20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolutely amazing
From the moment we were picked up in Zanzibar to the moment we returned, we knew we were in great hands. Everything was so well organised, and we never had to worry about a thing. We were safely guided onto the ferry, train and throughout our journey to Mikumi National Park, which made travelling so easy and completely stress-free.
The whole team at Imara Tours were amazing. They were so friendly, welcoming, knowledgeable and always happy to help. We felt safe at all times, and their passion for Tanzania and its wildlife really made the experience even more special.
The safari itself was beyond anything we could have imagined. Seeing lions, elephants, giraffes, buffalo, crocodiles and so much more up close was simply incredible. It truly was the experience of a lifetime, and one we’ll never forget.
We booked our holiday through our UK travel company, Holiday Dukes, who arranged everything with Imara Tours. The communication from Imara Tours was excellent, especially through WhatsApp, where any questions we had were answered quickly and nothing was ever too much trouble.
A huge thank you to everyone at Imara Tours for giving us memories we’ll treasure forever. If you’re thinking about booking a safari in Tanzania, don’t hesitate—you’ll be in the best hands. We would recommend you to anyone and hope to be back one day! 🦁🦓🐘🦒🐊
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Responsive , knowledgeable and helpful
We had really great experience from the get go. All minute details of the trip were managed well. The choice of hotels and lodges was great. We never had to plan anything it was all provided by goldfinch.
Brenda was available all the time.
Sabri was a great guide
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Unforgettable Serengeti Experience
Our tour organiser, Namayani organised a very well planned 9 days Serengeti safari. Her communication prior to, during and after the safari was excellent. She was very good with responding all our queries timeously. She booked very good to excellent accommodation. Her service was excellent. She was a very reliable, knowledgeable tour organiser who also offered great advice on internal flights.
Our professional guide Hatibu(Ally), is a very experienced and well-respected safari guide. He went out of his way to ensure that we had a very memorable and unique safari experience. He was very patient and knowledgeable. In addition to mammals, he could identify various plants, trees, flowers and birds. He also has a very good historical background of the Serengeti and the surrounding areas. there was not a dull moment with Ally. he ensured that we were well taken care of all the time. We fully recommend him as the first choice for a tour guide.
The tour was reasonable value for money.
In general, the tour was excellent and unforgettable.
AE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Just amazing
No words to describe the amazing hospitality shown by the professional and good hearted Jackson and his brother Benson throughout our journey. Jackson with his best driving combined with Bensons amazing guiding skills provided us the best safari experience. They are the best in business. Amazing spotters and professionalism. Wildlife safaris and travel was comfortable. Stay camp was amazing with superb staffs food. 5/5 recommend this travels. Definitely coming back for more with Balu travels
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Safari fun
Had a great time in Pilanesberg national park getting up close to the wildlife including giraffe, zebra, elephants and rhinos. Our driver / guide Martin was very knowledgeable and ensured we got great photo opportunities. Lunch was served at a lovely hilltop location with excellent views.
JP
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The price is reasonable.
The company itself does not provide safari, but is an intermediary, so I think the quality of the tour will change depending on the guide.
The guide was a kind person, but I didn't know the departure time or details for the next day, and I learned about it for the first time after I asked other participants.
He guided me by car to see the animals, but there was no explanation about the animals and he was just driving.
I was able to book at a relatively reasonable price, but I can't guarantee the quality of the guide, so I need to be aware of it. However, I don't think there is much difference in the number or types of animals that can be seen in any guide.
It can't be helped, but it was cramped because the tour was full of 8 people. Some luggage must be placed on the car, and there is a high possibility that it will get dirty with sand.
I wasn't very satisfied with the guide, so I didn't plan to pay tip, but I paid a little because I was billed.
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We had an unforgettable trip thanks to our guide Amani.
Our guide, Amani, took us through various national parks in Tanzania over the course of nine days. I personally hoped we would encounter lions; that alone would have made the trip complete for me. We didn't just come across a single lion—we saw dozens of them. They were so close you could almost touch them. Right from that first day in the truck, we were absolutely amazed by what we saw: lions, elephants, giraffes, cheetahs. Oh man, we enjoyed it so much.
Our guide was key to those unforgettable impressions. He knew where to look and had a wealth of information to share about the animals, speaking with great respect for the parks and their wild inhabitants. This is important, because the Serengeti does not exist for us tourists; it is the animals' territory, and one treats it with respect.
Every evening, Amani would come by to go over the itinerary with us. No request was too much trouble, and he took all the time needed to show us the most beautiful spots. His love for nature has been an inspiration to us.
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great choice!
Booking our tour in Madagascar with Soul of Madagascar was a great experience.
First of all, a shout out to Theresia. She answered all our emails promptly and was able to change the itinerary per our requests both beforehand and more last minute (as one of our flighta got cancelled). The itinerary she put together was great, with the highlights being Tsingy, Isalo and Ranamofana.
Secondly, we had great guides. Michael and driver Njato were young and enthusiastic. They were great, easy-going guys who loved showing us their native country. We had a blast. They told us so much more than a standard script. They were never invading our privacy (something we have felt in the past with other intensive, private tours).
Because we took a flight to Morondava, for four days we had the pleasure to travel with two different men: Gervo and driver Allen. These men were basically the older counterparts of our other guides which made this very fun. These people too were enthusiastic and friendly and made our tour better.
