Mercury Tours
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2006)
- Tour Types:
- Small & medium group tours (Budget & mid-range)
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $150 to $400 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
DE
Email Natalie | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A whole disaster and very terrible experience - watch out with this agency! Not trustful at all
We found Mercury Tours on Safari-Bookings and Ndamungu (tour operator) seemed to be nice and helpful. We were having email contact for about two weeks in which Mercury Tours explained the Program in detail and gave us all information etc. In November 2016 we booked the 7 day safari with him (Selous-Mikumi-Ruahu Safari) to start on January, 1st 2017. We transferred half of the money to Ndamungu in November (1330 Dollar) and agreed to pay the other half directly to the tourguide when the safari would start. Ndamungu confirmed that the tourguide would pick us up at 8.40AM in our Hotel. Well, we were all excited to start the Safari and on January, 1st we waited to be picked up in our hotel reception. Unfortunately, no one from Mercury Tours appeared, so after 30 minutes waiting, we called Ndamungu. He said, that the driver had an "accident" and would come within 20 minutes. Unfortunately, this was not true. We waited for hours, calling Mercury Tours several times and Ndamungu said the guide could come very soon and hung up on us with no more information. So, we ended up waiting for about 4,5 (!) with another disappointment. Ndamungu confirmed in November that our driver would be our guide at the same time and would speak English. The person who picked us up just spoke barely English and had no idea of our program and where to go, so he had to explain him everything. Above all, he forced us to pay him 200 dollar otherwise he wouldn't drive us and explained us the actual guide was waiting for us at the camp. Well, we were very angry at the time, but paid him and hoping that the real guide would actually speak English and we could finally start our safari without more stress and headache. When we arrived at the camp, unfortunately no guide was waiting for us. The driver and Ndamungu explained, the guide would come the next day but this was another lie. The next day, the driver was gone without saying a word, no guide appeared and we were left alone literally in the bush. The people at the camp were really helpful and called Ndamungu serval time, but he just switched off his phone. Nothing was organised, nothing was paid for us. So, we lost 1530 Dollar and didn't receive anything for it. We went for a game drive with another guide but had to pay all by ourselves. Our safari was a whole disaster and tomorrow we are heading to the police and embassy here in Tanzania to report on this. Luckily we have all confirmations made by Ndamungu. So be very careful with Mercury Tours and Ndamungu - they are criminals.
Reply from Mercury Tours
Posted on Jan 7, 2017Sorry for the inconvenience caused.
We have looked into the matter and are in talks with our team as to what went wrong, as we decided to refund you cash in hands your 1330 USD,So we have settled our dispute with you Mss Natelie.
As I told you before our first driver as an accident that why we have been changed you with other driver even if he late for couple of our but final he has managed to fetch you up and to you to Selous,so when you were there you changed your mind and you decided to join other group, then my driver so our driver drive back in the empty Vehicle from Selous to Dar ess laam. So we gave you back theUSD 1300 even if we have already pay the parks fees and camping fees.
IN
Email Pawas | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Terrible experience with no accountability - Never pay in advance
This is a perfect example of an operator who will not care about you, once the money is in his pocket. I booked a 3 day plan for Ngorongoro, manyara and Tarangire.
As part of the safari, my requirement was to take night shots and early morning shots at the crater rim of Ngorongoro crater. For which I was carrying a tripod and other equipment. I booked through Mercury and specifically asked them over email, whether there is night stay at the crater rim, to which he responded YES.
When I actually reached Arusha, I was told about some other contact person (apparently from a 'sister' company). The jeep i got in was a shared jeep & they told me there is no crater night stay and it is only for people who go INTO Serengeti. The contact person Mr Loy in Arusha just forced me to go saying that he will make sure he talks to the agency and gets this sorted. (i didn't really have a choice, given that i had already made half the payment in advance)
When i was in Tarangire on the first day, and trying to call / message, all i heard was Mr Loy in Arusha blaming Mr Ndamungu in Mercury and vice versa.
It was such a depressing situation for me as a tourist, that i finally gave up.
