US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible Animal Photography Safari!
We had an incredible experience with Benson Safaris! After deciding on a 8 day Tanzania trip as our ideal location and length, we sent a couple of requests for quotes out to companies- and Benson was the fastest at responding. Pendo was amazing at answering all questions and changing our accommodations to suit our budget for the trip. As it was our group’s first time to Africa, we ended up going with mid-level lodging which were definitely comfortable. (It was also very nice to be able to take a nice hot shower to get off all the dust from the day.) We loved the Serengeti Tortillis camp- it’s in the center of the park and you can hear animals in the middle of the night.
Our guide Amini was extremely knowledgeable about all the animals and amazing at spotting animals- hidden or even very far away. Sometimes we would stop suddenly and he would point at a tiny speck on the horizon which was a lion or cheetah! We were very impressed.
As two of us were very into photography, Amini did his best to position us for good lighting and shots which we really appreciated. As you can see from the photos- we got some good ones. We also really appreciated that he spent time to take less traveled paths- most of the drivers use radios in the park to communicate animal spotting and I’d imagine it’s easy to just go where there have been known animal sightings. Instead Amini planned our days out remotely where we would be able to take out photos without cars and get very close encounters. We were very fortunate to see a lot of lions, cheetahs, and even many elusive leopards!! Our expectations were definitely exceeded.
Overall, we had an amazing experience and would definitely recommend booking with Benson!
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Spectacular with a Side of Vexation
The main day of our safari, we were very blessed and got to see almost every major species of animal possible in Maasai Mara. That being said, the drive was quite frustrating at times. The guide was friendly and knowledgeable but also restless. Every time he decided to stop so that we could take pictures, he would suddenly shift gears and floor it or move us back and forth unnecessarily and without warning. Some people got hurt, and a few of us have really blurry pictures of the sky and apparatus of the open roof as it hit us in the face or chest from the whiplash. James was a great driver other than the twitchiness, however. He never got us stuck in the mud like we witnessed other drivers do and really did do his best to help us see the animals as clearly and closely as possible while keeping us safe. Other main annoyances like the terrible roads weren't his fault. The only other suggestion I'd have is for him to keep certain comments himself; the picnic would have been a lot more comfortable without them.
The places we stayed in were nice as were the meals. Hm, perhaps the vehicles could be better suited for safaris rather than just regular vans, though. The one were we in was cramped as far as legroom and storage space and barely up to the challenge of the Maasai Mara roads.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
We had a personalized experience of a lifetime in beautiful southern Africa.
My son (18) and I just completed making a lifetime of memories thanks to Safpol. With a few tweaks, we were treated to a reasonably priced private tour of southern Africa. We had 3 distinct guides for the 3 regions we visited. They were awesome! They drove us everywhere, knew our schedules and preferences, knew the optimal times to arrive, kept us on schedule, and talked extensively about the local history and culture. We were always treated like VIPs. They were our advocates at every location even looking out for my son’s dairy allergy.
We were blessed to be able to have dinner with Barbara and Pieter (the owners). We ate at a "carnivore" restaurant feasting on crocodile, Kudu, pork, chicken and more. The food was good and the conversation even better.
While South Africa is cheap compared to the US dollar, Zimbabwe is expensive. Be careful up upselling once you arrive in Zimbabwe. It will seem all the more expensive compared to South Africa which (at this time) is cheap compared to the U.S.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great value, but understand what you are getting
We did a 20 day trip to Tanzania that included a Kilimanjaro Summit via the Lemosho Route (8 days), Safari to Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara and Tarangire (5 days) and finished with 5 days on Zanzibar. Add a layover day in Arusha and a travel day to get to 20 days. Overall, I would rate our RightChoice adventure as a 4.5 (4 star experience at a 3 star price). In summary, the Kili trip was 5++ stars (absolutely amazing). Safari was 3.5 stars and Zanzibar was 4 stars. The people were great and the food was excellent (I'm pescatarian/vegetarian and they did a great job of accomodating). However, to get the lower price, you do have to compromise, so read on for the details.
