DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Perfect organized tour and perfect guide (David Mukwaya)!
We made our long-awaited trip to Uganda in September 2021 and would like to thank the whole team for your organisation and the wonderful experience we had.
Our main goals were of course tracking mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, we additionally experienced and saw a lot of other game and birds on our round trip. Our guide David Mukwaya from Speke Uganda Holidays proved to be very smart from the very first moment and he was able to fulfil all our desires. He knows the country in detail and we had much fun together!
Our trip began with a visit of the Mawamba Swamps and a sighting of the shoebill, which we had never seen before! We had looked at any square metre in the Bangweulu Swamps in Zambia but no Shoebill was there and here it took just some minutes. What a surprise! We continued via Mburo National Park to Lake Mutanda, where we were accommodated in the lodge of the same name. The next morning we drove to our first gorilla tracking in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. This experience was unique, we visited the Mucunguzi group in the Rushaga sector and could not get enough of the gentle giants and their joking kids!
Then we went to the Buhoma sector on the other side of Bwindi NP, where we had our second tracking, quite different because first of all we were a bigger group and the weather was rainy. After a steep climb we came across the silverback of the Mubare group and about five other animals that were temporarily hiding from the rain under bushes, but showed themselves again after the shower. We were very close and it was fantastic! Obviously we were of interest for them as they were for us.
Thanks to David, we visited the Bwindi community Camp and the Bwindi Ride for a Woman project in Buhoma. Very impressive how the local population is involved in nature conservation with relatively simple means.
David then took us to the Ishasha sector of Queen Elisabeth NP, where we saw tree-climbing lions! And also a leopard! And then on a hill David unpacked chairs and we had a wonderful sundowner!
Next stop was Mazike Valley Lodge, where we were the only guests. The bridge over the Kazinga Channel was closed and there was only a ferry to get across. Here David's knowledge of the country and his improvisation skills solved the problem once again: we had planned to cross to the other side for a late afternoon game drive, but when we arrived at the ferry it had just left and there seemed to be a problem on the other side because it did not leave again. He suggested an alternative, a great viewpoint on our side over the Kyambura Gorge, where we enjoyed our sundowner all alone again.
The next day we took the ferry across the river, a wonderful game drive including a boat trip with lots of antelopes, elephants, water buffalos and bird species. Simply great! We continued to Kibale Forest NP, where the highlight was the chimpanzee tracking. But again "little things" like seeing a rare Shining Blue Kingfisher near the lodge or the Giant Turacos in the Bigodi Swamp! We continued to Murchison Falls NP, where David changed the programme briefly and we were able to do a wonderful walk around the falls in the late afternoon, very close to the breathtaking water masses! The next morning we saw many elephants, many birds, including many bee-eaters, antelopes and a leopard on the game drive, and in the afternoon we again admired the fantastic birdlife and nature on a boat trip to the falls. Slowly we headed back towards Entebbe, we visited the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, where we were again lucky enough to see nine rhinos.
On the last day, we visited the botanical garden in Entebbe with David, which is very well designed and we liked it very much.
All in all, our trip was a perfect experience, the lodges we stayed in were all great, everything worked out to our complete satisfaction and we will never forget this trip! And David grew close to our hearts over the course of the 2 weeks and gave us so many insights into this wonderful country through his extensive knowledge of the country and its people, nature and wildlife.
A very big thank you for all that! We hope to meet you again!
IE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
James was fantastic
A group of five recently travelled to Kenya for a trip. Our driver was James. He was fantastic from start to finish. James was extremely knowledgeable about the different areas we travelled through from Nairobi to Masi Mara to lake Nakuru. He was excellent for our game drives, we got to see all the big five and got some great videos and photographs. It was an amazing trip and I would highly recommend.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
The tour operator shows great value for dollar and is very concerned with health and safety .
Daniel Waruri has been organizing great Kenyan safaris for us since 2017 and this, our 5th with Daniel and Meektrails was our best. He was able to mange our goals of seeing as many species of Kenyan birds as possible along with seeing the usual and unusual African big game. We are currently close to our goal of identifying 500 species of Kenyan birds plus have seen the African Big Five [even all in one day in the Masai Mara...certainly a trip highlight!] I heartily recommend Meektrails as great value for dollar. Currently I am in the process of planning a sixth safari with Meektrails in August with a group of friends from the US and Canada.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Another great safari with Tanzania Exclusive Journeys
During February, 2015, four of us (three friends, my wife and I) had a wonderful safari experience with Tanzania Exclusive Journeys. From pick-up and return to the airport, we had eight days of travel through the parks seeing great multitudes of animals, stayed at clean tent hotels, enjoyed good food, and had a fantastic knowledgeable guide. My wife and I decided that when our grandchildren are old enough, we would go back and take them. And that is what we did during the last week of December, 2021, taking our thirteen and eleven year old grandchildren, with their parents, to experience the Tanzania safari. Again, clean tent hotels, good food, and the same (James) fantastic knowledgeable guide. The difference, if any, is that on this trip we saw more lions (my grandson counted 53 lions over the eight days), more giraffes (many more than one hundred), and more hippos (hundreds), and warthogs (hundreds). Too hard to count the thousands of wildebeests, zebras, gazelles, impalas, flamingos, and multitudes of other birds and animals. We were six in a Toyota Land Cruiser, with a pop-up roof and each of us with a window seat. The hotel facilities were all conscious of Covid issues and alleviated our health concerns. It also helped that we were not in any crowded environments. We are now waiting for our third grandchild to be old enough for this once-in-a lifetime trip. And when she is, we will do it again!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Small enough to deliver the personal touch, large enough to deliver your dream holiday
Crafted Africa are a brilliant travel company. From our very first communications the company made us feel like we were their number one priority - they were responsive, helpful, and willing to do everything they could to meet our specific needs and requests.
