US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Addo Elephant National Park by Ruth
Too many cars driving around.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great for budget and convenience, but more downtime than expected
Safari With Us booking at Kruger adventure lodge was overall a good experience for the price we paid, which while not cheap was definitely the cheapest we found compared to others for the value it offered. This package definitely maximizes budget and convenience (transportation to/from airports and safaris each day, breakfast and dinners included), however the package included more downtime than was expected with little to do on site.
The package advertised activities at night, full day safari and optional game rides on the third day. All optional rides were ~$100 extra each, there were no activities at night, unreliable WiFi only in the reception area, and the full day (which does start at 5am) ended before 3pm with nothing to do in the evening. So, what we thought was a 3 day safari was actually 1.5 (evening ride day 1 and 5am-3pm day 2). The game rides were incredible and made the experience absolutely worth it, but more transparency about what we were actually getting up front would have been nice.
The staff were mostly friendly (especially those who drove us and receptionists up front), with exception of 1-2 wait staff who seemed caught off guard when we sat down to eat and were not friendly at all.
The rooms were clean and spacious, though the AC does go out, the fridge did not work, and we found a frog in our bathroom on the last day.
Overall, I would still recommend this tour package if you are looking to maximize on budget and convenience while still getting to see some incredible things, but not if you are looking to maximize your time on Safari or a luxury lodging experience.
under20 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
we didn't see that many animals
I already went to the same safari before with my family and we were able to see way more animals and a lot of the big 5 close to our vechiles. When we went we were able to only see one lion that was also 1km away from us which was very disappointing the same with the elephants and rhinos.
DK
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Average !!
We went on a 11 days Safari with AAA in the end on September 2019, Tanzania. We are ardent wildlife lovers and had pretty high expectation from AAA considering the earlier reviews. However, I must admit that the experience was pretty average.
Day 1 - Travel to Tarangire from Arusha - Stay in Tent in Lake Manyara
Lots of time wasted in Arusha (picking up food for next 3 days). This should have been arranged before picking up us. As a result we reached Tarangire pretty late - Past noon. Tarangire is a pretty nice place for game drive. We were staying at Manyara, which was 2 hours of drive from Tarangire, so we were forced by the driver to leave before the usual time of park closure. Again a disappointment - the road from taranire to Manyara is a highway and no reason the drive cannot be taken after dark. At camping site, the tent provided - we had fight with the zipper to close it. These are basics of camping. Dinner was good.
Day 2: Started Trip to Manyara around 630 in the morning, Breakfast was good. Lunch packet was good. Game drive was nice. But again the driver/guide was too keen to leave early before the closing time of the park. We missed the bird watching walk. Dinner was good.
Day 3: Manyara to Lake Natron: Start of the trip was delayed - as the chef informed that the driver found some defect in the car. Was wondering why the maintenance was not done in time and vehicle not checked in time. We started at 9 (wanted to start at 7) and reached Natron at 1.30 pm. We wanted to directly go to the Natron lake for Birding - but again the driver/guide played the spoil sport. We were not taken to the location before 4 pm. We were frustrated. The entire plan and experience was ruined as the day got wasted. The camp site arranged was horrible. Worst toilet possible. Food was OK.
Day 4: Natron to Serengeti North: Started at 7 and reached around 1400. Game drive was good. Stayed in Heritage Mara Tented Camp for 3 days. Superb location and staff.
Day 5-6 - Game drive was good. Watched the Mara river crossing. The driver/guide always found it difficult to find the correct spot suitable for photography and filming. I did not find the guide passionate about wild-life.
Day 7-9 - Central Serengeti - Again the game drive was nice. Arranged stay was at heritage Tented Camp - Fantastic location and experience. But same story with driver/guide continued - missed spotting birds, driving past / stopping late - we missed quite a bit of shots. And this was heartening as this was the sole purpose of the trip.
Day 10-11 - Central Serengeti / Ngorongoro - Stayed in Rhino Lodge - Great location again. But was again amazed by the drivers behavior at the dinner table - don't know if he was high - but whatever. Ngorongoro game drive was nice.
Over all - I would say the trip could have been much more satisfying & fulfilling. In Serengeti all the vehicles communicate over radio and once something interesting is spotted all vehicle comes to know - so don't worry you will have a lot of sightings for sure.
ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great work online
The online communications with Axis Africa was amazing. Lennox answered always fast and clear. But the reality afterwards wasn't that good.
I paid for a upgrade and I stay in a low category camp in Masai Mara. Also I was said I will be in the Sopa Naivasha. In from of the lodge I was said then that I was "upgraded" to another lodge. I wasn't. The Naivasha Lodge was worst than the lodge I had paid for. It was a disappointment.
Then, Robert the driver made us leave the last day from Amboseli before time, only because he wanted to go to " no man's land", in the Tanzania-Kenya border to buy grain. Quite a surreal experience! I guess this kind of things happen a lot in safaris, but it was quite surprising for me.
AE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Kenya and Tanzania
Hi all,
As promised, here is my views on Serengeti safari and Masai Mara .
You didnt inform us that you would change guide in Tanzania. We are not complaining but maybe next time you inform client about diffrent guide. Thank you.
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The time of your life!
The main purpose of my trip to Tanzania was climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. But since I had few days between my arrival in Tanzania and the start of the climb I decided to book a Safari. I picked three agencies through safaribooking and asked them to provide me an offer. The reservation and payment process was quick and easy. I arrived in Tanzania on February 2nd, it was the end of the rainy season and I was struck by the beauty of the landscapes around Kilimanjaro Airport, with a wonderful tropical forest. Unfortunately along the street which takes to Arusha there were dozens of slums and unpaved roads. Arush itself is nothing special at all, but it's the perfect starting point for any safari headed to NgoroNgoro and Serengeti. I had booked a four days group Safari to Serengeti and NgoroNgoro but as I was the only one willing to sleep in a Lodge I found my self alone with the Safari Guide/Driver. He was just amazing ! Serengeti it's simply unforgettable, pure magic, amazing wildlife and landscapes. The time of your life! NgoroNgoro didn't tell me much, but seen from aboveon the terrace located on the way down it's beautiful- The lodges I slept in were simply perfect, two nights inside Serengeti, with the Lions roaring during the night and amazing thunderstorms in the far distance. The food as well was always good, nothing special or typical from Tanzania, but absolutely okk !
But Kilimanjaro again was the time of my lifw!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Efficient and professional
Second time I use this travel agent. They are professional and efficient. I made a bad mistake shoosing the lodge in Tsavo which wasn't up to my expectation. Good guide-driver and efficient commercial contact for the last minute organisation of this weekend break.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Ngorongoro Crater by Melanie
Unfortunately the weather was bad so not many animals close up. The roads were bad and some blocked off due to flooding
PT
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
good animal viewing but roads and general environment poor
Wildlife - good viewing but most only visible on the roads, where they are almost "tame"
Guide was great. Indeed all Kenyans were nice to us.
Roads in the parks terrible limiting getting around and detracting from the pleasure of being there. A very rough ride!
Roads to get around also very crowded with terrible traffic jams, mainly due to large trucks.
Due to the inability to cross into Tanzania there were long drives to and from the parks, via Nairobi
Accommodations variable
Nairobi is a polluted crowded city with terrible traffic jams and no redeeming features
in terms of souvenirs, poor quality and very expensive with most not in ebony (although sold as ebony)