JP
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Going over and beyond awesome!
What an awesome experience we had with Cultural Vibes before and during our tour. We went with high expectations and our tour guide Garry ensured that they were met. He is a remarkable guide and person, who really cares about delivering a unique service that requires being timely and communicating well, yet at the same time he also accommodated our additional requests into the schedule seamlessly. We learnt so much during the couple of days we had on tour, as Garry has a wealth of knowledge and shares it willingly with a smile! Every single day was great and the tour was excellent. We would do it again in a heartbeat!
US
It felt like an ad hoc freelance organization, thrown together from far away, without care.
The up front communication was relatively professional, but as soon as the trip started so did the problems. We sat in our hotel lobby in Moshi at 7am waiting for the pick up. We were the only guests in the lobby, but the driver was sitting in his van outside, instead of looking for us. The van had no markings to indicate it was from Soul of Tanzania. After about a half hour, he finally came inside and found us, and we were transferred to a safari truck in Arusha, again with no company markings. It seemed to be freelance, arranged ad hoc, and the results felt the same. Our contact at SoT, Jose, when he finally replied later that morning about our pickup issues, wasn't even apologetic. "I was informed by my operations team about the misunderstanding and I am glad that everything was sorted out."
In the truck, when we started seeing animals and asked for the binoculars that were included in our tour, we were told they were broken. Luckily we had brought one not very good pair from home, and had those to share between us. The driver found a pair at the camp that night.
Our driver drove slow on the public roads, when other trucks were all passing us (not a great feeling after a late start thanks to the pickup "misunderstanding"). On the other hand, he flew on the park roads, shaking the truck apart, with thick layers of dust coming in his open windows. We had to ask him to stop when we saw animals. On the first day we noticed that each time we asked him to stop, he would take out his phone and be playing on it until we said "ok, we can go". After asking him to be more involved, thankfully he stopped doing that and told us a bit about the animals.
At the end of a particularly long day, with a morning game drive in Manyare and then drive to the Serengeti, he couldn't find our camp. The sun set, we were exhausted, and we were still in the truck. I was trying to use google maps to help find a tented camp. Eventually we found a park staff camp, and got directions from them to find our camp. We checked in after dark, ate, and slept asap, to get up at 4am for the hot air balloon. Imagine our dismay when, the next night going to a different camp, we were lost again. We stopped at 2 very nice camps, and the 2nd camp let us use their toilet and sent one of their staff with us to show him the way. It seemed like a tiny amount of preparation could have avoided both issues, and especially after it happened the 1st time.
We saw the big 5, and a lot of of animals and beautiful sights, but we couldn't help but feel that we were an afterthought, just thrown into any car with any driver, and when the inevitable issues arose, we didn't find they had any interest in admitting mistakes or making them right. I thoroughly recommend doing a safari in Tanzania, just not with Soul of Tanzania.
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
You arrive as a guest and leave as a friend
It was a amazing wonderful safari trip with Godlisten.
We spent 11 days together. And he took us to the best places to spot the animals not only the big 5 but also numerous other animals.
Not only his knowledge on the behavior and the hide out of the animals is second to none. But he really cares about the nature and the animals.
He is helping out others when in need and is even pointing directions to drivers who are lost.
And he knows the best places to stay. We stayed at amazing lodges, and tent camp on the Serengeti. Harmony safari camps https://www.harmonysafaricamps.com a camp powered by solar and with maximum effort to be in harmony with the nature. Were lions are up and around the tent.
Godlisen picks us up at night to spot the group lions walking on the tent site. Sleeping afterwards is difficult
AE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable experience
We were looking for the best quality-value option and contacted many safari operators. The way Mufasa Safari responded (they provided detailed guidance, suggested different options to suit our needs and were always patient) and especially the professional approach of Polly convinced us to go ahead with Mufasa. We were lucky to have very experienced guide David (all other drivers we encountered seem to rely on his advice) who arranged everything perfectly during our trip, he also shares interesting facts about animals and helped us with any extras we wanted. And the main thing - he really knows where to find all animals in the parks! The lodges we chose with help of Polly were amazing. They even prepared various surprises for our anniversary, when we just mentioned this upon booking (thanks to Polly for picking this up!). We would definitely recommend booking your safari with Mufasa!
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Birthday in the savannah
I celebrated the best birthday of my life in the savannah, with the people I love and with new eyes when I returned.
This trip stays with you, above all because the guys from adventure safari take care of it down to the smallest detail.
In particular our fantastic guide Elias
Wall ! Personable, knowledgeable and caring!
We visited the 5 parks proposed by the agency in search of local fauna. We had lunch next to a lion, saw spectacular sunsets, listened to local music, danced and laughed...
Mal d'Afrique is a feeling that feels like a punch in the stomach as soon as you return home.
And after 7 days spent with Elias, leaving was very moving! We love you and look forward to seeing you in Naples
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable experience with an unforgettable tour guide!
