DK
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Outstanding service
We are a family with 3 children below 10 and we booked our safari trip through Fanaka Africa Tours. Unfortunately we had to cancel the trip in December 2016 due to illness. We completed the safari in February 2017. Fanaka Africa Tours provided us with an outstanding service level through assisting us with refunds from the safari lodges. At all times we felt safe with our booking through Fanaka Africa Tours from payment date through the safari. The evening before we met with the Company and the guide making our children feel comfortable and Fanaka Africa Tours were in contact with the guide daily on the tour to secure everything was going well. Wien we got back we met with the Company to evaluate the tour. We experienced a high level of professionalisme and service and was very pleased with a fantastic safari.
NO
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Worst safari agent ever!
This is the most unprofessional and worst agent we've dealt with ever!
We booked our safari through a company in Kenya but for the Tanzanian part we were outsourced to Sandland Tour, Arusha.
We and also an other girl in our group (who had booked with different agent in Kenya) had to all the time argue and pin point what was included in our intiniary. If we haven't had the out print to show them they would have over ruled us on everything and cut things off. Ex: in our intinary we were supposed to drive to Serengeti via Olduvai Gorge. We drove right passed it. We were even supposed to have our lunch there, whitch did not happen.
First day 2 individually travelling guys joined us, both of them with different intinary. Second day they were sent to a different group. They were supposed to leave 30 min before us but they were there still waiting when we left.
First night at camp my husband and I got a tent together as we were a couple but the girl and the two guys , who all traveleld indvidually and didn't know each other, were placed in the same tent. The girl of course argued and after hard discussion the girl got a tent for her self. But the guys still had to share.
As they also changed the order of the itiniary we were short cut on things.
Also they took us to Tarangire park, whitch we did not have in our itiniary. This led to that we had far less time in Serengeti than what our plan said and we payed for.
They also skipped breakfast one day. When they wanted to do so second day we told the guide and the chef that we won't have it. So they ahd to give us breakfast anyway. But of course resulting in less time game driving as they didn't start the day earlier like we requested to not to miss out on time of game drives. We saw other groups start earlier with breakfasts so they could get sunrise in the parks.
Our guide, George, was not competent and showed very little interest in making a good safari for us. He knew less about animals/trees/plants/birds than we did. Many questions he didn't even answer. We did not enjoy the atmosphere on the safari and didn't feel comfortable at all. In the end we were just happy to be finished with the safari in Tanzania and hoped we would arrive safetly back to Kenya as we felt we could not trust them at all.
When the safari was over and we were supposed to get transport back to Arusha as the other girl had one more day with safari. George, the guide just left both us and the girl with no words. Him and 2 others drove off, and we never saw them again. The girl was supposed to have an afternoon game drive but at 5pm she was still at the camp.
We sat there with a stranger who spoke barely english as our driver and with no information and we were waiting for almost 2 hours before we left for Arusha. 2 hours we could have spent more on game drive or been in Arusha for sight seeing.
The day we were supposed to get bak to Nairobi we were supposed to have breakfast at 7am as our transport was to leave at 7.30 from the hotel. We were in the restaurant at 6.55am, they didn't give us the food before 7.25 even the chef and 2 waitress's were there fromt he moment we came. We tried to tell them several times that we have to leave at 7.30 but to no help.
The day we arrived in Arusha from Nairobi the boss, Abraham wouldn't give us dinner as they said it was not included. After showing them the intiniary and discussing and making us wait 3 hours they said we could have dinner.
It was very unprofessional and very unfriendly customer service. If we knew what we knew to day we would have skipped Tanzania all together as it actually led to no pleasant part of our holiday than what it did good. Unfortunately waste of money. Make sure when you book safari that it's the same agent handling your safari all the journey.
