Kenya & Tanzania Safari

Honestly, this review can’t even possibly come close to expressing what this trip meant to us! I have taken a bit of time to write this review. We went back in July-August 2024. It has been hard to write a review that would do this trip justice, but I am going to try.

From start to finish, it was beyond our dreams! So let’s start at the beginning. We started working with Antoinette with Discover Africa in December 2023. Lucky for us, we found her by accident doing some research. We talked to others but really connected with Antoinette and decided to take a leap of faith in her. Thank goodness we did! She was the “Queen” of this trip, if you will! If it wasn’t for her, this experience would never have happened. I can’t express enough thanks to her and her team! She NEVER got impatient with us. Even with all our “stupid” questions. She answered all of our questions patiently. She never lost focus. She is a source of incredible knowledge and personal experience. She designed a fantastic bucket list trip for us! Every detail was thought out! She is a gem, and if you are lucky enough to get to work with her, you will not be disappointed!

Our trip was focused on the country of Tanzania. What an absolutely beautiful country and beautiful people! From the landscapes to the people and the animals, you should see this amazing country! (Kenya has nothing on Tanzania!)

We started our adventure in Kilimanjaro. We were picked up by Freddy, an Anderson and Harvey representative. He had the most smiling face to welcome us into the country. After a 30+ hour journey, it was well received! We asked him for a coffee place, and he took us to a stand since he is a tea drinker; he was a little at a loss but was very tasty. Onwards to our lodge. Stayed at the Kaliwa Lodge. Very pretty in the treetops over looking the river. With the abundance of foliage, it was hard to see the river but could hear it. Food was incredible, and staff were really nice and attentive. We tried to “hike” Kilimanjaro, I use this word loosely, to the first base camp. We made it halfway. It was a wonderful experience. Our guide was Kester who works with the lodge. He was so fun. I think he was a bit worried with us but we made it! We learnt about his life and what movies he liked. Great way to kick off our trip.

We were picked up from Anderson and Harvey transfers and met Charles for the first time. On the way, Charles treated us to a “respectful” coffee! He was such a delight. We loved talking politics to him. Learnt about his family and his job.

We met Charles a few times throughout the trip. He was a great representative for Anderson and Harvey. He brought us to Siringit Villa. That place is incredible! Beautiful grounds. The food is 5-star! People come from all around to eat there. The service was impeccable. The spa and the golf were fantastic. We spent one of our days visiting the Arusha National Park with Allen from Anderson and Harvey. The brush is incredible and thick. We had a picnic lunch and just a great conversation getting to know Allen and seeing the park and the animals. Really a nice relaxing stay to get ready for the push through to the Serengeti.

Next on our stop was the Arusha Coffee Lodge. Unfortunately, only 1 night at the Arusha Coffee Lodge. I wish it could have been more! The room was gorgeous. We were treated to an excellent dinner. And the breakfast was incredible! The arts and crafts are fun to watch them make and to shop.

Enjoying our trip immensely to this point, as I reflect, this is the point where our adventure really began!

We meet Penuel. He was our guide for the next 11 days. Starting from the Tarangire National Park, through the Ngorongoro Crater, into Central Serengeti, finishing in Northern Serengeti. That is a statement… meeting Penuel. He is a force of nature. He is an astounding guide! From his incredible sightings to all his knowledge. He is a true ambassador of the culture, environment, and all the creatures. His patience is unparalleled to anyone. His comprehension of the terrain and the roads was stupefying (not like there are road signs). His witty sense of humour and his sarcasm endeared him to us right away. We are in debt to Penuel for forever! What he showed us there are no words. He means the world to us! Thank you, Penuel!

Every place we stayed along the way, mentioned below, was beyond belief! From the service to the food and drinks to the breathtaking rooms! You do not want for anything! They surpassed any expectations that we might have had! We thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of our wonderful camps.

All 5-star experience:

• Elewana Tarangire Treetops
• Melia Collection Ngorongoro
• Nimali Central Serengeti
• Nimali Mara Northern Serengeti

Our trip ended in Zanzibar at Essque Zalu Zanzibar. This island is very cultural. Be respectful! Had a nice time unwinding from the rush.

If you made it this far, thank you! Spectacular Trip!

My experience was wonderful. Matthys helped us to plan the trip to see great wildebeest migration. The timing was planned perfectly, the trip arranged in detail. In addition, Matthys always answered our questions timely and expertly before and during our trip. Each camp we stayed was beautiful with friendly staff. The Cliff is highly recommended with stunning views of the lake.

I had an amazing trip thanks to Discover Africa. I stayed 4 days on the island of Zanzibar and 9 days on the Tanzanian mainland. Meghan initially contacted me, and we scheduled a zoom call. I explained what I was interested in doing and a few days later she had a proposed itinerary with an estimated cost. We coordinated the trip through emails, and she was very diligent in getting back to me right away to answer my questions.

