US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
South Africa is the destination of a lifetime.
Our family of 6 including grandparents and children went on an 8 day safari in Kruger National Park with Wild Planet Safari. Words cannot describe the beauty of South Africa. The sunrise was worthy of a painting. The variety of scenery from bush land to River deltas to mountain was spectacular. Everyday we were surprised with some new experience. We saw lions and leopards hunting, herds of elephants, hippos grazing on the riverbank, beautiful birds, and every animal you expect to see in Africa. Our accommodations in the park were modest but comfortable. We also visited Johannesburg and the many interesting historical and cultural sites in an around the city. Everywhere we went, the people were gracious and helpful. At the end of our South Africa tour, we were all sad to leave.
IT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Fantastic Tanzania, the right mix between humanity and nature
Tanzania is the perfect country for those who love nature, parks, animals and also people, who are very kind. The natural parks are among the most beautiful I've seen, the sightings of animals guaranteed. And then, if you like, there is a wonderful sea. Food is great too!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent service and kind people!
Loved it! Guides were great and experience was awesome! Woukd recommend it to anyone.
CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The entire journey exceeded expectations and it was wild and exhilarating.
The journey exceeded expectations, offering unique and thrilling experiences, unlike many places I've been to. It was wild and exhilarating, and having been to Kenya, other destinations didn't seem as captivating anymore.
We were extremely pleased with the Safari company we chose. They assisted us throughout planning the itinerary and selecting hotels/lodges based on our preferences and schedule. We highly recommend OL TUKAI LODGE. The arrangements for airport pickups and drop-offs were spot on.
Our guide, Dennis, must be the most handsome in all of Kenya. Tall with a great physique, he gave us a strong sense of security! The vehicle was kept clean and tidy every day. Ultimately, we each tipped about $120 for the seven days. Having a competent guide during a safari is crucial. Dennis has a keen eye and was always the first to spot signs of animals in the plains, leading us to lions, leopards, and other creatures. Whenever he received notifications from others, he would rush to the location immediately!"
Here is some advice for safari：
The sand is so thick it feels like suffocating in the dirt.
I wake up every day between 4 and 5 AM.
I set off at 6:30. Before 6:30, it's so cold that I have to wear a thick fleece hoodie.
The car ride is extremely bumpy. Sitting in the last row, I could even bounce off my seat and land back down, haha!
It's very sunny at noon. Wearing just a tank top isn't too hot, but don't forget sun protection.
The sun sets around 6:30 PM, and by 8 PM, the temperature drops.
Amboseli isn't cold. You can even shower, put on makeup, and apply face masks inside. However, in the Masai Mara, it's so cold in the evenings and mornings that I didn't feel like showering or putting on makeup. You can hear various animal noises at night.
The stars are stunning, and you can even see the Milky Way with the naked eye. If you're interested, bring a tripod.
It's worth bringing a telescope to see animal expressions and actions up close.
Sunglasses and contact lens solutions are essential, especially when there's a lot of wind and sand which can dry your eyes.
I wore long pants, but some of my companions wore shorts/skirts. Two of the four of us developed rashes, possibly allergies, or perhaps from mosquito bites.
I wasn't bitten much by mosquitoes (probably because they were all after my travel mates, haha!).
Bring vitamins or immunity boosters since the daily early starts and late returns can be exhausting, potentially lowering your immunity.
From 6-10 AM and 5-6:30 PM, you'll see more animals and they are more active. During other times, they mostly sleep. It can be frustrating at noon when it's scorching hot and animals are hard to spot.
The gift shop at the Amboseli Lodge has the most variety, including T-shirts. I regret not buying more to take home.
You can usually see all the animals. When one vehicle spots animals, the guides quickly communicate via radio, and everyone rushes over.
A long-focus lens is essential. A 70-200 lens might not be enough for enthusiasts, but it's okay for amateur photographers like us.
I exchanged $300 in cash before the trip, and after tips, there wasn't much left.
Even though they say it's not a tipping culture, tips are always accepted. For services like helping with luggage or walking safaris, tipping is customary.
It's a good idea to bring earplugs and a neck pillow. The ride is so bumpy that your ears will feel it's too noisy.
My total expenses were around 3.5-4k (not sure of the exact amount), including cash and card payments. I found the safari group on XHS.
Masai is safe, and so is Nairobi. There was a disturbance during our trip, so the last half-day of our safari was canceled. We left for Nairobi at 4 PM to rest. Once back in Nairobi, everything was fine. Without the disturbance, it's a safe place with a mature tourism industry.
