CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Professional and polished despite hiccups
We understand that unexpected challenges can arise during travel. The true measure of a company is how it responds—and to their credit, Monkey Adventures took full ownership of the issues we encountered.
What started superbly on an eight-night safari went awry when we had to change guides. Richard and his vehicle were superb. He clearly knew all there was to know not only about the wildlife but also about Kenya. Regrettably, musical chairs of guides followed, none of who met the standard set by Richard.
This caused undue stress and uncertainty. As seasoned travellers with experience across Africa, our expectations are high. Communication lapses and inconsistent service led us to question whether we’d book with Monkey Adventures again. In a competitive market, consistency and clarity are essential.
However, Monkey Adventures did not make excuses or deflect. They provided a transparent breakdown of what went wrong, acknowledged their atypical need to subcontract under pressure (something they won’t do again--lesson learned), and offered generous compensation. Their accountability and professionalism went a long way in restoring our trust. For that reason, we would still consider booking with them again, especially with a new fleet of land rovers. I would recommend them, especially for their flexible itineraries, responsiveness, and commitment to customer satisfaction.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Planned a fantastic trip for a family of 12, will be talking about this trip for years to come.
Kathi at African Welcome Safaris, planned a wonderful trip and was very accomodating when we had to reschedule due to a family illness. She coordinated 12 people arriving and departing at different times. All the drivers and tour guides were on time , professional and very knowledgeable and adapted quickly based on weather and our needs. The accommodations were first rate and the Safari lodge we stayed in Sabi Sands (Leopard Hills) was 5 + star. Having elephants drinking from our plunge pool and other animals right behind our room was just unbelievable. The trip was created memories that will last a lifetime. I liked that she created a trip with many options and we could pick and choose what we wanted to do and experience. She planned everything we needed including meals which made the trip very easy. Already planning on returning for another adventure.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very good with communication and ensuring you're having a good time.
I can’t recommend Kubwa 5 Safaris highly enough. I just finished a 21-day safari covering Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania. Initially when I got my itinerary my first thought was, “why so long in Uganda?” I had a few days for the gorillas and chimps, but wondered why there was so many other days (8 days total). Uganda does not get the global recognition that Kenya or Tanzania gets when it comes to safaris, which is why I was slightly hesitant, but I was so wrong. Uganda ended up being my favorite country of the trip. Gorilla trek, chimp trek, and the only member of the Big 5 I didn’t see (but is possible to see in Uganda) was a leopard. I had no idea the diversity you get in Uganda. You could be on a game drive in Murchison Falls National Park spotting elephants in 90 degree weather and then the next day in Kibale Nation Park, waking up to high 50 degrees, ready to trek in the forrest to spot chimps. I LOVE Uganda. If you love primates at all, I cannot recommend the chimpanzee and gorilla trekking enough, it is COMPLETELY worth it.
I was sad that I only got 2 full days in Rwanda, because it felt like there was so much potential in that country, but the main reason I went was for a golden monkey trek and it was amazing. Did not require a high level of fitness to reach the monkeys and it was a joy to watch them jump around from tree to tree. I could have watched them for HOURS. Rwanda has a completely different feel to Uganda. Uganda feels more free, while Rwanda is more structured and disciplined, mainly due to the drastic difference in their governments and how they enforce laws. Rwanda felt more upscale, so if you want to stay at fancier resorts (not that you can’t in Uganda), Rwanda may be a good choice.
That’s a good segway into safety. I want to make sure this is very clear, I NEVER felt unsafe in any country that I visited. Nobody ever treated me poorly and was graciously welcomed by everyone that I encountered. Kids love seeing foreigners and they are always waving as you drive by. I did several cultural experiences throughout this journey and all of them were a special experience. Whether it was leaving how to weave, make banana gin, “marrying” and going through a traditional wedding, or dancing with kids at a school. Every experience is one that I will remember for a long time.
There was one slight hiccup with the initial planning of my flight from Rwanda to Kenya in regards to the timing of my flight compared to my itinerary, but once it was discovered they resolved it without ANY ISSUE in my itinerary.
Kenya and Tanzania felt somewhat similar, only because they were noticeable different to Rwanda and Uganda. Maasai Mara and the Serengenti were unbelievable and allowed me to see all the Big 5. I did several boat tours and they are an amazing way to see the native birds, hippos, and even crocodiles. I also did two hot air balloon rides, one in the Maasai Mara and one in the Serengeti. Unfortunately neither had a great sunrise, but that’s just unlucky and nothing to do with the companies. If I had to choose one, I’d probably choose the one in the Serengeti. Although the hot air balloon basket was more cramped, we did see a lot more animals (maybe it was just a bad day for the Maasai Mara balloon).
