CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
They treat me like family, but there are still some small details that could be improved.
For this Tanzania safari, I chose Porcupine Expedition as the ground operator. Looking back on the five-day, four-night budget package, I can give it 4.5 stars, maybe even 5, for the following reasons.
First, this is a ground operator run by a local business family in Arusha. Everyone calls the boss as Mama Anna. Although she is clearly a very clever businesswoman, she is also an extremely warm and hospitable person. She called me her child right from the start to the end, and also paid close attention to my personal reactions to the safari content. When she learned that I hadn't seen a large-scale river crossing in the Serengeti, she kept apologizing to me and promised to give me a free day in the northern Serengeti next time (In fact, it's normal not to see large-scale river crossings in this season). And when I returned to Kilimanjaro Airport, she send her daughter to pick me up and prepared a free lunch for me. In terms of service attitude, Porcupine Expedition is absolutely excellent.
Second, the guide and chef on this safari were also good. My guide genuinely delivered every item listed in the itinerary—when it said Full Day Safari, he really drove from sunrise to sunset, and along the way we truly saw many animals and many different related things. Most importantly, in Ngorongoro we found the large herd that had come over from the Masai Mara. Although it wasn't a river crossing, the vast, endless migration of wildebeest gave me an extremely powerful sense of awe.
Finally, on this safari we only changed vehicles once, on the last day in Tarangire, and both of my vehicles had only 4–5 people. Compared with the crowding during my Kenya safari, this was truly much more comfortable.
Now that I've covered the strengths, I should mention the weaknesses. There were mainly three.
The first was a last-minute itinerary change. Only after I arrived did they inform me that the northern Serengeti portion of the trip had been canceled. This made me very sad and disappointed at the beginning, because the very reason I wanted to go was to see the Great Migration in the northern Serengeti. "I went and didn't see it" and "I didn't go, so I didn't see it" are two different things, and what you can see in the central Serengeti isn't all that different from the Masai Mara. But later, I did see the Great Migration in Ngorongoro. Although it was still on a small scale, it saved me from a lifelong regret caused by the itinerary change.
The second was the tipping issue. I had prepared US$20 in tips, US$10 for the driver and US$10 for the cook, and the two Egyptian travelers with me gave the same. But when it came time for me to give mine, the guide got out of the vehicle and chased me all the way to my hotel room on the last night, telling me he thought the tip was too small and asking me to add more money, and telling me that the cook would need an additional tip the next day. This behavior also affected my good impression of him. Fortunately, US$30 isn't too big an expense.
The third was the accommodation issue, and this is also where I think Kenya beats Tanzania. Also a budget package, Tanzania's five days and four nights included three nights sleeping in tents, with hot water only on one night, not to mention Wi-Fi and so on. Still, on the night in Ngorongoro, wild zebras would show up outside the tent, which was at least a novel experience.
Overall, Porcupine Expedition's budget safari package is still quite good. Just like the one in Kenya, it's suitable for travelers who love adventure and don't have high requirements for accommodation. I think I will choose Porcupine Expedition again next time and recommend it to other Chinese tourists. But if I come again next time, I'll probably make the entire itinerary northern Serengeti, or head straight for the summit of Kilimanjaro.
IN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A tour operator is a trusted travel expert who plans and organizes memorable journeys, ensuring a sm
The tour operator provided excellent communication, friendly service, great value for money, and reliable arrangements, making the entire safari experience smooth, enjoyable, and unforgettable.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best of the best!!
Our honeymoon was organized by Meru Slopes, and we had worked directly with Leonard. We had an all inclusive tour with the most comfortable luxury accommodations, fantastic food and most of all with probably one of the most experienced guides in Tanzania - Jacobo.
We spent out first days in a lovely hotel with a very comprehensive town tour in Arusha. Then Jacobo took us on the 6 days tour around Tanzanian Safaris, we visited Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, we are happy to say that it was flawless, we managed to see everything on our bucket list, and even after discussing with other travelers we realized we have seen way more than most of other groups that visit the park! Completely unforgettable full of positive emotions and definitely we can brag that National Geographic didn't show as much as we have seen with Jacobo!! 5 out of 5 for Big 5 and Ugly 5, and we have seen each of those animals more than once up close, as close as you can possibly get based on the park's regulations!!! Thank you so much for everything and we will definitely spread the word who you must choose if you visit Tanzania 🇹🇿
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Proactive, reliable and helpful.
