It was amazing. How lucky was I That there were only 2 other guests. The best thing about it was our guide Godliving. He was the smartest, well versed , caring and so loyal to gate 1. There wasn't a question he couldn't answer regarding the animals, the birds and the trees. He was the 1st to spot an animal far-off in the distance and other guides were quick to follow him. You are so lucky to have him representing you and caring for your clients.... He really made the trip so fabulous. I hope your other guides working for gate 1 are half as good as he.

We recently completed the Discovery Tour of Tanzania. Our guide, Godliving, was awesome, amazing, outstanding - one of the best guide we have had on our travels with Gate One (and we have done many). He ensured his Gate One Family was well taken care of the entire trip, including all the small details as well as meeting all the expectations each of us had for the trip. He was knowledgeable, entertaining and very willing to share anything and everything with us - including personal information about his family. He made us very comfortable and relaxed. Not only was our trip memorable for all the animals he spotted (all the big five), the unique experiences we encountered (vultures/hyenas feasting on a dead zebra) but also because of our guide. A special thanks to Godliving!

This trip has been on my bucket list for some time, and I have to say, it fulfilled all those expectations! Our guide, Philip, was absolutely fantastic. He was so knowledgeable about every aspect of the trip: animals, birds, geography, history, people, but more importantly was so good at explaining and anticipating needs, that you felt completely at ease and safe. The remarkable country speaks for itself and I have to say nature cooperated beautifully! Thanks to Gate1 for providing a great opportunity!

Our trip to South Africa was wonderful, but over and above what we saw, where we stayed, and what we experienced, was our tour manager Renier, the most extraordinary combination of efficiency, meticulous attention to detail, and a marvelously intelligent sense of humor and charm. He transformed an obviously memorable journey into something sensational, and we are quite sure most everyone on the tour felt the same way.

My Kenya trip was amazing.my daughter; granddaughter and I enjoyed the our trip guides. Marcus was our main guide and driver and was very knowledgeable about his home. He shared many experiences and helped us understand the animals and their habitat. Our group was great, we enjoyed each other's company and made new friends. The resorts were great, being in Masa Mara was amazing , able to see some animals so close to our resort. Great trip all around. Thank you for great memories.

Renier! Renier! Renier! He is an awesome Tour Manager and person all around! He made us feel safe, organized, well prepared and special! I celebrated my birthday on this tour and he made it unforgettable! What a star, exemplary TM! We are so lucky to have had him. So incredibly knowledgeable and joy to be around! We love him!

I will complete the survey, but also want to take the opportunity to share with you how awesome our tour guide, Gavin, was. He had a wonderfully calm and respectful discipline for the group that kept everything running at a perfect pace and made for a very smooth journey. His knowledge and informative talks at just the right times and and at just the right pace contributed to a wonderful experience and perfectly showcased the people, the animals, the land/scenery and the food that South Africa has to offer. He is truly an ambassador for South Africa and Gate 1. Having Gavin as the tour guide contributed significantly to a truly enjoyable experience that I will highly recommend to others.

My Tanzania and Kenya tour was absolutely perfect. I can't say enough about the skill, knowledge and friendliness of David and Mwongi. They were easy to understand and very knowledgeable about the Kenyan wildlife and culture. They did an excellent job finding us amazing experiences. By the end of the tour they felt like family. I love that we only had 8 in our tour. Made everything timely and efficient. Meals were excellent. I am gluten sensitive and they did all they could to accommodate my dietary needs. I loved the variety of hotel accommodations. I really appreciated the day room in Nairobi to rest before our long flight home. I have already had 4 people ask me about my tour based on my daily Facebook posts. It was truly the trip of a lifetime for this animal lover and amateur photographer. Thank you!

Our tour manager Shaun was absolutely incredible. His ability to tell anecdotal stories in addition to general tourist info, kept the entire bus engaged for each adventure. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed his guidance and look forward to our next Gate 1 African trip. (hopefully with Shaun) You guys have a jewel!

