SG
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
THE ONLY HONEST REVIEW YOU NEED TO READ
*The only review you need to read*
I recently completed an incredible Kenya–Tanzania safari, travelling from Nairobi through Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara, crossing into Tanzania for Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, before returning to Kenya for Amboseli and eventually Nairobi.
Our group consisted of photographers, and we specifically requested guides who understood how photographers work. For us, a safari is not about rushing from one sighting to another. We are willing to spend hours waiting, repositioning the vehicle, and observing animal behaviour in order to capture the right moment.
We had three different guides during the trip, and unfortunately, the experiences varied dramatically.
⭐ John — 5/5
John was our first guide, covering our time in Kenya including Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara.
From the moment we met, John introduced himself properly and gave us a clear briefing before getting started. He was punctual, responsible, responsive and, most importantly, adaptable to the way we wanted to work as photographers.
John consistently made sure we were in the best possible position for photography and was willing to adjust the vehicle whenever necessary. He also suggested suitable game-drive timings and accommodated our request to head out as early as possible so that we could maximise the prime morning hours.
He was attentive to the small details too, regularly making sure we had sufficient drinking water throughout the journey.
Our experience at Masai Mara was superb, and John set a very high standard for the rest of the safari.
⭐ Jackson — 6/5
If I could give Jackson more than 5 stars, I would.
Jackson was exceptional throughout our time in Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. He understood exactly how we worked as photographers and never made us feel rushed. Our game drives often started before sunrise and continued until just before sunset. We spent countless hours searching, waiting and positioning ourselves for the best possible wildlife encounters.
One of the highlights was witnessing the Mara River crossing. Jackson's patience and understanding of wildlife behaviour played a huge part in allowing us to experience and photograph such an incredible moment.
What made Jackson stand out wasn't just his ability to find wildlife. Along the way, he constantly shared his knowledge about the animals, their behaviour and the surrounding ecosystem. He patiently answered the many questions we had and genuinely seemed to want us to leave Tanzania knowing more than when we arrived.
He was constantly looking out for the best possible experience for us.
We left Tanzania with not only some of the best photographs of our trip, but also a much deeper appreciation and understanding of the environment and wildlife.
Jackson elevated an already excellent safari experience to another level. By this point, our group was genuinely hyped for what was still to come.
⭐ Alex M. — 1/5
Unfortunately, our experience with Alex was the complete opposite.
Alex was our guide for Amboseli National Park and subsequently our journey back to Nairobi. After having such exceptional experiences with John and Jackson, the difference was extremely disappointing.
When we boarded the vehicle at the border, there was no proper introduction or briefing. I only learned his name, Alex, through another guide.
The biggest issue was that Alex did not appear to understand how our group worked as photographers. He was frequently in a rush to move on, even when we were still taking photographs.
On multiple occasions, the vehicle started moving while members of our group were still taking photos. When we told him we were not ready, he moved off anyway. Given that we were often standing with large camera equipment on uneven roads, this was not only frustrating but also a genuine safety concern. There were several occasions where members of our group were nearly thrown off balance.
There was also a safety issue with the vehicle itself. One of the seat armrests was broken and had sharp metal protruding from it. I personally suffered a cut on my leg from it. Thankfully, members of our group found something to cover the exposed metal, which prevented further injuries.
There were also issues with the itinerary.
Our programme clearly indicated a morning game drive followed by a hot lunch at the lodge. However, when we discussed the following morning's game drive with Alex, he appeared unaware of the arrangement. After checking the itinerary, he contacted the lodge and arranged for packed lunches instead.
I subsequently had to stand at the lodge counter trying to explain that we were supposed to have a hot lunch. The lodge staff told me that their instruction from the driver was to prepare packed lunch and that I would need to clarify it with the driver.
Arranging for the next morning was another major disappointment. We specifically wanted to leave at 6:00am for the game drive, which was consistent with how we had conducted our previous game drives. Alex told us that we needed to rest and insisted that we leave later at 7am instead. After discussion, he eventually negotiated a departure time of around 6:30–6:45am.
By this point, our group was understandably frustrated.
I contacted Splendid, and Alice stepped in and resolved the matter promptly. I appreciated her responsiveness, but unfortunately, the damage to the experience had already been done.
After having such incredible experiences with John and Jackson, our Amboseli portion felt like a completely different safari. It was particularly disappointing because the rest of the trip had set such a high standard.
