US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Julius The Great
After much research and filtering through tons of information on the internet we (myself, husband Ray & friend Nadine) decided to use Impala tours. They seemed like the perfect fit for us in regards to type of safari we were looking for, location and pricing. So, in writing this review choosing Impala tours turned out to be one of the best decisions we've ever made.
We corresponded with Yvonne and she was very prompt with responding to my many questions and emails. She made us feel comfortable with our decision so we sent our deposit and booked them. So, our dream Botswana safari was about to become a reality!
Our guide Andre was waiting for us right when we landed in the small city of Maun. Our safari was 4 nights and 5 days. We stayed 2 nights in Third bridge camp and 2 nights at Gcadikwe Island camp. Both camp sites were more than adequate and had no fences so we loved how wild they felt. If you are looking for a more wild, unpredictable and less "touristy" safari then look no further than Botswana and Impala tours. Andre was very flexible so it felt like the whole safari was customized to us. During our driving, boating and walking safaris we saw tons of wild life including 4 of the big 5! We barely saw any other tour groups on our excursions so if felt exclusive and wild.
One of our highlights and most unforgettable memories was when "Julius" a large male elephant decided to visit us when we were around our campfire. Let's just say that after he mock charged us twice and got within 10 feet of us we will always refer to him as Julius The Great!
In summary, Impala tours greatly exceeded our expectations and thank them for an unforgettable experience!
FR
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Gorillas -- the best of Africa
We just returned from Africa. Rwanda and gorillas were first on our agenda which also included safaris in several other countries, but nothing tops the gorillas experience. We were in their midst, surrounded by various members the gorilla family on the move. Amazing. Awesome. We were more than pleased with all the arrangements made by Africa Adventure Safaris: hotel in Kigali, city tour, mt. lodge, great guide/driver. We can highly recommend this company.
If you go in the rainy season, take and wear top quality gear. We got soaked, but we were so enamoured of the gorillas, it did not matter.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Simply Amazing Memories !!
Probably our best holiday ever!! Full marks to Northern Circuit Adventure and its team for the perfect organization and coordination of the whole safari program.
From the time we landed in Kilimanjaro airport, till the time we exited Tanzania, everything was taken care of, and we had to barely worry about a thing..!
We were received on time from Kliimanjaro airport, and the 2-day accommodation that comes along with the Safari package was very comfortable - one can definitely know its value after a tiresome flight into Tanzania and after a few improper sleeps during safari days!!
Throughout the 5-days, the food cooked was simply mindblowing. Never ever did we think that we could get so delicious food at our campsites. Surprising that the cook even managed to prepare some Indian food too at times !!! :D
And, for the main part, Elias, our guide who took us around inside the national parks, he was truly awesome - in every sense of the word..!! Very soft spoken - but so alert to things happening around - and very knowledgeable about the places that were in our safari plan, he made sure that we got to see all the Big-5 animals - Black rhino, buffalo, herds of elephants, about 15 lions with even a Lion King pose, leopards (a baby leopard too), hosts of zebras, giraffes, elephants, a variety of birds including flamingoes - not to forget the Dung Beetle too!!
"Truly Memorable" - is an understatement - of an amazing vacation that me and my friends had during our time at Tanzania - full marks to Northern Circuit Adventure and its team for having helped realize our dreams!! :-)
RU
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent in (almost) every way
We booked an 11 day safari with Terminal Tours, including Maasai Mara, Nakuru, Amboseli and Tsavo East and West.
Overall the experience was fabulous - very well organised, excellent drivers who were knowledgeable about the wildlife we were seeing.
The accommodation ranged from amazing (in Tsavo West we stayed at Rhino Valley Lodge, an amazing location, and Tsavo East likewise the lodge had a great position on a hill overlooking the reserve) to average (in Amboseli the tented camp is quite basic), but given this was a budget safari, we really could have no complaints.
The food was good all the way through, things like beef stew and poatoes, chapatis, vegetable stews, bolognese, all filling stuff that you're going to want after a long day out.
Nelson and his sister Debby were very helpful in advising us on the itinery both before we came to Kenya and were flexible with managing some changes we made after we arrived. We also stayed a couple of nights at their place on the edge of Nairobi, where they cooked us some traditional Kenyan dishes. They are genuinely lovely people and we wish them all the best with their business.
