ES
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
nice trip with good guides, but we feel scammed by the operator
With a group of 4 people we hired this operator to take us on a 2-day trip to Ruaha NP and on a 3-day-hike through Udzungwa Mounain NP. Although it was a good trip overall, with knowledgeable and friendly guides, we feel scammed by the operator.
First thing we learned on meeting with the tour organizer was, that he had "forgotten" about a camping fee at Udzunga, so he asked 300 USD extra from us. We settled on paying half of this amount. On arrival to Udzunga NP it turned out, that entrance fees had not been paid (because of "network problems"). The operator asked us to please pay the fee (420 USD), he would pay us back via paypal. A few days later, same story: A car was supposed to take us back to Dar, but the driver had not been paid. We had a plane to catch, so another 200 USD went from our hands. We never recieved the promised refunds, even though I contacted the company repeatedly and presented the receipts of the extra bills paid by us.
Apart from the financial damage, these incidents put us and our guides into awkward situations and left us with a bad taste. So, unfortunately, even though we were happy with our guides and the overall experience, I cannot recommend this tour operator.
DE
Perfect Kilimanjaro experience
My sister and me, we've just been at the top of Kilimanjaro a few days ago! It was just awesome!
We booked our 7 day Lemosho Route with Bushkomba and they work together with KiliTwende.
We were picked up by our crew at our hotel. Everything was well organised!
Jerry and Sadi were the best guides! They guided us safely to the top and also on all other passages.
They were very considerate and very responsive to our needs. When we felt sick or really tired, they even helped us carrying our backpacks!
For every small problem, they had an idea how to solve it!
Also they tought us a lot about the environment and we learned some Swahili from them!
Special thanks also to Goodluck for carrying our emergency oxygen to the top!
We appreciated the very delicious food, the good service, morning-wake-up tea, Welcome-Drink after a hiking day, a private toilet, hot water bottles in the evening and carrying our luggages, tents and all the rest from camp to camp!
There was really nothing to complain about!
We highly recommend doing your Kilimanjaro adventure with KiliTwende!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Seamless Superb Safari Experience
With so many companies to choose from it’s hard to know who to go with - I can highly recommend working with Ozon to find a tailored trip to suit your needs
Booking is done via email and WhatsApp communications, and you have a nicely designed PDF that details your full itinerary to help you make amendments and tailor your holiday. Mr Yohana was very quick to respond and always on hand to provide answers to questions. The booking experience was seamless. Whilst it might feel strange booking your holiday without speaking to anyone - the Ozon team was more than happy to send through all the confirmations for our accomodation, which gave me reassurance they were a legitimate outfit.
We were assigned a lovely smiley driver called Ayonaise as our guide who was kind and accommodating to my retired mother (67yrs), and helped enormously by taking the stress out of making decisions by making everything simple and easy. He has a great relationship with the other Safari guides as well could tell he was asking and sharing information as to where to find the animals in each of the parks we went to.
The accomodation surpassed our expectations - we opted for mid-range but I would say Kon Tiki Lodge in the middle of the Serengeti was one of the best rented camps we’ve stayed in. Farm of Dreams was a base for two nights with a more hotel type vibe and both offered excellent buffet style catering for the all-inclusive meals.
The reviews are correct - this is a great, good value choice for a top budget / mid range safari holiday.
Best wishes on your Tanzanian Adventure!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Best travel planners in Kenya
Planning my trip with Adven was amazing. They made my experience very easy. They planned everything from the start to finish,I only had to pay and sit back and enjoy my trip.
And their prices were fairly good as well
AR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Outstanding service
We traveled through Kenya and Tanzania with Camptrek Safaris and the experience was superlative.
Starting with Lucy, who helped us with all our inquiries before the trip and managed to fulfill all our needs, booking the best lodges and camps. Then Robert and Richard, the tour guides did an amazing job and managed to drive us through all the national parks where we ended up seeing all type of animals. Also, they were friendly and had a great attitude during the days we spent, something I really appreciate.
It was a wonderful experience from the booking until we arrived back to Argentina and I strongly recommend the company for private and personalized tours.
Juli
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Abdul was an excellent guide accommodating, friendly and knowledgeable
Abdul was an excellent guide—accommodating, friendly, kind, respectful, and responsible. He communicated well with his fellow guides, both face-to-face and over the radio, ensuring we were always in the right place at the right time. Thanks to his expertise, we found ourselves in the middle of wildebeests and zebras, witnessed the birth of a zebra, and even helped guide a lost mongoose baby and a wildebeest calf back to their families. He was always agreeable to early starts and never rushed us at the end of the day. Throughout the trip, he prioritized our comfort and made the experience truly memorable.
