US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience.
The trip was well organized. Our guide in Tanzania was truly world class. Our family felt safe and well cared for the entire trip. Overall the accommodations were excellent but we did have a couple of nights that were not up to expectations. In particular, the Nairobi hotel on the night of our arrival.
DK
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A truly great experience with amazing guides!
We did a 4-day tour of the parks Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Serengeti. Started with Tarangire and spent a night there (with a swimming pool!). The second day was mostly driving through Ngorongoro Reserve to get to Serengeti where we were for the rest of the day and one day more. The final day we slept with an amazing view over Ngorongoro Crater where we spend the day before driving back to Arusha. We slept in tents (to out of three had a broken zipper), we had an amazing dinner every night with wine and soup, coffee and tea in the afternoon.
They matched our requests perfectly in the terms of budget and game watching and our driver was so nice and kept answering all our questions about the animals we saw. And we saw a lot!
They could have been more informative, though. It was hard to keep track of what we were doing and we had to ask a lot of questions to keep track of the program.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was an interesting experience.
The safari trip was really interesting. The bus driver was very nice, he picked up us on time and brought us coffee and snacks. The tour guide who took us to safari was nice too. He tried his best to take us to see as many animals as he could on that day. The only thing I would suggest the company to do was, I wish the company could allow us to pay by a credit card; it was troublesome to find a bank/ ATM if you don't stay in a hotel in downtown. Generally, it was a good experience. I recommend you to travel with Tanzania Mwangaze safari.
Hidden Gem
The park is marvellous.
Less traffic means more time with animals and birds.
Weather is moderate though does get hot most of the year.
Best time to travel is July or August as its cooler then.
Elsa Kopje is the best place to stay and for the budget people the KWS self help bandas are sufficient.
Patience is the key thing in Meru NP as it does get dusty most of the times and also the heat can take its toll.
Chances of seeing Lion or Cheetah are not as high as Maasai Mara but are often seen. Other animals like Elephants, Rhinos, the rare Kudu, Somali ostrich, Giraffes, and many more are abundant. So is the bird wildlife. Great place for Birders.
Need a minimum stay of 3 nites to enjoy and understand this park.
I would definitely recommend this park to those who are looking for real safari.
QA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
great knowledge of the parks and great services
We had a great time doing the safari with Nyange, as our driver was nice and knowledgeable. the lodges were very nice and even though the plan was changed without us knowing, it was always at our advantage with better lodges.
I definitely recommend going with Nyange for safari tous as well as trek to Kili which we also did with Nyange.
Communication before the trip was excellent and Praise answered all our questions quickly.
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fabulous Vacation!
We booked an 11 day Luxury vacation with Uhuru Travel & Tours which included a safari to Lake Manyara, Serengeti and NgoroNgoro Crater. Let me start off by saying that the country is absolutely GORGEOUS! The people were friendly and the animals we saw on safari were so beautiful. I was shocked at how many animals we got to see. It was beyond what I had imagined! What a once in a lifetime experience it was!
We stayed in some really fabulous luxury accommodations, and some more mid range as well. We did run into some trouble with payment issues for getting into the parks that gave us some setbacks. We also had our car break down twice, which is understandable once you consider the bumpy dirt roads they are driving on all day long, but did take away from some of our time spent in the parks on Safari, and also made us really close to missing a flight. My one complaint would be that although we booked a "luxury" safari, the car we received for our safari was more in line with "budget" level. It was quite old and obviously also needed some work. Although the car was older, our driver/safari guide John was absolutely wonderful. He was helpful and informative and we really enjoyed his company.
After Safari, we flew to Zanzibar where we spent some time in Stone Town, and then Karafuu beach resort. Uhuru arranged all of our tours, flights within the country, and transfers between places, and delivered on all aspects. We always had someone pick us up/meet us whenever needed and all accommodations and arrangements were taken care of with no issues.
