NZ
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Good experience
Our driver Phennie was very helpful with our questions, not only informative about the wildlife but also helped us to plan our next step of our journey once we left him.
The communication was quite good before the trip also, although we would have appreciated the option to pay online or credit card!
HK
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Had wonderful experience with the wildlife, even though we only have 3 days time Safari .
Daniel is reliable, always response promptly. He arranged a tailor made a tour for our 4 days safari with private car and guide, our tour guide was worked at the park for years very experienced. We had wonderful time.
IN
Kruger Park Travel is helpful and eager to please
The service was excellent but inter office communications were poor and therefore there was confusion and errors in the bookings . However, Kylie was more than willing to help make up for these errors. The safaris were excellent in terms of the lodge, the facilities and the food. However, the draught at Kruger was a huge shock and the websites of the park should be more informative regarding this
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Six day safari (luxury option). Pros and cons
Victor replied to my request for a quote very promptly. He arranged a pick up from Arusha airport for the following day. We discussed the details of our upcoming safari in his office in Arusha, and one day later we were on the road for our 6-day safari. After making contact with Victor, we researched a bit better and came across a few reviews about him which put us a bit off. In particular, what didn't convince us was the fact that he suggested to pay half the safari via card and the rest via cash - without giving us valid explanations as to why he preferred this option. We insisted and eventually we paid the total via card. There was a minor change in the original itinerary, which he told us about the day before departure, and which did not really change the quality of the trip. As mentioned, we were a bit concerned given the previous negative reviews (not of Care Kilimanjaro, but of other companies he managed in the past). I have to say, in the end we were actually very positively surprised. He threw in the price an extra night of accommodation (the first one in Arusha), the pick up from the airport, and upgraded us to a better hotel for two nights of the trip. He was also very kind to send one of his guys early in the morning to our hotel, two days after the safari ended, because we had realised we had forgotten our Tanzania travel guide in the car. This was really kind of him.
Our guide duirng the safari was Peter. A knowledgeable guide, but we had a few instances in which he wanted to impose his agenda over ours. In particular the first day, when he was pushing for us to go to a curio shop to buy souvenirs at the end of the first tour of Tarangire National Park. We politely declined and said we preferred to stay longer in the park, to which he told us that we wanted to teach him his job, and even accused us of manipulating the other couple that was in the car with us to agree with us on not going to the shop! We were all quite shocked by such an angry reaction. Also, at times during the trip, he was rude with my wife - to the point of telling her "I don't talk to you", more than once. Very unpleasant.
Besided these episodes and the lack of manners, he did his job and drove us safely to the Serengeti and back. Also, he was good in spotting animals during our game drives.
Overall, our experience with Care Kilimanjaro was good - in spite of all the concerns we had before the departure and despite the difficulty we all had in dealing in a relaxed way with our driver. The car was solid, and Peter solved quickly a couple of mechanic problems. The hotel choice was really excellent. The animal spotting was impressive: we saw 25 lions during the whole trip (some of them hunting), two leopards, three cheetas, a black rhino, and countless elephants. Well done Peter in spotting the cheetas and well done to me (Mr Lucky, as he called me) in spotting the second leopard in Lake Manyara Park ;-)
Victor means well but he needs to be more organised. He told us initially we would have been six people in the car. It turned out we were four (two couples). This meant more space, of course. But then why did he tell us six? On the second day a fifth person joined us. This person, and the other couple with us, also complained about the conflicting info we all received about the group. This is not a major problem, but makes people a bit suspicious and shows that the tour operator is trying to squeeze in different travellers with diferent packages into a single car. So in brief he should be more transparent and more organised. Also, the whole cash Vs credit card payment was confusing. One of our fellow travelers, who joined us for one day only, had to handle cash given to her by Victor to our driver, and then to another driver later in the day. She seemed (and rightly so!) quite stressed having to carry around about 900$ in her purse. This was, obviously, unprofessional of Victor.
Again, more tansparency is needed, so that people who have spent quite a lot of money on a safari trip can relax and just enjoy the scenery, istead of having to deal with all these issues.
KW
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very well worth it. The tour guide and the cook were the best. Please ask for Sam and Kevin
I saw any animal and every animal possible. Sam picked me up and I give it to James the owner, he made sure that Sam was at the airport and Sam took me along for the trip. Sam was very informative and James explained the trip.
Sam made sure that he did everything to get me to the places that I needed to go. He was cordial, polite and helpful. He knew the feeding hours and we saw it all. Sam was amazing.
Kevin was a great cook. Loved the food. Loved the hospitality. Wonderful.
The coordination was a little rough. We were told that we would start on the 1st early and arrive back in the evening on the 3rd. However, we lost a half a day picking up another couple at the airport. We also had to have them back at the airport at 1430 so I lost nearly a half a day on the tour. Furthermore, it takes about 1.5 hours to get into each park. The paperwork should have been completed sooner to accommodate the trip.
I would definitely recommend the tour. The tour guide was a little rushed, but did all he could to ensure a phenomenal trip. If they work out those details it will be great.
Also, bring a flashlight and some sweats. The first site was 7 degrees Celsius and I nearly wasn't prepared.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The experience was adventurous and knowledgeable
Koochi Adventures handles my safaris with promptness and it was such an adventure touring Masaai Mara with them. The staff are well informed and it was great to learn a lot I didn't know about my own country. I would recommend them to any traveller out there planning their safaris to Masaai Mara.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome experience at Masai Mara and Amboseli
I had my awesome safari in Kenya with this company and I enjoyed from airport transfer to the days in the wild. I had an awesome driver guide who had knowledge about the animals and attractions. This company made my visit to Kenya enjoyable and worthy.
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
FR
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good but not exceptional experience.
The communications were good, the service also. All the people in the camp were very kind. However, I could not help being a little bit disappointed by the safari tours, due to a relative scarcity of animals, especially the lack of lions.
IN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good timely and enjoyable trip
The guide in the safari tour to Masai Mara was knowledgeable about the place. Stay in Masai Mara camp could be improved as there was no electricity throughout the night. Reached back Nairobi safely and on time. Nice journey.