HK
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Great experience
Its my 6th safari and the 2nd in Tanzania. The guide was probably the best I've had before and the experience was very smooth. Great customer care, both before and after safari. No complains at all, exceeded the expectations completely.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing Organization and Experience
Our trip with Congo Discovery Safaris to see the mountain Groillas in the DRC was definitely worth it. The organization of the logistics was very thought through and they were able to get our Visas for the Congo in a very short time. Unfortunately they forgot to tell us beforehand that we need our yellow fever vaccination beforehand, but Barack was very helpful with the process at the border. He is a great guide, very friendly and funny and we enjoyed the trip with him a lot. He always catered to our requests. I would definitely go on a trip with them again.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A weekend to remember at Hamiltons Camp in Kruger National Park
Hamiltons Camp in Kruger Park was an experience to remember for the rest of our lives, we booked a 3 nights safari with Andy & Sally as they are friends of our family. When I heard that our accommodation will be in a tent, I thought that we will have a rough time as we are not used to camping. I was really pleased with Andy's recommendation, everything was perfect. The accommodation was amazing and the staff were super professional especially Tony & Harold. Our ranger went out of his way to show us the big five, we even saw a pack of wild dogs! The camp takes you back in time to Africa when it was still wild and undiscovered. We loved it and we will certainly go back to Hamiltons. Thank you Andy and Sally for everything.
Melony & Brian
LB
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A liftime experience
One of the most perfected trips! From the very start to the very end, a flawless experience all because of a great and dedicated team! From justin who took great care of us and was of great aid when we were planning the trip to alex who was there to ensure that everything was on point! As for the hike, frank and the team, you guys are the best! You took great care of us and made this summit a memorable one! As for the safari, it was merely indescribable! From the amazing most breath taking farm house we stayed in, to the amazing scenery! It could not have happened without sunny our safari guide, honeslty a great man! Thank you everyone for a lifetime experience
IT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Like a king among the kings
I came across Mwema by chance on the internet and, after some quotations received from about 20 different tour operators, I realized the one proposed by them was the cheapest (2000-2500 dollars for a 4nights-5days private safari to Lake Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro, all inclusive).
Although I had no reference about this tour operator, I plucked up the courage to run the risk to book the safari with them. In the following days I kept in contact with Simon, the owner of the company, who proved to be a very kind, patient and qualified person.
Then I made an advance payment from Italy (we agreed it would be 10% of the amoutn) and, when I was there and safari started, all the possible hesitations disappeared because I was really treated like a king among the kings, that is many lions I had the luck to see.
Driver was Emanuel, a very smart and kind person.
Parks were fantastic, a sort of paradise on earth, and this period of the year proved to be a very good choice for me (low season but no rain, few tourists, lower but not low prices).
The only bad aspect was the place i stayed the 1st night, Twiga Lodge in Mto Wa Mbu, very poor arrangement with a very money-oriented receptionist. Last but not least, the structure was under renovation.
AE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Kenyan Safari
The 5 day safari from Amboseli to Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara was outstanding. The 3 Safari Camps were excellent in service, accommodation and dining. I would definitely recommend Wildebeest Safaris and you must as for Eustace as your guide/driver as he is so knowledgeable and such a fantastic guide and driver. Everything that was promised was delivered and so much more. Perfect!
US
Extremely professional, organized, detail-oriented outfitter from start to end for Kilimanjaro trek
I found Tanzania Journeys after reviewing outfitters profiled as treating their porters/guides humanely and fairly. My initial communication with Fran was prompt, professional, and informative. From that point forward, all of the pre-departure planning was seamless. The actual trek of Kilimanjaro could not have been any better. We were paired with head guide Reggie and his associates - and all of the porters of course. Meals were great and filling. Tents and pads were clean and reasonably well-maintained. Part of my decision-making came down to price and Tanzania Journeys was pretty competitive. Would definitely recommend without hesitation!
JP
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Another amazing safari organized by Rose & her team.
We've used Rose 4 times now and she never fails to deliver a spectacular, stress free safari experience. Having been to Africa many time, visited 7 countries on the continent we have pretty high expectations each time we go on safari. Luxury African Safari has done an incredible job each time in organizing a memorable vacation. Rose knows exactly what we're after and she's always put us at the right camps. We've never had anything but a smooth experience using Luxury African Safari. Whether it's your first time or you've been around the block, I highly recommend this group for any of your Safari trips. Much better than a couple of the other groups we used before. Rose and her team get it right! Thanks again!