65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great operator, good value.
Good value safari offering. Very friendly and knowledgeable guide with very good vision for finding animals. Office staff were kind and good to tailor the tour to our needs. Had a fantastic time with them.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Reliable, adaptable guide with good pre-safari communication
This was a competitively priced mid-level four-day safari visiting 3 reserves in Kenya: Masai Mara, Laka Naivasha, and Hell's Gate. Morningstar Tours worked with us to customize our experience, for example we were able to request a bit of hiking time to go with our driving time, visit a Masai village, and at the end two of our party were dropped at the Nairobi airport while the other two were dropped in the Nairobi Central Business District. Our guide Dominic was excellent, knowledgeable and helpful. He skillfully guided us into the heart of the Masai Mari to see some fantastic wildlife. The Lake Naivasha boat ride was an excellent way to see hippos and lovely birds. The only hiccup in the trip was that during our planned afternoon visit to Hell's Gate, an enormous crowd was gathered to watch the WRC Safari Rally at Hell's Gate that same day. It would have been great if the tour company had foreseen this giant traffic jam and switched our planned day to visit Hell's Gate.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Personal, Friendly, Communicative Tour Operator
We didn't know what to expect for our first safari, but we are very pleased with our experience and highly recommend Kevic Tours and Travel. From the start, Bob was extremely helpful and flexible in assisting us with designing a "jam packed but short" safari. We had somewhat high maintenance needs- first, I was traveling to Nairobi for a work conference and my husband was flying over later to join the safari, so we needed to be picked up at two different locations. Second, we wanted to fit in two national parks (Masai Mara and Amboseli) over 4 days, we didn't want to fly between parks, and we needed to be back in Nairobi in time to catch the evening train to Mombasa. Bob was extremely accommodating and revised our itinerary several times as we went through different options and potential add ons. Ultimately, we settled on a price and plan. Payment was easy and Bob followed up with lodge vouchers very quickly and shared information on the visa application process. On the third day, we stopped off for lunch in Nairobi and were able to meet up with Bob for a delicious meal of grilled chicken, ugali, and roasted potatoes. Throughout the process, Bob was extremely communicative over whatsapp and updated us on what was going on, the progress on reservations, our guide's name and phone number for pick-up, and ultimately a follow-up on a reimbursement for an activity we didn't get to on our trip.
I also need to give a shout out to our guide, John Adamba. He was extremely knowledgable and friendly. It seemed like almost everyone knew him wherever we went-- in the parks, he spoke with the rangers to get updates on where the big 5 were last spotted and went out of his way to try and give us a fabulous experience. He maximized our time in the parks and got us to the train station on time. He also happened to know the manager at our Mombasa hotel (!).
Overall definitely recommend Kevic Tours and Travel.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Star-struck.
My husband and I recently had the pleasure to book a private (2 person) 6-day tour in Tanzania through Safari360. Our tour covered the following locations: Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area and a hike on Mount Kilimanjaro. Our experience with Safari360 in Tanzania has been incredible; we saw and covered everything on our list plus much more, and the Safari360 staff went above and beyond to accommodate any requests we had. Below is a more detailed breakdown of our experience:
Activities:
Game drives: The majority of our time, especially on safari days, was spent in a 4x4 vehicle on game drives. The vehicle provided by Safari360 was clean and spacious. The 6-seater had a cooler for water bottles, and charging ports in the front as well as the back. The roof of the vehicle lifted up, allowing us to safely view the animals and scenery from the car. Note that the roads can get pretty bumpy inside the national parks, so prepare accordingly.
Picnics: Each day, we took a mini picnic break between the morning and afternoon parts of the safari. The picnics were usually in scenic overlook areas, which allowed us to experience the landscape as well as use the restrooms. Make sure to stretch during these breaks, as the bumpy "African Massage" drives can get quite rough at times.The bathroom facilities were impeccably clean and well maintainined.
Hot Air Balloon: On the morning of Day 4, we had the opportunity to take a sunrise hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti. We were picked up at 4:30 am, drove for an hour to the balloon site and boarded the balloon with 14 other passengers, plus the conductor.
