US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
WOW! Still on a high from the experience and hope to never come down!
My husband and I returned at the beginning of June (2018) from an awesome trip through Kanyezi Safaris! Chris and Michael (Father and Son) are great guides and we had the most amazing experience! A few days in Cape Town (seeing penguins, the Indian Ocean, Table Top Mtn, wine tasting, a trip to Robben Island, etc., etc), then to Sabi Sands Reserve for 2/day safaris (more impressive and awe-inspiring than you can begin to imagine...my walls are now filled with animals, beautiful sunsets and my favorite memories) and then we finished up in Zimbabwe (Victoria Falls - AMAZING! And more animals!). Communications were a bit confused at times prior to our departure, but Chris and Michael were always ready to take our calls and answer any questions we had...and we had a lot! Each one was answered so personally, making us feel as if we knew these two before we set foot in Africa!
Chris met us at the Airport in Cape Town (with flowers) and we were put at ease right away! I highly recommend them! One of the people traveling with us was doing this for the 2nd time and she was traveling alone. I think that speaks to how they run things....We were very well cared for! They are a small company and, as such, they treat their clients as if they're family! It was everything we were promised, and more. The photos we took on safari left me feeling like I could have been working for National Geographic. It was, as they say, a trip of a lifetime! The accommodations (especially at Sabi Sabi) were perfect! The guides and trackers are so knowledgeable and humble. I was so impressed with the knowledge they had. Wish everyone could experience what we did! I truly cannot make a higher recommendation!
DE
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Informative and pleasant day-trip around Nairobi
After a conference, I had 1 free day to spend in Nairobi. Hallmark Travel Planners made several suggestions of which I chose the National Park, Giraffe Center and the house of Karen Blixen. The driver/guide Josphat was punctual and friendly and very knowledgable about the animals to see in the Park, their habits and behaviour. We had ample time in the Park and still enough for the other attractions, so the tour was well planned. It was an excellent experience.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
It was a safari of a lifetime and exceeded all of our expectations!
I have so many wonderful things to say about Walter and Safari Online that I don't even know where to begin!
Our mom grew up in Central and South Africa so we had visited the continent many times. My sister and I wanted to take our teens and husbands to Africa to experience the magic. We had a limited budget but big and specific expectations and by some miracle Walter was able to manage both.
For a couple years we had been looking around for safari companies and Safari Online was the most reasonably priced outfit we could find.
That being said, this did not feel like a budget safari at all! In fact our kids marveled at how posh the experience was. We have traveled a lot throughout the world and most people in our group agreed that Gibb's Farm was the most beautiful place we had ever been. Then our tented safari was wonderful as well! Amazing food, attentive service and beautiful tents.
Walter's attention to detail was amazing. Whenever we had a transfer, we never had to wonder who was picking us up - it all worked seamlessly.
Additionally, our group had some unique medical needs during the trip. With only a phone call Walter made arrangements for medication to be delivered to various camps.
And on the last day we decided to spend some time in Dar Es Salaam and again, with a quick email Walter arranged for a driver for us.
Walter was always so friendly and accommodating. Before the trip we had a ton of questions, dozens of emails and a few changes and Walter always seemed to happy to help us.
Arranging a safari through an online service could have been a disaster. But we ended up having the best safari we've even been on!
A HUGE THANK YOU TO WALTER AND EVERYONE AT SAFARI ONLINE!
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
I had an excellent experience !! The team is amazing and the safari's are a die for.will definitely
A service above the rest!! The guides use perfect English.I had a wonderful time experiencing something different from my culture and with very friendly people.
IE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Serengeti - Unforgettable trip, the perfect guide
Helena,
Sorry for the delay in coming back to you. I had intended to email you as soon as we got home to let you know how wonderful the trip was but somehow the time has slipped by. We had the most wonderful honeymoon. We couldn't have had a better time. Martin was our guide and was perfect for us. He had eyes like a hawk and ears like a bat.
He seemed to have a sense of what the animals would do next and always got the perfect spot for us to park. We seen a large number of safari providers and were constantly grateful that we booked with It Started in Africa. Some of the other guys were driving dangerously and flying from one thing to the next. Martin took it pole pole and we got to relax and enjoy all the wonderful sights around us.
We were lucky to see the big five and two cheetah's. Martin was focused on showing us as much as he could during the day and ensuring we got to see the big five. Some stand out moments were a herd of Elephants chasing a pack of lions, a male lion protecting his kill and some vets pulling a tranquilized Rhino by the tail to bring him to the ground.
We were extremely happy with the accommodation you picked for us. In particular Manyara wildlife safari camp. It was beautiful, the views were fabulous, the staff extremely friendly and helpful and the food was high quality. We only wish we could have stayed there another night to make use of the pool.
I really can't put into words how much we enjoyed our time with Martin. He was very knowledgeable, thoughtful and kind. He was able to bring me to the doctor in central Serengeti when I a reaction to some mosquito bites and regularly checked up on me to make sure I was ok.
We will put a review letting people know what a great company you were to deal with.
Thanks for all your assistance organizing our trip of a lifetime.
Vanessa and Marius
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Personalized adventure of a lifetime
As first time safari-goers we were a bit hesitant booking everything on-line ourselves. We reached out to several KATO certified companies to see what kind of response and itineraries were available. Verah and Esther at Aardwolf were excellent in communicating with us, offering suggestions and ensuring we had the best options for our tastes. They worked with us to plan the trip we wanted rather than fit us into a pre-planned package. After numerous itinerary updates and revisions, the final schedule was set and the money sent.
Everything was arranged exactly as planned. It was amazing. We had such a good time with our driver Thomas in Kenya, who kept us on track despite some very long days and rough terrain. Our private safari was beyond all expectations: from the animal encounters (which were way better and closer than we would have imagined) to the camps selected (which were amazingly comfortable) to the food (delicious and plentiful).
