SafariBook Evolution
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2013)
- Member Of:
- Kenya Professional Safari Guide Assoication
- Tour Types:
- Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $100 to $400 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
CA
Email Kevin & Monica | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome Safari Experience
Steve was excellent with communication and made planning our trip easy. Onesmus (our guide) and Kioko (our cook) were outstanding. Onesmus went above and beyond to ensure we had an enjoyable safari and that we saw all we could see. He was very informative and took a genuine interest in showing us his country and it's wildlife. Kioko's food was delicious and there was plenty of it! He was even kind enough to make us banana pancakes again when we requested, so yummy!
We spent 4 nights in tents. They were quipped with bed, toilet and shower (with hot water). They were quite comfortable considering you are on safari. The one night in a hotel was lovely and everyone at all locations were very friendly and helpful.
Overall I would recommend SafariBook Evolution- it was a trip of a lifetime.
CA
Email Erin | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing! We had an amazing guide and an amazing cook! We highly recommend this group!
This company was easy to deal with. They were quick to respond to emails. The safari was more than we imagined. We had Onesmus as a guide and Kioko as a cook. Both were amazing! We will be back and we will be requesting them!
Email WorldTravell3r | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Terrible choice to sub-contract the Tanzania portion of our Trip
We recently went on a Safari (Kenya and Tanzania) with SafariBookEvolution. These guys can handle Kenyan safari alright, but they were not forthcoming about the fact that they don't run the Tanzanian safari themselves, and it was nothing short of a disaster as they sub-contract to Jackpot safaris (who basically give you dangerous cars, careless guides and put your lives in danger. See below the list of issues we faced. I wouldn't recommend them and can't say much for Safaribook Evolution as they but us in a very terrible situation.
Kenyan Safari issues
1) no power at destiny Eco camp for 2 days
2) no hot water at destiny Eco camp for 2 days, although we were promised.
Tanzanian Safari issues
Safety - We put our families in danger. Don't risk it!
1) Car's door kept opening right in the middle of game drives and on the highways endangering our families.
2) The car's open top literally fell on us which could have killed all of us. Thankfully we were sitting at that time.
3) Car broke down in the middle of forest. And the driver had least concern for our safety. A speeding vehicle nearly crashed on our car.
4) We were lost in the jungle of for four hours with the driver George not having a clue about where we were. He didn't even have the mobile number of the Kati Kati camp.
Value for Money - Zero
5) We paid a lot for the Kati Kati camp's luxury tent, but stayed there just for 8 hours in Kati Kati camp without enjoying any part of the stay. Thanks to George who got us lost in the jungle.
6) Car was small and cramped in Tz for 3 days. When we complained about this, George said he couldn't drive the other car so we ended up using the same cramped car for one more day which eventually broke down.
7) The guide/driver was very rude and arrogant, not well informed(like he didn't have the phone number of the Kati Kati camp when we were lost in the jungle.
8) The tents given to us at the flamingo hotel were so small. We had to pay $200 extra to get the rooms. Andrew (Jackpot Safari) threatened to cancel the whole safari even though he saw we had 2 small kids.
9) No binoculars for the Tz safari, although we were promised that we will be given one.
10) The itinerary was changed mid way, only one day at the Tarangire national park as opposed to two days.
11) the Tz driver has a total lack of interest with the safari, with us having to push him to go on game drives. For example we spent only 2 hours at the Lake Manyara game drive. Then we had to call the managers to get him to take us to another game drive.
12) The Tz driver only drove us around the main gate most of the time. We had to constantly push him to drive a little bit further. As soon as he shows us one thing, he will be satisfied, but we were not as we have paid a lot of money.
13) The last two days were completely useless, especially Tarangire was a complete waste of time. We didn't see anything partly because of the itinerary change. George, the Tz driver, lied to us that Tarangire will take 3 hours to reach when it took only an hour and a half.
14) The Tz driver tried to sneak into all the parks without paying for the kids
The list goes on. But there are two big things to keep in mind. First, Safaribook Evolution never informed us that they subcontract the trip in Tanzania, nor did they tell us who it would be doing our trip. In the end they are responsible for our trip and our safetey. Second, was anytime we spoke to Andrew about the problems he was not willing to discuss ways to solve them, but would simply threaten to stop the safari and abandon us in Arusha. This is very unprofessional, especially as we were only asking for what was written in the itineary and to be in a safe vehicle.
Don't use them of Tanzania!!!
