US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Four great days at Kruger Paark!
Mike at Kruger Park Travel was able to put together a trip that fit all of our needs. Although we modified our plans more than once prior to booking, Mike was able to provide us with exactly what we wanted, and at a fair price. When we arrived in Johannesburg, a driver picked us up and took us to our lodging, where we enjoyed drinks by the fireplace and a pleasant dinner. Following a great breakfast (at an extremely reasonable price) the driver picked us up and took us to the airport for our short flight to the park. There, we were picked up and driven to our comfortable accommodations at Hippo Hollow. The lodging and food was very good, with a highly attentive staff. We did game drives, a bush walk, played a round of golf, and enjoyed the Panoramic Trail drive one afternoon -- all arranged and scheduled by Mike. Everything was on schedule, we had an excellent driver guide for the game drives, and then a timely pickup for the trip back to the airport. I would definitely use Kruger Park Travel for a return trip.
PT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Our Tanzanian experience with It Started in Africa
Regarding our tour we have to thank "It started in Africa" for the memorable days that we have passed in Tanzania. Everything was amazing and very well prepared. Our guide, Charles, was perfect and very dedicated. In fact he is certainly a big part of the success of our holidays.
The choice of the itinerary as well as the camps and hotels was magnificent. The days in Zanzibar where also very good and we enjoyed a lot.
We hope we can return again in a near future because we already miss the endless space of Serengeti…
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was an amazing holiday.
I found Paul website on safari bookings and they have received nothing but five star rating. This is deserved rating. Everything was really well organised from start to finish. Gave really good advice on our first trip to Africa. This was our honeymoon and it was a holiday I will never forget. The safari lodge, ikuka was a big part of this (recommend to me by Paul). Ikuka lodge was quite simply the best place I have ever stay. I can't recommend the place enough.
EG
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
professional , hospital and amazing organization
So , i have been trying to organize short safari 1 day to Mikumi and after searching alot i found hellotanzania.
And oh how responsive they were. Madame Mwajabu followed up with me every step, she picked me me up and my family at the airport free of charge and the next day at 5 am Moses(perfect professional driver) took us full day . Comfortablr car with fruits cashew nuts and juices and stop over for amazing coffee on the house .
At Mikumi he was patient with us as we went searching for lions :D . He never complained.
A life tume experience with best package offer i recieved.
Perfect welcome into Tanzania is Hello Tanzania
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Good safari!
Moureen was so helpful! We had a great experience with her. She sent us multiple itineraries with different length safaris, as well as different lodging arrangements to choose from. She was very prompt with communication, and paying for the safari through PayPal was extremely convenient. She made sure to keep us updated throughout the whole process, including calling me to let us know our driver would be 1 hour late picking us up for the start of our safari due to Nairobi traffic.
The actual safari was very nice! This was both our first trips to Tsavo or Amboseli. The differing terrains and sights and animals in each park was very refreshing to see (albeit Tsavo West's terrain made it extremely difficult to spot any animals- very tall shrubs and grasses), and the lodgings where we stayed were fabulous. The one downside (not due to anything by Kay Adventures) was that visiting 3 national parks in 3.5 days meant there was a lot of traveling between the parks, and we would have liked more time on the actual safari.
RU
Good operator
Jockytours helped me organize a lodge safari to Amboseli, Nakuru and Masai Mara. The price was very competetive. We liked our guide: he was very knowledgable and professional. Everything was organized according to the program we had approved beforehand. The only drawback is the quality of the minivan that could have been in a better state.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Highly Reccomended, Great Guide/Driver, Great Experience
We had a four day/three night Safari including Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Inpenitrible Forest and Lion Tracking along with the standard drive and boat ride. It was extraordinary. We were several feet from a family of Mountain Gorillas, including a small baby and mother, a Silverback and a teenage boy who demanded our attention. We were in their home and we were honored to be there. We were twenty feet (in a van this time) from lions. Our entire experience was wonderful. Our driver/guide David was knowledgeable, friendly and creative in figuring out how to make our experience even better.
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Superb service from Cardboard Box
Extremely efficient.Could not have asked for more. We really gave Anita the runaround when changing bookings en route and she came out tops! The information we received was much more than we expected and came as a surprise
FR
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
I will come back in Southern Africa with Biwakwango
We contacted Thierry at Biwakwango in order to organize for our family (2 parents and our 2 youngest children a 2 weeks trip in South Africa.
The target was to have a first impresssion of this beautiful country, choosing small strutures along the way.
We did a clockwise trip starting at Kruger Park then Swaziland, Thonga Beach, Drakensberg and finishing by Cape Town.
Our teenagers were enthusiastic (and it is not so easy !) especially by the Rhino walking trials experience in the Kruger Park. We saw the big 5, Ugly 5 and more than expected.
