35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An unforgettable experience
I don't usually write reviews but had to take the time to thank Bigfoot for an incredible experience in the Masa Mara. Great, friendly service with a personalized touch. We had a fantastic driver that went off the beaten path many times to find wild life for us. It was a real adventure. Thank you, Daniel and team!
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Fantastic experience and tailored road trip
We have been traveling around Zimbabwe with Off2Africa in January 2017, visiting Harare, Bulawayo, Matobo Hills, Hwange and Victoria Falls by car. Thanks to Beck Edwards, we had the true African experience. He helped us schedule our entire road trip, pick the most beautiful spots across the country that are only known to locals, while also making sure that we were welcomed at every place we visited. Off2Africa and its staff were available to us around the clock. They helped us manage not only last minute questions via the phone on the last day of our departure, they even helped us find the right garage after we accidentally fuelled our petrol car with diesel half way through the country. We can only recommend Off2Africa's services to anyone visiting Zimbabwe, whether acquainted with the country or a true beginner.
Go to Peter!
Recently, I went to Kenya to take a vacation. The highlights are of course to see those wild animals in Africa.
I took a "6 days 5 nights safari" with a company called "Africa Flash McTours & Travel". The manager, Mr. Peter Macharia, did a great job, looking after his customers, although there are circumstances that are a bit beyond his control.
A convincing example is that all the tour companies appear to have a system that tourists are told to hop on different buses at a set of places where they stop for lunch. This system initially confused me a lot as I thought that I would be always staying with one group, once a group has been arranged by a particular company prior to the beginning of your program. But, that was not the case. So, to me what Peter did most impressively was that one day, when he could not organize any other driver to pick me up from Nairobi to Amboseli, he sent in a car to just take me there. Of course, a single passenger would cost his company slightly more than letting his customers sharing with others. But, to me this is the convincing moment that his is a trustable manager.
I also want to mention in passing that a young driver in his own company, John, has done a great job! His English is excellent and he appeared to try to do his job properly, rather than trying to "cut corners".
IT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Fantastic 7 days Tanzania safari
I contacted Amazing Memories Safaris encouraged by the extremely positive reviews found on Safari Bookings: they were truthful, since, from the very beginning, Anne gave me a great help to arrange cleverly a 7-days safari that included Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara National Parks.
She promptly answered to all my questions in a very professional way, giving me several alternative options where choosing the accommodation from. That’s how we experienced from the basic tented camp to the luxury lodge.
Our guide Donald was really a skilled person: using the radio and exchanging information with his fellow drivers, he always succeeded in taking us in the right place at the right time: in Ngorongoro crater, for example, we ran into a rhino that crossed the track just behind our jeep!.
I can recommend Amazing Memories thanks to my positive experience.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The best ever tour operator!!!
Actually this is my third review of the Spirit of Kenya. I simply cannot resist writing things about them. From the very first email to the last day of safari this experience has been engraved in my heart. If you ever need to chose a tour operator for Kenya, I strongly encourage you do use Spirit of Kenya. Their operators, they tour guides, the vehicles the suggestions was simply awesome. If you need additional information you can email me [email protected] for further reference checking. I went for 9 days Kenya Safari, it was so spectacular and magnificent. Thank you Siprit of Kenya, thank you Simon my dear friend for life. Thank you Carlos our tour guide another friend for life. I cannot wait to see you again, I will visit Kenya soon.
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
5days/4 night camping safari from Maun to Kasane
View months ago I did a 5 days/4 nights camping safari with Moonstroll Vantage Expeditions. The tour started in Maun and ended in Kasane. The main destinations of interests have been beside the famous Okavango Delta the Moremi Game Reserve, Khwai and Mababwe. I discussed my plans with the tour operator and got some great advices so I was able to modify and adjust my travel plannings. Finally I got a great safari trip. The safari itself was well organized and the camping equipment was also very acceptable. I had beside an excellent driver who managed almost everything and gave well founded explanations to the wildlife also a perfect chef with me who prepared all the meals and food who have been very tasty. Although I am quite experienced in safaris in different African countries it was my first time I really did a camping safari and it was really one of the best safaris I ever did. To be so very closed in the wilderness is something amazing and unforgettable. I had a great safari with Moonstroll Vantage Expeditions and its staff.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Trip
I spoke to more than 10 travel agents in the US before I came across Chalo Africa - and my search ended with them. Sangeeta and Smita know what they are doing - and helped plan a trip that was beyond what we had imagined possible. With my unending questions and revisions, I was in touch with them so frequently, think I can safely say that Sangeeta and I are now friends!
