ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Ripped-off consumers
For us this trip was very important, we have a job with normal salary and Kenya and Tanzania is very expensive for us.. We were going saving enough time.
The first day we pay all money, 3000$ for 16 days and half. Land Rover Defender with roof tent and camping equipment.
We take the vehicle in Nairobi.
They gave us the damaged vehicle.
We warn the same day that the turbo charger was not working.
For the highway the car was going very very slowly.
Neither the air conditioning was going. We were in time of great heat and we spent it very badly.
The first day in Ngare Ndare there came a few mechanics to be looked of arranging it, but not at all.
We could come to Samburu but they were following the problems.
In Nakuru one day we were in two workshops and on the following day in three. Was fustrating….
Finally, after several discussions, Winny said us that she was obtaining a van for take us to Masai Mara and there they would bring to us the Defender two days later, arranged. Windy say : Am paying for 3 days from today.and paying the driver.You will only pay for fuel and park fee for the car.
They brought to us a horrible van, without air, without usb to load mobiles and cameras, with the most uncomfortable seats, with the battered lights, and the driver with expired license as said to us a police officer who stopped us on the following day.
Well, the next day to arrive to Mara suprise !! the driver say us that he must to go away the next day, because his chief had not given him any more money.
We call to flight and safaris and Windy did not make sure us either that they were going to bring to us the vehicle.
We turned to Nairobi ready to speak with Windy.
And when we think that they returned all money because we had problems with the vehicle since the first day… no, they only return us a part..
Incredible… We pay for 3 days land rover damaged, 3 days 140 $ day for a horrible van..150$ for a cross border documentation when we dont cross any border, and one night at Mara Sidai camp.
Well, after that, we had other problems because we were not finding other companies that were renting a car to us, there were holidays, etc, etc… but this is another history, jajajaja
I have whatsapps, pictures, bills, etc…
Our experience was very very bad.
CA
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tammy helped me plan an amazing 3 week trip to South Africa for 9 travellers.
Tammy replied quickly and professionaly to all my enquiries from Canada as this complicated trip evolved. She gave excellent advice regarding choosing accommodations and safaris. There was not a single hitch and we all have had a trip of a lifetime. Thanks, Tammy
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent Morning Tour with Cruzeiro
Very well organised, easy online booking process with Claudia and Suzanne. Price included hotel pick up and driver details were given in advance. Fanuel Maina was an excellent guide and he helped us see a lot of animals on the park with some great memories.
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent safari! Highly recommended.
In February we made a safari with Makasa. From the beginning till the end it was fantastic. The safari itself, but also the service, the equipment, the communication and the organisation were beyond our expectations. In planning the trip they were very sensitive to our expectations and possibilities. Our guide Frederick taught us a lot about the annimals and the ecosystem and he managed the trip in an excellent way, so we have tremendously enjoyed the wildlife.
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent safari, nice guide and wonderful experience
The staff at Furahia are wonderful. They were recommended to me by a friend and did not disappoint. The driver guide was knowledgeable and easy going. He knew when to explain and also when not to be too present. He was very nice and a good travel companion during our safari.
Where Furahia stood out was at problem solving. On encountering the unexpected, it really matters what company you chose. Furahia was excellent at solving problems that we encountered during our safari and at Zanzibar. They were easily contacted, good in communication and they solved our problems right away.
I would definitely recommend Furahia as your safari organiser.
CZ
We had the best driver&hunter Bernard ever!
We spent 3 days in Safari with our private driver Bernard and it was incredible! We have seen a lots of kinds of animals, hunting animals, eating animals, cubs with mums, elephants, hyppos, giraffes, lions, cheetas, gepards, monkeys, crocodiles, zebras, antilops and more and more animals. Bernard was great, wasn't lazy to find the best places to hunt the best pics, his driving skills were perfect, always on time, friendly, talkative! Need come back one day! Awesome and unforgottable experience. Thank you so much!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Think Twice Before You Book with Shedluck
It is very disappointing when companies do not act fairly. Unfortunately, Shedluck Tours has not behaved fairly.
For our very first trip to Africa we signed up to volunteer with a medical team. We fundraised and solicited donations of much-needed medical supplies to assist with surgeries in remote Migori. Because the journey is so very long, we wanted to extend our stay beyond the volunteer stint and we chose Shedluck Tours for the additional days.
Unfortunately, despite taking all necessary precautions, I became very ill with GI symptoms, requiring visits to two separate clinics. For medically necessary reasons and on the advice of the Kenyan physician, we were forced to cut our visit short and return home. Prior to becoming ill, we had even more bad luck. Heavy rains led to numerous road washouts and traffic jams (terrible, even by Kenyan standards) caused hours-long detours, meaning that we missed out on many opportunities outlined in the tour itinerary.
In country, we were too sick to hammer out the details of a refund. Once home, we realized that Shedluck Tours was not planning to return any of our fee other than a very small portion designated for a visit to a village, despite the fact that we had said on more than one occasion that we did not want to visit this village.
