50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
With our limited time, this was a very well planned, very well guided few days
We were tight on time and had to squeeze this trip in with a visit with our daughter. ETrip was flexible and responsive. They planned and executed a great 4 days for us. The camp and lodge were perfect for our needs, budget and desired atmosphere. Our tour guide/driver was extremely knowledgeable and patient. What a great driver! We loved the accommodations, the vistas, the sightings of every animal we could have dreamed of seeing. We had a great time and learned a lot.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Extraordinary 3 generation safari experience
Lucas is an exceptional guide/planner. We were a group of twelve spanning the ages of 13-73. Lucas was a master at moving us around and making sure that we saw all that we could see. He was incredibly aware of the range of needs and interests and without fanfare made sure that we all had an incredible trip.
Lucas runs a small safari company. Its very different than what it looked like the larger companies provided. He was able to change our itinerary quickly and fluidly and invisibly to us. It felt like old-school guided tourism. No industrial scale hotels, no bureaucracy, just a well planned and flexible experience.
His knowledge of the animals and their environment provided great perspective and lessons none of us will forget.
I cannot recommend him and his company (carnivore safaris) highly enough.
SG
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best value and great service but please check your transfers to avoid mistakes
We went on a private tour (2pax) with Sunset Africa in early Aug 2016. We used the 12-day package as a base and customized it.
We had a good experience liaising with the company. Godfrey the manager is very prompt in replying to emails. He also was upfront about the increase in cost due to the government's increase in taxes, and his increase was reasonable because he didn't apply the 18% on the entire cost of the package, which some other companies did.
For the safari part of the itinerary, we stayed in a mix of small hotels (in the city), lodges and tented camps (fully equipped with sink, toilet bowl and shower). All the meals that were stated in the itinerary were provided and all the pickups went smoothly, with the drivers waiting for us upon arrival. We did not have any dispute with the company at any point regarding what was included and what was not.
Our guide during the safari, Benedicto (Ben) was great. He really went out of his way to make sure that we spotted the big 5 (especially the rhino which was not easy to spot), and he never tried to slack off and end the game drives early even though he was clearly tired from a long day of driving. He is also a great conversationalist and very well informed! The vehicle used is a land cruiser with a roof that can be opened.
The experience in Zanzibar was also good, though I would suggest that unless you really like beach activities, you might not need to stay for that long at the beach hotel. We also arranged a spice tour and island tour on our own with a local company without problems.
The only word of caution I have is that you need to check your travel tickets and dates very carefully because we had some mistakes with ours. We got Sunset Africa to book our domestic flights as well as ferry tickets for us, and they booked the wrong date for one of the flights. Fortunately we spotted the mistake before we left for Tanzania so they could change it. Another slight hiccup was that when we got to Zanzibar, we found that the guide there did not know he was supposed to book the ferry tickets for us, so it was lucky that we happened to check with him so he could follow up on the necessary in time.
Overall, it has been a very good experience travelling with Sunset Africa. Their strength clearly lies in the wonderful safari guides they have and in organising the safari parts of the itinerary. They are also the best value for money that I have found. I would recommend Sunset Africa for mid-range luxury at reasonable prices.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Life-changing!
We cannot express adequately the extent to which we are grateful to E-Trip for this life-changing experience. Ben and Aurelie were incredible in their communications. Ben even visited us when we arrived in Arusha, and before we departed for Zanzibar (in the Airport). Our trip was custom tailored to our interests and we traveled in an amazing Safari vehicle equipped with electricity for charging our cameras and even wi-fi (when there was reception). We had a wonderful guide who was so talented, and so knowledgeable. We are glad to have some wonderful new friends. We cannot recommend them enough!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent service is guaranteed even for various budgets.The staff have visited the places recommend
Excellent service and recommendations even when we changed our minds so many times there was always a ready alternative or positive suggestions. Highly recommended.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Incredible experience. What a country! What a guide!
