Loved this Park
this has been a wonderful travel for me. I really enjoyed it. The scenary was spectacular, the weather awesome. I really loved it.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
5 months in the harsh but beautiful Makgadikgadi Pans National Park
I have been volunteering in Makgadikgadi Pans National Park for the last 5 months with the charity Elephants for Africa (http://www.elephantsforafrica.org/) so this review might be a little different from others. I arrived in Makgadikgadi at the end of May. Having visited other national parks one of the first things I noticed was the harshness of the environment. Around the Boteti river which has only started flowing in 2009 after 20 years of being dry there is some green vegetation but the further you go into the bush the drier to gets to the extent you start to wonder how anything can survive but out in the grasslands you can see gemsbok, steenbok, ostrich and the elephants and zebras making their long trek to the river. The river is where everything happens with large herds (sometimes up to 30 individuals) of male elephants playing in the river and cooling off. Since I have been here we have started seeing female herds moving into the area but they are very nervous around vehicles and tend to move off very quickly.
Lions can be herd at night and there is a local pride in the area but you have to work hard to see them. Early starts down at the river trying to pick up their trails are your best chance but like any safari it can come down to luck like when we bumped into two cheetah in the middle of the day. Wild dogs have also been seen in the area as well.
I'm not a birder but there is plenty of action down at the river in this department with fish eagles, lappetfaced vultures, tawny eagles and a mix of other birds to be seen.
The road network in Makgadikgadi isn't very extensive and if only here for a short period focusing time around the river would be the best use of effort. If you start heading North after the river or too far South of the Khumaga gate you just end up following the national parks fenceline. If you are staying for longer it might be worthwhile travelling east towards the pans and the open grasslands to get a feel for the harshness of the area. However, if you do this you need to be very self sufficient as there is not a lot of traffic in the park so if you get stuck you need to be able to get yourself out.
I stay in the parks area where the SKL office is but have visited the SKL campsite where they have a very nice ablution block where you can get hot water for showers and wash up after a busy day in the field. The SKL guys are also really useful. If you ever get into difficulty they have a vehicle and are willing to go and help you if you get stuck anywhere.
4wd is a must in the park as it can get quite difficult to drive in the sand.
In terms of weather it was warm back in May during the day and cold in the evening but now in October the temperature has really increased and has got up to 40 degrees celsius during the day and still warm during the nights.
In this park you really have to put the time in and if you are expecting to see lions and cheetah left, right and centre this is maybe not the right park for you. However, when you do get these sightings it makes it much more rewarding. That said I might be biased on this but there is nothing better than seeing a herd of elephants playing in the river in the afternoon and makes for some very scenic views.
Also something I forgot to mention but at the moment at the Khumaga gate because of the Boteti river flowing and vehicles being unable to cross there is now a small car ferry that charges Pula 130 each way which often tourists don't know about.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Matusadona National Park by BiJian Fan
Our camp is on an island of lake Kariba, great place for birding and fishing. A good break of travel pace. To see the animals from water gave us a different perspective.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Convenience, reliable and Enjoyable.
The journey to serengeti, Ngoro Ngoro via Arusha was amazing.
We were picked up by Mr. Imran himself once we reached Arusha and than straight to the Hotel.
We had our dinner the first night and woke up early in the morning to start our Safari to serengeti and NgoroNgoro.
Everything went as planned. We saw the animals. went for game drives with good reliable cars.
Had a good driver and a very good cook with us. The food was amazing.
All in all a very good experience.
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A lot of variation in 1 park
Tsavo west is a very variously. I liked the different vegation in het park, althougt in some parts its very hard to spot animals because off the dense vegatation.In this park lives a lot of animals, but you do not see tem all. In other, less vegatated, parcs it's easier to spot animals. But sometimes the animals are crossing the roads, we almost hid a giraffe, because we didn't see it coming because of the vegatation. Luckaly our driver didn't drive to fast.if you only visiting 1 parc and you want to see a lot of animals, you better choose a different parc. But if you're visiting more parc, Tsavo west is a lovely suprising change to other parcs. To bad there is very long fence next to 1 of the roads. This fence is neccesary because of the elephants, but it's a pity that it's directly besides the road.
In Tsavo West you can also spot some history, like bridges who are builed in the 2nd world war. Whe had a very good guide from Pollmans, he had a lot of stories about the places the Germans fought with the British people. Do'nt know if it was all truth, but you have to believe your guide...
When your in Tsavo West you really have to go to the places with the black lava. It's like your on the moon or something, everywere you can see it's all black...
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Pollman's Tours and Safaris by Ellen
Very good driver, who told a lot of the animals, the vegatation and other interesting things. The lodges where all very good.
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Uganda is amazing!
Visiting Kibale was part of our trip in Uganda.
We really loved Kibale. We were surrounded by chimps! They were everywhere, playing, fighting, screaming, grooming and mating.
One female stayed in her nest in the tree.
She had a young baby and we think she just didn't want to come out to join the rest of the group.
They were noisy!
It was very impressive, a completely different exerience than the gorilla's.
Our guide was really good. He had lived in the forest for years during the Amin-regime and told us really everything about plants, trees etc.
We stayed in the primate lodge which is only 5 minutes away from the startingpoint for the chimp-tracking. So very convenient.
We liked the lodge. Stayed in one of the cottages.
MX
under20 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience!
I have been four days on safari with Northern Circuit Adventure, my driver guide was Marco he was a great guy, very wise and fun to be around. Very tasty (although sometimes time consuming) meals were cooked by David. Everything went according to plan, the people with whom I joined were very nice, summing up I had a great time, lost of animals up close and rough situations which, to my point of view are great experience and very fun.
Asante Sana Mike.
CH
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Safari to Ngorongoro
My friend and i went on a Safari to the Ngorongoro crater, we saw beautiful scenery and many animals. It was an unforgettable trip, we felt like being in the garden of Eden. Transport was good, although road was very bumpy. Food provided was OK, not much. The driver/guide not very communicative, we had to ask him about animals, otherwise he would not say much. The rest OK.
BE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good communications, always good organization, always smile!!
You are a real caring man. We loved how you interacted with us. We needed money, you arranged it, we needed explanations or help with stuff in Arusha, you helped us even when you weren't supposed to.
We loved and enjoyed our three days safari to Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara National Park thanks! We real had a nice journey. Also the Kilimanjaro climb the Marangu route six day was great! A life-changing – experience! You made our dream vacation come true.
Thanks Mike!
Jan & David