AE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good in communication but bad in service
It is quite unfortunate that I have to be the first (an only) one to be writing such a review.
My wife and I booked two tours (Kilimanjaro day trek and Ngorongoro crater day trip) in Tanzania through them. The man in-charge, Muksin, was extremely cordial - answered my innumerous queries via e-mail before we landed in Tanzania and made me feel comfortable about the whole trip. He also came a day before the Kili trek and briefed me about both trips.
However, our actual experience during the tours was far from this experience.
1. Kili trek - The guide, Nikolas (I think that's what his name was), was completely detached - seemed more like a person who's carrying our lunch packets. Moreover, he did smell strongly of alcohol - not sure whether he had it that morning or the previous night. No real 'guidance' or information about the park or the flora/fauna was provided by him. The lunch packet had stale chicken and funny-tasting yoghurt in it.
2. Ngorongoro crater - This experience was much worse that the previous one. I specifically asked whether there were group tours available with them and they said yes. However, it seemed more like they were partnering with some other local tour guys who had their separate bookings and pooling us together into the same vehicle. At the outset itself, the information provided was wrong. We were told that we will be 4 people for the safari. It turned out that there were 6. The vehicles provided were rickety and the guides/drivers seemed to care least about it. At one point there were 7 people (a cook sitting on an ice box) in the vehicle and the whole vehicle was completely cramped.
I have rated 3 stars just for the initial communication part and because I would like to believe that the Ngorongoro trip was handled by other tour guys. Else I would've rated you even lower.
I accept that we were provided a competitive rate for our trips but we would not expect a highly reputed tour agency like you to be compromising on the quality. There is a difference in providing 'less' and 'bad quality'. For example, you can provide less number of items (of good quality) in the lunch packet but you should not provide bad quality stuff.
Another piece of advise - If you do not have a group tour available, please be honest about it. Else, if you depend on other local operators to organise/manage your customers' trips and they end up like ours, it would only tarnish your reputation.
Thanks
Vipin
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Communications could have been better
All communication was by email, in English, but did not always address our queries, meaning that sometimes we felt a little unsure of our booking. In the end, all was fine, we made all connections and were met everywhere as arranged. Our first guide, John, was excellent. His ability to spot animals and knowledge about them was superb. The distances travelled were understandably large, but could have been better planned, particularly the first day. We would have been better advised to travel to Arusha/Kilimanjaro the day before the start of the safari, as we didn't arrive at our first lodge until well after dark. The accommodation was excellent everywhere except for Arusha, which was barely 'back-packer' standard. We should have stayed at the previous lodge a second night and just had an early drive to the airport.
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
That's my "Out of Africa"
Mt kenya and safari tour
It was a fantastic experience. Albert organized for me two wonderful tours: trekking on mountain Kenya and safari.
On Mt Kenya I stayed alone with the guide and the cooker. Two kind and available persons. Four days in good company, well assisted and helped by Jimmy, the guide and delicious dishes in the evening by Anthony, the cooker. Speaking with them during the trekking and in the evening was a very important cultural, pleisure and great experience. Was wonderful on the top of point Lenana, seeing the sun rise but for me is important all the context, too.
My days went on happiness with safari tour.
First of all I knew a lot of people coming from all the world. We stay toghether for 6 days, sharing the strong emotions of the safari, from the colour at the Sunrise and sunset, from the game drive, tracking various animal species and birds in Masai Mara, Nakuru ,Lake Naivash an Amboseli park. See lions resting or looking for a catch, groups of female lions doing "breakfast" with their puppies, a lot of buffalo, zebra, antilopes, gazelle, funny giraffes and nice hippos in the pool, and then elephants, white rino, crocodile and even leopard on the tree or lying down on the ground....an unforgettable experience....it was like being in the movie "out of Africa"...without Robert I didn't meet him....next time surely .
I stayed in a Masai village too, in their houses, spoken and danced their traditional jumps of warriors with them, in a context of mutual respect.
All of this in company of two nice and funny persons,ready to answer to your request and question : Gibson and Isaia, the guides ....even this was un unforgettable experience. The only pitty was not to have seen the "Great Kilimanjaro" , there was clouds on the top, a good reason to come back even if you dont' need reasons, go and fun. All these memories are always present every day...still thank to the fact I am in contact with some of these people: that's great, that's friendship.
