BE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very nice experience
Thanks for the excellent safari (3N 4D). We had very good food and friendly staff. The trip felt like an adventure. The toilets of the camping sites were very clean, we definitely don't regret choosing the budget option. Some miscommunication occurred regarding date of travel but was easily fixed. Since the other people of our car had to catch a flight in the afternoon we started our safaris very early (great! experience ). However make sure you bring a sweater, it might be cold. Car and comfort were perfectly fine. Asante Sana.
SV
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic experience in Tanzania!
This company came to my rescue when another one cancelled my safari last minute. Paul Justine was very accommodating, and resourceful in organizing the safari tour in a couple of days! Communication was very clear and timely. Before and after, we were able to ask and get recommendations for other places to visit in Arusha. During the tour, our guide Julius was great! He knew the best spots to find all the animals we wanted to see. He was very respectful and friendly. We really loved our tour. We would recommend this company to anyone looking for a very professional company that gives a personalized service.
NO
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Read all 1 star reviews. They are TRUE!! Do not book with ISIA!!! WARNiNG!
We paid extra for a pick up from the airport.
They didn'¨t show up. We had to find another a taxi driver in the middle of the night.
The next day we had to hunt ISIA down by phone with the help of the hotel manager.
The trip started 5 hours too late because of this.
We had paid USD70 for an extra event. We didn't get to do this event and still after 4 months we haven't been refunded. I waited this long before writing a review to give them a chance to make it good.
They answer emails sometimes and sometimes not. Lies and stalling. In the beginning they said that they had made the payment but that it will take a couple of weeks before we would see it on the account.
The guide wasn't too interested in talking about animals. He just wanted to drive to get to the next camp and start driving a bit late every day.
He had good contact with other drivers to find animals but that was about it.
In the end he and his boss tried to pressure us to pay USD20 per day in tips and said that this wasn't optional.
You don't need to pay for an expensive company like ISIA!
All companies drive around and talk to each other. Just be sure to get a driver who have been driving for at least 5 years or so. This because a rookie might wreck the car and you will lose time.
There is a million companies out there.
Check what areas you want to go to and what camps you want to live in. Then contact any company but NOT It Started in Africa!
You have been Warned!
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
What een experience, unforgettable!
In november my boyfriend and I went on a 5 day private safari net Asili Explorer. Een local company run by Joe. It was fantastic!!
Joe arranged everything for us in a perfect manner. He picked us up at the airport in Arusha en dropped us at the and at the airport Kilamanjaro. We vistited 3 parks: Lake Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorogoro. We saw so many wildlife, incredible. We saw the big 5, the great migration and many other animals. Het knows the way en is able to spot the wildlife, moreover he knows a lot about the ecosystem in the parks so he explains what you see. Nothing is too much!
He arranged all our accomodations in in consultation with us and the contact by email before the trip was really good. There was a packed lunch everyday en lots of cooled water in the car.
Finally he offers a really good price for the safari with high quality. So we recommend Joe en his company!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Experience! Definitely will recommend
We had lovely time. I had emails on many questions and Paul is patient and replies timely. On the safari days, our guide is really knowledgeableand we were able to see all we wanted. Lucky for us!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very disorganized
We booked a short trip to Mombasa using the SGR. When we got to the Miritini station all the people who had booked with Bonfire we're herded to one corner. Most of us had no transportation to the hotels. Where a bus finally showed up, 2 hours late, it broke down at the parking lot! They eventually put us in 3 separate taxis after much complaining. We wasted about 4 hours that counted as part of the first day of the trip.
SA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Yes, book with Jiwe
Wow---I am not sure where to begin exactly. Everything was organized, efficient, and we were so happy with the experience we might book Jiwe for another trek. We didn't have crazy expectations, but of course we really wanted to reach the summit. The best part is that we chose the 9 day Northern Circuit Route, and were so thankful we did! This route gave us more time in nature, more time to acclimatize, more time to get to know our crew, and we were overjoyed with the entire experience. The porters, guides, and cook became our adopted family. Edgar, the manager, went above and beyond to ensure we were happy and well taken care of. Our guides - Jackson and GoodLuck were amazing---funny, cooperative, positive, and helpful. They made sure we enjoyed the experience! The cook was always very creative in cooking and we loved how healthy and fresh the food was! Thank you Jiwe!
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent service. Thank you Sweet Africa Safaris!
My first encounter with Johnson was one of a kind. I would confess in this review that, the management of safari tour matters a lot. indeed, the fun and all the experience during the time spent heavily depends on the person in charge. The accommodation and the vehicles used by Sweet Africa Safaris bring a whole different experience that make one yearn for a repeat. If anyone is looking for tour company in East Africa, I would definitely recommend SWEET AFRICA SAFARIS.
IR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The most powerful and exciting experience- Marangu route Kili climb,Lake Manyara & Ngorongoro Crater
The climb team with God Luck and Jakson as a guide were very professional and his smart advises helped to all of us to climb to the top and make the dream come true.
during our climbing to the Kilimanjaro we enjoyed perfect service from Jiwe Adventures, our guide and his porters crew, all meals were served and the food was great. the porters support us through out all the difficulties of the climbing.
Kilimanjaro climbing and after that 2-days safari( Ngoronoro crater an Lake Manyara) were very well organized. Instructors and company managers were very friendly. Everything worked well. Thanks to Edgar(Managing of Jiwe Adventures), it was a great, unforgettable tour.
TR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Terrible Experience
We had a 5 day safari tour with Jocky Tour. First two days were as it was on the program but when it was our 3rd day things started to change. Driver canceled our early game drive because he simply didn’t want to. When we complained he said we can discuss and never showed up (we didn’t even need to discuss because we already paid for the whole thing). We let it go for the sake of the other days because we only depend on that driver and we didn’t feel safe. Next day he wanted to keep our game drive short (it was till late afternoon from 7:30 am but he wanted to finish the game drive at 10:30 and transfer us to the other location). This time we didn’t want to let ot go and told him that we paid for this service and we want to stick to the program. He found it offensive and gave us attitude the rest of the trip. Last day we had a boat tour on the river and he said it wasn’t included and we said he should call the office he went against it first and then he called and let us to the boat ride. This is not how it should be. No one has to fight to get the value that they already paid for and plus receive bad attitude for it. If you can get the value out of the program it would be a nice budget safari tour try not to shop from the shops in Kenya they stop frequently because they are overpriced. (you can buy the same stuff im Tanzania for almost %20 of the price tags in Kenya). Overall I would go for another tour company next time for sure (with more reviews and higher ratings) and maybe pay a little more for it. Maybe thats when you don’t have to worry about if they will try to screw you somehow the next day.