IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing experience
Backpacking to Africa gave us wonderful memories of our 2 weeks in Tanzania. We liked the guides, Salum, Mpinga for serengeti/ngorongoro and Zanzibar. Accommodations were more than expected...very luxurious and the food was amazing. Backpacking to Africa took care of all logistics; we could just enjoy ourselves. Well done.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The guide didn’t know much. He barely talked, unless I asked him a question.
The guide lacked communication skills. He didn’t have enough knowledge about birds or animals in general. The customer service was very poor, even though I was the only customer in the excursion because everyone else cancelled due to Covid 19.
A day before my last day, I found out I needed a Covid 19 test and I asked the owner to find a place in Entebbe for me to do it. We drove 8 long hours from the mountain to Entebbe. The guide never showed me or say anything, unless I asked something. I never heard from the owner. We waisted a lot of time looking for a clinic. I had to stayed in Entebbe two more days, I had to pay for another plane to Dubai and for another hotel in Dubai. I wasted a lot of money and time because the owner Couldn’t help me.
My experience with the Gorillas was great but not thanks to this company.
In general, I don’t recommend this company.
IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tanzania is a beauty!
Tanzania is a beauty! We visited the northern circuit upon the suggestion from Mr.Martin from Tripquest. He explained everything in detail that I could imagine how it would be on safari and it was exactly the way he explained. Our guide David was a very friendly person and was very knowledgeable, I was shocked by the knowledge he has about Tanzania. The best part of our 4 day Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater tour was the drives on the crater, we could be as close as 5meters away from a pride of lions ! We had an unbelievable and such a happy time.
Trip Quest took care of us so well that every detail was taken care of. I highly recommend every Safari lover to visit Tanzania and definitely choose Trip Quest!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Beyond my expectations
Tanzania blew me away with Nziza Hospitality. First off, we were super nervous to travel during covid, yet Bernard made sure every detail was taking care of to make us feel safe and keep our experience private. Every property was luxurious and first class. The food was delicious. Our guide and driver, Cloud knew the parks inside and out. We saw every single animal on our list except a rhinoceros and we will track that next time. We were shocked how much the experience exceed our expectations. Everyone should do Africa and everyone should do it with Nziza Hospitality. I have travelled all over the world and had many opportunities to be wowed....but this experience was one of the best adventures of my life.
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Brilliant, all of what I was expecting from a Safari.
The safari tour in the Masai maara was amazing. Evans (our guide) was smilly, very helpful, a safe driver and with good energy. Thanks to him, we saw most animals (lions, cheethas, rhino, hippos, crocodile, giraffe, elephants, impala, buffalos, zebras, antilopes etc) except leopards.
Regarding the living at Jambo Maara, The restaurant waiters are very nice but the other employees were not welcoming and seemed to be suscipious about us.
The communication via 'whatsapp to book the safari with Bonfire was not smooth. I could not get all the pieces of information I was requesting, so I had to wait to land in Nairobi to go to their office and get all the details I needed. Once at the office, everything was easier.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
The wildlife was plentiful and stunning, so much local knowledge in this small company.
We have used this company many times, each time the 'personal' service was fantastic. We had game drives and added experiences by visiting local community projects that gave us fabulous insights into how people live. We are so pleased we found Cherokee Tours and we highly recommend them.
FR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Horrible experience with the guide Stephen !!!
On the day of our arrival in Nairobi, the guide was over 1.5 hours late at the airport. Then we had to walk and wait another time 20 minutes because he had parked his car outside the airport parking lot.
Barely on the road leaving for our safari he stopped to fill up with gasoline (couldn't he do it before picking us up when we had 12 hours of theft in our legs?).
On the way he said to us "why are you coming when it is raining?" January is not a good time to come (contrary to what we can read on the net).
Are we responsible for the weather? He replied that we had to call before coming! How then to organize a 15-day trip with hotels planes...
