FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect Safari
Amazing safari ! We did a 5 days private safari (Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara)
First of all, Humphrey is very professional and will answer all your questions very quickly before doing the safari.
And regarding the safari itself everything was perfect. Our guide was very friendly and knew everything about wildlife ! We learned many things and he was always happy to answer our questions. The game drives were perfect and our guide went beyond our desires.
The food was made by a chef and was very tasty (no lunch boxes but hot meals every day for lunch and dinner and we are talking about typical meals : beef stew, fresh vegetables, fresh fruits…). The accommodations were amazing. We slept inside Serengeti National Park and woke up next to girafe…
We saw many animals and the big 5! You can book with this company eyes closed.
What else to say ? Thank you again Cubs Expeditions we will remember this safari for the rest of our lifes.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Had a great safari with Bencia
I was in Arusha having completed a wonderful 6 day Tanzania safari where I saw a lot and was planning to head to Amsterdam the next day when I changed my mind and WhatsApp about 6 safari companies in Kenya . Luckily for me, Alfred of Bencia safari replied immediately with an offer that fitted my tight budget. He was very patient with me as I needed to get my covid pcr test result first before committing myself. I took the comfortable River shuttle in downtown Arusha to Namanga. I was met at the Kenya side at Namanga by Cyprian and Johanas my driver/guide. They brought me to a bank where I could withdraw the maximum of 40000 per transaction per card to pay for my safari. The other guest bailed out and I ended up with a private tour for Amboseli. Johanas was great and I lucked out when Mt Kilimanjaro was not cloud shrouded for about 4 hours the next day during our game drive which started promptly at 6.30 am. I was glad I changed my mind as Amboseli was definitely worth it and I saw more than the famous Amboseli elephants, the largest in the world. After Amboseli, I continued with a 5 night safari which included Lake Naviasha, Lake Nakuru and Maasai Mara. I was joined by 3 other individual travelers for the 3 day 2 night Maasai Mara tour, Bencia tours was quick to respond to my questions and made some changes last minute which was appreciated. Highly recommended. You have a choice of a modified van or land cruiser depending on your budget.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Most incredible trip we have ever taken - perfect in every detail, travel, lodging, guides, cuisine.
We started working with Great Safaris a year and a half ago through GeorgAnn, our travel agent at Global Travel here in Boise. They helped us maneuver through cancellations due to Covid 19 and rescheduling our Private Sky Safari by Elewana Collection in Kenya and Tanzania. We arrived in Nairobi on July 14, 2021 and were met right at our gate by a local representative for Great Safaris and Sky Safari, who guided us through the airport and into a waiting van to our first destination, The Hemingway. We thought it couldn't get any better when we saw our sumptuous suite and lovely view. But every place we travelled to exceeded the one before. All of them were very special. By booking a Private Sky Safari, Maureen and I were whisked on 8 private charter flights to tented camps in Kenya and Tanzania as well as the Manor at Ngorongo Crater and Arusha Coffee Lodge. We were the only passengers on each flight (except for one when we were asked if two others could share our flight). We were also the only persons in our Land Rover or Land Cruiser (depending on the location) with a professional local guide with extensive guiding experience in the specific area. Our guides were all incredible; extremely personable, knowledgeable, and flexible. We were able to spend time looking for the animals we wanted to see, and to spend the time necessary to watch their behaviors and interactions with each other.
Our first stop was Tortillis Camp in Amboseli National Park, Kenya. It is home to the largest elephant herd in Kenya and many Super Tuskers. I checked a bucket list item - lying down on the savannah in front of an 8000 lb Super Tusker Elephant to take a photo looking straight up at it. Graeme and Candy were the managers - wonderful folks, and the accomodations and meals were superb. Service was beyond all of our expectations.
We flew up to the Loisaba Conservancy and stayed at Loisaba Lodo, a gorgeous tented camp overlooking an elephant watering hole. Again, the food, our suite with its incredible views, our Samburu guide, Lemayen (whose nickname is "Brown"), and Phoebe, the manager, made our visit very special and memorable. We saw the reticulated giraffe and Grevy's zebra as well as elephants testing each other's strength. But the highlight was when our guide got us within 7 feet of a gorgeous leopard who had just killed an antelope and was resting beneath a tree.
Then we flew down to Sand River Masai Mara Camp and had our first view of the Great Migration. Dickson, our Masai guide, got us up early the first morning and located a pride of lions while we still had the "Golden Hour" sun. The photos were magnificent. Then he managed to find a black rhinoceros and positioned our vehicle right where he said he expected the rhino to come out of the bush. True enough, he came right to us and I got a head on beautiful photo to remember him by. Because we were travelling to Tanzania, we had to be covid tested. Stephen and Linda, the co-managers at Sand River, arranged for covid testing at the airstrip when we arrived, and they followed up to make sure we got the results, and helped us complete all the necessary paperwork. They made what could have been extremely frustrating so seamless.
We had three charter flights to get out of Kenya and into Tanzania. Because we booked Sky Safari, our pilots handled the interactions with the various border agents and walked us through the whole process - exiting Kenya at one airport; flying to Tanzania to take a rapid covid test and then go through immigration, and the third flight out to Serengeti Migration Camp.