Our trip was fantastic in every way one can imagine. Our interactions with the Gate 1 time prior to the trip was good. The information they provided was comprehensive. On the ground in Uganda, the local team was superb. The initial briefing by the welcoming team put us at ease. Our driver/guides - Yona, Chris and Edmand were thorough professionals - and went out of their way to make this trip a once in a lifetime experience. The lodges we stayed at, the food and the staff all met our expectations. The diversity of wildlife and avian life we saw was simply amazing. We were especially impressed by the friendliness of the Ugandan people - who all smiled and spoke softly. We felt very safe. We highly recommend this trip.

Thank you for your email. My trip was amazing!! I don't even know where to begin. I have traveled with other tour companies before, but this was my first time traveling with Gate 1 and the entire process has been seamless.

Our tour manager, Laurence, was absolutely outstanding. His attention to detail, focus on client safety, and extensive knowledge of our many sites to experience made this trip one of our most memorable, both with Gate 1 and other trips. We have visited 46 countries and this trip rates at the top with much of the credit going to Laurence. He provided a personally-prepared information sheet during the initial orientation meeting that proved invaluable throughout the trip. All tour managers should consider this added touch for their clients. His personal stories added immeasurably to our wonderful experience in Africa. Many Kudos to Laurence and to Gate 1 for making our first trip to Africa one that we will always remember.

I want to write a detailed review of our trip this January. This was our 4th trip with Gate 1. It was literally the BEST trip we have ever taken! I attribute this to our wonderful guide, Wolfugan, who I understand has worked with Gate 1 for 18 years. Wolf was exceptional in every way. He met us, along with another couple at the Kilimanjaro Airport, and we opted to ride in his vehicle for the entire trip. The fact that there were only 13 participants in our Small Group Discovery tour allowed us to only have 4 guests in each safari vehicle, which made for a very enjoyable experience, plenty of room to maneuver to get great photos. Wolf's knowledge of everything was extraordinary. He is a whiz at spotting wildlife (including an elusive leopard as we were pulling into our tent camp), identifying birds, explaining animal behavior, migration patterns, geology, and we always felt safe with his driving skills. He was usually the first vehicle in our group to reach the wildlife, and was able to maneuver for the best photo angles. He is the ultimate professional, being respectful of the guests' needs, and was able to share what life was like for him and his family living in Tanzania. Thank you, Gate 1, for providing Wolfugan with a job that he obviously loves. I have recommended this particular tour to many of my friends, and I hope this generates some bookings for you. I hope my friends can take advantage of Wolf's talents should they go on safari in Tanzania. In short, FIVE STARS all the way around. Feel free to use my comments for any public testimonials. We had several "National Geographic" moments, including a mother lion with 3 cubs, who was in the process of moving her family to a drier setting. We were able to watch her carry the smallest kitten (approximately 3 weeks old!), and see the other cubs follow her in the grass. We were able to catch them nursing. We also saw a lioness with her 1-yr old 2 cubs relaxing in a tree. Our elephant encounters in Tarangire NP were very exciting, we saw lots, including baby elephants. The Great Migration was another highlight, and we saw literally 1000's of animals on the Serengeti plains. The pace of the tour was very fast, but perfect in my opinion. The lodging choices were exceptional. The food ranged from very good to excellent, depending on the venue. Having the 4 nights in Zanzibar after the safari portion was so nice, as we got to "unwind" from our whirlwind tour.

Gate1 Travel is the best! Thank you for making our trip so memorable. Kudos to our tour director, Desmond who was top notched, caring, loving, professional, unwavering knowledgeable of his beloved country and Zimbabwe. All of the amenities were seamlessly fabulous throughout our visit. Million thanks for everything and we look forward to many more unforgettable memories with you all.

It was a fantastic exposure to South Africa - our guide John was incredibly well informed, discussed the advantages and problems of the country and went into the historical perspective/ political orientation of this country. We were impressed by the quality of hotels, the transport and mainly the information provided about south African culture etc by our tour guide. I also like that he is English as am I and we have the similar culture and views in common. We always felt safe, despite the crime rate in the country evidenced by the security protections on most/ all buildings ! I would be very happy to travel with John again in Africa . Please arrange more Africa tours to different parts of Africa with John. So far I have independently visited Namibia, Botswana, Tanzania ,the Gambia and Kenya , I would be happy to visit other countries in Africa with gate 1 travel.

