IN
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Eight wonderful days with Kajie Safaris
I took my plane to Entebbe with a feeling of uncertainty clouding my mind, but it all dispersed as soon as I landed at the destination airport. Thanks to safaribookings.com for recommending kajiesafaris. It was an eight-day trip and I found to my great relief that everything was in place. Ronald Muvunyi of kajiesafaris is a well-organized, transparent, amiable and spirited young man. After having exchanged scores of mails between ourselves, the plan for the trip was finalized. My day in Uganda began on the morning of 9th June 2019. As was scheduled, Ronald guided me to Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Lake Bunyonyi that included, among others, chimp trekking, mountain gorilla trekking and game drive. The days flitted fast, and on the day of my return, a shroud of sadness wrapped me at the Entebbe airport, as Ronald left me with his sweet smile.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
From the first email contact to the last drop off at the airport Ronald and Kajie Safaris were A++
Kajie Safaris front man Ronald was a star from the very beginning. All email querys were answered within the hr and he understood immediately the needs of an ageing and demanding Scotman. The quotes were very competitive and I was fortunate to have had Ronald personally recommended by Ugandan friends who had also used their services.
The tour itself was one of a little drama, great excitement and sheer wonder at the glory of being 10ft away from a massive beautiful silverback. Please dont be put off by the stories of 2 to 3 hr hikes through tough jungle. If you are older like myself and perhaps equally a little unfit, please note that our Tour guide Onesmus put in the fix and arranged a visit to see a family that required just a 15 minute hike through the jungle. My wife and I have been on several African safaris, but seeing the silver back up close with his family was unforgetable ......... simply the best.
We stayed at the Lake Mutanda Resort .... if there is a more lovely area in Africa, then I need to visit there next. An absolute paradise for bird watchers. The welcome we received and the service were spot on.
If I have any advice to travellers ..... if you have the budget for it do use the internal flights. Long journeys on bumpy roads do take it out of you.
A visit that will remain in the memory banks and a company that are a credit to Ugnada. Well Done Ronald.
PL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exciting trilling and wonderful. This is how I could discribe the safari with wonderful driver
Excelent communication with Tunu. Very fast respond. I knew the answers to all my questions imediatelly. And what's more everything was true. The driver-guide Badry did everything possible so we would see many animals and we did
PH
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
We hired a jeep and guide for a day trip to Arusha National Park.
Good communication, very responsive and helpful owner, Didas. Reasonably priced and very happy with our guide Michael. So it was a successful day, saw everything we wanted including the Flamingoes. I thought the jeep was a little bit old, but it did the job well. Would consider a longer trip next time we come to Tanzania.
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional and polite company. I would use them again.
First of all, I would like to reassure people shopping for a safari tour in Tanzania, that Hello Tanzania, operated by KAMar Safaris, is a real company. It was a little scary planning a trip to Africa and sending that much money to a Swiss bank account, but Sylwia was in touch the whole time and the trip worked out exactly as planned. If you would prefer to plan the trip in person, we found out they have an office in the Doubletree Hotel at Oyster Bay in Dar es Salaam.
This was the second company we tried on Safari Bookings. The first one advertised a trip price of about 550 Eur per person, but when I submitted my information, the quote came back as 900 Eur for adults and 800 Eur for children, which was way more than I had budgeted for. Supposedly, this was due to them putting us at a camp further in the park (which also requires more park fees). Unhappy with that, I wrote KAMar, and Sylwia came back with about 550 Eur for adults, and kids were 55% off... so way below the expected price for a family of four. For both, I had selected tented camping for a three day safari. We were picked up at our hotel (Doubletree) in Dar, and driven about 6 hours in a nice van to the park. Iddi, the driver, was very friendly and experienced, and had water in the car on the way out and brought boxed lunches for the ride home. He even swung by my friend's house in Dar to let me pick up our ferry tickets to Zanzibar, before dropping us at the ferry terminal and giving us some tips on how to get in and avoid the annoying swarm of porters.
