Travel reviews by JMKPBJ from USA

"Our guide from Nomad, Sia, picked us up at the airport for transfer to Rivertrees at night. She was a gentle, kind first impression! Lovely welcome by staff w/ warm cloth and escort to our room.

Accommodations were comfortable and the food was delicious. Staff were plentiful and always available.

The juice was magnificent!

We left the next morning with our guide for a tour of Arusha, visits to the Cultural Art Gallery, coffee plantation, and lunch. These experiences were wonderfully interesting, but took up much of our day. A visit to the Arusha National Park is our only regret as we heard later in our trip of its magnificence and options of canoeing and other activities.

We also did not have time for an authentic open market visit which was on the wish list. We probably could have arrived at the Katambuga House later and fit in another activity."

"The staff at Katambuga House were fabulous!

Jon was attentive and willing to chat with us at length about the area, culture and experience living in Tanzania. Our arrival included a warm welcome by staff with a fresh juice and tour of the lodge.

The lodge is remote and while beautiful, we felt we could have arrived a little later and seen more of the Arusha culture and area rather than sit at a pool until dinner. One of our goals was to learn as much about the people and culture of Tanzania as possible, yet there was little to read access on our own. The food and service was wonderful! The accommodations beautiful and comfortable with a beautiful, yet private view of the property.

We stayed one night here. In retrospect, two nights at the same lodge even if it did not include the Katambuga House, would have been preferable to minimize transfer and allow for more activities during our brief time in Arusha.

We realized after our visits to all the camps that the majority of staff live in Arusha and it would be interesting to learn why they live here and see different parts of this popular city rather than only the ‘tourist’ stops. Of note, Sia our guide in Arusha from Nomad, did take us to a wonderful place for lunch! I asked her to take us somewhere SHE goes for to eat! We learned to make polenta bowls w/ our hand and eat chicken and vegetables w/ the polenta. Fabulous experience!"

"We were met at the airstrip by our guide, Emmanuel, and instantly felt a connection to his kind spirit and knowledge.

Over the course of three days our friendship developed and we had many wonderful conversations about animals, culture, Tanzania, and family. We laughed and were eternally grateful for his patience in leading us to my lost phone at a lion kill!

Emmanuel was clearly an experienced guide w/ a plethora of knowledge about animals in the Serengeti (and other locations throughout Tanzania) and their behavior. He persevered in locating specific sightings with us and worked w/ his colleagues to provide as many rich and diverse viewings as possible. We always felt safe and comfortable with Emmanuel and a genuine respect for the wildlife was always evident.

The staff at the camp was fabulous! Such kind and attentive people were a wonderful introduction to our adventure. Truth be told…it was hard to remember names, but everyone was patient with us. Our escort, Tutu, was a very special man who despite speaking almost no English, was so enjoyable to spend our brief travels to and from our tent with. We taught each other Swahili and English terms for ‘slowly, slowly’ and ‘chop, chop’! This brought laughter between two people despite a language barrier!

The accommodations were fabulous! The tent was very luxurious and the shower experience such a treat! Having someone tend to your hot shower outside your tent by filling buckets with hot water then giving you the signal to open the shower valve by pulling two chains was so authentically rustic, but invaluable to the ‘mobile theme’ of this type of camp."

"Entamanu Ngorongoro was a unique and wonderful part of our Tanzanian safari journey.

The drive from the airstrip to the lodge was eventful as we meandered our way along the park road that ascended the crater. The view from the rim of the crater was magnificent and only a microscopic prelude to the wildlife we saw the next day during our game drive through the crater. The lodge was stunning - a view of the crater and vastness of the country. Staff and accommodations were superb with the art of attentiveness and kindness at every corner.

Our guide was knowledgeable and personable with a quiet and respectful nature to his personality. We saw many, many animals and learned a great deal about animal behavior from him. The nature walk with a Maasai and ranger got us out in the bush for a much-needed walk with stories of the bush and discoveries of skulls. Our visit to the local Maasai village was a highlight as they welcomed us with dances and contests inviting us to join them. Kind and welcoming people...I would have enjoyed meeting the children and seeing more of their village and way of life.

Overall, our few days here were very enjoyable."

"Absolutely wonderful experience at Ikuka Safari Camp!

From the welcome as we entered the camp property to the community cocktail time and dinners to the incredibly delicious food to the dreamy accommodations! I found my dream bathroom overlooking the wilderness - listening to elephants munch on trees while brushing my teeth!

Habibu, our guide, was phenomenal with his wealth of knowledge, kind spirit, and sense of humor. Throughout a few precarious moments with up close lions and elephants, our safety was always in check thanks to his assuring words and calm.

Mark and Chevy and all the staff were so fun to get to know and learn of their personal stories related to the lodge, their journey to Tanzania, their homes and families, and their commitment to preserving and sharing the beauty of Ruaha.

The decor of the camp was impeccable and the service wonderfully consistent."

"Sand Rivers Camp was luxurious and incredibly beautifully located on the Rufiji River. The setting overlooking the river with the hippos talking in the background was relaxing and a nice conclusion to a busy 10 days of previous safari adventures.

We requested less safari focus on the pursuit of big cats to more diverse viewing and activities. The accommodations were none short of spectacular with a gorgeous view of the river and outdoor living. The staff was superb and another opportunity for community dinners was a wonderful touch to get to know the staff, and the few additional guests, and lucky for us to dine with the founder of the camp and his son for two days. They shared many wonderful stories and contributed to the relaxing conversational tone of the evening.

We participated in a walking safari which was superb with a ranger/guide and our guide. The ranger/guide was fascinating to watch as he lead the way into the bush listening and keenly watching our surroundings for things of interest and potential dangers...he was spot on hearing a bird call alerting the lone buffalo of our proximity. We diverted our path and all was good!

Our guide was personable and exciting, however, his experience of fewer years was evident in the approach during drives sometimes chasing an animal or tossing a stick in the air to elicit a movement. This impacted our respect and trust in the guide, particularly regarding safety. While we were never put in danger, the concern existed that choices could be made with less than favorable results. The boating safari was very nice, but it was somewhat anxiety-producing due to the crocodile-infested waters and tenuous hippo behavior. Fishing was experienced with the catch of the day being three crocodiles!

The food and service were wonderful and the best hibiscus iced tea ever made was enjoyed! Sarah was most personable, kind-spirited, and interested in learning about the guests and how to best meet their desires.

All in all...a wonderful ending to a fabulous two weeks!"