NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
private safari
I was incredibly lucky to have found Kojuu Safaris through safaribookings.com to book my dream trip. Judith recommended the best tented camps and accommodations for our visit to Tarangire, Ngorongoro, and the breathtaking Serengeti. We were privileged to meet the warmest, most wonderful Tanzanians who live and work there.
The best part was having the fantastic Godson as our guide for seven days. His knowledge and patience are incredible! It was an extraordinary experience to be guided by him for a week; he worked incredibly hard and made sure I had a wonderful time. Thanks to Godson's skills, we saw ALL of the Big Five; we even exceeded our target number of 40 lions, which Godson and I joked about!! Too many close encounters to remember them all...! Godson, the list of animals we saw is endless...
I can't recommend Kojuu highly enough. To everyone in the outback:
Thank you Judith and Godson, thank you Kojuu!!!
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing private safari tour that is much higher end than the term mid-range implies
My wife and I had a fantastic experience on our private 7-day mid-range tour of the Serengeti and the Great Migration Mara River crossing! We spent a lot of time planning this trip, working very closely with our sales representative Jerome Hotti who was both extremely helpful and extremely patient in working with us to plan the trip exactly the way we wanted it, and even met us in our hotel in Arusha the morning before we headed out to make sure everything was just right. We settled on 7 days / 6 nights and it gave us time to see everything we hoped for. Our very experienced guide and driver, Maeda, did a fantastic job navigating the challenging roads and finding us all of the game we hoped to see on this Safari including several instances of lions up close. Most importantly however we were able to witness an unbelievable crossing of the Mara River by a wildebeest herd that must have numbered over a thousand, plus a group of zebras that joined in.
The accommodations provided as well as the food served were really first rate. While this is advertised as a "mid-range" tour it is hard for me to imagine that luxury accommodations could offer much more. In particular the Kubu Kubu tented lodge in the central Serengeti was really memorable. The vehicle we traveled in was an oversized Toyota Land Cruiser - 4 rows of seats with an open center aisle and pop-up roof which for the 2 of us was terrific to be able to move around so easily. Maeda kept it well stocked and he navigated us expertly through some very challenging spots.
The Serengeti is vast, so a lot of driving is required, particularly to reach the Mara River when staring in Arusha, but it's worth it to see the river crossing. If you do a safari at a different time of year however, it is not necessary to drive all the way to the Mara River, so I'd suggest saving that extra bit of driving. Either way, going to both Tarangire and down into the Ngorongoro Crater are 2 parks not to be missed because there is a high concentration of animals in a relatively (compared to the Serengeti) small area.
We also visited a Masai village in Ngorongoro, as well as a local school that Maeda arranged for us on the fly and I'd totally recommend doing both.
On the last day we were traveling to Kenya by road at the Namanga border crossing. Our driver Herman got us up there and through immigration and customs right on time, but the guide from the tour company on the Kenya side was delayed for 90 minutes due to car trouble. Rather than leave us waiting on our own, Jerome instructed Herman to wait with us until the Kenyan arrived. This was much appreciated and is indicative of the caring service provided throughout.
SK
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect safari
We did a 7-day Masai Mara - Nakuru - Navaisha - Amboseli safari.
We enjoyed it very much.
Our guide and driver Albert did a great job. He showed us animals and drove safely.
Unfortunatelly, we did not manage to have optional evening amboseli safari on day 5. Also on the last day there was only 2 hour morning safari and we came to nairobi quite early - before 1 pm.
There is a lot of time for transport because national parks are far from each other, so expect to have 2 full day safaris in masai mara and amboseli and others are just for few hours.
Do not worry about budget accomodation - all was clean and in a big tent it was quite romantic.
Food was great, nearly all courses were buffet served so we were never hungry.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
If you want a unique and personal trip to Africa, work with Compass Odyssey!
I was lucky enough to be guided by Darren personally on a trip to Morocco several years ago. We’ve stayed in touch and I knew when it was time to return to Africa that Compass Odyssey was going to help pull it all together.
Other reviewers have mentioned how easy it is to work with Darren and Compass Odyssey, how the guides are wonderful, the accommodations perfect, the food delicious, etc. And that is true.
