MY
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Lake Manyara National Park by Vanee Sivasamy
It was very hard to see any wildlife with so many trees and the lake had also caused damage to some of the forest area.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Unreliable
After reading the majority of positive reviews about Wildebeest Safari's, I decided to book a three day safari to Masai Mara with them. Two years ago I went on a combined Kenya&Tanzania, and having had a very positive experience on the Tanzanian side and not a great one on the Kenyan side, decided to try again.
Warning bells sounded when noah tried to charge me extra for an airport pick up and drop off, when pointed out the ad on safari bookings stated it was included, he relented and said it would be complimentary.
I was aware of the group joining tour strategy, ie various tour operators book guests that get put in a pool and divided on the morning of travel to various vehicles. I was allocated to a vehicle driven by josh.Josh, although new at the job( 2 months ) was lovely, professional and very helpful in what was a difficult situation regarding accommodation. I had previously stayed at a budget camp and requested an upgrade to a mid range lodge ( Simba and Oryx) with an amount agreed on. At lunch, it was apparent this wasn't communicated. Josh called Noah, who I believed confirmed the booking.The first evening,I was dropped off there .Sadly it became apparent no booking arrangement was made. They could not make a last minute booking either as they had full occupancy. Josh had to drive back and pick me up at 8pm. He managed to make a last minute arrangement at a camp that hadn't even been discussed as a budget option.Josh attempted calling Noah repeatedly with no response(he later stated he was in Tanzania). Sadly a night without hot water after a long drive was not fun
The following night , the manager of Simba and Oryx, James, also got involved. He contacted Noah to pay the fee for the one remaining night( this was more than Noah had quoted and i believe why the booking hadn't been procured- i paid the amount quoted).
The vehicle unfortunately developed problem with the steering wheel ( rotated 180 degrees) which necessitated being transferred to a taxi in the CBD to take me to the airport.
This review is about Wildebeest safaris. Josh, James, Simba & Oryx and the Masai Mara were all wonderful.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Lake Manyara National Park by Bob Lyle
I would skip Lake Manyara and spend your time elsewhere.
US
It felt like an ad hoc freelance organization, thrown together from far away, without care.
The up front communication was relatively professional, but as soon as the trip started so did the problems. We sat in our hotel lobby in Moshi at 7am waiting for the pick up. We were the only guests in the lobby, but the driver was sitting in his van outside, instead of looking for us. The van had no markings to indicate it was from Soul of Tanzania. After about a half hour, he finally came inside and found us, and we were transferred to a safari truck in Arusha, again with no company markings. It seemed to be freelance, arranged ad hoc, and the results felt the same. Our contact at SoT, Jose, when he finally replied later that morning about our pickup issues, wasn't even apologetic. "I was informed by my operations team about the misunderstanding and I am glad that everything was sorted out."
In the truck, when we started seeing animals and asked for the binoculars that were included in our tour, we were told they were broken. Luckily we had brought one not very good pair from home, and had those to share between us. The driver found a pair at the camp that night.
Our driver drove slow on the public roads, when other trucks were all passing us (not a great feeling after a late start thanks to the pickup "misunderstanding"). On the other hand, he flew on the park roads, shaking the truck apart, with thick layers of dust coming in his open windows. We had to ask him to stop when we saw animals. On the first day we noticed that each time we asked him to stop, he would take out his phone and be playing on it until we said "ok, we can go". After asking him to be more involved, thankfully he stopped doing that and told us a bit about the animals.
At the end of a particularly long day, with a morning game drive in Manyare and then drive to the Serengeti, he couldn't find our camp. The sun set, we were exhausted, and we were still in the truck. I was trying to use google maps to help find a tented camp. Eventually we found a park staff camp, and got directions from them to find our camp. We checked in after dark, ate, and slept asap, to get up at 4am for the hot air balloon. Imagine our dismay when, the next night going to a different camp, we were lost again. We stopped at 2 very nice camps, and the 2nd camp let us use their toilet and sent one of their staff with us to show him the way. It seemed like a tiny amount of preparation could have avoided both issues, and especially after it happened the 1st time.
We saw the big 5, and a lot of of animals and beautiful sights, but we couldn't help but feel that we were an afterthought, just thrown into any car with any driver, and when the inevitable issues arose, we didn't find they had any interest in admitting mistakes or making them right. I thoroughly recommend doing a safari in Tanzania, just not with Soul of Tanzania.
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A deal is not a deal!
Early this year, we started orientating for a trip to Kenya with our family. 2 tour operators jumped out and both offered a similar trip for a similar price. We chose Pamoja because they offered the beach hotel which was our preference. Whereupon we signed the offer and paid the trip deposit.
