DK
Really good, but too short
Accommodations, food, transportation was fine, compaired to the price. Your guide was really good, very friendly, and a good driver. I just wished I have had longer time out in Masai Mara, comparied to the time we spend driving there. We arrived at 3:30pm on the first day and left at 1pm the 3. day.
I did not see the rhino or leopard, and only one buffalo. But I saw the migration of the zebras and wild beasts, and came close to e.g. lions, giraffes, elephants, different gazelle species, hippos, cheetah, some birds and we visited the Masai village on the last day, for 1000KES.
The Scenic beauty was good, but the most was yellow. Weather was good, not to hot or cold, luckly, the chance for rain was 50/50, but it only rained for 2h when we where there.
In total: It was worth it, but I wish, that I have had more time out in Masai Mara.
PL
Beautiful country and very bad people
This is a formal complaint concerning the service provided by Waterlime Mobile Safaris during my trip "6 Days of Moremi Game Reserve" which took place between 29.August - 3 September (programme provided by the organiser of the safari).
The service performed by Waterlime Mobile Safaris employees selected by Ms Mosa: Frank and Katee was below proper standards and did not meet my expectations at all.
The most serious was that they: Katee and Frank lied to us telling that we cannot reach Xakanaka because the road was flooded by the Okavango, and without our consent they changed the programme of the 4th day of the trip and drove us to the south end of Moremi, 1.5 h from Maun.
Other offences in service include:
I. Waterlime Mobile Safaris guide/driver Frank:
1. Offered me to spend nights with me in my tent (“either me or Katee can sleep with you”) which I consider as personal offence. He never apologized for this.
2. As our guide, he never informed us about daily plans and never gave us any information about the area or animals we saw on the way and -in fact- was very bad at tracking them. I personally learnt more during 1 hour mokoro safari from a contracted guide than during the whole trip from our guide Frank
3. Instead of driving along the paths for vehicles in the National Park, Frank drove across the bush chasing animals, including a female elephant with a baby causing stress to me and the animals
4. Repeatedly refused me to use his telephone to call either Ms Mosa from Waterlime Mobile Safaris or my Botswanan friend from Maun when I needed contact, consultation and support (I offered to pay for the calls). Since our mobiles did not work at all we were totally dependent on their good will and cooperation. It did not take place.
5. Was arrogant and aggressive towards us. For example:
-When I asked if we were going to the camp because it was getting late, his reaction was: “who do you think you are to tell me what to do”
-Almost always he did not answer any questions and did what he wanted to do. Even in situations when me and my companions were asking him eg. to stop the car.
II. Waterlime Mobile Safaris guide/cook Katee:
6. During two last days of the trip, he did not provide us with proper food. On day 5 of the trip, for breakfast we got rice and a slice of beef, no lunch at all, and in the evening spaghetti with potatoes, onion and carrots. On the last day of the trip we only got black coffee for breakfast.
7. He refused to give us fresh water and insisted that we drink the plastic smelling water which was bought 6 days ago. He also refused to make fire on the last night saying that he had no more money left for buying wood. I had to give them some money to buy us water and/or wood.
When communicating with Ms Mosa from Waterlime Mobile Safaris they never spoke English so we did not know what they were telling to Ms Mosa and could not react.
My request sent to Ms Mosa from Waterlime Mobile Safaris to compensate financially such bad service was never answered.
Sincerely yours, Danuta
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Not as good as Botswana
I was at the Croc Valley Camp at south Luangwa NP.
Good accomodation, most lousy Safari vehicles ever seen. Never felt safe or Comfortable.
DK
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Intense safari but poor accomodation
We had booked a 3 day safari in Masai Mara. We were picked up and dropped off in Nairobi. That means a very long drive for about 8 hours each way to get to and from Masai Mara. When we arrived at Masai Mara we were accommodated in a smaller lodge than payed for. It was not what we had ordered, but a lodge of very poor quality. The people at the lodge was extreme kindly and friendly. On the day of arrival we reached a short trip of about 2 hours before the sun went down. Next day we started early and had almost 10 hours of safari. We saw all animals. But it's hard to sit in a car where the bumping is going for hours. Our guide did a great job finding all the animals. The Masai Mara itself is exciting to drive around and it is amazing with the big scene and big flocks of animals. But the trip to and from Nairobi, the poor accommodation and the high price mean that we do not generally can recommend that kind of safari.
LK
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very pleasant and I am glad that Safai Bookings gave me a wide choice of programmes and prices.
I travelled with Lenchada which offered a varied tour at a very reasonable cost, including all transportation, accommodation and food. We had a full day, plus an evening and a morning, in Masai Mara, and long mornings at Lake Nakuru and Hell's Gate Reserves. I also had a delightful boat ride on Lake Naivasha.
