20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
A HUGE disappointment. Don't waste your money on this tour!
While looking in to this tour I was excited about the advertised "We shall be on the lookout for the endangered Sable Antelope, Elephants, Giraffe, maybe Leopard, civet cat, monkeys, shrews."Unfortunately this was far from reality of the situation. After further talk with locals we realized that there have not really been animals in the park for over 5 years or more. I felt like I was taken advantage of with this "tour" for $300 USD for two people.
The planned itinerary: "At the Shimba Hills National Reserve proceed for a morning game viewing drive. We shall be on the lookout for the endangered Sable Antelope, Elephants, Giraffe, maybe Leopard, civet cat, monkeys, shrews. For the bird watchers, more that 100 bird species have been recorded including Ostrich, Eagle, African Hawk and Honey Guide. We shall further explore the Shimba hills on foot where accompanied by our guide, we shall walk on the Shedrick Falls on a 1/2 hour hike as we marvel at the water cascade. We shall later stop for lunch at the Shimba lodge where we may have an option to take a nature walk around the tree lodge or simply enjoy the surrounding views from the balconies of the lodge."
What actually happened:
We were picked up on time by our kind guide Ali. He was very nice and did a wonderful job all day. He was basically the highlight of this poor tour. The morning game drive was very telling of the lack of animals present in Shimba Hills. Once entering the park we drove for about an hour to the walking destination and literally saw only warthogs. No monkeys, antelope, or even birds really. Our driver pulled over because he thought he saw a chameleon, thats how desperate he was to find animals for us to see. This was the first sign that the day was not going to go as planned.
Once we arrived to the walking destination, we were talked to by the Park Rangers and informed that this was was very strenuous walk and be prepared to be walking for about 2 hours (not 1/2 hour as advertised). The walk was beautiful and scenic of trees and water, but of no animals. Also, as a tour company, you should be more upfront with your customers of the type of walk that is going to happen. There were so many stairs and even walking on small slippery stones up a hill at one point. While this was fine for my husband and I, we had no idea that this was the type of activity that we should have expected, not to mention the vast difference in walking time.
Then on to the lunch destination. Another huge red flag in the state of Shimba Hills. Once arriving to Shimba Lodge we were met with no electricity in the ENTIRE lodge. While this was not a huge deal, when it came time to pay it was. My husband had to walk out of the lodge and hope to get service to pay the pill. The only person working at the Lodge was our waiter and he had informed us that there were no other guests at the Lodge at all. There were no other people in the restaurant either. It was literally silent. It was honestly creepy, and not the place I'd like to have lunch on a tour. The food was deceit, but not great.
We decided to cut our "tour" short after lunch. It made more sense to us to go enjoy the beach that drive around in an EMPTY park for another few hours. I was honestly so incredibly disappointed in this "safari." I feel as though I was scammed. We were promised a lot in the description of the tour and the experience fell very short. There were no animals. Literally we saw more monkeys and birds outside the park than in. I feel you as a company should EXTREMELY revise the description of this tour as well as the price. I was lead to believe by your website and Lilian that this tour would be something very different that what it actually is.
As someone that has been to many safaris/tours in Kenya, this was by far the WORSE experience. Sadly because of this experience I will not be using this tour company again as well as warning my friends. What a waste of $300 USD as well as a full day of my vacation.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great Safari but Problematic Management
The safari, in and of itself, was great. Our accommodations were good, our driver/guide George was fantastic, and the parks were unbelievable. The only negative about the safari itself was there was too much driving -- no matter what company you use you should confirm driving times before signing up.
My gripe is with how our safari was managed:
1 -- The order of parks that we visited was switched last minute and without my approval. I found this out after I sat down in the jeep on the first day. This is totally unacceptable. James and I even discussed this option months before and decided against it. This is bordering on breach of contract.
2 -- James's communication left something to be desired. At first, James was super prompt, always responding within a day. As we closed in on the trip, he took multiple days to reply to different questions, and when I asked the name of our driver he didn't bother replying. This all left me sketched out and worried that we were being scammed.
There's too many safari operators out there to bother with a company like this one...
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Lake Manyara National Park by Shannon
Limited wildlife viewing. If you are only in Tanzania one day, this might be ok for a day trip, but as far as a safari destination, I’d go for the bigger parks.
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Just dubious, corrupt u. unorganized.
A good safari with a very good guide ..... But I can not understand why twice the accommodation is changed, I have to pay more and then get a lodge whose standard is lower than the other. Very bad organization and not even an apology. I will not recommend this organizer.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Stressful experience
In the beginning the communication was very good. But on asking for confirmation of hotel packages as agreed, there were mistakes. Then again mistakes in the invoicing. I had to correct them. Then wrong dates & information on vouchers sent. Which I had to request correct on. Had to chase them to confirm bookings with other suppliers of our trip that they were handling. All payments were supposed to be in USD. But it changed & half the payments were then requested in ZAR. Paid our deposits & then after our final payments, the company stopped communications. Even after many phone calls & emails, requesting information & corrections, still nothing! Two weeks before the trip we had not received any confirmations or information from them for our South African part of the trip. A week before leaving, I had to contact ALL the suppliers directly for confirmations, addresses & departure information . Extremely stressful not knowing if everthing had been pre paid or even booked, when we boarded our flights from London to South Africa. A total shambles!!
AE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Low capacity to provide good services
This tour company is misleading and does not stand upto the commitments it’s promised.
They portray an incorrect picture inspite of knowing client expectations and mislead them by lies. They do not have capacity of good and professional services. Once you’ve paid and are on the tour they do not respond to any of your concerns. They portray a different picture and provide sub standard services.
Also they withhold information which comes as a surprise later on the tour and which is disappointing while you are there and stressful as well.
