35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best tour guide ever!
I had a fantastic time traveling across Uganda. I was working - and needed to travel alone through refugee camps and across the West of the country. I couldn't have had a better driver and a better time. Highly highly highly recommend.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Good Communications, Customizable Itinerary, Great Safari and a Terrific Value !
Having been on three African safaris previously, I wanted more than the cookie-cutter safari pre-baked by the larger safari tour agencies. Now I can say I was fortunate to find Mazingira Safaris.
A successful safari requires the confluence of many things: good communication and planning, good food and lodging, good equipment and ultimately a good spotter/driver.
PLANNING
From the beginning, I knew I was in good hands with owner Jacob and planner Johari. Our planning started in late 2019 for a 2020 safari, then Covid arrived and they never complained about re-booking everything for 2021. I asked them to plan a 10-day safari from Arusha to the northern Serengeti for three photographers. They were always so prompt in responding to questions and suggesting itinerary changes. I would email Johari in the evening (U.S. time) and would always have a reply by the next morning when I woke up. We decided on Tarangire NP, Lake Eyasi (Masai, Hadzabe and Datoga encounters), Ndutu, Central Serengti and Northern Serengeti up to the Kenya border. Flying back to Arusha from Kagotende was also a great choice. Good, responsive communications were essential to developing our itinerary and Mazingira was exceptional in communications and planning.
FOOD & LODGING
Having endured my previous safaris in a pup-tent (to save money), it was time for something better - but not exorbitantly better and out of our price range. Mazingira chose some wonderful lodgings for us. The food and service was generally incredible. We often had the entire staff waiting on us because we were the only camp visitors due to Covid keeping most other tourists away. Speaking of Covid, we felt much safer in Tanzania than back in California. Most dining and other encounters were outdoors and there were very few other tourists around.
EQUIPMENT
Given the remoteness and rough dirt roads, you definitely want a well maintained vehicle because they take an incredible beating. Our Mazingira vehicle was a “pop-up roof” Toyota Land Cruiser. The extensive interior padding provided protection from constant jostling on the rough roads. The fridge kept the unlimited Mazingira-supplied drinking water cool. And the tires were all in excellent shape. (This is not always true on other company’s safari vehicles.)
DRIVER/SPOTTER
We were blessed to have “Leo” (Leonard) as our driver - he is a true professional. Always a safe driver yet always eager to position our vehicle for the best photographs and lighting. Always giving accurate answers to our animal questions from memory, then amplifying his response by opening one of his books to let us read it for ourselves! He knew not only the primary and secondary dirt roads, but also the rarely used ones to get us to where the animals were. He did an excellent job of dealing with the washboard dirt roads, clouds of dust from other vehicles and still spotted the elusive leopards and cheetahs.
Our primary trip goal was to photograph the great migration and a Mara river crossing. Leo showed us more animals than we saw on all of our previous safaris. Leo wisely watched several potential river crossings from a high point until one actually happened, then he whisked us down to the perfect vantage point to get our photos of the crocs attacking the wildebeest!
Leo was like our guardian angel, from the time he picked us up at the Kilimanjaro airport until we departed from Kagotende (on the hour-late plane). He was like the most polite, helpful family member you could ask for.
FAVORITE SPOTS
Originally I wondered if 10 days was too much for our itinerary. But each day seemed even better than the previous one and there was not one thing we wish we had skipped. Some pleasant surprises included:
Overnight at Kichuguu (Nyikani) Camp in central Tarangire NP in order to do game drives on the east side of “the swamp” lake. The animals were unbelievably numerous and diverse. It was like a Garden of Eden! Many visitors miss this by not going far enough south.
Most Northern Serengeti tourists hang out at the Mara river. Unfortunately they miss the amazing herds of animals between the river and the Kenya border. Don’t you be one of them.
As our son said, this was truly a Five-Star Safari at less than half the cost of the National Geographic Tour!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
This is the best safari company I have ever used!
Kichaka Tours & Travel made our safari experience unforgettable. These people have servants hearts and this makes the company so special! They are not just for business but the client comes first. They know how to treat the customers and go out of their way to provide all that you need.
Masai Mara was an amazing experience, starting from the very first to the very last last day. The guide took such a great care of us and the owner of the company Stephen, was checking to see if we need something. They don't do "just the package deal", because they want to make sure after you leave the park, you had the most amazing safari experience. They will do everything possible to make sure that you're enjoying the safari and have a great time with friends and family.
If you are looking for a safari, this is the company that I highly recommend. I have been using them for 4 years and every time they come with something new and unique.
Thank you Kichaka Tours & Travel and the team!
FR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very good safari company!
Very good safari company. Mr. Zinga advised me Mikumi National Park instead of Selous and I’m glad he did. I met incredible people and I loved the safari. Very nice staff and it’s well organized! Highly recommended!
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very nice experience
The communication was excellent. Fast answers all the time. We paid via wise bank transfer which worked fine and safed us money with the exchange rate.
The pick-up was on time and everything was done as planned. David was a good and experienced guide which drove us quickly to see all the big 5.
The luxury accomodations and rooms were exactly those you see on their website.
All in all a great experience!
Thank you very much!
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Better than anything we could have expected!