Rhino Camp just outside Masai Mara was a delight, and young Pixie set up a campfire early to relax before dinner. The other two lodges were also comfortable, and the food good though the general menu was very much the same everywhere.
The only drawback was a terrible vehicle for the first two days, and an inexperienced driver which made it worse, though we still saw lots of lions and elephant and giraffe. And Joshua who took over with another van for Lake Nakuru was excellent. And the flamingoes there were fantastic, as were the plentiful white rhinos.
CH
The safari itself was wonderful but the organisation was poor.
The wildlife was truly wonderful, I have to admit. The organisation and communication by the tour operator Hyrax Safary could be a lot better. On the first day to Maasai Mara we had a breakdown on one of our cars. I know it can happen, thats not the problem. But the cars could be in better condition and in a situation like that the communication is important so that all guests are informed at any whats going on. So we couldnt go on the game drive on day one as we booked it. We arrived too late at the camp. There was the next problem. There werent enough rooms for all the incoming guests; some ppl of the group had to share the room although they booked an own one. The other things were good and the driver tried his best to show us all the animals. But again his communication level was poor and he only spoke to us when he was asked something.
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It could have been better
The most important point when you book a safari is to ensure that it will be reliable. We took a 3 days safari, but it was not as well as it should.
In the description of the safari we could read the that the first day we drive to Mikumi National Park which is approximately 5 hours from Dar es Salaam. False. It was 8 hours and a half. When we arrived there was almost sunset, so we coudn't access to the park the first day. This was because the driver drove at 45 km per hour until the park. What's the catch? The three-days-access to the park was included in the total amount, so the agency (Kiliholidays Tours) saved the first day access.
Also, the car broke down the first day (problems with the refrigeration). The second day occured problems with the battery. The third day finally in Dar Es Salaam the car broke down, and we have to take other car to our hotel with a non-known driver. This driver broke down his car as well (ran out of gas), so we had to wait inside the car in the middle of the night until he came back 30 minutes later.
In summary, we had bad luck choosing the agency: we lost the enter the park the first day, and the third day we spent almost 10 hours to came back to Dar Es Salam because car breakdowns.
As something positive, we loved the park, although we didn't stay there all the time that we paid.
CH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
incredible and unique adventure
Wildlife was amazing
weather in July / August was perfect to do the safari
accommodation/Food very good (staff was very friendly)
guide was great, has a very good Knowledge about the Wildlife
IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good accommodation, Good people, Poor planning
Let me start with Positives:
I started planning for my safari about 2+ months before my travel and that's when I contacted Simon from Wild Race Africa. He has been fantastic with answering queries and clearing all the doubts you may have about your travel plans.
The accommodations provided were good (except for Kimana lodge in Ambseli, where the lady who was managing the lodge seemed least bothered about the guests) for budget safari. Best one was in Masai Mara (Mara Wildebeest camp).
Negatives:
I was kinda asked to change my itinerary just couple of days before my travel (which was fixed from couple of months), which resulted spending one day less in safari.
I was told that as soon as I land at Nairobi, we'll be going to Amboseli. Actually, we were first taken to Wild Race Africa office and then after couple of hours we started for Amboseli.
Time to cover distances were wrongly told, I was told about time taken from Nairobi to Amboseli would be 2.5 to 3 hours and I'll be able to take an evening safari there. Our driver drove for 120 kmph on highway and still we reached after 5 hours. Day wasted.
Itinerary said, after morning game drive in Nakuru we start towards Masai mara for evening game drive. We started on time (after a hurried game drive in Nakuru) and reached Mara by 7 pm. Which means no evening game drive.
We were clubbed with a family which had different itinerary than us. It was left to us on how we manage that. Fortunately the other family decided to change their plans to suit our itinerary. Just wondering what would have happened if they had not changed their plans.
Booked the cab from Wild Race Africa again for Nairobi city tour. Driver came an hour late.
Fortunately I had checked on google maps about the distance between the places and based on that I had calculated the time to travel. Had we planned according to timings provided the driver then we would have completely missed #1 attraction in Nairobi, David Sheldrick elephant orphanage. Being locals there, they were completely unaware of best sequence to cover all attractions in good way.
We had to finish National museum in one hour (we could easily spend 3 hours there) and then we were free by 4 pm in the evening.
I would say again, they give good accommodations, very nice people they have as staff who'll help you plan your trip but many tiny little goof-ups can make difference.
PH
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Brace 6 hours of rough road
Transportation
All or mostly rough roads.advance info should be given.not for the elderly or disabled people
