50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing adventure!
We recently returned from an amazing safari adventure in Tanzania, followed up by a few relaxing days on Zanzibar island. We had contemplated this trip for years but the long flight made it seem daunting. Friends of ours had worked with Jessica Mathews at Dancing Zebra Safari company in the past and highly recommended her, so I decided to give her a call. After a few meetings of discussing options and listening to Jessica’s recommendations (she’s very knowledgeable of the country), we decided on Northern Serengeti for abundant wildlife and then Eastern Serengeti as big cats (especially cheetahs) were high on our ‘really hope to see’ list. We decided on October as it would be less crowded as the Great Migration was nearing completion. We added on Ngorngoro Caldera as we had heard it was a special experience. Jessica arranged a number of extra activities for us including a balloon safari that added special moments for us. Jessica spoke highly of Lemala Camps and their guides, and we stayed at Lemala Kuria Hills (North), Lemala Nanyukie (East) and Lemala Osonjoi Lodge (Ngorongoro). The camps were amazing. They felt luxurious and you’d never know they run on solar power! Running water and the ability to take a hot bath in your tent was wonderful. The camps locations were incredible too - right in the Savannah with animals always nearby or traveling through. The staff at all three were fabulous. Friendly, helpful, kind, always smiling and it didn’t feel forced, it felt as if they all loved what they did, they were a family, and their camaraderie was infectious (special shoutout to Godwill, Jamu, Matthias, Wright, Abdul, Jafhet, Michael and Josephat). Oh and the food was wonderful too, including a delicious bush barbecue lunch in Ngorongoro! The staff at the camps communicate so people seemed to already know us when we arrived at the next camp. The local travel agency Jessica worked with was on top of all of our bush flights and transfers so we just needed to show up. Additionally, before we started our big Serengeti safari adventure, we spent two days in Arusha where we had landed after our flight. We had an issue (misunderstanding on my part) at our hotel and I texted Jessica - she and the local agents handled it with the hotel seamlessly. We spent two days in Arusha and Jessica had arranged some activities for us, and each driver/guide we had knew exactly what our itinerary was and just simply made it so easy for us! On our walking safari in Arusha National park with Steven we saw two male giraffes ‘fighting/necking’, and so much other wildlife. Steven was really great to spend our first day ‘on safari’ with. Stanley our driver was also always on time, and was entertaining with his stories and explanations of life in Arusha Town.
After our bush flights into the Serengeti, we met our Serengeti safari guide Frank Mshana. We spent 9 days on safari together, and he is the best … wonderful person, funny, patient with all of our questions (he knew all the answers!), very professional, and obviously knows the Savannah and animals well - he made this trip even more special. We very much enjoyed our conversations about life in Tanzania and sharing our experiences of our own life as well. We had so many wonderful sightings we got in the habit of sharing a celebratory drink with Frank at the end of each day. He called us his lucky charms as apparently we saw more than most people get to see! We saw more than we could have hoped for - four different male lions, a half dozen lioness and their cubs, including a lioness and cubs with their zebra kill and then her dragging the 1/3 eaten carcass at least 150 feet to a downed tree to hide (she dragged it two feet in front of our vehicle) - just awesome! Three different leopards including a momma in a tree with her two precocious 2-month old cubs that could not stay still, and four cheetah mommas and their cubs including watching one hunt and take down an impala right in front of us! Countless giraffes, elephants, zebras, hyenas, antelopes, wildebeest, warthogs, jackals and so many types of birds, hippos and crocs - even a black rhino sighting in Ngorongoro. Many animals up close, including elephants and giraffes, who are not afraid to get close to us as they don’t see humans as prey nor as predators. We are just ‘there’. In addition to all this, we were privileged to see lions mating, a wildebeest crossing, and three different Cerval cats which are rarely seen! So many ‘high five’ moments we shared with Frank. One thing I am so glad we did was to pay for our own land rover and guide rather than share a safari vehicle with others who stayed at the camps. The ability to do what we wanted, to have windows on our vehicle that we could close when it was dusty/windy or the couple times it rained I think made the whole experience more enjoyable. This trip wasn’t cheap, but it was worth every penny! We’ve had some wonderful vacations/trips over the years and nothing will ever top this trip. We highly recommend Dancing Zebra Safari and their partners in Tanzania, as well as Lemala Camps, and encourage you to just do it - you won’t regret it!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Outstanding experience well beyond my hopeful expectations!
From the beginning, Lencer and the Awuor team went out of there way to plan the most amazing itinerary for my FIRST (& definitely NOT last) visit to Kenya. As a woman traveling alone, I was extra cautious in preparing for this trip. I had nothing to worry about. Awuor responded from across the globe night and day & planned the most magnificent itinerary, with coveted camps & resorts, flexible game drive plans, and the best driver & guide I could have ever imagined. I am so beyond grateful for the patience, detail, & care that went into making this one of the best experiences in my life. The wildlife in Kenya is pre magic. Thank you!!
IN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Peter Mapinda is very enthusiastic person,we enjoyed in our whole trip
Everything was just superb with alkanjaoi Tours and Safari.would like to visit serengeti again.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fun and thorough
Our guide was knowledgeable, fun and willing to put up with 7 women. We got an excellent experience. Would love to have him again. He went above and beyond!
He was very knowledgeable about the animals.
Stanley was very accommodating in searching for animals and helping us with great photo opportunities. I appreciated his expert knowledge of the animals.
Animal tour in Kruger
Stanley was an incredible guide!! He went above and beyond to help our visit be the best!!
Thank you!!
TH
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
This safari tour went beyond my expectations !!!
First of all, I should have made the safari tour reservation a few months in advance. However, I did it in less than two weeks before my holiday. Thank you to Allan who were super responsive although my kids would like to alter the itinerary for the Maasai and the hot air ballon. The reservation went smoothly. The itinerary, route, accomodation, vehicle, food and drink was fantastic. Jephter, our driver, provided very good service. He was knowledgeable and experienced. He could manage to find all the big five. This tour was well worth it.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Stanley was the best driver! He was a lot of fun and very informative!
Fun day in the Oark! Saw SO many different animals! Just amazing and so fun!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent!!
Stanley was the best guide, very patient and enthusiastic. Highly recommended!!
PL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent service and unforgettable experience
Everything was perfectly organized from the first contact to the end of the trip. Communication was fast and professional, and our guide was knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about wildlife. The accommodations and transport exceeded our expectations. Great value for money and an amazing gorilla trekking experience that I’ll never forget!