What made the experience even more disappointing was being asked for a tip at the end of the Amboseli trip despite everything that had happened. It's not a big amount but he definitely do not deserve any. We gave as we felt obliged to do so as he asked.
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I believe guides have a significant impact on the safari experience, especially for photographers. Patience, communication, safety awareness and an understanding that wildlife photography requires waiting and positioning are extremely important.
John and Jackson demonstrated all of this exceptionally well. Our group appreciate them so much!
Unfortunately, our experience with Alex fell far short of that standard.
NO
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable gorilla trek
We booked a 3-day gorilla trek with Beyond Travel and had an amazing experience. Communication during planning was very good, our guide was always on time, and both the trek and the accommodation were fantastic. Our guide also went out of his way with the little things, like helping me buy coffee at a local store.
The standout moment was a medical situation in a remote area. Our guide found a doctor and brought them to us, and it was covered by insurance. We were really grateful for that care.
The one area for improvement is clarity on the ground. Our itinerary clearly listed what was included, but on the trip we'd like to be able to trust our guide to take us to those things without checking the PDF all the time. A couple of times, like the last day's activity and a lunch that was supposed to be included, we had to raise it ourselves, and we weren't sure who was covering the medical costs. Nothing that spoiled the trip, but a quick "here's what's included and who's paying for what" from the team would make it a perfect 5. Still highly recommended.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We really enjoyed the safari overall and had a wonderful experience.
We really enjoyed our 5-day safari and were lucky enough to see the Big Five as well as many other animals. Our guide was friendly, although we would have appreciated a bit more information about the animals and their behavior. The campsites were mostly good, with one being a little less nice than the others. We also met some lovely people on the trip. The food was great overall, although it was a little repetitive.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
well organized
My experience was very positive. Communication was seamless and straightforward from the very beginning. Questions were answered promptly, and the quote was clearly laid out. Excellent service and great value for money compared to other group offers. I consider the agency to be very reliable.
Thanks to our good guide, Lawrence, we saw all the animals and landscapes during the safari. Unfortunately, we didn't get many explanations or facts about the animals. Personally, I really missed that. But this was the only thing that was missing :)
CH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Safari!
The safari was an amazing experience! We saw an incredible number of animals, and our tour guide Izack did an outstanding job. He was extremely dedicated, always made sure we were having a great time, and brought such a positive energy throughout the entire safari. He really made the experience unforgettable, and we would 100% recommend Izack as a guide!
The accommodations were also very good overall, apart from the first hotel upon arrival. The food was great as well, and everything during the safari itself was very well organised.
The only thing that was a little unfortunate was that the transfer upon arrival didn’t work as planned, and there was also some confusion with the initial pick-up. However, Izack really made up for it with the fantastic safari experience.
Overall, we had an unforgettable time and would definitely recommend the safari - especially with Izack as your guide!
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Incredible
10/10 experience! We had an amazing guide and a great cook to take care of us during the safari. We spotted the big cats and the big 5! We got to see all the animals we came to see, thanks to Anwar, our guide's 20 years of experience.
HK
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional guide
Value for money was excellent—we saw lions, elephants, and more without overspending. They were reliable: punctual pickups, well-kept vehicles, and a smooth itinerary. The tour itself was memorable, with beautiful parks, stunning landscapes, and good pacing. Our guide, Simba, was knowledgeable, and professional, spotting wildlife we would have missed. Overall a trustworthy, enjoyable safari. The trip felt safe and well organized, and we returned with amazing memories.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Individual and professional organisation with a wonderful good organised program with nice lodges
The organisation was very good. Our contact was extremely friendly and determined to find a good itinerary for us. We were very happy about our accommodations and the tour plan. We saw all big 5 and had very good food. However we weren’t that happy about our guide who was a bit distant. Also his driving made us a bit uncomfortable. Nevertheless he was kind.
CH
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable safari, with pre- and post-safari organisation that needs improvement
Rating: Safari experience 5/5, organisation 2/5
We booked our safari with Mountain Warriors through safaribookings.com. The trip itself was a mind-blowing, once-in-a-lifetime experience, but the organisation before and after the safari caused us a great deal of unnecessary stress and can be improved.
