50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Disappointing
Our initial communication with Instinct Safari was good however once in Africa it was definitely downhill. About three days before we were due to fly into Uganda we received the following email.
As the DR Congolese single entry visa is not officially part of our included services, please let us know if you have already applied for it on www.visitvirunga.org and have a confirmation. If, however, you did not yet do so, please let us know (we would further require your job title - in addition to the passport copies we already have - to fill out their online form) and we do it for you. Please understand, that in that case we have to charge the extra US $105 per person they ask for their single entry visa.As your safari lies only a week ahead, please provide us with the requested information as soon as possible.
This was very disturbing as in every correspondence prior to this they had said the following
The DR Congo visas are usually purchased by us as the tour operator simply because details such as border checkpoint and address in DRC etc. have to be submitted during the application process.
.......Highest priority is assigned to the activities in DR Congo, now. With your passport photocopies at hand, it is easy for us to proceed and acquire your travel visas along with the volcano hike.
In this instance I contacted the Director who to his credit rectified this but it did add stress as we had limited internet access at this stage.
The day before we flew in we received another email explaining that we would need a special type of sleeping bag and parkas for sub zero conditions to prevent us suffering Hypothermia while trekking up to the volcano.
The packing list we had received before we left home did not mention this.
Decidedly unimpressed on arrival the guide not for the last time said it wasn't his fault as he had only just received the information himself, although later in the conversation he said he had been to the volcano a number of times before so I'm not sure why the company would not know what you need.
He did explain this situation could also be solved!!!!!
The car they picked us up in was really really old we had just come from a self drive safari in Namibia where we had no dust in the car.
The guide was EXTREMELY difficult to understand his English was poor and his attitude poorer.
He had minimal text book knowledge of the area. Quite honestly I think he and the driver thought it was their holiday. Soon as we arrived at places they would take off and chat with people . There were many instances where either ourselves or someone else would have to search for them.
Communication was almost non existent at the second lodge on arrival he just took off to relax in the lounge . Other guests thought they were also guests there, enthused to tell us some other tourists staying there were travelling to the Congo.
After we trekked with the Golden Monkeys we were supposed to go back to the lodge for a shower and lunch. They were particularly agitated and wanted us to be ready in 30 minutes?!
They then drove dangerously to the Congo border. I kept asking why we didn't cross the Congo border that was quite near. He just kept saying it was unacceptable. We finally arrived at the border he was on the phone and then said it was to late to cross. I then asked to speak to the lodge owner who told me she had expected us at 8.30am and had emailed him this information. He had had wifi access at the lodge. She said you can't drive in the Congo at night. One wonders why a company would create an itinerary that is unachievable as we were always trekking golden monkeys that day, the lodge owner was very helpful and suggested we stay just across the border. He instead checked us in at a hotel on the Rwanda side. I asked him to confirm this with her. He assured me he would. Next day we crossed the border my daughter and I were standing on the side of the road with all our gear, yet again they were nowhere to be found. My daughter eventually located them sitting out the back chatting with friends. The driver was late but they hadn't bothered to tell us. As it turns out they had gone to the hotel they thought we were staying at!!!!! ( the one they recommended)
We had consequently held everyone up to start the trek up the volcano. Again on arrival no explanation that we could put some belongings in bags that had been provided for us. We had been told we would each be provided with a porter but they were carrying our sleeping gear not our belongings. The food for the day was two warm ham sandwiches which would have been in the sun for at least four hours before consumption and a non refrigerated boiled egg. Although they were not responsible for the food they did not care about resolving the situation. During the trek the driver and guide spent most of their time taking selfies at one point when my daughter slipped they laughed and kept walking.
At one stage the cook asked the guide to come over and interpret but he was busy taking photos and initially said "no "until the chef demanded it.
I could add more . I spent six weeks in Africa and have travelled extensively and love travel . This guide / company were the worst I have ever experienced.
Do yourself a favour and pick someone else . Having said that the treks we did were fantastic and with another company I would highly recommend the gorillas golden monkeys and volcano in DR Congo.
IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good service and great value for money!
When i was doing my initial search for a safari operator it wasn't easy to zero in on one. After researching quite a bit on the internet I decided to go with Big Time for my 12 day safari in Kenya and Tanzania. My contact person Martha was amazingly responsive to all my queries/suggestions/changes in plans etc... She accommodated all my requests to ensure I got what I asked for. Though there was a problem with too many people in the group at one time (9 in the vehicle for our game drive at Lake Nakuru), it was handled reasonably well to ensure the safari went on well from there on. Here is my take on safaris with Big Time.
The Good:
- Very efficient and customer focused team at Nairobi.
- One could trust them to ensure all logistics are taken care of - right from the moment I landed, to transfers of all kinds, right till I was dropped at the airport, all I had to do was text/call Martha and she would have something arranged for me. Very efficient and makes things simple for a newbie in Africa.
- The price is very competitive. There are very few operators who offer safaris at this price. Though it's imperative that this is a 'budget' safari and you get more than what you pay for.
- Animal sightings - well, this shouldn't be a problem if you are in the right place at right time. There was no dearth of animals at Masai Mara at this time of the year and the drives were just awesome.
The Bad:
- The safari vehicles weren't the best of conditions.
- The drivers (all the 3 i dealt with) weren't interested in spending much time in the parks. Despite the whole of our group insisting that we wanted to continue with the game drive, our driver at Amboseli was adamant about getting back to the camp a good 1.5 hrs before the park closing time.
