US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A wonderful safari experience ever!
''Our first safari to Kenya and all turned out so well than we could ever have imagined, it was a once in a lifetime experience. we were a little more careful with choosing our safari provider being our first time in Kenya and on a wildlife safari we never wanted to miss out a thing or get disappointed. At first we had like 4 operators we were in contact with. But then the communication with Across The Wild was so perfect and quick that enabled us get all the information we needed in good time and so we felt confident about them and decided we shall book our safari tour with them. Every question was quickly answered and they gave us a lot of information about the tour and even helped us choose the best destinations and hotels since we really did not know much about Kenya and where to go but they made us even more eager, so we knew exactly what we were about to expect. Our driver guide Joseph was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. We could not believe how he managed to locate those leopards in Masai Mara! We surely could not have asked for a better safari. I traveled with my husband and he was so excited being his first time in Africa that he even promised he will come back and choose Across The Wild Tours and Safaris again! I recommend this company to anyone traveling to Kenya.''
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic trip - no surprises
We had a fabulous trip! Everything went according to plan. Darren was extremely prompt about getting back to us during the planning stage. He listened to what we wanted and delivered. We would definitely utilize his services again in the future!
AR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
2 days gorilla trekking - Rwanda
It was an incredible experience! From the beggining (booking) at the end (the gorilla trek indeed).
We book the trekking from Argentina, with Daniel, a very servicial men, who answer all my questions and doubts.
There, in Kigali when we arrive, Bob,a very nice guide-driver man, received us, and went to every place with us.
The tour also includes The Genocide Museum (very interesting!, a must!).
In the National PArk we stay in Da Vince Lodge. a very very nice place, where you can see the mountains of the Volcanoes NP.
And the gorillas... no words. An incredible experience! Surrealistic and unforgetable!
All the people, and the rangers, very very kind and nice people!
Definitly: very recomended!
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tanzania 5-day Safar - Fantastic!
I have just finished my 5-day Safari tour in Tanzania. Shemeji did great job to organized the trip including airport pickup from/to JRO and extra nights at Arusha. Last year, I had hard time to book my Safari tour since I am a solo-female-budget traveller. Thanks Shemeji to make my dreams come true. It was a fantastic trip and one I will remember for many years, if not a lifetime.
Omary is extremely knowledgeable and able to find game animals, but more importantly, he loves all animals and is able to share his understanding of the animals and their lives with us. Our chef, Pius worked so hard to cook delicious foods for us every day.
We saw a pride of lions hunting, a very rare black rhino and her baby, hypos, a leopard in a tree a Cheetah under a tree. A elephant family walked right by our car. That was exciting. Camping in Serengeti and Ngorongoro were amazing experience too. I can hear the lion roar from distance. One night, there are 30-40 hyenas walked by my tent.
Highly recommend Shemiji Safari Tour! I will come again with my family.
US
Amazing trip
We enjoyed our safari very much. We really saw the big five. Thanks to Freddy and Safarihub Eddy score 5 out of 5!! Thanks for everything again !
CA
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Tanzanian safari
We did a weeklong safari to Serengeti,Ngorongoro,Lake Manyara and Tarangire parks.Plus other lodgings and a week in Zanzibar.This was expertly organized by Victoria out of Arusha.Everything went seamlessly including accommodations,driver/guide and vehicle.Can't say enough good things and highly recommend them.
CA
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
What a fantastic Tour Operator
Fungayi was, in a word, Fantastic. His communications were really good, he was really flexible as we changed plans or asked options. There were no surprises - just exceeding our expectations at every turn. Pricing was good. He accompanied us personally through transfers from Vic Falls to Hwange to Matopos to Great Zim to Harare. We learned a lot, saw a lot, and had lots of good discussion. We would have no reservations in recommending him unconditionally.
DK
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent planning and support
A trip to South Africa in a wheel chair needs to be planned very carefully. While searching the internet for a rental car with hand controls we ”bumped” into Edgetravel and asked for a full itinerary. We soon got a very good suggestion and after some adjustments we ordered the trip. They reply quickly if you have any questions. Edgetravel have a really good way of presenting the tour – with many details and suggestions for what to see.
It was originally planned for autumn 2016 but due to sickness we had to cancel a few hours before take-off. Edgetravel was very helpful and took care of all cancelations and managed to get a lot of refund.
