FI
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Expensive, but guaranteed carefree travel were it's easy to enjoy the spectacular nature!
We decided on Lion King adventures according to the good reviews online and as soon as we were picked up from the airport we knew we had made the right decision. Booking was easy, we were given adequate information and our emails were fast responded. We were hesitant at first as the price is very high and we had to pay everything beforehand, but once the safari started everything went as planned. We felt safe during our entire safari, things ran smooth and we did not have to take care of anything. All meals were very delicious and cold beer, coca-cola, water and even wine was served during our safari. All accommodations were high end, with swimming pools, helpful personnel and clean rooms with comfortable beds and mosquito nets when needed. There was plenty of food, fruits, snacks and drinks served at all times. Our quide Mwita spoke perfect English and had such knowledge on animals, culture and politics. He was very considerate and we had mutual respect towards each other. We were able to see spectacular nature and animals, and really felt Mwita was willing to go that extra mile for us. We would definitely recommend this company to others! Thank you Mwita!
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tailor Made Safaris made a fantastic trip for us.
After visiting the holiday fair (in Utrecht), where we were introduced to Tailor Made Safaris and the possibilities they offered, Tailor Made Safaris has put together a fantastic self-drive tour for us. They listened carefully to what we wanted and gave it a perfect interpretation. The chosen locations were all special and varied. Tailor Made Safaris has surprised us in an extremely positive way and is definitely recommended for an unforgettable trip through South Africa!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
GREAT COMPANY- HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
We booked our Kruger National Park safari through Elephant Herd Tours & Safaris after getting rave feedback from our work colleagues. Prompt efficient and professional from start to finish. At no stage were we in doubt as to what to expect, with a precise itinerary being received from Carla, which even included links to the accommodation options.
We chose a stunning private guest house called Dreamfields in Hazyview. It was exactly that. Thank you Philip for the service and breakfasts. How’s the little owl that is in the tree behind the swimming pool. Hope he makes it.
Our safari guide Trevor never stopped smiling. What a character. The Leopard man. Thank you Trevor for making us smile at 05h00 when normal sane people are still fast asleep. As for the safaris, Trevor you are the best. One day you can explain to us how you watch the road and see animals in the bush that we can’t even see with binoculars.
The panorama route is spectacular. Thank you for recommending it. We had no intention of sight-seeing.
Simply put, you guys rock and I want your jobs.
Michael Kohler
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An experience of history, churches, coffee and culture
All the drivers and tour guides spoke excellent English they were extremely Informative, knew their countries history very well. The welcome we received from everyone made us feel at home straight away. We never encountered any issues of safety, it’s a safe country and easy to travel around.
It’s a country of Churches, coffee and construction- a growing country and in a few years probably the best African country!
All air Ethiopia flights were on time, we had 2 International flights and 3 internal flights. Everyone always did their best to assist and make sure the check in process was quick and friendly. However there is a lot of security, which is normal now days at all airports and hotels.
The hotels we stayed in were of good quality, however the food was lacking, I thought we would eat a lot more spicy food and a lot more fruits. Lots and lots of good coffee though
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Kim and Bud are the BEST! Best trip ever!!
The experience I had was seriously magic. Every step of the way Bud was there to make our journey through Nairobi, Katale, Mattaw, and the Maasi Mara seamless. There were fifty of us in our group. I am in awe with how well we were taken care of. They had every attention to detail covered.
From safari to the visit to Mattaw I still can’t choose a favorite. They were both perfect in their own way.
Kim and Bud have the biggest hearts. Their mission in life is so beautiful. The Mattaw children are beautiful inside and out. God is definitely leading and guiding them.
God bless them both. Anyone looking to make a difference in this world should make Mattaw a place to support.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
If you love to photograph wildlife this is the place to be
An amazing place to see wildlife and scenery that can change so quickly from one area to the next. We went in September/October and the temperature was around 30°C and not uncomfortable when travelling in a 4x4. As there were four of us it was not too bad to get some good positions for taking photos. More than this, the harder it will be to position yourself to get those shots.
We stayed at the Serengeti Serena Lodge which was very pleasant. The food and accommodation was good although you do not spend that much time in your hotel. There was also a swimming pool which was another positive.
Our guide Ahmad was brilliant. He had great knowledge regarding the animals and areas we visited. His listened to what we wanted to do as well as giving us great advice. He helped make our holiday a great experience.
We also visited Lake Manyara National Park and Ngorongoro Crater. Each environment we visited was different but special in its own way. We found the Tanzanian people to be very friendly and loved English football!