We just completed the Uganda trip with tour manager Chris, our 6th Gate 1 trip. All our tour guides have been excellent, but Chris was outstanding. His graciousness, ability to seamlessly pivot as circumstances dictated without missing a beat, kindness & warmth were exceptional. As we traveled across beautiful Uganda, we were amazed at how many folks Chris knew. It was obvious to my wife & I that Chris was well-respected & liked by so many. Chris' experience as a park ranger in two of the national parks we visited was invaluable. His vast knowledge of his country impressive. Chris' driving skills in rough terrain - wow! The service Chris & Stephen provided was top-notch VIP. We felt pampered and safe at all times. The Uganda trip has moved to the top of our favorite trips list!

On our first day briefing we were greeted by a smiling Christopher who set forth expectations of our safari and ensured we all introduced ourselves in a comfortable manner. I had the fortunate opportunity to tour with Christopher in the jeep and throughout the trip we were kept informed on what our schedule would look like on a daily basis and his goal was ensure that we had a wonderful time, he provided us with his contact information to enable us to ask questions or clarification at any time. Christopher listened to our questions and our "hopes" of what we would like to see. He did not disappoint; I recall we were ready to have lunch and he heard that there was a lion in a particular area. Slight detour as he safely hurried to an area where there were two lioness' in a tree. This is my second Gate 1 trip and I think "most importantly" throughout this particular trip is that we never felt rushed. Obviously on a safari, we wanted to see wildlife at its best. Christopher was able to safely navigate us throughout the parks to find the wildlife and we were able to take our time enjoying the wildlife through our own eyes and camera lenses. This made the trip truly unique and the best. Every day our group said, "this was the best day", the next day "this was the bestest day", and the next day "this was the best of bestest days" and so on and so forth. Thank you, Christopher, for a most memorable fun exciting perfect experience. I have traveled to many countries and been on 3-4 tours. This definitely was my "best trip ever".

The trip was phenomenal. Having an intimate group of 26 people was a large positive factor. Our tour director, Belinda, was the icing on the cake. She is very personable and was attentive to our needs and took the time to be sure everyone was doing okay and having a splendid holiday. She was knowledgeable about every part of the itinerary and added life to every aspect of our trip. She also answered questions without hesitation and ALWAYS HAD a smile for us. Occasionally, she would treat us to a joke to make us laugh. She was sure to verbally tell what the next day would bring and followed up in writing to be sure everyone was fully aware of what was coming. I have been on a number of escorted trips, but this one was extra special. I do believe that Belinda is the reason why this particular trip was so special and why it stood out from all the other trips I've taken. This was my very first Gate 1 trip and because of how well Belinda took care of me, I will definitely take another Gate 1 trip as soon as possible. Thank you Gate 1 for offering a trip of a lifetime and for having such a caring and dedicated tour guide. I cannot wait to take part in another trip with Gate 1 and I am hopeful that the next tour director is as attentive as Belinda was.

It was an amazing trip! Gavin (our tour guide) did a remarkable job of creating unity amongst the group so everything ran like clockwork and we were able to make all of our tours, connections etc with plenty of time to be able to enjoy the destination. Everything was very well organized and the stops and accommodations were very enjoyable. Gavin made suggestions for additional outings on some of our " free days" and some of those ended up being some of the most memorable experiences. This was our first Gate one trip and if all of your tours end up being like this then I can see that we will be frequent customers.

The Africa trip was the best vacation I've ever taken in my life. While my 16 day trip took me to 5 different countries with 5 land safaris and 3 water safaris I also got to experience the local culture and history of Africa. Gavin, our tour guide did everything possible to make our trip a once in a lifetime, unforgettable experience. He shared his knowledge and experience growing up in South Africa to give us an insiders perspective and a richer more complete view of South Africa. The places we stayed were top notch and the times we actually got to stay in the Safari parks were incredible! I was naïve enough to think I would lose weight on the trip because of the strange new foods, well, that was a mistake! The food was wonderful and I loved the opportunity to have dinner with local families. This trip enabled me to become more enmeshed with the many cultures of African people. We had intimate experiences with Zulu, Swati, and other native people. I was so glad that we went on so many safaris, but also relished the opportunity to see where Nelson Mandela lived and was held captive for so many years.Visiting the Apartheid Museum and being given a tour of Robben Island by a former inmates was powerfully moving. And if all that isn't enough, I left my souvenir walkingstick at the last hotel we stayed in. Just before we crossed the border to head into another country to fly home the people at the Chobe Marina Lodge contacted Gavin and said they found my stick and would try to get it to me before our plane took off. Don't ask me how, but they actually did it! I can't say enough about the service of our tour guide, our bus, drivers, our safari drivers, and the staff at all of the places we stayed, everyone was fabulous!

