SE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We went to the Real Africa
... are You lookìng for luxury hotel, dry martinis and free WiFi? Okay, then stop reading now but if You want to experience the real wildlife, then just hang on.
For most people a travel in Africa is a dream and if You go, it’s a memory for life. I’ve already travelled a lot world wide and when I now go to Tanzania, I want to be in the real Africa with my wife. It’s was the time for our precious holiday and should also be our private safari, not a bunch of people lined up like regular tourists in a half dousin jeeps.
Therefore I checked about 20 operators in October 2014 and after some information on mail and personal talk on telephone with Christopher Samvel, manager of “I dream of Africa”, me and my wife agreed to go with him around Christmas on the 9 Day Budget Camping Safari in the north of Tanzania. Christopher have been many years in this business and told me later this trip was a new concept from his idea. For us the value was to be close the nature, to really feel that we are in Africa and to get a lot of information in a causal way.
We fly December 19th from Dar es Salaam to Arusha and Christopher pick us up at the local airport for transfer to a very nice lodge at the hillside. The next day our trip started in his heavily loaded Toyota Landcrusier. There was also the chef Dodo, a nice guy who did all cooking in some american-european style with an african touch and had good manners that we appreciated a lot.
Actually the safari was 8 days out. We stayed always inside the parks at camp sites that provided some variable standard about showers and toilets. Christopher was very active to solve any problem we faced. Mostly me and my wife slept nicely in our tent but could also listen to lions roaring at rather close distance in the night, hyenas, monkies and elephants until the birds chat at daybreak. There was no fences or walls around the campsites, so we was alright a part of the real wildlife. To stay inside the park made it easy for a game drive at 6 am after coffee with the sunrise and in the afternoon until sunset. The morning and the late afternoon is the time we enjoyed the wildlife most.
Our safari continued like that in the national parks Arusha, Lake Manyara, Serengeti (2 nights), Ngorongoro Crater NCA and Tarangire (2 nights). We had the opportunity to see the big five and much more. I shot several thousands of pictures with my new telephoto zoomlens 150-600 mm and sometimes my small pocketsized camera was enough because we was often close the animals! It seemed like we was on the right spot in the right time.
The safari trip was very inspiring and we really experienced very much. I think that Christopher have a mission to show the wildlife he love and he was always eager to share his good knowledge of animals, birds, vegetation and even insects. This was very valuable to us. The itinerary was followed like planned, although Christopher was open for some flexibility if we wanted. There was never poping up any extra or hidden expenses according to our Camping Safari. We can highly recommend Christopher, operator ”I dream of Africa” and we say Happy New Year to Tanzania. Christopher told us that he will also offer more diverse theme trips, that looks interesting.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
6 day Mikumi & Selous safari
We did the 6 day trip to two national parks starting and ending in Dar es Salam. Everything was well organized and taken care of. Our driver / guide Amani spoke very good English and was extremely knowledgable. No question he couldn't answer! He did a remarkable job spotting animals/tracks..., thus providing an unforgettable experience for us. We especially enjoyed the boat safari and the walking safari with a local bushman. Bakari was also very attentive and cooked the most delicious food for us!
Thanks again to the whole team at Malengo, we will surely recommend your services! Asante sana :)
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fabulous trip and service!
Rose of The Luxury Safari Company organised the most wonderful safari trip to Kenya for me and my two teenage children. She understood perfectly from the first moment of our phone chat what we were after and organised a trip that exceeded our expectations. She chose three camp locations and assembled them in the perfect order, allowing us to acclimatise in the cooler Kigio Wildlife Conservancy before moving to the stunning beauty of the Meru National Park and finally to the highlight, Offbeat Mara in the Masai Mara North Consersancy. She is also most responsive and readily reachable for any question or problem. Highly recommended!
CH
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wonderful Safari-Trip!
After more than 20 years back in Africa on a Safari-trip! My wife, our two teenaged sons and I could spend 12 days in Tanzania and Zanzibar. We had a six days Safari in four different parks (Tarangire, Manyara, Ndutu/Serengeti and Ngorongoro) Everything was very well organised by Magda and Richard from Flash Safaris for a really fair prize! The lodges were all excellent and located at wonderful spots! Melek, our driver/guide, was a friendly and experienced man, who looked carefully after us. He was a good driver, who didn't speed or rush, just that we would see the Big Five! To every question he knew an interesting answer and his knowledge about the country Tanzania and its wildlife was astonishing! After this adventure (we will never forget!), we relaxed in an exquisite place called Ocean Paradise in Zanzibar.
For the whole family it was a great journey and we thank the Flash-Safaris-Team for the perfect organisation!
This agency really gets 5 stars!!!
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Terrible
On the fourth day, when we came away from the masi mara I saw that the driver did not come out of the gate by which we entered, he made a very long ride in the mountains, at least three times the way he should have done, we lost a lot of time .
In the middle of the road told us if we could come up with the wife, we said that was fine.
At one point it was stopped at a checkpoint of the tickets, gave our ticket to the ranger and the driver did not wait for the ranger give back the ticket, he left very quickly.
