CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Tsavo East National Park by Chris Ritter
Large herds of Elephants and Zebras. Amazing birds, nice surprise.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Amboseli National Park by Chris Ritter
Great varitey and large herds.
Great camp
SE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesomeness
We went to Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro on a 4-day safari. It’s not everyday you get to see two lions eating wildebeest for breakfast and sleeping on a tent next to grazing cattle and zebras. It’s definitely an amazing experience that I will never forget.
NZ
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very well organised with a very good guide visiting a wide range of game parks
Overall the organsation of the safari was very good particularly with the short time frame as we took a cancellation. We thought the tour leader was exceptionally good and knowledgeable. The game parks visited were varied and we saw a very wide range of animals. Accomodation, including tented camps were very good and being older we appreciated the individual facilities. Not being used to tipping we found chosing the appropriate level difficult. The only slight disappointment was the time at the Okavango Delta, which, although interesting, was not as exceptional for wildlife as we had expected from its reputation. Overall, very good value for money.
ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wonderful experience with amazing team
We just had a wonderful safari experience thanks to Hekima team everything was just perfect! It was really an incredible trip
I cannot recommend Hekima Safaris Enough.Not only are the guides friendly, funny and kind, they are extremely professional and experienced , The high management are beyond friendly, super professionalism , From excellent vegetarian food, endless cups of Masala tea, - Our guide and cook are simply the best . Attention to detail, friendly faces, good food, - what more could you ask for in Tanzania ?
Thank you all for your professionalism and I strong recommend Hekima Safaris to everybody who wants to experience a amazing safari with value of his/her money #GoHekima ❤
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect!
Our trip was perfect. The communication lines that were established a year ago were maintained all the way up to the moment we departed on our adventure. All questions were answered promptly, and we always had the information we needed. And once we began our journey, everything went smoothly. The lodging and transfers were excellent, and the local guides were wonderful.
All air and ground transfers went off as scheduled and with no complications. It was so easy!
With regards to the lodges, Garden Lodge in Kasane was lovely, and we really enjoyed the company of the staff, particularly Gabi, our host, and our guide, Tefo. We dined with hippos on the lawn in front of us! And being able to visit Chobe by road and by water was fantastic. What a spectacular sunset cruise!
Batonka Guest House in Vic Falls was beautiful, and I am sure we would have enjoyed it even more had we stayed longer.
Africa on Foot in Klaserie (Greater Kruger) was great. It was a little more rustic than the others, but the accommodations and food were good, and the staff were friendly. We got to see the elephants drinking from the pool in camp, a rhino so close we could practically touch it, and an amazing leopard drama. And we loved getting to walk with Enoch--what a different perspective!
In Johannesburg, Rutland House with Delia was wonderful. She is such a lovely host, and the room and breakfast were excellent.
But we fell absolutely in love with Pom Pom Camp. EVERYTHING about it was beyond our wildest dreams. We didn't want to leave the tent because the view was spectacular. But then we took the game drives, boat ride, and mokoro ride, and we never wanted those to end. The food and the staff and the fire circle, the long table at which we shared meals, the night sounds, our hosts and our incredible guides, O.D. and Clifford, and the endless wildlife! I could go on and on. And each night, the sunset was spectacular, but then I didn't want it to come up too soon because it meant that we were one day closer to leaving. The whole experience was incomparable. We have vowed to go back.
As for the local guides, we were particularly fond of Mortimer and Ruth. We very much enjoyed the time we spent with them, including the transfer from Botswana to Zimbabwe; our tour of the falls, township, and the local school; and our visit to their home where we met two of their amazing children. They were extremely welcoming, knowledgeable, accommodating, and helpful throughout the duration of our stay.
Chic was just as gracious and accommodating, and we thoroughly enjoyed our tour with him. He knows the city so well, and he made getting around it so easy. Walking around with local guide Percy in Soweto was a highlight of this leg of the journey, as he is quite a character.
Truly, we would not have changed anything. Thank you, Darren and Kate. We will be back!
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great driver, cook and good quality tents. Complete service before and after the Safari.
We did the 5 day Safari to Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater. Despite it was already dry for the season, we saw the big 5 devided over the three parks. Our driver at first didn't inform us too much but he knew a lot and how more we asked, how more he talked and guided us. He was a really good driver and spotted a lot of animals. Our cook prepared lovely meals. The National Parks were beautiful and we had a lot of time to visit them all properly. Payment by card was easy and the included extra hotel overnight before and after the Safari was really welcome.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We didn't want to leave Ruaha, and part of the reason was because of our amazing tour guides!
