NZ
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very reliable tour operator.
We booked a 14 day Kenya and Tanzania Safari for June/July 2025. We booked circa 9 months in advance.
1 - The booking process
The booking process was very efficient, and conducted via email. There were multiple iterations of our itinerary until we settled on one that worked for us and our budget. This only took a handful of emails over 1-2 weeks dealing with Titus. Perhaps it was our nativity/ignorance, but we assumed that once the itinerary, accomodation etc was locked in…..closer to commencing our safari there would be an opportunity to discuss/add detail. However, this was not the case. What you agree at the outset is what you get. Nothing more, nothing less. If you want to include some lunch or photo or village stops along the way (there are often some long drives), then you need to include that in your itinerary at the outset…..there didn’t seem to be much opportunity/flexibility to do that sort of thing easily at the time.
One minor criticism is that we had no idea that we were changing operators (from AM to Migada Tours) when we cross the border into TZ. We knew we would change trucks/guides…..but not entire operators. This was a surprise.
2 - Accomodation/Food
Our accomodation was very good. This was mostly just outside the parks (this keeps costs down), but in the middle of Serengeti. The food was generally of a very good standard. There was plenty of it…..but it does get a bit repetitive after 14 days. We understood that places would provide kid friendly food when requested (i.e. if the buffet didn’t appeal to kids), however, this didn’t seem to be the case.
Our accomodation in Tanzania seemed to be of a higher standard than in Kenya. This part of our tour was through Migada Tours.
3 - the guides.
We had very good guides in Peter (Kenya) and Santos (in Tanzania). Both are naturally pretty quiet guys and while they answered all our questions, it was hard to develop a rapport. This was fine for us as we are a bit introverted ourselves….but an extroverted family/couple might struggle!
Where both Peter and Santos excelled were inside the parks on the game drive and they could not be faulted. Peter seemed to be well respected within the guide community and through these relationships he took us where we needed to go to see what we needed to see. Santos on the other hand just seemed to have a 6th sense of where we would find things. Both were awesome and cannot be faulted in this respect.
Once back at camp…..we didn’t seem to have much interaction with our guides. Other guides seem to have their meals with their clients. Again - perhaps if you want this, it’s something you have to ask for?
4 - General
In general, we would highly recommend AM. As New Zealanders spending NZD…..this sort of holiday is expensive compared to people with pound, USD, Euro and so we had very real expectations of what we would get for our money. That said - observing other travellers with other operators…..they did seem to get more ‘niceties’ than we did….things that would add very little cost but would add a lot of value. As an example, we had read how a ‘sundowner’ was a quintessential safari experience at the end of a days game drive out in the bush. However, at no time during our 14 days did this eventuate. Our vehicle had a fridge…..how hard would it have been to have a couple of beers and a couple of soft drinks in the fridge for the end of the day? Again - perhaps this sort of detail needs to be arranged when you book?
In summary, we would highly recommend AM. You get exactly what you pay for and the guides are fantastic. We cannot fault the guides, accomodation, game drives etc - we had a fantastic time. The booking process was just a bit clunky and not as highly rated as previous clients had talked about Anne from AM. We learned a lot from our experience and we would probably spend more time up front being more meticulous with defining what’s included and what’s not; however, we would definitely re-book with Amazing Memories and Migada (Peter and Santos!)
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
We went to Ngorongoro Crater na Tarangire with Utukufu Travels & Adventure
Utukufu Travels is an exceptional safari company! Their vehicles are in perfect condition—comfortable, spacious, and equipped with Wi-Fi, a fridge, and charging ports, which made our journey even more enjoyable. Our guide, Exaudy Sam, was simply the best—friendly, professional, and full of knowledge about the wildlife and landscape. We had front-row views of every major sight, and the whole experience felt smooth and unforgettable. I highly recommend Utukufu and can’t wait to return!
AT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
What a great time!
The overall experience was amazing! From our tour guides to the trip planning, everything was exceptionally well-organized.
The bicycle tour was fantastic! We saw giraffes, zebras, antelopes, and many more animals!
One of the highlights was definitely the boat tour and the island walk afterward. Everything was beautifully planned, and the pricing and payment process were smooth and reasonable.
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
a wonderfull Safari - juni 2025
The Safari (6 days) was super! the organization was fántastic! (pick up, lunches, communications).
Our driver: Godbless Mkobi was supernice and friendly and a good driver.
We saw a lot of wild animals (big five), a good explanation about the animals and their habitat!
MY
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent Safari, Fantastic Guide & Special Touches!
We start our tour from Nairobi to Tanzania with this company. We visited Serengeti, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire Park. Communication before the trip was very good — they answered all our questions quickly and clearly, and even arranged a birthday surprise for our friend, which was really thoughtful!
Crossing the border from Kenya to Tanzania and back was smooth and well handled, with no stress at all. Our guide, Francis, was super good — he always found the best spots to photograph and watch the wildlife. The vehicle was comfortable and well-maintained, and the food provided during the trip was good too. The whole arrangement was smooth and well-organized. We really enjoyed the experience.
Highly recommend this company, especially with Francis as your guide!
50-65 years of age
The tour operator was excellent, very informative.
The Soweto half day tour was very informative. My party learned a great deal about the country and the people. Tshepo was a fantastic guide.
NO
under20 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Thamani African Safaris was amazing.
Going on safari with Thamani African Safaris was seriously amazing.
From the start, everything was super smooth. Mygrete helped plan our whole trip, including flights and pick-up, which made it really easy for us.
Our guide, Jeremiah, was awesome. He knew so much about the animals and made the drives really fun and interesting.
We went to Tarangire National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, and saw tons of animals like lions, zebras, rhinos, and even hyenas. It felt like being in a real-life wildlife documentary.
The lodge we stayed at was really nice, and eating lunch in the middle of the park with animals nearby was just epic. This was one of the coolest trips I’ve ever been on huge thanks to Thamani and the whole team!
NO
under20 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Thamani African Safaris - best thing ever!!
Our 2-day safari with Thamani African Safaris was honestly one of the most unforgettable experiences I’ve ever had. Everything was so well-organized.
Mygrete took care of all the details, including our flight from Zanzibar and hotel pick-up, which made the whole trip stress-free.
When we arrived in Arusha, we met our guide Jeremiah, who was super friendly and incredibly knowledgeable about the animals and the parks. On the first day, we explored Tarangire National Park and saw elephants, giraffes, and even lions! The second day at Ngorongoro Crater was absolutely magical so many animals and stunning views.
We stayed at a cozy lodge near the crater, and having lunch surrounded by wildlife was something I’ll never forget. Huge thanks to the team for making this trip so special. I’d 100% recommend Thamani to anyone looking for a real adventure!
JP
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience
While it was relatively cheaper than other travel agencies, the services and experiences were amazing. Especially our driver Rodger, he was incredibly kind, very knowledgeable, and had excellent driving skills. During the safari, he took us to the best viewpoints and made sure we didn’t miss any amazing moments with the animals
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
African Massage
The road was so bumpy that I felt like I have got an African massage, but our magnificent driver, Rodger showed his perfect driving skills. He organised the run perfectly also in safari, planning strategically and successfully showing us "BIG 5" in a day.