IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Not reliable and fraudsters
I booked a tour with the agency Bencia Africa Adventure & Safaris based in Nairobi, starting from Kenya - Nairobi and that was to end in Tanzania - Arusha and then continue to Zanzibar. The tour involved crossing the large parks to follow the migrations, more than visits to sites of interest along the way. Obviously we knew that being in Africa and in a country where accuracy is not there we would have to adapt and not ask too many questions even if the price we had paid for two was very high. In any case, as we expected, throughout the trip we were not adequately informed about the program, giving us vague information and changing it continuously program, in fact three times we have changed the structures where to sleep, previously communicated, changing them with others not always of the same level proposed and the discovery of the change occurred only on the spot, without giving us the opportunity to accept or change. The first excursion was to Mount Kenya where we were told a generic "let's visit a cave", but we were not told that there were four hours of trekking and that we had to be equipped for a very rough path. The moral of the fairy tale, after half an hour of march a storm broke out and not being equipped we had to go back. And so it was throughout the trip. The most serious episode that happened and that ruined us all the rest of the holiday happened after 5 days of travel, when we arrived at the northern border between Kenya and Tanzania. They told us that they had to wait for their next guide before continuing their journey. They left us at a taxi saying that the driver would wait for us in the next city because he couldn't come there, we didn't have many problems because we were used to that way of doing and we went to the meeting in the next city. The guide we met, after a long wait, on the trip told us that he was a replacement for our driver who had the car broken and that would wait for us in the Serengeti Park. The trip was tremendous because he ran like a damned because we understood he didn't pay much and he wanted to get rid of us soon. We made the whole trip without water and lunch that were included. Arrived at the entrance of the park told us that we had to pay the entrance, which was already included in the price, but told us that not being he our guide, once arrived we would refund, we trusted and we paid. Once we arrived we immediately realized that the place was not the one we had booked. We had booked a tent with beds and instead brought us to a public field with a tent where we slept on the ground. The guide was not there and we tried to get him called by the person who had brought us them, telling us that he would arrive after an hour and a half. We waited for the guide and in the meantime we called the agency asking for explanations on the spot that was not the one booked, also because we did not know it, we were not equipped to camp, after my continuous insistence answered me that it was too expensive the tent with beds and changed structure and attached me to the phone not answering me anymore. We waited for the guide who had never arrived and stayed in the camp for two days without water or food, providing our own needs. We stayed two days in the camp sleeping in this public tent with sleeping bags recovered who knows where, because we didn't have the chance to leave, we were stuck and every now and then some characters told us that someone would arrive who never arrived. We were wandering in this camp that was not sure, so much so that one night a hyena chased us and we had to escape.
By day the camp was empty and we were left only two close to the tent and a small structure where they ate. We were really desperate, until we managed to bargain with a guy a passage to Arusha, interrupting the journey that was ruined. But not having the entry tickets to the park that the driver had brought with him, we would have had to pay the 400 dollars of the passage, the fine for tickets that we did not have, the two days of stay in the camp and the entry and exit in the park of Ngorongoro that necessarily had to pay to get out of the parks. At that point we decided to call the rangers who brought us to the police where we made the complaint and where magically occurred the driver who had disappeared. He was very surprised by the complaint and he justified himself by saying that the car had broken down and that he was finding a solution, he offered to let us continue the journey with him but we did not accept, the police forced him to give us the money of the entrance to the park, he paid us the car until Arusha and crossing the other parks. We also had to pay one night in the hotel, but once we got there the driver told us that he didn't have the money but we were relieved to have come out of that nightmare and we were very happy to be able to choose us a structure and get rid of them. The agency came alive when it heard about the complaint, apologizing and justifying that it had relied on this partner in Tanzania and that would have made us pay ... to date has never arrived anything. But the fact that I explained that it was his responsibility, because I had made a contract with him and that in the moment of need he had disappeared was a concept difficult to understand. We are now trying to find a solution to get compensation even though we know that it is impossible to get it.
Maybe we were a bit unfortunate but nothing justifies their way of behaving and the absolute lack of professionalism, exposing ourselves to risks and leaving us in a foreign land at the mercy of ourselves. Even just because of the stress their behaviour causes you, absolutely avoid them.
AE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good and cooperative
Stephen and the big boss Elias are very nice I took a 3 days safari to Masai mara but kindly take atleast 5 days tour b coz 2 Full days goes in travelling itself...