Finally at the arrival of the 1st park (Tsavo) before doing our 1st game drive, he asks us if we can take 4 people (Poles I believe) with us because they have a problem with their Jeep. To that we answer no because a little tired of his attitude and not to mention that we had arranged a private safari just for the 2 of us. Suddenly he does not like much and it was the climbing ...
He didn't like to repeat himself (we are not specialists in the animal world and even less English speakers) and allowed himself to think about us or downright hikes of your "I already told you!" Style. or "Close the open roof now and don't discuss!"
I forgot ... We had a problem with the police because he had not updated his car insurance (3 hours to wait at the police station)
His Jeep did not have the 4 * 4 system either (supposedly broken on the way) and he had lent his tools (shovel and bars) which would have helped us to get out of a stuck in the mud instead. we had to clear it by hand. After getting dirty, no thank you from him ... In short, a horrible experience with this guide probably close to retirement age and who did not want to take this tour but are we responsible for it?
No compensation or commercial gesture on the part of Tekko tour despite the kindness of Carole with whom I was in contact for the organization.
Finally one thing shocked me: the guide lied about the number of game-drives made by his replacement (a freelance massai) who was not paid as he should. I learned about it a few months later and I made a complaint by mail and the problem was resolved without Tekko Tour ever acknowledging their fault.
Lamentable...
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Wonderful Excellent and
Excellent and timely communication from Maria - Ciata branch. The trip was worthwhile. Thanks bonfire.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Most incredible trip of my life! Every detail was perfect! Service was safe and first class!
Experienced guide and driver and luxury accommodations!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Safari of a Lifetime!
Despite COVID-19 we took the plunge at the end of September and travelled. This was our sixth safari vacation, but accounts of an empty Serengeti were too much to resist. Luckily, we found a safari operator, Mama Savana, who was willing to work with our last-minute requests and assure us of ultimate flexibility should flights cancel or our COVID test turn out positive. Alex was great to work with—always professional and friendly and he went over and above regarding prompt responses; at one point I asked him if he ever slept since I’d receive responses in Tanzania’s late evening hours. Alex put together an excellent trip for us that included, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Central and Northern Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater. Camps ranged from amazingly luxurious to good—I asked for the range of accommodation to balance cost and luxury, and Alex listened.
Our guide Allen was one of the best we’ve encountered during our safari experiences; a true safari master. Often once guides learn we’ve been to Africa they stop educating us, even though we ask them to share their knowledge. Allen was awesome, lots of information!! He has great overall knowledge and great bird knowledge. We loved that he carried bird field guides so that he could show us the bird in the book. I’d take a photo of the page right after the bird photo so It’d be an easy ID a month later when I started sorting through photos. Allen was great at making sure we got good photos and has a keen eye for lighting and composition. Allen is also an amazing “spotter” which certainly provided experiences we may not have had without him. Allen understands animal behavior and was able to time our approaches to increase the likelihood of seeing a specific behavior. For instance, in the Ngorongoro Crater we witnessed a male ostrich executing a courtship dance to an interested female. We watched from a distance until the female laid down and the male quickly ran over to receive his prize. Only once the male started running toward the prostrate female did we maneuver closer—if we’d have moved too soon, the pair may have changed their minds and we’d have missed the mating. We also saw a large group of wildebeest crossing the Mara on Oct 5th! Allen hung back from the riverbank for that one too and encouraged patience explaining the likely behaviors we would witness prior to a potential crossing. After two hours it happened, and it was an amazing experience that will forever be etched in our memories. Lastly, Allen has a fun sense of humor and was a great traveling companion, we gained a friend on that safari!
Every safari is a once in a lifetime experience but having the wildlife essentially to yourself in one of the world's premier safari destinations is an unparalleled experience unlikely to ever be repeated again. While this experience was certainly unique, having an expert planner and an expert guide, like Alex and Allen, will set a solid foundation for your safari. Thanks Mama Savana!