We had a fantastic holiday in Tanzania. The safari exceeded our expectations, it was an amazing experience.
The communication with Lion King was exceptional, we found them very helpful - always responding to our questions and concerns. Our guide was fantastic - friendly, polite, considerate and very knowledgeable.
We highly recommend this company.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The tour operator was very well organised and well planned.
This was our first experience in booking with the agency.
Myself and my husband are extremely happy that we chose this tour service.
The itinerary was well planned and organised. Our guide was patient , kind and very helpful. We enjoyed our stay , experience and created lot of good memories in kenya.
They respond well to all the queries with out any delay and hesitation.
FR
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
5 stars for our guide, Ecky
The 5 stars are for our guide Ecky, who managed to handle, with great tact and professionalism, 3 families (7 people in a jeep where access to the open roof is not possible for all 7!!). Ecky made sure that everyone could take advantage of this safari.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Excellent
Definately value for money.The host is aproachable and you get speedy answers on your requests. Everything was on time and the guide knowledgeable on birds and animals and adhered to all our requests. We had a full day trip into Chobe and we enjoyed it very much. Saw lion and lots of birds. Will recommend them without hesitation.
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very well organised , very informative, many many animals for taking pictures
We had a perfect time on our luxery safari tour through Moremi NP. A new tent, good beds and a private bathroom.
The cook was perfect. No simple bush food- he was baking fresh Rolls, very delicious meals, good wine ,…..
And our guide was spotting so many rare animals, like wild dogs, lions, hippos, many birds and off cause elephants, giraffs, zebras, different antelopes……
The tour was the highlight in our vacation!
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
unforgettable honeymoon safari with exceptional service, breathtaking moments and so much fun!
When planning our honeymoon, we shortlisted several companies before choosing Enkolo Tours, and we couldn’t have made a better decision!
From the very beginning, we had a wonderful and highly knowledgeable contact person, Annie, who provided exceptional service and tailored our itinerary entirely to our wishes, making adjustments until everything was absolutely perfect.
Upon arriving in Africa, we were welcomed by the kindest and warmest guide, Samu, with whom we spent six unforgettable days on safari. We had the most incredible time! He took so much time to explain everything about the wildlife, patiently answered all our questions, and made us laugh throughout the journey. He was always considerate of our wishes, and it was clear that he genuinely loved his job and was passionate about what he did.
The days were long, but we simply couldn’t get enough! Thanks to Samu’s professionalism, expertise, and quick thinking, we were lucky enough to see all of the Big Five, and every wildlife sighting we had hoped for became a reality.
The accommodations were also very well chosen and offered excellent value for money. Even while out on safari, we were treated to delicious, freshly prepared hot lunches, which made the experience feel even more special.
All in all, this was an absolutely outstanding safari experience. I would wholeheartedly recommend Nkollo Tours again and again. You could truly feel how much care, passion, and attention to detail went into every aspect of the journey, making our honeymoon truly unforgettable! At the end of our trip, we were even surprised with a personalized gift from Annie, our wonderful trip organizer, who has truly become a friend along the way. We are incredibly grateful for everything we experienced and will cherish these memories for a lifetime.
CH
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The best experience we have ever had with a tour operator – exceptional in every way.
Our safari in Botswana was, without question, the best experience we have ever had with a tour operator.
From the very beginning, communication with Safari Online, and Lindsay in particular, was exceptional. She was always available, responded promptly to our questions, understood our wishes perfectly and put together an itinerary that could not have suited us better. We genuinely felt that our trip had been designed specifically for us.
Having compared several tour operators before booking, we also consider the value for money to have been outstanding, especially given the quality of the entire experience.
The organisation was flawless from start to finish. Every detail had been carefully considered, from the selection of lodges and the seamless transfers between destinations to the overall safety, efficiency and quality of service. At no point did we have to worry about logistics or arrangements. Everything simply worked.
Botswana itself is an extraordinary country. We encountered fascinating people, incredibly welcoming hosts, beautiful lodges, exceptionally knowledgeable and professional guides, and unforgettable wildlife. The diversity of landscapes and experiences made this journey truly special.
What impressed us most was the combination of outstanding personal service, meticulous planning and genuine attention to detail. It is difficult to imagine how this trip could have been organised any better.
We returned home with wonderful memories and the feeling that we had experienced something truly exceptional.
A huge thank you to Lindsay and the entire Safari Online team. We would not hesitate to book with them again and can recommend them wholeheartedly.