20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
This was the most unprofessional and disappointing experience I've had with a tour operator
If I could give them 0 stars, I would. Our experience with Southern African Tours, operated by Bianca and Craig, was deeply disappointing and frustrating. What was meant to be a stress-free and enjoyable trip to South Africa quickly turned into a logistical disaster due to severe mismanagement—or worse, a complete scam.
We paid the full amount for our trip before departure, trusting that everything would be organized as promised. Unfortunately, that trust was misplaced. Despite repeated requests, we never received any confirmation numbers, booking references, or documentation for internal flights, accommodations, or excursions. Upon arrival, it became clear that none of the arrangements had actually been made.
Left with no choice, we had to rebook everything ourselves on the ground—last-minute flights, hotels, tours—at significant extra cost and with a great deal of stress. It was incredibly disheartening and completely avoidable.
Communication from Bianca and Craig was always inconsistent, but became nonexistent once the issues emerged. To date, we’ve received no resolution, no explanation, and no refund.
I strongly caution anyone considering this agency: do your due diligence. Our experience felt not just unprofessional, but exploitative. Travel is supposed to be enjoyable and enriching—this was the opposite
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Absolutely amazing from start to finish
Doing a safari in Africa is an incredible experience, but it can feel overwhelming when it comes to planning. There are so many options to choose from: different safaris, camps, number of days, and even logistics in the city where the tours depart. Trying to organize all of this from abroad in a country you don’t know can be challenging. That’s why I’m so grateful for Kelvin and his team, who did an outstanding job. They answered every single question I had, and they went above and beyond. By paying attention to my personality through our messages, they guided me to create the best possible experience tailored to my needs while still working within my budget. Out of all the safari providers I researched, Kelvin was by far the most honest. He shared such specific and detailed information, things most people don’t usually tell you, that I felt confident I was making the best decision.
Kelvin and his team didn’t just focus on the safari itself. They helped me with every step before and after, even with things that weren’t directly related. For example, they assisted me in buying local bus tickets that weren’t available online for tourists, and Kelvin personally made sure we got safely on the bus back to our city for our return flight. I truly felt that I mattered to them, not just my money.
The safari experience itself was just as extraordinary. If you love lions, this is the perfect place to see plenty of them. The vehicle we traveled in was always comfortable and a proper 4x4, which makes a big difference. In another safari with a different provider, I was taken in a minibus, and I can assure you it’s not the same. This time everything was perfect.
I also got to try two different types of camps: a mid-range lodge, which was amazing, and a camping experience in tents. At first, I was nervous about the tents, but Kelvin made sure to recommend the right day and location so that I could enjoy it with minimal discomfort. It turned out to be much better than I expected.
We also had a chef traveling with us who cooked delicious meals every day. I was a bit worried about the food, since it’s such a different region, but it was actually really good.
Doing a safari is already a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, but having the right team to organize it makes all the difference. At first, I hesitated about choosing Shenga since they are relatively new and didn’t have as many reviews as others. But the service Kelvin gave me during the quotation process was so outstanding that I decided to take the risk, and I am so glad I did, because it couldn’t have turned out any better.
Thank you, Kelvin and your entire team, for turning my dream trip into a dream come true!
CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The travel agency also has Chinese customer service, which makes us feel very considerate. The guide's connection and the travel agency's customer ser
This trip was a real pleasure. The park is huge, and the animals were hard to find. Our guide, Salomon, was always there to help me find the animals. He was always helpful with any questions I had, and he was always there to help. I believe everyone will have a great experience with him.
(automatic translation from Chinese)
SI
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Getting up close to the wilderness
We had a wonderful time on our Okavango delta mokoro safari! Our guide and chef were amazing and it was incredible getting up close to the wilderness - an experience very different from a car safari. At Shipungo, they were very responsive and they even lent us their binoculars.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great team and great experience
We just finished a fantastic Kilimanjaro trek with Eco Africa. We did the Lemosho 8 day route, and with the help of the amazing team, and our guides Onesmo and John, we both successfully summited. Eco Africa was incredibly easy to deal with from the beginning, with Fredrick being clear and consistent to communicate with. As for the team on the mountain, we are so grateful for all their help, their smiles, positive attitude and strength (literally, carrying 20kg of stuff each) day after day. They felt like a family and this helped us push through. David, the chef, did an amazing job catering for us being vegan and we were blown away by the food! Pizza, pancakes, pasta, porridge, salads, fresh fruit, amongst so many other things. The food was nutritious and there was always plenty so we were always full. Special mention also to Emanuel, our waiter, and Junie who helped us on the summit night. Another bonus was they set up a portable toilet and tent at each camp site which was great. I would highly recommend this company!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable experience!