Isaya is full of joy and so happy to be your tour guide. You always see him with a smile, even at 6 in the morning and he doesn’t even drink coffee. He arranged every single little detail of the entire trip and made accommodations for us that we were not even expecting. Always made sure we felt at home and comfortable.
The first date on the boat safari was a great introduction to the adventure. The full day safari game drive was out of this world. Isaya and Dula (the amazing driver for that day) made sure that we really got to see all the animals that we could, even going into areas that were extremely hard to get to, Dula was able to get to them. We got to see monkeys, giraffes, pumbas, impalas, zebras, wildebeests, hippos, crocodiles, elephants, baboons, hyenas, buffalos and lions! The last day was a walking tour with Didi who is a local tribesman. The way he transmitted his knowledge was very entertaining and genuine.
The lodge was such a peaceful and relaxing environment with exceptional food. Isaya even had them prepare us a traditional Tanzanite breakfast which was a great experience.
Overall we were left with lifetime memories and some great new friends after the three days and we can honestly say we would highly recommend Isaya as your tour guide for the best safari experience you could ever imagine.
And as Isaya and the great people of Tanzania would say, HAKUNA MATATA!
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Just excellent. Honest, knowledgeable, and love Africa.
We arranged a one week tour to Uganda in February 2020. Isunga Expeditions was just excellent. They are made up of a husband and wife team from the UK who have retired to Uganda. They love Africa and have travelled all over it. We particularly appreciated their wide knowledge of where to travel in Uganda and what to see, but also throughout the rest of Africa. All this advice was freely and honestly given. The tour that they arranged for us was hugely enjoyable and well organized. We also had the pleasure of staying at their excellent lodge during this trip, which is very reasonably priced.
We were planning on returning to Uganda using Isunga to book our tour. However, the return trip was delayed due to the Covid pandemic. One way that we really appreciated Isunga Expirations during the planning is that they were able to provide first hand experience about how to broaden this trip by visiting Kenya while being able to stay away from the most touristy parts.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Jessica Matthews is exceptional and considerate as she listens to help you plan your perfect safari!
How do we begin to describe our amazing 14-day safari adventure to Tanzania planned by Jessica Matthews of Dancing Zebra Safari Company? Perfect!
Jessica is an exceptional woman with whom to work, listening to everything one might want to do in Tanzania, while offering her insights from her numerous visits and connections. Because we had originally planned to go in August, 2020, we had lots of time over two years to have many questions and changes, and each was addressed by Jessica with much patience and understanding. Our safari turned out to be the PERFECT, expertly-planned combination of a Tanzanian wildlife and cultural safari. Every single detail was covered, and there was not the slightest glitch.
When we arrived at Kilimanjaro, we were met by our guide Ian Kiwelu, who looked after us expertly and professionally for the next two weeks. Each evening the three of us planned our tentative schedule for the next day. Ian is an exceptional guide with a kind, loving spirit. With his keen eyes and exceptional knowledge of the bush of Tanzania, Ian made sure we saw everything we wanted to see and more – animals, birds, plants, landscapes. He always made sure we had the best positions for viewing the animals, and he spent as much time as we wanted while he explained so much about the animals and their habits. He truly is the best! He has become more than our guide, as we consider him a friend with whom we have continued to stay in contact.
Our adventures included starting at Lamala Hamerkop House in Arusha, hike to a waterfall at base of Mount Kilimanjaro and coffee farm visits in Arusha and Moshi, Nomad Kuro Camp in Tarangire National Park, Nomad Entamanu Camp at Ngorongoro Crater with a Maasai boma visit, Lamala Tented Camp very near Mara River, Lamala Kuria Hills Tented Lodge, and returning to Hamerkop for one-last memorable day in Arusha basking in our memories and visiting with our new African friends.
One of our highlights was viewing three major Mara River crossings, the first less than a half-hour after we landed at Kogatende Air Strip in the northern Serengeti. Another was sitting in our comfortable 4x4 photographing lions, elephants, leopards, cheetahs, wildebeests, zebras, hippos, African buffalo, etc, etc. Some only an arm’s length away. We even saw a black rhino from a distance in the Crater. Yes, we saw the Big Five, but so much more! Another real highlight was getting to visit with and befriend some of the hosts and servers at our camps and lodges. It was wonderful learning about their homes and families. Because of their hospitality, kindness, and openness, we felt like we became part of their extended family.
The camps and lodges we visited were all exceptional. We were treated like VIPs at each camp whether a mobile camp or luxury lodge. We joked between us that we were sure they must have thought we were someone else, someone really special. The food was delicious, and every meal was exquisitely presented. The chefs were amazing! Several of our delicious meals, breakfasts and lunches, were packed so we could spend most of the day out in the bush. Although each camp was different, whether we had a hand-filled bucket shower, an exclusive outdoor shower, or a glass, tiled-lined indoor shower, every camp -- service staff, food and accommodations -- exceeded our expectations.
Thank you, Jessica, for planning our safari, PERFECT in every way!
Mel & Eileen Neville
PT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
IL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable experience
First of all an excellent person. He knows how to do what he does very well, very professional and with the main objective that tourists enjoy their adventure. I highly recommend it.