All lodges chosen were very good (and not too big).
Thank you very much Thierry.
Chantal and Christian
IN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Worst service ever and you will know why through the ordeal mentioned below
This is a mail sent to the tour operator and Tanzania Tourism, Tato and safaribookings.com about this agent.
Dear Mr. Emmanuel,
This complaint letter is to bring to your notice and others that, your service during the 5-Days safari package we had undertaken through your company Tanzania Destination Safaris was pathetic and the worst we have encountered ever in our 20 years of travel life across the world.
Below I am presenting the account of horror we faced through your utter lack of service, causal and unprofessional approach.
• Through Safaribookings.com, we shortlisted your company Tanzania Destination Safaris, as our agent for safaris between 21 to 25 August 2016.
• We opted for your ready package for 5 Days/4 Nights, which included 1 night in Ngorongoro Crater, 2 nights in Serengeti and 1 night in Lake Manyara.
• Another 4 people joined in for the day package to Ngorongoro Crater.
• We even paid you USD 30/head extra for the newly introduced VAT, which you claimed was not included in the rate of USD 1305/head as advertised on the website and requested us to pay.
• The day before the safari, you visited our hotel in Arusha, collected the full amount for all 7 people in advance and introduced us to our guide/driver Khalid, who came to pick us up promptly the next day.
And now our nightmare begins.
• On the very first day, the safari vehicle engine heated up, and carburetor started leaking in Ngorongoro, right at the edge of Hippo Pond inside the crater. The driver/guide managed to get it rectified. This was promptly brought to your notice.
• Second day, there was a flat tyre on our way to Serengeti. Out of the two spare tyres at the back, one was already deflated, which is being careless and assuming it is against the law of the land. That’s not all, the jack was bolted badly inside the car and couldn’t be removed, and even the functional spare tyre couldn’t be removed, the tool kit was barely there. A passing vehicle helped us remove the jack. The tyre was removed with great difficulty with the help of few other people from another truck. We even borrowed a spare tyre from a third vehicle, just in case. We wasted almost two hours.
We complained about both these issues to you and you promised to send two spare tyres to Serengeti. The driver/guide says he never received any spare tyres, while you claimed you have sent them. Apparently they were not sent.
• On third day, we spent more time on getting the tyres checked at the workshops inside Serengeti during the safari.
And on these three days after the safari the driver/guide spent the evenings getting the repairs done, skipping his dinner with us. This we sorely missed, since we were waiting to hear his stories of other safaris.
• On the fourth day, we were stuck at Serengeti, unable to move to Lake Manyara, because the vehicle had three flat tyres now and no spare tyres. To top it all, the battery had completely died. A service vehicle was called to repair the battery. After a wait of four hours from 7:30 am to 11;30 am, we finally moved towards Ngorongoro/Lake Manyara.
• At the registration area of Serengeti, the engine was kept alive, while the driver/guide went to finish the paper work. But after half an hour of engine idling, it just stopped. Apparently the battery was dead. Push-starting with the help of others didn’t work. We wasted three more hours there, till another vehicle was organised to drop us to Ngorongoro Crater main office. By the time we reached our lodge at Karatu, it was 5:30 pm. A total of 10 hours through this painfully long troubled day and we could not visit Lake Manyara that evening.
We thought our ordeal was over and next day we can at least cover Lake Manyara for couple of hours before getting to Kilimanjaro Airport for our 3 pm flight.
• But the last day, at the gate of Lake Manyara registration counter, we discovered that the Lake Manyara entry card was not given to the new driver/guide, who came to fetch us at Ngorongoro gate. We called the old driver/guide, Khalid who was still at Serengeti. He mentioned that he had very clearly informed you to issue new card for Lake Manyara the previous day so that we are not inconvenienced. But you ignored this completely. At the gate, you suggested we pay and you will reimburse us at Arusha.
• We were certainly unwilling because by then we stopped trusting you completely. You have lied and deceived us throughout our safari and were least helpful in times of crisis. You avoided our calls at Serengeti when we were trying to reach you.
• We could not visit Lake Manyara for safari, thanks to your deficient service. And as compensation, you gave us USD 100/head. This did not even cover the Lake safari rest alone the trouble we went through because of a defective vehicle and your total lack of professional and ethical approach. In the end, you even refused to meet us at Arusha, instead sending your office staff with USD 300 to pay us.
You and your company will definitely NOT be recommended for anything to do with Tanzania tourism. You spoil the name and efforts of your wonderful country, its tourism department, the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) and websites like safaribookings.com.
I request the respective authorities to take action against Emmanuel and his company Tanzania Destination Safaris.