They were so amazing, my family in India also booked a trip to Kenya through them.
Everything run smoothly and the fact that they have teams in different time zones really helped.
Can't recommend them highly enough.
TR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful Safari Experience
We went on a 4 day safari in Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru. We had wonderful time. We found African Habitat Safaris from www.safaribookings.com and connected via email. Rachel was very helpful and reliable since the beginning. We could see the five big and witness amazing scenes in Masai Mara. Our guide and driver (Johannas) was great. He was always at the right place at the right time. We highly recommend African Habitat Safaris.
Victor Godwin. Thief. Liar. Conman. Avoid at all cost.
I can sadly see that we are not the only ones who have been conned by Victor Godwin. Here is the trick. Consider yourself warned if you book with him.
You will agree safari itinerary and you will pay in advance, all inclusive. When you go on the safari, Victor will call you and ask if you could please pay for park entry fees or for upgrade of accommodation. He will promise to reimburse you once you get back to Arusha. Now the problem is that the drivers do not have funds for the park entry fees so you have no other option that to pay or not enter the park. Clever right. And yes, of course he does not refund your additional expenses.
On our trip, we were six people whilst another car had thre people. On the first night, we stayed in a different hotel than agreed. We went along with that. On the second night, Victor called the other party and ask them to cover additional expenditure for upgrade of accommodation, not upgrade for them though but for my family. So he played the parties against each other. He did the very same thing the next day where he called me asking me to cover an upgrade for the other party. He asked for $600. The following day, he called me again asking us to cover the entry fees to Ngorongoro, again $600. I refused. He called the other party of course with the same request. We briefly discused between our two parties and agreed that one from the other party would cover the entry fees. This was to ensure that none of us would end up having thousands of dollars to be refunded, again it was $600.
It is now five months since our safari. As I live in Tanzania, Victor has not been able to simply disregard my calls, SMS, Whatsapps. He has again and again promised to pay. Each week, he will make that promise and then find an excuse. He is nothing but a frail little liar who should never ever be trusted.
Also note that Victor is not a member of Tanzania Tour Operators Association. This essentially means that they are not able to help any customers who might have problems with Victor. Another reason for staying completely clear of this guy.
Thieves. Conmen. And other words not suitable for a public review
I can sadly see that we are not the only ones who have been conned by Victor Godwin. Here is the trick. Consider yourself warned if you book with him.
You will agree safari itinerary and you will pay in advance, all inclusive. When you go on the safari, Victor will call you and ask if you could please pay for park entry fees or for upgrade of accommodation. He will promise to reimburse you once you get back to Arusha. Now the problem is that the drivers do not have funds for the park entry fees so you have no other option that to pay or not enter the park. Clever right. And yes, of course he does not refund your additional expenses.
On our trip, we were six people whilst another car had thre people. On the first night, we stayed in a different hotel than agreed. We went along with that. On the second night, Victor called the other party and ask them to cover additional expenditure for upgrade of accommodation, not upgrade for them though but for my family. So he played the parties against each other. He did the very same thing the next day where he called me asking me to cover an upgrade for the other party. He asked for $600. The following day, he called me again asking us to cover the entry fees to Ngorongoro, again $600. I refused. He called the other party of course with the same request. We briefly discused between our two parties and agreed that one from the other party would cover the entry fees. This was to ensure that none of us would end up having thousands of dollars to be refunded, again it was $600.
It is now five months since our safari. As I live in Tanzania, Victor has not been able to simply disregard my calls, SMS, Whatsapps. He has again and again promised to pay. Each week, he will make that promise and then find an excuse. He is nothing but a frail little liar who should never ever be trusted.
Also note that Victor is not a member of Tanzania Tour Operators Association. This essentially means that they are not able to help any customers who might have problems with Victor. Another reason for staying completely clear of this guy.