CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable Safari
The entire safari trip is a great experience for me and my two fellow backpacker friends. Everything ran smoothly including booking, communication, planning, driving, etc. We fully understand we booked budget safari package, so quickly we brushed off a few minor things, and in fact, they also became good travel stories and highlights.
What really made the tour fantastic is our tour guide, James. He is so chilled and accommodating, took us out to local bars a couple of times after long drive, shared Kenya culture and his own safari experience with us. Definitely a person with good heart, we become good friends by the end of the trip, hope to stay connected for our next trip back to Kenya!
Thanks again to everyone from Karibu Safari, much appreciated!
PL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great safari with Javiva Adventures
I am very happy with my 5-day Masai Mara - Nakuru - Naivasha trip. Janet always answered very quickly via WhatsApp, picked me and my companion up from the airport and found us another hotel when our chosen accommodation became unreachable due to flooded road. Our driver, Patrick, showed his mastery of driving skill somehow managing to keep the 2WD bus going on muddy roads and wet grasslands and his extensive knowledge of animal species including birds which for me was important as I photograph birds as a hobby. The schedule was very flexible and accommodating - the only person who wanted to visit Masai village got to do so while those who were not interested had a game drive in the park. We also managed to do the Naivasha boat ride a second time, with better weather and more active hippos. All of this at one of the lowest prices on the market.
Highly recommended.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Khangeli Safaris was so much better than expected
A thrilling three night adventure to a secluded location in Hwange National Park. Mike Scott and crew provided a wonderful personalized experience for the two of us overlooking a river filled with Hippos and close to the territories of two adult male lions. Khangela safaris is highly recommended. Our chemistry with Mike Scott, Heather, and Barnard was top notch and we enjoyed sitting around the fire after dinner laughing and sharing as much as we enjoyed travelling around just a small part of this huge park. We saw alot! There were some mixed emotions as there was one of the worst droughts of the century and sad to see several dead elephants but this too is part of nature and yet it was balanced with seeing several lions, huge herds of zebra and cape buffalos, the yawning of hippos in the river, and the beginning of rains filling in empty river beds. Almost immediately after the first rains, the leaves began to appear on the mopane trees. Lots of birds, and rare sitings of a tortoise and rock hyrexes. We were truly the visitors within a pristine campground and everything is environmentally sustainable leaving no footprint that we were ever there. The safari was the highlight of our trip to Victoria Falls environs and then to Ethiopia... We did also spent a day at Chobe National Park in Botswana that allowed us and tens of others to see many elephants both on land and from the water. But, we will always cherish our special days of just the two of us with Khangela Safaris that have left us with many memories and fantastic photographs. It was exhilirating, it was fun, it was so so much better than we could ever expect. Kudos to Khangela for making our visit top notch.
AE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Masai Mara National Reserve by Maikko Ibale
It was beautiful.
AE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Hell's Gate National Park by Maikko Ibale
It was rainy day but still glad saw the animals happily running and hunting.
AE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The place is very cool
The beauty between the animals inside the cage and the free ones are way different. You will feel them alive and happy. It was very beautiful place to be!
However, there are part of the tour that we didnt do and did not advise us earlier why we are not doing it so. And im talking about the spring or thermal bath. We could have spend more time cycling than bringing us back to Nairobi, there are still plenty of time.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
I worked on client safari with Makario Safaris
Makario Safaris is relatively new in the safari business, we found the staff are very knowledgable and helpful. Their experience, knowledge and diligence are visible from their near-perfect customer services to the advice they render to our clients. I strongly recommend Makario safari for Rwanda safaris.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Absolutely Amazing
Everything was absolutely brilliant experience using Arkman. They arranged our transport to the camp, our guide was informative and we saw all the animals that we wanted. We then booked another trip with them for later on in our holiday. Can't fault them. I would definitely recommend.
AE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Change in itinerary, no communication maintained, overall a bad time
Communicated that pick up will be 07:45 am but the driver appeared at 6:30 and was insisting to join immediately as some other people are waiting. On the way after asking the driver I came to know the itinerary is completely changed and Jimmy didn't inform anything. Picked up from my hotel dropped at another hotel. Picked up by another driver and dropped to a camp in Manyara where I had no itinerary to go. After waiting for 2 hours picked up by the actual safari vehicle at 11 am and drove to Serengeti while the original itinerary was Tarangire for the first day and next day early morning start for Serengeti. The whole day gone driving to Serengeti and reached at 7 pm. No game drive on the first day and lost the whole day in travelling.
They didn't inform that the tents to be pitched by ourselves. Had to do that in the rain at night!
After Serengeti & Ngorongoro, no information received who will pick up and which camp as this group had the last day on Safari.
Finally was dropped to a camp near Manyara. The camp was fantastic, the first time in 3 days was feeling well in Tanzania.
Last day the driver was supposed to pick up at 7:30 am and the driver arrived at 9:30. As I had the flight scheduled at 19:40 from Kilimanjaro airport, one driver was supposed to pick up at the park gate so that others in the group can continue with the safari. No driver arrived. The safari had to end early for others also and drove on the way to Arusha. On the way petrol ran out and the driver was complaining that the safari company didn't pay full amount to fill petrol. Somehow he arranged petrol on a highway garage.
After a drive I meet the driver who is supposed to drop me to Arusha. The driver was driving the car as if its a bullock cart and he was so scared of driving in traffic.
I insisted that I am dropped in the taxi stand for taking a taxi negotiated with good rate for Kilimanjaro airport. I was informed one driver is waiting at Arusha to drop me to the airport and I was in an impression that the drop off could be complementary for making my life so bad for last 4 days! :) The driver dropped me and asked the full amount 40 USD. I could have easily take a taxi from the taxi stand with less fare if I was dropped there and in time!
Overall what is experienced is they are very bad at communication and tour management and do not care about client satisfaction. Although most of the people are good at heart and very simple. They need to improve communication & management.
PL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Everything as promised. Enjoy Fig Tree Tours
Everything was as promised except of pickup time on first day. Although we were picked up after 7 we left for Safari after 10:30 am because car was waiting for people booked in different companies. In the car each one of us had safari sold by different company but it was not a problem at all.
Safari was better the expected. We have seen thousands of animals and all kinds that were possible to be seen in Serengeti/Tarangire/Ngorongoro. Tents were very basic but that's what was in the offer :)
Food was good. Car was little bit used but still ok. Driver was great and very helpful.
For sure I can recommend this company :)