EG
Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wecam: Highly responsive, okay service, some missed key details
Wecam was mostly good but got quite a few significant details wrong, so I give them 3 stars to make a point that the operator in a situation like a Kenya/Tanzania safari trip should come with strong experience, clear recommendations, and quality equipment to soothe over the difficulties of a trip like this. Wecam overall provided okay service, were honest and responsive, but fell short on the details. I emphasize the details missed below.
Starting with the positive, Wecam was the most responsive of the operators contacted, which counts for something. They also were honest enough to pay for an error in a flight booking that I showed via old emails was there fault. While that represents missing a detail, on the flip side, they were honest enough to pay for the flight even having already paid for the safari in full at that point. So the positives of their service along with one strong lifts them from below average.
We chose a safari and beach vacation. The first vehicle assigned for our safari was the oldest we saw around and a bus rather than jeep-style, better suited to the terrain. More importantly, the windows did not shut well to keep out the cold morning draft (which the limited heat could not offset sufficiently) or dust, with one periodically even falling out when I opened it to take photos. Nor did it have air conditioning as an option to keep drafty windows closed and prevent my girlfriend from coughing from a mild allergy to the dusty road. The second vehicle assigned in Tanzania was significantly better, though it may have been a governmental requirement. It also lacked air conditioning, plus the trunk stopped working, which would have been a big problem if we were more than two people. The first vehicle advertised that it had wifi, but they didn’t send the driver with the wifi unit so that it could work. The second vehicle didn’t advertise wifi onboard though the driver had the unit, and didn’t clarify it was available until we were out of range of towns anyway and then ran out of airtime promptly and couldn’t get it back working. The first driver wasn’t that great with English or explanations, although the second one was outstanding, raising Wecam from two stars.
Another significant detail missed was that I specifically made it a much more expensive two-country safari to see the Great Migration in action, which was heading from Masai Mara to the Northern Serengeti. However, they had the itinerary skip right past the Northern Serengeti. Good thing we were lucky enough to see a decent number of wildebeest including a river crossing in Kenya and so many lions in Central Serengeti, or we’d feel really miffed.
There also were problems with estimating time. Drivers generally under-estimated amount of time to arrive, while the central office person initially estimated our timing to arrive at the airport four hours early for merely a domestic flight. The second driver was better at estimating time. Wecam booked internal flights without engaging us as requested with respect to flight time, they ignored one message with a specifically-requested time that was available, and they communicated a slightly incorrect flight time. They also put us at a hotel a 90-minute drive away from the airport after a long day of driving and flying when much closer options were available, even if without quite as nice a beach, turning a long, tiring day into a late, exhausting one unnecessarily. Wecam did not provide clear recommendations from among mid-range hotel options, forcing me to try to review choices and advise though without sufficient time while working a busy job to check accurately, leading to staying in a couple second-best stays among the second-rate places.
Overall, there were a number of positive elements in their service and strong responsiveness. For the price paid though, I expect stronger assistance with providing recommendations and smoothing out the details.
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Who cares about the agency, it's all the same
First of all, I'd like to say that any agency you book through (at least, in the "low prices agency") it's all the same : you will be put in a group with other people who will do exactly the same tour, but that will have book through another agency.
Good things about Spot Kenya Safari :
- was answering quickly
- good price
- give you the itinerary you want
Bad things :
- Told me that I could pay with American Express, and it was then not possible (once I was there !)
- Gave me a very expensive price (900 dollars for 6 days), that I had to bargain to arrive to 700 dollars. People travelling with me had a 680 dollars immediately, without bargaining through another agency.
Then the trip was very good, good driver, many places seen, good hotel ... but this does not depend from Spot Kenya Safari I guess, as the people I was travelling with were with another agency and had the same tour.
BE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very nice but...
I booked my safari tour through Mohji website. The communication was very nice and easy, I received quick and clear answers to all my questions before, during and after the trip! I did 2 days safari in Tarangire and Ngorongoro. The first day was perfect: good guide, good food, perfect organization, wonderful Park etc. The second was a bit harder: I planned to take my flight at Kilimandjaro airport after visitting Ngorongoro, and this was more difficult. We were all in a hurry because I had to take my flight, so the other ones, who had no flight to take, felt a bit frustrated to have to go fast sometimes. On my side, I was feeling guilty for the others, and I was quite stressed, because the guide wanted to satisfy the others, and we left the Park at 4PM (it was originally planned to leave it around 2PM so that I have time to reach the airport). The guide kept telling me: no worries, you have time! So in the end, I wanted to arrive at Kilimandjaro airport at 7.30 and we only arrived in Arusha around 7 (still more than 1 hour to reach the airport). They then provided me with a cab that drove super fast in order to arrive on time, I was super scared because it was night, and we sometimes drove at 100km per hour, slaloming between the cars. I arrived just at the end of the check-in, just on time.
So the only problem I really found was that mismatch between people having plenty of time and wanting to enjoy their safari, and me having to take my flight while they told me that would be no problem. Except this, everything was fine, nice and well organized. I can just recommend you not to include a safari day the day you have your flight, even if you are said it will be easy.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Good service for the price
Edward was extremely communicative before I arrived in Uganda and was willing to work with me to build a package within my budget. They picked me up at my guest house in Entebbe but the safari car they picked me up in ended up having some issues so we had to switch to my guides personal van. It ended up working out fine but this put our schedule off track. They also over charged me by $20 upon arrival but by the time I noticed I was not able to meet them to get it back. All in all, if you're looking for a budget safari Home to Africa is a great option.
