50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Kenya and Tanzania trip report
An incredible trip that worked out very well, considering the number of us and all the logistics like transport and flights that was involved. We learnt that wild animals are very unpredictable and that patience is the key if you want to have a great game viewing experience. I would recommend spending a little more time in one spot instead of rushing to the next sighting. Take for example a sleeping lion. We did and saw them mating after the safari vehicle left. The river crossing in Maasai Mara took a lot of patience. I am pretty much sure that we would have witnessed a croc attacking had we spent a little more time in the same spot. Pure luck helps too as does being in the right place at the right time- our leopard Kill for example was luck, also my finest moments of the safari are not the finest sightings but rather those silent moments in the Maasai Mara and Serengeti plains waiting for action but at the same time being in absolute awe of the natural beauty unfolding in front of our eyes. Saving the best for last did not work for us, the best was front loaded in the Maasai Mara and the presumed sure thing-the Ngorongoro Crater turned out to be a bit of an off day for us but even down there I realized just how fortunate we were and the incredible scenery. We had no idea however that the Migration would be so early in the Mara this year and the Western Serengeti was supposed to be the best chance of seeing the Migration.
We saw the animals in the wild and hoped for more except a cheetah. The leopard kill , the morning with the pride of Lions and zebras in the Mara and the river crossings with thousands of gnu in the Serengeti, the misty sunrises amidst the acacia trees will stay with me forever.
I hope in some small way we contributed to the continued sustaining of the ecosystem and that the private conservancies will continue doing a great job employing the Masai and other local people and making them realize the animals are definitely worth saving.
We hope to return.
Asante sana.
AW
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was an awesome experience!
All was very well organized, food was very good, driver was excellent, accommodations overall very good except for Lemala Camp Ngorongoro which was filthy and unfitted to stay. This problem was quickly resolved in a good way by the tour company. We will certainly return to Tanzania, the people are very warm and service minded.
Magic of Madagascar
Why do you go to Madagascar? To see unusual & different wildlife, experience a different culture. Isalo National Park and surrounding countryside has this and much more.
SA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Queen Elizabeth National Park by Martin O'Sullivan
Good selection of animals and some of the Big 5 too. Lots of buffalo, hippo, and elephant by the river. Stay in the right place and you will have them right beside your room.
ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
wonderful
The safari was great.
We went 5 days (4 nights), 2 massai mara, 1 night lake nakuru, 1 night lagop naivasha. they respected the accommodations, less in massai mara, which was not the one hired, it was fine, but it did not have the views that the other camp had in description.
They changed the order of visit to the lakes, and we ended up doing more kilometers and time in the van. the visits to the lakes were in a hurry and very fast, but they were very nice places. Massai Mara is the king of the parks, but he deserves to see these two as well, or the Amboseli who spoke well of him.
be careful with the entrances to the park, we are supposed to pay 2 days of park, but we only use 24h, and better to talk about it with the driver. Beware, they are 70-80 dollars apart.
the time to make the safari great. We saw the big five, few elephants, only 2 male lions, but very well and up close, a show, the rhinoceros great but not too close. The driver wanted to show us the animals. It was a shame not to see the migration, the animals were ready to cross but we did not see them, we were looking but nothing, although the same day others saw it, our driver did not come back in the afternoon to see it (he was in a hurry to leave the park and pay only 24 hours) ...
otherwise everything is great, food is good, accommodation is good, price is great. 90 -100 dollars a day.
we would hire again
IL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good safari experience, but a few minor issues
We were very happy with Selous River Camp which Gecko booked for us and with our Selous safari guide Magire, who although young was excellent at spotting animals, knowledgeable and patient.
Gecko's booking and payment process was smooth and efficient and we received vouchers for the flights, safari and accommodation quickly.
However, there were a few minor issues, and while they didn't impinge on our overall experience they are worth pointing out.
- Although Gecko booked us on a flight landing at Mtemere at 12.30, Selous River Camp was informed by the company that we would only be arriving at 14.00. So when we turned up more than an hour earlier they had unexpectedly to prepare us an earlier lunch (which they managed with customary efficiency and courtesy).
- While all the other companies' open-sided safari vehicles we encountered in the reserve had individual high-backed padded seats, the vehicle provide by Gecko came with harder bench seats with little in the way of padding or back-rest. We managed the eight hour drive along often rough "roads" just fine, but for anyone with back problems this could be an issue.
- Other companies served the picnic lunch provided on safari on a foldable table and chairs carried in the jeep and set up for the occasion, while we ate ours standing up, plates balanced on the bonnet of the jeep. Again, no big deal for us, but indicative of a slightly lower level of service than the competition.
To be fair, we booked our safari with Gecko at the last minute, less than a week before departure, and it could be that at this stage no other vehicles were available; however we would advise anyone booking with the company to inquire closely into just what sort of vehicle and service to expect.
BE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wonderful nature, nice and reliable staff
I had a great experience with this tour company, managed and owned by local people. I did both hiking and safari with them and I truly suggest to do both of them, because you will be able to have a more comprehensive visit of different environments. Particularly, Mr. Castro Kapela was very nice and helpful. He is a very kind and reliable person: I had many big bags with me and I left them at his home while I was doing safari and he kept them properly without asking me nothing, while he also was very honest in dealing the prices.
During my 5 days safari I saw very different landscapes and literally all the animals. This area of Africa is definitely one of the best choices for safaris and I really recommend Kilimanjaro Trip Safaris.
CZ
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Nice experience
We had 3-day safari in Masai Mara with Axis. The communication with Lennox was very fast. Our guide was excellent. He knew a lot of information about animals and he was very skilled driver. The accommodation and food in the camp was very good and we were nicely surprised. There was the only thing that was not as promised. Before I booked our trip, I had asked whether all people in a car would have a window seat and Lennox promised it. And guess what? My husband didn´t have his own window. He sat in the middle and could use only a roof window. Moreover, there was not enough space for three people standing in one row and looking out from the roof window, so my husband and me had to rotate.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome guide and driver!
Our Safari tour took us to Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro crater, lake Manyara, lake Natron. We added a morning and took a four hour hike at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Our driver and guide, Good Luck, was our good luck! He is very knowledgeable. We saw so many animals, elephants, giraffes, Buffaloes, rhino mom and baby, many lions, zebras, leopard and cheetah, hippos, many more, big and small. It was an incredible experience that we will not forget.
The communication could have been better. We booked the tour and settled on the itinerary, cost, route and accommodations. The night we arrived, the order had changed, as well as the accommodations. We preferred the original order because we added one night on the end because it was our favorite place. The tour operator upgraded one night which was good. However, at two other places, we were not told of the change until we drove up and did not recognize the place from the websites that we had previewed. We very dismayed that one of these was the last place that we especially wanted to visit. The last place was nice but our tent was broken into while we were sleeping and our iPhone and camera were stolen. The accommodation owner was very helpful.
All in all, we saw everything we wanted and hoped to see, including a Bush dinner and night drive. Serengeti was the best. Awesome experience!
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wilderness Adventurers provides an inconsistent experience
The guide was outstanding. Namibia is beautiful and fascinating. I had three trip objectives and all were met. HOWEVER, Damaraland Adventurer Camp is in major need of refurbishment. One sample: the radio was not functioning. Absent WiFi and cell service, this is a potential safety problem. Another example:the electrical wiring kept failing. I could go on and on. Other accommodations were fine. Tents could benefit from heaters. Long drives, although clearly described, did cut into time available at destinations.