FI
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing 5 day safari
Amazing 5-day safari with Meektrails! Amboseli - Lake Naivasha - Nakuru - Masai Mara
Everything was very well organized from the very beginning. Communication was easy, and we received quick responses to our questions by WhatsApp. Upon arriving in Kenya, we felt truly welcomed. Special thanks to our safariguide/driver, Robie. He took great care of us and shared interesting facts throughout the safari. He notified our wishes excellent, like the schedule (we had enough time to watch animals without any rush) and the specific animals we hoped to see. All accommodations met our expectations, especially Zebra River Camp in Masai Mara. A fantastic 5 days – highly recommended!
VE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safarilink Titanium
Safarilink SA provided an excellent experience during our trip to South Africa. The communication was helpful, the service was professional, and everything was well organized. The safari was an unforgettable adventure, allowing us to enjoy the incredible wildlife and beautiful landscapes of Africa. I highly recommend Safarilink SA to anyone looking for a reliable and memorable safari experience!
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safe return from Kruger
This was my return trip from Kruger to OR Tambo, and my second ride with Tiyani. On time, smooth and safe. I recommend using Safarilink, it is also a geat way to see the countryside.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exceeded expectations- book with Telly!
I cannot recommend Telly Safaris enough! Our trip was absolutely INCREDIBLE from start to finish!
Working with Catherine at Telly Safaris to coordinate our trip (5 day mid-luxury safari to Serengeti, Tarangire, Ngorogoro Crater + Zanzibar) and customize our itinerary was a breeze (we added the Balloon Safari - an absolute MUST). She was incredibly knowledgeable, responsive, and patient in answering all of our questions leading up to the trip. She even met with us when we first arrived to walk us through our safari itinerary and remained available via WhatsApp throughout our entire adventure. Every detail was handled seamlessly, from arrival to departure, including flights, transfers, accommodations, and everything in between. We never had to worry about a thing!
All of our accommodations and the service we received were exceptional. Of course, sleeping in a tent at a migration camp might not be everyone’s idea of “luxury,” but it was an absolutely amazing experience! The camps were well-maintained, and the staff everywhere we went were friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and welcoming. Our camps were guarded at night and the food was delicious! One piece of advice: bring more tip money than you think you’ll need! You’ll meet so many incredible people along the way who go above and beyond and whom you’ll want to thank for making your experience so special.
Our game drivers, Aaron and God Bless, were truly the best! They were respectful of the land and wildlife while expertly navigating the parks to give us incredible views and unforgettable wildlife encounters. We felt so fortunate to see as much as we did! Of course, nature is unpredictable, and there are never guarantees when it comes to wild animals, but our guides made every outing special with their knowledge, expertise, and wonderful personalities.
We also had Sumat, a photographer from Telly Safaris, join us on our trip, and he captured so many beautiful memories for our group. Having those photos to look back on is such a special bonus!
If you’re considering a safari, do yourself a favor and book with Telly Safaris! The entire experience exceeded our expectations, and we’re so grateful to Catherine, our guides, Sumat, and everyone who made this trip so unforgettable. We couldn’t recommend them more highly!
BR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Nice
Overall good. Only some observations: cars don’t have the security device for emergency exit, it was missing.
Some overtaking in not allowed places, what can make the travel dangerous.
Amazing experience
amazing experience, best tour guide (nuhu) didn’t feel rushed, and was such a lovely day to do with whole family!! 100% recommend, worth every penny!!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Extremely Disappointing and Unsafe Safari Experience with Apalis Safaris – Hwange National Park.
Extremely Disappointing and Unsafe Safari Experience with Apalis Safaris – Hwange National Park
*Rating: 1/5 Stars*
What was intended to be a memorable birthday experience exploring Hwange National Park became an extraordinarily disappointing, frustrating, and, most concerningly, unsafe experience. Our experience with Apalis Safaris raised serious concerns regarding the company's safety standards, operational oversight, professionalism, transparency, and overall commitment to customer care.
