RU
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Best safari tour
We had the most amazing time with this tour company. We had booked for the wilderbeast migration in Mara kenya and had good. The driver was very professional and experienced. We had a chance to see all the big five and somemore.
PL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great Safari time with Smile With Us Tours !
I went for a private 3-person safari with these guys and we all loved it! Before it started I have asked Jacob many questions and we arranged everything as we wanted (4 days from Mwanza to Arusha). Our driver was Bern and the cook was Edward. Both of these guys were doing their best to make our safari a lifetime adventure and they did it. Bern is a very experienced driver who knows Serengeti like his own pocket and Edward was a real Chef cooking delicious food. Many thanks for both o you guys!
Please remember that Safari is not a ZOO and you can't control animals. But if you have an experienced driver then he will know how where to go - Bern is one of them.
Thank you very much for the lovely trip!
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional
From the moment we changed our trip from Madagaskar to Uganda, Coen from Matoke contacted with us. He made a excellent 16 days trip for us.
Also our guide Richard was TOP
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Nzuri sana Safari!
Matata is fun, kind and VERY knowledgeable about the fauna (especially around birds!), as well as a great driver!
We vowed with my partner never to go back to a zoo after seeing natural wildlife up close. Matata knew every centimetre of the Morogoro and Mikumi, knew all about the animals' schedules and behaviours so discovering these wonderful beings was also accompanied with lots of information about them, which made the whole trip incredibly interesting. The reserves we visited, the hotels we stayed in, the food we ate, the people we met, made the experience even more special.
We kept a piece of Tanzania in our hearts, and thanks to Matata we want to go back and explore more of this wonderful country with him.
Maisha marefu rafiki!
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable safari organized quickly, with a guide who sublimated our adventure
We end an unforgettable 9-day safari in the Kenyan lands as a couple. The Musafa Tours & amp; Works and responsive and adapts to your requests. We quickly converged on a safari that suited us.
We were picked up upon our arrival in Kenya by David, our guide, driver and now friend. He was very professional, drove perfectly and spoke bilingual French.
On the Safari side, we had half-day or full-day outings. We saw all types of animals that we wanted to come across. David adapts to the envy of his passengers.
We were traveling in a large 4x4, typical for safaris in Kenya. The car was very comfortable and allowed you to enjoy the scenery while sitting and standing, and had a small fridge for cool breaks.
Hakuna matata (No problem), only solutions with Mufasa Tours & amp; Travels.
(automatic translation from French)
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great advice, prompt responses! Booked Sayari Camp
I was speaking with Smita mostly. I was very happy with the way she thought about situations to give me the best options and outcomes. She always had my best interest in mind!
Sayari itself was amazing! A luxury (permanent) camp with all the bells and whistles. Breakfast and lunch with set for everyone. As we didn't have many dietary requirements, we ate what they gave us and it was always very decent. For dinner you get a choice between two starters, a choice between two mains and a choice between two desserts.
In terms of game drives, amazing time of the year to be in norther serengeti /mara river!! We saw so many amazing things, like a fight between leopards and lions. Huge prides of lions, huge herds of elephants and of course the river crossing of the Great migration.
The Chalo Africa team starts a WhatsApp group with you and the team members, in case of any issues or questions during your trip.
The team also works together, for example is smita couldn't reply, Sangeeta or Malvika would reply instead.
Definitely recommend the team and Sayari!
IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A true Lifetime Experience with a Great Operator
We rarely use travel agents during our travels, and was put across to you'll from asilia for the bookings, and I am glad that this happened. The knowledge and suggestions from Smita and the team at Challo Africa made the trip what it was.
Visiting a luxury game camp in Africa is all about the correct itinerary and people of the camps and this is the most important part where Challo Africa was amazing at.
Suggestions about which property to visit in which order to see what kind of game, to help book us the best guides, and a ton of surprises at each of the properties made this a once in a lifetime trip.
Could not recommend or suggest Challo Africa as well as Asilia enough to everyone on a trip to Africa.
Asilia is an outstanding brand, which makes you feel like you are a part of the family, and definitely one that will be a leader in this experience based travel in Africa. This is one of many in the future.
One small feedback for Asilia for back end reservations - during covid when there is a certain amount of uncertainty, especially for high end travel such as this, would appreciate some more flexibility/support regarding bookings and management in case of any unfortunate issues due to covid.
Communications- Were great and they were always there for us regardless of the time. We had a small incident at one of our properties and got it resolved within 10 mins thanks to Challo Africa!
Value for Money- This was definitely an expensive trip, but we found the value in this.