In recent years Malawi's National Parks have thrived and they now boast parks with the Big 5, making Malawi an even more appealing safari destination. You can now get a 'complete safari' experience at a fraction of the cost of more established safari destinations.
Malawi is known as the 'Warm Heart of Africa' and from the moment we arrived the Crafted Africa team brought that description to life - nothing was too much trouble. Our visit to Liwonde National Park was breath taking. Closely regulated visitor and vehicle numbers meant that we felt like we had the park to ourselves and the ability to swap an afternoon game drive for a leisurely river cruise allows you to experience safari from a whole new perspective. Looking up at bull elephants just meters away is something that will live long in our collective memories (and makes you feel very small!).
Crafted Africa also allowed for us to experience a change of pace by organising a long weekend at Cape Maclear, Lake Malawi. Snorkelling amongst the incredible marine life and watching fish eagles hunt were stand two stand out experiences, but top of the pile has to be the sunset boat trip we took, complete with 'sundowners' with nature providing the most incredible of sunsets.
I could not recommend Crafted Africa more highly and would definitely use them again. Value for money, amazing locations, hidden gems and the personal touch, there really isn't anything not to like!
FR
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
top class operators in service and quality
We picked Savannah originally because they were listed as a top operator ( which does not always come true)
However, we must honestly say they absolutely lived up to that listing!
From day 1 when we interacted with Brighton at office the service and effort were remarkable ( not our first safari)
Nothing was too much effort. we hit a major problem with faulty covid testing in France and we had to re-arrange our whole schedule by two days, it was delivered.
We picked the couple safari option and we got the best leader we have ever had in all previous safaris, Abdul was a pleasant, quiet, very knowledgeable person who could talk about many 'country' subjects in addition to a sound wildlife knowledge.
He also impressed us with his courteous behaviour on the road and at sightings- none of this frantic racing to things!
Just a hint- be prepared for long drives and sometimes bad roads with lots of jarring on this safari ( not Savannah's fault though!)
A great experience to be remembered and it fulfilled our 'bucket-list dreams! Well done Savannah!
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We’ll be back!
This trip was both very adventurous and educational. Our guide Marc could tell us everything about wildlife. He showed us beautiful places in the Serengeti and Tarangiri parks in addition to incredible animals up close. The lodges we stayed in we’re in the middle of the bush, with roaring male lions next to the tent. Still it felt safe because of the great staff. An unforgettable experience. We'll be back for sure!
IE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very thorough and knowledgeable, full of information and advice
It was great dealing with Malawian Style/Crafted Africa in organising my first safari trip to Malawi and Zambia. The trip was just incredible, an out of this world experience and Mike had everything figured out and put in place for me. This was extra efficient as I was travelling alone but really felt my hand was held all the way. A fantastic experience and one I can’t wait to repeat again soon.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect communication
From inquiry to reservations I was satisfied. I booked online after sending inquiries which were promptly responded to by Amos.
I was longing to go for a three days safari in maasai mara . My experience in communications before during and after the three days was commendable. All my concerns were answered through email voice calls and texts.
I will definitely travel and book again with Kenamoti
FR
Best Safari ever
We had a fantastic Safari with Lionking adventure.
Everything was easy and clear in making choices before to come.
Then we had a problem and came 2 days late due to Covid.
They rescheduled everything for us and finally we could have exactly the Safari we wanted.
Lodge selection was perfect with a special mention to Lake Manyara Kilimamoja Lodge that is totally incredible.
All the way our guide and driver, Khalifa, was not only professional but also very friendly, trying to answer all our wishes in the best way possible.
His wildlife knowledge was impressive and we have learned a lot.
Best if the best, in addition to English, he speaks French fluently and this was so nice for the kids who do not speak English.
We also had great food all the time and lunch was served like in a restaurant, hot in the middle of nowhere.
There would be much more good things to say about car, timing and kindness of everyone everywhere we have been.
I will recommend all without changing anything to my friends!