The camp KAMar put us in was Jimbiza camp in the Selous preserve. I chose Selous, because it was a closer drive than the other parks. Looking back, we could have probably asked for more (airplane to the park, or even a different park), but I didn't know what possibilities were out there. We toured in mid-June, which is just the beginning of the tour season, so we basically had the camp to ourselves and there had only been two other people there in the previous two months (two Russian ladies were there on our first day, but flew out the next morning). The camp was right on the Rufiji River, outside the Selous Game Preserve. Judging by the equipment and reviews of other parks, it was one of the more affordable camps, and was probably more like camping than some others too. It was fairly primitive, and the equipment was a little older, but everything was orderly and the staff (maybe 10-15 people) was very friendly and attentive. They kept the camp very clean, but it was in need of some renovations. The pool was basically a monkey pond, not that we had time to go swimming. The sun goes down there at 6:30pm every day. The water was sort of clear and had a roof over it, but I'm not sure how they kept it clean, as there didn't seem to be a filter... and of course, baboons were playing around it. The food in camp was interesting, and drinks (even water), while in camp, cost extra. For lunch the first day we had spaghetti bolognese with nutmeg in it. It was nice, but an interesting choice for a safari camp. The dinners were very good, with bread shaped like animals. The meals were all three courses, with the excellently trained waiters serving from the proper side and bringing the food at appropriate intervals. The breakfasts were also multi-course, and very good. The boxed lunch and picnic in the bush were also nice, and our guide set up a cool spot for us to eat, while we watched elefants and giraffes. One thing we would have liked would have been a more traditional menu that let us see that side of th culture more. Maybe they have had complaints in the past from closed-minded guests, and just wanted to be safe. Either way, my hat is off the cook for making due out there with minimal resources.
The tent itself was covered by a hard roof (above the canvas roof) and had a porch and a hard-stand bathroom in the back. It had a toilet, shower, sink, fans, mirror, beds, blankets, pillows, desk, shelves for clothes, towels, porch chairs, backup solar lights, carpets, wood floors, and a lock to keep the baboons out. The cleaning man came every day while we were out to make the beds and take out the trash. It was basically a hotel room that smelled like mosquito repellent... so pretty nice camping.
On the first evening, we took a sunset boat cruise on the river to see the hippos and walk around on a sandbar. We enjoyed that, even though the kids had expected to be eaten by crocs.
The second day we spent about 10 hours driving in the Range Rover, looking for animals in Selous park. We saw antelope, giraffes, elefants, hyena, wildabeasts, water buffalos, pigs, birds, baboons, monkeys, hippos, and lion footprints (they were fresh, and we drove around looking in the tree lines, but never found it). Our driver had been working there for 25 years and the guide had only been there six months, but was very knowledgeable as well.
The third day, before driving back to Dar, we had a walking tour in the bush with a "bushman" and an armed guard. the bushman was funny, and put on a good show, while also teaching us about the woods. He had grown up in the bush with his grandparents, but had long-since gone off to school and might even be a doctor. He was a good actor, though, and was a highlight.
IT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A SURPRISING UGANDA, ORGANIZED BY AN EXELLENT TRAVEL AGENCY
I came back from a beautiful 14 days (27th May to 9th June) to Uganda with friends two weeks ago, impeccably organized by the Crystal Safaris agency. Great hotel accomodations and food.
Thanks to our guide Joseph a 28-year-old driver of great experience with an eagle view, we were able to spot during the morning safaris many animals, including many lions in the Queen Elisabeth Park and in the Murchison Falls Park and a leopard in the Lake Mburo Park with his little puppy in the jaws. Kind and patient he has made our trip unforgettable. Also the meeting of a gorillas' family in Bwindi impenetrable Forest was just as exciting and touching.
Thank you Joseph, thank you Barbara and thank you Crystal Safarys for allowing all this.
Angelina Pagliotta
Italy
AE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
I went for 3 days Safari , it was just amasing, we saw all five big animals of jungle
Everything was well organised, Guide was very professional and experienced. Explained and showed us animals. I am very satisfied from the tour. I advise everyone to choose Crossriver safari.
FI
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Personal ja friendly safari
Our experience with King Tomondo Safaris was absolutely great. we got very friendly and frequent advice/info from Lisa during the few weeks before the safari. Our driver Alfani was also friendly, with good humour and excellent driving skills. Tahri camp was wonderful and during the 48 h (2 nights) at Tsavo East we saw more than we ever could expect. Hundred's of elephants, zebras, lions, two cheetahs, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, etc. etc. Two nights in one place was enough, however, and if we would have stayed for a longer safari, then we would have liked to move to, say, Tsavo West. So: thank you, King Tomondo Safaris, our expectations were met really well and we are happy to return one day.