Megan planned everything for me such as making flight reservations, having someone pick me up the airport, hotel reservations in Zanzibar and the 4-day safari accommodations. She gave me her personal WhatsApp number in case I had any questions or needed help with anything. I was traveling solo, so having someone to help me in case I had any problems gave me such peace of mind. Her attention to details made the trip go as planned without any problems whatsoever. The accommodations were just as advertised and the safari amazing.

Joining a safari for one proved to be challenging in 2020. Once I was contacted by Adelle at Discover Africa, she found me safaris I didn’t even know existed from internet searching.

I couldn’t have done it without her! It’s definitely better to have someone on the ground in Africa helping you. I will certainly use them in future Africa travels. The experience once I made it to Tanzania was seamless, and I had local contact numbers in case I needed them. The quality of safari booked was also excellent.

Truly a trip of a lifetime. Adelle at Discover Africa also followed up with me after the safari. They really want to make sure you’re satisfied. Excellent!!!

Megan did a great job working with me to customize the exact trip that I envisioned. She made recommendations about things that I did not know about and helped me to assure I got the right mix of rugged to luxury.

I was met by excellent guides and drivers that spoke English well and made me feel safe throughout the trip. The transports were arranged from the time I got off the flight to Africa and until I got back on the plane. All legs of the trip were covered and went seamlessly. The guide for Kilimanjaro had been trained by the African National Parks and knew about the animals, the climbing routes and health issues that can occur. He was a wealth of great information and a very competent guide. The driver / guide for my safaris also was trained by the National park system and spoke English.

There was never a time where the drivers or transports were not on time or made me feel like I was not safe and well cared for. The lodges and tent camps were a mix of luxury to rugged and I enjoyed the mix. Megan smartly booked a second night at a lodge before all my adventures began as I was scheduled to arrive late in the evening. Flying to Africa is quite the ordeal so having critical rest time upon arrival is really important to making sure you are prepared for the rest of the adventure.

One thing I wish I had done was book an overnight in Amsterdam on my way over and on my way back. Having 3 flights and 2 of them 8 hour flights that are back to back, having a night to rest in Amsterdam would have been wise for me. I would highly recommend Discover Africa. They are well known and respected in Africa. My luggage was lost on the way to Africa and Discover Africa, while not responsible for this error on the airlines fault, did help me to locate my bag and get it to me before my Kilimanjaro climbing began.

Unforgettable trip!

I am an avid traveler, I love to discover new places and see new things. It didn’t take long for me to put Africa on my bucket list of places to visit with an African safari as a top priority bucket list activity.

I’ve visited other websites and have even communicated with their employees, unfortunately, I didn’t have good experiences with some of them. So upon planning my first safari, I came across Discover Africa & true to their name, they did help me discover a part of Africa.

My correspondent was Karl, and I have to say that he was very efficient, I laid out the specifications for him and he quickly managed to create an itinerary for me. Things were smooth from the planning stage, to the tour itself, to the return. I had a wonderful time and I can confidently recommend Discover Africa for your first (or next) trip to Africa. Africa is certainly a unique continent full of wonder.

My first trip was a combination of two East African countries, Rwanda & Kenya. It was a great combination as there was a stark contrast between the two countries.

Rwanda was a lush, green, mountainous region where farms galore. Kenya had a somewhat harsh, arid landscape. The gorillas and golden monkeys were Rwanda’s flagship attraction so I didn’t dare to miss the opportunity to see both. Some people opted for 2 gorilla treks as opposed to one gorilla & golden monkey trek, and I simply don’t recommend that. There is beauty in both encounters & a contrast in behavior as well. The gorillas were generally more reserved and shy while the monkeys were playful and mischievous. The rules of both encounters differ as well & you had a bit more freedom with the golden monkeys. Rwandans are a very welcoming, friendly people & I lost count of how many times we got smiles, hellos and waves as we drove past them. On one occasion, a couple of cute children did a little cultural dance and song for us.

Kenya was beautiful in it’s own way as well. I stayed at the Governer’s Camp at the Maasai Mara & the experience was nothing short of unique. A 45 minute flight will take you away from society and into the wilderness where the camps are located. You will be greeted by gazelles, giraffes, baboons & zebras upon arrival & transferal to the camp. You will enjoy the escape from civilization, you will enjoy waking up to the grunts and roars of animals as opposed to the grunts and roars of vehicles, you will enjoy viewing the wildlife you may have seen in zoos, only this time in their natural habitat. Having breakfast while marveling at the gazelles & zebras on the horizon is an alluring experience and beats all the dinner nights I’ve had watching my favorite TV shows. If you get the chance, opt for some Kenyan coffee, it’s a pleasure to the senses and the best I’ve ever tasted (and I’m not much of a coffee person).

One thing to keep in mind is that this is nature, experiences will vary from one person to the next, there are no guarantees in the wild. But I can guarantee that you will have a great overall experience. My favourite moment was witnessing the very end of a river crossing by a zeal of zebras as it rained over the Mara river. A zebra met it’s end at the jaws of a crocodile. Our driver brought us closer to witness the spectacle of a bask of crocodiles engaging in a feeding frenzy like nothing I’ve ever seen. All of this while a rainbow arched over us.

Truly awe inspiring.