US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The experience was like a road trip with friends rather than a tour- full of snacks, jokes & sights!
Traveling with GoExplore Safaris was the best choice I could have made. I was traveling alone to Uganda, and I was a little nervous when planning the trip. On top of planning a fantastic trip for the three days, I booked them for; they also ensured the transportation and the activities that I had scheduled for the other four days were safe and quality places. Furthermore, When planning the trip, he communicated over whats app and would respond in minutes to any of the million questions that I had.
Overall this trip exceeded my expectations. As a recent college grad I was on a limited budget, but with their help, I was able to go to botanical gardens, go to the swamp on Lake Victoria and see a shoebill, see gorillas, go on a village tour and go white water rafting. Even along the road as we drove there were terrific views overlooking the gorgeous country of Uganda. Lastly, the trip was like a road with old friends. We ate snacks, listened to fun music, and by the last day were cracking up at inside jokes. We might have started as businessmen and client, but by the end of the trip, we all left as friends. Thanks for the fantastic trip guys! You are amazing
SG
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Well organised
Safarihub handled my booking and coordination very well. All my booking, payments, itenary finalization etc were done sitting in Singapore coordinating with Safarihub staff in Tanzania. Victoria was super supportive and helpful in the whole process. she was available and responsive at every stage and for every single query and clarifications. she came and met me on the day I landed in Arusha and briefed me and also met on the day of departure to take feedback. Since I wanted a group safari, I was put onto another safari operator ( simba safari) but the entire process was seamless and I was kept out of any logistics hassle they had between the two tour operators.
their selection of lodges/tents were outstanding and enjoyed the stay at each of the places and enjoyed the food.
overall a good trip and will definitely reach out to safari hub for my next safari!
SG
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
wonderful experience
My first time with Simba Safaris. I had booked my tour through Safari Hub who finally put me through Simba Safaris.
The driver cum guide - Mathew was an excellent guy. He knew the way around and drove really well. Not sure if there is an improvement needed around his wildlife knowledge.. i guess yes. But his overall attitude and behaviour kind of made up for any lack of knowledge that he had on wildlfe.
Vehicle was good and in good condition. Interios were maintained well.
Choice of lodges/tents were really nice. enjoyed every place and food in all locations.
Simba represetative - Mark was there at Arusha to see us off on the first day of the safari and was available to take feedback on the last day was aswell. Which was a good gestrure and felt that there are people available to take care of us incase of any emergency.
The only negative about the whole trip was the delay in pick up from my arusha hotel on the first day... i still dont have an explanation to it .but overall i had a good trip
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Book now, you won't regret it
This was my second safari with Shaun and Moriti Private Safaris, and I will definitely be back. Seeing these animals in their own environment is magical. I can't say enough great things about Shaun, he is so knowledgeable, personable, and makes sure you have the best experience possible. If you are thinking about booking, just do it. I promise you won't regret it!
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Experience
I had a fantastic time on my safari. My tour guide, Maxwell, was very professional and knowledgable, and the entire trip was organized very well. My only complaint is that two people were added to our safari on the second day, meaning there were 8 people in our vehicle which was cramped and resulted in not everyone having a window seat. Otherwise I would highly recommend Karibu Safaris!
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very responsive to the type of camps we wanted and exposure to game.
We did a "five camp" safari over 12 days in Zambia and Zimbabwe. This was our fifth trip to Africa, and we had not spent an appreciable amount of time in either country. The terrain was dry, as expected. We are willing to trade off the beauty of green flora for the absence of mosquitoes,
so always travel to Africa in September.
Our camps ranged from older bush camps to newer contemporary camps. The bush camps are due for a "refresh", but the food and staff were both excellent as were the game sightings. This was our first trip that included walking safaris. They lasted about an hour each, and were excellent, giving the guides an opportunity to share their extensive knowledge of tracking with us. We learned a great deal, and highly recommend them when offered.
We also did a canoe trip at Chiawa. Majestic scenery and interesting wildlife. I am older, and the guide did the paddling...I never touched one, so it was an easy, peaceful journey.
At the first three camps in Zambia we had pleasant surprises with meals, ranging from lunch being served at tables in the river (only about 6 inches of water in September), a lunch on a boat and a BBQ dinner in the bush. While these are surprises, we have come to expect them over the years, and were somewhat disappointed that our two stops in Zimbabwe did not provide that experience.
We had hoped to do a bit of fishing, but mother nature delivered some rather strong winds, so we were not able to experience that.
I won't go into any detail about game sightings but suffice to say they were plentiful and exciting (especially the cheetah chase down and the hyenas running around with a zebra leg).
