SE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The Safari was absolutely amazing, but the company needs to work on some points still.
Kameraz of Africa was incredibly quick to respond to emails. They put together a package for us exactly according to our wishes. The safari was absolutely magical and the accommodations we had booked were very good. Our driver was nice and very good at his job. He knew what he was doing and where he was going. We wished he would have told us more and interacted more. He was more of a driver than a guide. He was unfortunately a lot on his phone and did not pay attention when we tried to talk to him and ask him to stop because we wanted to take pictures. We often had to stand and wait for the driver as he was late in the mornings. The first day he was late for over 1 hour.
We were very disappointed that we didn’t get informed about the new rules of the park that affected our schedule.
When we booked we were given a schedule of what our days would look like and after seeing the schedule we confirmed the booking and paid accordingly. On the evening before our last day, the driver told us that we would be heading back to Nairobi in the morning. While we thought we were going on our last game drive as it was the one we had in our schedule and booked.
Apparently, the park's fees have changed and we had not been informed about this before. So we were very disappointed. And when we took this up with the company, they just blamed "the government and park authorities". They didn't take responsibility for what they could have done for us, or apologize for not informing us. It felt like they couldn't understand our disappointment of missing a half day safari. Before this, we received a very good treatment.
The experience during the safari was so fantastic that it outweighed our vacation. Would give Kameraz of Africa a rating of 3,5.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Beatiful Park but watch out for corruption
We flew into Masai Mara and were held up for some time from entering the park as the agents said the network was down and they could not verify our pre-paid fees. When our guides refused to pay the bribe the network suddenly was back up and we were allowed entry. Almost immediately upon entry we were pulled over by a "ranger" who stated we had driven in an area where we should not have. Even though there were at least 7 other vehichles doing the same thing and one that was still stuck in mud, we were the only ones stopped. Our guide was threatened that we could lose our access to the park for the entire time we were to be there (2 days). In the end our guide paid the bribe and we were on our way. I stongly suspect that the officals at the airport contacted the ranger to extract our "Fee" since we hadn't paid the bribe at the airport.
We stayed in 3 other parks and never saw anything close to this corruption. It made us not feel safe in this park. While the park itself was amazing I would not go back to this park and would advise anyone wanting to visit Masai Mara to reconsider or just know that there will be "Fees" to pay.
CH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
They delivered the schedule but with many unapproved changes
I booked an 8 day safari. They kept the schedule but made changes without informing me or the driver.
I paid more money to secure a Landcruiser, but instead got a van in a bad state which kept breaking down throughout the trip.
Lodges were changed without informing me. After driving almost 20hours, we got to the lodge and they didn't have any reservation for me. We had to wait 1 hour until they told us where to go.
Also water was supposed to be included, i never got any. On the last day, there was no activity or food (even though on the schedule there was activities and food included)
When I complained about this, Richard responded with "I know, I'm sorry" and that was it. No compensation, no solution found. Just meant that's how it is, deal with it.
I wouldn't book with them again, but they did drive me from place to place.
CH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The guide made our experience pretty disapointing
The organization and comunication with Karibu has been great. The lodge we stayed at was also very nice and price for the services was also fair.
We are disapointed at the guide. Was not explaining anything to us unless we were asking for something specific and even then he could be wuite rude sometimes. He did not explain what was our program, what we were doing that day, what were we trying to see....nothing at all. He was in the phone all the time and not cooperative at all. Even after the lunch break all the people would be ready and waiting for him to keep going and he would be talking to others, or just chilling or on the phone.
We gave him tip just because we were suppose to and was highly recommended to do so, not from the heart. If I would go back in time I wouldnt give him a cent. He did not do a good job and he knew it, and despite that he was acting quite arrogant. So sad that such a experience was not enjoyed to the fullest.
IT
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Lake Manyara National Park by Giuseppe Pit
We saw few animals
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Ngorongoro Crater by Leo
Better roads, more touristy - little to see.