I had a separate guide for each country and I got incredibly lucky that each one was amazing. I had Sam in Uganda, Smith in Rwanda, Geoffrey in Kenya, and Gift in Tanzania. Each one was so knowledgable about the animals and it always amazed me at what they were able to spot while also focusing on driving the vehicle. Each was willing to consider what I wanted to see or what I haven’t seen yet, to change our itinerary on the spot to get a better chance at spotting specific things. I would happily request each of my guides again if I ever visit these countries again.
In the end, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Safaris are expensive, there’s no way around it, so I was a little nervous that it may not live up to the expense and the expectations I had in my head. It exceeded all my expectations and I can’t wait to plan a different safari in a different part of Africa in the future.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very dedicated, convenient contacts, fast replies and very dedicated, neatly thought through trips.
I highly recommend Red Africa Safaris if it's your first time coming to South Africa. They make you feel like every penny you invested beforehand is well spend and truly deserved.
With the guides you will feel comfortable and welcome in all the unfamiliar places, because they are really focused on your best possible experience.
We had quite a tight schedule being in South Africa for just a week, but Jaco showed us places we surely wouldn't have found ourselves and told us so much about his beloved home country.
Kruger NP and the surrounding landscapes are one of a kind. We are definitely hooked on South Africa's Wildside and can't wait to go again!
Thanks so much to all of Red Africa Safaris making experiences like this possible with the deepest desire to conserve these beautiful places for generations ahead.
ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Complicated selections thanks to this agency
The Best travels agency . Both Martin and Paul are incredible at their jobs.
(automatic translation from Spanish)
JO
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
we’re very happy with the service and highly recommend Osnet Tours to anyone looking for a reliable
We had a truly amazing experience with Osnet Tours and Travels. From the very beginning, everything was well-organized and smooth. The communication was clear and professional, and all our expectations were met with great care and attention.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Black Santa was very reliable, super friedly and engaged!
Black Santa was a wonderful tour guide! With him I was doing an overnight tour (we stayed at Ngulia Lodge) to Tsavo West to do a Safari and also to see Mzima Springs as well as the Shetani Lava River. Throughout the whole process he was very engaging as well as reliable. Black Santa was always responding very quickly and also on time when we were meeting up. Before even doing the tour he was taking time to come meet me personally at my hostel and to introduce himself and go through the tour with me to figure out what my expectations and preferences are for the Safari. Also as a solo female traveller I always felt comfortable around him which is very important if you are travelling alone. I would definitely recommending doing a tour with him as he is not just a good tour guide, but also a nice companion when taking the long drive to the national park. We had a nice chat about Kenia, the wildlife and other interesting topics
MY
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Horrible Time Management
Throughout my journey, I have encountered horrible time management - punctuality issue. Day 1, I waited at the hotel at the assigned time but the driver came an hour later. After that, every day I got ready at the assemble time but it is usually half an hour later to be picked up. The worst is my last day, also waited for another hour when I was told to get ready at early morning. And I had to wait outdoor for the whole hour.
The safari experience was overall good and acceptable, but try imagining every morning you were on time, but you wasted 30 mins to an hour for waiting to be picked up, and which actually you could have sleep more with the time waiting, will you still feel good and give an excellent review?
It might be other passengers who cause the delay, but as of my knowledge, it’s not the case all the time. The driver himself made inaccurate predictions of time, and I don’t think that the distance between hotels are unpredictable if the driver is experienced or responsible.
I once even thought that Kenyan culture is being unpunctual by delaying every appointment at 30mins, but after I asked other tourists, they were picked up at the assemble time on time. Then I know that it’s not the culture, it’s the person.
Kindly take note on this. The safari is good, but this issue devalue the overall experience.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Friendly, knowledgeable, and organized
We could not have been more satisfied with our tour guide (on top of everything), the accommodations and food (excellent), travel (air conditioned small bus), and the experience (the best) The Kenyan people are very friendly as well. The hotel staff surprise you with little amenities like a hot water bottle under the covers at the foot of your bed on a cold night. One restaurant greeted us with a warm wash cloth. The safari experience EXCELLENT!!!! Highly recommend!!!!
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Breathtaking experience!
Our safari tour in the Maasai Mara National Park was incredibly beautiful. Our driver, Sugow, drove very well despite the poor road conditions. He adjusted to our wishes and was very patient with how long we wanted to observe the animals. We really enjoyed seeing all the different animals up close, like elephants, lions, cheetahs, giraffes, crocodiles, hippos, and many more. The tour guide also told us a lot about the animals and answered all our questions. A special experience was having lunch under a beautiful tree. We were surrounded by antelopes in the distance, which we could observe well. Although the planned tour time had already passed, Sugow took us to the cheetah and other animals. We had a really nice and breathtaking time together.