US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent value and responsiveness
As a solo traveler, I joined a 7-day budget camping group safari organized by Foot Slopes that covered Arusha NP, Tarangire NP, Lake Manyara NP, Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Serengeti NP.
There are no guarantees on safari but we saw a ton and I was very pleased. The driver was friendly and knowledgeable, and the cook not only made good food but was an engaging person who made meal times and evenings fun. It was also nice that we were in a Land Rover Defender, which, in my opinion, is a far superior vehicle to the Toyota Land Cruiser that seemed to be far more commonly used by tour operators.
Overall, Foot Slopes offered excellent value for the price.
Unfortunately, some members of my group were clueless about safari rules and common sense safari etiquette and engaged in inappropriate behavior that affected other people in the group. The driver didn't put a stop to this immediately. I spoke with him twice and when he finally did something on the last day of the safari, he handled it in a less-than-ideal manner.
Obviously, a tour operator really has no way to identify clients who will misbehave beforehand, and I empathize with drivers who for obvious reasons have some strong incentives to shy away from standing up to clients, even when they behave like self-absorbed jerks.
It's easy to give 4 and 5 star reviews when everything goes well, but how companies respond to problems reveals a lot about how good they are, and on this front, Foot Slopes was fantastic. My contact at Foot Slopes was very interested in my feedback and within 30 minutes of arriving at the hotel after the safari ended, was on site asking to sit down with me to see how everything went.
He took very seriously my complaints about the other group members' behavior and I believe the company will follow through in talking to the driver so that if he ever finds himself in an unfortunate, touchy situation like this again, he knows how he should handle it.
I'm giving Foot Slopes 5 stars because despite dealing with rude safari mates, I still enjoyed my safari thoroughly, the value was very high, and Foot Slopes clearly cared about my satisfaction and the quality of its offering.
While I'm going to be very hesitant about joining group safaris going forward because of the uncertainty that is present with them (regardless of who the tour operator is), I wouldn't hesitate to do a private Northern Circuit safari with Foot Slopes in the future and plan to do so once I can round up a few friends.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
A brilliant tour for Africa virgins!
We'd been invited to visit old friends who'd emigrated to KwaZulu Natal and were looking to see more of SA whilst there - in particular, we wanted to see a game park and the Garden Route. Our choice of agent was going to be important as we were to be very dependant on their advice, so I researched the field, came down to a shortlist and finally decided on Indigo Safaris, though it was a fairly arbitrary choice.
Ines Moosmann proved to be brilliant! I only had a vague notion of what we wanted to do/see and her choice of Kariega Game Reserve was inspired - it's a wonderful place! From there, we agreed to go via Tsitsikamma, Knysna, Oudsthoorne, Hermanus, Stellenbosch and then spend 4 nights in Cape Town. Ines advised as to how long to stay in each place and booked all the accommodation which turned out to be, without exception, excellent, with a huge variety of different hotels and guest houses.
Throughout the process, Ines was responsive and helpful, answering my many questions with a positive attitude. In the event, the entire trip was a memorable experience and I'd recommend Indigo Safaris without hesitation to anyone planning such a trip.
Thanks Ines!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Close proximity to wildlife, beautful scenary and safari lodges paired with an accommodating guide.
The service was fun and friendly. The safari were outstanding as they enabled us to get close to the wildlife without disturbing them - a great eco tourism success. With the exception of one hotel, which the company moved us from, the accommodation was comfortable and homely. The communication could have been improved but overall the guide was very accommodating.
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a lifetime
Such an incredible experience. My sister and I were taken care of from before we left to when we got home. Our guide was so kind and went out of his way to make sure the trip was everything it could be. The food and accommodations well exceeded my expectations! The jeep was such a great safari vehicle, and we had amazing wildlife viewing opportunities. Thank you Odyssey for an experience I will never forget!
FR
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic safari!
Tired of the evasive answers we got (or not) from other sites we looked for to organize our safari, we found Tazama African Holidays. Anthony Gitau responded immediately to our email and phone calls. He seems available 24/7! Anthony is punctual, reliable and very professional. Good advice, listening to our requests, even if they make changes to the planing of the day. His choice for our accommodations was excellent: a high standard for a very reasonable price (compared to other safari operators). Nothing to complain about, no negative criticism. Excellent value. No hesitation, we will go back in the wilderness with Anthony. Gilles and his wife, from France: a week in Nakuru and Masai Mara, beginning of October 2018.