From the start of our booking Sven was very helpful in adapting their pre existing tours to fit what we wanted to do and also changing hotels between budget and more luxurious to fit what we wanted at each place! He was very helpful with answering lots of questions we had from locations of game drives to practical information of visas and money. Our flight was delayed by 24 hours but, between Sven and our guide (Mugabi), they managed to adapt our tour to make sure we didn't miss anything. Mugabi was fantastic from start to finish, we couldn't have asked for a better guide. He gave us political and cultural information as we drove through different towns; was incredibly knowledgable about all of the animals; was very adaptable when we wanted to stay in certain places longer or go looking for other things; knew the locations where certain animals were frequently seen which made for some incredible game viewing; found us other restaurants to eat when the restaurants attached to our hotels were 'less desirable' and ensured we were happy and safe at all times! We will certainly be keeping in touch with him. I would (and already have!) definitely recommend Uganda and Matoke Tours to everyone. The country is beautiful and so diverse. In our 10 day tour we got close to the chimps and followed them for around an hour in Kibale Forest. We saw about a hundred Elephants, a pride of Lions, Hyenas with babies, Waterbuck, Ugandan Kob, Buffalo, Hippos, crocodile, Baboons, Monkeys, Flamingo, Warthog, 7 different types of Eagle, Vultures and so many other types of birds (including cranes, storks ,kingfishers) in Queen Elizabeth. Would definitely recommend the cruise along the Kazinga Channel and Simba Safari Lodge was incredible and so welcoming. The best lodge we stayed in on our trip, which was no small part down to James and his staff! We saw the tree climbing lions and Leopard in the Ishasha Sector. By the River Camp was in an incredible location but we had a few issues with water and a bats nest above our bed. We got so close to the Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi which was the most incredible experience ever. We spent an hour and a half with them, watching them eat and play. Would recommend paying a bit more for your hotel here though as our stay at the cheaper place was not so enjoyable because of poor food and not feeling particularly welcome. We then saw Giraffe, Eland, zebra, Topi, Impala and Bush buck in huge numbers in Lake Mburo and would definitely recommend doing the morning walking safari as we were in amongst a herd of zebra on their way to the watering hole. Rwakobo Rock where we stopped here was absolutely beautiful. Incredible views, excellent facilities and very welcoming staff. We chose to just have the basic truck and not pay for the upgrade and with their only being 4 of us in a 7 seater it meant there was space for all of us to stand up through the lifted roof. Overall, it was a once in a lifetime trip that none of us will ever forget! Thank you Matoke, Thank you Sven, thank you Mugabi and thank you Uganda!!
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Gorgeous: What a wonderfull experience.
This Trip (in total 17 days) was the best of all our Safaris in different countries of Africa. Rwanda an Uganda are beautiful and lovely countries. We learned so much about the flora, fauna and people... Our guide Farouk was priceless.
AE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Outstanding s service with excellent staff n competitive prices
From pick up to drop off and everything in between was amazing. Peter our operator and another Peter our guide were both very helpful n went extra mile to ensure our family gets the best out of the day
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A happy time with Migada Adventures!
We created a beautiful memory together, our tour guide Kombo and our driver Santos are both nice! Santos can always found us the animals, amazing! They both care about us! Mike, the CEO invited us to a traditional African meal, delicious! In fact, I've been framing about Tanzania and Kombo and Santos since I left. Miss all of them already! I'm actually planning to be in Tanzania again with Migada Adventures, see you soon guys!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Abosulutely Brilliant
From the very first day to the last day this trip was magical . Patrick ,the tour operator and Big John ,the driver were just fantastic ,nothing was too much trouble, both were extremely friendly and knowledgeable .The accommodation was excellent ,the game drives, just brilliant .We saw the big 5 and a whole heap more .We are already booking our next safari with Patrick and John as I text, for September 2017 , cant wait .Patrick and John ....... thanks again .You the best .