20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Ngorongoro and Tarangire were good, Lake Manyara canoeing was a scam
We went on a 3 day safari trip to Tarangire, Ngorongoro and canoeing on Lake Manyara.
The first two days were really great - Mollel was a really good guide, answered all my questions and his driving skills are great. We saw a lot of animals in Tarangire and Ngorongoro.
The third day was supposed to be canoeing on Lake Manyara which I was very excited about. We paid extra to arrange this experience. However, I thought it was a joke at first: For one, we were brought to a spot that wasn't even inside the national park (and I have checked online before booking the safari - Lake Manyara National Park does canoe tours and since we're talking about safaris and national parks, we naturally thought we would be canoeing inside the park with professional guides). The starting place was a muddy, dark spot where local men were chopping down trees. Our guides, local fishermen, brought canoes that honestly look like life hazards - rusty, old, full of water. But since we were already there, we got in, hoping we would sail a bit further from the shore and see some wildlife. My guide didn't say a single word to me the entire time - I am unsure he even spoke English.
It was also very windy and we couldn't really go out very far and had to stay very close to the shore where the locals were cutting down trees so expecting much of wildlife in that location is a strange idea (we did see some hippos which we appreciate).
All these things aside - lack of proper equipment, disappointing location, unprofessional guides - I would have assumed that if the weather didn't permit canoeing, we would be warned and offered an alternative, such as a drive through the Lake Manyara National Park. I would have no issues paying the entrance fees - rather than having a questionable canoeing experience.
We turned back after around 45 minutes (instead of 2 hours) for the above mentioned reasons.
Like I said the first two days were nice. Mollel was a great driver and guide, the accommodation was awesome (the service and staff were great) and the pick up and drop off were smooth. However, I do consider the third day a scam to be honest - it's not really about the fee (although 60 dollars extra per person for that experience is strange), as it was about having ruined expectations.
I do not recommend booking canoeing trips with this operator.
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An amazing 3 days trip!
We stayed at camp mara maisha and the view and service there is just amazing. During our safaris, we could see so many wild animals: lions, leopards, cheetahs, zebras, wildebeests... it is truly a trip that I will remember! Our guide was also able to give us lots of stories and information not only about the animals but also about the country itself. I totally recommend the company and the trip
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent experience with great guides
What a safari…. They say the Serengeti is a bucket list item: It was,… and it’s on my bucket list again. Once is not enough!
We went on a 6 day safari with Best Day Safaris, firstly to celebrate a 60th, and obviously to enjoy the wildlife etc. The trip incorporated Tarangire National Park, The Serengeti, Ngorongoro Conservancy and the crater, as well as Lake Manyara.
The wildlife was exceptional. We saw the big 5 (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhinoceros) plus zebra and blue wildebeest, Thompson and grant gazelle (by the tens of thousand). The raptors were also out, not to mention the hyena.
Peter from Best Day Safaris, met us on the evening prior to going on safari, as well as on our return. We were expertly guided by Alie Juma. A fantastic guide who drove safely and made traveling on the gravel roads as comfortable as possible. We really can’t say enough about Alie’s knowledge, disposition and kindness. A guide in a million, who has been doing this for more than 10 years.
Peter arranged a surprise birthday cake for my wife while on safari which was a real treat.
Thanks Peter. The nature of a safari like this, and traveling into the Serengeti can present certain challenges/breakdowns etc. Not one thing went wrong with our trip. Hats off to you!
Thanks Alie. We arrived as visitors, and left as friends. See you again some time in the near future.
Dave and Christina
EE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Dedicated, professional and fun
The tour was generally very well organised and our guide Evans put real effort into finding interesting animals for us to see. So, in total, I loved the trip and the budget accommodations exceeded my expectations.
Still, I would recommend everyone to watch out for what's included in the program and whether you get it. We got 2 game drives in Mara instead of the 3 that were in the program. As I was really tired anyway, I did not mind getting to sleep a bit more though. But there probably is some scam going on with the park tickets as drivers hand them over to each other. So just find a compromise so that everyone's happy.
