DE
Almost great, Shadrack and Abraham as a guarantee for the success
We used a comparison website to book a safari that included Tarangire, the Serengeti (including the Great Migration), the Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara. This led us to Meru Slopes. We communicated with Shadrack via WhatsApp. He made a very good and professional impression, which is why we booked the 6-day safari with him for $1,250 per person. A 15% deposit was required. We also really liked the option to stay at the Arusha Tourist Inn—arranged directly by the agency—both the night before and after the safari. A shuttle for pickup and drop-off was also included, but we didn’t use it. Upon arrival, there was a briefing in the evening, and after we returned, there was a debriefing to discuss the positive and negative aspects. We really enjoyed all of that. Shadrack did an absolutely outstanding job.
There were three of us, and we were crammed into a truly dilapidated Jeep along with three other tourists. Even before we set off, the four tires on the vehicle (as well as the two spare tires) had so little tread left that it was no surprise we had to stop a total of six times to change tires. The speedometer, fuel gauge, and odometer were also broken. The windshield had several cracks and chips, the armrests couldn’t be adjusted, and most of the windows either wouldn’t open or wouldn’t close properly. However, we also lost over an hour because the office failed to send the paperwork to the Lake Manyara National Park rangers in time. So we stood there while everyone else was able to pass through without any problems.
The cook on the safari usually prepared very delicious meals, but he never stuck to the agreed-upon times. That cost us time (sometimes more, sometimes less) and added up to well over eight hours. He also never once made arrangements for our guide to eat with us, which is why we had to go get extra cutlery and dishes every time. Most of the dishes were cold, and despite being told that there was a vegetarian in our group, he didn’t accommodate her needs. Overall, though, it was great that we were served meals prepared for the whole group each time, whereas many other tour operators only provided pre-packaged lunch boxes.
Our guide was Abraham. He was always very calm and level-headed, had detailed answers to most questions, explained things thoroughly on his own initiative, and drove the vehicle well at all times. He handled the constant tire changes quickly and did an excellent job in every other respect as well. He was the reason the safari as a whole turned out to be such a successful experience.
The Arusha Tourist Inn hostel is also definitely worth recommending. The staff were always very friendly and accommodating. The rooms were spacious, clean, and well-equipped. The only downside is that the walls can be a bit thin. Hot shower water takes a few minutes to come on.
Conclusion: Overall, we really enjoyed our experience with Meru Slopes. The key factors in its success were, above all, Shadrack as the organizer and Abraham as the guide. With a different vehicle and a different cook, the sometimes extremely negative aspects of our experience could be immediately addressed, making Meru Slopes a top choice for safaris.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great safari with a safe guide, good organization and amazing wildlife experiences.
We had a very good experience with JungleRoam Safaris. Our guide James Gichina was excellent. He drove very safely, was always friendly and told us a lot of interesting things about the animals and the area.
James always listened to our wishes and made sure we had good spots to see the animals. We saw many different animals and really enjoyed the safari.
The communication and organization were good, and the hotels and lodges were also fine and matched our expectations. Everything worked well from start to finish.
We would definitely recommend JungleRoam Safaris and especially James Gichina as a guide. Thank you for a great safari!
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Well done organized
James Gichina really was the best driver. He was 100 per cent in control of the Jeep, and whenever an animal was spotted, he’d take any detour, even along the most difficult tracks, to get us as close to it as possible. I don’t know how he managed it, but no matter how many Jeeps were already there, he always got us to the front of the queue. He also turned the long journeys to and from Nairobi into an experience: whilst aiming to reach our destination as quickly as possible, he always kept the car under control. We felt safe at all times. You can tell he has years of experience and knows exactly what he’s doing. He told us everything we wanted to know about the animals, without giving us any unnecessary information. Thanks to him, we saw the Big 5!
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Bush Craft Safari was incredibly reliable and organized, and provided an unforgettable experience!
We went on a 7-day safari with Bush Craft Safaris, with Mark as our main guide, and Joe as a guide in training and main driver. The safari itinerary included Rhino trekking, visits to Murchinson Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park with game drives and boat tours, Chimpanzee trekking, Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and a stay at Lake Bunyonyi, which we thought was an incredible value for the money we paid. The organization and communication before our trip with the operator through Innocent, and our guide Mark, was very reliable and helpful.
This being our first time in Uganda and East Africa, this trip has been unbelievably beautiful, so diverse and exciting, and truly an unforgettable experience, where we really felt like we got to know the great diversity and beauty of the country. Especially the nature and the game drives in Murchinson Falls National Park, where we saw the big 5 and so many additional animals in only two days, as well as the Gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi, where such special highlights of this trip.