This trip was absolutely amazing. Elvis was such an amazing tour guide that went above and beyond for all of the guests in the group. He definitely became like family after this tour. This is my second time traveling with Gate 1 and I absolutely loved both of them. Will definitely travel again with you guys!!

I just wanted to say that I was really impressed with Gate1 and this unbelievable vacation!! Our Safari was better than great. I was hoping it'd be great but I was prepared for something a little less. From the moment we were picked up from the airport to the time we were dropped off at our Day Room before our flight back home, Everything was way beyond our expectations, really!! The hotels and lodges were -They were absolutely beautiful, even the rustic ones! The staffing and meals at each place were amazing! (I remember reading that Gate1 said the places were 4 and 5 Star accommodations but I was a little hesitant to believe it, I shouldn't have been.) The main reason for our vacation was of course the Safari and this itinerary and it was a Home Run, Grand Slam Home Run! We saw the Big Five and sooo much more. I could go on and on about how pleased we were with Gate1 and this trip but will end by saying THANK YOU for a vacation we'll never forget!!

Our recent trip to South Africa, Victoria Falls, & Botswana was one of the best experiences my wife and I have ever had. The itinerary was second to none and I truly do not have the time or energy to describe how fantastic the food, the ambiance, and our little traveling group was the entire time...unbelievable. Trust me when I say that many of my friends and family were so jealous of the stories we came back with that most of them will be booking their own South Africa trip with G1. And just a quick shout out to our tour manager (now someone I consider a great friend) Alistair. His passion, knowledge, & love for what he does is very apparent, & completely off the charts. About half way through our trip, one of the travelers in the group received a message from back home. When Alistair heard of the situation, he stepped up with such wisdom, compassion, & sincerity, that it quite honestly made us all stop and take a deep breath & think about what really matters in this crazy world. Not to mention his never ending, and genuine, concern for the safety, involvement, & enjoyment of everyone in our group was incredibly inspiring. We ended up learning so much more about the culture, the people, and the history of all the places we visited then we could have ever expected. Gate 1 is truly fortunate to have Alistair on your team, and it is my sincere hope that at some point, our paths will meet again. Keep up the INCREDIBLE standards that have become synonymous with Gate 1...now I need to go book my next vacation (I mean adventure).

We enjoyed our safari, really up to our expectations, and the one that made this happened was our tour manager Christopher. Christopher is all of the following: Super friendly, even to most of the safari drivers in game drives, caring, takes time to know and address our concerns. Flexible, goes out of his way and time to fill our expectations. Excellent safari driver, knows where to go off road to look for lions, elephants, hippos, cheetahs, leopards, rhinos, etc. We strongly recommend Gate1Travel customers have Christopher as their tour manager. Christopher is Gate1Travel greatest asset.

My husband and I just returned from an incredible 10 day trip to Kenya and Tanzania with Gate 1 Travel. We had amazing game drives with expert tour guides. Steve, our guide in Kenya, has a degree in zoology. He was a wealth of information. In Tanzania, our guide Abushiri, was wonderful. His knowledge of the land and animals greatly enhanced our experience. I highly recommend the optional sunrise hot air balloon safari over Masai Mara. The accommodations and meals were fantastic. Thank you Steve, Abu, and Gate 1 for helping us experience the sights and beauty of this magical land. We will definitely travel with Gate 1 again!

My trip to South Africa was wonderful. I went to see the animals and we did!!! Thank Goodness! It was a thrill!

My trip to Africa was one of the best vacations I've had in 25 years of travel. I want to thank you for a fantastic bargain and everything that was included. The tour director was very knowledgeable, accommodating, and excellent at his job. The people we interacted with were great! Thank you again.

