65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Seamless Travel Experience
My wife and I (party of 2) booked with Yama for a 4 day visit to the Oma Valley with 2 days in Addis Ababa on the back end. We were there late June, early July. This is low season but for us it was the perfect time. Dry, generally cool weather with no mosquitos. Yama arranged for a guide and driver throughout the tour. In Oma valley we visited six villages, each substantially unique and helping us get a picture of rural life in Ethiopia. The villages we went to were clearly used to visitors and derived income from visits, but I never felt like we were going to a “show” village, which had been a concern that I had before the trip. I would say that a visitor needs a full day in Addis Ababa but probably no more than 2 days. For us, this was not a trip to see animals but we saw some baboons, monkeys and small game. Domestic airfare and lodging in towns in the local area (3 different towns) was included and satisfactory.
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fast response to all questions
Great tour with a great guide, wildlife is not like a zoo but our guide find the right spot in the right moment every day. He pays attention to our necessity and was always available for all requests. His car was well maintained and every day cleaned as possible. He helped us to find animals when we didn't see them and give us more information as he can every time.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An Unforgettable, Thoughtfully Planned Family Adventure
We can't thank Jairos Adventure enough for helping us create an unforgettable, multi-generational family trip to Tanzania. From start to finish, they were professional, warm, and truly responsive to our needs. They tailored the entire experience with care—accounting for everything from the type of vehicle to thoughtful cultural touches that made the journey uniquely ours.
Our group ranged in age and needs, but the team made sure everyone felt comfortable and included. They were flexible with last-minute schedule adjustments and even coordinated a special surprise—camp staff singing to welcome my father-in-law after he took a needed rest day. It brought him to joyful tears and remains one of our most cherished moments.
This was a bucket-list trip for my in-laws, and seeing them so moved—crying tears of joy—was something we’ll never forget. Thanks to our excellent driver/guide, we saw the full Big 5, the wildebeest migration, and had meaningful cultural encounters. Even when one of our accommodations fell short, the owner of the company personally came to ensure it was addressed properly—something that speaks volumes about their dedication to their clients.
If you’re looking for a company that truly customizes your experience, cares deeply about the details, and treats you like family, look no further. We’re beyond grateful for the memories they helped us create.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A Magical Safari with Matala Safari Company
Our adventure to Murchison Falls National Park with Matala Safari Company was nothing short of extraordinary. From the very beginning, everything was thoughtfully planned and smoothly executed, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in the beauty and wonder of Uganda’s wild landscapes.
We enjoyed both morning and evening game drives, where we were lucky enough to spot an amazing wildlife from elephants, buffalos, giraffes to lions and antelope. The guide was professional, knowledgeable, and made every drive feel like a new discovery.
The boat ride along the Nile brought us up close to hippos, crocodiles, and stunning birdlife before arriving at the base of the falls. From there, we embarked on a hike to the top of Murchison Falls, it was as beautiful as it was scenic.
But our favorite moment of the entire trip? Having breakfast at the top of the falls. Surrounded by mist, sunlight, and the thunderous roar of the water below, it was a magical, once in a century lifetime experience that left us speechless.
We also loved the zip-lining, which added a fun and adventurous twist to an already incredible journey.
Matala Safari Company gave us more than just a trip they gave us memories that will last a lifetime. We can’t recommend them enough for anyone seeking a well-organized, deeply memorable safari.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent tour
The company was reliable. The tour price was very reasonable with good accommodations. We visited Maarai Massa NP, Navaisha lake and Lake Nakuru NP. Lake Nakuru was not as good as our expectations. I would recommend to spend time at Navaisha lake and the Hell’s Gate in instead of Lake Nakuru.
PT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Effective
It was a awsome experience. Everything Well organizes and on time. Great job 👍
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An unforgettable adventure
From the moment we booked, Giz Maasai Safaris made everything easy and stress-free. Our guide, Jackson, was fantastic, incredibly passionate and full of local knowledge. We had enough of time for photos, breaks, and exploration. Giz Maasai Safaris is simply the best.
Experience level: first safari
Authentic and personal experience!
This was our first time visiting Kenya—and Africa—so naturally, we had a lot of questions, some concerns, and too many options. After speaking with several tour operators and reviewing multiple itineraries, we ultimately chose Shanjoy Tours and Safaris, and we’re so glad we did.