I did a 5 day Safari with Happy World Safaris and it genuinely was the experience of a lifetime. I travelled to Dar es Salaam in mid-June 2018 and was looking for safari options all around Tanzania. After being recommended Happy World by someone on TripAdvisor, I decided to write to them to get some more information on it. I spoke directly to Joseph, who was very helpful in answering questions I had, and which parks would be best suited for me. We decided that Ruaha was the way to go. After giving him a rough budget, we built our own itinerary with his help. We were picked up at 7am from our hotel in Dar and drove all the way to Ruaha (~12 hour drive) - although it seems long, it was actually wonderful! We got to travel through the country, which is an experience in itself. Although the jeep is not very new, we were extremely comfortable! Joseph (our guide) and our driver (Alpha) were extremely friendly, helpful, funny and entertaining throughout the journey. Ruaha was beautiful! We saw a plethora of animals (even wild dogs, which were highly unexpected), and Joseph's/Alpha's knowledge was very useful. We had an all-inclusive package, with breakfast, lunch and dinner being provided throughout the safari. We had dietary requirements which Joseph eagerly accommodated us with. It was a wonderful experience and highly recommend Happy World! Thank you again, Joseph and Alpha, for a marvellous trip!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Guide Kakasii is an enthusiastic and skillful safari professional who made our experience fabulous!
When my 78 year old father wanted to check off a safari on his bucket list, and my mother refused to go, I stepped in to help. I researched exhaustively, learning as many of safari ins and outs as possible. I networked with people whose views I respect, including an American living in Tanzania working for a mission. I had a Skype session with Brenda at Tanzania Choice Safaris, and ultimately chose them with Kakasii as our guide for a 10-day custom safari. In a nutshell: BEST. DECISION. EVER.
Guide Kakasii and his wife Brenda at Tanzania Choice Safaris are top notch people offering a spectacular safari experience. Are they right for you? It depends. Do you want a personable, knowlegeable, and experienced guide who will tailor your trip to your desires? Do you want to get up and at 'em in the morning and make each day count? Do you mind getting of the main roads and driving longer to achieve a better experience? Do you want your experience cut short or diminished because of some company-mandated mileage and/or diesel limits? (Ask! Because most do this!). Do you want good value in your lodging and food choices?
When you hear Kakasii exclaim "I love my job" in his accented English, you know right away it's genuine and his enthusiasm is infectious. He's a relationship builder and you will discover everywhere you go that he is liked and respected. Those relationships matter. Guides who've built relationships talk with other guides. If one has spotted a leopard in a tree, he'll tip off his friends. Kakasii takes advantage of experience, intuition, and tips from other professionals to bring you to the most wildlife in the time you have allotted for the trip. Nothing is guaranteed, of course, because it is, after all, wildlife. But in our 9 night safari we saw everything. We started with the Big 5 and surged right past that to see things like leopard tortoise, serval cat, mongoose, dikdiks, elands. My father stated elephants as a favorite and we spent intimate time with dozens of elephants in 2 different parks. My nephew said lions was his wish and we encountered many lions in 3 different parks, many very close up, including a dramatic standoff between a lioness with 3 cute small cubs and 3 other lionesses. But maybe best of all, on our Ngorongoro Crater day Kakasii suggested we get up very early and get underway before most other safari groups. It was a brisk 45 degree morning. There were buffalo right outside our lodge. We proceeded down to the crater bottom and I could tell Kakasii was on a mission. 20 minutes later we rolled to a stop and in front of us was a single black rhino-- the last animal on our list and maybe the most emotional. Almost brought tears to my eyes. We watched it for maybe 25 minutes before it slipped out of sight into a slight gully 300 yards away. Trip made right there.
In addition to the flora and fauna of Tanzania, Kakasii also can add whatever cultural experiences you wish. We visited a Masaii village where my son and nephew participated in a welcome dance before we toured the village. Want to bring home fresh Tanzanian coffee? Kakasii knows a coffee farm where you can get 1 Kg of beans of your choice for a modest 250 TZ Shillings (about $9). Already bought all of the souvenirs you need? You don't need to stop at any souvenir stands like the other drivers will force you to do.
If you are truly interested in making what is likely a once in a lifetime safari trip the best experience it can be, then you need to speak with Tanzania Choice Safaris before you book with some other company. Tell them Mike from Iowa sent you.
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Once in a lifetime!
A special trip for a special occasion. The Fika team was able to translate our family’s wishes into a schedule that fitted us all. Game drives, sampling the diverse countryside, action and relaxation, all in one program. Seeing the big 5 is easy. Seeing Kenya made the trip exceed our expectations!
