Brilliant Africa Reviews 

The team was terrific from beginning to ending. A special thanks to Holly who helped with every detail leading in and with a difficult list baggage situation throughout. We had the honeymoon of a lifetime and would highly recommend the team at Brilliant Africa!

Highly recommend using Brilliant Africa for booking a safari trip! This was our first trip to Africa, and Brilliant Africa helped us customize a wonderful trip in Tanzania with 4-5 days for wild game drives and 3 relaxing nights on the beautiful beaches of Zanzibar. We couldn’t have asked for a more magical experience.

We were looked after extremely well at Chameleon Forest lodge which had the most beautiful setting. The staff were so friendly and our guide Amon was excellent & immaculately turned out.

We loved the homely touches, fire in the evening and especially the boot cleaning service. Our boots looked new when returned to us.

The canoe trip on the lake was extremely relaxing after the Bwindi impenetrable jungle.

The Mountain Gorilla trip was magically and an experience that will last with us both for our life time. Getting so close to those amazing creatures and meeting the entire family!

I was extremely impressed with Uganda Wildlife teams and their commitments to the Gorillas, golden Monkeys and parks.

The trip to the Golden Monkeys was wonderful and I sat amongst them just watching them feast.

The 2 friends hotel in Entebbe was a bed for the night, but they never mentioned to us that they had a restaurant over the road, which I am sure would have been a better experience. The team who meet us and picked us up at EBB where very helpful.

I would like to thank you very much Aly, for advising Great lakes safari when our flight was delayed from NBO to EBB (you beat me to it) and then taking the time to contact us (by phone and e mail) to see if we needed any help when our EBB to NBO flight was cancelled – especially as we did not book the flights through you. Incidentally our international flight was cancelled to due to air traffic control strikes in Kenya. Fortunately as seasoned travels we manged to get a flight direct from EBB.

That level of care and attention does not happen very much these days – thank you.
Samantha

From the suggestions as to the best places to stay in Nairobi to the arrangements for transportation between lodges, everything was handled flawlessly. The guides and drivers were pleasant and informative. The tipping suggestions were appreciated.

All around great trip. In countries partners were amazing, they did a great job getting us to great viewing locations. We saw the big Elephants to the small Mongoose and even all the local birds. The Tent camps and lodge were all top notch, along with the amazing food. I had a food allergy that they made sure everything was safe to eat. They also had people at the airports to greet you and get you through customs and drop you off and make sure your at the right gate. Had three great drivers on my trip.
I would like to specially thanks Aly at Brilliant Africa and one our Driver in Tanzania Jeffery

From the moment that our group booked with Brilliant Africa, we knew we were in good hands. The communication between the Brilliant Africa team and our group was exceptional. Information provided about the safari was very detailed and any questions were promptly addressed by the team. Our special requests for a couple of side trips were happily organized and we were regularly updated about the progress of the booking. The safari that was curated for our group was outstanding. The guides, accommodation, food and side trips were all of the highest quality. Even a mishap with a transfer flight in Kenya was quickly sorted by the Brilliant Africa team and their contacts on the ground in Africa. The safari exceeded our expectations. We had wildlife experiences that ticked all of our boxes and no one in the group left disappointed. A special shout out to Aly at Brilliant Africa. Aly was the company's face for our group and she was amazing. Her professional yet highly personal approach was most appreciated.
If anyone is looking for a capable, organised and professional travel team to curate a once in lifetime experience on an African safari, Brilliant Africa is the one for you

Brilliant Africa did a great job. I had an incredible trip. The camps were beautiful and the guides and staff were fantastic

