Fulgence was simply spectacular! He had the most amazing ability to spot animals at a distance…he could spot a leopard tail in a tree that I could not even discern with binoculars. Every single animal we wanted to see, he found for us. We saw all of the Big 7, including a beautiful cheetah and a lioness with her cubs. Fulgence found two of the elusive leopards for us. I asked to see a Grey Crowned Crane – and voila – he found a couple within 30 minutes. Plus, he had an encyclopedic knowledge of animal behavior and forestry. I didn’t need the guidebook I brought with me — Fulgence knew everything. We saw so many animals, it was incredible…I had 700 photos after the first day! Plus Fulgence was also kind and thoughtful…twice he came to the aid of other drivers, pulling them out of the mud. Fulgence had a well-equipped vehicle and was an excellent navigator. He was simply perfect as our guide.
We hoped we would be able to catch a wildebeest migration crossing. We caught FOUR crossings, of which two were simply spectacular! These sightings were due in large part to Fulgence’s determination to go back and forth to find the perfect spot and then wait patiently. I stopped telling other tourists at the camp about our sightings because I didn’t want to make them feel bad — we seemed to have such a superior guide!
We also enjoyed discussing the culture of Tanzania with Fulgence, meeting locals at the open-air markets, and learning a few words in Swahili.
Fulgence is certainly the best guide we have enjoyed in many years of travel!
“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.”