US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Beyond our expectations and big thanks to our guide Naftal
My wife and I did a 6 day safari organized through Lappet Faced Safari and we still talk about how wonderful it was, 5 months on. The choice of accommodation and standard of food throughout was excellent but it was thanks to our guide Nafatal who made our experience so much more. Naftal is an impeccable driver with a fun sense of humour but he always seemed to go that extra mile for us. On one occasion whilst driving, we heard the trumpeting of elephants from behind the thick wall of jungle in the distance. Two other vehicles from another company in front of us sped on in the hope of seeing them but Naftal had a different idea, turned the vehicle around and waited. Sure enough, a huge number of elephants came running past (from a safe distance) and we were able to drive along side of them. When most other drivers would take their groups to a busy picnic spot with other tour groups, Naftal would find a peaceful spot just for ourselves and on one occasion we were surrounded by zebras whilst eating our packed lunch. With his knowledge, we now have some wonderful photos of the big 5 and so much more to keep as memories and we still keep in touch via social media.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Brilliant!
Dealing with all the hassle added by Covid to a border crossing was done so well we barely noticed there was hassle. The excursion itself was a great experience. It was only a shame we had to leave to get back across the border before it closed for the night.
I would recommend highly the Boma drum and dance, but, if you can, book to stay nearby overnight, so you don’t have to rush away
FR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional
Special mention for all the helpful, considerate and professional staff. A stay that we will gladly support.
(automatic translation from French)
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Unforgettable, Delightful experience. Don't hesitate!
I cannot recommend Gosheni Safaris enough! Right from the start, Pendo was extremely helpful, patient, and willing to go above and beyond. She was always available to cater to our requests, swift in her responses, and in the end created a package that was affordable and perfectly customised to our needs.
And then there was Laban - our tour guide. One of the best and most gentle souls we met during our trip to Tanzania. His positive attitude, superior knowledge, and experience left us in awe - with a much deeper understanding of the local culture, flora, and fauna. Laban was extremely accommodating, a great navigator, and an extremely enjoyable safari companion.
Thank you, Gosheni Safaris, and Peter - you surely have built an amazing team and left us with an experience we will cherish for the rest of our lives. If you're reading this review, don't hesitate - every penny will be well spent and worth it with the Gosheni team.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing! Don’t even look at another company!
I wish I could give this company 1,000 stars! Not only do I feel like I stepped into a National Geographic documentary, I feel like I stepped back into a classroom. Gilbert, our guide, was so knowledgeable. I learned so much!! He would point out things we didn’t even see and it made the experience so much better to get a holistic view of the nature and animals here. We did an 8 day mid-range safari and went to Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, lake manyara and the Serengeti. If you can do it during the Great Migration I highly suggest it! Watching the wildebeest cross the river was amazing. Gilbert knew exactly what to do - he knew which wildebeest to watch that were going to cross but also used the radio to see what else everyone was seeing. Because of that we saw 3 crossings!
We saw so many things because Gilbert was on top of it. He was like - hey, there’s a lion up here so let’s go!! He helped us prioritize what we were seeing and because of that we saw some rare sights (like a lioness stalk a wildebeest and pounce)! He was also very respectful of the animals and nature. I did feel like some other companies would get too close to the animals or keep the car running but you can tell Gilbert really enjoys his job because not once did I feel like we were interfering or bothering the animals. We let them be and just watched them in their natural habitat.
This company also took care of little things you don’t think of like: always telling you when a bathroom is coming up, phone chargers in the car, lots of water, where ATMs are, etc. From the time we arrived at the airport we didn’t have to do anything. Gilbert met us and took care of us the entire way. It made things SO much easier to just sit back and enjoy.
The accommodations chosen by Lion King were amazing as well! The bush camps had robes and flip flip sandals for the shower - the food was delicious, the people and service were amazing. Also some of the places do laundry if you want to pack light (which I highly suggest). Plan on getting dusty!
You need good binoculars! They have some but it’s not ideal to share so bring your own. also a good camera with a telephoto lens if you want photos! You can rent one for a couple hundred dollars. Take probiotics before you leave :) There is WiFi at all the camps and lodges but mostly in the main area - not the rooms. However we had decent service most of the time. I had LTE in the middle of the Serengeti!
If you book with Lion King I promise you will not regret it!!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent Experience
We just returned from our trip to see the northern circuit and wildebeest migration at the end of August. During the planning period the owner Alex was very helpful in putting together the trip based on our proposed itinerary and was responsive in adjusting as needed. We were very impressed with how quick he responded to any questions, even when it was late at night in Tanzania. We appreciated that he coordinated all airport transfers, including from the airport to our hotel in Arusha and to and from the airport in our Zanzibar extension-something that many other tour operators were not willing to do. Later during our safari he was always available by phone to assist with anything that came up.
By far the best part of our experience was our guide Allen who was incredible. He is very knowledgeable about wildlife, birds, and culture. He amazed us with his ability to spot animals, and on several occasions we were the first at some interesting sighting. We asked how he found one leopard and he said it was by the smell-unbelievable. He frequently suggested places to stop for pictures and knew how to position the vehicle perfectly for the best lighting. He is also a skilled driver, getting us through some hairy spots where another car got stuck. In the north Allen was attentive to the radio and communicated with other drivers to quickly get us in the right spots to see the river crossings. At one point we passed by other cars still waiting at one spot unaware that a crossing was going on a little ways away. Due to Allen’s efforts we saw 4 river crossings in 2 days!