We first spoke with Tracy at Brilliant Africa back in March, and from that very first conversation, we knew we were in good hands. Our original plan was to visit Uganda, but travel restrictions due to an Ebola outbreak meant we had to change course. Tracy and Holly helped us pivot seamlessly to Rwanda, building us a beautiful six day itinerary that ended up being far more than a backup plan. It was its own extraordinary journey.
Communication before the trip was so easy, handled expertly by Holly and Tracy every step of the way. We had access to a personal travel portal where we could view our itinerary and upload important documents, including mandatory travel insurance, proof of vaccination, and visas. We were even able to add our dietary choices and restrictions, and our drink preferences. It made preparing for the trip feel effortless.
We are not touristy people. We love nature and animals, and I am also vegetarian, so we were a little particular about what we wanted from this trip. Every detail was thoughtfully arranged with that in mind. One thing we appreciated with Brilliant Africa is that you get to choose the level of accommodation you want for your experience, so the trip can be tailored to what matters most to you.
Our guide Olivier was with us for the entire journey, and it is impossible to overstate what he added to this trip. His personal story is his to tell, not mine to relate here, but I will say that getting to know this kind, gentle, wise, and funny man over six days was a real pleasure. He was incredibly knowledgeable about Rwanda's history and its present day, and he had a wonderful warmth and generosity of spirit that came through in every interaction, not just with us but with everyone we crossed paths with along the way. He anticipated our needs before we even had to ask, kept wonderful conversation going throughout our days together, and was an exceptionally safe and skilled driver. I admire him so much, and he elevated this trip in ways we did not expect.
We spent our first two days in Kigali, which were profound in ways we did not expect. We had a private guided visit to the Campaign Against Genocide Museum led by the wonderful Vincent, followed by the Genocide Museum the next day. Both were deeply moving and gave us an understanding of Rwanda's history and resilience that stayed with us for the rest of the trip. We stayed at The Nest, a very comfortable boutique hotel with courteous and professional staff. Breakfast was excellent, and we also enjoyed a delicious dinner at their restaurant.
From Kigali, we made the two and a half hour drive north to the ecolodge, stopping along the way for a lovely lunch at Sōoko Xperiences. Derrick took wonderful care of us there, and we were delighted to find delicious vegan options on the menu, along with fresh natural juices that were absolutely delicious.
The Gorilla Trek was the highlight of our lives. It was a good hike, slightly challenging at times, especially if you forget to drink enough water as I did, but the porters and guides were solicitous throughout, making sure we were safe and moving at a pace that felt comfortable. Our group was four couples plus porters and four guides. We got close enough to the gorillas to take some remarkable photos, while always staying safe. Coming face to face with a family of mountain gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park was humbling and eye opening in a way words struggle to capture. It was sublime, joyful, and something we will never forget.
A quick note on cost: Rwanda itself is not an expensive country to visit, though you can certainly find very expensive accommodations and meals if you seek them out. The gorilla trek permit is $800 per person, and it's worth knowing that going in. That money supports an important conservation cause, and once you are standing in front of the gorillas, you are so glad you spent it.
Tiloreza Volcanoes Ecolodge exceeded every expectation, with beautiful accommodations set right against the mountains. The staff there were truly beautiful people, friendly, kind, knowledgeable, and going out of their way in a genuinely warm way that felt personal rather than performed. Their meal suggestions were wonderful, and they even surprised me with a birthday cake and sang to me. I was thrilled to share it with them in return.
Permits, transfers, and hotels were all handled beautifully throughout. We cannot express how wonderful every single interaction was, especially with Holly, Olivier, and the staff at Tiloreza. We recommend Brilliant Africa 100 percent, and we are already dreaming about when we might return.

Brilliant Africa staff were top notch. They listened to our desires for our trip and concerns for a traveler's medical needs. They addressed the medical needs with the utmost care which made our trip worry free. Our trip itinerary exceeded our expectations!! Our guides were amazing and so knowledgeable!!! The properties and staff attended to our every need even before we knew we needed it!!!!! It was truly a TRIP OF A LIFETIME....THANKS to Brilliant Africa!!!!!

Amazing planning and coordination for my trip of a lifetime.
Thank you Aly and team Brilliant Africa, it was beyond Brilliant!

The Brilliant Africa team made planning our honeymoon incredibly easy. We trusted their recommendations, and we're so glad we did because every detail was flawless.
They suggested the perfect itinerary: four days of game drives in Tanzania followed by three relaxing days on the beaches of Zanzibar. From the moment we arrived at Kilimanjaro Airport until we departed from Zanzibar, everything ran seamlessly. Every guide, lodge staff member, and driver knew our itinerary and ensured we were always where we needed to be, right on time.

The accommodations were absolutely beautiful, and the food at every lodge was delicious. We only wish we had more time to enjoy the lodges—but at the same time, we didn't want to miss a single game drive!

Our honeymoon exceeded every expectation we had. It was truly the trip of a lifetime, and we have the Brilliant Africa team to thank for making it so unforgettable.

Just about everything was perfect for me on this trip and exceeded expectations. Godfrey, my Serengheti guide was particularly exceptional and we rreally hit it off! Accomodations were jaw dropping, the itinery was perfect and of course, the scenery was unparalleled. My first guide Chris was a lovely guy but needs more training in identifying wildlife. He mis- identified five or six birds and Godfrey thankfully corrected the identifications. Really can't say enough good things!!!

