CN
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A very professional and dedicated travel agency
The five-day and four night itinerary allowed us to fully experience the hardships and joys of visiting golden monkeys and pursuing gorillas. The travel agency has a reasonable itinerary arrangement, and the driver and tour guide are very professional and dedicated. Both driving skills and tour guide level can be described as first-class. In short, this was a very satisfying trip. Thank you again to Jerry and Guinness! I hope to have the opportunity to travel with you again.
VN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Hospitality and Great Wildlife Views
We had a fantastic experience with Camp Lilac. The safari tour was expertly guided, allowing us to see plenty of wildlife. The accommodation was also a clean, cozy, and very relaxing after our drives. The entire staff was friendly and professional, ensuring everything from the tour to the meals was perfect. Highly recommend for a complete Mikumi experience!
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Went above and beyond to make our trip great!
Big Apes, Peter the owner, and Ben our guide, all made our trip great. We chose Big Apes because Peter was the only one out of the companies we contacted who understood the somewhat difficult set of requirements for our trip. Not only did he create a plan to fit our needs, he personally stepped in to make it work. My wife and I wanted to make our gorilla trek on a specific date so our daughter, who working there as a visiting doctor, could join us. But she had to work the day before, and it is very long drive from Kampala to Bwindi. To solve the problem, Peter kindly volunteered to drive her himself, way into the early morning hours, to allow her to join us on the trek. As it worked out, she was able to leave earlier and Peter adjusted their trip to add in an extra safari park visit on the drive down. After our return to Kampala, when we had a couple of unplanned days, Peter made Ben and a Land Cruiser available to allow us to visit the places we chose on those days. It was very gracious of him and it made our stay easy from beginning to end.
Ben was a great guide. Our itinerary involved going a lot of places, all very far from one another, in a short amount of time. That meant Ben spent the week driving and driving more everyday on unpaved roads in terrible traffic. Nevertheless, he was always a pleasure to be with and he was always attentive to our comfort. On our first safari day, we had the good fortune of seeing a couple of lions along with the elephants, water buffalo and many other animals. It was a good day by any measure, but Ben wanted us to see a leopard. He worked his connections with other guides for current information and, after racing to chase various leads though some muddy obstacles, he got us a great up-close leopard viewing at the end of the day. Then, leaving from that location, we happened to encounter another one! Every day Ben was where he said he'd be when he said he'd be there.
I believe our trip fell somewhere in the mid-tier and was perfectly comfortable for us. Amazingly, we had no mosquitoes, but all the accommodations were well equipped with bug nets and had good food and helpful service. Our Land Cruiser was pretty well used and had a minor issue or two along the way, but given amount of driving we did and some of the places we went, that was just part of the adventure for us. Overall, our somewhat compressed trip delivered more than we hoped for, and we owe most of that to Big Apes.
under20 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A Perfect 4-Day Safari Adventure Across Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park & Ngorongor
We recently completed an unforgettable 4-day safari with Wildebeest Footsteps Adventures, and it was truly one of the best experiences we’ve ever had.
From the moment we arrived in Arusha, everything was perfectly organized. Our journey began in Tarangire National Park, where we were amazed by the huge elephant herds and iconic baobab trees. The scenery was stunning, and our guide made sure we didn’t miss any special moments.
Next, we headed to the world-famous Serengeti National Park. The endless plains, incredible wildlife, and breathtaking sunsets made this part of the safari truly magical. We were lucky to see lions, cheetahs, and even a leopard. Every game drive felt like a new adventure.
Our final stop was the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater. The view from the rim was unforgettable, and descending into the crater felt like entering another world. We saw a wide variety of animals in a short time, including rhinos, which was a highlight of the entire trip.
Throughout the safari, the service was excellent. The guide was knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate, making the experience even more enjoyable. The accommodations were comfortable, and everything ran smoothly from start to finish.
If you’re planning a safari in Tanzania, I highly recommend Wildebeest Footsteps Adventures. This 4-day trip gave us memories that will last a lifetime.