Then a shout out to some of the local guides, especially Patrick and Roxi, who were very knowledgeable about the (geographical) features of Madagascar and its wildlife. We also thought our local Tsingy guide should get a mention but we forgot his name.
Overall, the rooms were fine or great. Never really disappointing and sometimes exceeding expectations. We didn't have dinner included (some tours do give you the option to do that) but we were glad in the end because now we could just choose from the whole menu instead of a set menu. And Madagascar is very cheap, so it might be cheaper to choose your own food anyway instead of having it included.
In the end, locationwise it doesn't really matter which tour operator you book with, but Soul of Madagascar has top grade guides, fast response times, good prices and I promise you will have a good time choosing them to book your trip in Madagascar.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Perfect Itinerary and Excellent Guide
We loved the itinerary, it felt like there were the right amount of rest points and busy periods. The accommodation we stayed in was midrange but felt like the highest luxury, we were welcomed by everyone with genuine warmth. Eric, our guide, was knowledgeable, considerate, always fully engaged and such a top guy. Good value for money, we had two gorilla trips. Communication during the trip was first rate. Only negative is that we had to wait many weeks for replies to our emails during the period between booking and departure, which was stressful as one of our trip members had to be changed. Overall we loved the , it was the most memorable and special experience my husband and I have had together. It was the perfect blend of nature and Rwandan culture in high definition. Thank you again Golden Rwanda Safaris!
AT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
the best safari guide i ever had
there are safari guides, and then there is peter kapino.
having been on several safaris before, i know how much the guide shapes the entire experience. after spending an unforgettable week with peter kapino, i can honestly say that he is by far the best safari guide and driver i have ever had. he didn’t just take us on game drives, he created memories that will stay with me for a lifetime.
from the very first day, peter treated us like family rather than customers. one of my favorite memories actually came at the very beginning of our safari, when each of us got surprised with an axis africa safaris t-shirt. it was such a thoughtful and personal welcome, and it immediately made us feel valued and excited for the adventure ahead. this small gesture perfectly reflected the warmth, generosity, and kindness that peter showed us throughout the entire week.
every single day, peter went above and beyond to make sure we had the best possible safari experience. he never made us feel rushed and was always happy to adjust the game drives according to our wishes and interests. his goal was never just to show us animals, it was to give us an unforgettable experience.
what truly sets peter kapino apart is that he doesn’t simply rely on the radio like many other guides. of course, he stays connected with other drivers, but he also uses his own incredible knowledge, experience, and instincts to track wildlife himself. some of our most memorable sightings happened because peter trusted his expertise, explored different areas, and found animals on his own. it was clear that he wasn’t just following other vehicles, he was leading the way.
throughout our journey across the masai mara, lake naivasha, lake nakuru, and amboseli national park, peter gave us the very best wildlife experience we could have hoped for. thanks to him, we saw not only the big five, but also cheetahs, rhinos, and many other incredible and rare animals. thanks to peter, we experienced the great wildebeest migration not just once, but twice, something we will never forget. one of the absolute highlights was watching a cheetah during a hunt, an experience that very few people are lucky enough to witness. even more incredibly, on our very first day in the masai mara, peter helped us find all of the big five. we could hardly believe it, and it immediately became clear that we were in the hands of an exceptional guide.
every single game drive felt exciting because peter always seemed to know where to look and never stopped searching until he was satisfied that we had experienced something truly special.
as someone who enjoys photography, i was especially impressed by the care peter took to position the vehicle perfectly. he always searched for the best angles, carefully considered the direction of the sunlight, and made sure we had outstanding opportunities for photos. at the same time, he never compromised the welfare of the animals. he treated every animal with great respect, never disturbed them, and always kept an appropriate distance. his respect for nature made every sighting even more meaningful.
another thing that touched me was how thoughtful peter was throughout the entire trip. during the hottest parts of the day, he always made sure to find shaded spots whenever possible so that we could stay comfortable while enjoying the wildlife. it is these small details that made such a big difference. he constantly thought about our comfort without us ever having to ask, and these thoughtful gestures perfectly reflect the kind of person he is, someone who genuinely cares about his guests and always puts their experience first.
what impressed me just as much was his dedication. peter never looked at the clock. if staying out a little longer meant giving us a better chance of seeing something extraordinary, he happily did so. he always gave us every possible minute of our game drives and never made us feel rushed. it was obvious that giving his guests the best possible experience was far more important to him than simply finishing on time. that level of dedication is incredibly rare and deserves special recognition.
i would also like to thank axis africa safaris for organizing such an outstanding safari. everything was perfectly planned and professionally managed from start to finish. however, without any doubt, the biggest reason this became the best safari i have ever experienced was peter kapino.
if you are booking with axis africa safaris, i sincerely hope you have the opportunity to travel with peter kapino. he is knowledgeable, professional, respectful, passionate, incredibly hardworking, and genuinely one of the kindest people i have met. he doesn’t just show you kenya’s wildlife, he gives you an experience that exceeds every expectation.
thank you, peter kapino, for your dedication, your kindness, your respect for wildlife, and for making this the safari of a lifetime. by the end of the week, it honestly felt like we were saying goodbye to a friend rather than just our guide. if i ever return to kenya, there is only one guide i would want to travel with again, and that is peter kapino.
five stars simply aren’t enough.