US
Great safari, terrible administration
The experience was great and I loved the wildlife, the accommodations and our guide. However, the way that the company handles the business is incredibly unprofessional. First, after I wired a large amount of money to the company I got an email saying that the bank had changed routing number and to please wire the money again since "most likely" it would get rejected. After I went to the bank and emailed back I was told that the bank did get the money and that everything was all right but what if I had re wired the money like they asked me to?
After that, I repeatedly asked the owner to confirm that we would be picked up at a certain time on a certain day and he did confirm multiple times but when we arrived to the airport no one was waiting for us! I had to borrow a phone -and tip the guy who lent it- in order to get the a hold of the owner. He sent somebody right after but it does not fix how unsettling it was to arrive and not having someone ready (we were considering it might had been a scam.) When we got to Arusha the owner met us there and his excuse was that "since all their guests arrive at night he just assumed that we were going to do that as well." I confirmed with him multiple times about the time we wanted to be picked up and he just assumed???
We still rolled with it and didn't complain trying to make the vacation a fun time. Our guide was great, friendly, knowledgeable and seemed to be very into the wildlife, not just as a job but to have a true appreciation for the animals. So we headed up for a 7 day safari..., except it wasn't 7 days. We did not review our itinerary everyday because the company should know exactly what you paid for and should provide that for you but when on day 5 the guide told us that we would be ending the next day I went and checked the exact itinerary and it turns out that we were shorted 1 morning at the Serengeti. When I told the guide he said that he was going to talk to the owner and then came back saying that he would meet us in Arusha the next day to exchange ideas about what we could do to make up for that day but on the next day, of course, he did not show up. Instead he told our guide to offer solutions for us but the best one was a walking tour in Arusha which we did not care about. I paid to be at the Serengeti, not to walk in a city with nothing to see.
In the end we were fed up with the owner and his unprofessional attitude so we decided to just stay put at the hotel and lose that one day at the Serengeti except that the check-out was at 10 am and our flight was at 6 pm. Being that the owner wasn't there he couldn't handle the situation and our guide had to do his best. They allowed us to stay and use the pool but we had to give the room at 11 am which should not have happened. We should have been able to do late check-out but since the owner wasn't there to negotiate, we weren't.
We again said fine and just asked our guide to pass the information of our flight to Henry, the owner, to be picked up at 3 pm. But, you guessed it, the owner didn't show up to pick us up and the driver that he sent was over half an hour late! We requested to be picked up at a certain time because we have a plane to catch and things to do and they don't even respect that. Our driver was rude, acted like it was an inconvenience to drop us at the airport and was texting on his phone the whole ride.
You would think that after not being there to pick us up the company would do everything in their hands to make up for it but instead they were consistently careless. My wife and I had been in Africa for a while before the safari so we understand that things are not smooth and that people work differently there but when you pay the kind of money that we paid they should at least be there to pick you up.
Oh, and I asked for a receipt of payment at least 5 times which the owner kept saying "I'll send it tomorrow" but I'm still waiting. All I can think of is that he doesn't want to report the tour and pay taxes on it which I get but when your guest is constantly requesting it the company should take care of it.
Like I said, I loved the safari and the overall experience but I would absolutely not recommend this company solely based on the owner. And if you think that there are multiple great reviews that don't agree with mine, well, a lot of those come from Canada even if the listed country of the reviewer is a different one so I would not be surprised if they are fake reviews written to build up the company's profile.
CH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience!
We traveled four weeks through Namibia and Botswana. Our trip was organized by Kalahari Breeze Safaris and we were very satisfied. We stayed overnight in lodges and camping sites - it was a very good mix between lodge and camping sites. The car with roof tent was perfectly equipped, everything you need is there. In case of problems, Kalahari Breeze Safaris always helps. We can recommend Kalahari Breeze Safaris and would book again with them.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great value for price
We worked with Gabriel to set up our tour who was always very responsive to emails and wonderful when we met him in person. He was very gracious and kind and also accommodating. Our tour guide was Freddie who was absolutely phenomenal. He was a very skilled driver and tracked down all the animals that we wanted to see. He was very respectful of the park and animals and we loved the whole experience with him. Everything was all inclusive with our tour including 3 meals a day which were prepared fresh by our wonderful cook. It was all delicious. We also got a hotel stay before and after the safari included with our trip. All in all, would highly recommend if you're looking for a great value safari experience.
