20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The trip of a lifetime, all thanks to Early Kingfisher
Where to start...I had never gone on safari before, and felt quite overwhelmed with the choice on offer from different companies. Early Kingfisher stood out to me because the tour sizes were small, the costs were competitive, it was run by local people, and the reviews raved about Sam's passion for animals. Having completed a tour with them I can say confidently: if you book with them, you won't regret it.
The week was unforgettable, in large part to Sam & his staff. The animal spotting, knowledge I gained from Sam, the quality of the food we ate (3 course dinners every night), camping setup (practically luxurious), and travel arrangements (not a moment of stress during the course of the week). I am so, so glad that I overlooked more established companies in favour of Early Kingfisher, and I cannot recommend this company highly enough for what to me felt like a true safari experience. Some personal highlights are below...
Camping: the camping setup was perfect; spacious tents with a REAL BED, as close to a real (hot) shower/toilet as you'll find in the middle of nowhere, and even a turn down service twice a day (because why not). I haven't stayed in a lodge for a safari, but hearing deafining thunder, lions roaring and hyenas laughing during the night is simply unforgettable. And whilst most people might think camping and safari doesn't mix, I honestly felt no fear the entire week in the camp.
Staff: the staff on our tour were simply wonderful. I felt like I got to witness a group of friends cheerfully go about their jobs every day, and to such a high standard. Joan was our chef, who worked actual magic by preparing every single meal, including our 3 course dinners, each day, with only an open fire to work with. And it truly was delicious food. As I was on a week long tour, there were lots of pack downs to move location, all catered for by the staff, but the process ran like clockwork. And lastly, returning after an evening game drive to a song from the staff, was fantastic.
Game drives: I loved the twice-daily game drives, not just because I saw an abundance of animals, but because we had an awesome, passionate guide in Sam. His knowledge was second-to-none, always ready to answer our questions, but his ability to track animals was so impressive. As another reviewer has noted, many other guides came on the radio regularly to get his opinion, and we regularly found animals that no one else had, enjoying them in peace & quiet until other trucks invariably saw us and rolled in. Every detail was considered, from rugs in the morning when it was seriously cold, to 'Sam's Cafe' opening for business mid morning for a coffee break.
Photography: I went on safari for the photography, and Sam's understanding of light showed his experience not just of animal spotting, but how best to view them. He helped me get photos that I am extremely happy with by perfecting the angle. Our first night saw us spot a male lion with the setting sun right behind him, as just one example.
Learning: honestly, I learned so much from Sam during the week. For one example: over dinner one evening I asked if termites created their mounds from the earth as they dug down. In response we got a 15 minute reply detailing exactly how they function, and how they contributed to the formation of the Okavango delta. I don't think there was one animal or bird the entire week he couldn't identify.
Communication: before the tour, I found Sam to be very communicative over email in the run up to the trip, answering all my questions, and ensuring I had no concerns.
Recommendation: go for at least a week, if not longer, to ensure you're not spending full days travelling between locations. There were long journeys, but even on these, we were treated to seriously good food & animal sightings.
IE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Brilliant with great character
Our tour operator was Mdee would was excellent. He gave loads of information and never rushed anything. He always knew the correct and best positions on the safari and was always good fun. Would highly recommend!
IE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience.
We had an amazing experience on our safari with Qualified Tours Tanzania. Our tour guide Mdee was brilliant, he knew all of the best places to see the animals and he was able to tell us loads of information about them. He provided us with anything we needed and we also had a lot of laughs with him. I would highly recommend Qualified Tours Tanzania and Mdee as a tour guide.
IE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Mdee was an extremely fun, relaxed and experienced tour guide.
Mdee was our tour guide and he made the safari extremely enjoyable and he showed his vast experience. We saw everything we came to see up close and personal and Mdee seemed to know where to go for the best viewing. Mdee was also extremely fun and comfortable to be around and he made the safari extremely enjoyable. Would fully recommend to book with qualified tours Tanzania and especially Mdee.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience!
The Nairobi national park safari tour was such a great experience! Erick was a very knowledgeable guide and looked after us. The tour was great value for money!
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent Kilimanjaro Company
Samora is a up-and-coming trek company that's looking to make a name for itself with the quality it provides. As a traveler from the USA, the owner and guide were easy to communicate with and made preparation simple. My guide was extremely knowledgeable on the flora and fauna of the national park, and was effective in helping me get to the top! The porters all know each other and the company takes pride in treating all of their employees ethically.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A great well planned trip - The guides and staff were incredible
Short Version - The guides/staff were incredible, a great well planned trip to experience a variety of things in Zimbabwe! Would recommend to anyone.
Long Version - We booked this trip as part of our honeymoon in early June. We chose the 5 day Hwange Safari from Vic Falls. We were a little disheartened when we got to the airport and no one was there to meet us as planned. We contacted Archie who informed us he would be there in 20 minutes. We were picked up pretty much straight away when we found out that I had stupidly put July on the booking form rather than June (completely my own fault and stupidity). Whilst I would have thought that we would not be able to do this trip, as no accommodation would have been booked or guides, this was not a problem for Archie who had most of it organised by the time he had dropped us off at our first hotel. I must say that this really was far and above what we could have expected. He managed to arrange for all the things, accomodation, safari trips, guides, food and all the other little trips (Vic Falls themselves, a trip to a local village etc) when he really did not have to down to us turning up a month early.
Our guide on the safari, Muza, was equally excellent, working veyr hard and running our tour at such short notice.
We were fed extremely well, being taken out to nice restaurants and places (we both put on weight during this trip due to the amount of food!).
The actual trip was amazing, the organised safari in the Hwange Park was great, seeing a number of different animals (lions, giraffes, 100's of elephants as well as a number of other great wildlife).
The hotels arranged for us were all top notch and we ended up wanting for nothing, with Muza organizing stuff for us as we went including getting special food arranged for us due to being vegetarian.
I would genuinely recommend African Uncovered to anyone, they went well and truly above and beyond for us and made a great trip for us in difficult circumstances due to us getting the dates wrong.
FR
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
We had a great time with African Big Cats Safaris !!!!
We really had a great time in Tanzania with African Big Cats Safaris and we highly recommend to do a Safari with them. We choose a 4 nights/ 5 days safari.
Our guide Lodi picked us up from the airport (even as our plane was very late and arrove after midnight), he was a good driver and knew all the places to be and the habits of the animals we were looking for. We always felt save and in good hands with him and he brang us back to the airport in the end.
The lodges were luxury with comfortable beddings, the food was of high quality.
Emmanuel and his team arranged an extra night in a lodge close to the Kilimandjaro airport so we could see the mount Kilimanjaro before flying back to Zanzibar (as this was a dream of mine).
I would like to add that the tanzanien people we have met during our Safari were extremely friendly and nice to us. We never heared one bad word.
All was well organized from the beginning till the end!
We are grateful for the good time we have spent together.
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Well organised Botswana - Zimbabwe accommodated tour
Our planned group tour changed into a private tour due to the cancelling by 4 persons.
The tour was great and well organised with a fantastic local tour guide / driver / cook.
The contact and communication with African Travels was pleasant and good, and they also advised in two well organised tours in Johannesburg for us.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Steven took me to swim in the hot springs and again the the waterfalls.
Steven also arranged for me to have a demonstration of how the coffee beans are roasted and prepared by yhe coffee co operatives.
They were very entertaining, singing as they carried out the ritual.
A thoroughly enjoyable experience.