Kilimanjaro: We had the two best guides that you can imagine (Ismael and Mongo). If you book with RC and get either one of them, you will be in good hands. Ismael was our lead guide, picked us up at the airport and took care of us through our trip. NOTE: RC was pretty casual about "what to bring to Kili", so you really have to do your own research. We packed pretty well, but forgot a couple things (BYO TP...) and Mongo helped by loaning us an item or 2. The food during the Kili trip was very good. Hot coffee/tea w/ eggs for breakfast; soup, rice or noodles with veggies, etc for dinner - very good. There was a box lunch when we didn't have a hot meal. Meals were served in the mess tent and Abdul (our waiter) took great care of us. There is not a "toilet tent", so you use the public pits, which range from acceptable to disgusting. The toilet pit at the first camp was the worst, then they got progressively better. The park service is installing new toilets and starting to actually clean them, so the situation should improve. We carried our own day packs, snacks, lunch, etc, as we hiked to base camp (not a problem). On summit day, one of our porters became the "summit porter" and the guides carried our pack while the summit porter carried hot tea and snacks to ensure our success - this was critical and I would definitely elect for this. The guys that took care of us (12 in all) were great and we really bonded - lots of singing, etc. It was definitely a trip that we will very fondly remember forever. Remember that you have to bring a lot of tip money. The recommendations that we got from our guides on tipping the porters were much higher than what I read online (like double), but they deserved it. After being with a great group for 8 days, the last thing you want to do is leave them high & dry.
One other thing to be prepared for with RC is the transportation. We viewed the transportation as being part of the adventure. Our trip to the Kili gate was memorable as we were picked up by a minivan (we called it the Mystery Machine - scooby doo) that looked like it could comfortably fit about 8 people. We drove all around Arusha picking up porters, etc., and by the time we were genuinely on the road to the gate there were 11 porters, the two of us and the driver packed in. Again, its part of the adventure, but be ready for it.
We had one evening in Arusha (at Charity Hotel) prior to being picked up for Safari early the next morning. Charity is ok, but its down a crazy back alley, so if you are first arriving at night, expect this. The food at Charity was below average and there is no power (in most of Arusha) during the afternoons.
Safari: Safari in Tanzania is a little bit like going to Disneyland. There are tons of trucks, all basically the same Toyota Land Cruisers. Most seat 6 passengers in the back plus driver & passenger seat. They all have the pop-up roof. We were shuttled out from Arusha in a minivan to pickup more people at Lake Manyara, then head to Serengeti. Our agenda was changed at the last minute by RC, but it didn't really matter. RC paired us up with three other English speaking tourists (2 from Holland, 1 from Germany). It seems that RC subcontracts with other Safari providers to place you in trucks. We were with "Big 5" Safaris for the first two days in Serengeti. We had a fun group and a good driver, so it worked out. We also had a very good Safari cook who stayed with us for the entire 5 days.
The good thing about Safari was the wildlife (of course). We saw a lot more than I thought we would. The bad thing was that we were there during the "high season" - it was packed. I also thought that we might see the "great migration" in the Serengeti during July, but found that the main activity was about an 8 hour drive away. That said, we saw a ton of wildlife - no rhinos, as they mainly hide in July, but everything else. The camping situation at Serengeti and Ngorongoro is pretty bad (not an improvement from Kili) and we were in very old tents with broken poles and zippers that we put up ourselves - again, part of the adventure. However, since we aimed to get out of camp at 6am each morning, this seemed like a good compromise to staying at one of the hotels/resorts in the area. For the last two nights we stayed at Manyara View campground, which had permanent tents and cots (very nice) as well as cold beer in the fridge (very welcome). The last two days of safari we had different trucks (different companies). Again, it worked and was just part of the adventure.
Zanzibar: After safari, we changed cars about 3 times on the way to the Kili airport and checked in with George on our way to Zanzibar. RC did a good job of arranging all of the transportation, but expect to change cars a lot (are we supposed to tip every driver?). Willy picked us up in Zanzibar and we spent a few days in Stone Town prior to heading to Smiles Beach Resort. Smiles was very nice - again, friendly people, clean rooms, etc. The food was pretty average (overcooked seafood). It is located right next to the Hilton Doubletree. If you walk 100' up the beach you can pay about 4x for a meal that (probably) tastes better. We did two days of diving with Spanish Dancer divers (not through RightChoice). The diving was very good. Again, RightChoice got us from the north coast of Zanzibar via ferry to Dar as Salam for our flight to Kili and home. The transportation was definitely crazy, but we made it.
