SE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent service, good food and sense of safety in all things
We had a fantastic experience on our Safari which was operated by the company African Traits. The guide Noel a.k.a Ice Cube, showed us the best spots and worked really hard for us to be able to se the big five, which we did. His connections with other guides in the national parks gave us great advantages in the search for the rarest of animals. Also, his and our chef's service minds made the experience complete. 5 stars!
The pre information we recieve from Godfrey at AFT after booking made us feel comfortable that we made the right choice when choosing our tour operator. According to our guide, Godfrey also made sure there weren't any problems with different permits at the parks. Thank you!
Extra plus to Chicho who picked us up at Kilimanjaro airport and waited many hours on the delayed flight. He also made sure we had dinner, even though all restaurants were closed. Our chef, Jamali, also deserves extra credit for his great cooking abilities.
I can highly recommend African Traits as a Safari operator.
SG
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great fun while on a budget with a fantastic guide!
I would recommend that anyone visiting Southern Africa do the following.
1) List down the sights and things you want to witness or experience. Research the best time for these activities, for example, whale watching in Hermanus. Do avoid shoulder seasons as sometimes the whales arrive earlier and will naturally leave earlier. Oh... how unpredictable mother nature is.
2) Engage Southern Tours and Safaris to do the heavy work.
3) Come as you are and enjoy the journey.
I would describe our itinerary as a balance of safari and city sights. As a senior, I liked that the trip was pretty relaxing and we weren't rushing for time. Someone in Zimbabwe said, "In Africa, there is no time". Although, we were almost always on time. Almost!
We had the pleasure of sharing our journey with Bonji, our tour guide. A very down to earth guy who goes the extra mile. He and our driver made the effort to look for the animals, considering our goal for this tour was to see the Big 5.
Our first drive was at the Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve. It was a good FIRST experience! Then we went on to Pilanesberg National Park where we stayed two nights at the nearby Bakubung.
Next up was a three night stay at Shearwater Explorers Village. I absolutely loved the serenity of our accomodation. We visited the stunning Victoria Falls and it's never ending rainbow. When one went away, another appeared almost immediately.
We also took up the optional activity of white water rafting. While I do commend the Shearwater staff for their professionalism, there should be a disclaimer that lets potential rafters know that the activity does not only include rafting but a hike down and up the gorge. It was a nightmare for our majority mid 50s and early 60s group. That being said, it will be an amazing experience for those comfortable in the water. Let it be know that you WILL overturn.
This tour was value for money and I would most definitely look to Southern Tours and Safaris for future travels in Southern Africa.
Encompass Africa provides a personalised safari booking service and listen to your wants and needs!
The Zimbabwe/South Africa safari we just completed in November, 2018, was our 6th safari booking with Encompass Africa. To keep going back to Encompass Africa for our African experiences is a testament to the services they offer. Encompass take into account your preferred budget, the countries you want to visit, the animals and environment you are interested in and tailor a safari to suit. Depending on what's on your wish list and budget, it may not be achievable in one safari, all the better to have a great time on the first safari and start planning the second as you land back home!
Most of our safaris have been between 19 and 25 days, which suits us. We visit a maximum of 3 countries so we aren't flying up and down the African continent, which can add dramatically to your budget.
Our last trip we visited 3 camps in Hwange national Park, Zimbabwe, each completely different, Vic Falls, Cape Town for a week, then up to greater kruger in South Africa at a luxury camp. Simply fantastic, not a lot of flying around, maximum time in camps, which is what you want.
We have also been to some extreme safari experiences, such as Odzala in the Republic of Congo, boated on the Nile in Uganda, mountain gorillas in Rwanda, the Serengeti, chimp trekking on Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania, so Africa is you oyster :), golf in South Africa.
If you are unsure where to go, Encompass can advise you so you can get the bitten by the African bug and try different places and experiences.
We will continue to book our African trips through Encompass.
IL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
it was a wonderfull safari.
Everything was organized well. The weather was nice most of the days, the transportation was perfect, the accomodation was clean,nice and the local staff were very friendly.
The safary was interesting we saw all the big 5 more then once .
I can recommend with great love to do this tour with Viva Safari.
IE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Dream trip come true thanks to Wickliffe!
Wickliffe led our group on an amazing 3-day adventure in Tsavo East National Park. From beginning to end he took care of us and this showed up not only in the way he kitted out our safari vehicle so we had all our needs taken care of while we were out, but in how he listened and was attentive to each person in our group. And he was fun! We had so many amazing adventures tracking and learning about the flora and fauna of the area in between our sessions visiting the David Sheldrik Trust to spend time with the elephants. If you're looking for a guide who is experienced, kind, funny, and genuinely caring, then look no further. I can't recommend him enough!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Richard is wonderful!
I really enjoyed Richard’s upbeat and positive attitude. He made it so much more fun. He’s a great guy in general and a fun and outgoing tour guide.
