AE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Trip of a lifetime!
We are a family of 4, with 2 teenagers and selected VIMAT at short notice for the 5-day luxury safari. Well, it turned out to be the trip of a lifetime with childhood dreams of the Serengeti being experienced in reality, truly amazing.
Vincent, the owner of VIMAT, responded quickly on both email and WhatsApp and was very helpful in setting up the trip, especially with accommodating last minute changes as we lined up our flights and the connections. We were met on arrival at Kilimanjaro airport and completely looked after until our departure. All the accommodations and arrangements were flawless including the arrangements for pre-departure COVID testing in the middle of the Serengeti. The results were ready within 48hr.
A huge shout out to Peter our guide: He was fantastic! He has in-depth knowledge of the area, an incredible ability to spot game and is like a textbook for bird identification. This trip was more than just seeing wildlife, it was about experiencing the endless Serengeti plains and refreshing our minds. Unlike some tour operators that are limited by a set mileage Peter had free range and this meant that we travelled extensively to areas that were more remote and were witness to some incredible game viewings as a result.
We highly recommend Vincent Matari’s company VIMAT and would definitely use their services again in the future.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Look no further! You could not find a better safari operator, guide, and trusted friend.
Based upon a recommendation from two sets of dear friends who have both traveled with Joshua Monah, we hired Joash Africa Wilderness Insight Limited ("JAfrica") for our Serengeti safari and could not be more pleased with our choice or experience for a number of reasons, including Joshua's:
- KNOWLEDGE: His intelligence about the park and animals is extraordinary, and he has a "sixth sense" on where and when to find them, even the most elusive! He knew the answer to every question we asked him about the animals and we -- both the teens and the adults in our group -- learned far more than we ever could have imagined. This was my 4th African safari and by far my most favorite!
- GEAR: JAfrica's safari vehicle is very comfortable and it outfitted with everything one could need, including a charging station, guide books, a cooler of cold drinks, and so much more. Joshua's camera was far better than our own and he helped us to capture images on a memory card he gave to us that we will treasure forever.
- AUTHENTICITY: At our request, he helped us to plan a safari that was a true Tanzanian experience; other operators who proposed itineraries seemed to pitch only the properties with surface-level gloss; Joshua had recommendations that were lesser known gems; just what we were looking for but could not have found without him!
- HOSPITALITY: Joshua went above and beyond to ensure that we were taken care of at every step of our time in Tanzania -- from the moment we landed at the Kilimanjaro airport until the moment we left to return home. And we knew that, in Joshua's very capable hands, we were not only safe but that every detail of our journey and adventures had been thoughtfully and thoroughly attended to, both in advance and in the moment.
- FLEXIBILITY: When our arrival in Tanzania was nearly 3 days delayed affecting our planned itinerary, Joshua jumped in to the rescue. While we were (finally!) en route to JRO, he made dozens of calls to properties and airlines on our behalf to help us modify our plans and make up for the time we had lost. We could never have accomplished this without JAfrica; it required a trusted partner on the ground with established and mutually respectful business relationships, who was fluent in Swahili, and who was looking out for our best interests.
- TEAM: Joshua is amazing, and his team is also. This includes his business partner and brother, Moses, who took very good care of us pre-safari. His team member, Richard, served as our excellent driver and guide in Karatu post-safari. Everyone on the JAfrica team is top notch, reliable, and trustworthy.
- FRIENDSHIP: It was impossible not to become fast friends with Joshua immediately and, over the course of our time together, he became a dear friend.
If any or all of the above are important to you when hiring a guide in Tanzania, I highly recommend hiring Joshua and/or his company. You will be in the best of hands and will not regret it.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Karibu Safaris got m everything I asked to see in such a short 3-day safari. Worth it.
Ambrose was the best safari guide I could have asked for. We saw 4/5 of the big 5 because of all the hard work he put in to guide us to the best spots. Also, the wildebeast migration was exceptional. I would recommend this company to anyone who is looking to go on a short safari since it worked out so well for me even though I only booked it a couple days ahead of time after already arriving in Nairobi.
AE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Well organised and highly accommodating
Our experience with Kiliholidays was great. Firstly, they were very responsive and accommodating to our request, since our itinerary didn't fit with their standard offerings. Despite that, Mack (tour organiser) helped tailor a program especially for us to fit our tight 4 day schedule. Our tour included Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Serengeti National Parks.
Second, our tour guide Edward was an expert guide, skilled driver, and very hospitable host at the campsites we stayed at. He never failed to give us little facts about each animal or environment we encountered. Peter was also a great chef making great hot meals and cold packed lunches.
Third, the sights themselves were breath-taking, both of the animals and the different landscapes we saw! Would highly recommend Kiliholidays for anyone considering.
