US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
See Africa through George's eyes
We were lucky enough to have George Mbaula for our guide on our 2 week Tanzania photo safari. He is very knowledgeable about his environment and his ability to locate wildlife and then put you in the best place to see them is exceptional. As birdwatchers we were very impressed with his avian knowledge. George, also, has a likability factor that will make you feel very comfortable and at ease in your surroundings. Africa is a must see experience - add George to the mix to maximize it.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Made us a spectacular Safari, but communication was very poor.
The good: East Cape made us a truly spectacular safari and trip to South Africa! It was a dream come true, and for that we are grateful. We were put up in top of the line hotels and tents, with delicious food and wonderful people. Treated like royalty the entire time. We told them what we wanted, and they arranged the entire thing. Originally, we were put up in a different accomodation which seemed stuffy to us, and when I voiced we wanted an upscale tent with about 10 days to go, it was arranged for us (Best thing we ever did!). So, the trip was nothing short of spectacular, everything was absolutely incredible, and I thank East Cape wholeheartedly for memories that will last us a lifetime and beyond.
The bad: Communication with East Cape was on pointe until they received payment. Once that happened, it was like pulling teeth to get answers. At initial contact, the owner Colin actually called us from South Africa, asked us our preferences and budget, then asked if we wanted to pay in Rand or US Dollar. Being naive, we said "US" which turned out to be an expensive mistake. He should have told us to pay in rand, though I understand he needs to make money too. Readers take heed; pay in Rand, your dollar will go exponentially further. Colin was super friendly, and then we were turned over to Denise, who's communication skills were poor. At one point about 3 weeks out of trip, we still didn't have a completed itinerary, and after multiple attempts to get it, I reached back out to Colin, who told me it was the "time difference." We were inside of one week when I finally got the itinerary, which consisted of our flights, and I had to go back to the initial proposal and type the entire thing out myself. I knew airport transfers were arranged for us, but had no idea we had a private driver until he picked us up - which was a pleasant surprise, but a detail we should have known. There were more small details that we didn't get, but that's the jist of it. Overall, I would recommend East Cape Tours, but would ask for somebody other than Denise to help you along.
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
very excellent , very reliable
Overall good. Communication, itenary, vehicle, and especially our tour guide Mussa met our expectations
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Filled with cultural experiences.
Charles our Guide was outstanding. Our accommodations were wonderful and 1st class and in the reserves that we saw. Charles listened to our request and allowed us to venture off on interactions with small villages, incredible markets and cultural experiences. He is the best safari guide when it comes to spotting the animals and ensuring that we all got to se them.
By far the best safari that I have ever been on.
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Everyone should go!
Briliant unspoilt scenery with amazing wildlife! Uganda is a hidden gem! The tour route ensured we missed nothing. Travelling through such varied landscapes meant that we saw much more wildlife than you would on the plains of Kenya or South Africa. I saw all the animals I expected; lions, leopards, rhino, elephants, giraffe, hippo, chimps, gorillas, crocadilles and various monkeys etc. I also saw a few I didn't expect; 2 chameleon which I got to hold, a gaboon viper, mongoose, a monitor lizard and two otters! All the accommodation was stunning, with either exceptional views or location. All the places we stayed at were completely different with their own personalities, which gave the holiday a feeling of gentle exploration. Generally we stayed 2 nights at each place, which was not too exhausting. The roads are in the process of being upgraded and once completed will open the floodgates to more tourists. The food was european styled but very locally sourced. I recommend the crayfish from Lake Bunyonyi. What made the holiday for me was the quality of our tour guide. Husein was so brilliant! He was exceptional at wildlife tracking in the National Parks and sometimes outside them! (Viper, mongoose and monitor lizard). Husein tracked 5 lions in Ishasha when nobody had seen any for 4 days! He was a library of information about what we were driving through, pointing things out to us all the time, even if we were just driving down a normal road. He was always looking out for us. When necessary he got us up early so that we were at the heade of the queue for the best seats on the river cruises etc. The "extra mile" was when by mistake I left my muddy boots in the back of the 4*4 after gorilla tracking. I got in the vehicle the next morning to totally cleaned boots!!!
