US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Not the best experience
I was on a tour with Wild Trek in August 2017.
Our mini van was in bad shape. Each time the driver stopped in the middle of the mara triangle, I had to say a small prayer that the van would start again, so that we would not be stuck in the middle of the jungle. Finally, the van broke down on the way to the airport, luckily the driver arranged for a replacement van in good time. The vehicle send to take us to the airport was surprisingly better than the one given to us.
Secondly, I felt a lot cheated on the hotels arranged for us. They gave us an itinerary and prices based on certain hotels, once we confirmed the itinerary, they gave us lower rates hotels (as the ones originally listed was not available), but did not adjust the cost of the tour accordingly. So I felt quite cheated on the cost.
They did not specify in the original itinerary whether included a minivan or four wheeler, we ended up with a horrible old minivan. Only the final voucher stated that we would be given a minivan, so in a way I felt cheated in that respect too.
Our driver / guide was not the best either. He would rather we not bother him with questions, or speak to him. At times, he ignored are questions about wildlife. Although, we gave him a good tip at the end of the trip, he asked for more. I thought tips were voluntary contributions, he demanded more, which irritated me. Firstly, I did not find him to be up to the mark, but still tipped me a good amount as it is customary, then when he demanded more, it left a bad taste about the tour and the driver.
The guide just kept driving aimlessly in masai mara, was hardly interested in showing us any wildlife. He discouraged us from opting for an early morning gaming.
Another incident, the driver refused to do anything outside the itinerary, however on the second day, he asked us to visit the amboseli village and asked us to donate $100 to the village. We didn't check to see if it was in the itinerary and went along with the guide, but that was the only thing he did outside the itinerary, he refused to do anything else outside the itinerary. The visit to the village was a rip off.
Our tour was booked at wild trek through a local travel agent in India, I partly blame the local travel agent for not ensuring that the price difference of the savings was not given back to us. The local agent should have been transparent to us with regard to pricing.
Regardless, the issues with minivan and guide were the services of wild trek safaris.
Overall I wouldn't really recommend wild trek tours, and if you do opt for it, ensure that they are transparent on costs and services availed.
I feel as though my whole experience in Masai Mara would have been different if a) we had a good guide b) better vehicle, and c) the hotels as per our original itinerary.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent Guide, Poor Administrative Services & Communication
I booked a five-day safari tour of Northern Tanzania through Zara Tours in early August. The tour itself was an incredible experience. Our guide, Regan, was knowledgeable, and we learned a lot of about the animals living in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater.
Unfortunately, there was some poor communication with the administrative staff of Zara Tours. We booked our trip before June 30, 2017 and at the time there was a promotional deal going on which stated that if were booked before 6/30/2017, our airport transfers would be included our package. The salesperson we were communicating with, Kitondo, also confirmed this via email. I also doubled checked when we arrived to the Springlands Hotel with a female staffer that our airport transfers were included. She said yes. After we completed our safari tour, we came back to the Springlands Hotel and I once again confirmed the night before our departure with another female staffer that our airport transfer the next day was included in the package we purchased. She said yes. The morning of our departure, there was a male staffer at the front desk who helped us check out of the hotel. He told us that we owed $60 USD for the previous airport transfer (from airport to hotel) and we would have to pay an additional $60 USD if we wanted to be driven to the airport. We tried to explain to him that the package with bought included airport transfers. He said Kitondo had told him it wasn't included. He allegedly called Kitondo and spoke in Swahili with her on the phone while we watched. At the end of the phone call he said that she said our package did not include transfers. Instead of arguing with this man, we decided to pay the money for the prior transfer were had taken and take a taxi to the airport (which was much cheaper).
I later looked up our package online and looked up emails with Kitondo and I called this male staffer. I was very upset and told him that I had proof that airport transfers were included. I told him I could come back to the hotel (our flight didn't leave until late at night) so he could return our money. He said that he had to "check with someone first" and that he would call me back. I gave him my phone number. He never called me back. I am convinced this was a scam on this man's part because he was upset that we had not bought anything at the hotel. My sister had been living in Moshi for 3 months prior to this safari trip so she knew taxi drivers and was familiar with the area. So instead of purchasing dinner or drinks at the hotel, we venture outside. Therefore, we had no hotel bill to settle.
If I were to do this over again, I would get everything in detailed writing and print out copies of the terms of the agreement. I would also write down names of the staffers. Ultimately, it was not the money that was an issue but rather the unprofessional nature of this exchange.
Other issues
We had travelers with dietary restrictions on our trip. For the most part, these were accommodated well but there were a few times when we could only eat rice and pasta. I recommend bringing your own snacks just in case. Breakfast and dinner options are decent but the "lunch boxes" are not great. You may want to pack your own snacks for lunch.