CH
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Unforgettable
We celebrated our 10th anniversary with a 7 day safari (Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Western Serengeti, Lake Manyara) followed by a 4 day stay in Zanzibar. Visa, return flight and excursions in Zanzibar we organized ourselves. All transfers, safari incl. Camps and Lodges as well as hotel in Zanzibar we booked via Africa Safari Classics and were more than satisfied with our choice.
In comparison with other providers, Africa Safari Classics offered us a fair price-performance ratio. The care by Maurice was extremely competent. The journey could be adapted to our wishes. The travel documents were informative and complete.
Arrived at the airport Kilimanjaro everything worked like clockwork. The tip to get the visa already in Switzerland, was worth gold and saved us a long wait on entry. In front of the airport we were greeted by a well-tempered Abdul, who introduced himself as driver and guide for the safari. Of course, he first congratulated us on our anniversary and immediately handed us a snack against the small hunger. During the following, four-hour drive in the comfortable safari jeep to the first camp, we had ample opportunity to get to know each other and get first information.
During the following safari days, Abdul turned out to be a safe and very good driver and, thanks to his 12 years of experience as a connoisseur of national parks and excellent animal spotters. Often it was us who could inform the other drivers about an animal sighting. An invaluable advantage as these are usually the best photo opportunities. So we were the first who had a cheetah mother with her cup, a leopard or four lions close up in front of the lens. But the highlight of the trip was that thanks to Abdul we were able to experience the Big Migration. Watching the 8th Wonder of the World in the midst of an estimated 100,000 to 150,000 animals is an incredible experience. In addition to this highlight, we have seen tons of cape buffaloes, zebras, elephants, giraffes, flamingos, pelicans, storks, hypos, crocos, impalas, antelopes, monkeys or pumbas. Of course, there were also encounters with other lions, hyenas or jackals.
Thank you Abdul, that you transported us safely (over partly long and mostly bumpy routes), patiently and in very good English, you answered to all our questions and you made possible sensational animal sightings.
After the safari, Abdul took us back to Arusha. There a plane to Zanzibar awaited us. After another unforgettable days with picturesque sunset, long beach walks, snorkeling excursion with dolphin sighting and a romantic beach hotel with great food, we were safe, healthy and all around happy again dropped off at Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Thanks Maurice, for the excellent advice. The proposed camps and lodges all exceeded our experience. Facilities and standard were up to luxurious, the staff very friendly and helpful and the food including lunch boxes always excellent and well-tolerated. Also we were always surprised with nice attentions to our anniversary. Of course, this was a great pleasure for us and it was definitely a "hint" on your part. You did an excellent job!
IN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Four amazing nights in Botswana and Zimbabwe
Right from the first query till the last day of reaching back home, Megan was so responsive which made my decision to opt for discover Africa an excellent choice. The challenges and positives of each option was clearly outlined at each step which made our decision matrix easier. The lack of water in okovango was disappointing which could have been given as a disclaimer by discover Africa. Maybe it got lost in the chain of communique.
The three days in Oddballs camp and two nights at Kingdom in Victoria Falls were well managed. ODDBALLS is a basic tented camp but they make up for it with the hospitality. It's not extravagant on food per se, but then the focus is on safari walks so that was fully met by our guides Congo and Alfred. Our aim was to undertake numerous makoro rides in the reeds but lack of water all over Botswana did not see that happening. That basically reduced our reach into the Chiefs island.
The 20 minute flight from Maun to the Camp and 1.5 hour flight from the Camp to Kasane was well managed without any hiccups whereas there were some other passengers who were left frustrated by some tour operators.
Kingdom hotel is a royal place to say but I should say that some of the facilities are worn down and gives a vintage look. The hotel could not accommodate our children in closeby rooms which again in my review gives them a minus.
The Falls are just 5 minutes away and the sun downer cruise and Falls walk organized through Wild Horizons by Megan was outstanding.
Overall an excellent five day package well coordinated and orchestrated by Discover Africa with minimum hassles. Thank you