Few tips for travellers
Take a 4*4 veichle instead of van b coz ground clearance very low and can’t reach in many routes
Ensure your veichle has an Air conditioning and operative b coz your whole body will be covered by dust road from Masai from narok is very poor
They have a free pick up but ensure it’s within their radius from airport other wise u should pay extra
Our camp was good but was outside jungle still try to stay inside the jungle if you are with family for night safaris
Take a camera with night vision big lens to spot animals, binocular,and snacks and some emergency medicines
Take drinking water with u only 1 liter
free per day
Enjoy your trips
IL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Good choice for tailor made safari in a reasonable price
Emmanuel was very communicative and efficient preparing the tour and replying immediately all our doubts. He tried to respond to all our special requests. Morris, our driver, was very professional, careful and cheerful. Driving in Uganda is not easy and Morris did a great job. Only, we learnt that we had to draw information about what is next and how to get dressed for each part of the trip. Some of the lodges Emmanuel had chose for us originally were replaced without consulting us but, anyway, we didn't have high expectations, so we weren't disappointed either way. When they promise hot showers and WiFi they have a wide definition for that. Over all, We enjoyed the safari very much, the vehicle, the people, the animals were great and we highly recommend the boat safaris. We took 3 and they were the highlights of our trip.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Masai Mara National Reserve by Jamie Foley
Was expecting to see the wildebeast migration, but they were very late. Without that volume of animals it was actually very empty. I've just seen better wildlife in other parks.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Lake Nakuru National Park by Jamie Foley
Solid option for a 1-day stop. Lodge was right in the park, and views from the rooms were absolutely spectacular.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Breathtaking
Professionally organized and carried out safari. Great accomodation with wonderful view, sunrise and sunset... Enjoyed the huge Ruaha NP on game drives (seeing many different animals, many really close by...) and walking safari along the river. Would do it again and again!
IE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The most magical safari I have ever been on!
Just a short note to say thank you so much for organising our safari , from start to finish we had the most amazing time! We booked through Madi - she was extremely helpful and professional and answered all our questions promptly and thoroughly!
We were lucky enough to have our guide Nicky and the open vehicle all to ourselves which made our honeymoon even more special.
We managed to see the Big 5 twice and then some. Nicky was a wonderful guide who did everything in her power to provide us with the most wonderful sights , her knowledge of the area and the animals was so interesting, we learned a lot from her. The accommodation at Lower Sabie was just perfect , and the food cooked and provided by Nicky was fantastic.
The only problem with our safari was that it was too short and we wished we could have stayed longer!!!!
Thank you so much again , you were fantastic to deal with. I will highly recommend Wild Wings to all our family and friends. Please pass on our thanks to Nicky!
AE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Quick response, hospitality and professonal operation.
Quick and responsive communication for inquiry and booking was comfortable for the trip arrangeent.
Service starting from airport pick up, transportation, safari was good as expected but the safari car was rather old and more complete car maintenance should be secured. Safari tour itself was quite enjoyable and exciting but it depends upon the experience and the capability of the driver. As many safari tour companies are competing in the same market with similar services, it seems difficult to differenciate with others.
How Wildebeest Safari can maintain the good driver guides will be important to maintain the service quiality.
FR
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great and well organized tour with an excellent and friendly guide
We booked a private (5 people) 5 day, 4 night tour in Blyde River Canyon and Kruger National Park with Endless Summer Tour for the begining of August 2018. It was a wonderful experience!
Our tour guide was Brett, who collected us from Johannesburg on day one. We visited Blyde River Canyon in the late afternoon, especially the sunset at Bourke's Luck Potholes was amazing. Excellent accomodation at Mogodi’s Lodge.
We then passed three days in Kruger Park with a very good accomodation for the first night in Berg-en-Dal rest camp where we have seen Buffalos, Rhinos and Elephants passing close to our bungalow in the evening!
We spent the two following nights in Skukuza rest camp. We saw many Elephants, Rhinos, Giraffe, Zebra, Lions, African Wild Dogs, Buffalos, one Leopard close to our vehicle and also beautiful birds! The sunset safari and the night safaris were great experiences. In August, the sunset safari was the best one for us since it begins during the day and it ends at night.
Brett is a good cook and a very nice and friendly guy! Above all, he is an excellent guide, very knowledgeable about wildlife and highly recommandable for people who want to make pictures since he was always looking for the best viewing angle.
We highly recommend Endless Summer Tour.
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Next level safari experience
We had annexcellent safari. Special thanks to Karlijn from the Office she arranged everyting for us. IT was wonderful!!! Trip of our life. You Will see us back in Tanzania!