6 weeks before departure, we got word from Pamoja that 2 hotels (including the beach hotel) had become more expensive. Whether we wanted to pay an extra USD 11,400. This made our trip no less than 50% more expensive than agreed with us in the quotation and confirmation. We were very shocked by this and it caused the necessary unrest and emotions within our family. Because of this, it was not clear whether we could still go on the trip at all because of these extra costs. After a week of almost daily contact with Pamoja, they could not do more for us than deduct USD 3200. Still a difference of USD 8200. Still too much for us. By now it was 5 weeks before departure and booking through another tour operator was not very easy anymore. In the end, we opted for cheaper hotels for which we had to pay USD 2000,- extra. Unfortunately, we later had two more discussions about finances, which completely destroyed our trust in Pamoja and the fun before departure.
Fortunately, we can look back on a great trip through Kenya. The whole trip including transport, hotels and other logistics were well arranged by Pamoja. Our guides David and Alan were very professional and nice to travel with. They showed us many beautiful things and knew a lot to tell. For this, we are very grateful to them.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
completely disorganized and made me feel unsafe
African Sermon Safaris was completely disorganized and had no idea what they were doing. As a solo traveller, I felt unsafe and like I was going to be stranded somewhere. To start, the company gave me no information about my pick up until I asked them multiple questions. They also messed up my reservation and initially put me in the wrong tour, despite me confirming multiple times which tour I wanted to do. When the driver picked me up, he drove me to a random gas station in Nairobi where we waited for the jeep to take me to Masai Mara. The jeep never came, so we went back into the city center to find it. I also assumed everyone on my tour would be staying at the same camp as me and doing the same itinerary, but that wasn't the case. I was the only one out of the people on my tour to stay at my camp. I signed up for the budget tour, so I knew the camp wouldn't be anything fancy, but the camp wasn't gated and our tents didn't even have locks on them. Everyone who worked at the camp was very friendly, but there also wasn't electricity except for 3 hours a day. Anyways, after the first two game drives, the driver thought I was going to Nakuru the next day, but I was supposed to stay in Masai Mara, so they didn't tell me until the next morning who would be taking me on my game drive, since everyone else in my tour was either going back to Nairobi or to Nakuru. It turns out they completely switched which tour company I was with and I finished the rest of the tour with Jocky Tours (which was a much better tour FYI). Except African Sermon Safaris never even told me I was being switched companies -- I only found out from talking to others on the tour. I was supposed to go back to Nairobi the next morning, and they didn't tell me who was taking me until the next morning at 8am. Also, the company never told me. The woman who ran the camp was the one who coordinated my trip back to Nairobi. Anyways, I know all the companies and camps work together, but it felt extremely disorganized and I hated being passed between drivers and companies. In total, I had 6 different drivers throughout my 4 day trip. Even on my way back to Nairobi they had me switch into a different car, which would have been fine, but then they realized they messed up and put me back in the original car. I'm surprised I wasn't stranded somewhere/didn't end up in a different city. While I still had the time of my life on the safari, I would never book with African Sermon Safaris again. It was extremely stressful and the communication was terrible.
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Disappointing.
We booked the safati two nights and three days.
Upon arrival in the morning at their offices they were disorganised, they left us stationary for an hour and a half inside the investigating judge while all the other investigating judges had already left. To avoid arriving too late for the first game, the guide suggests that we stop for lunch halfway, a pity that it was at our expense when instead it was included in the price in the booking.
During the booking phase, I specify that I want an Italian-speaking guide, they confirm availability for me. The guide was English, the emails sent to Karibu that didn't resolve the situation were useless (among other things, they asked us to send them THEIR confirmation of the Italian guide, absurd).
On the third day in the description there was to be a game before breakfast and one after breakfast. At the end of the second day, having arrived at the tented camp, the guide informs us that there would be no game on the third day because the second day had been long enough so the hours on safari were fulfilled. However, I paid for something else and that I was told at the last minute without a reply, without knowing that I would no longer be in the savannah, was very incorrect. They deprived us of two games that we had paid for!
Only positive note, the guide was very good, kind but I would NEVER recommend this company. Incorrect!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Not the best company to use
I did the 14-day Kenya and Tanzania shared group safari. I’m going to tell an entire story here, and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if TouristLine categorized me as a “difficult” client. But I do NOT recommend using this agency.
To start, my trip and safari and the food and the people were all wonderful. However, the guides do not work for TouristLine, they work as contractors through a separate company, so it’s really luck of the draw there. No matter who you book through, you could end up in a group with clients from different agencies.
My first red flag from TouristLine was that they advertise assistance with booking lodging for any days before or after your safari. When I asked for hotel recommendations, I was ignored and they asked me for my hotel information for the safari pick-up. I found a great hotel on my own and didn’t think too much of it.
The start of my trip was difficult, as my luggage remained in NYC and so I had to do some paperwork and make some extra accommodations right from the start. After the long flight and with the extra stress I just wanted to get to the hotel and shower and make a plan. I was under the impression that once I left the airport, all of the logistics of travel would be handled by TouristLine. I was incorrect. No one picked me up from the airport as advertised. When I brought this up, I was told that I needed to call once I landed. Every other time I have had an airport pick-up, they use the flight number to track the flight and I have been picked up without difficulty. Anyway, I took a $20 cab ride to my hotel.
