Wild Root Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2005)
- Member Of:
- TATO, TTB & KINAPA
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $190 to $500 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
DE
Email David | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safari with problems
We did a 7 (8) day safari on Wild Root. The track and the accommodations were put together in advance by Wild Root and offered as a finished trip.
Overall, it was a nice safari, but there were three serious problems from my point of view.
1. Booking the accommodations for the wrong month
When we arrived after our first day of safari at the first TWC accomodation booked by Wild Root, we were told after a long wait that the accomodation was overbooked. All other accommodations on our safari belonging to the TWC group are booked for the wrong month. We were then taken that same evening to another (45 minutes) away TWC accommodation that was still vacant in the room. This of course was not the class of our booking and at the actual accommodation included morning guided hike to Lake Manyara we also could not attend. In addition, we did not know at this time if and how our safari goes on at all, which absolutely destroys a relaxing holiday! To top it off, there were problems with the Rangers the next morning because we were not registered for the passage to the property. After much discussion with our rangers about the ranger, we had to turn around and return to the accommodation, where we had to pay another 64 dollars out of our own pocket to drive the way. After over an hour, we finally went on with the safari. The $ 64 did not matter, I was much more annoyed by the renewed stress and lost time. We paid almost 1,000 a day for the safari, so I expect that such problems will not occur.
2. Planning error
Another of my serious and avoidable mistakes was planning the location of one of the accommodations. For two days of safari the Mara River Crossing was scheduled. For this one must necessarily drive north to the Mara River in the north of the Serengeti. Man then waits at the river for a possible crossing by the animals waiting on the other side. Unfortunately we had to leave our position early because our accommodation (Lobo Lodge) was 3 hours drive from the Mara River. So we went when others arrived. From our oncoming drivers, our driver was asked several times, why we leave the river already. The next day we have renounced a return trip to the Mara, because then a total of 6 hours drive to the relatively short time at the Mara are out of proportion. I do not understand why no accommodation was chosen near the Mara. In my view, a planning error that you could have avoided. In addition, the immigration had left the area Lobo and accordingly were found few animals.
3. Unreliability and dangerous ride to the airport
At the end of the safari actually (so it was planned from the beginning) a final meeting with the leader Phil in Arusha should be done. Since our jeep was no longer safe driving, because this lost brake fluid due to a defect, the car should be replaced for the trip to the airport (about 1 hour). Unfortunately, Phil did not show up at the rendezvous, as agreed with our driver and us. We waited about 30 minutes for Phil who did not show up, then had to go to the airport with the broken Jeep not to miss our flight. Not to appear to the meeting is one thing, not to put us a replacement car and so to force our driver to continue the ride on a train with braking problems is in my view an absolute "no-go"!
I will book another company for the next safari and in my experience would not recommend Wild - Root.
Reply from Wild Root Safaris
Posted on Sep 30, 2019Thanks for your trip feedback and sorry for what happened. We worked hard to make sure all accommodation is right booked accordingly. TWC did a mistake and thus why we followed up and make sure you have the right dates on your accommodation. TWC finally put all accommodation in right dates as this was their mistake and not the company. As for WMA which has been a problem for a couple of months as they were exposing the new system which tour operators can pay in advance and the moment you were on safari the cash was handed to your driver-guide. The cash was declined and we told you to pay through your card and your money USD 64 should be refunded to you when you finish your trip. Mathew meet with you guys and apologized for what happened and refunded you $ 64. As for the Jeep which you said the break failed it’s not true as Mathew spoke with the driver and the driver said the Jeep is okay no problem. We believe our driver who has been with you for 8 days and could not drive you to Airport if the breaks weren’t okay. We believe you can’t drive the vehicle if the breaks don’t work otherwise. We have spoken with our driver as we thought maybe he didn’t want to take you to the airport. The management has spoken to the driver to make sure the same problem Won’t happen to our guests. We are apologizing again for this as our expectations were to have an unforgettable African holiday. As for accommodation which was your own choice Lobo wildlife lodge which you said was located far from the river, yes it’s okay located one hour drive but the driver was luck of timing and briefing the right time as to make sure you see the river crossing. It’s not our first time for our guests to stay at this lodge and still they were able to see the river crossing. Our management has spoken also with the driver about this as to make sure our guests don’t face the same problem again. We are humbly apologizing for all happened and hope Won’t happen again to our next guests.
Wild Root Safaris is all about profesinalism
Wild Roots Safaris tour is very professional and customers care. My safaris trip was well plan and I had a wonderful experience see wild animals.
MT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent service - would go again!
From the very moment we contacted Wild Root Safaris we could tell that they were extremely serious, trustworthy, friendly and understanding and that they were really good at understanding our needs and requests and helping us with even more things that we could have imagined.
When we arrived in Arusha they were on hand to pick us up and help us. They took us around Arusha to pick up some small items, helped us check in to our hotel and drove us to a lovely place where we could get some lunch after the long bus drive coming to Arusha. And this was before the Safari had even started!
On the morning of the Safari our guide helped us with everything, was very good at showing us local things and explaining many things about the city of Arusha. This was when we were driving and there was still a good way to the Tarangire National Park.
It was very comforting driving with a local (Raymond/Maje) who lived in Arusha and knew everything really well. Both me and my travel companion never really liked staying in the bigger cities in Tanzania but with Wild Root we were never worried about anything.
We went on a 4d/3n safari starting in the Tarangire National Park, then Serengeti for 2 days and finished off in the Ngorogoro crater.
The only negative aspect of our Safari experience was the first hotel (Finaka Lodge) - the food was nice and the staff very friendly but the room was way below what you would expect (if you come with a European mindset). We explained this to our safari guide the next day and they were sad to hear about this.
