JP
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safari of our dreams!
You can book your safari with virtually any operator.
BUT if you want;
- Reliability
- Professional planning
- Trip customization to your expectations AND the season
- Excellent communication
- Selection of the best lodges
- Super tasty food and to not worry about water or other drinks
- Modern cars that can both endure the wilderness and provide maximum comfort
Then our guide - Douglas.
He was not only taking us “from point A to point B” - he was truly caring for us, making sure that we are comfortable and that all our wishes are fulfilled. He knows the area like his home and brought us to totally unexpected places.
Douglas is also an excellent animal tracker. He was able to spot rare species in the distance, but also drove to the special sites so we could see them very close.
He is also a good chat partner so we have enjoyed the long trip also in this aspect.
Ask Godfrey from Meru slope to be guided by Douglas. You will have fun and enjoy your safari just as we did!
FR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A wonderful dream
Un magnifique rêve qui devient réalité et laisse un souvenir impérissable. Selon notre budget, "Hello Tanzania" à fait en sorte que nous puissions accéder à cette expérience. Une discussion amicale autour de nos attentes et nos possibilités et hop "hakuna matama" tout a été organisé et on avait plus qu'a se laisser porter. Rien n'a été laissé au hasard chauffeur, hébergement, repas, tour safari... le personnel est là, proactive, réactive et agréable. Vraiment un beau séjour, comme dans un rève.... "Le jeu en vaut la chandelle"
A wonderful dream that comes true and leaves an unforgettable memory. According to our budget, "Hello Tanzania" made sure that we could access this experience. A friendly discussion around our expectations and our possibilities and hop "hakuna matama" everything was organized and we just had to let ourselves be carried away. Nothing has been left to chance driver, accommodation, meals, safari tour ... the staff are there, proactive, responsive and pleasant. Truly a beautiful stay, as in a dream ....
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Stop looking for a tour guide, you've found the best!
First, if you want to know what you'll see on a Safari with Mattaw, here's a link to some footage we captured on an iPhone:
https://youtu.be/qegxw1pu-R
The above video pretty much speaks for itself, but there's a lot more to choosing the right safari guide than beautiful footage.
When we selected Mattaw, we really didn't have any idea what to expect either on a Safari, traveling to Kenya or from our guides. We were literally confused by everything. Do they pick us up at the airport? What should we wear? What vaccines do we need? What's the situation with COVID and getting tested for our return journey? What will we see when we're there? We got bids from three other operators and had the hardest time choosing between them. They all seemed to offer similar services, though the prices ranged quite a bit. In the end, we went with Mattaw because they had a fairly large number of positive reviews. They were not the cheapest, in fact we had another option that was almost half as much. But we felt more comfortable paying more for someone who seemed to be proven, given how little we knew about what to expect. Boy are we glad with our decision!
Mattaw was amazing in every way. We loved all three drivers--Bud, Steve and Charles--they showed us so much that we never would have seen without a guide. We loved every place we stayed, it was all well above expectations. And we couldn't believe how many amazing animals we saw. Literally thousands of them. It felt like we were living in The Lion King.
You definitely get what you pay for, at least with a reputable safari guide like Mattaw. So if someone is quoting you less money, that means you will be staying in less expensive accommodates or something else will have to be cut. Some guides say you will be in a private tour and then end up putting you with other people for a portion or most of your trip. Or by using really old vehicles that are more likely to get stuck, which you don't want happening as an Elephant charges. Some guides save money by hiring very low cost drivers who don't really know anything about how to drive around the animals or where to find them. Experienced guides will take you to the best locations, even drive the car in such a way as to provide you with a stunning backdrop for the animals. And most importantly, if an animal gets aggressive, you want someone experienced helping get you out of there.
I recommend going with Mattaw, or someone with a similarly stellar reputation, and then you can adjust the trip as much as you want from there. They can set you up with nicer places or less expensive places to stay. You can fly or drive between locations. They can go anywhere you want and stay as long as you want. That's something we really didn't understand when we booked the trip. The details of the trip aren't as important as who you choose to work with.
Go with Mattaw and you will have a great experience.
ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Group tour
Alex and Coleb of Standard Safaris (SS) were very thorough and patient (with our constant changes) in planning this two weeks trip for 16 of us. They planned the safari so well and gave us a lot of tips and advice. Coleb came on 3 different occasions to our hotel in Entebbe to ensure that we were okay.
They gave us 3 jeeps for the safari with three drivers Chris, Jeff and Moses. The kids (all in one vehicle had a blast with Chris). The warmth and care from the drivers was exceptional. The safari took us to the impenetrable Bwindi, Lake Bunyonyi, Murchison falls NP and Queen Elizabeth N/Park. All the hotels that SS booked for us were very good and so luxurious way beyond what we paid for. Our meals were also catered for, food allergies we had, in mind. They also arranged for 2 surprise birthday cakes for our members in the midst of the safari. I know it's not easy to organize successful safaris for such big groups, but not with Standard Safaris. Next year, I'm planning to return with my workmates, of course we'll book with them!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Nziza is an excellent tour operator that provides superb service and outstanding personalization.
