A Safari Adventure Ranks In the Top Two

African Safari Adventure Trip Reviews - Grouped By Country & National Park Tanzania: Serengeti South Africa: Kruger National Park Kenya: Masai Mara Botswana: Okavango Delta

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Serengeti in Tanzania

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Accommodation & Duration: Camping, 5 days Safari Operator: Kilimanjaro Crown Bird Tours and Safaris 20 December 2007 Jo Collins, New Zealand Source: TravelBlog

This was Jo's second safari adventure and although she was happy with the tour operator used, she does mention that the tents were leaky. She says that although they saw plenty of different animals at the Ngorongoro Crater, they were joined by quite a substantial amount of safari trucks, making the wild seem a little too tame for her liking. She had a walk with giraffes, saw elephants and was lucky to have sighted not one, but two cheetahs at Tarangire National Park. In the Serengeti, apart from lions, they even saw a leopard clutching its dead prey in between its teeth

Accommodation: Camping Safari Operator: Savuka Tours April 2007 Kevin & Holly, Miami Source: RealTravel

Due to heavy rains, Kevin and Holly had to make do without their visit to Amboseli (Kenya), but Savuka tours refunded them for that part of the trip. At Lake Manyara they saw their first leopard, quite a rare sight and the highlight of what was otherwise a fairly average part of their safari adventure. They visited Serengeti at the same time when the wildebeests were there, which meant that there were also quite a few hunting (as well as tree-climbing) lions. Other exciting sightings included a cheetah rolling around on the ground and lions fending off hungry vultures from their prey

Accommodation & Duration: Overland camping, Four weeks Safari Operator: Absolut Africa 20 October 2006 Vicki Bohlbro Source: TravelBlog

Vicki nominated the Serengeti as one of the highlights of her four week safari adventure and probably her life. She describes the tour as their very own National Geographic channel because they saw so much. They even managed to see the ever elusive leopard eating his meal in a tree a few metres from the truck. They also saw a lion which came a little bit too close for comfort when she rubbed her back against the bumper. Camping in the Serengeti was also an exhilarating experience for her because there are no fences to separate a person from the wildlife except the canvas of your tent. And sitting next to the campfire under millions of stars was amazing...

Accommodation & Duration: Camping, Three day trip Weather: Sunshine with rainy spells in the afternoon 18 May 2006 Becs & Chris, UK Source: Real Travel

Becs & Chris had a pretty amazing Serengeti safari adventure trip as far as spotting the big cats goes. They saw a lion in a tree (A pretty rare sighting in itself) which then climbed down to join its pride and started hunting a lone wildebeest which managed to get away. Lions have a reasonably low success rate with hunts. Next they saw a leopard that had killed a Thompson's gazelle and had draped it over a branch in a tree to protect its meal. To top it all they also came across a lioness who was training her seven cubs to hunt. One of the lions collected a head butt from the surrounded antelope for its trouble and the wildebeest, even though wounded with a cut in its leg, managed to escape...

Accommodation: Tented camp Duration: Two day safari 15 May 2006 Justin & Chris Source: TravelBlog

May is still considered to be the rainy season in the Serengeti but fortunately the rains ended early this year. On the first day, Justin and Chris were very fortunate to see a marshall eagle catching a mongoose (a safari adventure is not only about seeing the big five) along with baboon, elephant, antelope, giraffe and zebra. The next day the big game was out in full force as they spotted a leopard with a freshly killed antelope up in a tree, lion, buffalo and rhino. They even managed to catch the tail end of the wildebeest migration which was an amazing experience for them as they saw thousands of wildebeest in every direction... Top - Reviews

Masai Mara in Kenya

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Safari Operator: Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) 7 July 2008 for 23 days Patty Flynn, USA Source: Review submitted

Recently Added Review!!: To Patty, the absolute highlight of her trip was in the Masai Mara when there were migrating animals as far as the eye could see. She is honest and open about service levels and although she gives credit where credit is due, vows not to use Overseas Adventure Travel in future...

Accommodation & operator: Mara Simba Lodge June 2007 for 3 days Cassi M, USA Source: Review submitted

Recently Added Review!!: After a stint of volunteer work in Nairobi, Cassi decided to do a short Masai Mara group safari. She saw some great wildlife including a leopard with kill and a lion right next to their vehicle. She gives some valuable tips to make the most of a trip to Kenya and says that the local people were fantastic to meet.

