US
Good job
Me and my girlfriend booked a 6-day safari with Safarihub
We had 4 Stunning safari days in Tarangire National Park, Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater. Andrian always fullfilled our needs and had a really sharp eye for rare animals. But more importantly he knew nearly evereything about the animals, the flora and fauna and even about other topics. Many stories were told along the way so it was never boring at all.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Disappointing due to poor administration and communication, could not recommend
We started our trip in Rwanda and everything was fantastic. On our last day there we were advised that our flight to Tanzania had been cancelled and instead of flying to Mwanza, we would be flying overnight and our itinerary would be reversed.
Our problems were:
Dropped off for lunch on the first day, no driver came to pick us up. Restaurant staff helped us out, and after ringing our previous guide in Rwanda and her phoning Simon, a driver came after a couple of hours, but not the one Simon had told us to expect so the uncertainty began.
We had to pay for the lunch – just after Simon had been telling us everything was included.
No revised itinerary provided (despite several requests to Simon and him promising to email it), driver did not have a copy of any itinerary and only knew our first destination, luckily we had a spare copy and were able to provide him with one. He was also unaware of the length of our trip which at 11 days was quite a long one.
Our itinerary did not work smoothly in reverse i.e. we had requested a mix of cultural activities and walks, as well as game drives. The cultural activities and walks mostly did not happen, due to the fact the driver had no knowledge of how to organise these, and the morning walk around the crater could not occur as we were now going down the crater in the morning etc.
No money on card at appropriate times for entrance to national parks, leading to delays, and a hefty fine (paid by us) when leaving the Serengeti as we had been in there illegally without having paid for the correct number of days.
Uncertainty about accommodation – one place unavailable, the roof had fallen in a month previously (supposedly) and we had not been advised. No alternative arrangements had been made, so our guide was on the phone arguing with the company. In the end, we were told a reservation had been made, but when we were arrived that was not the case. We had to pay in cash to stay there. This money was returned to us in cash the next day, but it created a lot of uncertainty about whether future accommodation would be booked or paid for.
Uncertainty about flights – would our onward flight to Zanzibar be booked, and would we have accommodation when we got there, and then would our onward flight to Johannesburg to meet our flight home be booked. We received the details on the flight the last day of our trip, despite having been requesting it from the beginning.
A stressed guide because he also did not know whether the above things would be provided and presumably whether he would be paid.
Virtually no communication from Simon (no replies to emails and only one phone call taken but the phone dropped out during the conversation!), and unable to obtain any other numbers for anyone in the “office”. This is really what made the safari so difficult as if we had had some reassurance that things would be okay, and this happened, then the trip would have been much less stressful.
Having said all that, the places we stayed were mostly great and met our requirements of a range of styles. The original itinerary was good and the animal safari part of our trip was great. We mostly got what we paid for – the accommodation and entrance fees all turned up so we could do all the scheduled game parks. Boundary Hill was a bit creepy because we were the only people staying there and there was a lot of uncertainty about what would happen next (given that it was at the beginning of our trip).
It was also a complete contrast to the fantastically organised trip in Rwanda where we were met at the airport at midnight by our driver with a copy of our itinerary. Thankfully Simon had outsourced our trip in Rwanda to another company although we had not been advised of that, and we paid for the balance of our trip there, so there were no money problem with that company not having received their money.
My take on the whole situation was that Eastco had money problems, and had to wait for new payments to come in before they could pay for the activities of people already out on safaris.
Whilst the potential was there for an outstanding experience and we did have a wonderful time, the constant worry over whether things would work out did take the shine off it. So like one of the other reviews, we had a great trip in spite of Eastco.
AE
Well am I must say this is a rare kind of experience I have never have in my whole.
Being my first experience, Reagan , one of your employee recommended for me Abandera African royal trails he even booked me in one of the sopa lodges , ooh my and the guides were excellent. honestly speaking this is one of a rare kind of experience I have never had, my family really enjoyed and for sure I wont hesitate to suggest this to someone else. Kudos to Abandera Africa Royal Trails, and thumps up to Reagan.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
How good are they ?
I didnt know what to expect of Safarihub , I was glad to see that , they deliver ! And they deliver the best of the best experience you will ever have the pleasure to see!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Best holiday of our lives, and we've been to over 30 countries. Special beyond words
WOW!! I honestly don't know where to start.. my husband and 5 year old daughter went to Kenya for a 5 day safari - we went to Amboseli, Lake Naivasha, and the Masai Mara all very beautiful and amazing
1. Noah, the man who responds and organises all the tours was amazingly patient and so very helpful!! I'd send him an email, mind you we are 9 hours behind and I'd get emails straight away, he answered all our questions, we forgot to see about getting a car seat for our 5 year daughter until we arrived in Africa. I emailed him from the airport and when Eustace, our fabulous guide, showed up the next day car seat was in the car! My husband realised the day before we were leaving Kenya he forgot his credit card at the hotel in Lake Naivasha ( we'd stayed at 3 nights prior a bit annoyed with the hotel that they didn't call us or Noah as we'd booked through them but definitely not Wildebeest's fault!) so Noah sorted it out got our card to Nairobi. Eustace got it to us before we left for the airport- mind you he had to leave his house early in the morning to get to the courier office to pick up the card, then get to our hotel as the traffic was terrible he abandoned his vehicle got on a moped taxi to make sure we got it before we left for the airport at 9AM. Amazing customer service!!