Although, I was concerned on our first night when we arrived, as well as the next morning. Our itinerary simply said early morning game drive after breakfast, but there was no indication of timing. The person that had picked us up at the airport and driven us to our hotel had no information for us as he was just the driver Uhuru had arranged. We did not know what time to be ready the next morning or if anyone would be showing up. Because of this we got up super early and then just waited to see what would happen. We finally heard from someone at 8am saying they'd be there at 9 to pick us up. I did not like being left hanging and wondering what was going on. It would have been better if they'd left some information for us at the hotel or called us the night we arrived. Or at least given us a specific time on our itinierary so we'd know when to be ready to go.
So that lack of communication from Uhuru upon arrival in Tanzania was a little bit dissappointing, but the communication we had before the trip with the planning process was great. We spoke with Abdhalla while booking and he was great at answering all of our questions and was very quick with his replies.
So all in all, there were a few small concerns, but in the end everything worked out well and we really did have an amazing trip booked through Uhuru.
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
As my first safari everything amazed me. I can say my dream to see african wildlife became true
Contrast feelings. In my opinion local people is plundered of their birthrights. The certitude of being in a totally wild territory flew away by the fact that allmost all the country is fenced and packaged and most of the wildlife intensely managed, although I do not deny this is, in some cases and for certain species, the best way to assure conservation.
Anyway, this is not true for the main place we visit (4 days, 3 nigths), etosha. Here the only artificial elements are the man made waterholes (some are natural) and the roads, but this is why you can see the animals here. As it was my first safari ever, everything was amazing. We even saw many rhinos (both) and lions in our self drives. After Etosha we went to Okonjima for leopards and cheetahs. The first are free born radiocallared animals and they guarantee you good observations, but the rescued cheetahs are semi-domesticated animals. Also here brown hyaena, ardwolf, mountain zebra, elephant shrew and white rhino. As birders we enjoyed tracking in this reserve. The guides were superb and the standard rooms were actually luxury: you could see a lot of life lying in the bed.
Etosha is vey good for raptors (martial eagle, bateleur and secretary, but we missed pygmy falcon) and steppe-land birds, but not so much for passerines, as you can not leave the car. For photographers: the most of the day the light is too bright and the sky leaden
The surrealistic vision of game, seemingly floating over the salt plan, seems a sweet alutination. The only night we spent camping at okaukuejo I will never forget: 7 black rhinos, including cubs playfully approaching elephant bulls (until a blast of water from his trunk made the cub run to mother's shelter), a genets and a hyaena (with a jackal as squire) in the waterhole. When I went to sleep the roar of lyons made my marrows shake.
The best place for lions where Nebrownii and Okondeka waterholes. We tried a lot with cheetah, but no luck in 4 days.
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Okonjima Nature Reserve by Javier Elías Guzmán Téllez
Not as many species of big animals as in Etosha. The bush is monotonus, but the termite mounds, dry riverbeds and hills are mysterious and magnetic.
I gave a low puntuation for bush vibe because if is a totally fenced area (although it is big and leopards manage to move acroos the fences if the want) and you have no doubth you will see the cats (that's why you go there), but the cheetahs are not really wild.
The trail system is very good and you can spend time searching for small wildlife and some anteloppes on your own with no dangerous animals around, (except snakes, of course).
Not many species of birds, but good for white tailed shrike, sandgrouses, rockrunner, finches, owls... Also in gamedrives you can tell the driver to stop for birds if other passengers agree.
Brown hyaenas are easy in night drives: the seem pigs eating the rubbish they served to them. we saw two of them with many jackals and two porcupines, all gatther around the garbage. Not so wild, but interested indeed.
NO
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Personal service and follow up, both before and during the trip.
Good communication and service. Our expectations was fulfilled.
Some misunderstanding when entering Mikumi National Park lead to a unexpected double payment of entrance fee, but this was solved by the operator, after we returned home.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
very patient and was very open to and accommodating what our group wanted to do
Simon was great and very prompt in communicating! I would definitely book with him again if back in Kenya.