This was my first Gate 1 Trip as well as the first tour I have taken in many years. While I don't have many comparisons to make I believe I am now completely spoiled. The attention to detail, the accommodations, the food, the tour managers, were excellent. The ability of the tour managers to communicate, what will be happening, when it will happen, how long it will take, was spot on. This was as small group. 11 members broken into two groups. Christopher as tour manager as well as tour guide for one of the groups naturally spent most of his time with the other group. He took the time however at meals to interact with our group. He was most enjoyable, pleasant and informative. I was with the group with Hesborn as tour guide. I cannot express how much he made the whole experience of the trip. He shared his knowledge of the area, the people, the animals. He let us find the animals ourselves, so it was a wonderful surprise when we came upon a group of giraffes, lions, zebra's even though he had already spotted them. It enhanced the excitement of the game rides. He would also point out some of the animals and teach us the Swahili names. It was a pleasure to spend the time with him. The trip was to much more than I expected. Thank you.

Our trip to Uganda was over the top, amazing. Every detail was taken care of. I cannot say enough good things about Chris, Jonah and Hamza, our Gate 1 guides. They became more than guides. They became friends. We are telling everyone about our trip and about the excellent service of Gate 1!

The trip was another great Gate 1 experience. The tour manager, Herunga, and driver, Joseph, were friendly to all and expert at their jobs. Each day was filled with great stops and sights in the very large country of Namibia. Resorts and meals were top notch. The game drives in Etosha NP were expertly done with many animal sightings on each outing

The trip was amazing. It was well planned and Silver and Joseph took such good care of us. Loved the culture, scenery and seeing the animals. Namibia is the perfect African country to visit.

Our tour guide Chris was wonderful. Not only was he extremely knowledgeable but he was so kind and really made us feel like he cared about each one of us. He always went the extra mile to be sure we were enjoying ourselves. We had a wonderful experience on the trip and Chris was a big part of why we enjoyed it so much. Would definitely recommend him to any future travelers to Kenya.

I had the trip of a lifetime! There was so much variety for our activities in each country. I particularly loved all the animals and nature, especially in the Okavango Delta. And I loved all of the boat trips. Our small group size of 6 enabled us to have great flexibility, including a cooking lesson in the home of a local in Cape Town. Our tour manager Renier was exceptional. His attention to details and to each of us as individuals was unparalleled. Coming from a busy city like New York, I admired his savvy and efficiency. He endeavored for us to avoid long lines and maximize our time. Words cannot express how much I enjoyed this adventure!

We were on the 11 day Kenya and Tanzania safaris. It was an adventure that changed our world view positively for the better. The experience we received, largely thanks to the efforts and caring of your drivers and guides, was exceptional and much appreciated. Special mention to Emmanual in Tanzania who was incredibly knowledgeable and patient. His friendly demeanor and sincerity really made the trip for us! Similarly, our driver Benson in Kenya was knowledgeable, good humored and very personable. When we met him again when we returned to Kenya from the Tanzania portion, it was like finding an old friend. All the Gate One staff we met were very professional, personable, caring and genuine; a combination that is very hard to find these days. Thank you for providing this opportunity to us to experience East Africa in all its variety.

Benson was extremely organized and knowledgeable about the entire trip. His knowledge of the different safari parks was outstanding. Additionally, Benson was always pleasant and upbeat, polite and respectful. Since we were in the safari jeep with him for many hours a day, we really got to know Benson. I would recommend him as a tour guide to anyone traveling to Kenya. Finally, this was our 2nd trip with Gate 1 and I have been impressed with the general organization of the trips and how smoothly all our arrangements went. We will definitely be booking another trip with Gate 1!

We took this same Gate 1 tour in February of 2020. At that time, Wolfugan was our tour leader, though not our driver. This year, we had the pleasure of having him as tour leader and our daily driver/guide. We cannot commend him enough for his outstanding service. Wolfugan is extremely knowledgeable about the flora, fauna, geography, history, and culture of Tanzania. We could ask him anything, and he had an educated and thorough answer. His sense of humor was great, especially when putting up with all of our group's eccentricities! He was able to handle any and every need. What we especially loved about him was his genuinely humane, tolerant, and kind attitude toward all people, travelers and natives alike. We also want to thank him for personally driving us to Kilimanjaro Airport on our last night; rather than send us off with a driver unfamiliar with the new detour, he chose to do so himself. This man is definitely the BEST professional we have ever had the good fortune to encounter in all our travels. Without Wolfugan, the trip would have been "just another tour." We hope that you will share our heartfelt thanks and this recommendation with Wolfugan.