Safari Company Used: CC Africa Accommodation & Duration: Bateleur Kichwa Tembo camp Nine days November 2005 Irene & Geb Bligh Source:

This was Irene and Geb's first African safari adventure and it was nothing short of incredible. Everything exceeded their expectations and they saw some fantastic wildlife events. First up was a cheetah hunt which ended in the capture of a gazelle which is something few people have ever witnessed first hand. And then on the last day of the trip they made their way down to the Mara river where the wildebeest migration was in full swing with a large herd crossing knee deep water. They watched as a huge crocodile approached and overpowered one of the antelope... » Masai Mara safari at its finest

Accommodation & Duration: Mara Safari Club, Three days 01 September 2006 Jan Damery Source: TravelBlog

Jan arrived at the Mara Safari Club camp just in time for lunch and found the food to be spectacular. She was fortunate to be in the Masai Mara at the time of the wildebeest migration and she was staggered by the number of wildebeest and zebra that they saw. Two male giraffe were wrestling by intertwining their necks and attempting to push the other one over. The lions of the resident pride were sleeping off the effects of their last meal in the grass and for Jan this was one of the highlights of the whole safari adventure. On the second day they came across a hyena eating the remains of a baby wildebeest and two hyena cubs were trying to hide from them in a small hole they had dug...

Accommodation & Duration: Tassia lodge, Three days Weather: Mostly fine but rain in the afternoons 17 April 2006 Katie B, UK Source: RealTravel

One of the many highlights of Katie's safari adventure was seeing a pride of about 20 lions and they managed to get within 6 feet of the dozing big cats. After dinner at the lodge they were entertained by Masai traditional dancers and members of the audience were soon dancing along too. Day two highlights included a leopard sighting, some cheetah that were moving fast, rhino and elephant and at 5pm they paid a visit to a typical Masaai village which proved to be very interesting. On the last day they saw more lion and were very lucky to see a cheetah hunt and kill an impala...

Accommodation: Tented campsite Duration & Weather: Three day safari, Rain after a year long drought 09 March 2006 Lucienne & Paul Source: TravelBlog

Five hours of continual rainfall flooded the campsite but as there had been a drought in the Masai Mara for the previous year, it was a welcome relief. The early morning game drive was very rewarding with lions, cheetah, buffalo, wildebeest and a variety of antelope putting in an appearance. One of the highlights of the safari adventure was seeing a pair of mating lions and then Paul spotted a lioness that none of the other safari vehicles had noticed which meant they had her all to themselves. They had a stopover in a Masai village to learn about their lifestyle but felt it was a little contrived when the Masaai started dancing and some of the people in the safari group joined in... Top - Reviews

Kruger National Park in South Africa

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Accommodation: Orpen Rest Camp Safari Operator: Baz Bus 30 November for 4 days Emma Thomas, England Source: Review submitted

Recently Added Review!!: Emma expected she would have to "rough it" on her budget safari with Baz Bus but was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the meals and accommodations. The days on safari were long and tiring, but she urges others with plans to go on a similar safari to make the most of it as the wildlife to be sighted in Kruger makes it all worthwhile.

Accommodation: Tremisana Lodge, Marc's Treehouse Lodge Safari Operator: Viva Safaris 1 May 2010 for 9 days Cynthia Anchondo, USA Source: Review submitted

Recently Added Review!!: Fun accommodation surrounded by the sounds of the bush, set the tone for Cynthia's treehouse safari. Enjoy her recount of a safari adventure she could find no fault with, from the guide to the food and wildlife sighted. They also visited a nearby animal rehabilitation centre and got to "meet" cheetahs up close and personal.

Accommodation: Lukimbi Lodge, Kruger National Park Duration: Four days 13th - 16th April, 2008 Dorothy Dennis, South Africa Source: Review Submission

Lukimbi Lodge is situated in the southern region of the Kruger National Park. Dorothy spent a few days there and had the following to share..."The game rangers were very good although I felt they could have been more communicative when tracking. The staff were friendly, relaxed and efficient. The food was awesome and I ate traditional food as well. On a typical day we went on an early game drive (2.5hrs), came back for breakfast, then a game walk if requested or leisure time, swimming, reading etc. Then had lunch and some free time until the night drive (2.5+-hrs) and after that dinner. The wildlife highlights were a side-striped jackal, leopard and breeding herd of elephants." Dorothy rates her safari experience at 9.5 out of ten.