I had the opportunity to go on a tour in Uganda with Nziza in March of 2021. Even though it was a more complicated time to travel, they made it absolutely seamless. From the moment you arrive, you do not worry about anything. Your every need is met, and you have an incredible team at your service. We had a wonderful experience throughout Uganda, and the Nziza team provided us with amazing experiences. They listened when we had concerns or questions. They were able to adjust to any of our needs. They even made testing to get back into the US simple. I cannot express how much I appreciated their incredible hospitality. I can't wait to travel with them again, and I would encourage others to join them on a safari without any hesitation.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Awesome to Tour With
It was such an awesome experience since the first day of the pickup. During the 3 days tour I had with this guys I can say that I really enjoyed and got a fair deal of my money. They have a high level of professionalism and their communication is awesome.
I would recommend anyone to have a tour retreat with with guys and I assure you, regret will be the last thing you will have.
AT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Most amazing tour ever
The safari was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Both Tarangire National Park and the Ngoro Ngoro crater are extremely worth visiting. Of the 'Big Five' (rhinoceros, water buffalo, elephant, lion, and leopard) we saw four, only the leopards were too shy. We also saw giraffes, zebras, hyenas, jackals, wildebeests, baboons, vervet monkey, and amazing arrays of gazelles (including the incredibly sweet dik-dik) and birds (including pelicans, flamingoes, storks, kites and many more). The guide/driver was wonderfully knowledgeable and always happy to stop, explain and search out animals for us to see. The lodge we stayed at was simple but had everything we needed, and dinner and breakfast were surprisingly good (and quite plentiful). The two lunches we had at the national parks were very good too. Everything was organised very smoothly from beginning to end. I also want to mention that Arnold, the company representative, helped greatly with a travel-related matter that had absolutely nothing to do with the safari, for which I am very grateful. I highly recommend this company. A big thumbs up for Major Treks and Safaris!
AE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Unbelievable, amazing,awesome,exceptional.
From the initial contact till the end of the trip, everything was planned out, taken care of, and done with perfection. Our travel specialist at Trina concepts was absolutely awesome and was available to talk and answer our many questions at our convenience.our travel specialist was able to help us plan and have an experienceof our life time.our dream trip to Ngare Ndare,was a life changing moment! The trip was absolutely perfect, every transport, lunch,snacks, t-shirts and caps were provided by trina concept safaris,a guided tour, and excursions were taken care of with precision!Not only was the trip spectacular, but the trip provided us with experiences which enabled us to really feel like we learned so much about the country and the beautiful space! Everything was above and beyond and we could not be more thankful for Trina concept safaris and the team! There are no words to accurately describe how we feel about this company, our travel specialist, and our trip! See you soon for some more adventure...
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
You'll want to read this review
When my wife and I booked our trip in December of 2019, there was no way we could have known that a pandemic was around the corner. Our trip was effectively canceled before it started and we found it impossible to get refunded from airlines, hotels, and travel insurance. Big companies took our money and ran.
The largest investment we made was with Nziza Hospitality for our tour. We were scared we would lose thousands of dollars that had been saved up for years. Bernard didn't allow that to happen. He tirelessly worked over 6 months to refund every penny and kept me updated sometimes weekly on the progress. I have never been so impressed with the integrity of a business as I was with Nziza and its owner Bernard. Bernard lives a continent away and still chose to be honest, even when his business suffered during these difficult COVID times. Never has a business that I haven't used, come so highly recommended by me. If you're considering booking a tour with Nziza Hospitality, do it. You will be in the best, most honest hands around.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Well done, despite the lack of actual camping!
I probably wouldn’t have used this company if not for the effort and attention to detail by Anita, my point of contact. She was really professional and helpful, beyond what was expected.
The safari was good. I’m not particularly a fan of organized group tours but I did enjoy myself. I think many safaris are probably similar since the routes are shared and guides/drivers communicate with each other to converge on the leopard or whatever was spotted. The drive to arrive at the first parks is slow... the drive back on the last days is much faster... yes, I mean the actual speed. Not my style, but be prepared for them to stop at those touristy places on the side of the road that sell crafts or a visit to a village where you can pay for the Maasai to sing and dance for you...
Due to the possibility of rain and we stayed at lodging rather than camping, despite the absence of actual rain. Everybody was very pleased with a shower and a bed- although I would have preferred actual camping. There were fire pits that were not used- and evenings were pretty much eat and go to bed... perhaps with a more lively group or escort (some were sick) it would have been good to have at least one evening of extended conviviality.
The food was certainly a step above the boxed lunches I observed in other groups. Don’t expect strong flavors, spices or rich meals; it will be bland for some, including myself, but I understand this approach is to please the majority. That said, our chef, “Dullah”, is quiet but always pleasant in demeanor and did really very well in preparing good and healthy meals with limited resources.
Our guide/driver Lucas, as well as Dullah, seemed to give the group a certain space, but were always on call if needed. Lucas, was somewhat aloof, but always courteous. What makes Lucas really shine as a guide is his extensive knowledge of the wildlife which surpassed my expectation. He knew just about every single mammal, bird, and even the plants, and not just the common ones. On the rare occasion he wasn’t sure, he knew exactly where to confirm in the wildlife guide book. I ended with a list with well over 60 different species.
Overall; I recommend! They’re good people, and you will have a great experience.