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Incredible organization and excellent guide
This was our first experience with a guide during a safari, as we typically prefer to explore on our own. However, we couldn’t have been happier to discover that we made the right choice. Our guide's incredible kindness and extensive knowledge truly enhanced our trip, from accommodating our vegan diet to helping us spot every possible animal in the savanna and forest.
The journey exceeded all our expectations, and while each lodge was unique, we loved them all. I will forever cherish the beauty of Uganda, its wonderful people, and breathtaking landscapes.
A heartfelt thank you to Karim—wishing you all the best! We couldn't have asked for a better guide than you!!
CN
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
This trip is very distinctive. Exciting.
The route designed by Gorilla Pathfinder Travel Agency was very ideal and scientific. They warmly welcomed us and led us on wonderful journeys in Rwanda and Uganda.
Very reliable and professional service, and more affordable than other options.
Very reliable and professional service, and more affordable than other options.
RS
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Very professional and knowledgeable.
I was on a 2 night, 3 days safari in Serengeti and I had a lovely time. From the pick up to departure everything was properly organized and I feel like I got more than I was expecting. All kudos go to our safari guide - Brighton! I went to few safaris before, so this isn’t new activity to me, but the guide was very exceptional. He is passionate about wildlife, safari, conservation… I learned a lot from him, and for every question he had a very good answer. Lovely to see someone doing his job so dedicated and with passion! For sure I will request him the next time I go!
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible, unforgettable experience - exceptional service
We booked a 4 day, 3 night Safari experience through Voyage to the Magical Africa, where we visited two destinations: Masai Mara (for two nights) and Lake Nakuru for 1 night. It was an incredible and unforgettable experience, and I would definitely do it again. I've broken down my review to give you as much detail as possible.
Timing: We booked in April, which is the "off season", and genuinely, I think that was the best decision we could have made. Prices were much lower (our total trip was about $4K USD, including more luxurious accommodations, pickup and dropoff in Nairobi, and 3 nights in 2 different locations). We lucked out with amazing weather, and we had exceptional service, barely any crowds, and we got to see a WIDE assortment of animals.
Booking with the Voyage to the Magical Africa Team
I had a great experience communicating with and booking with the VOYAGE TO THE MAGICAL AFRICA team. The individual we spoke with was Brian, and he was INCREDIBLY helpful and solicitous, and very, very communicative. We had no idea what we wanted from our safari experience, and he gave us several incredibly detailed quotes, going back and forth with me, and answering all my questions with patience and speed. He was very communicative throughout the experience, and Brian was honestly the main reason we booked with this company, compared to some of the others we received quotes from.
Things to keep in mind: Pesapal, the platform used for payment does charge fees for your transaction (when you're paying your deposit, or paying for your safari). For our initial 50% deposit, we used a bank transfer, but if I had known in advance, I would have brought cash for the second part of the payment. This also would have helped as when I was trying to pay the second half of the payment, it took a long time going through 2FA via pesapal, and it was needlessly stressful.
Feedback on the vehicle: While we did have a great experience, the land cruiser provided by the company was quite old. We had seen videos of people going on safaris in much more comfortable and updated cars (with mini fridges, charging ports, cupholders), and while we didn't need all of the bells and whistles, the vehicle we used had only 1 working seatbelt. While our experience was safe and (relatively) comfortable, I do hope the company upgrades their vehicles for future visits.
The Guide: Our guide's name was John, and quite honestly, he was the best possible guide we could have worked with. We would honestly request him for future trips. John is Masai himself, and studied animal behaviour and birds. So on top of his friendly nature and great attitude, he also knew what he was talking about. We got to see all of the big 5 on our trip, along with lots of other really cool birds and animals. Brian was so knowledgeable, and we often found ourselves telling other guides and vehicles about animals WE spotted, so they could go see them. Brian had a great instinct for knowing where animals would be, and would spot "hidden" animals and birds with ease. We had such a great experience with him. My sister, who is a biologist, and entomologist was so impressed with his depth of knowledge, and we learnt so much about animals, plants, and birds from John. Truly, I couldn't have asked for a better guide for our first safari experience.
Our accommodations: We stayed in 2 parks: Maasai Mara, and Lake Nakuru.