Reliability - 100%
The Tour was incredible and unmatched. Definitely speak to Challo Africa to book an African Adventure, and if the budget allows, Asilia is the best option in Africa!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The Big 5 in less than 2 hours
Willis was very patient with me from the very beginning of our planning. He also was prompt in his responses and provided every detail needed to make our 2 day excursion a memorable experience.
Our driver Ken was awesome. Upon entering the national park we were able to see the rare black rhino and he expressed how lucky we were to see it. Could be luck or just impeccable timing but either way Ken was able to get us to see all 5 of the Big Five within 2 hrs of arrival to the park. The experience was amazing.
Our stay at the Keekorok Lodge was superb. Awesome guest services, good food and as a bonus you get to hear and see the hippos nearby.
Overall it was a fantastic experience that would be challenging to get anywhere else. Especially coming from the US. My family (pregnant wife, 1 y/o & 6 y/o) and I had a great time.
Don't hesitate like I did and just go for it. You won't regret it!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best tour guide ever!
I had a fantastic time traveling across Uganda. I was working - and needed to travel alone through refugee camps and across the West of the country. I couldn't have had a better driver and a better time. Highly highly highly recommend.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Good Communications, Customizable Itinerary, Great Safari and a Terrific Value !
Having been on three African safaris previously, I wanted more than the cookie-cutter safari pre-baked by the larger safari tour agencies. Now I can say I was fortunate to find Mazingira Safaris.
A successful safari requires the confluence of many things: good communication and planning, good food and lodging, good equipment and ultimately a good spotter/driver.
PLANNING
From the beginning, I knew I was in good hands with owner Jacob and planner Johari. Our planning started in late 2019 for a 2020 safari, then Covid arrived and they never complained about re-booking everything for 2021. I asked them to plan a 10-day safari from Arusha to the northern Serengeti for three photographers. They were always so prompt in responding to questions and suggesting itinerary changes. I would email Johari in the evening (U.S. time) and would always have a reply by the next morning when I woke up. We decided on Tarangire NP, Lake Eyasi (Masai, Hadzabe and Datoga encounters), Ndutu, Central Serengti and Northern Serengeti up to the Kenya border. Flying back to Arusha from Kagotende was also a great choice. Good, responsive communications were essential to developing our itinerary and Mazingira was exceptional in communications and planning.
FOOD & LODGING
Having endured my previous safaris in a pup-tent (to save money), it was time for something better - but not exorbitantly better and out of our price range. Mazingira chose some wonderful lodgings for us. The food and service was generally incredible. We often had the entire staff waiting on us because we were the only camp visitors due to Covid keeping most other tourists away. Speaking of Covid, we felt much safer in Tanzania than back in California. Most dining and other encounters were outdoors and there were very few other tourists around.
EQUIPMENT
Given the remoteness and rough dirt roads, you definitely want a well maintained vehicle because they take an incredible beating. Our Mazingira vehicle was a “pop-up roof” Toyota Land Cruiser. The extensive interior padding provided protection from constant jostling on the rough roads. The fridge kept the unlimited Mazingira-supplied drinking water cool. And the tires were all in excellent shape. (This is not always true on other company’s safari vehicles.)
DRIVER/SPOTTER
We were blessed to have “Leo” (Leonard) as our driver - he is a true professional. Always a safe driver yet always eager to position our vehicle for the best photographs and lighting. Always giving accurate answers to our animal questions from memory, then amplifying his response by opening one of his books to let us read it for ourselves! He knew not only the primary and secondary dirt roads, but also the rarely used ones to get us to where the animals were. He did an excellent job of dealing with the washboard dirt roads, clouds of dust from other vehicles and still spotted the elusive leopards and cheetahs.
Our primary trip goal was to photograph the great migration and a Mara river crossing. Leo showed us more animals than we saw on all of our previous safaris. Leo wisely watched several potential river crossings from a high point until one actually happened, then he whisked us down to the perfect vantage point to get our photos of the crocs attacking the wildebeest!
Leo was like our guardian angel, from the time he picked us up at the Kilimanjaro airport until we departed from Kagotende (on the hour-late plane). He was like the most polite, helpful family member you could ask for.
FAVORITE SPOTS
Originally I wondered if 10 days was too much for our itinerary. But each day seemed even better than the previous one and there was not one thing we wish we had skipped. Some pleasant surprises included:
Overnight at Kichuguu (Nyikani) Camp in central Tarangire NP in order to do game drives on the east side of “the swamp” lake. The animals were unbelievably numerous and diverse. It was like a Garden of Eden! Many visitors miss this by not going far enough south.
Most Northern Serengeti tourists hang out at the Mara river. Unfortunately they miss the amazing herds of animals between the river and the Kenya border. Don’t you be one of them.
As our son said, this was truly a Five-Star Safari at less than half the cost of the National Geographic Tour!