20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tanzania Sarfari
The safari was very easy to setup. I had to talk to the employees of my organization and they set up everything for me. The living arrangements were tents for the 3 day safari with mattress pads. I slept comfortably. The safari itself was very exciting. I was able to see all of the big 5 except a rhino.
great safari
graet safari trip with great people that take care of you from the first day in arusha to the last day.
they took me to interesting and great places
US
Experience level: first safari
First safari
David at Vacay Holiday Deals was very responsive to our questions and helped us find an affordable and wonderful safari package at the Sarova Mara Lodge. The package not only met but exceeded our expectations.
Loved the lodging and our game drive guides as well.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Photographic Safari
Letaka Safaris organised a private trip for my wife and I in January/February 2014. Areas included Okavango, Savuti and The Central Kalahari Game Reserve. The trip was geared toward natural history photography. Activities included game drives, guided walks, excursions with San Bushmen and helicopter flights. All communications were via e-mail. Replies were prompt and comprehensive. The Lataka team is obviously familiar with arranging complex itineraries. There were no misunderstandings. We even requested itinerary changes during the trip in order to take advantage of certain situations. These were handled without fuss or bother. Our guide was Nkosi. A gentleman and all round good guy. He created numerous good photo opportunities, a number of excellent ones and one exceptional opportunity. Food and accommodation was the best we have encountered on a mobile safari. Support staff were a real pleasure to be with. Vehicles were highly capable, adequately comfortable and well equipped. To provide support for long lenses I recommend a combination of Really Right Stuff Safari Rigs with monopods, Manfrotto Super Clamps and an extra large bean bag. Although vehicles are equipped with inverters, there is probably benefit in taking a back up solar charging system if you have several devices. Bruton products worked well for us. Overall, it was an outstanding trip and excellent value for money. If you only have one chance at such a trip, I thoroughly recommend Letaka Safaris.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best holiday we've ever had
We booked with Planet Africa on the recommendation of friends who travelled with them the previous year and had raved about their wonderful holiday. We sent an email request to get a better idea of the options and cost, and a representative arranged a call that same day to talk through our preferences. She and her team organized a trip that combined gorilla tracking in Rwanda (our primary focus of the trip) with safari at two different sites in Tanzania based on a few telephone conversations and email exchanges. The entire trip was extremely professional, from beginning to end, with excellent communication, personalized service and great attention to detail. The accommodation was perfect at each location. Our local guides were absolutely fantastic - knowledgeable and engaging, particularly at Sayari Camp in the Northern Serengeti. Logistics were worked out brilliantly. We can't remember a trip that was so flawless in its execution, whether with the timing of flights, being met by our local guides, or any other aspect of the trip. The Planet Africa team was also on hand while we were in Rwanda and Tanzania to help as needed; towards the end of our stay in Tanzania, we made a last minute request to change the itinerary and they were very quick to get back with us about options and to help make the adjustments. We were absolutely thrilled with the service we received and the holiday we had, which definitely goes down as the best in more than 30 years of travel to more than 50 countries. We will undoubtedly book a future trip with Planet Africa.
JP
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very helpful customer service, and safari went as promised
Booking our safari was very easy, and all of our customizations (including domestic flights unrelated to our safari) were easily covered - Michael is great to do business with.
The tour itself was as promised, and we saw a great variety of wildlife. Our guide (Solomon) was very experienced (he said he had been a guide for 8 years), and he was able to spot a lot of animals we would have missed otherwise. He picked up that I had an interest in birds as well as mammals and started to stop the car more frequently for birds as well -- and he knew every one.
There were 2 things that were different than our expectations: we wanted to visit the Masai people, which we did, but our tour package document stated that the visiting would be included, it did not mention that we had to tip the Masai people $20USD per person to visit -- unexpected.
Also, the tour package document stated that the tents would be prepared by the staff. Mostly, they did -- but with our help. I am not adverse to helping, but the guides didn't make us feel like we had a choice.
Overall, though, we saw lots of great animals, have a good time, and got value for money. There were some other safaris that were slightly cheaper for similar itineraries, but I went with Northern Circuit because of their attentiveness during the booking process -- I felt in good hands, and we most certainly were. I would contact Michael again next time I am going to Arusha.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An Awesome Adventure - Our guide, our accomodations, and all the animals were wonderful!
Everything about our experience was excellent. I especially liked the fact that RA Safaris was able to customize a safari for us based on our needs and our budget.
Our experience with RA Safaris more then lived up to our expectations. Our guide Ely was wonderful and he customized every day for us based on what we wanted to do - he made us the "Happy Family, Winning Team." He knew where to find the animals and how to get us very close to them. He was extremely knowledgeable and was tons of fun.
We stayed in a variety of accomodations - from tented lodges to beautiful villas - depending on where we were and all of the lodging was wonderful.
This vacation was a great value for the money we spent. It was a once in a lifetime family adventure, and I can't speak highly enough about RA Safaris and the great vacation they planned for us.
TR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good safari with a very good team
We made a 3 days selous tour. We had really good time. They have good knowledge and they work hard to make you happy. Nicko made delicious meal and Samy was a pro guide with good knowledge about wildlife. He knows very well where to find animals, and how to track them like a hunter :). Most importantly they didnt made us feel like tourists, and they made us feel comfortable. We totally recommend kanuth adventures.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Experience for Travelers on a Budget
I went on a 5 day safari with two of my friends to the Maasai Mara, Naivasha, Lake Nakuru and Hells Gate on a $600 budget using Kenya Budget Safaris (KBS) and I can't imagine it getting any easier. Being that it was our first time going to Africa we really did not know what to expect. From the beginning the safari operators were prompt and courteous with their service. I scheduled the safari through Esther who was very nice and spoke excellent English. Through a couples emails we were scheduled to be picked up from the airport and start our safari the day we arrived. After paying at their office in Nairobi, the entire trip was smooth sailing.
Our guide, Patrick (Papa Kilo), was an excellent tour guide, safe driver, fluent English speaker and really knowledgable of the areas we visited. In the game reserve he knew exactly where to go and how to set up our vehicle for the best possible viewing angles of animals. He was patient and did not rush us when we wanted to see a particular animal for longer. On the safari we saw zebra, giraffe, baboon, wildebeest, warthog, lions in a tree and a cheetah take down a gazelle. It was an experience of a lifetime!
In the Maasai Mara we stayed in a permanent tent with a toilet, shower (hot water did not work) and built in mosquito nets. Not the most comfortable bed, but the experience of sleeping in a tent in the Maasai Mara was worth it. The remainder of the safari we stayed in hotels which were much nicer and had WIFI. everywhere we went there were guards and people were helpful and nice.
We asked for traditional African food on the safari and enjoyed it a lot. Everything was included. The only thing that was not included on our safari was the bike ride through Hells Gate, which I highly recommend! Overall, Kenya Budget Safaris was an excellent budget option that I definitely recommend and would do again.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Perfect custom 4 day safari
My sister and I did a custom safari from the Kenyan coast back towards Nairobi stopping through 3 different parks / sanctuaries. Joseph was a great driver, and Michael was a great coordinator. I live in Nairobi and had a great experience all around. I'd recommend them to friends and family visiting!