- My plan in Tanzania was altered so that I could be accommodated as a part of a group (a day in Serengeti was replaced by a day in Tarangire). Though I was indifferent to the change, I would have preferred being consulted before deciding what I should be doing than telling me what I would be doing!
Tips:
- Ask as many questions as possible before you agree on your safari - how many days? what time do you start and spend at every park? how many people in the van? is water included? will the vehicle be in good condition? It's good to have these things in writing before you embark on your safari with any operator.
- On your day one, before you start on your safari it is a good idea to sit with the driver and your contact person at the office to confirm all that was agreed on in your communications, so as to ensure everyone is on the same platform.
- Keep in touch with your contact person when on safari (if you happen to have local phone number or whenever there if Wi-Fi access). This could help the office handle any problems that could pop up.
- And, enjoy your days in the wild... At the end of the day, that's what we take all this fuss for! :)
All said and done, if i were to go on a safari again, I know who to get in touch with!
TR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Serengeti National Park by Mustafa Kasapoglu
This is a huge and extremely large plain. They are calling as endless plain. You see many times the mirage as it is hot and so flat. The animals are chasing the water and the carnivors are chasing the others who are seeking the water. So the life is going like this. Although there are hundreds maybe thousands of safari cars, they are all dissappeared in the endless plain and no one is disturbing the others.
TR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Ngorongoro Crater by Mustafa Kasapoglu
The are has been naturally well protected. Because the creter has been surrounded by the mountains and the wild like has been surrounded like in a natural pool. The guides and and the animals seem to have agreed in timing. Every morning during the animals breakfast the guides are driving the visitors to watch the game. Hyenas are almost ther at the same place every morning.
TR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An elephant paradise
Tarangire is totally representing the typical African nature. But god gave lots of gifts to Tarangire. The land scape of Tarangire is extremely nice. You can view the whole plain together with Elephants and other animals. A pieceful atmosfer is surrounding you. becuase the elephants are so slow and the zebras are all arround. But we have also seen hidden lions between the long grasses. The old african trees are an incredible nature icon. We were 4 people and was like a private Safari. We enjoyed so much. I can not forget what we lived and will go again in the first convenience.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Serengeti National Park by JOHN WEIR
Visited the northern Serengeti, this was our first visit, knew what to expect but viewing it in real-time was overwhelming. Was keen to photograph the 3 big cats and they duly obliged, our leopard and cheetah sightings were incredible. Possibly got better Lion images in Tarangire.
All expected mammals were observed and photographed, and the birds were pretty impressive too, although I am not a specialist. Generally it was apparently quieter than other parts of The Serengeti (views of other travellers), which suited us. The exclusive use of a vehicle always helps in terms of species targeted, photographic opportunity and the capacity to avoid crowds. We hoped to see a 'River Crossing' but it wasn't to be, despite several near misses. Our main criteria for a successful camp is the potential quality of wildlife viewing available, so we don't get too excited about swimming pools, wi-fi provision etc. In fact it is, to us quite nice to leave a few creature comforts at home, it adds to a truly authentic safari experience.
We stayed at Sayari Camp which was of a very high quality in all areas and thoroughly enjoyed a 3 night stay. We will return to The Serengeti soon to hopefully witness a 'River Crossing'. The Serengeti certainly lives up to it's reputation as one of the world's top wildlife destinations, a remarkable eco-system.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Ngorongoro Crater by JOHN WEIR
A fantastic eco-system/ geological feature. Enjoyed our visit and glad we did it. Would not return, far too crowded for our liking, could have been in a safari park in the U.K. Actually saw a speeding safari vehicle collide with and kill a Bat-eared Fox. (Sorry wildlife you certainly deserve better). Stayed at Kitela Lodge, a beautiful facility, we were virtually the only guests staying not sure why. Would recommend, but ensure you leave early for The Crater. We entered The Crater at 07.00 and possibly enjoyed an hour before it got busy.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Underrated National Park.
We were pleasantly surprised with Tarangire, our travel consultant told us we would see plenty of elephants and baobab trees, but Tarangire is far more than that. The wildlife viewing is exceptional, highlights were a leopard kill, a serval hunting at night and observing lions mating. Our total mammal count was higher than we saw in the Serengeti, including some rarities. Elephant numbers are high, and those found around the Silale Swamp, are covered in an attractive red/brown mud sunscreen. Lion numbers also high. Bird species observed appeared significant although we are not specialists. We had some great sightings in the Serengeti but found Tarangire equally interesting, a very different ecosystem. The two very much compliment each other. Photographic opportunites were excellent and the quality of guiding was exceptional.
We stayed at Oliver's Camp which was excellent in every respect, we have stayed in several 'top end' camps in southern Africa in recent years and this would probably be our favourite, a truly authentic safari experience. The walking safari and night drive were both well worth doing. What makes Oliver's special is the staff at all levels, their work is a vocation, not a job. The food was great and it was a fantastic start to each day to check the camera trap to see which uninvited guests had visited camp during the night. We intend to visit Tarangire again in the future and Oliver's camp in particular.
TR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Tanzania by Mustafa Kasapoglu
The roads were really Ok. The guide was very well educated and dedicated to protect the wildlife. We did not see any single waste on the road or elsewhere. Even no smoking person. The parks are so big. You are almost lost inside.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Tanzania by JOHN WEIR
Our first visit, would equate to Botswana, high quality wildlife viewing, great camps and stunning scenery. Will be back, successful 'River Crossing' next time.