Our three days in the Serengeti were spectacular. We booked the entire East Africa Private Sky Safari by Elewana and stayed only at Elewana properties. The itinerary they provided us through Great Safaris gave us plenty of time in every location. In stark contrast, we saw a number of people arrive as part of groups with other high end safari companies. They didn't get nearly as much time. They sat together at meals and went out together on safari. We always had a private table, often under the stars, and romantic dinners every night. And we spent safari days with only the two of us and our guide. In the Serengeti, that meant we had time to drive the 3 hours cross country each way to get a chance to see the Great Migration -- and John Kitia, our superb guide, knew just where he had to take us to give us the best opportunity to do just that. As a result, we saw two crossings of at least 10,000 wildebeest. By far, the most amazing natural wonder we have every witnessed. And of course we saw lions, cheetahs, and leopards as well.
We travelled to the Manor at Ngorongo Crater. The suites and grounds are magnificent and Salim and Margareth are consummate hosts. When one of the large groups from another tour operator were making a lot of noise in the dining room, they relocated our dining to the wine cellar, where John, our butler and steward, placed 150 rose petals around the edge of the table with a coffee bean in each one, a heart shaped by coffee beans and the words Long Life in coffee beans on the table, and the entire display edged in fuschia stamens. It must have taken him hours, but it made our 5 course East African dinner an evening we will never forget. Bachu Gandi, our wonderful guide, showed us the majesty of the Crater, and we had the opportunity to photograph hippos walking and lounging on the beach.
We concluded our trip at the Arusha Coffee Lodge, an incredibly beautiful place, and we visited Shanga, a nonprofit entity that employs handicapped persons in making beautiful handicrafts.
Our entire experience, with Great Safaris, Elewana, Sky Safari, and of course, Global Travel, so far exceeded our very high expectations that it is hard to describe the trip adequately. We were treated like royalty, quite literally. We have never felt so wonderfully spoiled and pampered. And the skill and knowledge of the staff and guides at each camp as well as our pilots was beyond compare.
After researching safari options for several years, and observing the other high end safari operators using the Elewana facilities, I can say without possibility of contradiction that the Great East Africa Private Sky Safari by Elewana is the only way to see East Africa on Safari. It has our highest possible recommendation, without reservation. Thank you Great Safaris, Sky Safari, Elewana, and Global Travel.
We finished our trip at
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
AWESOME SAFARI EXPERIENCE WITH MZANSI
This was our first Safari we have taken and couldn't have been more pleased with the level of service from Mzansi!
- Pick up and drop off in Johannesburg was smooth and everything was on time
- The lodge we stayed at was amazing, the food was delicious and lots of variety...loved the desserts!
- The room was spacious and cleaned every day
- The staff were all extremely nice and attentive....couldn't have asked for a better staff
- The game drives were amazing...saw the big 5 and a wild dog!! Our guide was amazing at tracking all the animals!
Would definitely recommend this company to book any Safaris at Kruger!
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The best trip Ever
We had a great 10-day safari in Northern Tanzania organized by Lelaa safaris in June 2021 - Ndutu, Southern Serengeti, and Tarangire, Manyara,Ngorongoro National Park. The accommodation everywhere was perfect and the safari was very well arranged, thanks to Eric. We were particularly happy to have Elemesi as our guide and driver, he knows how to find the most secretive animals and is a great compagnion. We saw all six african wild cats. It is for the first time taking a safari with Lelaa and everything is perfect - they are real experts and flexible to cater to your interests and needs.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Unforgettable Safari and Zanzibar
My wife and I have just returned from a holiday vacation in Tanzania safari and Zanzibar with Lappet Faced Safaris. We did not know much about Tanzania or Zanzibar and Francisco helped us come up with the great bespoke itinerary specially crafted to suit our desires, budget and timeline. We had fun on safari visiting Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater with our fantastic guide Frank. We enjoyed the beautiful landscapes and awesome wildlife encounters. They had organized for fabulous camps that were comfortable, fine food and great staff. Matemwe beach in Zanzibar was relaxing and beautiful; walking along the beach, swimming and just having fun. This trip was like our second honeymoon all thanks to Lappet Faced Safaris
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great company
I went for this company as my best friend recommended me. IT was like once in a lifetime experience! We enjoyed the entire safari. The best part was locating the golden monkeys. It was just awesome to be there. And the company managed everything very decently.
I am going to recommend them and rate them 5/5. A great safari experience with an awesome tour company
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
WONDERFUL trip with Seven Wonders Safaris, in every respect an incredible experience, A+++
TLDR Version: Thanks to Seven Wonders Safaris, our budget family safari was in every respect an incredible experience, A+++, did not have a ‘budget’ feel to it at all. Evelyn and her team are professional, experienced, responsive, and will go the extra mile for you. I highly recommend them, and plan to book with them again.
Background: We’re a family of 4 (two parents and two college-aged kids), and this was our first safari.
