Bella staff a wangui and a bella tour driver Richard perfected my Masai Mara Trip. It was worthful
I really wanted to tour the mara. At first I had tried doing it on my own to book a hotel and try to get my own transport unsuccessfuly (not a good idea). I decided to try Bella safaris which turned out to be the best decision i ever made. They were prompt in their response and within a very short time I was sorted. they introduced me to better hotel deals and their staff were really committed to support and give very helpful information. Wangui the staff incharge of the trip was very helpful and actually did for us everything. our tour driver Richard was very social and very informative and knowledgeable about all the animals in the part. Good service
AE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing tour
The safari and everything we were able to see was amazing, our Tour guide Janto, was the most patient, helpful person, always making sure we were enjoying the trip, answering all of our questions and taking care of us. Thank you Janto!! You are amazing!
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Truly outstanding safari experience
We reviewed many different options for safari operators over the course of several months, and ultimately went with Shemeji Safaris. Our experience was outstanding, and we would absolutely recommend them: communication, logistics, meals, comfort, the vehicle, wildlife guiding, and more were all excellent.
I’ll include more detail below, but in our positive interactions with Julius and Godson, our guide and chef, as well as in our observation of other people on safari, it became incredibly clear that we made the right choice when selecting an operator. Experience, consideration, a welcoming spirit, and concern for us having a good time made Shemeji stand out from the pack.
For reference, we opted for a six-day private camping safari for two adults. Our itinerary included Tarangire NP, Lake Manyara NP, Serengeti NP, and Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
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More detail for those who are interested:
Booking and planning – Emma, the contact at Shemeji’s office, was professional, helpful, and courteous from our first communication through our follow-up after the safari. She responded efficiently to all of our requests, and even when the office limited hours because of COVID, we didn’t wait more than two business days for an email response to questions about everything from outlets in the vehicle to payment.
Guide – Our guide for this trip was Julius, who is an experienced safari guide whose years in these parks gave him an edge in making our safari successful. He considered both my priorities (close encounters, especially with elephants) and my husband’s (as much diversity of viewing as possible), and we were able to have special moments close to animals every day, and saw nearly every animal we hoped to, including a black rhino and three leopards. A little bit of this comes down to chance, but Julius’ experience is what really made all of this happen; he knew what to look for, he assessed what we were prepared to do (use the “bush toilet”, sit in the vehicle for long periods of time patiently in search of some elusive cheetahs), and he made it happen. Julius was informative and answered all of our questions, never rushed our watching or viewing, shared his knowledge with us, and generally made this a great experience. We were blown away by how many animals we saw.
Chef – Our personal chef for the trip was Godson, and he made our trip comfortable and full of delicious food. We are vegetarians, and weren’t sure what to expect, but every meal was different and full of local vegetables and fresh flavors. Dishes were somewhat familiar, but always had Godson’s flair (carrots on pizza are fabulous), and servings were always way more than we could finish. More than once I thought about ways that I could make his dishes at home. We also appreciated the welcoming details: a Masaai blanket tablecloth even at lunchtime, hot water for tea and coffee at all meals, and always a warm smile and “Karibu.” Godson made the savannah feel like home.
One final note on Camping – We opted for a 100% camping safari, and are both extremely happy we did so. Our first two nights “glamping” included real beds in a surprisingly large and comfortable tent at a site that Shemeji’s parent company owns. The next three nights were at public campsites in or next to parks (meaning wildlife interaction, like giraffes by the parking area or an elephant drinking from a water tank!), and Shemeji went out of their way to make those sites comfortable, adding cots, sleeping mats, sleeping bags, and real pillows to the tents for us. Ultimately, it was still camping (which was our choice), yet the most comfortable type of camping I’ve ever done!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Robi my go to vacation plug, always making sure everything happens smoothly for us
I can’t complain. I was totally impressed by everything
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent experience
I enjoyed a lovely day in Soweto Musiam day tour. I would definitely book again
EG
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
AMAZING EXPERIENCE
We had a very hard time planning the Safari Trip and there were a lot of challenges until this amazing person appeared before we Ride the car to the Safari, Mrs Leina the owner of MSAFIRI TRAVELS. Meeting her was a miracle ,she turned this trip into an amazing experience, she prepared an outstanding program for us , she made sure we were comfortable as we were on our honeymoon . The best thing about her accompaning us to the safari is that she has a lot of information, knowlage and background about the country , the people and the traditions. You can never get enough of listening to the information ,stories and history of Africa ,she has . We went on a one night Safari at Selous ,It was like being in the movie Lion King. It was an unforgettable experience . We couldn't believe our eyes , going on a safari and experiencing being this close to the wild animals is just undescribable.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic 6-day Safari in Manyara, Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro!