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Living among the Karamojong and visit Kidepo and Murchinson Falls
In October 2016 we made a trip from Kampala to the northeast of Uganda (Kidepo) and from there to the mid-west (Fort Portal). We had a fantastic driver (George) who was not only an excellent driver, but also an excellent guide during the game drives in Kidepo and Murchison Falls.
The guesthouses were basic and often authentic, but in Moroto we have refused the offered place because it was not safe and far below par. In the northeast you should not expect luxury, but it is desirable that the hostess of Buffalo Base (near Kidepo) learns some basic hygiene rules.
The trip was well mapped out, we had excellent guides and rangers. We always felt safe, even though we sometimes came to exciting places.
Advice to Grazz Rootz is to check the accommodations in advance to see whether it meets the basic expectations of travelers from Europe.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing wildlife!
We definitely enjoyed our Safari with Frank (our guide and driver) and Sokofo (our hard-working cook)! It was great to see all the big 5 within the 5 days and we really enjoyed camping in the wild. We would not have traded this experience for any luxury lodge - hearing the hyenas and lions outside of your tent at night was just a thrilling experience (totally safe, no worries!)!
The Safari was not conducted directly by Kenya Budget Safaris, as (as we were told on site, but not before) Esther always seems to work with this partner in Tanzania. This was a bit of a surprise to us in the morning of the first day, but we did not mind.
The car was in good shape, our tents and mattresses were comfortable enough and the food was ok. (Warm meals, especially dinner were great - the lunch boxes really weren't good and we got a bit sick of always eating the same things that were in the boxes after a few days...but again: we were in the middle of the wild, and every piece of food needed to be taken there from the towns, so it was fine.)
Frank managed to show us a lot of animals and did a lot to always make sure to get close to them, once he had spotted them somewhere far away. It was a pity that his English wasn´t so great - we were able to have basic conversations, but were a bit disappointed to not be able to learn more from him, about the nature, the animals, the people. He was a really kind guy, though, and we could see that he was doing his best to make us happy.
ES
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Correct.
Some misunderstanding, in relation with the visit to Crescent Island,that finally we solved.
Impossible to visit flamingos in Nakuru because of the type of vehicle.
We don't recommend the trip to Masai Mara by car, small plane it is more reasonable.
Incredible and good personal support, every time and good knowledge from our driver Mr Kamal, incredible professional.
False advertising
Despite booking and paying for a 4 day tour including Lake Manyara, we were told 10 minutes before we left that the tour had been changed to Tarangire instead. Also we were denied our visit the the Olduvai Gorge museum on the 3rd day, even though it was a option on our itinerary. When we challenged this they tried charge us triple the price. However, our guide Stephen was particularly brilliant and knowledge and went out of his way to make it a very special experience all the same.
IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
nice experience .. but not without glitches
we went 3 nights 4 days trip .. tarangire serengetti and ngorongoro..
first the company was very quick to respond to the queries .. owner was very polite
the glitch .. we had booked luxury tented camps but by mistake they booked lodges and the owner said in confirmation email he had mentioned lodges .. when they changed luxury tents into lodges in their email i never knew and hence had no option but to go forward with them ( though it turned into a blessing as lodges were very nice and with 2 small kids tented camps would be too wild an experience)
we had booked lake manyara also but as i tweaked itinery as per my convenience they dropped lake manyara entrance fees and when i reached my lodge near lake manyara and we had enough time to go inside the park driver said the fees hasnt been paid so we cant go inside so we just saw lake manyara from our lodge which had a great view
all the lodges were great .. service was superb .. food great .. rooms clean and spacious with a bath tub.. and with great views over lake manyara and ngorongoro crater .. the lodge in serengetti (lobo) was very far inside the park but it was a great game drive deep into serengetti while reaching the lodge
the chefs and managers were very welcoming and polite .. food was awesome
driver abu salim was fantastic in spotting animals .. we spotted around 40 lions ( a pride of 15 lions together) in serengetti and ngorongoro .. we saw a cheetah hunt .. leopards on trees .. all big 5 were spotted ( though rhino was seen from a distance in ngorongoro).. only issue with driver was he looked to cut short the game drive hours and reach lodges early though he was unbeatable on spotting animals..
the vehicle provided was 1st class .. a long vehicle 8 seater land cruiser was provided for us 2 adults 2 kids and as kids had their space the journey was very comfortable
over all the experience was great .. the safari was one of the most undorgettable experience of my life ..
i am taking 2 stars away from bobby tours for 2 reasons .. 1 for booking lodges without informing me and 2 for not paying entry fees of lake manyara otherwise their service was alright.
so you can book with them but reconfirm what you are getting before doing any payments
IN
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Average, not personal and providing misleading information.
Uhuru travels had given name and no. of person would be our guide and driver for 3 days. They changed the person without even informing us. It seemed Uhuru has sub contracted our trip to someone else. There was no personal contact. The driver himself did not know who he worked for.
Did not get value for money on this trip.