The five day safari felt a little long. I would recommend something a little shorter, maybe 4 days. It's gets very tiring to be in a bumpy car for 8-10 hours each day.
I highly recommend staying in one of the wild camps. It was an amazing experience to be in a tent in the middle of the Serengeti and wake up to gazelles outside.
AE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good company, nice staff but was misled about the vehicle
Prompt response to quotation request we posted in katokenya.org (which is the union of accredited tour companies in Kenya) which propagate your quotaion request to all accredited safari tour organizers in Kenya.
Always replies are prompt to further enquiries about the offer by Ms/Mrs Fina with flexibility to adjust program and cost.
Airport reception, tour punctuality and game drive experiences are excellent with driver Steve. Steve has excellent and customer-care personality. We are very thankful to him.
Hotels and all arrangements are as promised except for the vehicle, which really made a difference and was the most obvious disappointment.
I was clear to specify to Fina I wanted 4 x 4 land cruiser which turned out based on our experience there that 98%-99% of tour companies provide to their clients who asked and paid for (category 4x4 land cruiser). On top of that nearly 85% of land cruisers used by other companies are new or almost new. We received photo confirmation of the vehicle type to be 4x4 landcruiser while when we arrived there we were surprised they actually provided 4x4 very old landrover with very old non-comfortable interiors and hard seats. This reduced much the comfort of the lengthy roads (4-5 hours) between national parks that we stayed in and also the comfort during game drives.
There was absolutely no communication from acrossthewild tour company that the vehicle provided will not be land cruiser but old land rover instead. This in my opinion is misleading in that part of arrangement, they might also depended on the fact that the first trip was from Nairobi Airport to Amboseli, so there was no chance for us to ask or argue about the vehicle type otherwise we would ruin the next day in Amboseli. That's what happened actually so we just proceeded and withstood the vehicle for the rest of the 7 days. Just to give you an idea of the matter, our ancient land rover was the ONLY land rover we saw in 7 days of game drives among the tens of land cruisers provided by other companies and we came across them.
Even when we later mentioned the point lightly to them, the excuse was that we reserved the package late !!!!!! firstly, even with that excuse they should have informed us in advance by email and left the decision to us to go with that odd vehicle or not instead of sending different photo. Secondly, until the end before we selected them other companies were offering us very close or even one of them lower price with confirmed new 4x4 land cruiser option, so that was wasted opportunity for us because of their lack of transparency and misleading.
Other than the vehicle issue, we have no problems or conservations on this company. Just try to make it clear to them that if the vehicle is not as agreed, you would not pay the balance 70% upon arrival.
IT
Tanzania safari good, but...
I booked a 4 days safari in Lake Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro with Right Choice.
On the day of the departure, I discovered:
1 The tour was to Tarangire and not Lake Manyara.
2 I had to travel with "Meru Slopes" and not with Right Choice.
3 The other travellers of my safari booked directly with Meru Slopes and had free pick up at the airport, hotel included...
So, if you travel in Tanzania, book with Meru Slopes directly!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Could have been perfect but too many big mistakes
I planned this trip for almost two years. Through internet search I stumbled upon Kalahari Skies. Eddy, the owner, was very forthcoming and ready to answer my questions. We were open to options and budget was not a factor, we were indecisive between a mobile safari or private camps. He advertised his services and a mobile safari as more likely to see game over any private camp in the delta. While we did see a good amount of game and of course it was beautiful, we actually saw more at the end of our trip in a private concession, with no cars around (versus the many cars in the national parks) and with more dramatic encounters (missed kill, lions, cheetahs....). In hindsight I would say that Eddy's recommendations were very self serving.
Upon arrival in Maun, after a 25 hour journey, no one was at the airport to welcome us. We watched as tourists after tourists were being picked up by their tour operators. We were stranded, tried calling the office with no luck and after one hour managed to get picked up by our hotel. This was quite disappointing and upsetting. Our guide later apologized for his mistake and took full blame for his oversight, but Kalahari Skies should have reminder/checks and not rely only on the guides they independently hire. They should also have someone in the office during the day answering calls.
The team we were assigned to was extremely nice, and our guide Newman was incredible. We all fell in love with him. He is knowledgeable, a very good driver, considerate, flexible, and I would recommend him to anyone. The food in the camp throughout the safari was excellent, the lunches in the road less so, mostly sandwiches and cookies. The tent accommodations were nice and adequate, with enclosed hot showers, the cots could use pads as they are quite hard. The nights were very very cold and much colder than what we had been told, we were not as prepared as we should have been. The temperatures were not in the low 50's but closer to low 40's. I would recommend bringing several long layers and a wool cap for the morning drives. Some blankets for the early morning drives would be nice.