The logistics on this trip were a bit complicated, and I would pay closer attention to them on future trips. It was my error that we did not spend a night in a hotel when we arrived in Africa, and ended up going on two in country flights and a long drive to the first camp, making the journey about 48 hours. Also, moving from Zambia to Zimbabwe was cumbersome and time consuming. I will definitely take a closer look at that aspect next time.
All in all, another wonderful trip to Africa!
CH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful
We had an amazing adventure. Lots of animals, birds, fish and even wonderful people
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable
The weather was fantastic and our accommodation Altezza Lodge, Moshe was fantastic. The one day Kilimanjaro hike was a great day out and I would like to go back and do the full 5 day. There are plenty of big animals to see around the national park areas. The food is all of a good quality.
UA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Stay away from this travel agency
I had a terrible experience of a 6-days safari, booked through the Open Africa Safaris.
All that it's representative John Williams said about the tour, was a lie.
In particular, I asked the following questions before paying:
1) Will all six-day safari be the car of your company and run by your employees?
Yes, all six days will be operated by our company's vehicle and employees.
Will there be a safari in mixed with other companies car?
No, all customers will go under our company but from different places ..
But in fact I was attached to a mixed group of tourists from different companies with different programs. The trip took place on the cars of various guides-freelancers. For six days I was transplanted into 4 different cars. None of these machines had the mark of Open Africa Safaris. Two of them did not have a promised chargers, no working fridge and no promised Coffee boxes, Wildlife books and Maps.
2) Do you provide a sleeping bag and a tent?
Yes indeed, we provide all camping equipment including, tents, sleeping bags, mattresses and pollows for each client.
But in fact nobody from our group took sleeping bags for two nights in a row. Only the mattresses and the dirty torn sheet with a dirty blanket. The next night was given only to the mattress itself.
3) Does the safari program have a visit to any river?
Big chences, yes and good news is that our driver will try his best to make sure that you see the wildebeest migration in Serengeti NP.
But in fact in fact neither migration nor rivers have been seen.
4) Do you already know the number of people in the safari group to which I will join?
You will join 5 more people, so total will be 6 people in the vehicle for the trip.
In fact, two days in the car there were 7 tourists, and I had to sit near the driver without a rooftop.
5) Open Africa Safaris is not ASTA member. Information on this site is false. You can check it on ASTA website.
6) But the worst was not even the above.
Day 1. At the entrance to Tarangire, we lost an hour, since the fee for entering the park was not paid.
Day 2. At the entrance to Serengeti, we lost two hours, as the entrance fee to the park was not paid again. Another hour we lost because of a car breakdown (the battery was down, not some force majeure). Accordingly, there was no game drive this day.
In the evening, we found out that there are no sleeping bags for us. Every other tourist from other companies in camp had sleeping bags.
Day 3. Sunrise game drive until 11:00. After that the guide said that entrance fee for second day in Serengeti not paid and we cannot move on game drive around the park. The half of day was held at Serengeti Airstrip near the payment office, waiting for payment, which was never done on that day. The evening was held in the ranger's office by filing applications and explanations. The half of night was at the police station.
Lost a day, no gaming drive. There are no sleeping bags again, only tent and mattress. Very cold.
In addition, it turned out that in one car three groups of people with completely different itineraries on the next day.
Day 4. Got a short game drive only at 12:00, after which there was a road to the camp near Ngorongoro. They submerged me into another car as a seventh tourist, in which I was sitting near driver without access to rooftop.
Day 5. Still in car as 7th tourist without rooftop access. Lost again 40 minutes through unpaid entrance to the Ngorongoro conservation area. They brought to the camp already at 15:00, that is, the half of day of the safari was lost.
Day 6. I began game drive only at 11:30, because there was no group to which I could join this day. As a result, they sent me a separate car, but they did not even give me water with me. Already at 14:00 I was back in the camp.
Besides, I was never in the evening, but even during breakfast I did not know which guides and cars I would go to safari that day.
When I wrote to John Williams about a refund for at least a lost 1 full day, he replied that he did not have the money and that I would contact a the subcontractor with whom he shared me and who actually carried out the safari, which I do not even have contacts with.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A family holiday of a lifetime - all the inspiration of Africa with exceptional guides.
Natureways facilitated our few days canoeing on the Zambezi and were professional in every way. The safaris lived up to and exceeded all our expectations. Our guides were extremely knowledgable about the wildlife and although we had exciting moments we never felt anything but confidence that we were in extremely safe hands.