Overall we had a great experience and would highly recommend Mama Savana.
CH
Best experience Ever
BEST TRIP EVER
We just came back from this trip and we still have our eyes full of stars.
I’ve been traveling a lot until now but I never had an experience like this one.
Hilary was really helpful and organized everything from this airport until we were leaving from Arusha.
We decided to take the tent option and we enjoyed it so much. I let you do it to have the full experience and discover the surprises !
A cooker was continuously cooking for us and the food was so delicious ! Our driver was driving really safely and always trying to teach us many things about history and animals.
I hope to have the chance to come back as soon as I can !
Thanks so much for this beautiful experience I will never ever forget it
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Outstanding Trip and Tour Operator
I took a six day trip with African Big Cat Safaris (ABCS) with my adult daughter and Sister in Law.
Our trip took a turn for the worse before we left Chicago because our first flight was delayed by three hours. This meant that we missed a connecting flight in Ethiopia that was scheduled to take us to Tanzania. We ended up spending the night in Ethiopia and arrived in Tanzania a day later than expected.
The original plan had been to meet our tour operator at the airport on arrival in Tanzania and then transit to a hotel to rest after our long flight.
I called African Big Cat Safaris and advised them of the delay. They agreed to meet us at the airport and immediately start our safari instead of going to a hotel. They saved us from losing a day of safari!
We met our guide, Endeni, at the airport and then went to the cultural center to meet Emmanuel and take care of payments.
I found Emmanuel to be very welcoming. He made it clear that he understood this was expected to be "a trip of a lifetime" and promised to do all he could to make sure it was a great trip. He did not disappoint! It was clear that the office was communicating with our guide during the trip and providing support.
We were in the middle of our trip when Endeni was contacted by the office and reminded that we needed to get a negative covid test to return home. I was enjoying the trip and had completely forgotten about the test, but ABCS was on top of things. They arranged for the test to be given at Serengeti National Park and took us there. We were on our way after about thirty minutes and were sent the result by email as we continued with our trip.
Endeni was a great guide. He educated us on the history of Tanzania, the flora and fauna, was a safe driver, friendly, always on time, and was very patient when we stopped for the hundredth time to take a picture of an elephant or zebra.
I was so impressed by Endeni that I asked him what training he had taken to be a tour guide. Prior to taking the trip, I thought that a guide was a local who was given a set of keys and a map with instructions to drive tourists around. I learned that he attended an 18 month college course to be a guide and was still taking classes to improve on his multi-lingual communication skills. It was very clear that he was a professional and was not hired simply because he was buddies with the right person.
The food and accommodations were very good. We stayed in tents on two nights and it was evident a lot of effort goes into keeping the lodging nice for visitors.
Our vehicle was the perfect size for our party of three, but could have easily fit one or two more. We never had to worry about charging our gadgets as there were plentiful USB ports. High voltage outlets were also available from the inverter, but were not needed. The mini fridge/cooler was also very nice and had plenty of soda and water.
The only thing that disappointed me about the trip was that I was not able to meet Justice. He was in contact with me prior to the trip and was very helpful with booking and answering questions. Unfortunately, he was assisting someone else when we arrived so we did not get to meet him in person.
There are probably over 100 tour operators in Arusha. Knowing which company to pick to keep you safe and provide a great trip can be very difficult. I highly recommend African Big Cat Safaris!
PL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Beautiful experience in beautiful Kenya
I came across Bienvenido Tours via a safari comparison website. After a quite comprehensive research, I have decided to go for a 6 day safari covering Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Amboseli, Tsavo East with a drop off in Mombasa/Diani area to maximise on the sightseeing element. Right after meeting our guide Jedeliah at the airport, I knew we are going to enjoy our trip. He went above and beyond to make sure we had a good time and saw as many animals as possible. Jedeliah was very knowledgeable and had such a positive, upbeat energy! I truly enjoyed our time with him, learning about parks, animals, plants and everything in between. The trip itself was well planned in terms of accommodations and I can only sing praises about Purity and her attentiveness whilst being continuously bombarded with questions.
All in all, it was my first safari and I am happy I chose Bienvenido. This trip has definitely inspired me to learn more about beautiful Kenya - asante sana for this breathtaking experience!
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Super attention to detail and unique
The experience itself is unique so you need to make sure you have the best operator with you, and by that I mean Zohar!
We decided to do the 6 days safari recommend by Lilian.
Lilian and Ahmed were great, they really cared about us at all moments (my luggage was missing the first day and she even lended me clothes so I could no need anything, plus she followed up with the airline to have my luggage at the first hotel during the safari, we also needed medication while we were at Serengeti and they made sure we had it same day).
Hotels and hotel staff were perfect at all times, food and packed lunch every day was amazing, the hospitality, the people were great and helped to make this trip unforgettable, Our tour guide, Ahmed, is the best of all, he has an incredible knowledge about Animals and vegetation. We really had a great time with him.
Thank you Zohar for the unforgettable experience, we are really happy we got to have it with you guys.