I have to admit the trip was quite exhausting and stressful at times, however it was well worth it! My daughter and I enjoyed every minute of this truly amazing, awesome, wonderful, phenomenal and exciting once in a lifetime memorable experience! To see the wild animal up close and personal, in their natural habitat is beyond my dreams and imagination! We also enjoyed the gorgeous and breathtaking sceneries in South Africa and Victoria Falls, cultural show in Matsamo Village, Boma dinner and drum show, the family hosted dinner and all the other activities that we did. Another fantastic trip with Gate1 that I personally love!

We had a wonderful Gate 1 Travel trip to Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa! It exceeded our expectations in many ways. The safaris we took by vehicle and boat were great! Our tour manager, Desire, was excellent.

This trip was just incredible! All the details were managed expertly by our guide Desiré. She is a credit to your company and the trip would not have been the same without her! We had outstanding game drives, experiencing sights that others can only dream of...

This was my first Gate 1 Tour Trip to Botswana, Zambia, and South Africa Adventure and I can't see enough good things about it! Definitely a trip of a lifetime. I was the "rookie" of the group, being my first tour, I had nothing to compare to, it went beyond my expectations!! Desire, our tour guide, was top notch and very knowledgeable about all the areas we were in. She is truly a gem and made the trip very fun and memorable! I would definitely go on more Gate 1 tours, can't wait to do it again.

Trip was terrific! Saw so much and found Africa to be magical. Our Tour Manager, Hendrik, was amazing. He seemed to know every detail about all the flora and fauna; dealt nimbly with the various personalities in our group; was unfailingly responsive and empathetic, and somehow managed to herd a diverse group of people through the complex journey of a lifetime. What a thrill this trip was! Thank you Henk, and Gate 1.

I completed the survey from our Kenya Safari, but I wanted to add more compliments. Our two guides, Francis and Joseph, were amazing and went above and beyond. They went out of their way to find the sightings we were interested in and to be friendly and helpful! Vasqual in Samburo was excellent at both the botany walk demonstrating how they use the plants and for the cultural talk that evening! So welcoming and fun and informative! Abraham, Cleo were so nice , and chef Jacob at Aberdare's lunch went above and beyond giving us our favorite recipe! The Elephant talk at the Ark was so good - he was a good speaker! The boat ride on Lake Navasha was a treat! We really enjoyed the 'extra' of the Coriolis effect at the equator - forgot his name but he made it so interesting! The included activities by Daniel at Lake Naivasha were impressive - the cooking class was amazing as was the nature walk and bush breakfast. Thanks for an amazing trip for my family of 6!

I can't say enough about our tour guide Chris . He was so warm , friendly and professional. He made us feel safe as we were four women traveling alone in a foreign country. Chris was in tune with every single one of us . He went out of his way to load the luggage and help us in and out of the car every time. He really cared. Chris is in the perfect profession -I learned so much from him. He taught us about all the animals we saw, and educated us on the culture. He was so knowledgeable. When the trip was over, I was sad. I felt as if I was leaving a close friend . He definitely showed us the beauty of Kenya as well as the spirit of the country . Kenya will be forever in my heart and Chris's enthusiasm and pride in his country I will never forget . He made our trip amazing !!! Thank you Gate 1 !!

I just wanted to comment on our recent trip to Tanzania and Zanzibar but mostly about our guide/tour manager Philip. I am always amazed at the quality of the tour managers you provide but Philip went above and beyond. From the first morning when he introduced himself to our small group, he was courteous, attentive, informative and fun. We enjoyed playing jokes on him and he took it in stride, always with a smile. His knowledge of the plants and animals we saw was astounding. Even though he repeats this trip over and over again, his enthusiasm when showing us the animals was so genuine, he seemed as excited as we were. It didn't matter how many questions were asked, he patiently answered each one often going beyond the simple answer but giving us a more in depth answer concerning animal behavior and what we should look for when viewing them. He also seemed to have great respect from other tour guides/managers we saw along our route. Many of them took the time to speak to us about Philip and how we were in good hands. He definitely made it a trip we will always remember. This was our 22nd trip with Gate 1 and he made it one of the best.

Jason was the most professional, fun, and knowledgeable tour guide I have ever had! Gate 1 is so lucky to have him as an employee! He is very organized and professional, he made our whole tour of 28 people enjoy every minute of our trip to South Africa! If you are planning to do a Gate 1 tour in South Africa I highly recommend asking for Jason as your guide!

