TW
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A reliable small tour operator with a great guide, though its risk management could be better.
I have loved animals since I was a child, and visiting Africa has long been my dream. This trip finally made that dream come true. I’m so grateful to Ways of Africa, along with Paul (the owner), Janet and our safari guide Paul, for making this African journey so smooth and enjoyable.
I chose Ways of Africa after sending my itinerary requirements to more than a dozen tour agencies. Among all of them, Ways of Africa replied the fastest. Paul listened carefully to my requests, built an itinerary that matched my needs and revised it promptly. I was really impressed at the beginning. Although the initial quotation was a bit high, we negotiated the price several times and reached a fair rate. I soon paid the deposit and signed the contract.
That said, after the deposit was paid, Paul’s response slowed down noticeably. I kept waiting for the hotel vouchers, but we still did not receive the full set by the time we departed. Paul later explained that they are a small tour operator and cannot cover all hotel costs upfront. Some hotels only release vouchers once full payment is completed. I do understand this arrangement. However, if he had informed me of this policy before our trip started, it would have saved me from anxious, uncertain waiting. With the slow replies, I did worry a little whether everything would work out. Fortunately, Ways of Africa turned out to be very reliable. Every scheduled activity was fulfilled, and we received many wonderful unexpected surprises. All items listed in the itinerary were included with no hidden extra fees, which was excellent.
The safari vehicle was fairly new and spacious, built to seat six guests. With only four of us on board, we had plenty of room and rode very comfortably. It came with a fridge to keep drinks cold and charging sockets for our devices. Our guide Paul kept the vehicle spotless every day and even used fragrance to keep the air fresh inside.
I especially want to praise our guide Paul. He is an outstanding safari guide — witty, friendly, warm and great to talk with. We had countless conversations. He is like a walking encyclopedia of wildlife, sharing fascinating facts about animals throughout the drive and answering all our questions. Whenever we spotted animals far away, he could immediately identify the species. He has an incredible eye for wildlife and can detect animals from a great distance. Thanks to him, we witnessed many incredible moments, including leopard hunting and lions feeding. He also took us to iconic landmarks, such as the Kenya-Tanzania border and the Equator line.
I am deeply passionate about lions and follow pride dynamics closely. I expressed my wish to see the Marsh Pride. Our planned camp was quite far from their territory, making the trip inconvenient. But at my request, Paul went out of his way to take us there. We successfully saw Queen Kito of the Marsh Pride and nearly all members of the Topi Pride. I am truly thankful for this. Hopefully next time, I can see the Topi Boys that I’ve been hoping to meet.
Paul also recommended extra activities. The hiking at Hell’s Gate was fantastic. My favourite part was the natural hot springs there; swimming and soaking felt incredibly relaxing. On our final day before departure, he brought us to the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary, which was not originally on our itinerary. It was such a lovely surprise. On the day we left, owner Paul and his wife Janet came to see us off, which felt really warm and thoughtful.
Overall, this was an unforgettable and wonderful trip. Still, there were a few accommodation hiccups worth mentioning.
First, the delayed hotel vouchers I mentioned earlier. Second, our originally booked Keekorok Camp closed unexpectedly. Paul only notified us about this two weeks before our departure. We hoped to find an alternative hotel at the same price, but the replacement Savora Mara Camp had a notable price difference. I thought the matter had already been settled, yet when we arrived in Nairobi, we were told we needed to cover the price gap. After multiple discussions, we agreed on a 70/30 split between the company and us. This situation could have been handled much better with earlier communication and more transparency.
Another issue was our stay at Lake Naivasha Sopa. We were supposed to stay there for two nights, but rising river levels forced us to move to Lake Naivasha Resort for the first night. This resort had lower standards and a cheaper rate, yet we did not receive a refund for the price difference. This somewhat affected our experience. I understand emergencies can happen, but as a small tour operator, Ways of Africa’s capacity to handle unexpected crises and risks could be improved for future trips.
All things considered, I am so glad I booked this trip with Ways of Africa. Both the owner and our guide are truly amazing people. I will come back to Africa again, and I wish Ways of Africa continued success!
CN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic safari experience, many thanks!
We are very satisfied with the whole safari arrangement. All transport, lodges, and balloon safari ran smoothly. Our guide was knowledgeable, observant and very patient with our photography. He made our trip unforgettable. Great team, highly recommended!
TW
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Nice and wonderful trip arranged
I didn’t know much about Africa before this trip. I decided to come mainly because a close friend wanted to go, so I joined her. But after arriving, I completely fell in love with this incredible land.
I don’t usually take many photos, but this trip was completely different—I took more than 100 photos every single day! Seeing all these beautiful wild animals up close, animals that we could never see back home, was truly unforgettable.
Throughout the journey, we visited different national parks and had the chance to see the iconic animals of each area. Every day brought us new surprises and unforgettable moments.
A very special thank-you goes to Steve, who was truly the soul of this trip. His incredible “eagle eyes” and extensive work made it possible for us to see so many amazing animals and experiences that we might otherwise have missed. He was also incredibly knowledgeable and always took the time to explain everything to us in detail.
And of course, I have to thank Steve for being so thoughtful about our bathroom breaks and making sure we had plenty of opportunities to use the restroom along the way! 😂
This trip was far more than just a safari. It made someone who once knew very little about Africa fall deeply in love with this beautiful continent.