Me and my family had the pleasure of visiting South Africa recently. There are no words to express how amazing our experience was especially thanks to Tourgy Tourz. We learned and shared knowledge, we laughed, and we prayed! Our tour guide Emma was so down to earth and passionate about her business. By the end of our visit she felt like family and we didn't want to leave her lol. This tour guide company was such a professional and unparraleled business. They were very punctual, courteous, and resourceful! We were able to go on a Lion walk, a safari tour, visit Soweto and Mandela House, we went to various museums, we toured constitution hill, we went on a real estate tour, we went to a spa, we also got a cultural experience tour all in one week. Our week in South Africa was so eventful and planned wonderfully thanks to Tourgy Tourz! I highly recommend choosing Tourgy Tourz to bring your dream South Africa visit to life they will not disappoint!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic experience and wonderful guide!
My husband and I had a wonderful experience with Mountain Warriors Tours and Safaris. We had the time of our lives and our guide Gasto was just best- he made our trip even more special than we could have hoped for!! Highly recommend!
CH
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very personal local company
It is indeed hard to choose among the many Safari companies. Gladly we finally picked Shengena Adventure. The service was very personal. Boris stayed in contact with us all the time, already before we went and managed to iron out some issues amazingly efficiently. We went to Arusha National Park, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro, all of them breathtaking. If time is an issue, Lake Manyara is probably the one that is the least spectacular. We particularly liked the accomodations, that were carefully selected and each of them very personal and special (Heart and Soul Lodge, Thorn Tree Camp, Lobo Wildlife Lodge, FUN Beach Hotel, Econo Sana Lodge). In particular Lobo was amazing, being able to watch wildlife while being in the pool and enjoy breakfast while a troupe of Baboons do the same in the tree right in front of you. Our driver Godwin was a perfect guide - very friendly, always open for question, but gentle and non-intrusive as well. We could not have hoped for a better driver and guide.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
outstanding and simply the best trip ever! a must do!
I booked the trip four years ago and it was delayed with covid/travel etc but we finally went the end of July/August 2023. I could not wait to write a review. I booked the trip as a private riding group with 7 people in total. 6 riders and one "jeep rider". we flew in to Mara north and greeted by Daisy (or Day-Z) where we set off on a jeep ride to camp and stopped to see soooo much game on route. a pride of lions was spotted via Netti (local guide) enjoying a "spot of lunch". this set the tone for the trip ahead. after observing the pride finishing lunch (followed by Hyena "cleaning up the leftovers") we found a shade spot to enjoy a cold beer (Tuska) before setting off in to camp. we arrived at "River Camp" with such excitement and enjoyed lunch next to the river that was full of pods of Hypo's splashing around. after getting use to camp, we met the horses and went on our first evening ride again seeing Lions, Hyena, elephants, hogs, giraffe etc (to much game to mention). we got back to "shower" (a bucket of river water that made it "real" (in an awesome way) and then went for supper. supper was outstanding (the food was just outstanding for the entire trip) and having supper on the long table, next to the camp fire while watching a lightening storm in the distance and hearing lions roaring behind while seeing hippos in the river..... you really did "arrive in camp". a few vino's and then off to bed (the beds/tents are very good/clean/comfy etc). the next day was breakfast (oats, toast, pastries, full cooked english, tea/coffee, juice etc) and then off on the horses again. a trip around the south of the camp for 2-3 hours seeing more game and then back to camp. after a quick coffee we then went out on the jeeps to spot the "big 5" and within an hour, we come across leopard in the tree (with a lunch from his morning "work"). we again stopped off in a shade area for a glass of Rose before returning to camp for lunch (again a fab lunch) and a little chill time before going on the evening ride. (again, a ton of game to spot). next day, early start as "moving day" but the fear of 40km was laid to rest with long horse walks, plenty of breaks and nice easy canters. we had lunch in the field (a cold meat buffet with salad (and a cold beer) and then off to the next camp landing around 6pm. Escarpment camp was just the best views looking back over the Mara (could be my fav camp) while enjoying a sundowner and sharing stories about our adventure around the fire. the next morning was an early start, 4;30am as heading off for a hot air balloon trip (again simply breath-taking views and a must do). up on landing, the site for breakfast had been set and enjoyed a glass of fizz and a full brekky. after brekky, the car took us to meet the horses and we said goodbye to camp 2 as we moved all day (stopping for lunch) to the next camp (i refer to this as "jungle camp" as it was within trees with a stream passing through. the camp was awesome, with a darker vibe (cloud and no moon) so you needed to keep your "wit" as the tree cover got your senses "going" with the "risk element". after an awesome meal, a few glasses of wine it was off to bed where the sounds of elephants dining out some 20-50m away from your tent really did make you appreciate the "environment". after two nights in "jungle camp" we moved to our final camp and it was a repeat of the awesomeness. fantastic food, great game viewing, river crossings with crocs/hippos, to more awesome nights and story telling.
the entire Offbeat riding safari team was and are a delight. Jacob, Daisy, Laura and the team behind the scenes (grooms, camp staff, chef, night watch, drivers, spotters etc) made you feel very welcome. having been back a week, the memories are very much fresh but will last a life time. if you enjoy riding, this is a must do trip!
Stuart
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing, really invest, always find a solution
Really good, always available. I recommand i f you want to have a good safari tour. We spent a week in kenya and we were lucky to see enough to see all of the big 5 and the ugly 5. The hotel were perfect