AE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent
The game druves were so good. We saw a lot of animals, more than we were expected. we came very close to the elephants, lions and cheetas!
Mostly of the guides told us a lot about the animals and were alsop connected with other drivers to see animals and then give us more experiences.
The food were very well prepaired and so many options. They serving us more than we need:)
We will for sure bee back again in this fantastic country!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Two-Day Akagera Game Drive
We had a wonderful time on our two-day Akagera trip we booked with Safari2GorilllaTours!! We were picked up promptly the first morning, at our accommodations in Kigali, by our guide Martin. Upon arrival at Akagera, we stopped for lunch at the Akagera Game Lodge, and checked in to our rooms. We then left for an afternoon boat tour of Lake Ihema, where we saw many hippos, crocodiles, birds, and elephants! We then went on a short game drive around the southern end of the park, where we saw more elephants, hippos, warthogs, many many zebras and other animals. We returned to the lodge for our buffet dinner (delicious grilled meats!), pre-ordered our sack lunches for the next day's drive, and settled in to our very comfortable air-conditioned rooms, with wonderful amenities and views of Lake Ihema.
The next morning, we had breakfast from the very large buffet offered, picked up our lunches, and were off by 6:30 a.m. We toured most of the day, seeing large groups of animals, including zebras, waterbucks, impalas,cape bufffalos, elephants (including a very large group coming to the water to drink!), giraffes, warthogs, iguanas, and many varieties of birds. We didn't expect to see the rhinos or lions, as they are very shy and that was okay, just knowing they were out there somewhere was thrilling!
We so enjoyed this tour, even the "African Massage" of the rough roads in the park. We were returned to Kigali in plenty of time for dinner out.
Highly recommend Safari2GorillaTours!! Thank you, Aaron and Martin!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Netherken were very good, but our driver/guide Mahmud was great
From the outset, Janet and Ton were responsive and helpful in replying to our emails. The itinerary was detailed enough to offer a good structure to our safari, but was not so rigid that it felt restrictive. Mahmud arrived right on time and from the outset was courteous and informative. The quality of the accommodation and food was varied and was what we had expected or better. The main reason for giving a 5* review was Mahmud. The quality of his driving over all terrain was impressive, in spite of the fact that we had chosen a 2 wheel drive vehicle. The depth of his knowledge of animals and particularly birds was extensive and impressive. He imparted this knowledge with enthusiasm, interest and patience. A minor mechanical issue was dealt with in a prompt and calm way, despite it being New Year's day.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Exceptional expertise, knowledge and advice. It was clear from the beginning we were in safe hands.
The safari exceeded expectations on every possible level! All three locations, the people, guides, camps, travel, expertise, food, friendliness and everything else you can think of was simply amazing. It was a trip of a lifetime and will be very hard to beat. Nothing was too much trouble, before and during the trip, the organisation was fantastic.
IL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing experience
Barack is a great driver and organizer. With his help we, four people from Israel, had an amazing experience in both Rwanda and Congo. Barack is resourceful and well connected. He helped us with many small details along our 12 days tour.
He demonstrated Can Do attitude and was eager to address all our needs. We all feel like we have earned a new friend.
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Completely satisfied
We went on a four day safari with African Savannah Trekkers and right from the first emails I had a great feeling about them. The main reason was how thorough and prompt all the information was past on. Maureen was really on the ball when it came to giving advice on our tailor made safari and other trip related matters. Communication with her was fantastic and she made sure everything went smoothly.
We stayed at Hhando Coffee Lodge and Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge. We LOVED the Serena Lodge although Hhando was nice too.
Our driver and guide was Timo, great guy. He was quite knowledgeable and wasn’t overpowering at all, very discreet. He was committed to his job and was completely at our service.
We were 100% satisfied and would recommend Savannah Trekkers to anyone. Thank you for making our safari a memorable one.
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect!
Excellent service! We decided really last minute to travel to Tanzania and thought maybe there was not enough time. I've contacted Tanzania Roadside Expeditions per email, 5 days later we were flying to Tanzania. Paul, the managing director, was very quick in answering my questions and preparing an itinerary. After we compared their offer to other 5 companies (using SafariBookings,com), we decided for Tanzania Roadside Expeditions because of their good reviews and price. Paul quickly confirmed all accommodations and was very flexible regarding the payment method. Our driver and guide James was extremely professional and knowledgeable. He was always on time, gave us so much information about the animals and places we visited. He was also very flexible, leaving it for us to decide when to leave, how long to stay in each place, when to eat, when to stop, etc... Also he seemed to always find the best position for us to see / photograph the animals. The car we used was not new, but was in good condition and not different at all from the other safari companies we saw on the way.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Short, 3-day safari
My daughter and I took a three day safari with Duma Explorer in January. We were in northern Tanzania for other reasons and wanted something we could fit in our schedule. I contacted a few companies looking for a moderately priced private safari. I chose Duma because Stacey was responsive, discussed options, and answered all my questions. Additionally, I liked that they employed their own guides and owned and maintained their own vehicles (many companies hire guides and rent the vehicles by the trip). Even though we weren’t hiking, their membership in the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (https://kiliporters.org/what-we-do/) told me they treated their employees well, which was important to me. (They were founding members.)