Maasai Mara was INCREDIBLE. We would absolutely go back there, as it's so huge, and I could have honestly spent an entire week just there. We saw our first three of the big 5 just on our drive in to the hotel (Buffalo, Elephants, and Lions), and saw so many cool birds, big groupings of animals, and more. The weather was amazing, getting a bit hot in the daytime, with cool evenings. We also barely encountered any mosquitoes.
We stayed at the Ashnil Mara Camp, and let me just say, it was the most exquisite, luxurious, and incredible hotel / resort I have ever stayed at. It was BEAUTIFULLY furnished, with gorgeous, comfortable, and tastefully appointed luxury tents. The rooms were big, comfortable, and clean (although some bugs WILL get in, it can't be avoided, but don't worry!!). They had great amenities (mosquito lotion, hand cream, shampoo and body wash), and even did 5 items of laundry for you (for free) every day, as a part of your stay. The food was delicious, you ordered from a menu, and the breakfast buffet was EXCELLENT (we preferred it to the packed breakfast, as nothing can compare to a hot breakfast buffet). The dining area was gorgeous, overlooking a river where you would frequently see and hear hippos. There were even lots of wild animals ON the site, like monkeys, insects, cool birds, mongoose, and deer. The staff was incredibly courteous, friendly, and helpful. I don't remember everyone's names, but the bar staff, the restaurant staff, the porters, and cleaners, and laundry staff, and the front desk staff were all great. John the restaurant manager was very friendly and helpful, and we were usually served by Dickson, who was so friendly, kind and helpful. I also got a Swedish massage from Rose - and oh my goodness, it was such a relaxing and enjoyable experience (I am pretty sure I fell asleep and started snoring!!). My favourite thing was all the little touches - cool towels when we checked in, the free laundry, fresh juice and cold water, hot water bottles tucked into our made beds!! I felt like a princess, lol. I wish I could have stayed even longer, and would love to go back.
In Lake Nakuru, we stayed at the Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge.
Lake Nakuru National Park itself is pretty small, so not everyone recommends it, but we lucked out, seeing the last of the big five (rhinos and a leopard) almost right when we entered the park, on our way to the hotel. We saw a of babboons, zebra, gazelle, topis, impalas, and cool birds here. We also saw some white rhinos, rothschild giraffes, hippos, flamingos, and the same male leopard 3 times. This place is a lot more marsh-y, so we saw a ton of birds, and a lot more mosquitoes (although many resorts spray for them). It rained a little during our time here, so the roads were muddy and puddle-y, which was fine, but we did see a safari vehicle (recklessly) drive into some big puddles and get stuck right by the water (eventually getting out).
Our accommodation at the Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge was decent. The staff were very friendly and helpful, but the rooms were a bit small. We were there during the off season, and there were so few guests there that they hadn't even opened their dining area, we ate in a smaller area by the bar. The food was buffet style, and it was pretty good though. My biggest complaint was that you had to pay (!!!) for water. You had to buy bottles of water to drink, which was very frustrating as our booking had specified we'd have access to drinking water. We also had to pay for soda, whereas at our other accommodation, both were free and abundantly available. There were 3 bottles of water in the room, for brushing teeth/making coffee, but for our lunch and dinner we had to buy bottles of water to drink and fill our refillable water bottles. Interestingly, at breakfast, there was a jug of drinking water available, which was a bit frustrating, because why did we have to pay for water for our other two meals?
On our way back, our guide, John, generously detoured through the Lake Naivasha area. We decided against the boat ride and Crescent Island safari because we were worried about running out of time, but we did eat a delicious lunch at the Lake Naivasha Country Club where my sister said their Buffet was the best of all the meals she'd eaten on the safari trip.
Overall, we had a truly incredible experience in Kenya, thanks to our incredible guide John, as well as Brian and the staff at Voyage to the Magical Africa, and the wonderful and friendly staff at all our accommodations. I definitely hope to come back!
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing
One of the best experience I've ever had..
The camp was set perfectly, the staff was lovely and food delicious.
Thank for give me the possibility to have this experience.
