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.