Serious Safety Concerns and Dangerous Driving
One of the most alarming incidents occurred when a driver subcontracted by Apalis Safaris was traveling at an excessive speed along an extremely uneven and bumpy road. While the vehicle was in motion, one of its wheels detached, causing a passenger to be violently thrown into the air. This incident could have resulted in catastrophic injuries. The circumstances raised significant concerns about vehicle maintenance, driver judgment, and the company's oversight of its subcontracted transportation providers.
Unfortunately, this was not an isolated concern. Our transportation driver appeared inexperienced and inadequately trained, even openly joking about his poor driving abilities. These remarks became particularly disturbing when he subsequently came close to causing an accident on three separate occasions.
Despite being informed that one of the passengers experienced chronic pain, the driver demonstrated little consideration for passenger safety or comfort. His driving fluctuated unpredictably between excessive speeds, sometimes reaching approximately 110 km/h on uneven roads near large commercial trucks, and unnecessarily slow speeds of approximately 15 km/h. These inconsistencies made the journey uncomfortable, stressful, and potentially dangerous.
Disregard for Passenger Comfort and Well-Being
Adding to our concerns was the unacceptable treatment of passengers during transportation. Throughout the entire four-hour journey to Hwange National Park, the driver and an individual identified as his "office trainee" sat comfortably in the front of the vehicle with air conditioning, while the two paying patrons remained in the back, enduring the heat without air conditioning.
This continued for approximately 45 minutes into the return journey before the air conditioning was finally turned on for the passengers.
This arrangement demonstrated a troubling lack of consideration for customer comfort and well-being, particularly given that the driver had already been informed of one passenger's chronic pain condition.
It is difficult to understand how the company's representatives could prioritize their own comfort while paying customers endured hours of unnecessary discomfort. Such treatment is inconsistent with reasonable expectations of hospitality, professionalism, and customer service.
Significant Delays and Failure to Deliver Advertised Services
The transportation arrangements were equally unacceptable. What was communicated as a two-hour journey to our designated destination ultimately took approximately four hours, substantially reducing the time available for the safari itself.
Additionally, the vehicle incident caused further delays, reducing what was supposed to be a five-hour safari experience to approximately two hours. This represented a significant loss of the experience we had anticipated and paid to receive.
Ultimately, a Hwange National Park ranger stepped in to facilitate an abbreviated safari because the company's personnel were unable to deliver the scheduled experience. While we appreciated the ranger's assistance, this further underscored the company's apparent lack of preparedness and operational coordination.
Misleading Advertising and Inadequate Meal Arrangements
Another significant disappointment involved the advertised lunch arrangements. We were informed that lunch would be provided at a designated location during the safari. Instead, we received a box containing only a few snacks.
A staff member acknowledged that this arrangement had been made at the last minute to compensate for what had originally been communicated. This was not consistent with the experience advertised and further contributed to our concerns about the accuracy of the company's representations.
Lack of Transparency, Accountability, and Customer Care
Beyond the operational failures, what was particularly troubling was the apparent lack of transparency, meaningful communication, and responsiveness to our concerns.
At several points throughout the experience, we felt that our safety concerns, discomfort, and disappointment were not being taken seriously. There appeared to be little acknowledgment of the gravity of the incidents or the substantial difference between the services advertised and those ultimately delivered.
As paying customers, we reasonably expected safe transportation, competent drivers, reliable logistics, accurate information, appropriate passenger accommodations, and an experience consistent with the company's advertised offerings.
Unfortunately, Apalis Safaris fell significantly short of these expectations.
The cumulative effect of these failures left us feeling misled, taken advantage of, and deeply dissatisfied with the value and quality of the services provided.
Request for Refund and Appropriate Accountability
Given the serious safety incidents, substantial reduction in safari time, inadequate transportation conditions, and failure to provide the services as advertised, we believe a full refund is warranted.