What a fantastic trip I had on the 13 day Zambia, Botswana and SA adventure thanks to our amazing tour guide, Renier, a great itinerary and 12 wonderful new friends. This was my first Discovery trip and I can assure you not my last! The memories of this trip will last a lifetime. Thank you so much Gate 1- you are #1 in my book.

This was the trip of a lifetime. My expectations were extremely high because several friends had taken safaris, but the experience on our journey exceeded all my hopes and expectations. We had wonderful weather, a terrific group and good luck in some rare opportunities. But the main reason the tour was so exceptional was our guides. James, in Tanzania, had an excellent sense of humor and established a great rapport with all of us in his vehicle. We shared anecdotes, laughed often and even sang together. He has wonderful interpersonal skills. Joel, in Kenya, was an outstanding leader. With quiet confidence he communicated everything we needed to know in a timely, clear manner. He attended to every detail with care and personal concern. Within the well-organized structure he created, he established a wonderful team spirit. Avi, in Kenya, is one of the most knowledgeable people I have ever met. I actually called him "the encyclopedia." He went far beyond finding the animals and helping us observe them. He taught us about their lives, histories and behaviors. It was really like taking a course with a gifted professor. His commitment to every aspect of our well-being was so impressive. He was an excellent driver, getting into the best sites and views, with great care and attention to safety. We saw so much because he literally went the extra mile every day. Our guides were superb.

We had an extraordinary trip to Kenya and Tanzania. The camps and lodges were first class, the food very good, our tour managers Francis and Charles in Kenya were excellent. Both had a wealth of knowledge about their country. Overall a 5 star trip thanks to them.

BENSON - My parents are incredibly loyal Gate 1 members (23+ trips) and I join them when I can - we can easily say Benson, our Kenyan guide was the best guide we've ever had with Gate 1. His eye for animals and understanding of their behavior, combined with some luck, made it so that we saw all of the Big 5 up close and personal... in just 72 hours! We were SO impressed with him and he knew exactly how to position the vehicle so we had the best pictures/spot versus all the other cars. I will forever have the utmost respect for a guide who works so hard knowing many customers will review him based off of the animals they see (which is completely out of his control), versus every other city's rubric of how well they describe architecture or memorize a story to tell. Benson was an unbelievable talent to witness and I was so grateful he was our leader--hands down the best of many many many we have followed. ZABDI - Our Tanzanian guide Zabdi brought infectious energy to our trip. He spoke slowly and clearly so everyone could understand him, and he oozed confidence and above all else, love for his country. Specifically what stood out for me was his care about us tourists. My mom recently had knee surgery so was a little slower than most and needed assistance getting in and out of the 4x4s. Zabdi, each time, was there to help her and carry her stuff for her as she got in and out of the vehicle safely. He was so incredibly thoughtful and kind, and it didn't go unnoticed. It's that kind of wonderful, above and beyond treatment that makes my family so loyal to Gate 1 - we know every time, your guides will be the best.

Thank you for the outstanding 11 Day Kenya Exploration that we enjoyed in June. It was our first visit to East Africa, and it was everything we could have hoped for. Special credit must be given to our tour guides/drivers Marcus and Joseph. Our family rode on the Land Cruiser driven by Marcus, but we also were with Joseph at many locations throughout the tour. Both were knowledgeable, pleasant, patient, and justifiably proud of the services they provided. We marveled at Marcus' familiarity with the Kenya and its people, the parks, and our various destinations. Key to our enjoyment at each of the parks was seeing the many animals and birds, and Marcus knew how to find them all. He clearly understands photographers' needs and always was able to maneuver us safely into locations that offered optimal lighting and good backgrounds. And he would give us the time needed to get the best pictures. His driving was outstanding, whether it was on remote park roads or on Kenya's highways. Special thanks go to Marcus and to Gate 1 management for arranging for a cellphone that we left behind at Great Rift Valley Lodge to be transported to us at Masai Mara. Amazing! This was our second Gate 1 tour, and we were once again very impressed with your vetting and selection of lodging and restaurants over the course of the trip. Thanks to all of you at Gate 1 who plan these trips and especially to Marcus and Joseph.