Kilimanjaro Hike: On the last day, we hiked from Marangu Gate at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro to Mandara Hut, one of the 3 camp sites on the way to the peak along the Marangu Route. The hike up took us 3 hours 15 minutes, and coming down took close to 4 hours (we took most of our photos on the way down and took small breaks). It was a scenic hike through the lush jungle, and we would certainly recommend it. Make sure to bring an umbrella and/or raincoat, as it rains quite often here. In addition, the path becomes very muddy and slippery so please wear good hiking shoes.
Food:
Breakfast: We usually grabbed breakfast at the hotel/camp prior to heading out for the day. Breakfast consisted of hotel/camp food, and had a variety of hot and cold options.
Lunch: Lunch was usually packed in boxes and served during the midday picnics. Food typically consisted of: toast, hard boiled egg, a sandwich, apple/banana, and something small that's sweet (usually chocolate).
Dinner: Similar to breakfast, dinners were usually also at the hotel/camp. Most nights we had a 2-3 course meals, with amazing options.
Accommodation:
Crater Rim View Hotel (Karatu): Neat and clean small lodge in Karatu. The staff was nice and friendly, and food was great. Nights spent: 1
Twiga Lodge and Campsite (Mto Wa Mbu): Large lodge/campsite near Arusha. Staff was friendly and food was amazing. Nights spent: 1
Tukaone Camp (Serengeti National Park): Camp inside Serengeti National Park (central region). Room had all modern amenities including running hot water and USB chargers. We truly enjoyed our stay here. Nights spent: 2
Lindrin Lodge (Moshi): Medium lodge with individual bungalows. Staff was friendly and food was acceptable. Nights spent: 1
Tour Guides:
Edi: We spent the first 5 days of our tour with Edi. Edi was an amazing guide, and we truly enjoyed our time with him. He accommodated our requests, and went above and beyond to ensure we get the best experience possible. Don't wait to book him as your guide if you have the option.
Sam: We spent the last day of our trip (Mt Kilimanjaro hike) with Sam. He was nice and friendly, and helped us going up and coming down. We just wish he was a bit more vocal, and gave us a bit more insight into the history/culture/nature of the area as we were hiking. Other than that, Sam was great.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Really positive experience, highly recommend
Very positive experience with Eric and Matae (my guide for Kilimanjaro) as a solo female hiker. Eric was so helpful and prompt with my email questions, and, was a wonderful host while I was there. Matae was a wonderful guide (and the whole crew were great). I experienced altitude sickness while there and couldn't complete the hike but felt very well supported medically, and, the guide supported me to help me acclimate and try and continue. I had no concerns about the company. Incredible scenery / night skies - I'll definitely be back to finish the hike!
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Diversity, beauty, vibrancy
We loved our time in Tanzania, from the gorgeous beaches in Zanzibar to the Serengeti. Amazing diversity and vibrancy
QA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tanzania is a country situated in the heart of Africa, with a rich cultural heritage and diverse nat
Tanzania is a must-visit destination for anyone looking for an authentic African experience. With a rich cultural heritage, diverse natural beauty, and a friendly and welcoming population, Tanzania offers something for everyone. From the famous Serengeti National Park, to Mount Kilimanjaro, to the stunning beaches along its shores, Tanzania is a destination that will leave you with unforgettable memories and a newfound appreciation for the beauty of Africa.
TT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Experience of a lifetime.
I took the ferry from Zanzibar to Tanzania early one morning. The ferry was world-class. As I disembarked in Dar es Salaam my safari guide was there to take my luggage and begin the 4hr drive inland. The tour service I used was Kihindo Tours and Safaris. This tour service made the entire time in Tanzania a 10/10 experience from start to finish. I did the 3 Day Sealous (Nyerere National Park) safari with them. I felt totally safe at all time and the accommodation and food at the lodge was beyond what I imagined. Our guide went above and beyond on the 2nd day to ensure we saw the maximum amount of animals. I could sense the passion in his job. This was indeed a once in a lifetime trip.
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Serengeti National Park by Yasmine Ajabbad
One of thr most amazing places on earth
TT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Nyerere National Park by Andros Belfonte
I was able to see 3 of the Big 5. Elephant, Buffalo and Leopard. Didn't see any lions on the day but they are around sometimes. No rhinos on this park. It was a magnificent 3 day experience with a lot of wildlife. The tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and went above and beyond to ensure we saw the most. The 4hr drive to the park from Dar es Salaam was very scenic also. Never a dull moment.