Wilfred was everything one could hope for in a guide. He was incredibly knowledgeable in addition to being kind, an excellent driver, and having amazing eyesight. He would spot animals in the distance while driving that some of us needed binoculars to spot. We got to see the big 5 and even part of the great migration (which Wilfred made a special effort to get us to because he knew we wanted to see that).
One of the most amazing experiences we had was after having stopped for our bush lunch in the shade with several other Jeeps. Wilfred and the other guides noticed in the distance that a lion had taken down a zebra, so after lunch we all drove over to see what we could see and sure enough, there were two lions feasting on their fresh zebra. We then noticed a lioness on the other side of the road. Wilfred initially thought that she was going to join the other two but when she didn’t walk towards them, Wilfred told us that she had taken down her own zebra and was going to get her cubs. None of the other guides figured it out so we were all alone when the lioness came back, just like Wilfred said, and crossed directly in front of our Jeep with her 3 cubs following closely behind! And this is just one example of what were daily experiences!
“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.”