CN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
wonderful tour in namibia
i would like to highly recommend Bluecrane safari , which provide us a perfect tour in Namibia.
Our guide and driver Sammy, is professional and have experience. we enjoy wonderful tour in desert and deadvlei.
Sammy also brings us surprise when we just start tour at 1st day, a free wifi is available in our car! amazing!
Derek Jacobs, arranges whole tour for us with caring, selects good location lodge, Great!
it’s real a wonderful tour, the only regrettable thing is tooo short.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Hassle Free Travel
Andrew Malalika from Jackpot Tours was amazing not only did he arrange a safari & airport transfers for me (a solo female traveller). But he is a solutions man... on the way to the airport I realised I had left my passport at my friends house !!!! Panic set in, Andrew was calm & advised that the best option was for my friend to get a pikipiki guy (they use motorbikes) to deliver the passport, as they are able to avoid the traffic jams
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great safari
October 2018
We began looking for a Safari and found the “sea” of companies confusing and exhausting. Because we have done Safari’s in the past, we knew what we wanted. We attempted to speak with many agencies and the first thing most companies wanted was “our budget”, nothing about what we wanted to do on the Safari. Or an agency would send a “cookie cutter” plan.
By chance we found TAZAMA AFRICA HOLIDAYS with ANTHONY GITAU. He was the director of the agency and our driver/ guide too! We exchanged one email and after that spoke directly to him on the phone. We sorted out together what the package would consist of. He was very clear as to what would be included and what would not be concluded, no surprises. Whenever we called him he picked up the phone, imagine that! We were sold after that!
Throughout the Safari with Anthony to Lake Nakuru and Maasai Mara, he delivered EVERYTHING he promised plus more. We enjoyed a 7 day safari with him. He drove an comfortable and good functioning land cruiser for the duration of our trip. He has an excellent command of the english language.
He was very knowledgeable about the cultures of Africa, the animals, etc. We shared many good conversations with him.
He choose for us amazing, luxurious accommodations, that cared for our every need.
He was honest, punctual, professional, very flexible, kind, genuine, and always concerned about how we were doing.
Avoid the agencies that charge you Thousands of dollars for the same package. Use TAZAMA AFRICA HOLIDAYS with ANTHONY GITAU and rest assured you will get what you asked for. Without any hesitation, I will give his name to all my friends and fellow travelers, and return for another trip with him.
We cannot thank him enough!
FR
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing and instructive three days safari to Serengeti and Ngorongoro parks
Everything went very well with this tour organized by Adam , manager of Afrozone Kingdom Safaris . We met wih pleasure at my hotel at the beginning and the end of the safari . Hilda was a good cook and made for us delicious and tasty meals especially her soup... even the lunch box was satisfying . Freddy was a careful driver and a good guide , he gave us a lot of information about the animals , birds etc.. Both were friendly and helpfull .We saw the big 5(only the back of a black rhino very far away..) In the Ngorongoro crater we saw hundred of wildbeest . We saw several lions , a cheetah lying on a branch and many others animals , birds(amazing ostriches , etc..) The last day an elephant cross the Simba campsite... Thanks to Adam who was friendly and competent to organize this safari . I recommend Afrozone Kingdom Safaris , a serious and reliable company .
KR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The most excellent decision in Kenya trip
Actually I and my wife were nervous a bit, since it was our first visit not only in Kenya, but also in Africa. So even after reading so many reviewes of over 10 companies really carefully for some days in planning my schedule in Kenya, it was not easy to choose the one. (I could find really many tour companies with reviews on online, and safari tour was the most important for my african trip...) That was Beacon finally, and this decision was the most excellent one I made during this vacation.
Eric, our driver and guide, was really gentle and professional. He was able to answer any questions of us about animal, plant, life and culture in Kenya and safari. His driving was also perfect and we are suprised that he really knew all the paths and alleys even in savana, so it made us see all the wild animals(without only leopard!!!) and enjoy the long way move even on off road, "African Massage."
My trip was private for me and my wife, and for 4 days including masai mara, nakuru, and naivasha. The best way to enjoy safari tour is just following Eric's guide, (then he would show everything of wild savana), I'd like to recommend to take boat tour and walking safari (it's optional) if you are planned to come by lake naivasha in your itinery. It will be special.
I wish to visit safari again some day, I promise it would be beacon again. I want to say thanks here again to beacon and Eric(to Robert, also).