HK
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tour itself was great. However booking staff were not particularly attentive
We joined the regular safari stuff with kilimanjaro day hike. The safari process was great for the most part but occasionally the guide would start driving as we were standing on top of the seat for photos- that wasn’t a particularly nice way to get us to hurry up. Other than this I do not have any major issues with the guided safari. The booking staff however really seem to have difficulty in paying attention to our request, with us reiterating twice that we would require a twin room but we were given double bed for some parts of our itinerary. They compensated us for one meal of dinner for that mistake. Overall it’s a decent experience but I wouldn’t call it phenomenal
IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good experience at low-cost
5 days, 4 nights Safari- Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru National Park, Maasai Mara
9 Friends
Our journey began when Musa and Evans, our guides, picked us up at the airport. They were punctual, and we were promptly escorted to the office from the airport. We settled the remaining payment, albeit with a delay caused by a credit card transfer issue. Eventually, we had to withdraw cash from ATMs in Nairobi, and it was nearly 11 a.m. by the time the payment was completed.
Initially, our itinerary included a visit to Ol Pejeta Conservancy and a late arrival at Lake Nakuru. However, due to the late start and the considerable travel time to Ol Pejeta, we opted to modify the plan. Instead, we visited Lake Naivasha on Day 1 and arrived at Lake Nakuru by late evening, a change we agreed to.
Couple of things to note here, in the itinerary, the hotels mentioned were changed citing upgradation, complaints etc the moment after the payment was done. We were in the office from 7 am to 10pm and we were told about these changes only after the whole payment has been done. We were disappointed about this as we expected these changes to be informed before hand.
Then the drivers were called and the MD had told the whole itinerary in front of them so that everyone is on same page (continue reading)
Day 1 was amazing, Lake Naivasha boat ride is worth the visit. Simply put, it's a curtain raiser to what is coming ahead. Got a chance to see Giraffes, Zebras, Water bucks, Hippos very closely. We were taken to hotel close to Lake Nakuru. The hotel was amazing. 3 Triple rooms. Great food, good accommodation and everything went well.
Day 2 Lake Nakuru early in the morning. Flamingoes, Rhinos from far, few Giraffes, bunch of Baboons, few Zebras, African buffaloes. Overall 3/5 given the great experience the previous day at Lake Naivasha. Started from Nakuru late in the afternoon and had a brief stop at Narok to shop snacks. Reached Hotel Mara Ndovu by late evening. 3 triple rooms, 2 rooms close to each other and one far off. In one room, there was no power supply and no hot water in 2 rooms. After complaining repeatedly, they were given another room the next day.
Day 3: Since there was running hot water in only one room, everyone had to take bath in only washroom
"The Washrooms are bad, bad, bad"- No latches, no hot water, only few power sockets working. The food was bad, very bad.
On one day, we made to wait for more than 2 hours for dinner.
Coming to Safari, the best day in the whole safari, Maasai Mara is amazing, one should visit Masai Mara to appreciate it's beauty. No photo can translate its beauty. 5 minutes into the Safari, spotted a Cheetah. A pride of 15 lions was spotted by afternoon. Giraffes, Zebras have become very a common sightings by evening. Went to the Great Migration spot, sadly, the migration was not happening. Clicked photos at Tanzania border
Day 4: Again the struggles with taking bath continued and we are used to it by now. Game drive in Maasai Mara, this day was bit disappointing as it didn't match the previous day's experience. Didn't spot animals until afternoon. Spotted a few lions and a cheetah by evening. We asked the guides to return after 2pm to Nairobi the next day to which they disagreed. We tried contacting the office and they have become irresponsive by this time, no proper response was given. The guides wanted to start before 11am the next day( as opposed to what was discussed on the first day)
Day 5: The closing day: Started early in the morning to Masai Mara. Spotted a few lions and other animals in few hours and returned from Masai Mara to Nairobi.
Made necessary arrangements for packed food.
Special mention to Guides- Musa and Evans, very knowledgeable and have done everything possible to help us and make our experience memorable
Overall, our safari experience was good, although there were understandable hiccups along the way
IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tour operators had done good arrangements. Appreciate for all the arrangements.
Safari was good but due to some miscommunication it was not as per the expectations. Still all other arrangements were good.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Reliable and on time.
My solo hike with Dennsland was an amazing experience. I was alone with the guide, porter and cook which make it unique experience. The 5 days hike was beyond expectation. The landscape, the view and going to the summit. I unfortunately didn't get to see the sunrise due to the weather, but experiencing the summit with the frost was a first time for me. Sam the guide was supportive and encouraging me. The only this missing was the preparation for the altitude sickness and better cloth for the cold.