Summary: I'm really glad we chose RightChoice for our adventure in Tanzania. It wasn't the "high end" vacation, but it was the adventure that we were looking for. We may have preferred a little "upscale" at various times during our trip and I know we were both ready to be back in the US, but the trip was incredibly memorable and really had an impact on how we will view the world going forward. Thanks, RightChoice!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Can’t imagine using anyone else again!
I am a French teacher, and have been touring French-speaking Africa with my students for a decade and a half. With that said, this is the first time I used Chalo Africa, and the last time I’ll ever use another company other than them. From start to finish, the entire Chalo Africa team made me feel as though I was their only client. In addition, the tour itself (of Madagascar) was the best I’ve ever experienced! From the tour guides, the naturalists, bus drivers and all the eco-activities, everything was TOP NOTCH. As both an educator and former resident of Madagascar, I can honestly say that this tour exceeded all of my expectations. This team is fantastic!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience
There was good communication with Seth Vincent using WhatsApp to arrange a good driver named Peter to pick me up (for free) from the apartment to the bus in Nairobi. He did the same for me at the end and even met me in person to ask how it went.
I was happy with our bus driver Sami who got to places on time, and made sure we were where the animals were at.
I was happy with the food that we had for free on our travels and at the camp.
The 4 day safari itself was great and going to Lake Nakuru after Masai Mara was a great combination. Also, the price is a bargain really for such a great experience.
Asante sana
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Wonderful trip with excellent guide
The safari was excellent. The booking of the trip was very efficient and response rate was fast. Much effort was made to organise the safari we were looking for. The booked 3 day safari to Murchison Falls was excellent for our family of four. Our guide Ben was great. Very knowledgeable, attentive, friendly and helpful. He made every effort to show us the animals we wanted to see.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
You won't find a better safari company!
We booked two safaris through this company. The first was a four-day safari to Masai Mara in a 4x4 Land Cruiser; the second was a one-day safari to Hell's Gate & Lake Naivasha in a mini van. Both bookings were completed entirely online, although we made phone calls the day before the safari to ensure that there were no issues. We did not book the Hell's Gate safari until we returned from the Masai Mara trip.
The booking staff are quick to respond to emails, professional in providing details of the proposed safari, upfront about extra costs, and helpful in terms of special requests--we had two vegans in our group who were anxious about having their needs met. Payment was not directly through my credit card but through a PayPal like system called Pesapal. It worked without an issue. Duncan organized our Mara safari and Michelle the Hell's Gate safari.
For the first safari we requested George Mbugua, who turned out to be excellent. Not only was he great at spotting the animals, including a kill on our second day, but he was professional in respecting the animals. We saw everything except a rhino, (no one seemed to see one as they are rare and elusive), including numerous cheetah and lions. One lion was in a tree. We saw a leopard close up. However, we noticed some other companies' drivers interfering with the animals' movement. George clearly was opposed to such practices, as were we. George was always early for any meeting, and took steps to ensure our safety and comfort throughout the trip. We met other travellers with Natural World who reported similar experiences with their drivers. The 4x4 is worth the extra cost for game drive experiences.
We stayed at Enkorok camp in Masai Mara. It was an excellent budget choice, reviewed separately.
The trip to Hell's Gate was guided by Mike Kioko. This was in a minivan, as the trip didn't include game drives in a vehicle. Instead, we rode bikes through the park, hiked through the gorge, boated on the lake, and walked on Crescent Island. Essentially, Mike had to ensure we arrived at the designated times and arrange things with the other guides. He did so perfectly. Again, safety was most important. Note that on this trip you should bring some money to tip at least two additional guides.
We would highly recommend this trip. It gives you a chance to be active, although the hiking and riding might be too strenuous for some people. We saw a variety of wildlife on bike or foot, including giraffes and zebras crossing our paths very closely. Lunch at the Sopa Lodge was fantastic. The trip took a full 12.5 hours.
Natural World was an excellent choice. I can't really compare it to other agencies, as we didn't use them, but we have nothing but praise for this company. They even called after both trips to ensure that our safaris were great. The end of safari "gift" was very welcome icing on the cake of two fantastic experiences with this company.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very personal and outstanding
We worked with the Chalo Africa team Sangeeta, Malvika, Smita and Tanvi to plan our Tanzania visit. They had been recommended by our friends. Found the whole experience very personal to plan out the various details and very responsive. Their knowledge comes from personally leading expeditions and a true love for Africa. That showed in our itinerary. Our experience was very very good. Even during the safari, they had opened a Whatsapp group to keep in touch and made sure that we were taken care of.
