DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
10 day tour in Kenya and Tanzania
My girlfriend and I did a 10-day safari in Kenya and Tanzania that included Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara, Amboseli, Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater. I will split this review in two parts, one for each country/tour operator.
Kenya/ Drone Safaris:
We were just 2. Our driver and guide was Boniface. He was amazing in every part of his job. Driving in Kenya is not care-free, but he always made us feel safe. As a guide he is fully knowledgeable, answered all questions and was super adaptive in case we had some request (e.g. extra toilet break or picture-stop requests). Touring with him was very fun and interesting and he did more than we could ask for in order for us to see as many amazing things as possible. We were lucky to have him as a guide.
The accommodation in Lake Nakuru was at a basic but decent hotel. No complaints. The Miti Mingi Eco Camp (Masai Mara) was also very good. We had a small issue with the water but was fixed before we were back from the game drive. The people working there were super friendly. The Kimana campsite in Amboseli was worse. The first day we had a dripping toilet, no warm water and a weird semi broken bed. The next day we were given a smaller but good room. I had already read such a case in another review, so in case someone stays here i d recommend checking their room as early as possible. Food was also more basic in this camp.
The communication before and during the trip with Lizzy was amazing. I sent way too many questions and she was answering incredibly fast. This was important for us, since you always want to have the feeling of security in a foreign country.
Tanzania/ 7 wonders:
We were a group of 4. Our driver and guide Hozza was also amazing. He made his best in all cases, drove fast but safe and was great at spotting animals and taking us to the right places at the right time. Thanks to him we could even see the gnu crossing at mara river! We also had a cook that did a great job. In general the food was a bit better in this part of the trip.
Our initially booked plan was including one day in lake Manyara, one in Serengeti and one in Ngorongoro. Once we arrived in Arusha, we were offered an alternative of two days in Serengeti and one in Ngorongoro, since lake Manyara is currently flooded (we also saw this on our way to the Ngorongoro). This was a gift from above. I would def recommend two days in Serengeti, as it is maybe the best park i ve been to (very close to Masai Mara). It was also the only reason why we had enough time to see the Mara gnu crossing. We are very thankful that we were offered this alternative.
The accommodation in Arusha (Ambassador hotel) was very good and i can def recommend its restaurant. It won’t be anywhere close to fast, but the quality and prices are great. The Seronera camp in Serengeti was not the best. There was no hot water and the bathrooms were dirty. We also had a night at the Serengeti Heritage Camp (lodge/ luxurious camping). Everything was very nice there, from the food to the tents/apartments. Lastly, we were already prepared for the Simba campsite of Ngorongoro and how cold it is, so after all it was fine. There is also hot water, nice view and you will wake up next to zebras that get their breakfast behind your tent!
I only communicated once we were in Arusha with George and Evelyn from 7 Wonders, but they were great at proposing the change of plan and at making sure that our booked lodge in Manyara would be “transferred” to one of the Serengeti nights.
In general, we are both extremely happy we booked this trip with Drone Safaris. If someone has realistic expectations about potential delays and things that can always happen (we were waiting for a couple hours at the border for the shuttle to Arusha to start for example), then they are free to experience some amazing parks that offer maybe the best safari experience in the world. Go for it.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolutely love the Great lake expedition team!!
I went with my fiance and we had an amazing time. With just the two of us we felt like rockstars as our crew handled every detail and we summited safely.
We also followed up with a 5 day safari that was equally amazing.
The Lemosho route has become the new favorite, and we were worried Machame would be busy, but we did it September 2021 and there were only two other couples on the route. This changed after a couple of days when the Lemosho and Machame routes combine. I highly recommend the 7 day Machame as you get ample time to acclimatize, and you start from the bottom in the rainforest so you have actually climbed the whole thing.
At every camp, Great Lake Expedition seemed to have found the best and most private space to camp.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Parakuyo & Meleck John provide the BEST custom experiences and service!!
I had an outstanding time traveling with Parakuyo Tours & Safaris and highly recommend them to anyone wanting a personalized, culturally enriching, and adventurous experience in Tanzania!
Meleck John, the leader of Parakuyo, and I met about 5 years prior to my actual travel to Tanzania: September 6-25, 2021. He was patient and kind and worked with me, meticulously, to plan a 3 week journey through his country that included hiking Kilimanjaro, a safari across the Serengeti, stops In Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangeri National Park, and a peaceful stay on the Indian Ocean in Zanzibar.
I organized this trip for a group. Although we were originally scheduled to visit in 2020, our trip was postponed due to Covid. Despite the one year delay, and two persons who canceled their reservations from the original booking, Parakuyo continued to provide superior customer service and excellent advice.
Summiting Kilimanjaro- Each of the travelers was able to summit “Kili” which made the hike special for everyone. Meleck recommended we take the Machame Route because of its beauty, vast changes in topography, and summit success rate. I am grateful for his recommendations because he was spot-on. There was exceptional beauty on the mountain and sleeping on Kili was a magical experience every night. In addition, the meals were great, the porters were kind and Parakuyo took extra care of one of the hikers who struggled to summit. Because of his team’s patience we were each able to realize our dream, together, by reaching the top of Africa.