Holiday of a lifetime and so pleased I did it with Speke, as they were totally professional. I felt I couldn't have had a better experience.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Outstanding personal service, drivers and accommodations.
Thinking about a safari in Tanzania? We just got back. We had to make our reservations at the last minute, and couldn’t find anything affordable on the web. So we called a local contact (contacts are important in Tanzania) and he recommended Abraham Wilfread Shaidi with Shengena Tours.
What a blessing. Abraham immediately responded with three options ranging from backpacking to luxury hotels. Well to be honest, some of the hotels were not five stars by standards of spoiled travelers like ourselves, but they were clean, well equipped, and ingeniously designed with friendly, courteous, and incessantly helpful staff.
Naturally, we encountered some of the problems that experienced travelers consider normal in developing countries: e.g., trouble getting the deposit to Abraham, Abraham’s difficulties transferring our deposits to the game parks for our entrance fees, etc. Problems? Well, it’s not for nothing you hear Hakuna Matata—"no problem”—quite often in Tanzania, because for Abraham, there was no problem he could not solve.
He found us an excellent driver and guide—China, pronounced “Cheena”—who took us through four game parks, where he demonstrated an uncanny skill for spotting the famous “big five” (elephant, lion, water buffalo, rhino, and most elusive of all, leopard), along with an unlimited knowledge of flowers, trees, animal habits and habitats. He was good company as well.
Abraham met us at the airport, maintained contact throughout the trip, and accompanied us to the airport on our departure.
If you’re a novice traveler, you might worry about trust. Hakuna matata again. You can count on Abraham and his drivers to be absolutely good to their word—even if it involves being reimbursed for entrance fees you had to pay unexpectedly at some of the parks. You’re in good hands with Abraham.
In short, if we have a chance to return, Abraham will be our first call. 255-69-216 3280 on mobile line or WhatsApp. Email: [email protected].
Couldn’t recommend him more highly.
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Super safari
We really enjoyed our 5 day safari. We chose the mid-range option for accommodation ($ 1,400 / person for 5 days 4 nights on site + 2 nights in Arusha) and the accommodation there was really good. “Luxury” tents in the Serengeti park and at the edge of the crater with bathroom and toilets included to avoid encountering a lion or a buffalo at night :)
Everything went very well, despite a little rain, and our driver Mandela was adorable and super professional. The other 4 tourists were very cool, I think it also played into the fact that we had a great time. I recommend without hesitation!
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Tanzania trip including 4 day safari, local village tour and 7 day climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
This is my second African trip arranged by Odyssey Safaris and both trips exceeded my expectations. The safari was a chance to see a wide range of animals in the wild up close. Our guide , Miriki was knowledgeable and found the places to get great camera shots. The local village tour gave us a chance to see the native people as they actually live. The highlight of the local tour was the chance to share a meal of traditional local foods with a village family. And the Kilimanjaro climb was an experience of a lifetime for my son and I. It was a challenging physical and mental test. Our guide, Nelson and his support crew, went above and beyond to insure a successful outcome. It was a terrific bonding experience for my son and I that we will cherish forever. Thank you Odyssey for a 5 star trip.
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Excellent itinerary by Matoke
We had excellent contact with Matoke tours about our short trip to Uganda. We had some preferences for our trip and above that we were provided with some excellent suggestions for other activities.
The 4wheel drive car was excellent and our driver drove us around comfortably and safely.
We enjoyed Murchison Falls national park. Beautiful scenery and lots of game. Two different encounters with leopards were highlights of our trip. And the private river safari along the Nile was also magnificent with lots of animals along the river bank, really close by.
A beautiful country with friendly people.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing!
I booked my trip from the UK, and made all the arrangements fairly late on (July/August for a September departure). The guys at Home To Africa were great. There were some issues, when booking, such as small price increases, but this is because Home To Africa don't build in contingencies, which is why they offer such a competitive price. They're also very transparent: in one instance, it seemed to be cheaper to book a hotel on Expedia than through them, but I had already paid them. They were fine with us booking it ourselves, and just returned the cash in USD to us when we arrived. Derek was a fantastic guide; passionate, friendly and knowledgable. I never met Elias (owner), but he was great at responding to email, and he provided a fantastic service.