ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Big memories of Africa
I really recommend the African polecat as your trust travel. We did the travel from zanzibar to Tarangire and ngorogoro. James organized everything and all was perfect. He is always available for any questions and help by WhatsApp. The pick up at the acommodation till the airport from zanzibar and also from Arusha till the destination was perfect arranged. The taxi driver Hashim was always on time, very friendly and polite. Also the safari driver frederique is the best driver you can have. Always explained about the trip, on the safari about the animales and nature also out of the nacional Park around Arusha. He made sure that there was enough food and drinks ( food was delicious). He made sure that we had the best place in the Park for see the animales and for the best pictures.
BE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Essential safari experience for affordable price
This was the best affordable offer we could find for a budget safari tour for 3 days and it went very well. We chose to stay at another hotel located nearby to the one normally used for this tour (booked separately, and the accommodation cost of the lodge normally used in this tour was deduced from the price). We saw lots of animals (although the great migration was already over by begin October). After the tour we planned to go to lake Naivasha, not to Nairobi. Much to our surprise (we were planning to go there by ourselves from Mai-Mahiu stop), the agency arranged for us to join a separate transfer with another group, who brought us to our next point so that we did not need to think how to get there by ourselves. At no extra cost. Naivasha is located on the way to Nakuru, another safari destination, so it was convenient. All negotiations with the agency went smoothly in watsapp and email. They communicate well and reply fast. So it is easy to customize the tour to large extent, if needed. Good value for money.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Tz owned company! Would recommend exploring Tanzania with them!
World tours was booked for the Tanzania portion of our trip- Rickson the owner and operator was there to meet us at the border and again at the end to wish us well. Amazing service and knows a lot about a lot!
Samwel our driver was amazing with animals and knowing the best areas in the parks, plus into birds too! Genuinely nice and so happy to be around.
The accommodation/meals/days were customised to our group and everything was on time and as described! Wish we could have travelled with them longer!
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience with a great team
I am very happy with my Safari experience with Meru Slopes. They are a locally owned company that provides a great safari service. I can just say thank you to the entire team: Salehe, Buga Dance, and all the great guys I interacted with: Nico, Herman, Nuru, and of course Geoffrey and Emanuel. The tour was very loyal to the description. We visited Tarangeri, Serengeti and Ngorongoro. We camped at Serengeti hearing the lions roar at night. And all in all the experience was totally worthwhile and I can highly recommend it. The team goes beyond expectations regarding service and I think it couldn’t be better. They even helped me to coordinate another tour. On the Safari, there was plenty of water, some sodas for the first few days, and wine for the nights. The food prepared by Buga was delicious and very varied. He even considers if you have any allergies and adapts the dishes to that. I have a very sensitive stomach and I did not have any issues with the food. It was nice to have always warm food, especially after the game drives (I saw other companies providing just lunch boxes). I appreciate Salehe that he made the effort to see all the animals we were interested in, and we got to see them all big 5. I loved the hotels before and after finishing the Safari and the food provided there was also quite tasty. Also, it was great that they provided wifi while in the car.
I chose Meru Slopes after comparing different companies on Trip Advisor. My criteria were price (going on a budget), having an AMREF doctor, that they provide the equipment for sleeping in the camping area, and that they include visiting the Maasai village for a more local immersion. Unfortunately, on my trip, there was no visit to Maasai and the team tried to compensate me with a visit to local markets in Arusha. Maybe some points for improvement is that it could be a bit more informative (give more details about the places, animals etc). Also, keep in mind that they sometimes mix people depending on the number of Safari days and this may cause mild logistic delays and that the mattress/sleeping bags are also mixed from camp to camp. Take toiletries with you (a camp did not have toilet paper/soap) and warm clothes - especially for Ngorongoro night.
Finally, I advice you not to forget to tip the driver/cook, etc. They may rely on it as I understand that they receive a very low part of what you pay.
Thanks to all the team.
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Super organization and great experiences
Super organization. From the pickup to the transfer to the airport everything went smoothly. We made a 4 day safari and saw all the animals. It was very impressive and our guide Max has given great effort. We would book again with Suricata Safari
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
You get what you pay for
Me and my friend went for the month of September. We chose the budget safari. They provided with lodging and food. The lodging at times did not have hot water, Wi-Fi, or lights. The food that they served were repetitive and nothing to really write home about. I was hoping to get some food that I could say was Kenyan so I could learn about the culture, but it was nothing like that. Like for example, we got mashed potatoes, some vegetables and pasta.
I must say though that the driver was very good and that we get to see a lot of animals. We’ve seen the Big Five. He was accommodating.
Everyone was very nice to us including drivers from other safari. Although, at the end of the Safari, there was a driver from another group that came to our group and was verbally aggressive and disrespectful. And to top it off? We didn’t get to finish the Safari with our driver. It left a bad taste in the mouth.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Safari
We booked the 2 days Safari in Pilanesberg Park
The transport with our driver Arnold was fantastic, he is a great guy and very respectfull
We did enough breaks an the experience of the safaris was amazing. The Lodge was also very nice. We really recommend this tour
Thank you Arnold for your time
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was an amazing experience!
We booked the 2 days Safari in Pilanesberg Park.
The transport with our driver Arnold was fantastic, he is a very nice guy and everything was perfectly organized!
We had enough breaks and the experience of the safaris was simply amazing. The Bakabung Lodge was also very nice. We really recommend this tour.
Thank you Arnold for your time!
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Brilliant is the Best!
Absolutely wonderful experience with Brilliant Safaris - from the first moment of communication about the planning for the trip to the last day of the safari.
I began my planning for our safari with another well-known Tanzania-based safari company but was utterly dissatisfied with the interaction, so decided to reach out to a few others, Brilliant included. Julieth Wilfred from Brilliant responded to me immediately and I knew right away I had found the right person and company to help me plan our trip. Julieth promptly set up a What's App chat between us, listened to my requirement/requests and met each with courtesy and helpful advice. I appreciated her suggested itinerary and accommodations and when I asked for any modification, she gladly and without hesitation adjusted them as desired. From our first chat, to the day we arrived in Tanzania, Julieth was always available - day or night - and every question or query was greeted with a prompt and friendly response. All of the safari lodges and camps she booked for us were wonderful - exceeding all of our expectations. In addition, Julieth noted that we would be celebrating our 25th anniversary on the trip and arranged a surprise private and romantic dinner on the deck of our tent one night - very touching and appreciated.
I must also make mention of our tremendous safari guide, Joshua Wilfred (no relation!) - from the first moment he met us at the Kilimanjaro airport on our arrival to the final moment after he dropped us back at the airport for our departure, Joshua was most gracious, friendly and knowledgeable. With his easygoing nature, extraordinary animal tracking skills and phenomenal driving abilities, my wife and I considered ourselves extremely fortunate to have Joshua as our partner during this trip. He made sure we saw the "Big 5", made our way through the cities, villages, countryside and parks safely and was a perfect match for our many questions with his encyclopedic knowledge of Tanzania, its people and its wildlife.
Please do not allow Brilliant's lower profile amongst Tanzania's many safari companies to dissuade you in the least from choosing them. The fact is that you will benefit from the personal and customized experience all the more for it.
Thank you Julieth and Joshua for the trip and experience of a lifetime - one we will never forget.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
They were fantastic!!
The whole team at Viva Safaris was absolutely amazing! They made everything so easy from start to finish. All of our guides were fantastic trackers and spotters and we got to see so much! The food was great and the accommodation was clean. I would definitely recommend!