Serengeti (Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire)-I wanted desperately to see the wildebeest migration and as many lions as possible. We accomplished this and so much more! It’s amazing to see animals roam free on the Serengeti. I was in awe of both the number of wildebeest, elephants, lions, zebra, and other wildlife we saw. We stayed in Bush tented camps, took in a safari from the sky on a hot air balloon ride, and enjoyed learning about Tanzania and it’s people along the way. The accommodations were akin to “glamping” which I REALLY appreciated after sleeping on the ground for six nights on the side of Kilimanjaro. I loved hearing the sounds of lions and birds at night. Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire are equally special places and shouldn’t be missed and Meleck was insistent that I include them on our itinerary.
Zanzibar-It’s paradise. Parakuyo arranged our accommodations and the place we stayed was exceptionally beautiful. We went to sleep and my woke up to the beauty of the Indian Ocean from our bedrooms every day. It was glorious.
Our adventure was not an ordinary one. In addition to the holiday, I was producing a documentary. Meleck John aided me in taking care of some administrative details for the feature length film, “Three Extraordinary Women,” by working with the Tanzania Film Board and others and ensuring our camera crew were cared for.
Parakuyo Tours & Safaris is a unique company that provides boutique services of exceptional quality to its clients. In addition to ensuring we had a great time it was important for Meleck to gain our trust and he did just that! He is reliable, conscientious and meticulous—and that’s a powerful combination!
Lastly, it was important to me to do business with a local Tanzanian company. I would encourage anyone who reads this review to consider spending their dollars “consciously” in the country by supporting businesses, like Parakuyo, where staff are treated with dignity and respect and profits are fed back into the community. Parakuyo pays its staff decent wages. Sadly, some tour operators provide only one meal per day to porters to cut costs, but not Parakuyo. Parakuyo provided a culturally enriching experience. We left having felt connected to more than the natural beauty of the land, but the beauty of its people!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Helen is awesome with outstanding customer care skills.She always follows up.
Afrikan Travellers is the go to travel agent.They always look for cost-effective options for flights as well as accommodation.I highly recommend it.
UA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
attentive to details
So I experienced solo 8-day safari during great migration season in late July. I felt safe and enjoyed adventure to the fullest with such a great team
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Excellent Tour to Awash and Doho
We had a great time with Armaye and driver Kinfir. They took great care of us, taking us to delicious restaurants, and generally making everything easy and smooth. We loved the safari drives in Awash National Park and Aledeghi Reserve, and soaking in the hot springs at Doho Lodge. We highly recommend the tour for a great weekend trip outside of Addis to relax and enjoy nature!
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent, at its highest quality.
Uganda truly is the heaven on earth. Everyone should book a trip with Jomaar Safaris. They not only treated us with great care, they never missed a chance to make sure we were safe and protected. The service was excellent. The value for money was superb and they are reliable!
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Flexible, personalized, great communication, incredible experience.
The two of us stumbled upon Saunterland, and we are so happy for the trip that transpired. We only have pros to include in the review. Most importantly, James, the owner, was great at communicating. He ensured that we knew what was happening in the planning stages, and during the trip. We really felt well taken care of. Saunterland was very flexible and accommodating. During the safari, our guide, Patrick, couldn’t have been a better match. He was funny, helpful, knowledgeable, and a skilled off and on-road driver. Our trip was over four days. We spent two full days in Masai Mara, a full day at Lake Naivasha, and a day exploring Nairobi. We had so much fun, and we felt like the trip was exactly tailored to us.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Crater Explorer Tours led me on a wonderful safari in the Serengeti!
I had the most wonderful trip to Tanzania. Emmanuel and his team provided an unforgettable safari in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation area. The accommodations were great. The driver and cook were also extremely nice and helpful. I would recommend booking with Crater Explorers and can’t wait to book another tour with them.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Truly the trip of a lifetime!
My husband and I just got back from a 6 day safari with Afrishare, where we did game drives in Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Lake Manyara. This was honestly the most incredible trip, start to finish! Our guide Karim went above and beyond our expectations and he had so much knowledge that he shared every step of the way. He knows the parks inside and out and was able to take us to many less crowded spots where we spotted many animals. Karim was so personable as well and always made sure we were getting the experience we wanted. We had so much fun with him and are lucky to call him our friend!
Booking safaris can definitely seem overwhelming with the amount of tours out there, but I have zero regrets picking Afrishare. It was clear they are experienced, which is important because there are a LOT of intricacies that go into a safari and you want a company that knows what they are doing. The tours are flexible and can be changed to make it what you want and they take the time to make sure you are happy. The main thing that made me decide to chose afrishare was Ibrahim’s communication. No matter what questions I asked and when I asked them I always received responses quickly and detailed! This is a huge trip and isn’t like anything I have done before so it means a lot to have someone be so responsive. We definitely hope to book again someday and will definitely recommend Afrishare to all our family and friends!