IE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Best of experience with Parakuyo Tours & Safaris
I would love to recommend Parakuyo Tours & Safaris team for excellent service and incredible experience we've had with them. I've met Meleck John for the 1st time in 2004 while travelling to Arusha for my very 1st safari experience and then again in 2013 on my second visit. On my first visit in 2004, I was with 2 friends from France and we did not have anything booked in advance.We opted to ask around for a private guide and Meleck John got recommended to us. We went with him on a 1 day safari tour at Ngorongoro national park and it turned out to be an amazing experience. John is very honest, funny, friendly and extremely patient person. He is very knowlegeable and very generous sharing his culture and land.We learnt a lot about different landscapes, customs, animals and tribes. He is excellent at spotting animals and always ensured that we saw all different species. I remember that we even managed to see lions on our 1 day visit which is not always gained in advance and it was impressive.We felt very safe in his company and had great fun - Since then me and my friends have been recommending Meleck and his company to all our friends who go to Tanzania for a Safari-tour experience and they all come back thrilled with the experience and amazing service received from Meleck and his team.
I would highly recommend Parakuyo Tours and Safari for high quality service, great fun & unforgettable lifetime memory in one of the most beautiful countries in East Africa. You won't find a such honest & professional team anywhere else in Tanzania!!!
Thanks again Meleck for one of the very best experiences of my life. I will for sure come back again :)
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Absolutely Awesome
We have just returned from a two week safari with Happy World Safari's and it totally exceeded our expectations. As you'd expect when booking a holiday with an operator in a different country without a travel agent you are very cautious. My wife and I did a lot of research and read a lot of reviews to narrow it down. We then contacted a few and after a while settled with Happy World Safaris.
Joseph's (owner) expertise and friendliness from the very first email was exceptional. He was so very accommodating to our needs and every (several) question. He even organised a visit to a local school for us in order to provide stationary, school uniforms and other supplies to some very underprivileged children. I highly recommend this if you can.
We were fortunate enough to have Joseph and Tony (Driver) on our tour and both were very experienced and passionate about the animals and provided a lot of interesting information about them. Additionally they also gave us a lot of information on the country, its history, natural landscapes etc.
I cannot say enough about our trip and highly recommend that you use Happy World Safari's for your Tanzanian trip.
Joseph and Tony are absolute legends.
We will be back again soon
Peter & Jess
US
Amazing safari Experience
Landside Adventure was very professional right from the time of enquiry to the completion of the safari. The driver/guide Edward was extraordinary and we managed to see all the Big 5 and various other species of wildlife in the Ngorongoro and Serengeti area.
PE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It Started in Africa ¿An Option?
I write these commentaries because I believe that we have a responsability with other tourists who, as we did, organize their trips taking into consideration the opinions and commentaries of people in Tripadvisor and Safaribooking.com
I will try to be objective in my commentaries most of all because the experience we lived surpasses all inconveniences and obliges us to put things in their true dimension.
All coordinations were wonderful, Luis Gama as well as Joao Oliveira replied and answered all our questions promptly and clearly.
What did they offer us:
1 "Pickup/dropoff from Kilimanjaro airport":
We arrived to Kilimanjaro¨'s Airport on time, the van that was supposed to pick us up was not there, although we must state that they had arranged for someone to have a poster and explain to us that they were on their way to pick us up.
2. "All our vehicles are extremely well maintained 4x4 Land Cruisers with pop-up open roof":
It called our attention that the van was not as modern as others we had seen picking up groups of turists. The handles of the windows did not work and it was very difficult to open the windows. The door on the right side did not have an internal handle to open it so we always had to ask the guides to open and close the door for us.
