US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A somewhat nightmarish, yet remarkably astonishing safari experience through Elkan.
My last safari was a bittersweet experience in every sense of the word. What would start out as a suspected long-con ended up being a pretty incredible safari through the ranges of Manyara and Ngorongoro, to the plains of the Serengeti. I even ended up making friends with a couple of lovely people from Spain with whom I had a surreal amount of fun. I am a New Yorker, and I was travelling alone.
I picked Elkan as my operator, not after doing a properly extensive search for a reputable operator, but only because of the simple fact that the response from Victor, the sole owner/employee of Elkan Ltd., was a very welcoming and exciting one. I was offered an itinerary of exactly the sort of safari I had envisaged, and Victor also allowed me to negotiate the overall rate a bit. From the very beginning of our correspondance, I kept growing more and more excited as the safari dates approached.
What was initially meant to be a group of six people on a 7 day safari, ended up being reduced to only 3 people on the day our safari started. Apparently the group had been broken up in 2 to accomodate specific itineraries. There appeared to be a lot of misinformation for all the parties on our safari, including the driver/guides, who apparently had not a single idea of our itineraries, what they entailed, etc. It was at this point we began to suspect a hint of disorganisation and misinformation on Victor's end.
After a glorious first day in Tarangire, where we saw lions mating, a whole world of elephants and the most stunning, yet underrated landscape, we were brought to a semi-decent campsite around Manyara called Sunbright Campsite. It was at dinner that our group, which consisted of myself and the two ladies, and our over-exhuberant narrator/driver Osman, learnt about the completely misguided information from Victor we were all under. Our driver was only going to be with us for one more day-trip to Ngorongoro, before he was to hand us over to another guide, Adam, who was to take us around 3 different parts of the Serengeti over the course of 5 days and 4 nights. However, according to Osman, the Serengeti was only going to be 2 nights. I immediately shot an email to Victor demanding clarification to which he responded everything was status-quo, no changes of any kind whatsoever.
The next morning we received a call from Victor asking us to accept a 2 night safari in the Serengeti and a refund for the remaining 3 days. That was bollocks, and we made sure he understood what bollocks meant.
Needless to state, at this point we knew we were about to be caught in a Tanzanian local tour operators clumsy attempt at conning perfectly well-educated international people, all under the pretence of their sad mentality of "this is Africa", which seems to be the only place on Earth with a licence to be inadequate in everything consumer-related.
We carried on with our safari as we'd planned and had another magnificent day of animal-spotting on the Ngorongoro Crater floor. We saw a coalition of lionesses set out to hunt buffalo end in the most ruthlessly perfect execution, and then each of them returned to collect their cubs hiding in the bushes 5 meters from our car. Our entire engagement with this pride was an incredibly rewarding experience, one that only few people get to experience on that vast crater-floor. And when the other shoe came cascading down from the sky, we were told by our guide that we needed to rush back as he had other Victor-related engagements to adhere to. Our resistance to being swindled once again only earned us a speedy drive passing all variety of animals to the lunch-spot to wolf down our pathetic lunch boxes, and rush back to the rim so as to accomodate Victor's disorganisation. This was when we were handed over to a driver/guide named Adam, who would become our sole Tanzanian assistant in making sure we would not be robbed of our safari, as had apparently been planned by management. Turns out Adam worked for another company called Sunset Africa, who were in a deal with Victor to provide our safari. Turns out they too were having a devil of a time working with Victor, financially.
The 3rd day, according to the provided itinerary, promised to be quite exciting. We were all high spirits as we drove through the Ngorongoro ranges towards the Serengeti. Then we arrived at Nabi gate where you enter Serengeti from Ngorongoro, and shortly after were notified that our park entrance fee had not been paid by Victor and that we would have to bear the cost, until it could be refunded to us later. This is where the whole tide turned against Victor as it had become all too clear that this one-man bad operation was out to flat-out rob us. After an intensely excruciating 3 hours of demanding the services sold to us, the owner of Sunset Africa, man named Ally, stepped in and decided to handle the dealings with Victor, and letting us proceed with our safari. But, not before we were each asked to pay $70 in order to enter the Serengeti for our first day, which would act as a day's fee while the "management" got things sorted in Arusha for the remaining 4 days.
For the next 4 most incredible safari game drive days, very very sadly we also had to deal with going to the extension office every single day during lunch to extend our days as it was not sorted out appropriately since our very first day in the Serengeti, which meant we never got to leave the Central Serengeti/Seronera region at all. For 4 days, we hung out with the same pride of lions, same herds of elephants and even the same Leopard whom we spotted twice. While this was indeed THE most amazing 5 days of hanging out with the lionesses of Seronera and their cubs and boyfriends, and all the other beautiful wildlife in Central Serengeti, for the purpose of the company review it should be stated that we were initially offered a 5 days safari in the Serengeti to several different areas of the park, Center, North and West as it is simply massive. Nevertheless, our 5 days around the central area and nights at the Serengeti Wild Camp (operated by Zara Tours) were just fantastic.