It’s a marketing gimmick and if you do go ahead with them still make sure to put everything on paper. Example
Food
Conveyance
Itinerary
Professional guide
Accommodation expectations
Be clear about everything they don’t stand up to their commitments.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
VERY LATE!!
We were told to arrive by 6.30 which we did but we ended up leaving 2 HOURS later!. Honestly that was not at all interesting. Waiting for two hours just because people are late.
Bonfire should have a 30minute caveat/rule.
You arrive later than 30min you forfeit your trip.
Its unfair and RUDE to keep 15 people waiting for 2hours for 1 person.
Very dissapointing. 2stars because of this bad experience.
PH
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Quote was different with the actual service
The quotation says free bottled mineral water but I did not receive any bottled water during meals and on game drives. Also, it says there will be a hotel pick up and drop-off which didn't happen as well. When I booked, I already mentioned the hotel that I am staying and Peter said he will pick me up. The night before the safari, he emailed and said he can't pick me up because my hotel is far which is unfair because when I reserved a slot, I already mentioned the hotel name. He should have told me when I reserved that he can't pick me. Lastly, they are using a van so it's 3-2-3, a total of eight plus a seat beside the driver which make it really cramped. I noticed the other groups have 2-2-2 plus one beside the driver which make it an ideal set-up.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Beware of what you are getting into!
We were very disappointed in this tour. Starting out with being picked up late at the airport. We arrived in the pouring rain with no cell phone service and the driver was 15 minutes late in picking us up, which would not have been a big deal if we had a way of getting ahold of someone to see if they were coming or had forgotten us.
Secondly, the driver was drunk from the impression I got. He drove those roads at 120kph which I finally had to tell him to slow down. These are dirt/ clay roads! There was a man on a bicycle carrying long wooden sticks which the driver hit as he drove by the man! I know I'm in a different country but is this a normal occurrence? He proceeded to tell us we would be in the car for 6 hours...? Now, I'm confused because the itinerary I was sent said:
"Transfer to Sigunga village where you will take a boat to Mahale mountain national park. Have a picnic lunch at Sigunga village before boating to Mahale. The boat will take approximately 3 to 4 hours"
As we drove at top speeds we came to a village where we were told he had forgotten dinner and would be right back. 30 minutes later he returns with a chicken and throws him in the back of the car. After driving for 3 hours I ask about lunch because it's now 3pm. He hands me a box lunch which was not vegetarian like I had said several times that I was. I could not eat! I had a banana. At 630pm we arrive at this boat in the middle of nowhere. There is 1 man waiting to take us to Mahale. This is scary for 2 women traveling alone, especially with my sister who has anxiety. If we had been informed ahead of time what was going to be going on we would have felt more comfortable. Especially since it took 7+ hours to get there when we were thinking it was a 3hr boat ride. We get on the boat and it is now getting dark. I'm in a strange place in the middle of this huge lake on this boat not knowing where we are going. We arrive at dark, can not see anything. We ate dinner at 9pm! This is not acceptable, especially since we had no lunch!
If it wasn't for our guide Huessein it would have been a horrible experience. Luckily he made it amazing for us.
Last thing, when we left and stayed in Kigoma town, we were dropped at the hotel with NO information. Nothing about lunch, dinner or the museum tour. Food was terrible. The staff didn't understand what I was talking about. So I messaged Joshua with whom I had been speaking with, very little information again. I got ahold of the driver to ask him about the museum and he said Oh, we will go tomorrow before the airport. Again, he could not tell me how far the airport was and said he would pick us up at 8 for the tour to the museum. He then said the airport was 2 hours away. I told him we left at 1230. The next morning after our tour we realized the airport was 5 minutes from us! We spent 3 hrs at that little airport waiting.
I just don't understand why the itinerary I received was not followed nor was I ever given correct information. Mahale was such a special place and I would love to return. I'm not trying to be mean, I just want to inform anyone traveling here the situation.
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Stressful experience for our 6 th Safari to Tanzania as Peter Malinda had clearly got serious financ
We. Travelled with two friends for their 1st and our 6th Safari in Tanzania. Peter Malinda had been an excellent guide with our previous Safari Company and we decided to support his company. All was well on arrival but we discussed a visit to Arusha National Park whist staying for our first day in Dilutu Lodge Arusha, this did not occur.Travel to Ngorongoro plus a Crater tour the following day was fine.
When we reached the gate to the Serengeti we discovered Peter had not payed the Park fees. After two hours of his failure to transfer payments to the Park Authories we paid over 500 USD by Visa. The next two days were only half day Safari trips asPeter wished to visit a tented lodge he. Had set up near te Seroners river, which was having problems.On our return trip to Manyara he stopped at Serengeti Airport as we found our payment had only covered one day Park fees and a further 1000 USD was required to cover the remaining two days. 6 hours of stress at the airport, including the attendance of the Police finally found Peter arranging money transfer to the Parh Authorities. He then drove like a man possessed to the Serengeti gate where we were told we could not cross the Ngorongoro Conservation Area until a further 350USD was found. After one hour Peter was unable to raise this money so we paid again by Visa. We arrived at Manyara in the dark at 8.30pm instead of the planned 1.00 pm. We had eaten nothing from breakfast. That mornings d missed the afternoon Manyara game drive.
The following day we returned to Diluti Lodge.
Peter then failed to pick us up at the agreed time and we had to pay a further 100 USD fora taxi to the airport.
Peter Malinda had received full payment for all hotels and Park Fees etc. In early March.He told us he would pay back the money we spent to the Parks but this has not occurred.
This trip became a disaster, anxiety inducing experience from what seemed to us a fraudulent company having clearly used a part of our payment for other than the arrangements for our Safari.