The best safari operator
We've had the best safari experience with SafariBook Evolution I can imagine. The operator is reliable, very carrying of guests, reception is easily reachable in Arusha. Our guide was extremely friendly, communicative and with an amazing eye for animals and our cook was a food-magician (on the safari, I've had the best pumpkin soup ever). Also, we saw the Big Five, so our trip was complete in every manner. We strongly recommend SafariBook Evolution!
US
Email Yasmine | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fun trip and true adventure
First of all I'd like to thank Steve Sr. Manager of safari booking. He is really good experienced manager. He helped me to going through step by step booking my trip even he helped me to search for my domestic flights and hotels etc... He was really careful about if anyone vegetarian or any food allergies in our group. That was a huge plus for me before start our trip to Tanzania.
Once we arrived to Arusha they picked us up from the airport as promised to our hotel. Next morning driver picked us up from our hotel on time and we met our game driver James and our stomach doc.
James is very experienced driver and a guide. I cant even ask more than his unlimited good mood and smiley face friendship and did not take time how he blended into our group :-)
During Safari he gave us all the information about where we are and the animals that we have questioned. He played very well. Knows where to stop for good view that we can take pictures clearly.
We had all the safari experiences that we can in 4 days.
Our cook (stomach doc) had feed us very well with a lot of food... He was careful about vegetarian (me) and cook separately. In the morning our coffee and tea was ready at the table. Food always ready at the time he told us with least 3 courses meal and dessert.
Thank you Safari booking and Thank you James from bottom of my heart.
PL
Email Chris | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good service and experienced guides
We (a couple) had a great 4-day tour in Tanzania (Lake Manyara - Ngoro - Serengheti). I can recommend SBE strongly, in details: great contact with office before and afer the tour, very good and commited guide and chef willing to give you something additional on the trip (for us it was small change in the route for migration watching), everything on time. Accomodation a bit basic, esp. in Serengeti. Good food.
ES
Email César Arévalo Lozano | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Good Safari, bad personal treatment
I personally don't recommend this Company to make a safari. I did 4 days safari and they changed my planning because I wanted to do only 3. The person in charge of taking you to the car, get the money and arange everything treated me as if i were only money and he lied to me several times. On the other hand the safari was fine and the driver and the cook were really friendly.
UA
Email Vika | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Safari experience
Driver was really professional. I think, thanks to him we saw "Big 5" and a lot of other animals. he has stopped the car in good places, that is why photoshoots were perfect.
Food was well prepared, and our table was served the first amog other ones.
Tent was not perfect, but I think such experience was usefull and interesting.
thanks for the organization, help and you professionalism!
PL
Email Kamil | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Extremely well communication and pleasant safari experience
We booked our Safari trip half a year in advance via safaribookings.com
We're very delighted with communication and responsiveness. Replies were coming from Steve - Senior Tour Operator and we'd like to give him special thanks for taking great care. Replies were quick (up to 24h and almost immediate once we arrived to Africa). All questions were always answered. He also provided some tips for us before arrival and he helped to sync with the driver when we needed. One more thing that needs to be pointed out is great honesty - Steve returned us excess money we left for hotel owner to book bus tickets for us but we hadn't chance to get the change before departure.
As for Safari itself is was great experience. Eric - our driver and a guide in one person did his best to show us big five and he made it. He's very good driver, also quite fast but we were totally fine with this. Also he always stopped when we asked him to. He was flexible and kind.
One thing I would like to see more is some description of animal life and safari stories from our guide. We were asking some questions, but most of the time his answers were rather short.
Food was very basic but fine and we weren't starving.
In our opinion overall price was very good and experience for that price was totally worth it.
US
Email Fancy Spaulding | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Quality Safari providers.
Travelling with a newborn baby was always a name nightmare for,not until I booked for an African safari with Safaribook evolution.
The first thing I give them credit for is the punctuality and that was a big deal for me having a newborn,a cranky teenage and a tired husband.
The driver Cyrus was his name. He was greeted us with a wide smile and helped load our luggage in the trunk.
The safari Mini van was clean and spacious that's a big deal for me as well. (Call me a clean freak)
Being a private Safari just for my family and i,the 7days safari kept getting bettet. These guys know exactly what a safari should feel like. From the scenic views to wild life,they are on point. I was amazed about how well connected they were to have known all the dynamics of safari in Zanzibar given that they were from kenya. At the end of it I forgot I had a newborn,she was ok the whole time. If you have a baby and wondering how you're ever gonna get that vacation,wonder no more. I can confidently recommend Safari book evolution to fix you just right. I am definitely coming back to Africa. Maybe this time I will explore kenya a bit and not Tanzania. Good job guys keep us coming :)