They were incredibly patient, proactive, and responsive to our many queries. Despite booking on short notice, they worked around all our constraints to design a personalized itinerary that gave us the best possible safari experience.
Masai Mara was an amazing experience. It is a wonderful park with animals all aroumd.Our guide for the Masai Mara, Nelson, was fantastic—his enthusiasm was contagious, and thanks to his skill and energy, we saw all the big game, including the elusive leopard. Do ask for him :-)
Amboseli was another highlight. Though smaller than other parks, it offered a more intimate viewing experience. Our guide there was engaging and knowledgeable, and provided lots of tid bits about animals. However, the roads in Amboseli are quite rough with frequent potholes, and we felt a newer Land Cruiser safari vehicle would have made the drives more comfortable. At Amboseli, the jeep did not have the 2 binoculars either.
Special thanks to Patrick and Martin on the front office team, who were warm, professional, and committed to making our trip unforgettable.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Above & Beyond in Every Capacity!
From my very first inquiry, Norman and the team at Nhlalala Travel went above and beyond.
I watched other tourists at Kruger National Park on the phone with their tour operators yelling at them for their bad experiences - you don’t want to make a mistake on your operator & Nhlalala will NOT be a mistake!
They were very communicative, and gave me the utmost confidence in our 2-day safari. They customized our safari to be exactly what we were looking for. The travel accommodations and lodging were exceptional.
I can’t say enough good things about this company - 10/10 recommend and if we come back to Kruger National Park, they will be the only place we consider contacting!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The absolute best ever
I wanted to take a moment now that I have had a little time to review my experience working with Compass Odyssey. I returned from an absolutely amazing visit to Africa just 8 days ago. I spent a total of 15 nights and 16 days in Africa and could not be happier with my experience. I have traveled many places across the globe, and this was my first trip to Africa, I was a little apprehensive and chose Compass based on other reviews and at random. From the start they accommodated my wishes for what I was looking for in my trip, and the parts of Africa I wanted to experience. They were also responsive to the things I wanted to do after booking while in Cape town and coordinated with the dive center I had contacted to make sure communication was seamless.
I am an avid wildlife photographer and seeing the amazing animals of Africa were first on my list of things I wanted to experience. from my arrival in Cape Town airport the instructions given for clearing customs and immigration to being picked up by my driver Garth was perfect. After 20 hours in the air or airports I was ready for bed and Garth took me to my lodgings at Parker Cottage which was a charming Bed and Breakfast with great staff and a welcome place to lay my head for the next 3 nights. The following morning Garth let me know that because of the weather the dive center had notified me that all dives had to be cancelled so we took a drive down to the cape of good hope seeing many beautiful animals and great scenery including the penguins in Simonstown. Day two was a great drive down the coast and into the mountains, and three was a beautiful trip to the wine country. Garth was a font of knowledge and helped me to feel comfortable in Africa and finding things I was interested in doing.
From Cape town I flew to Hoedspruit for 2 days at a private game reserve where i was truly introduced to the Safari life at Senalala Safari lodge. The staff greeted me when I got out of the vehicle, and everything was first class. I was able to see all of the big 5 in the 4 game drives over 2 days. After that I was whisked off to my second Safai experience which was in a luxury tent at Ukambi Bush camp in Sabi Sands. Nothing bush about this camp, once again first class. 3 days at this camp and all 5 of the big 5 again sitting on the deck watching animals at the water hole between game drives once again magical.
From Sabi Sands I was transferred by private driver to Kruger airport and flew to Victoria Falls in Zambia where I was met by Mortimer a fantastic guide to the local area. Once I had dropped off my bags at the Bed and Breakfast Mortimer took me to the falls for my tour of the Zimbabwe side then dropped me off and picked me up at a local restaurant. the next day we went to the Zambia side of the falls and Mortimer arranged to take me on a game drive at the local park where once again I had fantastic encounters with the wildlife.
The next day I went to Botswana where the only hiccup in the trip happened which was no one's fault just trouble communicating and was taken care of quickly and everything was once again fantastic.
Last Day saw a trip back to Zambia and the Elephant Cafe for an encounter with elephants and lunch which was one of the best meals I have ever had. Then a game drive and walk to see the Rhinos great way to end my first encounter with Africa.
Needless to say, I have several months of photo editing to go through, but I would unreservedly recommend Compass Odyssey to anyone thinking of a trip to Africa.