The organisation (Rehema)
Rehema replied quickly and promptly to our questions before booking. We paid our 30% deposit 4 weeks before the trip. Then came silence. We expected to be told the next steps and to receive flight confirmations, taxi times, driver names and phone numbers, and details of our safari guide. Instead, when we asked for the status and said we were extremely worried one week before departure, we were told to "worry less". We felt forgotten the moment the deposit was paid, and we had to chase repeatedly for information that should have been shared proactively. We genuinely feared we could be left stranded in Zanzibar with a cancelled trip and nowhere to stay.
4 days before the trip, Rehema sent us flight details to Arusha, but not to our correct destination of Seronera. She corrected this a day later. We then had to request the return flight details ourselves, and she booked the flight at that moment, which left us with a very late and unfavourable return departure. We were also only told about the luggage limits three days before travelling, which meant we had no time to manage our luggage allowances. Rehema said she would take care of the excess, and that the tour operator would kindly store it for us.
On the morning of departure, our taxi was due at 4:30 am for the long drive from Nungwi to Zanzibar airport. No taxi arrived. When we called Rehema at 4:45 am, we learned there had been a mix-up, and a few minutes later that the driver had been sleeping and believed the pick-up was at 5:20 am. We were given no name or phone number. When Abdul arrived, he asked for another traveller by name and was only expecting one passenger (we were two), so we had no way of knowing we were in the right taxi until several phone calls later. Our booking had apparently been forgotten. Abdul also knew nothing about the luggage storage Rehema had promised, and had to call her to confirm it.
When we arrived at the airport in Zanzibar, Rehema informed us that the final 70% was due in cash or card, in person, during our transit time in Arusha. This gave us no time to prepare, and we had no idea the payment was due then. On top of that, she was not at the gate in Arusha when we landed for our stopover. We waited, but eventually had to check in for our next flight. She arrived later, made several calls and chased us in front of our boarding gate, and then her card machine wasn't working. She finally agreed to send us a link for a bank transfer, something we had requested from the very beginning. The payment went through smoothly online, which makes the stress at the gate all the more unnecessary.
The safari (Victor)
Victor is the reason this trip was so special. He met us in Seronera, calmly and kindly put us at ease after a long, worrying morning, corrected one error in our itinerary, and clearly explained how the safari permits, timings and flexibility worked. He is very friendly and professional, drives safely and was always checking on our comfort. He has extensive knowledge of the wildlife and a true "eagle eye" for spotting animals and birds at huge distances. His fun facts on weights, lengths, mating habits, inter-species interactions, population sizes, history, conservation projects, international support and Maasai life made the trip about learning the region as well as seeing wildlife. The game drives and lunches were excellent, and the Serengeti and Ngorongoro are places we will never forget. We would recommend Victor to everyone.
We stayed at Warriors Luxury Tented Lodge on the first night, Ang'ata Ngorongoro Camp on the second and at Karibu Heritage House for the third. All were very comfortable, with very friendly staff and excellent food. Warriors Luxury Tented Lodge was noisy at night due to the very windy conditions.
Materuni Waterfalls (Carlos)
Carlos was a cheerful guide on a joyous day out. We enjoyed a coffee stop and lovely scenery. Because of the very late flight time booked by Rehema, we had a great deal of excess free time, but Carlos very kindly stayed with us until we left for our late flight from Kilimanjaro. Our flight was then delayed by 2.5 hours. We arrived in Zanzibar tired, but the driver was waiting with our stored luggage and kindly took us to our hotel in Stone Town.
Verdict
We would recommend travelling with Mountain Warriors, especially for Victor and the wonderful places we stayed. We hope they improve their communication and organisation before and after the safari. In the meantime, we suggest confirming flights, pick-up times, driver names and numbers, payment arrangements and luggage storage in writing well in advance.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A Great Adventure with Room for Better Coordination
Overall, we had a very good experience with Judeson Budget Safaris, especially during the mountain tour itself. Our guide was very friendly, supportive and experienced, and it was clear that he had done the mountain many times before. The porters also did an excellent job, and we always had everything we needed during the trek. The food was very good, plentiful, healthy and varied, with a nice mix of traditional Kenyan dishes. It was not a high-end experience, but considering it was a budget tour, the value for money was absolutely fair and more than sufficient for us.
The main area for improvement would be communication and coordination between Judeson Budget Safaris and the guide. At times, the organisation felt a little adventurous, and some details were not fully communicated or did not completely match what had been described in the original offer. However, these issues did not significantly affect the mountain tour itself, which ran very well overall.
All in all, it was a memorable and enjoyable experience with a great team on the mountain, and with slightly better communication and organisation, the overall experience could be even better.