Mark was incredibly knowledgeable about the culture and nature of Uganda, sharing countless facts and stories about the country, the different areas we visited, and the local people and traditions. We were also so lucky to have Joe joining this trip as part of his training to become a guide, and were grateful for his incredibly skillful driving through the oftentimes challenging terrain of the country. Being at the end of his training, Joe also had so much knowledge about the country and its nature to share with us. Mark and Joe were also incredible at spotting and tracking down animals during game drives, allowing us to see a number of lions and a leopard during our first two days, as well as countless other animals (Elephants, Giraffes, Buffalos, Hippos, various Antelopes, numerous bird species including the Ugandan Cranes, …).
Mark and Joe also organized various additional activities for us, including a visit to the Equator, tea picking, traditional crafts, and meetings with local communities, which allowed us to learn more about local traditions, customs, and histories. To us, this was a very important element of getting to know the country, especially the opportunity to learn about the history of Bwindi National Park, which included the eviction and displacement of the indigenous communities that originally inhabited the forest, which to this day puts the communities in very precarious circumstances. We really appreciated the possibility to visit these local communities and receive a tour with the Uganda Gifted Children Foundation after visiting Bwindi to learn more about this history and current situation, as well as ways to support them.
Mark was incredibly reliable and organized, always on time, and very friendly, helpful, and forthcoming, making sure we always had what we needed and accommodated for all of our interests and wishes along the journey. He created a great balance of time spent together and time we had alone during meals and activities. Joe was incredibly genuine, friendly, and so funny, and we shared countless great conversations and laughs with him. We are super excited for him to finish his training and become a guide, as he has all the skills and knowledge necessary and more!
We truly appreciate the week spent together and the chance to learn so much from Mark and Joe!
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Spectacular and diverse Safari covering Uganda's finest
To everyone doubting were to book a safari in Uganda, I would highly recommend Bush Craft Safaris. They helped us make the most of our 7-day trip through Uganda, which covered stunning natural sights, kind people along the way and diverse ways of discovering the country (i.a. by game drives, boat tours, and trekking). From the first moment onwards, Innocent took into account our preferences in planning the tour. The safari itself went smooth and according to plan, thanks to our great guides Mark and Joe. They displayed their vast knowledge about the areas we visited, were open to talk about their own experiences and complemented each other well. Mark excelled in planning activities in advance, spotting animals from far away and utilising his network to improve our experience. Joe is an incredibly steady driver, has a great sense of humour and is attentive in recognising what we needed in specific moments. Overall, this experience was unforgettable and we are grateful for having had this great team to guide us!
CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
safari 7day 6nights on 21th August from China two people
We initially selected a few options on the website, and since Peter was the first to reply, we added each other on WeChat to stay in touch. Peter was very patient in communicating with me about the price, hotel, and all the itinerary details, and the price was also very reasonable. When we arrived in Kenya, he and the guide came to pick us up. All the itinerary was exactly as we had discussed before, and the hotel was also booked very well. I want to give a special commendation to our guide Lonic, who is very professional and experienced, allowing us to see everything we wanted to see. The safari in Kenya is really worth going to, and if I have the opportunity, I plan to come back next year.
CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable Kenya Safari
Amazing 7-day safari experience! The itinerary was well-planned and covered all the highlights – Amboseli, Lake Naivasha, Masai Mara, and Lake Nakuru. We saw the Big Five and the scenery was breathtaking.
The accommodations were excellent, especially Sarova Mara Game Camp and Amboseli Serena Lodge – great service, good food, and comfortable rooms.
Our guide/driver Mike was professional and knowledgeable, making sure we got the best wildlife views.
Highly recommend Antonio Safaris for anyone looking for a memorable Kenya safari. Thank you for an unforgettable trip!
ES
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great family safari trip to enjoy Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengueti and the Wildebeest migration
Great organization, excellent planning and lodges selection. Flexible to adapt our needs and alternative plans. Our guide Nolton was clearly an expert and experienced guide that maximized the view and animals and different experiences. We enjoyed and very nice family time with him.
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An unforgettable safari made special by our amazing guide David
We had an incredible safari as a group of four, and a huge part of what made the experience so special was our guide, David. He is an exceptional person and an outstanding guide. His German is incredibly fluent, and he was friendly, funny, intelligent and extremely knowledgeable.
What impressed us most was his genuine passion for nature and for what he does. You could truly feel how much he loves the wildlife and his work. He shared his knowledge with us with so much enthusiasm, while always making the safari relaxed and enjoyable.
David turned an already wonderful safari into a truly unforgettable experience. We are very grateful for the amazing memories we made and, above all, for having had the chance to meet such a wonderful person. We would absolutely recommend Nkolo Tours & Safaris — especially with David as your guide!
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent experience
We did a one day Safari from Zanzibar to Mikumi National Park and had a great time. We saw a lot of animals from up close and Isaiah, our guide, always made sure we could get great pictures.
Helena was super helpful with the booking process, any question I had was answered within a few minutes.
We would definitely do it again!
