Maningo was easy-going and fun to be around. He was skillful at spotting the wildlife, and extremely patient in waiting for certain behaviors (like lions coming together to mate!). He drove us in the various parks for many hours a day (often 10-11!), and worked to try to find cheetahs in particular, driving in remote regions of Tarangire. He drove quite slowly, searching for wildlife, which took some adjusting to, but when we had a long travel day driving from the Serengeti to Ngorongoro, he pushed the pedal to the metal! He’s a skillful driver on those terrible roads! Amongst all the rattling noises of the Land Rover, he distinguished a particular noise that was new, and took it to a mechanic in Karatu to have it checked. It turned out there was a part that had broken and needed welding. Thank goodness he followed his instinct, or we may have gotten stranded! We are very grateful to Maningo for an incredible experience.
“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.”