Tanzania Choice Safaris came highly recommended by a good friend who lived in Tanzania for over 10 years. From the planning stages of our trip, Brenda gave us good insights and options into activities well suited to our multigenerational group. Our guides were fun and incredibly knowledgeable about the flora and fauna, and the history of this amazing place. We are so grateful for Tanzania Choice Safaris for help in organizing our trip, choosing very comfortable and beautiful accommodations with delicious meals, and making this trip go smoothly. It was unlike any other vacation we have ever taken. Tanzania Choice Safaris was topnotch, thank you Brenda, Kakasii, Leslie, Noel and Oscar!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We felt scammed
My son, daughter-in-law and I made a deposit to Gombe wild chimpanzee safari for 3 days chimpanzee trekking, one month prior to departure our flight to Kigoma was canceled, we requested 50% refund of the deposit we have made per their refund policy, Joshua the owner never responded and he keeps ignoring us. Please do not book with this company.
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great planning, reliable service, and unforgettable wildlife experiences
My wife and I did a 10-day private safari in Kenya and Tanzania with Morningstar. We started in Nairobi and went to Lake Nakuru National Park (1 night), Masai Mara National Park (2 nights), Northern Serengeti National Park (1 night), Central Serengeti National Park (1 night), Ngorongoro Crater National Reserve (1 night), Tarangire National Park (1 night), Amboseli National Park (2 nights), and finished in Nairobi again.
We saw everything we wanted and more. We saw the Big Five, the wildebeest crossing the Mara River, and animals very close by. We even saw a lioness hunt and catch a wildebeest.
On the booking side, we quoted with four different companies. The prices were very similar, and what made us choose Morningstar was the reviews, but mainly the booking process. The digital itinerary provided was excellent. It had all the information we needed, including recommended stays and alternative options with costs. That made our lives easier since we wanted to choose where to stay. Dennis was also great at replying quickly and addressing all our concerns.
As we did Kenya, Tanzania, and then back to Kenya, we had three drivers/guides. All three were punctual and respectful.
Rono was our driver in Kenya, from Nairobi to Lake Nakuru and the Masai Mara. He was amazing. He always wanted to know our goals for the day and did his best to find the animals. He positioned the car perfectly for sightings and was a great spotter. I mentioned I was interested in birds, and he noticed and pointed out many of them.
Jackson was our driver in Tanzania. He was also great in different ways. He was calm and patient, and he waited with us for five hours to see the wildebeest cross the river. He kept the car super clean every day and drove very safely. The only downside was that his car seats didn’t recline, which matters on long drives between parks.
Our last driver, Masila, was not as good. We stayed with him for three days from the border to Amboseli and Nairobi. Each morning, the car smelled bad, similar to marijuana. He didn’t put much effort into looking for animals and was not monitoring the radio much. On the positive side, he followed our requests for departure and return times. However, his drive back to Nairobi was too reckless, speeding and driving a bit dangerously.
Roads in general are rough. Many main routes between parks are unpaved and very bumpy, especially from before the Masai Mara up to Ngorongoro. This made the transfers uncomfortable. My wife was motion sick almost every day after day three, so be prepared with medication if you are prone to it.
If we were to do a safari again, we would choose fewer days and fewer parks. A 7-day safari would be more than enough, as the long drives get tiring. We would also spend more nights in fewer parks. For us, Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara, and maybe Amboseli (for elephants) would be enough to see everything, except the river crossing, which we saw in the Northern Serengeti.
Most of the stays we had were mid-range, and they were really good. All were clean, beautiful, organized, and had good food. We even gained some weight during the trip. We loved the tented camps, which were well organized and even had hot showers inside the tents. I would say it is not necessary to book luxury lodges, since you don’t spend much time there anyway. Most days, we arrived around 5 or 6 PM and left again between 6 and 7 AM. One thing we didn’t like was that the staff gave us too much attention. They often wanted to ask how our day was, which was kind, but sometimes we were just too tired after a full day in the car.
I really loved the trip. It is expensive, but it is a trip of a lifetime. I spent almost the whole day looking through the roof of the car for animals when we were in the parks, and I enjoyed every bit of it.
My wife had a different take. Because of the bad roads, she got motion sick for several days, and for her, the discomfort outweighed the excitement at times. She also didn’t enjoy being in the car for almost 12 hours a day, with only a picnic lunch and quick bathroom breaks in the wilderness.
Still, I definitely recommend Morningstar Safari Tours. They delivered on what they promised, and it was an unforgettable trip that we would do again with them.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Quality
I worked with Lion King Adventures to bring a group of 12 people to Tanzania. As a frequent traveler and someone who has been to Tanzania before, I had a high standard for what I expected for my group. Lion King did not disappoint. The trucks were the nicest we saw on the whole trip - squeaky clean, well-maintained, and ran well. Our driver/guides - Salhe and Gilbert - were phenomenal. Both are so knowledgeable, kind, funny, and fit right into our group like we were old friends. The office staff was great at providing on the ground service for my group whenever I had questions or needed to make on the go changes. If you're looking for a company that will deliver the Tanzania experience of your dreams, don't even hesitate. 5 stars, would totally recommend.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Tarangire National Park by Betty Lewis
Least favorite park. Lots of animals but glad we went here first, each of the next parks only improved our experience