Raymond was our guide and we can’t say enough good things about him! He immediately put us at ease when he picked us up at the Kilimanjaro Airport late at night. We were exhausted from the long flights but he made us feel welcomed and let us know that he was going to take good care of us. Ray is an excellent guide but aside from his extensive knowledge of the animals and of the areas we toured, he is friendly and has a great sense of humor! His skills in spotting animals and in driving the safari truck in very difficult terrain were remarkable. Ray constantly worked to provide us with the best safari experience possible and to show us the most extraordinary animals and terrain. He cares deeply about the wildlife and has a profound respect for all creatures. He would maneuver the truck to the best and safest position for us to view the animals all the while being careful not to disturb them in any way. Ray would also evaluate the lighting and help to put us in a spot where the sunlight would be most favorable for our photography. During the trip we saw guides who were not considerate of the animals which made us appreciate Ray all the more. We also noticed how Ray would speak to Park Rangers, exchanging greetings and asking questions about animal movements. We then saw several vehicles of other companies whooshing by us not even considering a stop to gain some insight from the Ranger. Ray taught us a great deal about the animals, the environment in the parks, the people and the country of Tanzania. He was very patient and thoughtfully answered all of our questions on a variety of topics. I will always remember the way Ray would point out an impala or giraffe and the affection evident in his voice for the animal. My husband and I wanted to keep on the go all day, every day, to see as much as we possibly could in the time we had, Ray made this happen. We were never in a rush and had plenty of time to absorb the fabulous natural world, take in the spectacular scenery and to take all the photos possible. I don’t think anyone covered more territory or saw more animals each day than we did! I don’t know how Ray was able to get any rest at night, but after each long and tiring day, filled with difficult driving, Ray would meet us early the next morning in a spotless truck, cleaned inside and out from the previous day’s activities. Ray introduced us to the animals, the parks and Tanzania in a personal way which made our safari experience very meaningful. We feel very fortunate to have had Ray as our guide and to call him our friend.
“It was excellent! The pre-trip planning with Karen was great and she and/or Allison promptly answered my many questions at various points prior to our actual trip. Also, Karen was extremely helpful in making our final day in Tanzania as comfortable as possible – she arranged for us to spend the afternoon in the Arusha Access 2 Tanzania day room. Our transport guide for the day, Haji, brought us a wonderful selection of Tanzanian food for lunch! He as well as Stella and the A2T staff were very nice and welcoming! Our safari guide Noel was such a good man and an excellent guide. He was thrilled to learn that we had requested him at the recommendation of my friend, and he didn’t disappoint. I don’t know how anyone can navigate the unmarked Serengeti roads like he did. He made sure that we were comfortable, safe, and had everything that we needed. During the trip, another A2T guide, David, and his 2 passengers (whom we previously met during the village tour) invited us into their land cruiser to watch the wildebeest crossing because they had a better position. We really appreciated that!”