Also, I was on a 5 day tour and on the last days there was quite a bit of waiting around and also no drinking water provided. So maybe it's better to do 3 days tour if you want to keep active.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing 4-day trip in Uganda/Rwanda with Mambo Gorilla Safaris
I did a 4-day trip with “Mambo Gorilla Safaris Uganda” in October 2022 including Kigali Genocide Memorial, Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Golden Monkey Trekking in Volcanoes National Park, Chimpanzee Trekking, boat safari, and forest walk in Queen Elizabeth National Park. My main tour guide/driver was Didan (Hirary picked me up from the airport in Kigali). My experience was amazing with many unforgettable highlights (e.g., encounters with gorillas and chimpanzees). I enjoyed every minute! Both guides but especially Didan, who I spent most of the time with, were welcoming, well-organized and punctual, very flexible and open-minded, and extremely friendly. Everything went smoothly and Didan adapted the itinerary so that it best matched my individual interests and wishes (e.g., additional stops at viewpoints, activities in addition to the original schedule such as a forest walk, rich cultural/local insights). Didan was a very reliable guide (great communication, drove safely, provided me with necessary information prior to any activity) and also frequently asked for my feedback/opinion which I highly appreciated. He definitely made this tour special. I can highly recommend Mambo Gorilla Safaris for your trip to Uganda!!! Thank you so much :).
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great people
All was good. From booking to payment. Ben was excellent. Best spotter. I will do again.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very professional company, amazing guide Valence
Would highly recommend this company! Very clear communication (in advance before the booking and during the tour) and very professional (e.g. our driver from Kilimanjaro airport let us call with the manager which gives a feeling of trust) We did the 3 day tour to Tarangire, Ngorongoro crater and Lake Manyara. Great combination of different vegetations and we really enjoyed the rides in the jeep. Our guide Valence gave us a once in a lifetime trip. If you have the opportunity to choose Valence, please do! The company should definitely hire him!!! He told us a lot about not only wildlife but also about the Tanzanian culture. When we had a question he could’t answer (like a random question “how old can voltures become?) he figured it out during the evening and told us the answer the next day. We’ve seen the big five already after two days thanks to Valence. He was a great wildlife spotter and was really willing to go the extra mile (e.g. day one at Tarangire national park we already entered the exit but he heard about a leopard). We drove towards the leopard and we were very lucky to see one hanging in the trees. He made us feel really safe and it was a great experience with him. Every morning felt like we started with a college about the Tanzanian culture in the jeep (we asked him a lot). So for us the experience was not only about seeing the big five, but also about the added value on learning about the country. Accomodations were great (especially Kitela lodge), also the lunch boxes were really good! Amount of animals was impressive, especially in the crater and Tarangire. Great value for money and really good service. Strong knowledge on how to make you feel comfortable. 5 star plus!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Brilliant, Aristides was our amazing guid
Our 2 Day Safari was absolutely brilliant fantastic introduction to the world of safari.
Our guide made the day so special and exceeded our expectations.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Incredible experience, Image Travel is the star company!!!
Look no further if you are looking for high-end safari experience in Mara or whole of Kenya, Image Travel is highly-highly recommended. We just got back from our one week vacation from Kenya that we booked via Image Travel and we couldn't be more happier. In the beginning I was skeptical about hiring a local company in Kenya, but after few correspondences and talking with Mwanje, I felt the company is genuine and pretty legit so I decided to go with them. We flew business class and were expecting the same level of comfort and service in Kenya. And we were so pleased with things moving so swiftly for us, never a glitch or a hitch along the way. I am compelled to write this review from the overwhelming experience we received while vacationing in Kenya. Mwanje (the owner of the Image Travel Ltd.), and David (our Nairobi guide) are the stars and I am sure others are too, but we didn't get a chance to work with them. We were flown from Nairobi to amazing FMKSC/Nanyuki for 2 nights and then flown to equally amazing AndBeyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp in Masai Mara wehre we were booked for next 2 nights. What an amazing place... great staff, great location (wildlife in abundance), and above all... GREAT SERVICE!!! Shout out to Sopia, Dennis, head chef, missing some names, and Stephen, our guide. We saw all big 5, and so up close. Stephen always positioned our vehicle in ways that gave us best viewing angle so up close, I was able to take some great yet memorable shots this time! Thank you Image Travel for making this a memorable vacation for us. This was my second safari but first for my wife and she thoroughly enjoyed the adventure, the animals, the people and the great service. We wish to go back again... We met Mwanje at the end of the journey and equally impressed by his humility, passion and drive to make this company a great company in the coming days. This company has a great future...
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing surprise
Safari Avventura was an amazing surprise! We organized our honeymoon in Tanzania with 8 days of safari in Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Serengeti parks. An breathtaking experience, made even more unique by our guide Elia. Thanks to his preparation and irony, he has allowed us to live it to the fullest way as possible. On board our jeep with all the comforts, Elia took us in every moment of our trip, telling us about the animals, the customs and traditions of Tanzania. We are very satisfied with our choice and absolutely recommend it.