Highly recommend them.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Horrible
We had been wanting to go to Rwanda to see the gorillas for a few years. We chose Rwanda over Uganda due to the conservation efforts of the country. A trip like this costs a lot of money so we had to really plan it out. We have traveled all over the world and have been to Africa many times including Tanzania, Egypt, South Africa, Kenya and Botswana. In March 2019, from online research my husband, Chirag Amin, contacted the company, Gorilla Trek Africa, working with their senior consultant Nelson. Chirag asked them to create a luxury package as we were travelling without our children after many years.
There were some things my husband wanted to do such as go to Congo while we were there. He threw out some ideas but wasn’t really guided one way or another to say whether some of those things are plausible. Eventually we had an itinerary. So comes July and we are ready to go, we confirmed multiple times that this was a luxury package as we were paying luxury package price. We packed everything on the list that was provided by the agency. We flew from Tampa to DC to Brussels to Kigali. Before we had even landed and started our trip we got an email from Nelson saying
We previously told you that the balance can only be paid in in cash in
>
> new USD bills or by card/ bank not later than a week to the start of
> the
> tour. It is very disappointing to hear that you want to pay by card at
>
> this late hour.
We weren’t sure why he was disappointed, I guess they want cash but we wanted to pay by card. It wasn’t even the cash/card issue it was the tone the email took as soon as he learned we were paying by card and we hadn’t even landed yet. I told my husband this does not sound good, so we managed to half the balance in cash and the other half by card not to make HIS disappointment worse.
Night 2, we got to our first hotel which wasn’t bad but were told by multiple people it is a 3 star even for Rwanda. We figured we will address it later, let’s see how things go. The food was to be included in the package so we went for lunch. The menu was extensive and looked pretty good. I asked for a salad, they didn’t have lettuce. Fine, I asked for a sandwich, they didn’t have cheese. Fine, how about some pizza? Again no cheese. That narrowed the choices to soup and meat and rice. This wasn’t an issue as it was one of our first meals. However, by meal 3 we had eaten the same thing 3 times. The shower was slimy but the bed was comfortable.
Our second day we went to go see chimpanzees before we were to leave for Goma/Congo. On our tour we met many people and told them about our plans and where we were staying in Goma. One of the gentle man was from Germany living in Kigali, a journalist that has traveled all over that area. Him and his companion as well as our driver advised us the hotel in Goma is maybe a 2 star. Our friend on the tour said you won’t be able to stay there, its barely $40 a night. Chirag contacted Nelson and expressed his concern, Nelson said he can change the hotel as there are other options but it will cost us 300$ USD to change it. First, a hotel that was 40$ a night was booked for a luxury package while another option was available and then we were charged $300 to change it!! Nelson’s email even said the hotel in Goma is just OK. We also expressed out concerns about the hotel we were currently staying at. In response, Nelson said our expectations and African reality were no matched. He further went on to say
Once you lower your expectations, you will have a great trip experience
just like what others always get
I see you are just being so picky and complicated and this will
compromise your trip experience.
We asked for a luxury package, paid for a luxury package to not only receive sub par accommodations but unprofessional, rude and unacceptable customer service. We were asked to LOWER our expectations. This made Chirag upset as believe me we paid a lot of money for this trip. He told Nelson that this was upsetting in return Nelson said
We are all human!
Just the way you get pissed off, i as well can get pissed off!
Let us not make an issue out of this
We need to cooperate if we are to have a good trip, otherwise threats
won't make any good for any of us
You either enjoy your trip or ruin it, the ball is entirely in your
hands
So my over all review, if you want to pay luxury prices, then receive sub par accommodations and even worse treatment, book with this agency. We encountered many tourists that were staying at nice hotels so it has nothing to do with the African reality. This agency hopes that you are a naïve traveler and won’t know any better so they can charge for a luxury package but then treat you like crap once they get your money. Why book a hotel that $40 a night 2 stars and they say oh there is a better option, it will cost you $300 to change it. Why was booked to begin with? Chirag never gave Nelson a ceiling for the price of the package so he charged A LOT but delivered nothing and then HE was disappointed when we didn’t’ bring cash. The email excerpts are just the tip of the iceberg. He never apologized and even stopped contacting us to fix anything. And if you say anything they will get pissed off and cut off contact. This is highly unprofessional, so forget about the money, book with this agency if you want to be treated badly.