The seat on the second row, on the left, was totally broken so it was imposible to go through a long journey without causing back pain. Because of our complains they changed the vehicle. This was worse because the transmition, the springs, the shock absorber and the two back tires broke. It was a miracle that it just added up to a big fright. I want to take this opportunity to thank the African Scenic and the group of young doctors of Hong Kong who so kindly helped us and transported us to our camp. Finally we went back to our first vehicle. They had fixed the seat but, apparently, the steer started to fail and we wondered if we would get to the airport in time for our flight
3 "You will have at your disposal, a pair of High End Large Binoculars (Nixon, Olympus of Bushnell) that will dramatically enhance your safari experience when compared to standard binoculars":
This made us think that each member of the group would have a pair of binoculars. It finally happened but only one pair could be considered "high end", the others were broken or you could not see clearly.
4. "All our safaris have unlimited mileage which means you will be able to do game drives for as long and far as you¨[would like within the parks operational hours": Complied
5. "All National Park entrance and camp site fees": Complied
6. "Accommodation as detailed": Complied to our total satisfaction
7. "All food-breakfasts, packed lunches and evening meals":
The lodges were responsable for our food and the chefs were very kind and prepared special meals according to our alimentary restrictions, if somebody could not eat from the buffet. We were surprised, however, to learn that they did not have our meal restrctions registered, This situation delayed our trip to the Tarangire National Park because we had to look for a restaurant where they could cook special meals.
8 "Bottled wáter and soft drinks": We could always find bottles of water but never soft drinks.
9. "Lonely Planet about Tanzania": In January they offered us that they could buy three of these books in spanish. We paid for them in advance. When we arrived, four months after, they had only two books in english. We understand that it may be dificult to find spanish version but they had four months to do it or warn us that they failed finding them. Finally we got a third book in spanish.
10. "Our guides, which are our real stars and the ones who can make the difference between a nice trip and a once in a lifetime journey that you will never forget for decades to come":
We had Frederick Isangya (Alfred) as our guide in spanish as well as Estomi as our driver. This was a plus as we were told that the presentations were in english and we observed that the driver was the guide in other safaris.
Frederick answered with certitude all our questions relative to the animals, their habitat and behavior. He complimented this information with literature that was in the vehicle and thus allowed us to learn more about this fascinating continent. He always fullfilled our expectations. Estomi is an excellent driver and thanks to his skills the accident we had had no mayor consecuences.
Frederick and Estomi, as the visible face of the Company, had at all times the best disposition to face and solve, in the best way, all the problems and inconveniences during the safari.
When they realized that an adequate lunch pack for one of the members of the group was missing they bought a box and searched for the special meal in a restaurant. They made the necessary coordinations with the Arusha office in order to find a solution to all the inconveniences that arose during the trip and never avoided the reponsability that "It Started in Africa" had towards us.
Conclusion
It Started in Africa did not comply with two fundamental things in order to make a safari successfull : i ) The maintenance of their vehicles and ii) the care of the special food we required.
¿Would we hire "It Started in Africa" again? We dont think so, although we must aknowledge that at all times, through their team, they faced all inconveniences. ¿Would we hire Frederick (Alfred) and Estomi? Yes with no doubt, they were extraordinary.
To finish I would like to state that the group had decided from the very start that nothing would ruin this marvellous adventure and that our motto, in spite of the problems, always was "Hakuna Matata"
I hope our commentaries may be of help to you
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A remarkable Safari Experience!!!!