In case you decide to book with them, please be advised that even if they commit to something, it might not happen. And they will ask you to be "flexible"
Reply from Mercury Tours
Posted on Oct 14, 2016Thank you so much Pawas for the reviews you have posted for us , and we are really consider it and is very important to us as company because we do be-leave this will help us to uplift us company profiles on the future and also for the future potential clients to understand the real meaning of the sharing group with other s clients, As i emailed you that you must be flexible to the place where you will be accommodate in Ngorongoro,off course if the others clients will be sleep in Ngorongoro, we could take you there to sleep with the in rim but remember according to the group the next day they proceeded to Lake Manayara for their safari , it was very hard for us to accommodate only you in Ngorongoro while we had the last day of safari in Lake Manyara. And I asked you if you are really photographer and you want to take picture in the Rim at the night , it could be better having private safari only you with your equipment like camera and binoculars and have free time with out an disturbance of the joining group. So you requested 3 days -Tarangire-Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro, and we fixed group to fit you according your budget ,desire and interest that what we did as Mercury Zanzibar Safari.Thank you so much again and again.
SI
Email Blanka | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Problems with payment and organization.
Accomodatino was very good and also the food in the campsite, the car was also good, but the last day we waitede to enter to last park for five hours. The guide told us, that there were some problems with payment. Agency did not pay so we could not enter to park Tarnagire. In the end they solved problem but we have only 2 hours to see this park. This is not good and this shouldn't happen.
Reply from Mercury Tours
Posted on Aug 11, 2017Very sorry for what happen to your last day of Safari ,it because of the delay of our bank system can not ready the payment card on the national park, as you know to all the government fees do not accept cash.
DE
Email Samuel | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Charges 200 Dollar more when you are on the way to the safari
Not a serious company. The Guide wanted you to pay 200 Dollar more per person when you enter the bus. Changes in safari program.
Reply from Mercury Tours
Posted on Aug 29, 2016Dear Samuel
Thank you so much that you choose our company for your first African Safari in Selous, As I told you that the price you have payed is for sharing and the minimum people are 4 ,that why we have asked you to add USD 200 per person to arrange for you as private safari trip,since you have been denied to add the additional cost , the Company still took you on the private safari even you payed for the sharing. As company we took it as challenge and will keep it in our consideration.
GR
Email Michalis | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An amazing experience
The guide was really nice and helpful, interested in what we wanted to see. Hakuna Natasa was their motto and they tried to make us feel this way.The food was really good too.
CH
Email Monika | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Mercury Zanzibar was a reliable tour operator, even thow there were some changes in the program.
We were picked up on time as prearranged in Dar es Salam. We felt always secure due to our very experienced driver, who was a knowledgeable safari guide. His english was quite basic, but over all sufficient. Accommodations were simple, but clean and for the price absolutely o.k. Unfortunately there was a lot of rain in January, what didn't allow us to drive the intended route due to a flooded road. We had to face a very long drive back to Dar es Salam and the next day to Mikumi. But everything was organized and we were housed in a good hotel. The really ennoying thing was, that for the last day our guide did not know that we were supposed to go to Udzungwa. So I recommend to check the program the first day of the trip with the guide. After some discussions and bargaining we found a good deal with Ndamungu from Mercury Zanzibar Travel for a compensation. All over it was a good experience with great game drives and due to the long drives we we saw a lot of the country.
Good experience
Overall the trip was very good but the driver was not good. He did not talk about what we we looking at. He was definitely not a guide, only a driver. Besides this he smelled awful wherefore we all hated sitting in the front passenger seat.
With regards to the trip itself, sailing on the Rufiji River was absolutely fantastic. Spending time at Hippo Camp and experiencing Seleous Game Reserve was amazing. But Mikumi National Park was very disappointing as the national park was being burnt on purpose which meant that most of the animals were gone. Mercury Tour and Safari knew this but still took us there.
NL
Email Marieke Van Buren | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent
Good organization, on time, excellent service. I recommend it.
BE
Email Lieselot | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderfull experience
We really enjoyed our safari. The contact with the company was very good, they answer every email in almost 10 minutes. We went for a rather low-budget safari, we got a very good price and the campsite (Panoramic view camping at lake manyara) was very cosy with a magnificent view over lake manyara national park. Lunch boxes are simple, but dinner was local and very tastefull. We saw a lot of animals and our guide Abraham had a very good knowledge about the wildlife and a sharp eye.
QA
Email Machano Fikirini Silima | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
We got what we expected and a great deal more with Mercury Zanzibar safar limited
Expertise to make this a great Safari at -Tarangire-Lake Manyara-Ngorongoro. Good food and everything taken care off.The safari was at all really good! .. We are very pleased with Mercury Zanzibar Safari