Our trip was fantastic. We loved every day we went on the journey and we took plenty of game drives plenty of beautiful animals to see. We had fantastic hotels where you look outside and you saw the animals couldn't rave enough about this trip.

What a wonderful experience it was on our safari last month. The care and attention of our guide/driver Joseph was fantastic. His knowledge of the animals and culture made it a special learning opportunity. He is truly a caring and thoughtful man and a huge asset for Gate1.

My husband and I had a wonderful trip. We saw so many animals! All the Big Five and Special Five. Our Tour Manager, Daniel, is very knowledgeable. Our group has so many questions and he has all the answers. Five stars to Daniel! The accommodations are terrific, especially The Ark where animals are roaming outside the lodge. The food is good. We had a wonderful trip! This is our tenth or eleventh tour. Thank you Gate 1 for giving us an affordable opportunity to travel!

Magnificent. The teams in Kenya and Tanzania did great work for us. Joel in Kenya and Harlequin in Tanzania were superb guide/drivers for us. Their local and animal knowledge was top notch. They were always concerned about our safety and wellbeing. We highly recommend Gate1 to our friends interested in a safari.

Our Uganda trip has been amazing! I enjoyed the interactions with the people, game drives, animal viewing cruises and of course the Chimp and Gorilla Trekking were excellent! All of the Gate 1 guides were fantastic! They kept telling me not to worry, they had me covered and they did! The food and hotels were amazing! The staff at all of the hotels provided exceptional service and I felt very pampered. The highlight of the trip was the chimpanzee and gorilla trekking. I appreciate that Gate1 got everyone a porter for the gorilla trekking. Once the gorillas are spotted you start following them into rough terrain and during this time the porter was extremely helpful! I highly recommend this trip and Gate 1 to anyone who loves to view wildlife!

Our trip to Kenya was wonderful. Our guide Joel was wonderful. The value of our trip was wonderful. Our experiences in Kenya on Safari, were wonderful. The food was wonderful. The accommodations and sights were wonderful. We have already recommended Gate 1 to other people, and we are planning our next trip with Gate 1 for next year. Two words to sum up our trip...Thank you!

Our trip to South Africa was just amazing and all the credit goes to our Tour Manager Anne. She made our 10-12 days in South African an amazing experience which I will never forget. Anne is the best tour guide EVER. She is energetic, friendly, knowledgeable and it was a great pleasure to be part of her group. We enjoyed this experienced to the utmost. Anne is not only organized but keenly aware of the groups concerns and would do anything to satisfy everyone in the group. Anne is real, genuine and she enjoys what she does and we all appreciated her. I will not hesitate to go on another tour with Anne. One clear example is when I lost my cell phone. She was so interested in helping that she contacted park rangers, hotel employees and anyone she thought could help. I was actually moved and can't thank her enough. She showed that she care and that feeling was felt by me personally and by the group as a whole. Everyone in our group loved Anne. Please forward these comments to her as she well deserves to be commended.

I just wanted to add to the survey by saying that that the tour manager, Belinda, was outstanding. She was extremely helpful, kind, and knowledgeable. The tour was run flawlessly. It was especially great that she knew so many people in the airports, hotels, and parks - which facilitated a smooth experience for us. She was the best!

This trip was wonderful and more than I expected. Paggge, and Joseph were wonderful, could not have asked for a better pair to lead us. Pagge was the tour director, and Joseph the driver. This is my third Gate 1 trip and I've never had a driver who was more responsive to our needs. Pagge and Joseph worked as a team.

