CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very helpful, great reccomendations and great customer service.
Communications with Compass Odyssey was great and very quick response times. The entire booking of hotels, transportation and transfers was seamless and easy. All of the accommodations and activities were of great quality. We highly recommend them and we look forward to using their services for our next African adventure.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience
Hi everyone! I and my wife went to Tanzania for a honeymoon and of course we decided to do the most important thing - to conquer the top of Africa. Our friends have recommended us SG Tanzania Tours and Safaris. We discussed our climbing and safari remotely. I think prices are rather high but as a reward we got a better quality compared with competitors. SG Tanzania Tours and Safaris has a new equipment: tents, sleeping bags, even their safari car is new and very cool! During the ascent the team took care of us. Surely they were earning money but they did their work well. It is not so easy to find such good team. It is a chief’s merit! I have some tips for those who are going to conquer Kilimanjaro, firstly, don’t doubt, it is very cool! Secondly, choose only SG Tanzania Tours and Safaris! We do not have any bad emotions or any remarks. Everything was great!
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent organization from start to finish
My fiance and I did a 3-day trip in Uganda with Gatatu Safaris, which included a one day Gorilla tracking activity and a stay on an idyllic island on Lake Bunyonyi, coupled with a short trip to the Pygmy village. From the onset of the trip (we got picked up from our hotel in Rwanda) to its finish (at Kigali International Airport), everything went very smooth. Richard put together an impeccable itinerary for us and it did not disappoint. Our guide and driver - Steven, was always on time, was very professional and courteous and he spoke very good English. The accommodations picked for us by Richard were very good and both had a great selection of food. All in all, we would definitely recommend Gatatu to anyone thinking of touring Uganda and Rwanda, especially since they provide the best services for the lowest prices.
AE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Excellent service and speedy arrangement on a short notice
Me and my friend decided to utilize long weekend just a week prior and she suggested to go to Uganda for gorilla trekking.
Quick search online for the best local provider and tour operator and we were convinced with excellent reviews and program that we dreamed off provided by Home to Africa. They haven't disappointed a bit!
Quick professional response with the accurate questions to tailor make our trip up to our expectations. Even last minute change of lodges due to full capacity was the lucky one and the changed location was breath taking.
We asked for knowledgeable and funny tour guide to accompany us these 3 days. Even this request was attended above expectation. Benon is friendly, attentive and knowledgeable and the friendship strike right upon arrival.
Company offered pick up from airport and drop of to our hotel in Entebbe that was in fact out of the agreed tour package. And Benon waited in the hotel till we checked in and he left only when sure that we are safe.
Great job and big thank you to all team, especially Benon, Ywone and Elias.
We will come back!
CH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent Safari on a Budget
Great if you are on a budget but still want to get the full safari experiance! Super service, very nice staff, delicious fresh cooked meals, action and a lot of wildlife. They try to show you every animal and choose the best spot, so you can take great pictures. Would definitely book again and recommend to my friends and family. Thank you very much William, Victor and Geoffrey
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Highly Recommended
Thank You Crusty (Darren) for a truly memorable experience. Smooth sailing from the minute we first contacted you, and (despite me perpetually changing the dates) you managed to produce an itinerary that provided excellent accomodation and activities throughout our trip to Cape Town, Kruger & Chobe NP and Victoria Falls. Maybe one day wasted in transit from Kruger to Chobe but this was necessitated by our change of dates - the fewer border crossings you have to make - the better!! Especially liked the attention to detail with our own driver/boatman in Chobe and the superb services of James and Corlia at Senalala. Saw more of Cape Town region with your guides than would have been possible on our own. We have rarely used organised tours before but this experience has shown me what I have been missing!! Many thanks again for a wonderful holiday!!
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Broken head and eyeglasses, downgraded to poorer accommodation, standard scams with optionals etc...
We encountered:
- one broken head and eyeglasses
During the exit from the 4x4 vehicle at DINE 45, the driver opened all doors that could rotate 180 degrees and did not secure them. The back door curved and hit the head of my colleague who had already come out of the vehicle and then crash his glasses and he got hematoma on his head. This only happened due to negligence of drivers and guides. We have seen other drivers unloading passengers and holdin the doors in place so that a similar problem would not happen.
- downgraded to poorer accommodation
When we booked the trip, they confirmed our stay (2 days) at Namibia Desert Lodge and instead we were in a campsite with no internet in anything that looked like a tent.
- standard scams with optionals
During the trip we went to a lodge where we were told we could go and watch some wild animals in the cage. They did not let us know that we had to pay for it. Only later, they asked us to pay about $ 10 per person. Everybody in the group was surprised and the guide later said he warned us that we could watch animals "only if we want." But he did not say that if we want we have to pay for it and that this activity is not included.
- a minibus that was constantly drowned
They have been late for more than 1 hour when taking over the hotel for the first day. Explanation: Vehicle problem. I do not know what they did in those hours, but the vehicle we were on for 6 days and over 2000 km was a permanent breakdown and it was not pleasant to stay in the middle of the road with a broken vehicle and the first village 100 km away.
- we were stolen money from the minibus while there was no one around the minibus, only the driver
The last day, only a 2 hours before the end of the trip, we stopped at a lodge for lunch. Until then, the drivers (who is also the guide) was always sitting during the lunch and the dinner with us (group of 7) at the same table. This time not. We were alone in a restaurant inside the lodge, there were no people around. The driver moved away from the group. We left inside the minibus a bag with my colleague's wallet. The money was stolen from the wallet: not all the money was stolen, but only a few large banknotes. We realised this when arrived to the hotel.
I asked the agency to give me an explanation on these issues (and many other things I did not even mentioned here) but they mostly refuse responsibility. I demanded a refund and I told them that if they decided to make a refund, that would be to the account of the humanitarian organisation I will indicate to them. I do not want a refund, but someone who has accomplished this kind of service needs to bear responsibility for it. Apart from the agency I will write more reviews on the internet, it is even more a responsibility of the tour operator (SWA SAFARI).
Sorry for my bad english but I will write other reports on Italian and Spanish (my mother tongues).
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A real professional organisation with an eye for the client. You will feel you are special !!
We planned this trip for more than a year ago and from the beginning we had a very good connection with Magda Vrijs. She gave us the feeling that our dream could be realised. And she did. Here experience and her eye for the client made us feel special. She helpt us build up this trip and booked the most wonderful accomodations. We made this trip with the 3 of us (2 brothers, 1 sister) and our guide (Meleck John). The experience of the guide and his personality made those safari days unforgetable. This trip will never be forgotten !!
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
perfect budget safari
Me and seven of friends had a great safari together with Kiliholidays. We went for seven days with two super drivers and one cook. We slept in tents with mastress and duvet. We visited the serengity, ngorongoro crater, tarangire, lake manyara, lake eyasi. It was wonderfull, beautiful landscapes, delicious meals, great explainations of the wildlife by the drivers. It was also very affordable. I recommand kiliholydays because they are lokking for perfection even at small price and they have succeded to make this week one of the best of our lives. Thanks Mack, Edward, Steven and Innocent.
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Visit Uganda
Thank you for the tour. Everything worked good. The driver (Kassim) was very nice and helpful. (Hopefully he had a good time as well.) During the tour some of the acitivies did not work out. For example the boat tour on Lake Mburo was skipped. But that did not matter at all. I did see so many things. Was lucky with lots of the animals. The hotels were good too. A lot better than expected. Thank you again.