We saw so many animals including the big five and most of the small five.
Be prepared for tipping hotel staff and your guide at the end of your trip. Make sure you have adequate American dollars in small notes. If you need Tanzanian shillings these can be obtained from an ATM. We got ours at the airport. This is useful for villages and markets.
If you visit a Masai village you will be charged an entrance fee. However you will be allowed to take unlimited photos. Be aware that they will show you gifts to purchase after the tour. If you can try to visit a local market as it is an amazing experience. Photos of people are difficult as they expect payment in return.
All in all I would highly recommend. This was a holiday of a lifetime.
One very important note. There are toilets at the entrances to the parks we visited and at the picnic grounds. They were well maintained.
FR
Magic trip with a super driver
Everything was perfect, we saw lots of animals and a lot of lions and hyenas (I'm big fan of hyena). Lots of babies of every kind at the time of the year.
Food and accommodation were very nice. We have some rain but hopefully it wasn't during the game drives. 4 different area with a change of scenery each time. And the driver was perfect! Thx a million, it was an amazing journey!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Good and reliable
A good and reliable tour operator where you are offered customized tours. They are quick to reply on requests and good at communicating with you as a customer. They listen to your request and go the extra mile to fullfil your expectations.
AE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
4 Days Unforgettable Budget Safari, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
We booked last minute and had previously planned. The director at Lovely safari scheduled us and we really enjoyed the safari. the driver was really amazing. we saw all of the big 5 on our own, the leopard is an elusive animal and even when our guide pointed it out I had a hard time finding it without his directions. Our Guide's name was Joseph and he was exceptional...... the room that we booked was clean, well appointed and the bed was comfortable..... the staff at the lodge were kind and very friendly....... whats more is that the whole safari was very affordable.
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible experice with the best guide on a private tour
I researched tours for weeks before we decided on CATS for our honeymoon. We stayed one night at Lake Nakuru Lion Hill Sarova (in a little cabin) and two nights at Mara Sarova (in a canvas tent). Sarova is a high-end hotel chain and CATS gives you a great price considering all you get for the trip. Huge buffet for every meal, outstanding accommodations. Swimming pools, darts, pool tables, mosquito protection, stunning and immaculate grounds, friendly staff, excellent cocktails. Both lodges have a spa.
I can’t say enough good things about our driver, Duncan (Ndegwa). He has been delivering these tours for 14 years, and is extremely knowledgeable about the parks and wildlife. We were on this trip specifically for animals and my husband is a biologist. We would ask one question about a giraffe and he would be able to share a full range of knowledge from the species throughout Kenya and Africa to how to tell them apart, to gestation and lifespans. Outstanding. He was an excellent driver despite chaotic Kenyan roads. He was respectful of the wildlife, maintaining a respectful distance from animals while getting us close enough to take amazing photos. Other drivers would pull up three feet from a lion’s sleeping face for their tourists to take their pics, and it was horrible. We even saw a bunch of safari vehicles herding a large group of wildebeest purposely at a croc-filled river for the photo opp and we appreciated that our driver didn’t participate. He also stuck to the trails as you’re supposed to. He was excellent at spotting wildlife, from distant rhinos to discreet leopards to snoozing camouflaged lion cubs. We appreciated this even more after we did a three-hour tour with a guide from another company in Nairobi National Park, and that guide couldn’t spot any animals and had little knowledge of species or park management. Duncan ensured we stopped at safe places and even took us on a sensible detour on the drive back to Nairobi to avoid a serious accident (and extensive wait) on a main highway. We have amazing photos! Note: your guide will stop to talk to other guides to discuss sightings.
On our next trip, we would skip Lake Nakuru and head straight to Maasai Mara, as it's a very long drive to both and between the two parks.
Note that the road from Nairobi to Maasai Mara is ~170 kms but takes 5 hours, and the 2 hours or so near the park aren’t paved. And because they are in the process of paving it, you can’t drive on the gravel road, you have to drive on a temporary side road which has large boulders instead of the small crushed gravel we’re used to at home and it’s a very slow, jarring drive, no matter what vehicle you’re in. Motion-sick people beware! Next time, we'll book the land cruiser instead of the van, as they have better suspension.
Overall we had a wonderful honeymoon adventure and are eternally grateful to Joyce for booking us exceptional accommodations and going the extra mile, and Duncan, for being the greatest guide and helping us stamp our Big-5 bingo card.
