Our group of 20 had four wonderful guides: Noel, Fulgence, Wilfred, and Nasibu. Each was a gem–excellent drivers, unbelievable spotters of wildlife. In addition, Noel was kindness personified, with a smile to light up the world. Fulgence served as a group spark-plug, getting as excited about seeing an animal as we did (and he sweetly accommodated my wish to get to church services on Good Friday). Wilfred was a planner, able to predict where the animals were going and actually arriving there before they did; he was always patient. Nasibu was as deeply versed in the the wildlife and topography as the other three and was the best dancer. Several of us actually cried at Kilimanjaro Airport when said good bye to four wonderful men.
“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.”