When we were fit for fight again Edgetravel booked the places again and we started the trip in April 2017. The route was Cape Town, Franschhoek, Breede River Valley, Knysna, Hermanus, Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, Lukimbi Safari Lodge, Victoria Falls and finally Rovos Rail from Victoria Falls to Pretoria.
All in all, the tour was very well organized – and the places we stayed were very pleasant. Edgetravel had managed to set up a tour that fulfilled all our wishes – and more than that . It was a very good combination of city, driving on our own, nature and animals, luxury and relaxing. We couldn’t have asked for more. We can definitely recommend to use Edgetravel. They are friendly, helpful, professional and they really care that you get a good holiday!!!
IN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Want a dream safari planned? Look no further!
Right from my first call to Sangeeta enquiring about a safari in Kenya to arriving back home after 9 eventful nights, the experience has been top notch. Chalo Africa provided me with all the options available and I am so happy that I followed her advice and stayed at Mara Encounter and Topi House, both run by Asilia Africa. Sangeeta provided us with quite a few options within just a couple of days. Her knowledge of the African bush is unparalleled. Chalo Africa is prompt with their service including providing vaccination requirements, visas and so on. Once you freeze a plan they execute it with perfection; no follow ups required. If you are looking for a specialist safari expert that caters to a range of budgets, Sangeeta and Chalo Africa are the ones to rely upon.
We stayed at the Eka Hotel at Nairobi prior to our flight to the Masai Mara. Eka is a good hotel with excellent food. A practical option close to the airport. We then flew to Naboisho where the adventure began. Wilson and Nabala at Mara Encounter were excellent guides. I have been on safari before at Sabi Sands and Botswana and the standard of guiding here is the best I've ever experienced. The camp is at a prime location with sweeping views of the plains and a river flowing just by the fence. The tents are spacious with bucket showers. The food was sumptuous. We had breakfast in the bush on each morning game drive. Wilson and Nabala know the bush very well. They tracked for over 5 hours one morning to see the 5 male cheetahs. We had given up by 11.30 am after driving from 6.30 am but they persevered until we found the cats. We learnt a lot at the walking safari. The visit to the local village was very educative for all of us especially the children. The night drives at Naboisho were thrilling, especially seeing lions on the hunt. Sammy and Peter who run the camp are very warm and excellent hosts. Go to Naboisho to see the big cats especially Lions and the Cheetah. Asilia has 2 camps - Mara encounter and the more expensive Naboisho camp which provides a better tent etc.... but the game drives are the same at both the camps.
From Naboisho, we went on a game drive to the next stop on our itinerary: Asilia's Topi House. Perched on the very top of a hill that is in turn wedged between a Conservancy and the Mara, Topi House is the sort of hidden gem every safari lover ought to seek. What stood out about both properties is the quality of the guiding and the unique spin that each one had despite being very close to each other. Our guide at Topi, Fred Ronko, is a veteran Maasai guide with more than 20 years of experience in the bush that includes guiding both tourists and well-known documentaries. Fred is that rare sort of guide that can predict where exactly a particular leopard is moving through the dense forest, anticipate its arrival at a particular clearing and then position the car to get the best shots possible whilst avoiding the numerous vehicles that throng the Mara. Fred also correctly predicted that a lioness is going to kill a wildebeest and we waited till the kill happened and were well rewarded. He knows the pulse of the bush. Topi house is fantastic for families as you get the entire house to yourself. The entire team from Chef Isaac to Jackson and others treat you like family. A must if you can spend a bit more at the Mara. Asilia also runs Rekero camp within the reserve but Topi House is more strategically located.
We were so happy we chose Chalo Africa and Asilia ! I have given overall rating of 5 stars as " Excellent ". But the whole experience exceeds 5 Stars. We look forward to visit Tanzania and other places with Chalo Africa and Asilia.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Well organized, helpful, knowledgeable and super friendly staff
It was all very well done with a nice variety of activities, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Our accommodations and the food were both wonderful, and the safari views were absolutely stunning. My only recommendation would be to always very clearly specify what time people needed to be back on the bus before everyone got off,(lunches, shopping) and then stick to that schedule as close as possible. This timing issue created uncomfortable tension on occasion between some of the travelers.