By returning early, we did not venture to Amboseli, a remote area without medical facilities. We did not precipitate a medical emergency that would have endangered my health, nor did we expose staff or guests at the Amboseli Lodge to unnecessary risk. Instead, we made the ethical and medically necessary decision to cut our visit short.
Despite the fact that we did not receive all services outlined in the itinerary due to weather, we did not ask for a refund from Shedluck for those missed opportunities because that would not be fair. These were circumstances beyond everyone's control and they continued to provide services. It seems entirely fair, however, to request a refund for services they did not provide, to share the burden of a trip that was significantly altered and shortened. Unfortunately, they have chosen to ignore my request and have cut off communication.
As to the services they provided, they were basic. I have learned the hard way that there are drivers and there are guides. After assisting with surgeries, the volunteer medical stint included a two-day safari in the Maasai Mara. That company, Frate Tours, provided honest-to-goodness GUIDES. They knew the unmarked roads of the Mara like the backs of their hands. They were as rapt as we were by the animals. They extended our drives to provide us with the best possible experience. They constantly consulted each other and other guides to locate the best sightings. They provided interesting information about the animals and the area. Frate Tours truly went the extra mile. I cannot recommend them highly enough.
In contrast, Shedluck Tours provided a driver. He was a nice young man and we cut him a lot of slack because he confessed to being new, but the difference was stark and obvious from the beginning. He was late to pick up up from the lodge on our first and only day of safari, but we had arrived early (bags all packed) because we had been trained by Frate Tour guides, who were always prompt. We were finally delivered just a few miles down the road to the boat launch. Our driver did not accompany us on the ride and we were expected to tip the boat guide, even though the itinerary did not specify that our driver would not be our guide. After the boat ride, we ate a pre-packed lunch. Instructions on the box prominently advised storage in a cooler to preserve freshness. Our boxes were stored on the front seat.
Little disappointments continued to pile up. During our one and only game drive, our driver did not yield to animals in the park. Instead, he drove impatiently, even when animals were in the road, causing them to flee. Our guide from Frate Tours always yielded; "They have the right!" he said, all smiles. When we came upon a group of white rhinoceros, our driver did not automatically turn around to follow respectfully when the animals passed us. Instead, he hung back and we watched them walk away from us. Frate Tours, would have repositioned us to get a better look while still maintaining a respectful distance. Our driver also never volunteered information about the animals or the location, even though I am sure he had a lot to give.
Most troubling of all, however, was that when I became very ill, our driver was not on-site. He was not on-site because Shedluck Tours had failed to determine ahead of time that our lodging did not provide any quarters for drivers, despite the fact that they had rooms available. As a result, our driver had to stay in town, some distance away. When notified that I was very ill, he did not show up until hours later. A truly conscientious driver would have returned to the lodge immediately to assess the situation and offer assistance.
As I said, our driver was a nice young man who was obviously new to the job. I fault the tour operator for not proactively addressing some of these issues (e.g., providing a cooler for lunches) and I especially fault the owner for not doing homework ahead of time regarding the the lack of lodging for drivers.
We took a big risk by signing up with Shedluck Tours because they have virtually no presence on TripAdvisor or any other review sites. They were recommended by another volunteer and the pre-trip communications were all very prompt. In the aftermath of my illness, they have cut off all communications, hoping that I will just go away and give up.
To our relief and complete surprise, we received a refund from United Airlines of the fee levied for changing our tickets, because they recognized that circumstances were beyond our control. They chose not to penalize us for making the right decision. A mega-corporation that receives hundreds of such requests on a daily basis was able to process our refund request within four days. Not Shedluck Tours. In fact, they have yet to process the meager refund that they promised.
If you read my other reviews on TripAdvisor, you will notice that I try to accentuate the positive. I try to be fair and look at the big picture, even if the experience is not 100% perfect. This will be my first truly negative review and it makes me sad. In this instance, however, too many little things add up to a bigger failure. We did not receive excellent service or fair treatment from Shedluck Tours so I urge you to consider carefully before you arrange a trip with them.
AE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic
Communication was excellent ,the services were commandable and the safari tour was very nice. I enjoyed to the maximum . I wanna come again.
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful safari with amazing guide
We did a lodge safari in January. It was our first safari so we didn't know what to expect. We had such a good time. We were very lucky to see lion hunting and we saw so many big herds of buffalos, zebras and other animals. Our guide Edward was really good. He took good care of us and was very patient when we wanted to stay with the animals for a long time. My son just couldn't get enough of it! About the lodges. We liked them all, but especially Tortilis in Serengeti was so amazing. Great place to stay and really good service. All in all, we had an amazing week and we would love to come back sometime. Thanks Shemeji!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Awesomenesss
Communication was great. Robert was there to immediately answer any of my questions. Bonface, James, and Arony were great tour guides. Great personalities and always went above and beyond to make sure my experience was smooth.