This request is not simply a reflection of dissatisfaction with an excursion. It is based on significant deficiencies in the delivery of the purchased experience, including circumstances that placed passengers at potential risk of serious injury.
Customers should not be expected to bear the financial burden of a company's operational failures, particularly when those failures compromise safety, diminish the experience, and result in services that differ substantially from what was promised.
We believe Apalis Safaris has a responsibility to acknowledge these shortcomings, provide an appropriate refund, and demonstrate accountability through meaningful corrective action.
A Call for Immediate Improvement
I strongly encourage Apalis Safaris to undertake a comprehensive review of its transportation arrangements, subcontractor vetting procedures, vehicle safety standards, driver qualifications, operational planning, passenger accommodations, and customer communication practices.
Additionally, the company should immediately review and update its advertisements and descriptions of services to ensure prospective customers receive accurate and transparent information about transportation times, safari duration, meal provisions, and what is actually included in the experience.
Customers deserve to make informed decisions based on truthful representations, particularly when participating in activities that involve significant travel, financial investment, and potential safety risks.
What should have been a joyful and memorable birthday celebration instead became an experience overshadowed by preventable disruptions, serious safety concerns, unnecessary physical discomfort, and considerable frustration.
Most importantly, customer safety should never be compromised, customer comfort should not be treated as an afterthought, and legitimate concerns should never be dismissed or minimized.
Based on our experience, we cannot recommend Apalis Safaris to others. We sincerely hope the company takes these concerns seriously, provides an appropriate refund, and implements meaningful corrective measures to prevent future guests from experiencing similar circumstances.
A safari should leave guests with unforgettable memories of wildlife and natural beauty—not memories of unsafe transportation, avoidable accidents, misleading expectations, disregard for passenger well-being, and disappointment.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very knowledgeable and kind, shared really interesting stories Best time ever! Thx Nuhu
Very knowledgeable and kind, shared really interesting stories Best time ever! Thx Nuhu
CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An Unforgettable Safari Made Special by Our Guide Omari
We had an amazing safari experience with Freeingo Safari, especially during the Tanzania part of our trip. Our guide, Omari, was experienced, friendly, and highly professional. His knowledge of wildlife and the national parks made our game drives both exciting and informative. He was patient, attentive, and always did his best to help us spot animals and enjoy every moment of the journey. Thanks to Omari, our experience in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater was truly memorable. The overall trip was well organized, and we really appreciated the service and support throughout the journey. I would highly recommend Freeingo Safari, especially if you have the chance to travel with Omari!
CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An Unforgettable Safari Experience with Our Amazing Guide Omari!
We had an absolutely amazing safari experience in Tanzania with Freeingo Safari, and a huge part of that was thanks to our wonderful guide, Omari!
From the moment Omari picked us up, he made us feel completely safe and comfortable. He is an excellent driver, always driving smoothly and carefully, which gave us a great sense of security throughout the entire trip. On top of that, he has a great sense of humor and a fun personality, making every day of our safari enjoyable.
What impressed us the most was his incredible knowledge of wildlife. Thanks to his experience, we were able to see so many amazing animals up close! He knows the animals’ behaviors, habits, and resting times extremely well. He would always recommend the best time to start our game drives and help us plan each day’s itinerary to maximize our chances of spotting wildlife.
Omari was also incredibly patient, thoughtful, and attentive throughout the journey. He always made sure we were comfortable and enjoying ourselves. His professionalism, passion for wildlife, and friendly personality truly made our safari experience special.
We couldn’t have asked for a better guide! If you’re planning a safari in Tanzania, we highly recommend Freeingo Safari, and especially Omari. He is not only a knowledgeable and experienced guide but also a genuinely wonderful person to travel with.
Thank you so much, Omari, for making our African adventure such an unforgettable experience! We will always treasure these wonderful memories!