35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic trip - amazing scenery & wildlife. Loved it!
Visited Tanzania in earlier this year as part of a longer trip to East Africa and loved it. We wanted to do a drive safari from Dar es Salaam so the main parks were not an option, but the 3 parks we visited completely exceeded our expectations and loved them all - Mikumi National Park, Nyerere National Park and Udzungwa Mountains National Park. Our safari was in late March 2023 so there were quite a few rain showers and the weather was overcast at times, but that was actually a blessing as we got to see the greenery of the national parks and they were much quieter than during dry season.
As a slightly smaller national park, we were able to see most of Mikumi National Park and all that it has to offer. The scenery is stunning with open plains and mountains in the distance. Absolutely gorgeous for sunrise & sunset and Salum from Shanga Tours made sure that we saw all the wildlife the park had to offer. The accommodation in the park was basic, but very clean and the food was fantastic! Second night we stayed in Camp Bastian close to Mikumi which was a little piece of paradise.
Our hike in Udzungwa Mountains was amazing - we walked to the Sanje waterfall and were able to swim in the pool below them - a welcome break from sitting in our jeep for the previous 2 days. It was just over an hour each way from Mikumi and the hike took around 2-3 hours round trip so around a half day in total, but definitely worth it & actually wish we could have spent more time there, doing some of the longer hikes. Would really recommend visiting if you have the time as it was so different to the other national parks we visited and our guide gave us a great overview of the park & its wildlife (we even saw some of the endemic red colobus monkeys). Its also much quieter than the other parks - we were the only tourists on our hike that afternoon.
The final 2 days of our safari were spent in Nyerere National Park and again, credit to Salum at Shanga as we saw pretty much all the wildlife we could in the park. Scenery in Nyerere is really different than Mikumi, but no less stunning - including open plains, forests and wetlands. We did a sunset boat ride on the Rufiji river and got to see hippos at their most active! We stayed in Nyerere Tented camp, near the Mtemere Gate and it was amazing - the tents are much more luxurious than we expected and the food / communal spaces really made it a fantastic visit to Nyerere.
We spent a couple of days in Zanzibar at the end of our trip. It was rainy season so we stayed in Stonetown rather than head to the beached and really enjoyed our stay. Stonetown has a lot to see and do and it was easy to fill our two days there with good food, culture and historical sites.
Overall, we had a great time in Tanzania & would really recommend it. Would love to go back to visit some of the other parks and to spend some time Zanzibar in the dry season!
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolutely wonderful!
I can't say enough good things about our 4-day tour "Victoria Falls Safari Tour & Chobe National Park game drive" provided by Cultural Vibes. The whole experience was extraordinary and a great value for the cost. It included pick-up at our hotel, then transport to the airport at the end. It also included sunset and morning river cruises, two game drives, a helicopter ride over Victoria Falls, a tour of the Falls park, dinner & drum show, and rooms & meals at a very comfortable lodge. The guides were exceptional - very knowledgeable and personable (and very patient with us "older ladies"). It was obvious that Cultural Vibes had given a lot of thoughtful consideration as to how to make their guests feel welcome and comfortable (the lined ponchos were very much appreciated on the 6am game drive!). When our departing flight was delayed a day, our guide even helped us figure out a problem with the African airline and transported us to the airport a day later than originally planned. The whole tour was truly exceptional.
CA
Braventure is the best!
Trekked Mt. Kilimanjaro via the Lemosho route and it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. This credit goes to the amazing team at Braventure. From the time you book your trip to the time you complete your trek, you are in safe hands. Our guides, chefs and porters were all just amazing. I can not say enough good things about this company and would highly recommend it to anyone who is considering climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. Thank you Braventure for an amazing experience!
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very well organized safari and Musa is the best!
We had a private safari booked with 4 people for 3 days. The communication upfront with Lucy was excellent. She reacted very fast and to the point on all questions. The lodge where we stayed was great: very clean, luxurious and very good food, friendly people. Our guide Musa was the best! Experienced, knowing all people and places to go to, we spotted a lot of wildlife, and a very good driver. Overall we had a great experience!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome experience. Very high end and personalized
Tony was phenomenal. He was flexible to our schedule, was an absolute expert and guided us so that we could see all of the Big 5. We would highly, highly recommend.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Myxo was very welcoming and so knowledgeable about the country, it's culture and communities.