After about 20 minutes by road stopped in a village and came down from the bus.
While we waited Jackson arrived a ranger and when jacksone back talked a bit with him, then the ranger climbed on the bus with us and made us go back to the point of checking tickets. I asked what the problem was and the ranger said he had to ask questions to Jackson.
the driver came down and it was a long time talking in the office.
While we waited, the ranger came up to me and my wife and asked us how many game drive we did.
I said the truth, 5 game drive, the ranger was surprised and asked me to explain when we made them. I explained what days we did the 5 gamedrive, the ranger asked me how many nights we slept all'Ashnil and I put 3 nights.
At this point, Jackson has returned very angry and menacing tone told me that I had not done as he had said, to say only one day.
I understood that the problem was in the park tickets and I put that I have paid for 3 nights and that was his problem.
The driver is back with the ranger's office and after a while came back and we left.
We lost a lot of time, my wife and I were very scared and did not know what to do. We had lost all faith in Jackson and we wanted to come down and let us return to Nairobi by a taxi.
We decided to continue because the driver was calmer, he drove very fast to recover the lost time.
At Lake Nakuru did his wife get off the bus and arrived at the park after 17.00
It 'was a very bad experience, my wife and I have had a lot of fear and we have lost all faith. We lost a day of safari. We had to get to lake nakuru for lunch and we arrived in the evening before sunset. There you have cheated and deceived.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exceptional service; brilliant itinerary - exactly what we asked for
African Ubuntu Safaris put together a brilliant safari/holiday itinerary for our family of four, which exceeded expectations! We really took a shot in the dark, having never been to Africa before (or not since I was a baby) or on safari. I gave Cuan, African Ubuntu in Sydney, an idea of where, when and for how much and he put together the perfect itinerary for our special family trip. We visited four very different areas of Kenya over 12 days: Amboseli, Lake Elementaita/lNakuru, Masai Mara and Malindi. We saw an amazing number of animals close up: on the two Masai community conservancies where we stayed, adjacent to Amboseli and Masai Mara National Parks, as well as in Nakuru National Park. Cuan organised a special side trip to Nakuru so that I could discover where I had been born (all those years ago!). David, our wonderful driver/guide for three days, had the unusual experience of touring Nakuru Memorial Hospital Labour Ward with us, which was a first for him as well! We had the perfect combination of driving: to Amboseli and Nakuru from Nairobi, along with internal flights to maximise our time in camp. We are also glad we took Cuan’s advice to visit Malindi, as the coast is so beautiful and so different from the savannah and the “high country”. All information needed before our trip, communication before and during the trip, airport transfers and drivers were perfect. The accommodation and of course the safaris themselves were just as we'd envisaged - comfortable, genuine and responsible. I highly recommend African Ubuntu Safaris.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful holiday of a lifetime.
The trip was great and lived up to our expectations. We saw all the game we wanted to see, and enjoyed spending nights at some really nice lodges. The ONLY problem we found was the bumpy roads, and we were told this was due to the rains. Overall an enjoyable experience.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
a company that saw the client' 'big picture' and then responded with right details and warmth.
Cuan, and African Ubuntu Safaries, were an amazing team to deal with. Very willing to listen and to respond to queries, Cuan 'got it' at the initial contact with the company and then structured the trip with wisdom and common sense. For example, we started off with stays in Namibia (Desert Homestead Lodge and its desert landscapes) and ended up in Botswana at Pom Pom Camp with its waterways. We also stayed at Onguma Bush Camp, Victoria Falls Hotel, and Chobe Safari Lodge. The wildlife in each location was extraordinary, just extraordinary. The staff everywhere we stayed (with the exception of Chobe Safari Lodge) were extremely friendly, welcoming and warm, and the folk who took us on safari were exceptional (including those at Chobe Safari Lodge) in every facet of the experience. African Ubuntu would've been aware of the 'style/modus operandi' of each camp operator and thereby ensured the main focus of our trip - to see wildlife - was achieved. I cannot sign off without mentioning the fact that when we arrived in Johannesburg, we were met by Cuan's parents who presented us with a beautiful book about the wildlife of Africa. This was a lovely, welcoming gesture that gave our visit to fascinating Africa a very warm and personalised touch. Would I use African Ubuntu Safaris again? Without a doubt! Would I recommend African Ubuntu Safaris above all others? Again, without a doubt! Would I recommend a trip to Africa? There is absolutely no doubt!
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
nice journey and nice impressions
We had a nice tripp. Jobovic Safaris organiced all things well and tryed to communicar what we want to do in the next time. It was a realy nice journey.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
“Right Choice was definitely the right choice!”
Our trip was amazing! We had knowledgeable and experienced guides, David, in Tanzania, and Ben, in Kenya, and managed to see the Big 5 several times over, plus many other animals, thanks to their expertise and great driving. Accommodations were mostly better than expected, with beautiful surroundings, terrific food and super people. George was wonderful; helping us customize our safari to out budget and organizing everything. We will definitely call George and company when we return to Africa!