Safari Operator: N/A (self-drive safari) Accommodation: Kruger Camps (incl. Pretoriuskop) Duration: One week March 2008 Chris Schwalm and Haley Kalil Source: TravelBlog

Chris and Haley wanted to take their safari adventure in their own hands, so decided to go to Kruger National Park where it is not a matter of going along with a guide to the spots where game has been sighted, but one of driving through the reserve unaided by officials and tour guides with ones eyes constantly scanning the landscape in search of Africa's wildlife. Chris and Haley managed the feat of sighting game on their own quite well and were lucky to see a pair of cheetah to add to their list of lions, crocodiles, elephants, hippos and even a black mamba. They had a truly magnificent time cooking up breakfast in the bush where hyenas do not fear to tread. Along with their safari they made a few other stops in South Africa to do some wine tasting, beach exploring and cage diving with sharks. Chris reports finding it hard to contain the urge to return for further discovery (Contains some great quality photos)

Accommodation: Protea Hotel Kruger Gate Safari Operator: N/A - self-guided 27 April 2007 for 6 days Ryan Davis, South Africa Source: Review submitted

Recently Added Review!!: Ryan's Kruger self-drive safari trip report proves that you can see all the big game on your own: he counts among the animals sighted lion, cheetah, wild dog, leopard, rhino, buffalo, elephant, spotted hyena and common game.

Accommodation & Safari Operator: Exeter River Lodge, CC Africa (Sabi Sands private game reserve) Duration: Four days November 2006 Irene & Geb Bligh Source:

The Sabi Sands Game Reserve shares a border with the Kruger Park but there are no fences so the animals come and go as they please. One of the highlights of this safari adventure for Irene was coming across a pride of five male lions who started roaring loudly to locate each other. She has also been on a Kenyan safari in the past and has some very interesting insights into the difference between a safari there and one in South Africa...more »Exeter River Lodge inside scoop

Accommodation & Safari Operator: Pretoriuskop camp, Nelspruit Backpackers Duration: Three days, two nights 01 November 2006 Karl Jest Source: Travel Blog

Karl found the early morning wake-up calls (04:30 am) a little difficult to deal with at first but that is the best time of the day for game viewing on any safari adventure. And remember to pack warm clothing because even during summer when temperatures get up to 40ºC during the day, mornings can still be chilly in an open topped vehicle. Karl wrapped up in a sleeping bag and hooded jumper until things warmed up. They managed to spot all of the big five within the three days including the elusive leopard which was nice enough to pose for them a few seconds until it sauntered off into the bush...

Safari Lodge: Ulusaba - Rock Lodge (Sabi Sands private game reserve) February 2006 Rikki Harden, UK Rating: Beyond Compare Source: Review submitted

"Staying at Richard Branson's Ulusaba, Rock Lodge was like being with old friends. Delightful staff who called you by your first name; they just couldn't do enough for you. Experienced and trusted game wardens who had the knack of finding the Big Five nearly every day. Menus that still make my mouth water when I think about them. Luxury accommodation. Awesome views. Child friendly. I really really want to go back soon. PS Thanks too to their brilliant chef who sent me his recipe for Bobotie by email."

Accommodation & Safari Operator: Skukuza camp, Livingston Trails Duration: Four day safari 06 February 2006 Andras, Canada Source: Travel Blog

The Blyde River Canyon, just outside of the Kruger Park is a spectacular place to visit and Andras thought the area was beautiful. Once inside the park they had a pride of lions "escorting" the safari adventure vehicle up the road. They also came across a bull elephant that was less than friendly and threatened to charge towards them but thankfully stopped short. They also saw giraffe, baboon, wildebeest, impala, kudu and buffalo but unfortunately no rhinos or leopards...

