DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Avoid safaris with WIVI, they are fraudsters!
We booked a 14-day Tanzania safari—a "Chimpanzee Experience"—for two people through WIVI, a tour operator based in Arusha, at a cost of 8,020 USD.
Although we repeatedly pressed the operator to provide proof of our bookings—specifically vouchers for the luxury accommodations and domestic flights we had already paid for—they refused to do so.
Four days before our scheduled departure in Turkish Airlines business class, WIVI sent us a significantly altered itinerary. Upon closer inspection, we discovered numerous changes that were clearly to our disadvantage.
We were unwilling to accept these modifications without compensation for the total amount paid. However, cancelling the trip would have resulted in a total financial loss.
Faced with this predicament—where cancellation was economically unfeasible—we accepted the changes under protest, acting in accordance with our obligation to mitigate damages.
WIVI refused to acknowledge any claim for a refund, despite the fact that such a claim naturally arose from these circumstances.
Furthermore, due to the operator’s failure to book our initial flight from Dar es Salaam to Kigoma in a timely manner, our trip was delayed by an additional day beyond the revised itinerary they had sent us on September 8th.
As a result, we were unable to depart for Kigoma until September 16th and were forced to spend an extra night at the Protea Hotel in Dar es Salaam. This was entirely contrary to our wishes and represents a failure in contract management.
Instead of the luxurious Mbali Mbali Gombe Lodge we had booked, we were accommodated from September 17th to 20th at the Kasekela Luxury Tented Camp—which was anything but luxurious, lacking hot water, offering poor-quality food, and even experiencing intrusions by baboons into our tent. Given our predicament, we accepted this arrangement under protest.
On the day of our scheduled departure—set for 9:00 a.m. because the camp operator anticipated bad weather later that day—it turned out that WIVI had failed to pay the camp. Consequently, we were held by the owners and forced to wait until noon, when payment was finally made.
The situation left us emotionally distressed and completely exhausted; we eventually departed by boat at 12:15 p.m.
The price difference between the accommodations for those three nights amounts to 2,233 USD—a sum for which WIVI has refused to provide compensation.
For September 22nd, we had originally booked the Serengeti Safari Lodge, but were placed at the Shuhudia Camp instead because WIVI failed to make payment on time. The price difference was approximately 200 USD.
For September 23rd, instead of the Africa Safari South Serengeti Lodge we had booked, we were accommodated outside the national park at the budget-tier Gran Vachellia Hotel in Karatu—yet another serious breach of contract.
After being forced to wait for two hours at the main entrance to the Serengeti until WIVI finally paid the required transit fee for the Ngorongoro Crater, we arrived at the hotel late at night. This followed a harrowing five-hour journey, which was further exacerbated by a vehicle breakdown. The price difference amounted to 312 USD.
In addition, we missed our scheduled game drive in the Ngorongoro Crater on September 24th.
The financial loss incurred was 436 USD.
This occurred because the tour operator failed to secure the return flight from Arusha to Dar es Salaam—originally planned for the late evening of September 24th—by the night of September 23rd.
We were initially booked with Precision Air, but because the tour operator once again failed to make the payment, the flights were cancelled.
Consequently, we had to arrange an afternoon flight from Arusha to Dar es Salaam ourselves and pay for it through Aurum Air.
Under normal circumstances, we would have flown at night, which would have allowed us to complete our booked safari in the crater as planned—the highlight of our entire trip.
Instead, we had to travel to Arusha to file a report at the local police station.
The replacement flights cost us 464 USD.
According to the original itinerary, we were scheduled to fly from Serengeti Seronera to Dar es Salaam via Arusha on September 24th.
However, the flight segment from Seronera to Arusha was omitted entirely from the revised itinerary and must therefore be accounted for as an additional financial loss. The cost for this flight with Flightlink for two people amounts to 438 USD.
The total financial loss resulting from the fraudulent actions of WIVI amounts to:
4,439 USD.
This was, without a doubt, the worst and most distressing safari experience of our lives. My partner is 56 and I am 65 years old and disabled; although we have already traveled to Kenya five times and are very experienced safari-goers, we have never before encountered such reckless and unacceptable treatment.
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35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolutely amazing. My words cannot describe the proficiency of the tour operator.
An Outstanding Safari Experience with ETA – Highly Recommended!
I cannot recommend ETA highly enough for the exceptional safari experience they provided. From the initial planning stages to the execution of the tour itself, the level of professionalism, organisation and attention to detail was truly outstanding.
This was a trip that involved nearly a year of research and planning, and throughout that entire period, Derrick was absolutely fantastic. His communication was exceptional, keeping me updated, answering my questions and ensuring I was informed at every stage. Having someone so reliable, approachable and committed to delivering a first-class experience made the entire process so much easier and gave me complete confidence in the arrangements.
The logistical proficiency demonstrated by ETA was equally impressive. Everything was organised exceptionally well, reflecting a tour operator that understands the importance of preparation, coordination and delivering on its promises. The professionalism shown throughout the experience was second to none, and it was clear that considerable thought and effort had gone into ensuring everything ran smoothly.