CN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unprofessional and unclear charges
1. Unprofessional
The deposit is paid by credit card, there is an additional 3% processing fee, because the account manager did not calculate the correct price, so the account manager kept asking us if we paid less. The deposit of 2530 yuan requires us to pay 2606, the credit card charge is calculated according to 2606, and the handling fee of 78.18 was charged, and we actually received 2527.82, we did not pay less, but the account manager kept saying that the amount was not right, and I still did not admit that I had a problem with the calculation after explaining, and finally we paid 2 dollars before it was over.
2. The charges are not clear
We asked for a receipt for the park tickets, but the account manager never provided them, and we were not sure if the tickets were purchased normally, or the true price of the tickets. Ngorongoro Crater charged nearly $600 for tickets and was unable to provide receipts.
3. The guide is not devoted.
The vehicle got stuck in the mud and forgot to bring lunch, which we can all accept. When we made it clear that we wanted to see such and such an animal, the guide only said that it was a matter of luck, which meant that we could not see the animal, and it was our bad luck. So what's the point of a guide? Just driving? So why do we have to tip £10 per person per day when we have already paid the fare, and who needs to tip when taking a taxi? Ngorongoro Crater made it clear that the park was small and only needed 3-4 hours to end that day, and on the day we paid 600 tickets + 300 fares and only took us on a half-day tour, is it reasonable? Also, assuming that Crater Park is really small, why can't we take us to the rest of the park when we have already bought tickets for Ngorongoro? In the end, the actual situation was that we visited Ngorongoro Crater for a day and did not go to some areas, and the guide gave instructions that there were very few people in that part and there was no need to go.
4. High price Low cost performance
Some of the hotels were booked by ourselves, as it was more expensive to book through a travel agent.
5. Vague answers to questions
When I ask questions about orders, receipts, or charges, I am vague and unclear about what I know. In particular, some additional charges are not notified in advance, and it takes many inquiries to say that they need to be charged. Sometimes the reply to messages in the group is very slow and cannot be contacted, but at this time, when you send other irrelevant messages in the group, you will reply quickly.
Some suggestions: If you want to give some souvenirs, please provide high-quality products. We didn't bring back the bags,the quality is very poor, and the hardware is very sharp, scratching the hand. Nice blankets make a good gift.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Exploring the wild beauty of samburu with Rozsella Africa Safaris
My safari to Samburu national reserve with Rozsella Africa Safaris was an unforgettable adventure, perfectly blending wildlife, culture and luxury. From thrilling game drives where we spotted the samburu special five, majestic elephants and elusive big cats to an immersion visit with the samburu people, every moment was magical. The experts (Isaac) guides deep knowledge enriched our experience while our stay at Elephant Bedroom Camp, nestled along the Ewaso Nyiro River, offered both comfort and breathtaking views. Rozsella Africa Safaris handled every detail seamlessly, ensuring a hassle-free, enriching journey. For anyone seeking an authentic, exclusive safari, samburu with Rozsella Africa Safari is a must!
PL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic operator!
I recently had the pleasure of going on a 6-day safari with a fantastic group of 8 people, and I must say, it was an unforgettable experience! Our organizer(Kenya Julius Thuvi Safaris (JTS)
Contact details:+254705111563) did an exceptional job ensuring that everything was perfectly arranged for our adventure in the wild.
From the moment we embarked on our journey, we were greeted with enthusiasm from our drivers, who were not only skilled navigators but also passionate wildlife experts. They made it their mission to help us spot the “Big Five” and other fascinating animals. Their dedication was evident; each day, they shared extensive knowledge about the creatures we encountered, enhancing our experience with interesting facts and stories.
The choice of accommodations throughout the safari was impressively flexible, allowing us to tailor our experience to our preferences. Whether we wanted to stay in luxurious lodges or opt for more rustic camps, our organizer was accommodating, making sure everyone was comfortable and satisfied with their lodging.
Overall, the safari exceeded our expectations. It was a well-coordinated journey filled with incredible wildlife sightings and enriching information. I highly recommend this safari organizer (Julius Thuvi ) anyone looking to explore nature and create lasting memories. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a first-timer, this experience promises to be nothing short of spectacular!
BE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Perfect way to discover Kenya in a few days!
Doshasha made my planning very easy and were very responsive, Grace was a superstar answering all my questions. The trip was great & the guide/driver could have not been better, one of the best Safaris I have ever done!