Raymond was very knowledgeable about wildlife, since he has a two year degree in this area. He was friendly and willing to share. He works hard and long hours. He could sense when to give people quiet time. He is a safe a courteous driver. Having a safe driver was important to us after having spent a prior week experiencing how driving can be in Tanzania. He knew the parks well and could spot wildlife that others might not see. He got us in position to see a stalk by a cheetah and then got us in a new position to see the kill by this same cheetah, which took skill to know where the cheetah would be going and to get there without spooking the kill. Every morning he brought us a cleaned up vehicle, which had to be difficult considering the dusty environment. He dressed professionally, and spoke highly of his employer as a good company that takes care of its employees, its customers and gives back to the poor in Tanzania.
“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.”