2. Eustace, our lovely guide, he was so nice and very patient as we had our 5 year old daughter who can be a bit difficult. Every morning he'd have a smile on his face waiting for a new day. He was knowledgeable about the animals and the places we were, very well spoken, and now very much loved by our daughter and our family he made our trip so very special. My little one was desperate to see lions, her favourite animal, and every time we stopped to talk to another guide he'd ask if anyone had seem some.. We were very lucky and saw a mating pair in Masai Mara- we were the only jeep around for a while totally amazing!!
3. Lodges- we stayed in 3 different lodges during our 5 day safari - all were beautiful, clean and had wonderful beds!
4. Journey- we drove to all our destinations and I now see why people fly in and out of the safari camps the roads are horrible but of course this isn't Wildebeest's fault… However if we hadn't driven we wouldn't have seen the great divide and have fond memories of Nairobi traffic, going off road on the highway because there was a huge hole in it, seeing camels, cattle, goats, and chickens as road blocks, and getting our Kenyan massage! ( riding on an unpaved very bumpy road for about 3 hours!)
I highly suggest using this outfit the customer service goes above and beyond. The pricing is so very competitive!! I don't know how they did it but one of the hotels we stayed in was roughly $600/night we stayed 2 nights our whole safari was only $2500 for 2 adults and 1 child…. We considered that a fantastic deal!! When we head back to Kenya, this is definitely who we'll be using!! Fab time!!
PL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
6 days Safari + Panorama Route
That was the experience of our life!!! Our family of 4 have spent 6 days in Kruger on board of Truck Norris. Everything was perfectly organised from the very beginning - Chris patiently and quickly responded to all my questions before making a final decision, than we were picked up from Jo'burg and the tour began. We were on camping safari, full equipment was provided by Chris - tents, sleeping bags, mattrecess, pillows, chairs, etc. Chris took care of us all the time - he was our guide, safari driver, excellent chef and storyteller. It was nice to sit at night near campfire and have a chit-chat on different subjects.
Travelling in Truck Norris was sooo comfortable - a lot of space, big windows, a fridge with stocks of cold beer, coffee machine and toilet. As we sit much higher than in standard safari vehicles we had better views. We saw so many animals! Chris has amazing knowledge of Kruger nature and he is happy to share it with his guests. Additionally our games were not strictly limited as in other safari operators, we spent at least 7 hours on games a day. I'm pretty sure that it is the best value for money.
I have to mention the delicious food prepared by Chris himself - that were home-made meals like pasta, steaks, curry, salads, etc. - quite different from my imagination of camping food (that was my first time sleeping in a tent :-)).
All in all - the only what can I do is to strongly recomend Chris ans his Armadillo Overland Safari & Adventure Tours. You will not be disappointed!!! Chris - once again I would like to thank you for your hospitality, patience and wonderful time we have in Kruger. Big respect for your hard work to satisfy your guests.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Shangri-La in Tanzania with Hazina Afrika
After much research and several enquiries I happened upon Lisa at Hazina Afrika.Right after the first email I knew we would go with Hazina Afrika. Lisa listened to our wishes and planned the perfect safari for the time of year we would be in Tanzania. Everything was perfect from our pickup at Kilimanjaro International airport to our drop off at Dar Es Salaam and everything in between . Our guide Lordlugard made everyday a wonderful experience we will remember and cherish. Accommodation , food, transfers and even the weather were ideal. Lisa at Hazina Afrika takes the worry out of booking the consummate safari, she knows what she is doing and listens to her clients. I would recommend Hazina Afrika without any reservations
AE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good, responsive team
Service: Happy with this aspect. Responded to our requests positively
Communications: Should have been better. We were given wrong estimates of travel time between parks
Living up to expectations: The hotel in Nairobi was surely not Luxury category while the tour was supposed to be one.
Safari experience: very good.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An exceptional safari experience, with an outstanding guide.
We have just enjoyed a Wild Wings 2night/3day Kruger safari - and what an incredible time it was! As someone who has enjoyed previous safaris in Zambia, Botswana and Tanzania, I feel well qualified to comment on our experience. Every aspect, from the initial responses to our enquiries, through to the logistics and the transfers from Johannesburg to Kruger, the accommodation (at Skukusa), the catering arrangements, and of course the safari itself was excellent. But what made it exceptional, was the knowledge and expertise of our guide, Simon. I say 'guide', but he was also our driver and chef! His wildlife knowledge (birds, mammals, reptiles...) was incredible, and certainly I have no hesitation in saying that he was the best game guide (by some margin) that I have experienced in my 4 safaris. And he never switched off! Even on the journey back to Johannesburg, he was pointing out birds that we passed.