There were a few things that did not work for us: 1. Too much driving between camps. Being on the road from 6:30 am to 4 pm is just too much. Arriving any earlier would mean that the camp is not set up and it is clear that they discourage you from arriving earlier. Animals are mostly quite during the mid day, as it is very hot, and driving around that time is not ideal. If I had to do it again I would only concentrate on two camps with just one long day of driving, and I would fly in and out avoiding the first and last drive. 2. The overall itinerary that we relied on Eddy to create, Moremi-Khwai-Savuti, leaves the least attracting area for last, with the least attracting camp. Again, this is not something that Eddy brought up and he should. We relied on his knowledge and were open to his suggestions. It was a mistake. A little research on my end would have made me realize the downsides of Savuti 3. We chose to do a mobile safari for the authentic feel of camping close to the animals. Savuti, unbeknown to us before we arrived there, is a camp with shower and bathrooms facilities that are mandatory, meaning you have to use the communal bathrooms. We found it took away from the experience. But what was really really upsetting was to arrive in Savuti and find that our camp site was the worst one, in front of the communal bathroom. The camp sites are not first come first serve. They are assigned as soon as one books. Some obviously have a much better location than others. There are other better camp sites in Savuti, so make sure to specify a private one. In Moremi and in Khwai we felt completely alone and away from everyone. We could not hear or see any other camp site. We booked this trip a year in advance. To arrive in Savuti and find that we were in the path of everyone else going to the bathrooms and with the view on the ugly facilities was such a turn off that we decided to drive straight to Kasane and cut our journey short. It was either that or having a less that magical experience, maybe taking away from what we had experienced until then. If I had to find a good analogy I would say imagine booking a flight a year in advance with an agency that is supposed to reserve you a seat, and finding upon boarding that you are at the end of the plane in the middle seat closest to the bathroom. This was a large oversight by Kalahari Skies and the main reason why I am giving 3 stars. If no better camp site was available they shoul dhave notified us as this particular one is absolutely not acceptable. I do not fly half way through the planet, plan a trip for two years, and rely on the tour operator to find myself stranded at the airport and my tent pitched in an open area next to the bathrooms with strangers walking through.
SE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Arusha National Park is a green paradise
I have been in Arusha National Park several times, and the park never disappoints me. Of course it depends on what you are looking for. Arusha National Park is not comparable to Serengeti, Tarangire and other parks in Tanzania. But the park is great in its own way. There are, they say no big cats in the park ... but I have actually seen a leopard once crossing the road upp the mountain. The park sits on the eastern slopes of Mt Meru and you can drive upp quite high upp almost beyond the tree limit. Also the park features walking safari and canoeing. The later I have not tested but I can recommend the walking safari. Both in the lowlands walking to a water fall. And upp in the mountain ... (you need a guide with a gun on the walking safari). The park have both rainforests and small grass plains. You will I can almost promise you see buffalo, zebra, giraffe, waterbuck, flamingo, and two different kinds of monkey (not counting baboon) - the blue monkey and the colobus monkey. I do not know about accommodations today. But there are a lot of hotels close to the park. Arusha national Park was one of our usual day trip from where we used to live when I lived in Tanzania. So I really love the park. This time it was also a day trip and it was the first time for me with a safari company - Mlimani Safaris Africa. And I can recommend them to. So my conclusion is. If you are visiting Arusha for other purposes than Safari (business / conferences) and do not have time for a long safari. Arusha National Park is the place to go. If you have been in the other bigger parks and are tired of big plains and dusty roads, but still wants some wildlife and nature experience. This is the place to go. Or if you like the shade of a jungle. Don't miss Arusha National Park.
SE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Mikumi National Park by Jonas Nimmersjö
Compared to Tarangire and Serengeti I can not give more than average to Mikumi. The tarmac road crossing the park also takes away some of the bush vibe.
CA
lack of training guides
the safari was good ,but the lack of training of are guide ( Wayne)to adress a''Bully ''in are group ,even after it was mention to him ,put a lot of strain and a bad atmosphere in the group ,and cause me lot of stress,I will not recommend to someone Sunway Safari ,I saw other group ,with other company having more fun and a better group dynamic that our,I lodge a complaint to Sunway Safari , will see ,
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Lake Nakuru National Park by Isabella Ferrario
no flamingos and less big animals then Masai Mara
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Lake Nakuru National Park by Katharina
Lake Nakuru is more jungle then anything else. You can see rhinos, but less lions etc.