My husband and I decided to go on safari in Africa, having the experience of working with travel agents a lot but Asili Explorer was by far the best we have ever worked before, their responsiveness and willingness to as assist us to get the best of African safaris exceeded our expectation. As the first time travelers to Tanzania and Africa in general, we had so many questions to ask, and Sharif responded to all of our questions in time. Initially we had brief converzation with him about the Parks we would like to visits in Tanzania, and he developed a perfect itinerary that perfectly match our interests. We went to Tarangire where we saw herds of elephants, Oh my God! they are so big, also we saw the baobabs trees, our guide (Joe) told us they are over 500 years old, I never knew before that there are things that could live that long. The next day we went to Serengeti where we stayed for two nights, Serengeti plain is huge and have lots of wild animals and shrubs, It’s a paradise. And lastly we went to Ngorongoro which was by far the most beautiful landscape we have ever seen no wonder it’s among the Seven Wonders of the World. Joe was helpful through out the Safari he worked tireless, driving and telling us the story about animals and places simultaneously. Indeed, he was one of the most knowledgeable, professional and friendly tour guide we have ever worked. We wish we could have visited other places and spent more time with him, we were sad to say goodbye to him. Thank you Joe and Sharif for giving us an amazing experience hopeful we will see you again in the future.
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable journey through the Serengeti!
We went on a 5day safari to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater with a group of 6 and it was the coolest thing we ever did. Our guide Ziggy knew how to find all the animals and could position the jeep in a way no other driver did. We had always the best view. At the end of each day he brought us to the most amazing camping sites were our cook would prepare very tasty meals. The whole safari was an unforgettable experience and that was certainly due to the good people of Sayari Tano Tours (and for a very reasonable price as well), so thank you very much for that!
Greetings,
Jon and Sanne
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent Guide, Poor Administrative Services & Communication
I booked a five-day safari tour of Northern Tanzania through Zara Tours in early August. The tour itself was an incredible experience. Our guide, Regan, was knowledgeable, and we learned a lot of about the animals living in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater.
Unfortunately, there was some poor communication with the administrative staff of Zara Tours. We booked our trip before June 30, 2017 and at the time there was a promotional deal going on which stated that if were booked before 6/30/2017, our airport transfers would be included our package. The salesperson we were communicating with, Kitondo, also confirmed this via email. I also doubled checked when we arrived to the Springlands Hotel with a female staffer that our airport transfers were included. She said yes. After we completed our safari tour, we came back to the Springlands Hotel and I once again confirmed the night before our departure with another female staffer that our airport transfer the next day was included in the package we purchased. She said yes. The morning of our departure, there was a male staffer at the front desk who helped us check out of the hotel. He told us that we owed $60 USD for the previous airport transfer (from airport to hotel) and we would have to pay an additional $60 USD if we wanted to be driven to the airport. We tried to explain to him that the package with bought included airport transfers. He said Kitondo had told him it wasn't included. He allegedly called Kitondo and spoke in Swahili with her on the phone while we watched. At the end of the phone call he said that she said our package did not include transfers. Instead of arguing with this man, we decided to pay the money for the prior transfer were had taken and take a taxi to the airport (which was much cheaper).
I later looked up our package online and looked up emails with Kitondo and I called this male staffer. I was very upset and told him that I had proof that airport transfers were included. I told him I could come back to the hotel (our flight didn't leave until late at night) so he could return our money. He said that he had to "check with someone first" and that he would call me back. I gave him my phone number. He never called me back. I am convinced this was a scam on this man's part because he was upset that we had not bought anything at the hotel. My sister had been living in Moshi for 3 months prior to this safari trip so she knew taxi drivers and was familiar with the area. So instead of purchasing dinner or drinks at the hotel, we venture outside. Therefore, we had no hotel bill to settle.
If I were to do this over again, I would get everything in detailed writing and print out copies of the terms of the agreement. I would also write down names of the staffers. Ultimately, it was not the money that was an issue but rather the unprofessional nature of this exchange.
Other issues
We had travelers with dietary restrictions on our trip. For the most part, these were accommodated well but there were a few times when we could only eat rice and pasta. I recommend bringing your own snacks just in case. Breakfast and dinner options are decent but the "lunch boxes" are not great. You may want to pack your own snacks for lunch.
The five day safari felt a little long. I would recommend something a little shorter, maybe 4 days. It's gets very tiring to be in a bumpy car for 8-10 hours each day.
I highly recommend staying in one of the wild camps. It was an amazing experience to be in a tent in the middle of the Serengeti and wake up to gazelles outside.