Thank you, Steve, for making this journey so special and unforgettable. 🦁🌍❤️
CN
Fantastic safari experience with knowledgeable guide and reliable service.
We compared many local operators via WeChat and email before our trip and finally chose West Wild. They were highly recommended. Communication in Chinese via WeChat was prompt and responsive, offering the best value for money among all the options we inquired about.
The lodges were mostly mid-range to semi-luxury, and the itinerary included links to all accommodation. The whole trip ran smoothly without any issues such as hotel switches or delays. The owner checked our experience in the group chat every day.
Our safari vehicle was well-equipped with charging ports, a fridge and sunshades. Water, Coke and beer were supplied in plenty, and the car was cleaned regularly. We could see many of their vehicles out on safari, showing they are a well-established operator. On our final day before departure, they even treated us to a Chinese meal.
Special shout-out to our guide Temba! He speaks fluent English and can answer all our questions. He actively introduced facts about local flora and fauna, helping us learn new things every day.
He managed to show us every animal we hoped to see. When spotting new wildlife, he would immediately check reference books for us. He always positioned the car for the best photography angles and even took excellent photos of animals for us.
His eyesight is amazing! Once he spotted a leopard hiding far under a tree, which no other vehicles had noticed. He drove over, and we got to watch the elusive leopard.
CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
professional caring and honest
This safari company is a true hidden gem I stumbled upon! First of all, Maggie and our guide Sam are incredibly professional. They created a detailed itinerary tailored to our needs and offered us the best possible price. Maggie was always attentive and quick to answer and resolve all our questions. On the road, Sam drove with such care, skillfully avoiding speed bumps to ensure a smooth ride for us. He handled everything perfectly to give us an amazing safari experience. Finally, as a Chinese traveler, I felt they were extremely friendly and respectful towards us. There were no pushy requests for tips or any hidden extra fees whatsoever. Highly recommended!
BG
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An unforgettable South African adventure
Our journey through South Africa with Rickus and Junglers Adventure Tours was truly unforgettable.
Everything was perfectly organized from beginning to end – the itinerary, the wonderful places we stayed and all the incredible experiences along the way. We saw breathtaking landscapes, amazing wildlife and had moments we will remember for the rest of our lives.
But what made the trip truly special was Rickus himself. His personal attention, flexibility and genuine care made us feel that we were travelling with a friend rather than a guide.
Thank you, Rickus, for showing us the very best of your beautiful country and for making this journey so special. We highly recommend Rickus and Junglers Adventure Tours and truly hope this won’t be our last adventure together!
CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Skilled and reliable guides/operator
Me and my friend we just finished our 6-day Tanzania safari from Sep 27 to Oct 3. Can wait to leave a comment ! Our route covered Tarangire, Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro, and we were lucky to spot the Big Five all thanks to our amazing guide Ricky.
Ricky is passionate about lions and knows their habits extremely well. He located prides for us many times at close range. Whenever he heard predator sightings over the radio, he responded quickly. He kept our wishes in mind and helped us find hippos and buffalo we hoped to see. Sincere and gentle, and also very cute. Once you get familiar with him, he is funny and shares rich local culture.
Jackson is very quick responsive and all the accommodations arranged are beyond our expectations! Very decent guy and excellent experience with Topy!
BR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Stanley left the park at 2:30 PM, earlier than planned. He explained a few things about some of the animals.
Stanley explained the animals to us; we saw lions, but left early.
(automatic translation from Portuguese)
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect experience for safari
A huge thank you to the entire Sopai Safaris team! Our honeymoon was absolutely perfect, and we couldn’t have wished for a better safari experience.
Everything was taken care of for us, which allowed us to fully relax and enjoy our 7-day safari to the fullest. We especially loved that we were able to plan and customize our route and accommodations in advance according to our wishes.
We had an amazing guide, Temu, who was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and always made sure we had the best possible experience. We were lucky enough to see all the animals we had hoped for, and every day of the safari was an unforgettable experience.
We would book with Sopai Safaris again in a heartbeat and can wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone looking for an unforgettable safari in Tanzania.
5 out of 5 stars for Sopai Safaris!
CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An Unforgettable Safari Experience with an Exceptional Guide
We had an absolutely amazing safari experience with Serengeti Precious Safaris, and the entire trip was well organized from beginning to end.
A very special thank you to our guide, Ezekiel, who truly made our journey unforgettable. He was professional, patient, friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable about the wildlife, nature, and local culture. His ability to spot animals was impressive, and he always knew where to position the vehicle for the best views and photos. Throughout the journey, Ezekiel was always positive, flexible, and attentive. We never felt rushed, and he was happy to answer all our questions and share his knowledge with us. After spending so many days together on the road, he felt less like just our guide and more like a friend traveling with us.
Serengeti Precious Safaris also did a fantastic job organizing the whole trip. The itinerary was well planned with flexibility, communication was smooth, and everything from transportation to accommodation was handled professionally. We could simply relax and enjoy Tanzania without worrying about the logistics.
From Tarangire and the Serengeti to Ngorongoro, every part of the journey gave us incredible memories. We would definitely recommend Serengeti Precious Safaris, and especially Ezekiel, to anyone planning a safari in Tanzania. If we come back for another safari, we would be very happy to travel with them again!