This was my 15th Gate 1 trip and by far my most memorable and favorite trip. David was the best tour manager I've had on all my trips. The other tour managers were wonderful, but David was phenomenal. He did an excellent job keeping the group harmony of 5 solo women travelers and he was an excellent driver. If there is a way that Gate 1 rewards excellent tour managers, I sure hope David gets a reward. I would highly recommend the Discovery 11 Day Kenya trip to anyone who is looking to go on a safari trip to Africa. The accommodations, the food, and the excursions were all top notch. Thank you Gate 1 for a fabulous trip, and I can't wait to go on my next trip with Gate 1!

Looking back, this trip was not just a safari-it was a deeply moving journey. Tanzania's landscapes and wildlife are beyond stunning, but it was the people-especially Samson-who made this experience truly extraordinary. Gate 1 Travel crafted an exceptional itinerary, but Samson brought it to life with his heart, wisdom, and unwavering enthusiasm. I'm telling everyone, that if they are considering an African safari, do it. And if they are lucky enough to have Samson as their guide, prepare for an experience that will stay with them forever.

Kenya & Tanzania Discovery was more than I ever imagined! All accommodations were outstanding & I loved both Sam, Kenya, & Felix, Tanzania tour managers.

The trip was FANTASTIC. We were blown away by the tour (Gorillas), accommodations, food, and, more importantly, the Gate 1 staff. The staff were amazing. - very knowledgeable, attentive, helpful, kind, patient, and friendly. We were bowled away by the whole tour. Thank you.

We had absolutely the very best vacation ever! Our guide David was so knowledgeable about Kenya and made our trip the best!! I will definitely recommend this trip to all my family and friends, and of course our guide. Thank-you so much for the vacation of a lifetime!!

I've enjoyed my Namibia trip tremendously. The itinerary, lodges, restaurants are all very nice. I want to particularly mention that my tour manager/guide Kenneth deserves special mention and kudos. He was very thoughtful, helpful and delightfully accommodating with our needs and took care of every little details through the whole trip. His attention to our needs made this trip especially enjoyable and worry free. He's truly one of the best guides. This was really an unforgettable and marvelous trip!

Amazing trip & great services. Our Tour Manager Charl was the perfect host, made us feel special dedicating time to each throughout the tour. Charl took us through different countries along with all the logistics of flights and borders with efficiency making it seem simple. His knowledge offered a thorough insight about South Africa's history, culture and flora. Exceeded our expectations!

We 3, my wife, son, and I, all considered this Kenya-Tanzania Safari as one of the best trip that we took with Gate1. The trip was amazing with all the Gate1 personnel, starting from the lady & driver, who met us at the airport. Then the Kenya group, Tour Director Dominic and our guide/driver Philip did all excellent work getting us the best possible experience and view of the animals.The Hot Air Balloon at Maasai Mara was planned and executed first rate. We had a beautiful photos/videos made by our pilot. Then the Tanzania group, with Tour Director George and our guide/driver Felix were as excellent as our Kenya group. They had foresight like getting to the picnic area earlier than other Safari group so we can avail to the limited picnic tables and the lunch food was excellent. We really appreciate Gate1 of having us spend a bit of luxury staying at the Ngorongoro O'ldeani Mountain Lodge which was an amazing respite for us. Also worth to mention Gate1 nice gesture of getting us a Day hotel since our return flight to the US was leaving at midnight. It enabled us to rest, sleep, relax and had shower before departing at midnight. That was an excellent customer service by Gate1. Thank you and we will be traveling more with Gate1 as this was our 6th Gate1 travel..

Regarding our 11 day Kenya and Tanzania Discovery tour with Serengeti, our group of 6 had a wonderful time. All of our guides and accommodations were excellent. We were very impressed with Francis, our guide and tour manager in Kenya. His knowledge was impressive and he seemed very passionate about the country and making sure we were all safe and enjoying ourselves. He was a good communicator about our plans for each day and kept the truck very clean, even after heavy rain and some very muddy roads. Unfortunately, we did not have our tour master's name in Tanzania. Godliving was also excellent with a great sense of humor and, as a degreed naturalist, had impressive knowledge of the area and all of the animals that we were able to see. Very impressive in all aspects and contributed to our wonderful vacation.