Safari: 9 Days Kenya and Tanzania Budget Safari, July 2021
Initial Contact and Selection: We used SafariBookings.com to select several companies based on what we wanted to see. Seven Wonders Safaris responded with a quote for the requested safari and with some other options tailored to our needs. This was very helpful, and the company's 5-star rating meant a lot in our selection process. When it was time to pay for the safari, Evelyn assisted in giving us the options regarding payment, including the wiring instructions.
First Portion - Kenya: This segment was operated by a company contracted by Seven Wonders Safaris, I believe due to regulations about who can operate tours in each country. We had an experienced safari guide in Kenya, and saw many, many animals in Masai Mara. The accommodations for this leg of the safari were modest, but we were not expecting more than that for a budget safari. The guide allowed for options to see other sites, which we did (e.g., Lake Navaisha boat tour, Great Rift Valley overlook).
Second Portion - Tanzania: Evelyn greeted us at our hotel in Arusha shortly after our arrival. She answered all of our questions and let us know what to expect the next morning. Evelyn told us that she changed two of our lodging sites because the existing ones were getting mediocre reviews. I was glad to hear that because I had read those reviews as well, but remember, we paid for a budget safari and did not expect luxury. The two changes turned out to be noticeable upgrades - I would say those new lodging sites far exceeded what I expected in terms of the actual beds, hot showers, food, and overall ambiance. We really enjoyed staying in those places! The food was delicious, service was outstanding, and the settings were memorable.
The vehicle used by Seven Wonders Safaris was significantly better than that used on the Kenya portion of the safari, and that was a welcome improvement. Our guide was Hosea (pronounced HO-za), a long-time, very experienced safari guide. He was personable, knowledgeable, very understandable speaking English, and he ultimately proved to be a top-notch guide for our safari. Hosea found a currency exchange business for us on day one, which we needed to change our Kenyan shillings into Tanzanian shillings. He always kept us informed of the tour agenda, and he knew the names of every animal we saw, including all of the birds. He often spotted things we did not see, and directed our attention to those animals. Thanks to Hosea, we were able to get as close as allowed to the animals (from our vehicle), resulting in excellent photos for us.
Hosea also made sure to explain to us the history and cultures of Tanzania. This was very interesting in its own right, and generated many questions from us - all of which Hosea could answer. Example: as you travel through Tanzania, you’ll often see young children tending/herding animals such as sheep, goats and cattle. We asked Hosea about the school systems, compulsory schooling, etc. Not safari questions, certainly, but Hosea answered them all.
The Seven Wonders Safaris difference: We saw Lake Manyara, Serengeti N.P., and the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania. Each location had its own unique flavor, and we enjoyed them all. Instead of going on about those parks, this is what I noticed: you can pay a LOT for a safari, but ultimately the point is to see certain animals in their native environment, as they have existed for time immemorial. When you go see the animals, you need an aggressive guide who will get you on site to see them quickly and up close. We had that with Hosea and Seven Wonders Safaris. The only difference I saw between our budget safari and what appeared to be luxury ones during the game drives was the age and type of vehicle people were in. The bigger differences are probably in the accommodations and what is included there. But even on our trip, our food and accommodations in Tanzania were perfectly fine, and sometimes outstanding. When we stopped for lunch, we saw other tourists being served a boxed lunch. Seven Wonders Safaris served us a cooked, hot meal each time, more than enough food for all of us. I could see other tourists enviously looking at our hot food! There was a cook (Kelvin) who joined us during the Tanzanian portion of the trip, who made the food. This was a great touch. I could have spent much, much more on this trip than I did, but I don’t think we would have had a better time than we did. If I had spent less, the food and accommodations would have been too meager (we could see some of those camps as we passed). Seven Wonders Safaris = just right.
Extra Mile: Due to COVID and also due to changing visa requirements, we had several moments on this trip where we thought it would end from lack of the right test/visa. Each time I was able to contact Evelyn, and she helped us fix things. All of those things were beyond her control to begin with, but she helped us get through them all, including arranging a PCR COVID test for us on our return to Kenya, so we could return to our home. She met us again in Arusha before our departure and made sure everything had gone well. Her customer service was excellent, and I plan to contact Seven Wonders Safaris again when we plan a different trip.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Dream safari vacation of a lifetime
This was the best experience ever. We experienced and saw everything that was in our itinerary. Our guide Michael was great at knowing exactly where to go to spot game and we couldn't have spotted 90% of what we saw without him. Plus, he was fantastic at navigating the unmarked roads of the Tarangire, the crater, and the Serengeti. I highly recommend this company as they tailor made the safari around what we wanted and we definitely would not have been able to do the covid test at the Seronera site without help. We had to postone this trip twice before we actually went due to the pandemic so the fact that everything went as planned was perfect. As far as pricing, you cant beat this company because we stayed at a different place each night and every place made us feel like royalty. I recommend every place we stayed at as they were better than any hotel we have ever stayed at. If are going n a safari, you should choose this company. Asante Sana
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Perfect Safari experience
Very good communication via WhatsApp.
Excellent driver (safe, prudent, professional, skilled). Good and clean accomodation. Great and abbundant food. Very good experience! The best value for money. I highly recommend this very reliable agency.