CH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful Safari with great People
It was my first time in Kenya and my first time in the Safari. Karibu Safari made my Trip amazing. The people were really friendly and helpful. The 4 days Safari were well organised. The food and the accommodations were really good. I had a wonderful time. Our Driver Raymond gave us the best service and the best tour. He was extremely friendly and did everything to give us to have a wonderful holiday. Thanks to our Tomate friend Raymond.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional, friendly, knowledgeable and great driver!
The entire experience from booking to actually seeing what we had hoped to see was awesome. Booking was easy, paying was easy. Our guide, H, picked us up and dripped us off at our doorstep. We actually saw everything we hoped to see! Elephants, lions, leopards, hippos mating! You name it, we saw it! H was an outstanding guide and even took us to a few places off the schedule. The accommodations, even the standard, was better than I expected and keep in mind Im a city girl. The staff at Pumba was super accommodating and pleasant. Be prepared for the nature walk. Get some good sturdy hiking shoes. Sneakers may not serve you well on the slopes you will have to climb. Its a loooong drive from east/central Uganda but worth it as it gives you a chance to actually see the country. And no worries H is an excellent driver navigating through the city jams we encountered. I could go one but we had a lovely time. We convened with nature and relaxed for a couple of days! Don’t be frightened by the monkeys outside your cottage door. They are harmless. Oh I almost forgot, my husband is Ugandan and I am American so we straddled the equator to show how our love brought the two hemispheres together
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Expert guides, great accommodations, and an experience of a lifetime!
My wife and I decided to take a safari for our honeymoon and chose Mazingira as our guide/safari service. From the moment we landed in Tanzania and were picked up by Solomon from Mazingira, we were well taken care of and had a great time. We did the 7-day safari going to Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater.
From day one Solomon had us right in the mix of things and even got us within 10 ft of a cheetah chase and kill of a red stag which he said that in all his years of experience was the closest he's ever been to something like this, so it goes without saying that we got a once in a lifetime view of this intense part of nature. We saw all of the "big 5" animals by time we were done and even came up on a bonus Caracal cat which apparently is extremely rare! We saw so many animals that it is hard to even remember them all!
We took lots of pictures ourselves but Solomon seems to be a professional photography as well because he shared his pictures with us and they are absolutely breathtaking! He is also incredibly knowledgeable about every part of the parks that we visited from knowing facts about the animals, plants, birds, bugs, fish, and even the geological history of the areas. So suffice to say that we learned a lot too!
The daily picnic lunches provided on the trip were also spectacular and it was almost surreal to be sitting in the middle of these vast parts of nature and eating all of this delicious local food. When we tried some banana wine at a village tour and told Solomon that we really enjoyed it, he went out that night after dropping us off at the hotel and picked up a couple bottles for us to enjoy on the rest of our trip which shows how dedicated he is to us having an excellent and unforgettable trip!
All the hotels we stayed at were beautiful and very accommodating to us. Solomon made sure that we were aligned for the next day before he dropped us off and also talked to the hotel to make sure they would open up breakfast early just for us so that we could get out in the parks on time.
We added a hot air balloon ride in the Serengeti that unfortunately the weather prevented us from actually taking off but instead of having me and my wife follow up with the balloon company, Mazingira gave us a refund directly and worked with the balloon company themselves so that we could travel back home and be worry-free.
Again, we had a once in a lifetime experience and if given the chance would absolutely book again with Mazingira! We always felt safe, taken care of, and valued customers. Thank you to Solomon, Jake, and team at Mazingira for giving us the a trip we'll never forget!!!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Swale is one friendly and dedicated gentleman with an equally formidable crew.
I had the honour of enjoying their service when I visited the Kenyan Indian Ocean coast recently. I stayed at the Voyager Beach Resort; visited the north coast Malindi, south coast- Wasini island, the Ziwani Voyager Resort in Tsavo West and Ngutuni Resort in the Tsavo East. accompanied by Swale and one of his team- Willy Nyanjui. It was an experience of a lifetime.
The Savanna Hippo Safaris is an open, up-front and reliable outfit.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
The Wayfairer Team put together an amazing travel package and provided excellent support.
I worked with the Wayfairer Team to put together a lifelong dream trip to Africa. They put together an amazing package for us and provided excellent support leading up to our trip. All of the hotels and camps they chose were excellent. All meals and transfers included in the package were also excellent. Our travel last 14 days and we did not have one single bad experience.
My wife and I had not been on a trip like this before so we had a lot of questions. Leone, Carmen, and Siripun always answered our questions quickly and thoroughly.
Another thing we appreciated was their ability to be flexible and help us work through COVID-19 issues. We had originally booked our trip for the summer of 2020 but it had to be postponed. The Wayfairer Team was very helpful in getting all reservations changed and helped us understand what needed to be done for us to meet all COVID-19 requirements before we departed for the trip and returned home.
The Wayfairer Team was amazing. We will definitely use them again for an international trip.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Professional, reliable, offered very helpful tips
Friendly, reliable and very keen on clients well being.