US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
John at CKC Travels is everything you want in a safari planner: professional, patient, and reliable.
We had booked a safari with CKC Travels for August 2025, but unfortunately had to cancel due to my spouse’s health. From the very beginning, John was extremely professional, patient, and courteous throughout the entire process of planning and booking our trip. He was always prompt in his responses, and his proposal was very clear in outlining exactly what was covered and what was not.
When we had to cancel, John handled the process smoothly and processed the applicable refund promptly, which we truly appreciated.
Although we haven’t yet taken the safari, we fully intend to plan it again next year and will definitely reach out to John when we do—hopefully with better luck on the health front. Based on our experience so far, we would highly recommend CKC Travels to anyone considering a safari. If the actual safari matches the level of professionalism and care we’ve experienced with John, I’m confident it will be a truly splendid adventure.
PL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very well organized and easy communication.
Very well organized and easy contact. Synchronized transfers, all trip according to expectations. Do not hesitate.
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience with amazing team
It was an incredible experience to go on our first safari with Turkana! They were always very professional and ready to help us with our requests, and our guide was amazing in guiding us to great spots to see all the animals in Queen Elizabeth. Super recommended!
ES
under20 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
one of the best trips of my life
I recently had the incredible opportunity to visit Uganda, and I can honestly say that it was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. A big part of what made this trip so amazing was our exceptional guide, Arafat. From start to finish, Arafat went above and beyond to ensure that we had an unforgettable adventure.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very good
The safari was very well organized. When we had questions, Suzan always responded very quickly on WhatsApp. Our Guide David was very good. We were able to see the Big 5 and many other animals in 4 days.
BH
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
BR
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Sipu
Amazing! Perfect Day, the guide is wonderful, I really enjoyed the tour
(automatic translation from Portuguese)
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great
We used Rupia for our Kilimanjaro trek and they were great. Very well organised and the guides were terrific, insightful and supportive. Couldn't have done it without them.
BR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our Incredible Guide BARIKI made the wonders of Tanzania a perfect experience.
People speak of "trip of a lifetime" but this exemplifies the term. And it all starts with Bariki.
I booked this trip four months prior, after learning my son would be attending a semester abroad in Arusha. I . Great reason for a college dropoff! We worked with Herman at Gosheni to book our trip. They quickly sent a proposed itinerary for a 8 day 7night trip that looked perfect. had a lot of worries, being an uptight attorney that has seen clients subjected to fraud, including travel. Clearly, I had no reason to be concerned.
As a footnote, we arrived via Doha, Qatar, at 8 a.m., unlike most that arrive in the evening. As a result, we truly received a full 8 days of Safari.
We were greeted at JRO (Kilimanjaro Airport) by our guide, Bariki. I don't know where to begin, other than to say he MADE this trip special. Bariki was incredibly friendly and informative from the moment we arrived, and took a major interest in our expectations. He so exceeded those expectations that I am still smiling.
Every day he prepared a hot lunch prior to our Game drives or transportation to the next park. The meals were incredible. He also had plenty of drinks for my family of 6, and even made a special trip for my wife to get a preferred beverage.
His knowledge of the animals, flora, and environment is unmatched. That information made the entire safari even more memorable. How do I say this - he was so informative, but also let our family have our adventure to enjoy like we were on our own. He had an incredible sense regarding what we wanted to stop and photograph, and when it was time to move on.
Where Bariki earned 10 stars out of 5 was his intimate knowledge of where rare animals and sights could be seen, and taking all steps necessary to see them. For instance, due to the unusual weather pattern, the Wildebeest and the great migration is somewhat disrupted and more unpredictable. Bariki constantly monitors the radio to learn of interesting finds. When he learned that many wildebeest were commencing the swim, he took extraordinary action for us to be first on the scene, and to witness this incredible act of nature. The same applied when we witnessed a Cheetah take down a Gazelle, a crocodile take a Wildebeest, and to witness the very rare Rhinoceros.
Seeing incredible animals like Giraffes, Elephants, Hippos, Hyenas, and Zebras became almost commonplace. I say almost because we never bored of seeing these magnificent creatures in action.
In case you are not sure, your guide will be with you for the entire duration of the safari. A few accommodation would not allow Bariki to dine with us, but the majority did. It was a pleasure having Bariki join us, he was happy to answer so many questions, and took an interest in how our country is a bit different when it comes to environment and a variety of other topics.
We also decided to book the optional balloon safari across the Northern Serengeti. This is not operated by Gosheni, but Bariki helped us set it up. It is not cheap, but wow was it incredible. Be prepared to get up early for the sunrise! We booked through NYSSA, and, again, the captain we had made all the difference! His name was David, and if you book this trip, I would request him to pilot your balloon.
Bariki knew that my son would be starting college in Arusha, and arranged for us to drop him off at his accommodation on the way back to JRO. Starting school in a foreign country can be a daunting endeavor, but Bariki helped him get checked in, exchange currency, and gave him great advice on handling transportation and other matters in the city.
Also, no need for safari goers to exchange for Tanzanian Shillings, everyone accepts cash.
All choices for accommodation were outstanding. Look them up when you receive your proposed itinerary, you will see.
When you receive documentation on the trip, you will see a suggested tip per person per day for the safari. Before we left, I thought to myself that it was a lot, and compared to what you may tip in a normal situation, it is. At the conclusion of the trip, however, my thoughts on this had evolved. We tipped Bariki well in excess of the suggested amount, and truly were happy to do so, even though I am cheap in most aspects of my living.
I could write for pages on our experience. There are many choices for safari, but I cannot imagine any company would be better than Gosheni, and for a price that was reasonable for what we received. Most importantly, if you do choose Gosheni, if you have the privilege of having Bariki as your guide, you will be so happy to have him. He felt like part of our family by the end, and I would happily host him in the US if he ever came to visit.