Everything was perfect about my experience with this company:
- Timely and on point communication: Batho provided all necessary details, was always available on WhatsApp, helped with the shuttle and accommodation.
- Safari itself: Malisa (our guide and driver) has 12 years of experience and knows every corner of parks in Tanzania, is super fun and upbeat, knowledgeable and reliable. We saw a great diversity of birds and animals, including the Big 5. Malisa took time to stay with the animals and observe them, so that we not only see them but could witness a little chapter from their lives. If you stay in one place for a while, you start noticing how animals interact. It's like a wildlife theater: if you just take a picture and go you'll miss out on the often captivating plot. We also had a couple of early game drives (leaving before 6AM), which are the best, as you get to see animals active before the midday heat kicks in and draws them to a shade.
- Food and drinks: Safari crew made sure we always had 3 meals per day, always well prepared. There also always was plenty of water, beer, and wine - so we were not short on liquids either.
- Cost: I think Safari was perfectly priced, it is an excellent value for money, many times cheaper than the private safari.
- Accommodation: No concerns here either. We spent 3 nights in strong spacious tents and 2 nights in a lodge. Tents are amazing, as you stay literally in the middle of the park, with wildlife sounds surrounding you at night. It's a very cool experience.
- There were also binoculars provided.
I also emailed around 20 other companies before committing to Wakanda, so can confidently say that Wakanda compares very favourably to other offerings which are available. No regrets and strongest recommendations!
UA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
tour for 4 days - Tarangetti, Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater with camping
We chose a tour for 4 days - Tarangetti, Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater with camping. It was an incredible experience.
So many animals live in these areas. We saw a large family of lions, and small leopards, and a breakfast of lions and hyenas in Ngorongoro.
Special thanks to Florida guide and chef Chez. They made our trip as comfortable, tasty and interesting as possible.
The first stop was at a campsite with a restaurant and a swimming pool, there was little space to charge phones and cameras, but it was possible.
The next 2 nights we stayed in the national parks, everything was simple, but the necessary shower / toilet / kitchen were. In the Serengeti, showers are only with cold water, so don't procrastinate until dark with this. Ngorongoro had hot water!
The guide, who is also the driver, always tried to find us the best place for photos with animals, and to find a great 5 Africa.
Іn general, we were delighted with the trip
50-65 years of age
Fantastic
Staajabu provided an amazing service. My first tour was the 1 day trip to Kilimanjaro but it included so much more. I went to Baba's Coffee plantation where he demonstrated the whole coffee making process which was very interesting. While this process was going on, one of the tour guides provided musical entertainment. From there, we went to the Chagga caves where we learnt all about the Chagga community and how they overcame tyranny. This was followed by a walk to a fabulous waterfall, before a final rewarding view of Kilimanjaro. It was a long but sensational tour.
I enjoyed the 1 day Kilimanjaro tour so much that I decided to go on a city tour the following day and again had a wonderful experience, gaining knowledge about the country and people which I would not have known otherwise. The guides were entertaining, knowledgable and made my experience unforgettable.
The lunch was without exception, the best lunch I have had an any tour and it was such a large amount of food.
My accommodation was quite a challenge to get to and without having to ask, Staajabu offered to pick me up from my lodge which I really appreciated. This company sincerely cares about the enjoyment, comfort and experience of their clientele and go over and beyond. I couldn't recommend them enough.
I must also add that Baba's organic coffee is exceptional coffee and if you're near Arusha, you simply must tour with this company who will take you to Baba's coffee plantation for an incredible coffee experience.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great dream Safari
It has been a long time dream for me to go on a safari in Africa. I had hoped for a wonderful safari and was not disappointed. I had the time of my life in Tanzania. I did not want to leave. I saw all of the Big 5 one would hope to see plus more wonderful sights and animals then I could ever have imagined.
Bartho took care of everything including meeting me at the airport. My guide Malisa was absolutely divine and very well experienced. All of the prepared meals were superb. I would not have believed the meals where made in the field had I not seen it with my own eyes.
I highly recommend you book with Bartho for a great time.