My family and I recently returned from a safari. I used Brilliant Africa for booking my travel. I could not be happier with my experience from start to finish. My safari was designed with all of my family’s needs and requests and likings in mind. Barry customized my trip with everything I had requested. We found all accommodations to be clean, beautiful with excellent food. We are very particular with food and I have to say the meals were all delicious. The process from booking to the last day was organized and very well managed. Holly was always there to answer all questions and make sure we had everything we needed for travel. We also were very lucky with our guide. I have to say our guide made our trip what it was. He was knowledgable, professional and went out of his way to make sure we were taken care of. It’s beautiful to see that someone puts his heart and soul into what they do and do it so well❤️.

This trip was amazing, incredible, unbelievable and way beyond my expectations. Everything went smoothly, perfectly and without interruption. We witnessed 5 Great Migration Crossings and saw all of the Big 5 animals. Our guides were wonderful and worked hard to make our safaris memorable. The customer service was excellent at all the places we stayed.

Brilliant Africa offered a well planned and logistically supported East Africa safari trip. We really had excellent experiences throughout the trip and did not have any real surprises. All the guides and camps/lodge were high caliber and exceeded our expectations which covered Kenya, North & Central Serengeti and Zanzibar. We were also amazed at the amount and diversity of wildlife and birds seen during our two week trip. They did an excellent job and we have been recommending them to other potential customers.

We had the most memorable honeymoon in Tanzania. The planning experience was super smooth and easy and when we arrived everything was as per scheduled. Thank you Holly and Barry! We had an amazing time with our two private guides across the four national parks who were so welcoming and knowledgeable and showed us the most amazing landscapes and animals during our game drives. The accommodations were great and gave us such unique experiences in each of the national parks we visited. The warm hospitality and great food was a real highlight and can’t wait to come back again!

From beginning to the end Brilliant Safari fantastic service and guidance. They were able to help me plan the most wonderful vacation. From our landing in Arusha until they dropped us off everything was fantastic. One piece of luggage was lost and their local staff stayed on it until it was found and delivered the next day. The lodgings at the Coffee Plantation in Arusha and Elephant Springs Lodge in Tarangier park were the best. Everyone was so friendly. Our guide, Jackson, was so knowledgeable and friendly and really knew how to find the animals. Aly from Brilliant Safari was so responsive. Once our itinerary was set the provided detailed instructions and answers to every question or concern. I heartily recommend Brilliant Safari for the trip of a lifetime.

Cannot say enough positive things about our honeymoon trip to Tanzania and experience with the Brilliant Africa team, especially Aly, and our safari guide, Evod.

Every detail of our 9-day safari and trip to Zanzibar was coordinated to perfection; we did not need to worry about anything (transportation, food, water, lodging, game drives, tours), which made the entire trip truly amazing and allowed us to relax. Aly planned the entire itinerary for us based on our budget, made several revisions, offered options, and ultimately, delivered on a "dream come true" trip!

Excellent stays at stunning lodges, tented camp, and beachside resort; staff were extremely welcoming and helpful 100% of the time. Meals and drinks were great, but the service was truly exceptional.

Evod, our game driver in Tarangire, Ngorongoro, and Serengeti, was very knowledgable and articulate, considerate and warm, responsive and attentive, and really, just the BEST. He was clearly passionate/enthusiastic about wildlife and it was always positive vibes in the safari van! Evod spotted birds after I expressed interest and helped ID all of them, offered great, flexible suggestions for the next day (always discussed the night before!), and answered all our questions -- just fantastic all around. We feel so lucky and grateful to have learned from Evod's expertise and spend several days with him.

Other shout-outs:
- Simon & Alexandra, who led us on a delightful walk around a village and shared lunch with us.
- The staff at Maweninga Camp; you are all incredible. Not just stunning views here, but absolutely amazing and welcoming service.

I would not hesitate to book another trip with Brilliant Africa, considering how awesome this one was. THANK YOU for this wonderful, unforgettable trip!

Emma & Elijah

Brilliant Africa thought of everything and took care of all the planning and logistics so we could just focus on having an incredible trip to Kenya. They worked perfectly within our budget and put together an amazing experience. Would absolutely recommend. Thanks so much!

Holly and her team on the ground in Uganda with Great Lakes tours were 10/10. From the outset, the information provided, options afforded, and flexibility in planning were superb. Communication was immediate and concise. We have done a few trips to Africa and this by far was the most flawless. No setbacks, no glitches(that always seem to happen), everything was as described. Please use this team, they were amazing. On the ground, our driver/guide; Daniel, of Great Lakes Tours, was quite frankly, the best guide that we have had in any of our excursions across the globe. He was informative and knowledgeable, professional and insightful and his flexibility was unmatched. We would definitely recommend that you request him if you are considering a trip to Uganda.