CL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
6 Days Safari Tanzania, excellent experience
I went to my honeymoon to Tanzania and Evelyn was very helpful giving me all the options for our budget and our time there.
Good communication prior, during and after the tours.
George was our tour guide and was very helpful and have a excellent spotting skills. We wanted to see cheetahs and he knew where to find them and spot them at very far distances.
We saw the big five, and visited Tarangire, Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro.
The tour was well organized and the time in each park was good. The hotels were we stay were very good too, and George took care of everything.
It was a great experience and will happy repeat it
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Superbly trained team, excellent adventure and a successful summit.
First, this is my third trip with eTrip Africa. That alone should tell you how I feel about this superbly-run, excellent boutique firm out of Arusha. That, and we are already planning our fourth and fifth trips. Repeat hirings speak to the level of trust I have in who they are and how they operate.
Back in July I contacted Ben Jennings, the director, about this trip, and he suggested that I take on Mt.Kenya. I accepted, having done Kilimanjaro with Ben's team precisely five years ago nearly to the day in November 2013. I took on a very serious training plan as I had before. This time Ben, his top three guides and I drove from Arusha to Nairobi together as a team, and took on this challenging and very different experience. It was rainy and cold, and we went up with a local team.
Two things are primary when you choose a summit team no matter which mountain or what country: their professionalism and commitment to safety. Professionalism is expressed in thorough preparation, from the safety briefing and detailed gear checks (done) to the nightly medicals which entail checking your oxygen levels, your BP, lungs, the whole gamut. While this can seem annoying at times when you would rather not have a cold stethoscope against your bare skin in the mess tent, these checks guarantee your safety and a healthy summit. Ben's team members were fun, funny, and dedicated. When the local Kenyan team sped up to an unsustainable pace (which can swiftly lead to altitude sickness), Caspar, one of Ben's guides, stepped in front of me and immediately slowed the pace in half to the proper Pole pole (slow slow) that protects me from any danger. Davis, another of our three guides, was in front of me a good bit of the time as well, and his green-gloved hand was regularly right there to help me get over a difficult rock or crag. Mt. Kenya is a much more challenging climb than Kili, and this kind of assistance, good humor and support made this experience not only much more fun but safer for me. While the mountain isn't as high as Kili, the physical challenges were greater, including sliding down a long scree field in the dark. Davis was just ahead of me shining his flashlight on the ground so that I could see where to put my boots and poles. That kind of attention goes a long way towards building your confidence as well as helping you master the summit. Ben has put a lot of time and money into developing his team's skills, and he was with us on this trip as well. I got to know him a lot a better, and they way he managed his team and used this trip as an opportunity to expand their skills (as well as his own). To this I would suggest reading https://medium.com/datadriveninvestor/practical-leadership-earning-respect-in-the-field-e50c72995454. Ben and his wife Aurelie run Researcher's Rest in Arusha (highly recommended for comfort and food) and they have lived in East Africa a very long time. As a result, they have intimate, first-hand knowledge of the concessions, the trips, what's available, and they can make excellent recommendations based on your preferences. What I appreciate most about working with eTrip is that they know what I like to do and the kinds of experiences I want to have, so I simply need to let them know I'm coming and where I'd like to go. From there I'm guaranteed that I'll be safely ferried from place to place, I'll have a superbly trained guide, and by the time I go home, I will have a raft of stories and experiences (and thank you, no foolish accidents unless it's my own fault) to write about. The truth is that you can spend a lot more for your safari experience, but that doesn't buy you much other than a brand name. From brand new vehicles to his well-trained staff, Ben manages to keep his costs mid-range while also delivering a top of the line experience to his clients. He also- and this is essential- ensures that his employees are well paid and that they get upgraded regular training. This makes for cheerful, happy guides and porters, and that makes for a very good experience for you and me. Ben and I are now planning a scuba diving trip to an offshore island and a return to Kenya for me to ride horses in two different locations- and I can't wait. As a 66-year-old adventure traveler and prize winning journalist, I am very discerning about where I spend my adventure dollars. I've used guides all over the world and I also train leadership skills for the Fortune 500. As a result, I know a good firm when I see one, and eTrip does it right every time. If you have questions please email me directly. If I am in country will be happy to respond.
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unique, custom made travel experience
African travels offered excellent, experienced service, through modern means of communication (personal app, specified information online and offline, whatsapp support). Their level of service was high, with a personal touch regarding our wishes for this vacation. The safari itself was unforgettable: the right balance between camping and comfortable accomodations, pioneering and relaxing, enjoying many first-timer adventures on the road.
AE
Wonderful services and absolute satisfaction.
Trevaron really try to learn one's preferences and can organize customized tour packages. The guides are all amazing and they value the business with clients. We had excellent experience with Trevaron on our wild life explorations in both Kenya & Tanzania. I can't be without mentioning the tour coordinator Hannah & Safari guide Simon for the wonderful experience they provided to us.