We chose to abandon the toilet of a public campsite arranged by Elkan called Pimbi. Even the animals found it too disgusting to graze by.
Ultimately, this was, without a doubt, a safari of a lifetime for me considering all the wild animal interactions we had, and our stay at a semi-luxury lodge, with abundant wildlife through camp. Although, a lot of it was due to the diligence employeed by our smart, hilarious and jolly-spirited guide, Adam. He single-handedly saved all his co-workers faces by showing that some Tanzanian people do value a good work ethic and will do whatever they have to to deliver.
In the end, Victor was, as you'd expect, quite apologetic and I can honestly say that we were not robbed of anything, except several hours of our safari time. All else was sorted once we got back to Arusha, including our $70 and timely transfers back to the airport. I do genuinely hope that this was just one big logistical/planning error on Victor's part and that he'll do better to avoid such an instance next time, else I can't imagine Elkan Ltd. or any other local Tanzanian tour operators who don't learn from such experiences, would survive too long in this highly personalised and incredibly lucrative business.
All the best, Victor.
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
From the Kalahari Desert - Moremi - Okavango Delta - Chobe and Vic Falls
Deception Valley Lodge and the Kalahari are well worth a visit. The Lodge was great and just by observing the area around the waterhole I could see plenty of big groups of tiny little birds up to Giraffes, Wilderbeest, Kudu and much more. The guides and the tracker was very knowledgeable so we could see lots, specially lions and also lots of birds, owls on the game drives. It is amazing what the guides and trackers can see and find on the drives. I also want to mention the amazing scenery and also the bushmen walk was very interesting. Accommodation, Food, Service and the activities was excellent.
Xakanaka - from the desert to the water. I think Xakanaka is another must visit on a trip to Botswana. The game drives were amazing, the guides very knowledgeable and excellent, the atmosphere in the Lodge was very personal and sleeping in tents while hippos walk through the camp is an experience!
Sanctuary Chiefs Camp - another change in the scenery. Accommodation, Service and Food were excellent. Unfortunately the transfer from Sanctuary Chiefs Camp to Sanctuary Baines Camp was delayed by 4 hours. We were waiting at the airstrip for 30 minutes when the guide asked at the lodge and they asked at Mackair. So then the lodge found out about the delay and we drove back to the lodge and they were already preparing a 3 course lunch menu for us. My compliments in preparing this in such a short notice.
Sanctuary Baines Camp - very personal service, I loved the Mokoru ride through the delta, the very surprising and romantic bath under the stars and sleeping outside. Due to the delayed transfer from Chiefs Camp I didn't have enough time to do the elephant acitivity. The drives through the waterways is certainly an experience you don't get anywhere else.
Chobe Game Lodge - this 3 days made this trip from excellent to "only" good. I cannot rate the Chobe Game Lodge as a 5 star Lodge. They only offer buffet style breakfast, lunch and dinners. In a 5 star property I expect dinner to be served on the table. In the 4 main meals I had, there was one pizza buffet (lunch)und one pasta buffet (dinner). If I want Italian food I don't need to travel all the way to Botswana. There are no waiters in both bars to take orders and bring the drinks to the table. I have seen 12 seater game drive vehicels from the Chobe Game Lodge packed up with 10 passengers of different parties and other cars had only 4 passengers. The staff didn't help elderly guests in and out of the cars. This was done by other guests and watched by the staff. In comparison to the other lodges I also need to say that I had the feeling that the guides are less knowledgeable then at other lodges.
I am sorry but in a 5 star Lodge I expect a higher quality of service.
The Chobe Nationalpark ist known worldwide for excellent game viewings and I was really looking forward to it. During my visit the game viewings were very poor and I believe one reason is that the access to the park is very limited. And when there is a sighting you might have to share with 20 or more other cars everyone fighting for the best spot. This is not a safari experience I would recommend.
Ichobezi Houseboat - very relaxing and a nice change to the Lodges.
Elephant Camp - all excellent, the Lodge, the staff, the food, the activites. I could do the walk with a Sylvester the cheetah and enjoyed the excellent guides and met the elephants. Also the tour to the Vic Falls was phantastic and our guide showed not only the falls but gave us also lots of information and showed us plants and wildlife.