Accommodation: Malelane, Lower Sabie and Satara camps Duration: Ten days October 2005 Bruce & Wilma Whittaker Source: African Safari Journals

In terms of animal sightings, this was the best Kruger Park safari adventure that I have ever been on. We saw leopard on two occasions, lion so close to the car that you could reach out and touch them, the elephant with the biggest tusks in the park (Duke), rhino every single day and vast herds of buffalo And that's not even to mention all the antelope, birds and smaller mammals that we saw. I think the sightings were so good because it was right towards the end of the dry season that we were there which means the animals are concentrated around the water holes and the visibility is better because the vegetation is very sparse... Top - Reviews

Okavango Delta in Botswana

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Safari operator: Africa Adventure Company Destination: Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve, Kalahari Duration: 2 weeks 11-24 March 2008 The Irving family: Carol, Blake, Griffin and Parker, USA Source: Irving family blog

It's not every day that a family with two children of school going age embarks on a year-long trip around the world. That is what the Irving's did and as part of this trip they visited Botswana. Blake writes that their safari operator outdid themselves and suggested very worthwhile stops they would have otherwise missed (the kalahari and Vic Falls). Their accommodations which they reached by chartered flights, varied from luxurious tents with hot showers, comfortable beds and even a desk, to something more basic (bucket showers) but still comfortable. Good advice they received in between camps was to "zero" all expectations. This helped them to appreciate everything on their safari adventure so much more, as their photos show. Highly recommended trip report!

Safari operator: Jenman Safaris Destination: Botswana & Namibia Duration: 21 days October 2007 Edward Camilleri, Malta Source: Review Submission

"This was our 4th visit to the region and everytime obviously we used many services, being hotels, campsites, safari companies, etc. This time we used Jenman Safaris for our safari. We were astonished by the lack of professionality that we experienced before and during the trip. They gave us wrong written visa advice, which proved very difficult to correct during our holiday. To make matters worse they were reluctant at first to help us in our problem, which originated because of the prior wrong advice by them. Many written promises in the itinerary did not materialise. E.g. we had to spend 3 days of game drives in Etosha, but only 1½ days were planned inside the park! Other excursions listed in the itinerary not done. Different vehicle used than the one written in the brochure. You couldn't open most of the windows more than 3 inches. Not even a camera could be used properly from the windows. Different itinerary given to us after we made the full payment than the one given to us when we made our deposit! I would not recommend this company to anyone else." - - Rating: Below Average Jenman Safaris' response »

Accommodation: Sandibe and Nxabega luxury Botswana camps Duration: Ten day safari trip November 2005 Joe Eder Source: Review Submission

Joe had an amazing experience on his Botswana safari and this travel report gives excellent advice and recommendations about a luxury tour to the Okavango...»Joe's full Botswana luxury safari review

Accommodation: Delta Dawn bush camp, Mokoro Island Duration: Three day safari trip 04 Aug 2006 Mike & Meghan Source: Travel Blog

Their Okavango delta trip began in the early morning when they bundled themselves and their belongings into speedboats that took them along the small winding channels lined with papyrus under sunny skies and in crystal clear water. They then transferred to mokoros which are dug out canoes powered by a man standing at the back with a long pole which he digs into the river bed for forward movement (much like the Gondolas in Venice). Mike and Meghan agreed that this ride was an unforgettable part of their safari adventure. They even saw six hippos in the water as they came around a tall hedge of papyrus. They disembarked on one of the numerous islands to go for a game walk in which they were lucky enough to see a herd of elephant, monkeys, antelope and LION...

Accommodation: Bush tented camp Duration: Three day safari trip 13 April 2006 Markim Gadabouts Source: Travel Blog

A late afternoon walk in the Okavango delta was spent following elephant tracks through the bush and after about an hour of hiking they came across a herd of elephant which they came reasonably close to (the guide wasn't licensed to carry a rifle which made the experience a little nerve wracking) On the way back they stopped at a water hole filled with hippos which they watched for half an hour. Dinner was spent next to the campfire under the stars. The next mornings game walk delivered giraffe, zebra and lots more elephant to close off an amazing safari adventure...

Accommodation: Campsite on an island in the delta Duration: Three day safari 17 December 2005 Lloyd Peter West, UK Source: Travel Blog

The best time to see an abundance of big game in the Okavango is in April/May when the delta is in flood. But Lloyd did still manage to see some amazing animals like the green mamba snake swimming across the bows of their boat, a majestic fish eagle swooping down to catch a fish and some hippo and crocodile in the shallows. They went for a ride in a mokoro which is a hollowed out canoe that gets driven along by a poler using a long stick. The water isn't very deep and the passages between the reeds and papyrus can be a little narrow so this is the best way to get around. Lloyd says that the Okavango Delta is magical and that he will definitely be back for a return safari adventure visit... Top - Reviews

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