DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Fantastic team with a great mission...Created a trip and experience of a lifetime...Outstanding
My wife and I booked our trip to Uganda with Instinct Safari with the primary purpose of seeing the Mountain Gorillas. We contacted several tour operators, and after much hand wringing, we decided to go with the Instinct Safari largely based on the superb communications and just the overall sense of purpose and mission exuded by the Instinct Safari team. I would highly recommend Instinct Safaris as a safari operator.
Our initial communications with Niels were excellent as he provided prompt and candid inputs as we put together our itinerary for a 9-day safari in southwestern Uganda. We were met on arrival at Entebbe by Rabani and Rogers, our guides with a Toyota Landcruiser. Both are extremely knowledgeable, and perhaps more importantly, personable as we spent the next week with both gentlemen. Our next 9 days were exciting as we saw and experienced southwestern Uganda. All of the activities were very rewarding, some of the highlights...chimpanzee habituation trek, game viewing at Queen Elizabeth Park, an early morning hot air balloon excursion with bush breakfast, a trek across the Bwindi Impenetrable forest (complete with a vigorous rain shower...that is putting it mildly), a paddle in a dugout canoe (abrato sp? in the local language wakiga) once again with a bit more rain, and of course the crowning jewel, our two gorilla treks. During our excursions we had, in addition to Rabani and Rogers, Emma and Issa as guides accompanying us to provide greater depth and background to cultural interactions within the local communities. In addition to the gorillas and chimpanzees, we saw many different animals...most striking for us was a leopard sighting, always a magical moment for this most solitary of beasts, and we saw the rather famous tree lions. We greatly enjoyed our time spent in the communities and we even had a chance to briefly visit a local school. I could go on endlessly over all the small details and adventures that encompassed this very enriching experience, but alas there is not enough space.
I wish we could return, as I consider Rabani and Rogers, and the entire Instinct team to be friends. I truly appreciate and applaud their company's mission, particularly the sustainability and community-based aspects. Keep up the good work...Jay and Meg
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Unique tour, great animal viewing, led by husband & wife team, comfortable camping, good food.
Custom built passenger box on Isuzu 4X4 truck chassis provides excellent animal viewing from high position through large easily opened windows. There is plenty of room to move around and stretch ones legs or congregate to one side to see the excitement outside. It is a little noisy when traveling at highway speeds and could use a window in the front. Food was good. I am a vegetarian and they were able to accommodate my needs. They would have done better if we had given them a little notice. Service was excellent. Guides were friendly and knowledgeable. Camping was comfortable. We had 5 days of care free travel for a very good price.
Exceeded our expectations, private, comfortable, exclusive and professional.
Shaun was amazing from start to finish. He was professional and communicated well with everyone. Shaun's ability to track animals is astounding and uncanny. We spent an awesome weekend with the Honorary Rangers at Camp George. The camp is stunning - private, remote and beautiful. Comfortable and spacious accommodation.
The food was plentiful, tasty and well presented. It was a photographic weekend and we got some awesome photos. Shaun was sensitive to everyone in the vehicle and positioned the vehicle in such a way as to ensure everyone got in a good position to get the shot. We had a first experience with a mating pair of lions, a huge male lion roaring and then drinking in the river in front of us and then a breathtaking interaction with a huge male leopard marking his territory playing in front of the vehicle. Shaun has an ability to predict the animals movements which is awesome. We would definitely go on a safari with Shaun again.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
A top drawer adventure! There are no negatives associated with this safari-only accolades.
We arrived a few days ahead of our group and asked Brian for some ideas on how to spend them. He offered several options and we chose an overnight hike part way up Mt. Kilimanjaro. Brian made the arrangements and we wound up with an excellent guide and crew. The hike and stay were very rewarding. Returning to Arusha, we settled into a comfortable cottage nestled with other cottages in tropical trees, brilliant flowers and darting exotic birds that tantalizingly showed themselves before furtively melting into the thick tree crowns.
This was the auspicious start to a string of accommodations that ranged from beautiful lodges to tent camps. All facilities were very comfortable, clean and well equipped from beds and hot showers to the charging stations for camera, computer and other electronic equipment batteries.
Over the three week trip, we visited a number of Rift Valley parks and ended up at the Serengeti. Along the way we saw sights ranging of age from the very young to the very ancient. The young included baby baboons clutched tightly to their mothers and others chasing around like kids at recess. Elephants, zebras, gazelles, wart hogs, jackals, wildebeests, cape buffalo, lions, cheetahs and even a fuzzy yellow grey crowned crane chick (colt?) rounded out the young set. On the other end of the time spectrum, we stopped at Oldupai Gorge where the Leakeys discovered the early hominid, Lucy. Along the way there were visits to settlements and villages and the opportunity to share in the culture of Tanzania and to pick up African mementos. Our guides were always eager to answer questions about the cultural practices, economic activities, history and other aspects of East African society. They are particularly proud of the success Tanzania has had in integrating the numerous religions, ethnicities, and tribes.
Our group included individuals whose interests tended toward ecology and plants, others in birds, and still others in mammals. EWA masterfully satisfied these divergent interests. Our guides were so experienced, and knowledgeable about all the species that they found them, anticipated their movements and positioned us to best observe and photograph them. I was very impressed by their willingness and skill in positioning us for the best photographs. They have an uncanny ability to spot birds and animals in cryptic situations.
The food, service, and staff friendliness were outstanding. Sitting in the dining tent one evening and listening to the lions roaring a moderate distance away and having a herd of elephants cross in front of the vehicles as we left the camp for a game drive constituted icing on the cake.
Riding to the airport for the long flight home, I looked back from the vehicle to see that the clouds had retreated from the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro and the snowy peak was bathed in rosy alpenglow, providing a perfect metaphor for what I was feeling.
Brian and crew provide an unparalleled experience and I'm giving it the most cogent recommendation that I can-we're returning for another EWA safari this summer.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
THe Clark's African Adventure
Cuan and his Dad did a great job scheduling our trip to South Africa. EVERYTHING he coordinated went over without any issues whatsoever. I have already recommended African Ubuntu Safaris to many others who will be coming next year.
KY
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great parks Great staff
My visit to Kenya for me and my boyfriend was great. I would like to take this opportunity to thanks KWSS for their good work. Livingstone our driver guide was knowledgeable and cheerful person. The cook also did great job throughout the safari. All the parks we visited were unique in their own ways. As we are planning our wedding next year, we will book with KWSS For our honeymoon thank!!!
FR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Etosha National Park by Franck Giraud
FR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The amazing Waterbury Plateau
The beauty of Waterberg Plateau is astonishing. We have finished our trip in Namibia by this amazing site. The campground is probably one of the best in Namibia, large, quite. People are very nice on site.
Waterberg plateau is a place where you can both see wild life but also do some hiking and going up to the plateau throuh the forest is a gift. When you arrive at the top you can see the landscape around and a lot of animals, especially birds.
Excellent safari!
n my opinion, when you are in Nairobi you have to visit Nairobi National Park.
The experience is incredible. There are so many animals that you can see, and also there are free on their natural environment, not in a cage as others parks.
Furthermore if you go early in the morning you can see and lions.
I believe that is a safari that you have to do!
FR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Namibia by Franck Giraud
Namibia was the best trip we have ever did! Everything is perfect: safe country, beautiful landscapes, good weather, good food.