Joachim was a fantastic guide. This was my third safari (first was in Uganda in 2013, second in Kenya 2015, with other companies). My prior two safaris had fine guides, we saw all the animals we wanted to see, but it was more a punch the clock attitude, not much chatting, and no “extra” info. Joachim, in contrast, was very friendly, always present with us — answering questions, adding information about animals we were seeing or the parks and their history, and also giving us quiet time when we were tired. He never took personal calls in front of us or otherwise seemed distracted.
Joachim was also very knowledgeable about the parks, animals, and Tanzanian history. We enjoyed learning from him. He was attentive to when we wanted to spend more time observing animals and when we were ready to move on. He was also a very safe and good driver!
Most of all, Joachim was friendly, genuine, and really looked out for us. For instance, when we flew out of Manyara, Joachim waited at the airport until our flight departed.
“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.”