The trip was an awesome experience of a life time. We were well taken care of by the Gate 1 representatives all the way. The accommodations varied from the modern hotels/lodges with swimming pools to tent camp cabins where we slept close to hippos in Masai Mara, or where we could hear the grunting and growling of lions, cries of hyaenas, footsteps of dik-diks (smallest deer), encounter giraffes visited yards away in Serengeti, or monkeys peeked into our windows, elephants and giraffes roaming beyond our lodge grounds in Amboseli. The literal zebra crossings (right in front of our jeep) were funny. Watching the lion pride sleeping in the shade while we had box lunch inside our jeep feet away was unimaginable. Wildebeests, elephants, buffalos all lined up orderly and marched in unison. Our games guides (James in Kenya and Vincent in Tanzania) were enthusiastic and knowledgeable in showing us the wild life while tactfully maneuvered over the bumpy and rough terrain. Once an elusive leopard laying on a tree limp perfectly camouflaged and a sleeping cheetah well blended with the dry grass were spotted by the guides. There were just too many memorable and impressive moments... Yes, we did have our "National Geographic" moment in Kenya and Tanzania.

Absolute amazing especially the Gorilla and Chimpanzee trekking. Our guide Yona was excellent. Uganda felt safe and welcoming. Thank you Gate 1 for the great trip.

It was a fantastic trip! A+ on everything. Belinda, our tour guide, was great. Kept us informed and safe throughout the trip. She made sure everything promised was delivered and she competently interacted with staff and purveyors to ensure we received first class treatment. She was a delightful travel companion and made sure everyone's needs were met. Safari guides Jonas and Play at Melomi Crossing in the Okavango Delta were top-notch. They worked very long days, walking us from our tents before sunrise and walking us back after sunset. Jonas sat with us at meals, offered pleasant conversation and all the while keeping an eye on our cups and plates to make sure we lacked nothing. While we were dining, Play was busy setting us up for the day. Jonas's expertise at driving on the sandy Delta roads (if you can call them that) was amazing. Watching Jonas and Play looking at the ground, analyzing animal tracks, and putting us on animal sightings was incredible. They answered every question we had and tried to make sure we saw every animal we had special interest in. They worked so hard! Drivers and local guides Dumi, Milton, John, and Alan drove safely, offered a hand getting off and on the busses, and, when also serving as local guides, were deeply knowledgeable and also made sure we physically were walking at a pleasant and safe pace. All of the side excursions were enjoyable. The Victoria Falls train ride, the Riverboat cruise on the Zambezi, the wine country tour in Cape Town, the drive to Cape of Good Hope and the penguin colony were all good; don't replace them please.

We had an amazing time in Namibia. The Sossusvlei Dunes were so beautiful and we enjoyed all stops and activities on the trip. The food was fabulous and we loved the dinner under the stars. The hotels were also very nice. Our tour guide Herunga was one of the best we ever had. His love for the country showed and he was very informative. He was flexible making sure we had the best experience and opportunities to view the beautiful country, sunrises and sunsets. Our bus driver Elson did a fantastic job driving on some very bumpy challenging roads. We really enjoyed this trip!

It was beyond my expectations. The guides Paul and Peter were so knowledgeable and willing to share. They were also very patient with good senses of humor. The guide makes the trip. Thank you. The accommodations were very nice. Some even great. We were well taken care of and were busy from morning to night. We able to see many animals, go on 2 boat trips. The chimps were very active and fun. The gorillas were unbelievable. It really is a trip of a lifetime.

It was truly the trip of a lifetime! This was our 9th Gate 1 tour since 2017, with 2 more still to come. It exceeded our wildest expectations. The group was great - we are all now friends. The accommodations were superb. The activities were amazing. The sights were unbelievable. And our tour manager - Laurence - was the epitome of knowledge and professionalism. He was loved by all. He frequently went above and beyond for us, making a remarkable trip even better. And he was a great friend to the group as well. I cannot stop singing the praises of this Gate 1 adventure to everyone I meet. We brought a single friend with us and we're hopeful he would enjoy the experience. He is already booking the Uganda trip as we speak! I jokingly said to my husband midway through the trip that I didn't have to go anywhere ever again after this experience. But, of course, two more Gate 1 adventures are yet to come! Thank you, Gate 1, for truly letting us see More of the World for Less!