Many many thanks, fist of all to Albert.
Stefania (Njeri in swahili)
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Good Value But With A Few Problems
We just returned from a 5D/4N safari at Tremisana Lodge. The pre-trip communication was very good. It was easy to make the reservation 6 months ago and reconfirm it just before we left. We were on another safari in South Africa before meeting up with Viva Safaris and so had asked them to arrange a hotel for us, near JNB airpirt, on the night before starting this part of our trip. Even though we provided the with our domestic flight number, they were confused and went to the international terminal instead. The accommodations at Tremisana look as pictured. The Lodge is nore rustic than you might guess. All meals were served outside and there was only one meal time. The food was okay at best but we did not go there for the food anyway. The AC in our room shorted out and we were placed in a similar room. We felt it was odd that no other people on safari stayed at Tremisana more than one night but us. They all went on to other places, mostly Marcs Treehouse. This gave the Lodge the feeling of a halfway point instead of a social place to discuss what we had seen on safari that day. The game drives were always great. We did see the Big 5. We got close up to the animals and the experience was wonderful. All game drive leaders were not the same, however. One in particular (Alias - Smiley) was very good in explaining animal behavior. The game drives always occurred on schedule and lasted 2-4 hours. Transportation that was provided to/from the lodge from JNB airport was not at all what we expected. The drive from JNB to Tremisana Lodge is very long and takes about 5 hours! The minibus used to transport us from JNB to the Lodge broke down 45 min into the trip. The water pump gave out and we had to wait at a rest stop for 3 hours before a replacement minivan came to pick us up. Then, as came time for different guests to be dropped off at different lodges, a tactic of having other mini vans stationed along the route, where you and your luggage were transferred was used. This meant that we had to change mini busses several times, each time transferring our luggage as well. This was not expected, never communicated, resulted in one persons luggage being misplaced and left most people feeling the need to keep tipping drivers. On our trip back from Tremisana to JNB we were the last ones to be picked up and found ourselves crammed ito the last row of a small minibus that held 14 passengers. Again, we had to transfer to another mini bus three times before we got back to JNB airport.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Kafue National Park by Paul Sivley
South Lwange experience couldn't have been improved. Amazing lodgings, wildlife, guides, service in camps, food, etc. Kafue is a bit behind on those matters. Better to go to Kafue in the north end of the park in Aug or Sept.
CA
Skip the rainy season
Andersson's Camp was fine, though the absence of field guide books in the common area was disappointing. The food was good, cabin comfy. The private park around it was good value for animal viewing, despite downpours. Etosha in the rainy season was disappointing at several levels. Few animals, military vehicles speeding down the main road, dismal little museum. It was hard to grasp the history of the place, like which animals are native, which are introduced. Guide seemed reticent to handle questions of context. And be forewarned: there are no meerkats in Namibia.
US
Review about Kafue National Park by David
I visited Kafue National park during the green season. I loved the remote feel of the park, but it would have been a more satisfying experience later in the dry season. The birding was very good, though, and made up for the absence of animals.
OM
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Serengeti big and full of animals..
Comparing 2015 Masai Mara experience guiding was weak. The foods in the hotels as well.
Hotel staff was tired and looked unhappy mainly.
We should repeat a few times and wait so long time to reach the desired F&B.
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Pleasant experience in Masai Mara and Nakuro
I joined a group with people from other agencies, so my review is from the overall experience and not so much of Wild Safaris. Masai Mara and Nakuro was a very positive experience, where access to animals was quite easy.
The tour guide was very experience and made sure We saw the BIG FIVE. The lodges were adequate, without luxuries buth with friendly staff.
I would recommend this tour.
JP
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
4 days safari at Masai Mara and Nakuru
Maggie is very responsive and the tour is well organized. However, I gave three stars, because the guide/driver was not so professional. I did not feel his passion to entertain guests who came to Kenya from far away countries. He sped away through many interesting scenes, and he drove slowly in barren area without any animal. One day, he came back to the hotel at 4.30 pm from full day safari, while sunset is 6.30 pm. He can be more attentive to guests and communicate with them to confirm what guests want.