A really authentic cultural experience. Lots of fun. Recommend to anyone wanting to do something a bit off the usual tourist track.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A real Bush experience come to life
Armadillo Safaris offered my nephew and I the most amazing experience. We took a 4 day/3 night package where everything was organized perfectly and one that was personalized and most importantly, safe. In fact, we were treated to an additional night, without cost, as there were to be some protests on one of the highways we would be taking to Kruger National Park from Johannesburg airport ; and Richard wanted to ensure we would be in the park before any demonstrations began. This was a true sign of a professional organization.
We also enjoyed the many stories , historical facts and experiences that our guides, Richard and Morris, shared with us relating to the Park, the animals and indeed the people of South Africa and their bond with the animals and the land itself.
Seeing these majestic creatures and in such close proximity, brings one closer to nature and to the vast beauty that is Africa. We were also privileged to be in a “one of a kind” safari vehicle which was specifically designed. It was higher than any other vehicle, so our range of vision was further and others were very jealous. Snacks, water and other assorted beverages were always at hand for our convenience. Morris also doubled as our driver. He could manage narrow roads with unbelievable agility, and had the keenest eye for spotting animals such as lions and leopards, who might be relaxing under a tree or lounging up a tree.
Our accommodations offered the type of huts we requested with air conditioning ( it was 35 degrees Celsius during the day in mid-March), while evenings were spent outdoors enjoying the culinary delights of Chef Richard on an open fire and sharing wonderful wines from the region. Seeing the stars which seemed closer than usual, was certainly a great delight.
Our return to the airport included visits to the Moloholo Refuge, a wonderful place where wounded animals/birds are rehabilitated; and visiting amazing geological wonders such as The Rondavels and The Potholes.
We wish to thank Richard and Morris for a truly wonderful and unique experience that will stay with us forever. We would recommend Richard and Morris to anyone interested in the real bush experience. Simply terrific!!!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our guide was so knowledgeable and such a fun time all day!
We did a private tour in late April and even though it was the rainy season, we had amazing weather! Our guide told us tons of fun facts and stories as we cruised around and was able to show us every animal we were hoping to see except for lions. I feel like we got to see so much that it really was worth the money!! I would definitely use this company again in the future!
AE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The pearl of Uganda’s tour operators
Everything was just magical.
Uzuri is 100% worth the money (we would have paid even more!)
Everything was super smooth from day 1. Edris’s communication was perfect, he planned everything meticulously for us and we coordinated over WhatsApp.
Our guide, Joaquin, made us feel super safe all the time and also went an extra mile to get my glasses at 3 am back before our departure from a 9h-driving-far lodge where I accidentally left them.
Uganda is just amazing and the best way to experience it is with Uzuri. Best places, best food and best experiences guaranteed.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic in all regards!
Myself and 8 other people went on a 12 day tour throughout the park, and everything could not have gone better. EVERYTHING was FANTASTIC! WOW!!!!
We were camping along the way and staying in the same camp about 2-3 days each on average, for a total of 12 days. EKS handled all aspects of the trip: transportation/guiding, meals, lodging (tent), and everything else that might be smaller. We had Sam and Paul as guides and took 2 trucks. The transportation/guiding was amazing - you could tell that Sam was the longtime guide that all the other guides (in other outfitters) constantly talked to and asked for advice. Paul provided a perfect partner guide as their personalities worked great together and complemented each other well. Each day was great and long enough to see animals, without getting overwhelmed or leaving miles on the table. Food was traditional "western" food with a carb (rice/potato), meat (chicken/beef/etc), salad, bread, soup, dessert. PLENTY of food. And wine/beer/mixed drinks. Everything was served to you and it was a full 5 star experience in all regards. Lodging was also better than most people have at home with fresh sheets each day, large tents, bathrooms/shower in each tent, and all the small amenities you would wish for - a cold towel to wipe your face after each drive, a cool wet towel on the outside toilet so the seat is not too hot, etc. They thought of it all. I would certainly do it all again and not change anything - the experience was perfect in all regards. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!