This trip was phenomenal! Amazing! Extraordinary! Exciting! Our safari to the 5 national parks in Kenya and Tanzania was amazing from start to finish. We saw the big 5, saw animals from afar; cheetah, lions, elephants, wildebeest, black mamba, etc - up close. Kudos to our fabulous guides. We had 2 guides with us in each country, we interacted primarily with Sam, our guide in Kenya, and George, our guide in Tanzania because we were in their jeeps. Sam, who acted as the lead, kept us well informed on our schedules and itineraries. Both Sam and George were exceptional in their knowledge of the animals, their behaviors, the migration - the ecosystems, fresh water, alkaline lake, plants, botany, farm life, railroads we saw, old churches. Anything we discussed, Sam and George would provided facts and the context and history. I wanted to learn about the masaai people. From George we learned about growing up as a masaai, the culture etc. Sam and George didn't just answer questions they provided information they thought would be helpful and that we would enjoy hearing and learning. I basically told them, share anything you want with us, fill my head with knowledge! Sam and George did not disappoint! They were the best and they were exceptional at what they do.

It was trip of a lifetime. Wasn't prepared for all the gravel, rock, dusty roads but after the first day on the game drive got used to it. The guides in my vehicles Frances and Felix were outstanding. Very knowledgeable, went out of their way to get us beautiful photos, find us animals before any of the other vehicles, and explain about the habits of the animals. We always had all the time needed to get our photos. The people in our vehicle were a fun bunch. I did need some assistance getting in and out of the vehicle but a large stepstool was always there for all who needed it. The accommodations were fantastic. The food was delicious and so varied. Tried new things and for the most part everything was delicious even the goat stew! Loved the Ngorongoro crater. Loved the time we had at the airport Marriott. Got us rested up for the long trip home. I would recommend this trip to anyone interested, especially the Discovery Small group. Thank you for all who made this my trip of a lifetime.

The hotels choices were very accommodating with exceptional customer service and food offerings. The Mövenpick in Nairobi was conveniently located, clean, ample and the service was on the top scale. The Lake Elementaita Mountain Lodge was situated in the top of a mountain with fascinating views and the Elementaita Lake and the imposing presence of the flamingos. A personal cabin was assigned with ample space, extraordinary clean, and the comfort of a high end hotel. The advertisement for the Lake Elementaita Resort on the Gate 1 page lacks the truth beauty of this property. At the Massai Mara the Pride Inn Lodge was originally designed with personal glam tents, excellent service, clean surroundings, and very good food choices. Listening to the sounds of wild animals at night added the perfect touch to the nights in the wilderness of the Massai Mara. My guide Chris, was a book of knowledge, a gentleman who delivered great attention to all of us whom where assigned to his group. Literally we formed our tribe. We made out of "collective noun for a fun group of people" hence The Circus! Hesboro and Paul, Christopher's Co workers were also very good guides and showed respect and attentiveness to their group and whenever they interacted with my group. We created memories that will forever last as well as new friendships. It was a bit early for the Great Migration so the Wildebeest had not arrived. However there were a few left from last year's migration. I was very blessed and fortunate to observe lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, jackals, elephants, giraffes(Rosenshchild, reticulated and Kenyan) zebra, Buffalo, hippopotamus, warthog, Gazelle, impala, topi, hartebeest, bushbuck, waterbuck, eland, dik dik, baboon, silver monkey, a few wildebeest and bats Birds: super starting, greater flamboyance flamingos, lesser flamingos, herons, kestrel, black banded osprey, Kenyan crows and secretary bird. Visiting the Massai Village which I did on two occasions. Once upon my arrival in Nairobi with a private guide was the best way to spend my birthday. The family nomad tribe welcomed me into their clan and offered me a lesson on bead jewelry making, took me to herd the goats and sheep. Taught me how to milk goats, make fire with sticks and elephant dunk, invited me into their hut to prepare a meal and have a conversation about their life and my life. Their farewell dance, singing and dancing happy birthday for me not only brought tears to me but and an overwhelming feeling of joy and gratitude.