You can't judge the success of a safari trip solely by the wildlife encounters that you have , or whether you manage to see the Big Five; but even by that measure, our experience of Wild Wings was exceptional. Simon is courteous and considerate to other game viewers too - be they other safari guides or just members of the public who have turned up in their own vehicles...and asking what it is that we're looking at. By the way, you can self-drive in Kruger, but why would you want to? The place is vast, and without Simon's skills we would have seen very little. Yes, he is connected in to a number of other game guides who share their finds, so it does increase the likelihood of good interactions; but he has an incredible eye and ear for spotting the smallest movement, the faintest of sounds that can lead to a fantastic encounter. And as I said, he operates with courtesy and consideration to other users of the park, and most importantly to the wildlife.
In summary, the best endorsement that I can give is to say that if (when!) we return to Kruger, we will not be looking anywhere else: Wild Wings Safaris will be our first port of call.
US
Incredible South Africa Honeymoon With the Help of Wildlife Safaris
My wife and I were celebrating our honeymoon in South Africa, and wanted to cap it off with a 4 day safari in Kruger. We selected Wildlife Safaris, and were not disappointed. We spent 4 weeks in Tanzania prior to South Africa, and went on several shorter safaris, so our expectations were rather high. We made our reservations pretty far in advance, and there was occasionally delays in getting responses to our questions, but everything went without a hitch. Our guide was Nik, and he's been going to Kruger for his entire life, and spent most of those years as a guide with Wildlife Safaris. We were picked up promptly at our hotel when communicated, and made the 5+ hour drive to Kruger, though there were a couple breaks built in, so it wasn't a bad drive. It was actually quite interesting to see the terrain changes throughout the drive.
We arrived to the park around 1:30 pm, and an afternoon game drive revealed lions and a leopard; not bad for the first few hours. It should be said that February is possibly the worst time to go to Kruger, as it is very hot, rainy, and the grass is high. A drought made conditions the opposite, so we were able to see lots of wildlife. In fact, we saw all of the Big 5 on our second day, all before lunch! (Warning: Results not necessarily normal and guides can't make animals appear, even if clients wish it, though Nik seemingly had Superman powers and could see through trees to spot game). We did the safari in an air conditioned minivan. At first I was skeptical, and worried it would constrict views, but that was not the case at all and the AC was a nice bonus (Nik said something about larger groups using the traditional open trucks). Just open the window to take a picture, and then close it after. An evening game drive was included in the price for the second day, which is put together and operated by Kruger staff with 20 or so passengers. It was ok, though we didn't really see anything new, and the night viewing was mostly a bust (a few passengers were given a spotlight to find animals, but it's hard).
The schedule was typically a very early morning game drive for 2-3 hours (we started at 5:30 am, though it can start as early as 4:30 am, or as late as 6:30 am, depending on when the front gates open), breakfast at a camp restaurant, a game drive until lunch, a "siesta" for a couple hours, then an evening game drive for a couple hours before the gates closed at 6:30 pm. Dinner together followed at around 7 with the group at the camp restaurant.
We stayed two nights at the Skakuza camp and one at Berg-en-dal. Skakuza was larger with more amenities, including free Wifi at the restaurant. It is also very centrally located and lots of drives can start from there. Berg-en-Dal was at the far Southern end and more remote, but the bungalows were larger and made the drive back to the airport quicker. But, it had no Wifi. Both places had AC and en suite bathrooms. Overall, the food and the accommodation was better than expected, and we were both very pleased. From what I gathered, Skakuza is often utilized, with the second site more variable, though it's all based on park availability. Staying inside the park was key, since we got such an early start and beat everyone coming in from outside the park. Our favorite early morning moment was coming across a pack of wild dogs in the middle of the road and watching them play with each other for 10 minutes, without another car in sight.
On the last day, we left the park around 9:30 after an early game drive and breakfast, and got to airport pretty quickly, no later than 3 pm. They advertise a 4-4:30 arrival, but we had no problem with the early arrival. So, no worries if you have a flight to catch in the evening.
Nik was a fantastic guide; a true animal lover who had great information, not only about the animals and the park, but anything else about South Africa we had questions on. We had a nice small group for the 4 days, and had some fun and enjoyable meals and conversations together. We can't speak highly enough of Nik and the whole team at Wildlife Safaris, and want to thank them all for helping create a wonderful finale to our honeymoon in South Africa. We'll be passing their name along to anyone we know that heads to Kruger, which was by the way, the best and our favorite park we saw in our journeys across Tanzania and South Africa.