Fabulous Guide
Gerry was a star! His passion for the animals, his professionalism, his social awareness, his stories, his laugh and ‘the safari bible’ were all incredibly memorable. We loved sitting at picnic (whether Tarangire, Mto wa Mbu, Ngorongoro, Serengeti) or at the lodges and just talking. We learned so much about Tanzania, the people, and the culture from Gerry. The safari picnics were so enjoyable – great spread from the lodges, Gerry with the utensils and beverages! We saw all of the Big 5 (and Honorable Mention – Gerry knows who that is! 🙂 ) many times over. Gerry had an idea/plan/schedule for each of the days that we modified when it made sense and he was good with that flexibility. Gerry was visible and present throughout our stay in Tanzania, always just the right amount of being there without being overly there. And we really liked that he always took care of the locals – no food went to waste, small cash tips here and there for whomever helped us out, all of which felt very considerate and appropriate. In a country where the scenery, the animals, and the people are the stars of the show, Gerry gets the Best Director or Best Choreography award.
“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.”