Even on the transfer day when we were stuck in the mud for hours, Thomas kept in touch with the Aardwolf office to ensure everyone knew what was going on and we could stay on schedule to the greatest extent possible.
We were truly happy with everything Aardwolf did for us, and do not hesitate to recommend to anyone looking to book a safari. Thank you!!
IT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Northern Circuit (short)
Tanzania Roadside did an excellent job, tailoring the safari to our specific needs. The service was faultless and met our expectations to the highest degree. The tour was very satisfying, although we could not see all the big five (but one cannot book a meeting with lions on demand). The driver/guide was very capable and informative. Also appreciated was the possibility to define timing and itinerary within the parks according to some requests.
JP
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Spirit of Kenya delivers ... from start to finish.
Spirit of Kenya delivers ... from start to finish. My wife and I just finished 3 weeks in Kenya with 12 days of well invested time being with Spirit.
It all starts with their quick, detailed and friendly responses in the planning stage. There is no question they could not answer, no problem they could not solve and no request they could not accommodate.
From the pickup at our hotel in Nairobi, it was nothing but non-stop laughs and informative input about Kenya as a country, the history, the wildlife and the parks themselves with our ace driver Simon. He was like a living breathing version of Wikipedia, and knew boundaries well. He knew when it was time to join in and when it was time to give us space, and the man would simply not rest until he knew we were satisfied and all logistics had been sorted for the following day.
We took on about 7 National Parks / Reserves (Nairobi Park / Elephant Centre / Giraffe Centre / Lake Nakuru / Masai Mara / Lake Naivasha /Hell's Garte / Amboseli / Tsavo West ) and it was worth it to see the variation of landscape and the difference in animals. Simon has this uncanny ability to know where the animals would be before the animals themselves did. We were in a constant state of being surrounded by elephant herds or alongside lion prides. The number of animal crossings we had to wait for were countless. There wasn't a single animal we were hoping to see that we missed out on. He had us parked beneath a tree with sleeping leopard within minutes of entering the Mara. He seems to be mates with every driver in Kenya and this works to his advantage in getting tips where to look for wildlife. Also worthy of mention is how mad some roads in Kenya can be and how smoothly he navigated them - let alone Nairobi and Mombasa traffic. Always felt safe.
We also had a superb time visiting a Masai Village which was a far cry from touristy - this was the real deal- with no harassment or overpriced costs. We learned so much.
The accommodation process itself allows for a lot of choices and more often than not Spirit upon our inquiries pointed us in the direction of cheaper places they they thought would be to our liking. And it all comes with zero pressure. We had no problems with any of our lodges. That and Simon seamlessly timed all game drives with meal and break times. We were never a minute late for anything, did everything and missed nothing. Spirit is the way to go. Would use them again in a heartbeat.
HK
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic Trip, Excellent Company!
I am a solo traveler have just returned from a 2 weeks holiday in Namibia - the 14 days North and South accommodation trip with Wild Dog Safaris was fantastic from start to finish! It was an awesome experience I enjoyed so much!
Elsie, my tour planner representative was very helpful and responsive. She replied emails promptly and arranged all bookings & payments professionally
Our guide, Willem (North) and Markus (South), were first class and extremely knowledgeable of animals, birds, Namibian cultures, and zoology. Willem always had a pair of eagle eyes and could spot out animals far away. The variety and number of wildlife seen in Ethosha NP was very impressive. Markus, was knowledgeable about Namibia histories and geology. Both are excellent drivers & guides
The accommodations were all very comfortable with friendly & helpful staffs. Food was great all along with options to cater vegan, vegetarian, kosher, plus other specific needs. The vehicle provided was comfortable and excellent for game viewing and photography.
I particular like Wild Dog's itinerary which covered all highlights in Namibia with a mixed balance of activities in safari, cultural historical visits, coast, desert & dune experiences, canyon walk, some exploration in petrified forest, rock engraving, and fossil sites etc. Namibia is a beautiful country with stunning scenic all along the drives and worth the miles
Everything went well on the trip, i was well looked after. All cost and fees were upfront, all queries answered clearly. Good value and great team front to back - I highly recommend Wild Dog Safaris to everyone!
Thank you Wild Dog Safaris for giving me such a spectacular and memorable trip. Namibia has rated the #1 scenic country that i have traveled so far!
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Magical Moments - Amazing Safari - Excellent Experience - incredible Service from Start to Finish
First of all we would like to say THANK YOU to all of the Guys from Meru Slopes - especially to
Geoffrey, Emanuel, Benson and Richard!
It was definitely more than we ever expected!
Review:
We have booked the Kilimanjaro Trek to Mandara Hut and a 6 Day Camping Safari (Trangire, Serengeti, Ngorogoro, Lake Manyara).
It was perfectly organized from the day of arrival to the day of departure.
Therefore it should be made particular mention to the Service.
The Crew from Mero Sloopes was very good and professional, from the pickup/drop off (Emanuel) and the preparations for the safari (Geoffrey) as well our Guide (Benson) and Chef (Richard).
Unforunaltey regarding the bad weather we had no view to the peak of the Kilimanjaro - therefore the tour was not worth it for us.
But our Safari was amazing! We were a group of five people and for this time it felt like we were a little family. Our Guide Benson had over 10 years of experience, and he knew everthing regarding the Flora and Fauna. We saw countless animals, including the big 5.
Our Chef Richard was also excellent! For the meals he prepared for us in only one word needed - DELICIOUS.
Conclusion:
Lake Manyara was our last Day and to be honest it wasn’t so good. We also visited a Massai Village. But there we felt uncomfortable.
We would recommend the other natitional parks especially Serengeti and Ngorogoro.