It's a good idea to bring snacks. You won't feel hungry often, but sometimes you'll need a bit of energy during long drives.
Good eyesight is a real advantage! One of my travel mates with 20/20 vision often spotted small animals. For those of us with myopia, spotting animals felt like an exciting game, collecting sightings.
After buying a SIM card, don't restart your phone. Keep the PIN card safe, because if you restart your device, you'll need to re-enter the PIN. Without the PIN, the SIM card becomes unusable.
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Above and beyond service!
I hired the company’s 14 seater for 3 weeks.. I can say that Banada and team were so amazing right from our booking throughout the time we spent with them. They are so courteous, paid attention to detail, and so flexible to accommodate the several needs and changes we had during the tour. They had small cars to accommodate short 1 person rides and the bigger cars that were comfortable for my entire family.
BR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome Honeymoon in Serengeti
My wife and i spent our Honeymoon in Serengeti in a 5 day and 4 night experience.
We have been to Serengeti and Ngorongoro with Lion King.
And they made everything perfect. Since our first contact with James and Karoline. Great email with the details, even phone calls to explain itineraries.
We were searching for the great migration and Karoline suggested just the right places to stay.
All the trip details were taking care of, since the airport papersheet in Seronera, through hotels and lodge, including all parkfees, waters in the cars, beer, food, wine…
We had no worries (Hakuna Matata).
Our guide Fred was awesome, he was kind, polite, always on time. He knew everything about animals, Always getting the best spots for pictures, a lot of culture and patience to explain everything.
He was the one who found three differents spots to see the great migration. Even the crossing at sunrise.
Just the type of a guy who was born to do what he does.
If you are looking for a safari company, you wont regreat Lion king. They are awesome!!
We felt safe, welcome and pleased.
We searched for many companies before going to Tanzania and im sure we made the right choise.
Also, they all speak such good english.
Thank you Lion king for everything. You made our honeymoon a lifetime experience. :)
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Great service!!
We traveled with my whole family, 8 people. Arranging this was not easy buy we collaborated well with Paul. They are very receptive, responsive and reliable. We visited Masai Mara ( being beginning of the great migration, we got to witness this wonder), Lake Nakuru and Amboseli parks. The experience was exhilarating. The time spent in the wilderness was worth it. We loved the service , accommodation and the feeds were okay. We recommend Paul's untamed Escapades! They will deliver.
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Tekko created a hassle-free, unforgettable experience
We greatly enjoyed our 8-day safari experience with Tekko Tours. Risper did a wonderful job of organizing everything. She created a hassle-free, highly educational, and luxurious experience for my husband and myself. No effort was spared in customizing our experience to fit our interests and schedule.
Stephen, our guide, was very knowledgeable and experienced. He is a wealth of information and a great travel companion.
I highly recommend Tekko!
KZ
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
attentiveness, care for tourists, sensitive adjustment of the tour to current requests
The tour was well planned. We had 6 nights for 4 parks (Masai-mara, Nakuru, Neivasha and Amboseli). Initially we planned opposit order but due to relatively late start of organization of the trip the best value for money lodges were booked. The operator managed to book almost all requested lodges by rearranging the trip.
(Note: For high seasons it worth planning the trip not later than half a year in advance).
Deep knowledge about lodges of the guide and the team allows us to have best accomodation possible (Sopa lodges are really good in Neivasha and in Nakuru, good in Masai Mara and really friendly but a bit too simple at Amboseli).
Every day we were able to finetune our agenda according current needs. All our requests were being fulfilled almost immediately.
We were lucky to caught the best photos in all 4 parks. Our guide-driver did his best to catch the perfect scenery at perfect time and to make our tour comfortable and interesting.
We are really grateful to our guide-driver Mr. Jackton. Thank you very much!
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
A great organized and unique safari experience in western Tanzania
We had wanted a safari that started in the south of Tanzania and included the unknown west. We had an incredibly great time. The reason was that the planning, the guide, the organization, the accommodations and the experiences were just super. The guide had a great knowledge, so on the one hand we learned a lot and on the other hand we got to see a lot. Also, everything went smoothly. From the first contact to the end, the team of Tecomate gave us great advice, support and always helped us.
It was really a unique trip. In the national parks of Tanzania we got above all an insight into the fascinating animal world. And the time in the flower paradise Kitulo, but also at Lake Tanganyika is something very special. The encounters with the chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National Park was the absolute highlight of this fascinating trip.
I am more than satisfied, happy and grateful that Tecomate made such a trip possible for us.