Vic Falls Hotel - just awesome. You can feel and read about the history of this special place throughout the hotel. The location, the atmosphere, the service are phantastic. Thank you very much for this special place.
And finally the sunset cruise on the Zambesi River. That afternoon was a storm coming and I didn't realy feel to go on this cruise. But I went and it was a nice closing to this trip through Botswana and Zimbabwe. We had some great sightings and another amazing African sunset.
Thank you very much
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent experience!
I honestly cannot say enough good things about KWSS. The organisation of my safairi's was exceptional, communication was always timely and appropriate and nothing was too much trouble for OT to sort out very quickly and professionally - including last minute changes to the itinerary (cause by me!).
KWSS played a large part in making my trip to east Africa the trip of a lifetime. Don't hesitate to use them if your planning a trip.
CH
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
the experience was good, and the assistance perfect
The programm was very interesting and the lodge of very high quality.
Maybe the time dedicated to the safari was a day too long.
The tour operator was always ready to help and we all have an extraordinary experience in South Africa, especcially with the two trips in balloon.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An Amazing Safari
In 2013 my girlfriend and I decided to try something different for Christmas and booked a Safari with Msafiri Travels. It was a fantastic experience - we were flown to the Safari park on a tiny four-seat plane, where we were the only passengers. We were then met by the camp crew at the landing strip and taken to the camp, which was located right on the river shore nearby. The view was beautiful, the staff was friendly, and the accommodation was better than I expected it to be in the middle of nowhere, away from civilization.
There were numerous tours available, on all of which we were the only passengers, so it really felt like a romantic getaway instead of the usual packed-beyond-recognition zoo experience. We were able to see all the animals we wanted and even get very close to some of them.
All in all, it was a very pleasant experience and felt like a real adventure, while still being a great couple's getaway.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Super! Super! Super!
I was fortunate enough to have had a tour by OpenTour Africa during my visit to Cape Town in October 2014. It was undoubtedly the highlight of my two week holiday. The day started with coffee unlike you’ve ever seen or experienced before -expertly brewed in what looked like a science experiment right in front of you. Our tour guide, Ozzy then took us on a graffiti tour of Cape Town. This quickly turned into a much richer and deeper experience than simply appreciating art. Ozzy is incredibly well informed about the history and political landscape of South Africa. We ended the day with a couple of vineyard tours and a wine tasting. It was obvious that a lot of thought had gone into picking the finest wine farms to give us the best experience possible. Best of all was that Ozzy had all the time in the world and even though we overran by nearly two hours, he still had a smile on his face and wanted to show us more. Incredible! OpenTourAfrica, you made my holiday.
This is outstanding company. Charles our safari Guide was amazing, He is well trained.
It was not easy to choose a tour Operator, I and my Husband decided to choose Snow Africa Adventures. We booked through Caroline, She was great lady. She replied our email very soon. We booked 5 days lodge safari. Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire National parks. Charles our driver guide was perfect. Wonderful knowledge for wildlife and great English. We highly recommend Snow Africa Adventures to any one thinking about safari in Tanzania.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Most Wonderful Girls' Road Trip
With short notice Monika from the Safari Source helped me to organize a fantastic road trip to western Zimbabwe when a friend of mine came to visit me from Germany. She found just the right accomodations for us, always had some useful advice for the overall planning and made our trip become a very special and unforgettable one. Service and communication is just excellent as Monika can be called any time and will take care of your needs immediately.
JP
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
By Far the best DMC on young dymanic minds
We booked the 7 day by far Best of kenya safari, and SS(sylvester sila),organised everything superbly and suprices on how a a company managed by a young mind wld be so so proffessional,,from the name seven by far,,wow ,book with them and u will get by far the best ever ,,,have 7th anniversary in advance''
Experience Professionals with friendly environment, understand needs on grass root levels and delivers results above expectation, Open Business minded people great to work with them.
JP
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
10 days Turukana camping tour
We went to a 10 days Turukana tour. Since we were 5, we could change the length of the tour and the departing date as we like. The tour was much more wonderful than we had expected. The scenery on the way was breathtaking, especially Lake Turukana was beautiful. We were amazed when we saw hundreds of hundreds camels in the deserts and the mirages of them to the horizon. Also we visited some village of nomadic tribe. The color of their clothes and necklaces was fantastic.
Our driver and cook were excellent.
Alfred prepared very nice food though most of us were on diet. Whenever we go somewhere we are disappointed about food but we really enjoyed his meal everyday. Also Karnbo showed us many interesting places and he did his best to entertain us. Fusain, our guardman was very kind and help us a lot. Our tour was superb. I think they must have been tired after this tour. Thank you very much for letting us to have such a wonderful tour.