The trip was excellent in every way! We loved the itinerary, accommodations, food and above all our drivers/guides. Joel and Francis were a great team and made our journey both enjoyable as well as educational! In particular I want to thank Francis who was our personal guide/driver. He was a genius at getting so close to the animals without endangering us or frightening them. He was filled with personality knowledge and at all times gave excellent customer service service.

Our trip was unbelievably awesome and amazing! Raphael was a wonderful tour manager. The accommodations were terrific, and the game drives were more than I ever could've anticipated or imagined. Gate 1 is an excellent company to work with and really delivers everything they promise in their itineraries. This is our third Gate 1 tour, and I would recommend them to everyone.

I was highly impressed by our guide in Kenya, Ndoko. He was so knowledgeable about all the animals and the local culture and people. Ndoko welcomed all questions and answered them thoroughly. He had a good sense of humor. He kept the truck clean which is hard to do when it gets dusty everyday! Plus, when our tire went flat on a deserted dirt road, he ensured we stayed by the truck so we would be safe while he replaced the tire. He was also an excellent and safe driver.

Our trip was wonderful. Jason our tour director was fantastic. He personally met us at the airport upon arrival, and took care of every detail or minor difficulty we may have had along the way (hot water issues in our room, minor food preferences). He even arranged an activity for a free afternoon. He was knowledgeable, engaging, accommodating, well organized, which made the trip, which has challenging logistics, a pleasure. The accommodations on the tour were great, much better than we anticipated, with many large included meals. No one went home hungry. We were surprised that we were able to see a vast array of wildlife on our game drives, leopards, lions, elephants galore, hippos, and up close and personal with an "on shore" crocodile on our river safari. The recent change to the Pullman Hotel in Cape Town is a good one. In summary, it was a fantastic and unforgettable African adventure.

Overall, the trip was wonderful. Jonah was exceptional. He was a great guide and seemed to know everyone in Uganda and made our experience perfect. The trip started with the game drives in Murchison Falls National Park where we saw elephant, hippos, giraffe, many species of antelope and many other animals. A wonderful experience. The boat trip to Murchison Falls was also very good with many animal sittings. The chimp walk was pretty amazing with all of the chimps in the trees, but the highlight, of course, was the gorillas. After a hike of an hour and a half, the family of gorillas were assigned to was found and we were able to spend an hour up close with them, sometimes only 20 feet away. Absolutely amazing. So, this was perhaps the best trip yet. Well planned and very well guided, by Jonah. The day hotel on the last day made for a very relaxing break before starting the long flights home.

The trip to Namibia was beautiful and unique. The diversity of the landscape that we covered was amazing. From dunes, to the ocean, to the desert to game parks. Climbing on big daddy dune, bush dinners and the game drives at Etosha National Park were the highlights. Silver was a great guide and provided us with useful information and interesting history. James was the driver and kept us safe on the drives. The food in Namibia was delicious and I was able to try some very interesting foods including game meats and mopane worms. The visits to the tribes were another unique experience as well as the visit to the Mondessa township. The music and dancing that each visit brought was a moving experience. Overall, another great experience in Africa and Gate 1 trip.

This was the trip of a lifetime. It was so much more than just the safari game drives and river excursions - though those were numerous and spectacular! Of course, we saw (up close) the Big Five and more! It is amazing to be directly within the wildlife's own habitat. You are in the cage, and the animals roam free! At one time a lioness strolled by within 2 feet of my shoulder. But beyond that, it was a great cultural, educational, experience where we learned history and customs, music, dance, lifestyles etc. to give you an example, we had one evening with a home hosted dinner in Cape Town; another African food dance and musical dinner activity; visited the poor township of Soweto, toured Nelson Mandela's house, The Apartheid Museum; toured the beautiful wine country (more spectacular than Napa), made it to the Cape of Good Hope and awesome Victoria Falls. We had the most fabulous tour guide (Jele) who was beyond knowledgeable, with a wonderful personality. He held our group together "like a family," while informing us and guiding us through sights, border crossings, and handled any of our fellow travelers' particular issues/problems with ease. I met some very wonderful fellow travelers in our group! It was simply a magnificent trip.

