IE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Exceptional, knowledgable, experienced
We had an absolutely outstanding experience with Elephant Herd Tours & Safaris and cannot recommend them highly enough. Visiting from Ireland, my husband and I booked a two-day safari, a Panorama Route tour, and a visit to Elephant Whispers. Elephant Herd put together a customised package for us and every single part of the trip exceeded our expectations.
The whole team (especially Brendon and Rene) are incredibly efficient, responsive, organised and genuinely friendly. From the very first contact, everything was seamless and stress-free, which made us feel completely at ease travelling so far from home.
Our safari guide, Trevor, was exceptional. His knowledge, experience, and passion for wildlife truly enhanced the entire safari experience. He was also incredibly friendly and made every game drive both informative and enjoyable. We were lucky enough to see all of the 'Magnificent Seven' as well as so many other animals and birds.
Despite unexpected flooding and heavy rainfall during our stay, Elephant Herd Tours & Safaris were impressively adaptable and flexible, always prioritising our safety while still ensuring we had an unforgettable experience. Even with the challenging conditions, the safari was absolutely amazing.
The value for money is excellent. We loved every moment of our time with Elephant Herd Tours & Safaris and would wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone planning a holiday in South Africa. A truly first-class experience from start to finish.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Trip of a Lifetime
Our trip with Safari Soles was excellent and exceeded our wildest expectations.
The biggest highlight of the trip was our guide, Silas. He was a fantastic driver, game guide, and companion during our trip - we felt completely safe with him, he was timely and polite, and his knowledge was invaluable. The trip wouldn’t have been the same without him, and I will be recommending him to any friends considering a safari.
We also enjoyed our tent lodgings during safari immensely. Safari Haven’s staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming. The sundowner they provided was a beautiful way to spend the evening. Our balloon safari with Adventures Aloft was perfect. The pilot, Hego, and the rest of the crew were so fun to fly with and we enjoyed this experience even more than we expected.
I understand that Mbuni is a new lodging option, and our night here was fantastic. Our only regret was that we didn’t have more time here - the location was gorgeous, the lodgings were luxurious, the food was the best we had on the trip, and the staff were friendly and kind. Additionally, it was the best shower of the whole trip and our escort to the tent at night spotted a leopard in the trees!
Tortillis Camp in Ngorongoro was perhaps the most beautiful location we camped in, and we had a wonderful time sitting by the fire and chatting with other guests. The Masai dance they performed at dinner was incredible to watch.
Our time in Zanzibar was relaxing, though we were sad to leave mainland Tanzania and Silas behind.
The cost for this trip felt extremely reasonable, especially considering the level of planning done on their behalf and the transportation, food and beverages included. I believe we had a combination of luck and traveling at off-peak times, but this vacation felt extremely private and luxurious and we found ourselves receiving VIP treatment frequently without paying VIP costs.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Well organised with knowledgable guides
Wow we never thought we would afford a Safari ..this 11 days with Gem Finders was out of this world and very affordable ! Lawrence and William our guides couldnt do enough for us would book with them again . Thankyou to all the team for making this Safari one of the best Holidays weve ever had
Debbie and Chrissie
GE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Top-notch organization
Fiona and David organized everything perfectly, everything was on time, they handled communication with drivers, resolved issues very fast, and provided additional car services upon request. Overall, couldn't wish for a more responsive, responsible and professional experience. Good value for money also!
EE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great private family safari experience
We joined a 4-day Tsavo East and Tsavo West safari with Steve and Richard Safaris in early January, and overall it turned out to be a very enjoyable and memorable experience.
We compared offers from several safari operators, and Steve and Richard Safaris clearly had the most competitive price. As we were traveling as a family of six, a private safari was important to us, and this was arranged smoothly.
Communication before the trip with Steve, the company owner, was mostly detailed and helpful. That said, there were a few moments of confusion, as we received multiple emails with very similar wording, which at times felt slightly impersonal. The fact that the email address used did not fully match the one listed on the website also caused some hesitation, especially since the USD 500 advance payment was quite substantial.