Don't hesitate to book with Terminal Tours.
DK
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing 2 times safari and 1 time killi with wild root safari.!
I have been living in tanzania for 6 months and during that time used wild root safari for both climbing killimanjaro, and 4 days safari in serengeti, tarangeri and Ngorongo twice - once with friends and once with family. Every single time have been amazing. The guides are friendly, helpfull and knows everything about the area. Further it is my impression that the company is treating them with respect and there is a good atmosphere between the owner and the guides. The owner Mathew is very friendly, down to earth and always easy to get in contact with. every thing have worked out perfectly every single time.! I would warmly recommend wild root safari to everybody, and I would never consider going with any other company if I was to go to tanzania again.
CA
Good tour
It was an amazing trip. Everything was organized and on time. Our guide, Stephen, was able to find all Big Five for us! He did a great job.
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
We had a 10day breathaking safari through Uganda, it was a dream
Communications was without any Problems always doing.
The Service was perfect
The lodges was always good, clean and all of the hosts were very friendly - either we had a budget lodge or
a high end allodement.
The safari was best of. None of the other touroperators which we met on tour was such a long time into the
parcs as Pinnacle Safari - we left not we saw all.
Our tourguide, Adrian, was very well educated and knew everything about Uganda - each history, each animal and so on
Great
exciting and full of adventure. i enjoyed the customer service too; very professional
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
What a gentleman! Best trip of my life.
My dad and I just completed a 10 day trip across Namibia with Thinus. We had an absolutely amazing time exploring Namibia with Thinus. CrissCross was very responsive from the beginning when I contacted bunch of Namibian tour operators to put my itinerary together. Thinus works on the itinerary/pricing himself so he knows all the places of interest and he has stayed at the lodges he recommends. I'm not that picky when it comes to hotels and food but I liked every spot he picked for us. He is a Namibia native (with a very cool family history) and was very knowledgeable about every region we visited. It was also a special treat to visit his childhood village in Damaraland. I really hope to return to Namibia at some point and explore the rest of Namibia I did not get to see this time with Thinus. I highly highly recommend Thinus if you are looking for a guide who is courteous, punctual, not annoying, funny (understated sense of humor), a great driver, and all around will ensure a fantastic time in Namibia for you. I have no complaints about my trip. It was the best trip experience I've had in my life so far (and I've been to over 50 countries, so not saying it lightly). Thanks so much Thinus (and Helene)!
US
It's like being inside a nature documentary!
I could not believe the density and diversity of wildlife we saw in a single day's drive. My previous frame of reference remained confined to National Geographic, ZooBooks, and other popular media. I had always believed these professionals to have camped out for days and weeks on end, just to glimpse a few species here and there, and perhaps some do, just to capture the "perfect shot." However, as mere tourists, we were only too delighted to find ourselves immediately confronted with giraffe, families of elephants, baboons, myriad of antelope species, rhinos, and even hippos, something we did not expect to see in the dry season. Occasionally our spotter pointed out reclining leopards, cheetahs feasting on fresh kill, and lions tucked away in the shade, avoiding the heat. The acute vision of our eagle-eyed man could not be lauded more.
It may be the goal of some visitors to spot all Big Five, which our group succeeded in accomplishing, but it surely would not have been any less rich an experience if we had not. It is not every day we see an eland stand majestically around a bend in the road. It is not every day we see hyenas lurking in the shade. It is not every day that we see any fan of fauna traverse the bush-lined roads. We nearly missed a giraffe standing practically next to our truck because eight of us sat snapping shots of another creature on our right side. Every thirty seconds brought with it a new herd or species to admire or photograph. Absolutely one of the most surreal days of my life.
In the evening we stayed at Nsele Lodge, full of individual bungalows, each equipped with a gigantic shower, sink, and oscillating fan or two. Optional access to a centrally-located chlorine pool or cushioned camp fire paired superbly with our homemade, al fresco dinner, all set against a backdrop of palm trees and starry skies. We slept exceedingly well. Bonus: two to three chubby small dogs could be found trotting around!