The trip to Tanzania was amazing. It was everything I wanted and more. Romuald was our driver, tour manager, safari expert and friend on this tour. We were only 5 travelers and by the end of the trip we felt like a family. The food was fantastic! Every dinner was a delicious 3 course meal with the best soups I have ever eaten. All of the hotels were top tier, but the Angata Serengeti camp took it to another level. The staff greeted us with a cool towel, a drink and a song. After dinner they made a fire, and we were able to sit under the stars listening to the sounds of animals. Another great hotel was the coffee lodge in Ngorongoro. The rooms were huge, and the pool overlooked the jungle. On top of all that greatness then you add that we saw all of the Big 5, the great migration, a lion kills, lion mating, a mongoose eating a snake and so much more! I also did the Zanzibar extension which was a great opportunity to relax by the beach and I learned so much during the stone town city tour and spice tour. I will remember this trip for the rest of my life, and I hope I will be able to return to Tanzania in the future. Gate 1 always provides great tours, and this one will stand out amongst the best of the best.

We had a fabulous time on our South Africa, Botswana and Zambia tour and are highly recommending this Gate 1 Travel itinerary to our friends and family. Our tour guide, Renier, was fantastic. He was enthusiastic, knowledgeable, humorous, extremely helpful, and very capable of successfully solving a variety of issues that were presented to him by our fellow travelers. He worked very hard to ensure that every traveler was comfortable and having a great time, the whole trip. We enjoyed every moment of the tour - each day was better than the last. We loved seeing Victoria Falls, the experience on the dinner train and flying on the small planes (a first for us). But the time on safari - in Chobe National Park and at Moremi Crossing - were definitely the highlight of the tour. Our son and granddaughter (14) joined us, and they loved every moment, too. Everyone we met along the way was so friendly and cheerful, especially the train conductors - who invited us into the locomotive and let me and my granddaughter toot the horn. We felt extremely safe in the hands and vehicles of the safari rangers during the game drives and bush walk. The rangers were excellent, and we learned so much about the animals and the savanna from them and saw more species of animals than we expected to. Seeing the leopards and lions up close was definitely thrilling. Thanks for a terrific trip!

Still recovering from the long flight. This was the best trip we have ever taken, bar none, and we are experienced travelers. There are many reasons why it was great, most of all was our tour director, Renier. He was a delight, went above and beyond what I and others would have expected. He was knowledgeable, conversant, and just a wonderful human being. Additionally, we had a very cohesive group of 36 people, and we bonded well. The hotels were great, especially the fabulous Kruger Gate Hotel. The safaris were the highlight, but everything we did was memorable. It will be hard to weed through more than a thousand photos I took. This was the trip of a lifetime.

Great itinerary, hotels, food, experiences and fellow travelers and I can't say enough about our travel director, Charl. Charl's passion for his work, his country and his clients are apparent in his every sincere action. He not only is an excellent organizer and cohesive for our group, but also freely gives personal attention and care to each individual. For example, when we went on a wine tour and I don't drink, he purchased a delightful non-alcoholic option for me and showed me around the grounds. He offered handicap options to a temporarily disabled fellow traveler at each destination with care and dignity. He imparts a wealth of information and knowledge about our destinations in a way that is interesting and humorous. He answers questions and responds to requests without hesitation, often foreseeing needs without having to ask. Plus, he is always patient and prepared. This is my first Gate 1 trip, and I am already looking over the travel brochure that was awaiting me at home for my next trip. I hope your other tours and tour guides are as excellent as this trip. I am well-travelled and Charl is the best tour manager I have ever encountered.

Panda & Joseph made the difference in my experience on the Namibia trip...you couldn't ask for a better tour manager and driver. I trusted them with my safety and in their suggestions for activities and lunch options during their free time. WHEN I book a return trip to Namibia, it will definitely have to be with the both of them.

Our Gate 1 adventure to Namibia was excellent. We enjoyed the people of Namibia, the culture, locations, scenery and variety of animals and reptiles. The bus driver and Tour Manager (TM) were both exceptional. The TM conveyed informative, helpful, and totally clear and positive information on Namibia throughout our trip. It was an amazing and enjoyable adventure that we truly loved.