But where I really appreciate Compass Odyssey—and what I think sets them apart—is how they cater to the specific traveler and what they are looking for in a trip. These tours are not one-size-fits-all. Darren won’t recommend something that he does not think you will like or that does not meet your specifications. Instead of just saying yes, yes, yes, he will actually disagree with you and explain why he doesn’t think your idea might work for you and offer alternatives. He is also immensely patient and detail-oriented so that everything is perfectly organized and arranged.
The folks I travelled with fell in love with Africa and are already talking about a return trip with Compass Odyssey. I can’t wait!
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best Trip Ever!
Highest praise and sincere gratitude to everyone at Africa Uncovered for making our first foray into the African continent a wonderful experience on every level!
With many companies to choose from, Archie’s immediate and clear communication made it easy to choose this company over the others.
We were blessed to have Tafara as our guide for six days through South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana.
Experienced and thoroughly
knowledgeable about local wildlife, culture, and history, Tafara
listened to our preferences and helped us make excursion choices that optimized every moment and made this trip one of the best I’ve had in 73 years! Always prompt, kind, professional, and friendly, Tafara went out of his way to make us feel comfortable and safe. I can only hope he might be available when I return with my family.
FIVE STARS and my highest recommendation to Africa Uncovered! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible
Loved South Africa and will definitely go back. Our guide was very knowledgeable and took the time to stop the truck to explain and answers our questions. I highly recommend Wild Planet Safari and Eric our Tour Guide and Goodwill or cook. They were fantastic!
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Bush & Forest made our safari in Tanzania unforgettable — reliable, well-organized and affordable!”
I had an amazing experience with Bush & Forest! 🌿🐘
Everything was perfectly organized from start to finish — all I had to do was enjoy the safari. Their prices are very competitive for the quality of service, and the team is super professional and reliable. 🙌
I 100% recommend them for an unforgettable safari in Tanzania! ✨
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Extraordinary knowledge that transformed the mind
Our East Africa PHOTO Safari with **Shanjoy Tours** was nothing short of extraordinary — truly a bucket list experience that exceeded every expectation! From start to finish, the entire trip was flawlessly planned and executed with precision, care, and intention.
Beth handled every detail with such thoughtfulness, and it really showed — each experience felt personal and curated just for us. The accommodations were stunning, the food was incredible, and the people we met along the way made us feel like family.
Martin was so very helpful and available almost 24/7 for any questions during the planning process and arranged to meet us during our safari which was a nice personal touch.
We were fortunate to be hosted by **Patrick and Kem** for 11 unforgettable days. Their deep knowledge of wildlife, especially animal behavior, added so much depth to our game drives. Their ability to anticipate animal movements and position yhe custom Land Cruiser perfectly made for some of the most action-packed photo opportunities imaginable.
We received **5-star service** every step of the way and truly had a marvelous time. This was a once-in-a-lifetime adventure — and we’re already planning our next journey with Shanjoy in 2026!
**Highly recommend Shanjoy Tours** to anyone dreaming of a luxury, personalized safari experience. You will be in the best hands!
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Lots of knowlodge and experience
The tour was great. Except the rhino we saw every animal on safari. Especially the camping was a bonus I didn't know one needed. But honestly it was very rewarding to really se thr animals up close without the car and hear their sounds at night. The driver spoke perfect English, is very experienced and knew alot about the wildlife in general. The cook was absolutely amazing. I've not have a comparable meal in the rest of my stay. He adjusted to our preference without hesitation. Also they both were very reliable. When a time was set, everything would be ready 5 min prior. I would definitely recommend
SG
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent!
We had an unforgettable 2-week trip through Kruger, KwaZulu-Natal, Eswatini, and Lesotho thanks to Go Self-Drive Tours. From the very start, communication was clear and professional, and every detail was perfectly organized for us. All we had to do was pick up the car and set off.
Special thanks to Sadi, who guided us through the planning process with great professionalism and care. The itinerary was well thought out, with excellent routes, memorable stops, and wonderful hotels throughout.
For anyone not familiar with South Africa, I can’t recommend Go Self-Drive Tours highly enough — they make travel stress-free and ensure you see the very best of this beautiful region. This is the third time we have used them and we are already looking forward to planning our next trip.