During the trip, our guide David was wonderful. He was very outgoing and friendly, yet still very professional. He adapted seamlessly to our family’s personality and though the days were long, they were certainly never without humor, excitement, or wonder. David was also very skilled at troubleshooting in the moment, which proved to be crucial to our trip’s success. We had 2 flat tires, a few late days, and a few other possible issues arise; David took them all in stride and expertly created solutions, with a smile on his face or a joking comment ready to diffuse any hint of tension or anxiety that we may have felt. Aside from these minor mishaps that were well-dealt with, our trip was unreal, and with David’s expert guidance/recommendations and driving skills, we managed to easily see all of the Big 5 (on a 5-6 day trip); truly amazing!
“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.”