He was very friendly and made us feel safe from start to finish. He drove my son and I over 3,000 miles in Uganda and seemed to know everybody. Derrick's driving skills were second to none. He always answered our questions and knew the best spots for observing wildlife. While driving to our next destination, Derrick would stop to get us fresh pinapple or "chicken on a stick" as a treat. He was not only a great guide, but we consider him a friend. Derrick even messaged us after we left to make sure we got home safely and to share some photos.
In summary, this was a "bucket list" trip for me and it was better than I ever imagined. The gorilla trek was definitely the highlight but everything else was terrific also. We saw so many animals and the people of Uganda are very friendly. The accomodations were wonderful and the food was excellent. I highly recommend Lulu Safaris and ask for Derrick to be your guide. You won't be disappointed!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Our tour guide was extremely knowledgable, loved nature, and made sure we felt very comfortable.
We absolutely loved our visit to Akagera National Park! Kingfisher Journeys did a fantastic job in putting together a package for our group that allowed us to experience the beauty and diversity of Rwanda. Every communication was prompt and everything was well explained. The accomodations exceeded our expectations. The staff were all amazing! We were treated with the utmost courtesy and respect. Our guide went above and beyond to make sure we felt comfortable and taken care of. He taught us so much about the country, its people and culture, as well as the park and the animals. It was a wonderful experience from pickup to dropoff, and we would definitely book again in the future.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Conservation and community focused custom expedition leaders
What a memorable trip through the Eastern Arc Mountains and national parks of Tanzania. Highly recommend for Nungunungu's customization and personal touch. Joe and his team went above and beyond to plan an itinerary based on our interests (birds, hiking, wildlife) and preferred mode of travel (less driving, more time enjoying the birds). Very helpful with planning, including health protocols and dietary needs. Our birding guide Abdul is one of the top individual birders in all of Africa and knew the sites and special species like the back of his hand, and his enthusiasm was contagious. Our driver Kapande was a pleasure to be around. Accommodations were lovely. Too many highlights to list, from waterfalls to mountain farming villages to great wetlands and savannah. Good value too!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Seamless experience!
We had a phenomenal experience working with Blends of Africa to arrange our honeymoon safari. From the very first inquiry, they stood out for their clear, detailed, and transparent pricing—something that’s rare among safari operators. There were no hidden costs, no vague estimates, just an honest and straightforward breakdown of every element of the trip. That immediately gave us confidence that we were working with the right company.
Everything ran smoothly before and once we arrived. We had done a lot of our own research and knew exactly where we wanted to go and stay, and even though our itinerary did not fall into one of the preset tours the company already had, they still handled all the arrangements flawlessly—coordinating transfers, domestic flights, and logistics between camps. Every detail was thought through, and we never once had to worry about schedules or connections. They communicated with the camps before and during our stay, and the camps commented on how attentive our outfitter was, and they were impressed with their concern for us.
Throughout the planning process, communication was excellent. They were always responsive, patient with our many questions, and willing to make adjustments so the itinerary was tailored to exactly to what we wanted.
They had no issues handling some last-minute changes we made during the trip when we decided to return to Nairobi early. They had someone ready to drive us around for the day for some sightseeing and watch our luggage, with very little notice and at a reasonable cost.
Another huge advantage is that Blends of Africa is a local company rather than a foreign outfitter, allowing us to support people on the ground directly. The value for money was outstanding and the same price (or better!) as booking ourselves and less expensive than other outfitters for the same itinerary.
Everything exceeded our expectations, and we had a seamless, unforgettable safari experience. I cannot recommend Robert, Mary, Ben, and team highly enough—if you’re looking for a reliable, professional, and genuinely excellent safari operator, they’re the one to choose.
P.S. we stayed at Loldia House in Naivasha and Kicheche Valley in Naboisho for 6 nights - a perfect combo! If we were do do anything differently, we would have spent more time on safari and done Laikipia or Amboseli or another day at Kicheche. We did do 3 days at Diani Beach which was pleasant but we preferred the safari experience more! Whatever you choose, ask Robert for recommendations, he knows his stuff!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent experience from start to finish
My traveling companions and I booked a 3-day, 2-night safari in Amboseli to cap off some medical mission work we were doing in Kenya.
First off, booking the tour was very easy. I was sent a detailed quote with the itinerary and total costs, which included the tour itself, the accommodations, transportation from wherever you're staying to the meeting location near Nairobi. No hidden costs, very straight-forward, the booking process was pleasant and no-fuss. They will literally take care of all the details for you, communicating and updating you along the way; all you have to do is show up for your tour and enjoy your experience. Our tour guide, John was phenomenal. He was friendly, helpful, professional, and fun to hang out with while he shared his vast knowledge of the reserve during our tour and all the wildlife that live within it. We can tell that it wasn't just a job for him, but that he still enjoyed his business and has a passion for it. Amboseli is an elephant mecca, you are guaranteed to see these beautiful beasts by the herd in Amboseli. We also saw tons of zebra, gazelle, impala, baboons, giraffes, wildebeest, ostrich, hippos, and we even encountered the lions on our last day! Our lodgings were clean, comfortable, and pretty with a gorgeous view of Kilimanjaro in the background (though it was hidden under cloud cover during our stay). I would relive this extraordinary tour if I could, request John as my tour guide, and add more days. What a wonderful experience!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great guides, luxurious lodges, comfortable cars
We were a family of eight, and booked a 8 night safari across Kenya and Tanzania with Gosheni. Overall the trip was amazing and the Gosheni guides, Dawood in Kenya and Michael and Prosper in Tanzania took very good care of us. The guides were fun, pleasant and courteous. They communicated constantly with other drivers to locate the best sightings, and always drove us to the point with the best view. We saw all the wildlife we wanted close-up, including a cheetah hunting, the big 5 and leopards and lions with their cubs.
Their cars were very spacious, clean and comfortable.
We were also very happy with the lodges they selected and particularly enjoyed the Karibu group lodges.
While Gosheni got most of the important things right, there were a few hiccups which we feel could have been avoided. For example, the power sockets in the cars didn’t work, the wrong flight arrival time was provided and to the driver at Kogatende, the hot lunch option was only provided to us on two of the eight days, the wrong lodge was stated in the itinerary at one park.
Despite these small hiccups, we had a lovely holiday overall and would recommend Gosheni.
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing
An unforgettable experience, made truly special thanks to our guide, China. Initially a bit reserved, he turned out to be an outstanding guide with 21 years of experience and deep knowledge of the land.
The lodges we stayed at were overall nice, with the last one (Voi Safari Lodge) offering a breathtaking view that truly stood out.
The agency (with Antony as our main contact) was very helpful and responsive throughout the planning process.
However, there were a few aspects that could have been communicated more clearly in advance. The remaining balance had to be paid in cash upon arrival, but the evening before the safari started, we were asked to hand over the money to a collaborator who would come to our private hotel. We preferred to give it directly to the guide in person the next morning, as originally expected.
Also, paying in local currency instead of US dollars ended up costing us more, due to the higher exchange rate applied by the lodges (compared to the official rate found online). This is definitely something that should be mentioned in advance, especially for travelers coming from Europe, where US dollars are not commonly used and need to be ordered from a bank.
Overall, it was a truly emotional and well-organized trip — one we will remember forever.
China number one!