Out of frustration (that wasn’t necessarily all TouristLine’s fault), I wrote a Day 1 review on safaribookings.com. The company reached out to me and offered to cancel and refund my safari. This would have left me without luggage, accommodations, or a safari. I took the review down and played nice, even though at this point I knew that I was going to experience some bumps in the road.
TouristLine was contacted about my luggage situation. They were able to verify when the luggage had been put onto a plane and assured me that upon arrival it would be delivered to me. At this point, I volunteered to give up a day of my tour to make sure that I had my bag before heading out to the parks. They again assured me that the bag would make it to me and we continued with our original plan. I had a free day in Nairobi so I went and bought three outfits and some basic toiletries, thinking this would be more than enough to cover me until my luggage arrived. My luggage arrived in Kenya the next day, which was the day I was set to start my safari. My hotel pick-up was at 0700 and that went smoothly. However, my pick-up time was apparently much earlier than the other tour participants because we didn’t leave until around 0900. If I would have known this, I could have swung by the airport and grabbed my bag and that would have been the end of that. This didn’t happen, but I was again told that the bag would be picked up and would meet me the next day at the first camp. I won’t get into too many details, but this back and forth went on for four additional days before I receive my luggage. While the initial luggage situation had nothing to do with TouristLine, I feel like they gave me the impression that this was high priority but in actuality they did not care at all. If I would have known that there was going to be a delay that long I would have gotten extra supplies when I was still in Nairobi.
From that point the rest of the Kenya trip went smoothly. However, crossing into Tanzania started the real problems with TouristLine. Firstly, I had specifically asked about vaccination requirements, another question that had gone unanswered. I had done research on my own, but read the requirements incorrectly. I had to pay $50 cash at the border to get my yellow fever card. I was also told that Tanzanian visas were gotten at the border, while everyone else in my van had successfully completed e-visas in advance.
Okay, so after customs, I was waiting with another traveler who had a similar itinerary as I did, although he had booked through a different company. We assumed that we were traveling to Arusha together as we had not been given individualized instructions. We waited for several hours for a bus to Arusha, but finally boarded and headed to the hotel. It was at this point that I learned that the bus and hotel were just for my friend and not for me. NO ONE WAS SENT TO PICK ME UP AT THE BORDER. If I hadn’t been with a friend using another agency, I would have been completely lost since the border and drop-off point are very chaotic.
At the hotel I got in contact with TouristLine and asked if it was possible to swap my itinerary to match my travel buddy’s, since it was just swapping the days of Serengeti and Ngororgoro. She was able to change my itinerary, however, the changes did not put me onto my friend’s tour so we went back to the original plan. You have to understand, the plans for safaris are pretty much made day to day. The tour guide seemed responsible for getting people to their next destination, which required a lot of transfer vehicles and last-minute arrangements as they are unaware of each traveler’s individual itinerary. I heard the phrase “hakuna matata” very much during this time. That is the only reason I thought the change might be able to be made. TouristLine did attempt to help me make the requested changes and I appreciated the effort even if it did not work out.
The rest of the Tanzania leg of the safari went smoothly. Even though the tour can end in Arusha or Nairobi according to the website (and TouristLine had a copy of my flight information), my tour seemed to officially end in Arusha. The hotel I stayed at helped arrange a shuttle for me to go back to Kenya to make my flight. I had to pay an additional $35.
I am giving you my entire story so that you can judge for yourself. In my opinion, the agency’s only job is logistics since the tour guides direct the safaris themselves. As I had issues with my luggage, transportation, and the border crossing, I am not 100% sure what TouristLine did for me. I’m sure there are a million things they did on their end that I am unaware of, but there are over 400 companies that arrange safaris and I am sure that they all do those same things. I would recommend trying another company if you want to avoid additional, unnecessary stress during your vacation.
FR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Disappointed
we booked for 5 days. We have safari experience. unfortunately we were disappointed. The group is too big, the cars are not comfortable, some drivers seem inexperienced and so you don't see much. And the meals are catastrophic and not generous. In short, everything was counted. and shortened safari times. After Botswana, Kenya and Tanzania, we are disappointed. especially since the Balule reserve is really not terrible with electric cables crossing the area and which takes away the charm of the real safari.
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our tour was poorly organized,never again
We booked a 4days tour with Purity to Mara and Nakuru,before the payments communication was fast and good.Afterwards on day 3 when we ended up in Naivasha and had to pack for 4hrs with no clear information from our tour guide who also seemed stressed the whole tour and couldn’t answer our questions and had to confirm everytime from the management.We contacted Purity for clarification and promised to call us back which she never did and her phone was off for the rest of the day.The guide had to ask us where we were to sleep in Nakuru since he couldn’t get any information.In short a whole day wasted just driving.Day 4 was a mess but we didn’t expect anything better,all we wanted is to get back to Nairobi,we left at 6:30am went for the game drive till11am thereafter the other guests were to be dropped somewhere to join other groups as we proceed to Nairobi,the dropoff point was not clear and had to stop again in Naivasha for almost 2hrs though lunch was offered after we complained to the guide .We reached Nairobi after 5pm very tired.Book at your own risk,never again.