After the safari they invited us out for dinner and said they were sorry about this and that they had already contacted the hotel to check what had happened.
The next two hotels/lodges (Ikoma Tented Camp/Rhino Lodge) were much nicer and we had no issues whatsoever at those places. Where Finaka Lodge was in a small village you completely lost the feel of being on a Safari. At Ikoma Tented Camp and Rhino Lodge we saw wild animals (giraffe, gazelle, water buffalo and some other type of gazelle) come right in to our camp/walked very close to the houses. We could hear Hyena in the night (which scared my travel companion) but I think this was amazing and exactly the experience you want!
The first day in Tarangire was amazing, we saw monkeys, giraffe, warthog (Pumba's), birds and of course elephants which the park is famous for. Our guide was extremely clever in the way he found the animals which we benefitted from on many occasions. In Tarangire we got within 2-3 meters of around 10 elephants, where some of the elephants were very young. This was a truly amazing experience and I am grateful for being able to observe these majestic animals.
Serengeti was another chapter in its own - from the endless plains to the migrating herds of animals, there was plenty to see and our guide Maje was always quick to look around and spot the animals long before we could see them. We saw a whole range of animals in Serengeti including a Cheetah with four cubs, a Leopard, a leopard baby, plenty of lions, wildebeest, zebra, hyena, warthog and all sorts of Antilope.
When we arrived in the Ngorogoro crated we saw animals right away: Lions, Elephants, water buffalo right next to the car and huge male elephants next to the road. We spotted a Rhino with its baby and even more flamingos than you could possibly count. The crater was an amazing experience and we will definitely go on a safari another time!
After the Safari Wild Root had assisted us in buying tickets for our bus the next day, they helped us check in to our hotel again and the next morning the picked us up and drove us to the bus station. They asked me to let them know once we arrived at our destination, which only proves how much they care and how helpful they are.
All in all I have nothing negative to say about Wild Root Safaris - they catered for our every need and went above and beyond for our every request. It is a relatively small company which only means that they are better at customizing your Safari and making it a truly wonderful experience.
When I am going on my next Safari, there is no question that I will go with Wild Root Safaris.
Email Catalina | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Spectacular
The Safari was amazing. The service great, the food delicious, all the expectations that we have it, we completed and successful.
The driver/guide was very punctual, he did great job!!
We enjoyed and are very happy with this unforgettable experience.
EG
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
safari trip 06 nights
its amazing experience to see the wild life in close , and watching the animals attitude during the day
i love to go there again and again
US
Email Robby Berman | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Mathew
I climbed Kili with another company and Mathew from Wild Root Safaris was my guide. He was proffesional and responsible and I would recommend him.
IT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very good driver but 7 days for safari only is too much.
Good , precise and prompt comunication by email. Very good and kind driver .Some problems with the accomadation.The already confermed high level lodges have been changed with lower one once we arrived in Tanzania.
The driver has rearranged everything again at almost the same quality level but with some difficulties.
Be sure to have the same lodges you have chosen and payd for!!!!!!
Consider to take a flight to Serengeti and one day in Ngorongoro is enough.
The trip was any way interesting thanks also to our driver.
US
Email Belle | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wild Root Safaris put together an excellent 6-day private safari for us!
My husband and I had an amazing time on our private 6-day safari! Mathew and his team put together a great itinerary for us as we got to experience a range of diverse habitats and see animals in different environments across the 4 places we visited (Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara). It was the perfect amount of time and we were lucky enough to see 108 species of animals (75 of which were bird species), including the elusive black rhino! We even unexpectedly saw huge herds of wildebeest migrating on their way to Ngorongoro Crater.
Of course, we have to give an enormous amount of credit to our guide Hamisi, who was very knowledgeable and crucial to ensuring a positive safari experience. He had a great sense for where to find wildlife and could identify very quickly, as well as sharing a wealth of information about the animals and plants that we saw. We also had a great time just talking to him about his family and life in general during mealtimes.
The chosen accommodations exceeded our expectations and were very comfortable. Our favorite was the Serengeti Heritage Camp which allowed us to see animals from our tent and hear them all around us at dusk and in the evenings. The food throughout the trip was surprisingly good with quite a few options as well.
Overall, we had a wonderful safari and highly recommend Wild Root Safaris and Adventures to others. It was a trip of a lifetime and we would be thrilled to come back again!
SG
Email Eng PT | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
My first safari of my life, must say i enjoyed it tremendouslyi enjoyed tremendously
This was my first trip to Africa, my first to Tanzania & my first in Serengeti.
I'm very glad that i was introduced to & went with Wild Root Safaris. They have given me a very good impression of safaris, Serengeti, Tanzania & Africa.
Everything they have promised, they've more than delivered, except that of the big five, we didn't manage to see a rhinoceros. Of course the company can't be held responsible for that - such is nature. And of course, we did see many many more other animals than the 4 of big 5.
We all found Hamisi, our guide, driver, spotter & game-knowledge-sharer, all thrown into one person, extremely helpful, accomodating, sharp, knowledgeable, witty & efficient. We'd like to commend Wild Roots for providing such a nice person to guide us. He had 2 books in the Land Cruiser to let us read more, if we so wished, while we bounced through the tracks of Serengeti. Hamisi also knew when we could check the tyre (pee in wild, near to vehicle, safely).
Accommodation & food were great, as promised. Mathew (presumably, or his staff) was always at hand to clarify when the need arose.
Thank you, Wild Roots & Mathew for the wonderful 3 days (this in retrospect is a little short) in Serengeti.
US
Email Riya | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Helpful, knowledgeable, great customer service!
Wonderful safari experience with Wild Roots in Serengeti and Ngorongoro! Very knowledgeable guide/ driver- Hamisi. We saw all big 5!