Derrick deserves particular recognition for his dedication and outstanding customer service. Being available and supportive throughout almost a year of planning speaks volumes about his commitment to his clients. His professionalism, responsiveness and personal approach genuinely set him apart.
I must also commend his staff, who were equally exceptional and contributed to making the overall experience so memorable. A great tour operator is only as good as its team, and ETA clearly has an excellent team behind it.
ETA delivered on professionalism, communication, organisation and customer satisfaction. I am genuinely delighted with the experience and would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone considering a safari in Kenya.
If you are looking for a tour operator that takes pride in its work, communicates effectively, plans meticulously and treats its customers with the utmost professionalism, then look no further than ETA.
A huge thank you to Derrick and the entire team for making this such a fantastic experience. You have set a very high standard, and I would happily use your services again!
Highly recommended without hesitation!
IT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A reliable agency and an incredible adventure in Uganda!
We found this agency on Safari Booking, and I can confirm that its rating is fully in line with our expectations. They are a reliable and professional company, and everything we were promised was delivered.
A special thank you goes to Michael Sabatti, who was always available and ready to solve any issue, making sure our adventure was truly the best it could be. His constant support, before and during the trip, gave us great peace of mind.
Our guide, Bosco, was outstanding: very attentive, friendly and always willing to help. He made us feel looked after at every moment and helped us get the most out of every day of the safari.
We visited Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which was an incredible experience and the highlight of our trip, as well as Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls National Park. Both safaris were wonderful, with great wildlife sightings and beautiful scenery.
We would highly recommend this agency to anyone planning a trip to Uganda. Thank you to the whole team for an unforgettable journey!
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A reliable, caring team delivering unforgettable safaris with excellent guides and service
We had an unforgettable safari experience with Meru Slopes Tours!
A huge thank you to Leonard for perfectly organising our adventure, to Robert, our driver-guide, for his kindness, professionalism and knowledge, and to Gady, our chef, for preparing delicious meals throughout our journey.
Thanks to them, we discovered the wonders of Tanzania in the best possible conditions. The whole team took great care of us from beginning to end, making this experience even more special.
We highly recommend Meru Slopes Tours to anyone looking for an unforgettable safari in Tanzania!
Asante sana to the whole team, and hopefully see you again for another adventure!
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Organized and perfect!
We did a 7 day safari with Shengena this fall and it did not dissapoint! We got cared for great by our guide Stan! All accommodations were booked in advance with no hiccups and the experience was just amazing. Would recommend to anyone:))
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good Safe Trip with Safarilink
On 18 Oct 2026 we made our way back to Gauteng from Hoedspruit after a 4 day bush safari. Thomas, our driver arrived on time with a big bus at the cultural village to pick us up. The bus was very comfortable and we enjoyed the aircon and wifi on board. Thomas is a great, cautious and safe driver who kept us informed about the route and the times we would stop for a comfort break and arrival times back in Pretoria where we live. He made me feel that he has everything under control. My experience was very positive and I do recommend Safarilink as your transport option to and from the bush
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing Experience
What can i say - our guide Joshua is the best in the business. Professional, friendly and extremely knowledgeable. He was patient when we needed him to be and knew all the best spots. Thank you joshua for an amazing experience .
BD
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing safari experience! Nicole was friendly, knowledgeable, and the best guide. Highly recommend!
We had an unforgettable safari with Axis Africa Expedition & Safaris! Our guide Nicole was absolutely amazing—kind, knowledgeable, patient, and incredibly professional. She made the entire experience so special and memorable. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide! Highly recommend this company, especially Nicole! ❤️🦁🐘
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Every detail was taken care of from the start to the end! Keep up the customer-centric services
I decided to take my mother on a safari because we had always talked about exploring more of Kenya together. We wanted an experience that would allow us to enjoy nature, take photographs and spend quality time away from our usual responsibilities.
Stephen was our guide, and his considerate approach made the trip enjoyable. He explained the day's arrangements and shared interesting facts about the wildlife.
My mother particularly enjoyed asking questions, and he answered them patiently.
We saw several animals and enjoyed the changing scenery throughout the excursion. One of my favourite parts was watching my mother become excited whenever we spotted something new.
She kept pointing out details she found interesting, and we ended up taking far more photographs than we had originally planned.
The safari gave us an opportunity to create new memories together rather than simply revisiting familiar places. We returned home feeling happy that we had made time for this experience.
Oakland Tours and Safaris helped make our mother-daughter outing special, and I would gladly consider arranging another trip with them.
EG
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable honeymoon safari with Telly Africa Safaris
My wife and I booked our honeymoon safari with Telly Africa Safaris, and we would give the company five stars for the organization and overall experience.
Our driver was a little quiet, and we would have enjoyed more conversation and explanations during the game drives. However, this was only a minor point for us, especially as we were on our honeymoon and enjoyed spending time together.
Overall, it was a memorable experience, and we would happily recommend Telly Africa Safaris. Thank you for being part of our honeymoon