We went to Tarangire National Park and Ngorongoro Crater. Our guide-driver, Sifuni, was excellent. He was so passionate (in his quiet way) and so knowledgeable about the animals. We were amazed at his skill finding distant animals we could only see with binoculars. He provided so much information about the animals and knew when to stay put because he thought the animal we were watching would move. He was determined to help me get photos of distant rhinos, using my phone and binoculars, which was successful. He was also a skilled and very safe driver both on the highways and on the muddy park roads. He paid attention to our comfort and interests. He didn’t make us stop at any souvenir shops, which we were not interested in and which I’ve heard many drivers do. My daughter and I really felt his goal was for us to see as many animals as we could. The Land Cruiser was not brand new but solid and comfortable. We were provided plenty of bottled water, binoculars, and guide books (although after an initial look at the books, we found Sifuni could answer all our questions).
I also chose Duma because we stayed in the Tarangire Park one night and in the crater rim another, which meant less driving and more viewing time. Both lodgings were very nice. In Tarangire we stayed at Kichuguu Camp, a beautiful and luxurious tented camp that was much more of a high end accommodation than we expected. The second night we stayed at the Rhino Lodge, a comfortable and friendly mid-range accommodation. (While we wanted a mid-range price, I think Duma will also arrange higher end lodging.) The food was great at both places. We were provided with large bag lunches each day that included a variety of foods. Additionally, Duma arranged for our guide to pick us up at our out of the way location between Arusha and Moshi. Finally, we stopped by the Duma office the first day and saw their vehicles and facilities.
I was pretty anxious about finding a safari company, especially because I was not looking for a high end company that had offices in the US. (Duma does have staff in the US, which makes payment easier.) Even doing a lot of research, it is a leap of faith to send money off, but the Duma safari turned out to be so much better than my daughter and I expected. I highly recommend them and am happy to answer any questions.
CH
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best trip of my life
Our Kilimanjaro climb and then three days safari that we booked with Aardvark Expeditions were unforgettable! The whole trip was very well organized, Philemon answered our questions in detail in a very short time and gave us good tips. Our escort team was very friendly, competent and helpful. My daughter and I felt very comfortable and well looked after during the ascent to Kilimanjaro. We learned a lot about nature, life and the culture in Tanzania and had a lot of fun. Our cook Erik surprised us every day with a new delicious dish. And so we were well strengthened and made it to the top. We thank all team members for the unforgettable experience!
The subsequent three days of safari were very impressive and went just as smoothly. Thanks Philemon! The Aardvark expedition did an excellent job.
CH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best possible start into a new year
We hiked up mount Kilimanjaro on the Machame route and reached the summit on day 6 of the hike. This was followed by a 2 day safari in Ngorongoro crater and Tarangire National Park.
Philemon of Aardvark Expeditions organized an unforgettable start into the new year for us. The communication with him and the organization of our stay was impeccable. He was always reachable and on time. Everything went very smoothly.
Philemon put together a great team of guides and porters who made our hike on mt. Kilimanjaro possible. Matthew and Fred guided us up to the peak, while taking our abilities and stamina into account. At all times we felt safe and in good hands. We also had a great time, joking around and learning about Tanzania, mt. Kilimanjaro, its flora and fauna. The support of the whole team, the very delicious and fresh food, prepared by our chef Erick and the great equipment (tents, mats, toilet, etc.) made the hike very comfortable and enjoyable for us. We did not have to worry about anything. Seeing the sun rise while hiking up mt Kilimanjaro is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
After this memorable moment of our lifes we went on a 2 day safari in Ngorongoro crater and in the Tarangire National Park. On just one day we saw 4 of the "big five". We were very close to the wildlife. It was an incredible experience, which we will remember for ever.
The accommodation Philemon chose for us in Arusha (Tulia) and the lodge during the safari were amazing.
Overall the entire trip exceeded our expectations in all regards. Thank you Philemon and team for creating this unforgettable experience for us!!!