Access 2 Tanzania – 11 out of 10
We would rate Maningo with 11s across the board if we could – he was wonderful! He has an impressive eye for identifying, tracking and spotting animals. Our first full day with him at Lake Manyara he spotted a group of lions in a bush that several other guides had missed. He taught us how to identify different types of gazelle and has an incredible knack for reading animal behavior. We were able to watch a lioness hunt and a wildebeest give birth thanks to his instincts. He told us he has been a safari guide for 15+ years and it shows, his driving and navigation skills were top notch. We encountered some muddy roads and never got stuck but did stop to help another vehicle that wasn’t so lucky. Most importantly to us, Maningo was very kind, friendly and personable. He tuned in to our personalities very quickly and we had the best time talking and joking around with him.
“Every detail was meticulously planned and perfectly suited to our needs. It was obvious that Karen paid careful attention to how we prefer to experience travel and matched us with a guide who perfectly suited our style. Barney was incredibly professional and let us set the tone and pace. He is an outstanding guide in so many ways; he quickly read us and we bonded immediately. Throughout the journey it was obvious that Barney is well respected by the other guides and they often follow his lead because he knows where to go and how to find the animals. He is also an incredible photographer–I got to a point where I just handed him my phone and he meticulously captured our trip. With no exaggeration, our 8 days with Barney were life changing and we think of him each and every day.
While we requested clean and comfortable accommodations with private baths, every place we stayed far exceeded our expectations. Nyikani and Mara Mara were the standout favorites. I have spoken with folks who were unsure and had reservations about the food that would be provided. We ate incredibly well–food was more than plentiful, very good to extremely delicious, and the soups were the best I have ever eaten. Service was consistently exceptional.
Honestly, we can’t say enough positive things about our experience and have been recommending Access 2 Tanzania and Barney to all we can.”