Despite these concerns, we decided to move forward — and we are glad we did. All payments were handled properly, and we paid the remaining balance in cash when we met Steve at our hotel a couple of days before departure. Everything that had been agreed upon was delivered exactly as promised.
Our safari vehicle was a spacious 10-seater Land Cruiser, very comfortable and perfect for game drives. Our driver and guide, Trevor, was outstanding. His knowledge of wildlife and local roads was excellent, and he was consistently polite, attentive, and proactive. Throughout the trip, we felt safe and well looked after.
There was a small cultural difference regarding tipping at the end of the safari, as in our culture it is not common to tip drivers outside of specific service roles. However, this was a minor moment and did not affect the overall quality of the experience.
The mid-range lodges were simple but clean and comfortable, and we enjoyed good food throughout the safari. Ngulia Lodge stood out for its incredible location and wildlife activity. From our room and the restaurant terrace, we saw elephants, buffaloes, a leopard, and even a lion stalking nearby prey. We also witnessed some very lively baboon behavior — including one stealing our towel from the balcony (entirely our own mistake!).
Due to a logistical change, our final night was spent at Taita Hills Lodge instead of Salt Lick, and this turned out to be a wonderful surprise. It was one of the most impressive places we stayed in Kenya — truly a peaceful and beautiful retreat, just as Trevor had described.
Overall, Steve and Richard Safaris proved to be a trustworthy and well-organized company, with reliable vehicles and dedicated staff. While there were minor communication quirks beforehand, the safari itself was excellently run, and we would happily recommend them — particularly to families looking for a private safari experience.
MX
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Eli was the absolute best!!
We had the best experience with our tour guide Eli in Tanzania. We stayed in Tanzania for 8 nights and it was truly an incredible and wonderful experience. An authentic wildlife experience. The value for the money was absolutely worth it.
SA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Committed
The safari experience was very good, mainly thanks to our guide Bin, who was exceptional. He was kind, caring, professional, and did his absolute best to ensure we had an amazing experience throughout the trip.
The only downside was the food, which did not meet our expectations. Improving the food quality would greatly enhance the overall experience.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome, nothing too much trouble
We had the most fantastic time from start to finish an experience I will never forget ‘out of this world’ Our guides Lawrence and William were very knowledgeable of the wildlife and would do there utmost to spot the biggest to the smallest animals/birds!! They were also friendly and joyful to be around and we had some good laughs along the way. Our accommodation was great , clean and comfortable and plenty of different food types to choose from. If I were fortunate to be able to go on Safari again Gem Finders would be my choice to book with , Thank you for such an amazing experience 🙏🙏
CZ
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A smoothly organised safari with an experienced guide and a very personal approach
We had an excellent experience with Biko Tours Tanzania from start to finish. From the moment they picked us up at the Kenya–Tanzania border to the drop-off at Kilimanjaro Airport, everything was perfectly organised and ran smoothly.
Shortly after pick-up, we were taken for lunch and given a clear overview of the itinerary, which immediately set a very professional tone. We visited Lake Ndutu and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, both of which were unforgettable.
Our guide, Charles, was truly outstanding - extremely experienced, a great and safe driver, and above all a wonderful person to spend time with. His knowledge, calm approach and ability to read both the wildlife and the guests made a huge difference to the entire trip. We also really appreciated the personal approach shown by Biko Tours throughout.
Highly recommended. We would not hesitate to travel with Biko Tours again.
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience
The safari exceeded my expectations in many aspects. The tour was well organized, communication with the tour operator(via Whatsapp) went smoothly, the hotel pickup was on time and all the activities happened as planned.
The drive to the camp was quick and safe and came with a free african massage ;)
The camp itself was clean, comfortable and had all necessary amenities, including wifi(although there were occasional power outages).
The guide Marcus and the driver were absolute professionals, always friendly and knowledgable, sharing lots of interesting facts about the area and the wildlife and, above all, they did everything they could to get me as close to the animals as possible without disturbing them.
The tour was an overall great experience and I enjoyed every minute of it.