NO
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Friendly and trained personell
Ok, but 7 hours drive in a car with no AC and uncomfortable seats should be mentioned when booking. The safari was great, but when the car limits our trip around the park (crossing of river not possible), it's a pity, and we didn't get to go all over the park. The stay at Loyk was awesome, and the food great!
PL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience!
The Karibu Safari experience was amazing! The organisation, drive, accommodation conditions, food - everything was fine and we really enjoyed the trip! The only thing which was missing, was the guides better communication towards us. He was kind and helpful, but he was more our driver than guide. We would expect more information's and talk about the animals. Sometimes we also had the feeling we saw the animals faster than he did, he almost never advised us about them :( But still - we recommend the safari trip with Karibu Safaris! :)
It was convenient and well arranged thus very comfortable
The booking and visa applications perfectly done . Hotel bookings perfectly done in terms of reception and stay. The buses used to transport good but better can be done. Communication in terms of tour guide well but a more explosive person in terms of communication skills . The potter of the buses person relations needed with high respect towards the client. He didn’t portray this . The company can be recommended far to other clients . Overall high. Response to bookings perfect thanks Dennis for this
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Africa Zim travel were very attentive and hands on taking over when a major uk company let us down.
Blessing and Pamela treated us like friends making our arrangements before and during our stay and providing transport themselves. Most of our communication was by email, which was usually answered very quickly. They exceeded our expectations.
We organised the main element of our trip with African Horse Safaris at Macatoo in the Okavango Delta, who were excellent. Our stay on the Chobe River was interesting.The driven safari there was more like a crowded trip through a commercial game park but the River Cruises were excellent and a wonderful relaxed way to get close to the game. Blessings booked us into Phezulu lodge for our stay at Victoria Falls, which was like a small modern motel with its own pool and bar and suited us for the end of our trip.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Considering I had excellent weather, it was an absolutely fantastic trek!
The trek I completed began about 7 or 8 km west of Sankabar and took a total of 6 days, my furthest point from the start being the summit of Ras Dashen, the highest point in Ethiopia. My trek took place in December and for all 6 days, the weather could not have been better. Sunny and clear skies every morning, with some cloud coming in around 3pm (which was fine, as our hiking for the day was usually done by that time).
I booked my excursion through the company ETT. There are pros and cons with any company which I won't get into here, but let me say that for my Simien experience, they truly did a great job. Our guide, Berhanu, was very knowledgeable and just an all round really good guy, so if you can get him, he'll do you well.
As far as scenery and wildlife goes, it was incredibly beautiful at all times. The gelada monkeys were fun to watch and we had numerous opportunities to do so. Also, on two separate occasions I was able to see the rare Ethiopian wolf (also known as the red jackal, I believe) which was a fantastic experience. At one point, we even saw a group of about five ibex in a valley far below.
My group and I didn't know what to expect for food, so the first night we were served soup. We ate to our heart's content thinking that was all we were going to have, but that turned out to only be the first course of several - all of which were excellent - including dessert. I should mention that meat is not an every day thing, though, as I believe we had chicken only once in the first three days and again on my last day. Nonetheless, we all had plenty of energy and whatever we ate certainly satisfied us.
I should also say that a nice perk was that each day after hiking and arriving at the next camp, a snack of some sort (usually popcorn and biscuits (cookies)) was waiting for us - very much appreciated!
No day's hiking was particularly difficult (other than days 4 (up Mount Bwahit and then over to Ambiko) and 5 (up Ras Dashen), but the altitude did take some getting used to. By my final summit day (day 5), I had loads of energy even though it was definitely a longer day, but again, the terrain was never difficult, so really it was just putting one foot in front of the other until you get there. A 5am start helped with that, too, as it was nice and cool at that time and you could summit nice and early. (For reference, I should add that I'm a 55 year old male, not particularly athletic, but quite experienced with hiking and bagging peaks.)
The people in my group I only met for the first time on that first day, but I must say that they were a fantastic group of people (3 others plus myself) and made the experience that much more enjoyable. Hopefully if you go, you're able to join in with as good of people as I did!
under20 years of age | Experience level: first safari
6 day tour of Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha
Considering we booked a ‘budget safari’ and were a little sceptical about how it would be; it was absolutely fantastic! The communication beforehand with Robert (the email correspondent) was great, he gave fast and thorough replies. Our guide for the 6 days was Aruni and he was amazing; so good that we were able to see all of the big 5 in two days! He was a great guy, very experienced, with a great sense of humour and his knowledge of all the animals was incredible .
The accommodation was basic but clean and fully fitted with mosquito nets; the staff in all places we stayed were very friendly and helpful.
The food, although nice, was often the same and after a while got a little boring, lots of rice, beef and spinach.
My recommendation would be to bring lots of snacks, as some days we would have breakfast at 6:00 and then lunch was not until 14:00.
Another great thing about the safari was that as we booked in advance and are a family of 5, we were able to get a private tour for no extra cost! This was really great especially as talking to other travellers through different companies, they said that often the logistics with van sharing was complicated and meant time was wasted helping people to swap vans.
Thought it was worth a mention, currently you cannot enter the gorge at Hell’s Gate, Lake Navaisha. However we thought the boat trip on the lake was amazing and a fantastic way to spend Christmas Day morning.
QA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Kruger National Park by Saad Bashqa
The overall experience was fantastic. I was a little disappointed not to properly see the big five
QA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
disappointed not to see a pride of lions during one and a half days of game drives in Kruger
Five stars to Cape Town. Durban and Johannesburg are disappointing. I booked our safari on this website. It was definitely a memorable life time experience. I was surprised to see that the CEO of timeline travel came to take us from the airport being our driver guide. He came driving a Toyota Avanza which was not enough to accommodate the five of us with our five bags, car seat and a pram in addition to the driver, so we were squeezed during the five hour drive from Johannesburg Airport to Hazyview and also on the way back from Hazyview to Johannesburg airport. The accommodation was good in Kruger Park Lodge in general. The 3 bedroom chalet was very nice but had only one shower and no air conditioning in the main living room although the weather was hot. Dinner in the lodge was very good. The visit to the panorama route was really beautiful through Graskop, God's Window, Bourk's Potholes and the three rondavels (Blyde River Canyon). The lunch in the Potholes was pathetic and there definitely should be something else other than the one and only ugly busy restaurant. The one and a half days of game drives was a fantastic experience for a first timer. Yet I was disappointed not to properly see the big five. We saw enough Rhinos, Buffalo and Elephants but we only saw one Leopard hanging on a tree from a distance and only one sleeping lioness turning its back on us from a distance.
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Unique safari in an unique country
Safaris in Ethiopia are different to what to might expect: that is why you will probably end positively surprised. Parks are wilder, less crowded, more genuine. Landscapes in Ethiopia are superb, difficult to fully capture by even the best of cameras. If you add this to an exciting congregation of animals which make you feel they are freer -and happier- than other safaris you've been to, you get an authentic safari. Perhaps not as confortable, or even as safe, as others. But you will never forget this one.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Enjoyable,professional. Keep up the great work guys
Enjoyable experience. Communication was great,informative,polite & concise.