FI
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Not what I expected
In this safari business as in many others in Tanzania, it seems that you are buying from some company in particular but then they just put you with the same budget pack that many others offer. We booked everything through Back of Africa but once we arrived to the office, Allan, whom I have been all the time in contact, was not there, there was no signs or credentials or anything that would refer to Back of Africa. We trusted the guy at the reception, his name sounded like "Biarman". So we paid the big amount of money for the safari to him and we didn't even get a receipt. The same guy at the reception was our guide and driver the whole trip. The first day of safari was terrible, the guy was very lazy, not even going out of the car to show us the birds when we stopped at a viewpoint. He could not recognize birds more specificly than the basic information if it was e.g. "a hawk". We didn't have the promised binoculars for each neither the guides, not even one for the whole group of 5 people. Then I contacted Allan try to get some clear info about who is the guide we have and for whom does he work. Allan didn't even know the guy, afterwards he said he was new in the company. But the funny thing is that when we asked to Biarman he said that he works for Sandland Tours, the same company as the logo there was in the safari car. There was 1 person in our group that had booked the safari through a completely different company. We never got this thing clear. And it seems a common practice to put people that has booked through different companies together in the same safari. I think that only in Arusha there was something like 280 different companies, but at the end, many of them belong to the same owner, or they just change the name when the company lose its reputation or whatever, but you can never trust that the company you are booking with, will be the same you are actually going with.
(By the way, Sandland Tours has the worst reviews ever on the Internet...)
Anyways, we tried to make the best out of what we had, we put some pressure to the guide to make a bit bigger effort to find the animals, and it improved, at the end of the day we saw pretty much. I don't think he was a bad guide, but he was not a very good one either. He was just doing his job to get paid, he did not enjoy his job, he was not a nature lover.
The first day we did not have any binoculars, after the second day, we had 1 for 5 people and it was broken and not very good quality. I think it is essential to have good binocular for a safari, and they promised 1 for each, which never happened. We never got any wildlife guide or book.
The camping sites were what they were, don't expect too much, but it was good enough. Our tent was the oldest in the camp and it didn't smell nice. Thank god we brought our own sleeping bags cause theirs were pretty smelly too. We had the poorest chairs to sit during meals, and no chairs at all to be able to relax in the camp site, but the guide had his own nice chair to relax. In some camps there are no lights so they could have adviced to bring own headlamps (we had ours, but other people did not). In one of the camps there was no electricity, so for people without power banks it was a serious problem if you couldn't charge the camera.
There was 2 days that we had to take the cook with us, which make the car not big enough. The cook sat on the front with the driver so we had to share the 4 windows seats on the back with 5 people, while in the national park, seeing the animals. Specially in Serengueti it becomes extremely dusty, it would not have been a big job to cover the bags on the trunk so they wouldn't be completely brown from the dust by the time we reached the camp.
The safari of 5 days in the 4 main national parks in the North of Tanzania was still worth it for the own awesomeness of the places, but certainly not because of the company we booked with, whatever that company was...
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic Trip, everything went so smoothly with any problems,start to finish. Robert was excellent
Everything from the first call to Robert to the end was fantastic
HK
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great!
Truly professional and helpful guides combined with great hotels, with our agent Kathi always willing to answer any questions we might had, including last minute questions about drones and whether a fleece and windbreaker would be sufficient since it wasn't listed in the general information for winter travelling. For faster answers, call or ask to add agents on whatsapp, which Kathi suggested for quicker information exchange!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Ruaha
We were three people in Ruaha. That was our first safari, so I cannot compare with other. But I can say it was just amazing ! No problem with the organization, Hello Tanzania manage it very well.
In Ruaha you're sure to see lions, elephant, zebra in a wonderful landscape. With luck, we saw also Leopards and wild dogs. Next I hope to see Cheeta !
KR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Nice trip with nice people
I got a great experience with my friends last may. First of all When I booked safari, This company's response was very fast and professional. So I got a best price. Also When I meet Hamadi, He treat to me as a friend not customer. He was caring very well so I didn't have any complain. He provide many information about safari it was very helpful when i went around safari.
If I get a chance for safari one more time I will going with this guys. Thanks Hamadi.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A third wonderful safari with Sunny
This was my third safari with Sunny Safari's. I have never been disappointed. The price is very reasonable and the value is excellent. We did a 5 day camping safari in the Northern Circuit. As they have in the past, the staff tailored the safari to our preferences and budget, and were very responsive and trustworthy. The cook prepared delicious food (the crepes were particularly delicious!) and our guide made sure we saw as much wildlife as possible (especially wild cats! -- 40 lions, a cheetah family of 4, 5 leopards, and 1 serval cat). Our camps, dining areas, and tents were all comfortable. The safari went smoothly without a hitch. There is a reason I have chosen Sunny Safaris three times now :)
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exceeded my expectations
I highly recommend Tropical Vacations, Inc. for your travel needs to Africa and other destinations. Mathew Adams - owner of Tropical Vacations, Inc. is a true professional and a man of his word. He gets to know each of his clients and goes above and beyond your expectations to make your travel dreams come true. Mathew Adams and his team made my vacation to Africa unforgettable. I have used Mathew's help throughout my stay and his invaluable advice on what to see and do was very beneficial. Mathew Adams takes care of everything once you call him or email him and I happy to say that Tropical Vacations, Inc has many satisfied clients and repeat business and referrals. I know this because before working with Mathew Adams, I talked to his past clients and they all said that his professionalism and timeliness is what made them use his services and recommend him to others.
As a travel advisor I want to work with honest, ethical and professional tour operators. I found just that using Tropical Vacations, Inc. I will recommend and refer my clients because Mathew Adams has a lot of experience and connections in the travel industry.
So whether you are a solo traveler, a honeymoon couple, a family, a small group or a large group of travelers Mathew Adams can plan an unforgettable time for you. I highly recommend Tropical Vacations, Inc. for travel to Africa and beyond.
TR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Everything is well planned
it was perfect, everything is well planned and as talked. Thanks.
MX
extraordinary! amazing!
Everything outstanding. The guide (Good luck), the truck, the hotels, the landscapings, everithing! More people should do a Safari with thhis company. Best prices also!
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful impressions of Uganda
We - parents with 18 year old daughter- made a round trip from Kampala to Budongo-Murchison-Rwenzori Lake Mburo-Kampala in 10 days. We don't want to spend much money and choose good and not expencive Lodges. The Budongo EcoLodge has good meals (2 of us are vegetarians-no problem) and is situated in the forest. We enjoyed the birding tour very much with a guide who had much knowledge. Great was the game drive and boat cruise in Murchison NP. Red Chili hide-away has a nice view over the NP and friendly stuff. In Rwenzori NP it wasn't easy (for us) to head to Ruboni community hill trek. To see a three horned chameleon during the walk was fantastic.
In Lake Mburo the Rwonyo camp with tents is simple and it is not easy to get to the restaaurant at the seaside. You always need a ranger to get there because of the animals on the way. We meet Felex from Rainforest Tours, drivers, park wardens and rangers who all arrive in time and are very helpfull and friendly. Our expectations are more than fullfilled.