US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Do not use Bramwel Tours, William Amon, or Meru Treks. Awful experience and they owe me $382
In August 2016, I signed up for a 6 day camping safari with Bramwel tours, operated by William Amon in Arusha. The cost was $1,200 and the itinerary that William sent me included all transfers and one night stay at a hotel after the tour was over. I was traveling alone so I asked William if I could join another tour. He said yes. I chose William because he was responsive and helpful over email. He answered all my questions in a professional manner.
Two days before the tour started, William emailed me to tell me that the tourists I was supposed to join had cancelled. He found another tour operator with a 5 day tour the same days and I could join them. I was disappointed, especially because the shorter tour meant I wouldn't be able to see the great migration (the primary reason I wanted to go on Safari), but I understood that happens when you join other tourists. William suggested they would find a local activity in Arusha to fill my sixth day.
The tour operator William put me on (Meru Treks) was awful! We lost a lot of time because the jeep kept breaking down, and we started so late one day that we missed half the day. Another day, when we went to Ngorongoro crater, the driver told us we would only have half a day, even though the itinerary told us we'd have a full day. We had to argue with our driver to get a full day.
The driver was in a bad mood some of the time and explained very little to us. The cook was nice and did the best with the food he had, but some nights there wasn't enough food for the group.
Everything about the tour suggested Meru was trying to spend as little as possible. For example, we found out that the driver and cook had nowhere to sleep! The driver was sleeping in the car (no wonder he was in a bad mood and no wonder that some mornings we started late).
Along with me on my tour were five other people, all of whom told me they were very unhappy. Two of them paid $680 for four days. One paid $640 for four days. Two other tourists paid $900 for five days. They all purchased their tickets directly through Meru.
The night before I returned, I emailed William to tell him how awful Meru was. I told him I don't want to hire him for my sixth day, and I'd like a refund for the difference between the price of the Meru Trek tour and the tour I paid for. He agreed, told me he would meet me in Arusha and pay me the difference.
When I arrived in Arusha, the hotel that was supposed to be included in the cost of my trek told me that William had paid part of the room cost and I would have to pay the remaining $32.
I emailed William to tell him I thought the Meru Trek should have cost $850 (the tourists who paid $680 for a four day trip paid $170 per day; my five day trip should have cost $850). I told William I thought he owed me $382 ($1,200 - $850 + $32). He responded that he only owed $230. He tried to charge me $50 for airport transfers and $20 for the night in the hotel, even though both of these were listed as 'included' in the itinerary he sent me. After some arguing, he agreed to refund me $382.
On my last day in Arusha, William emailed me to apologize that he would not be able to meet me to refund my money. He said he would wire me the difference.
For the last ten months, we have been emailing back and forth. William keeps promising he will refund my money, but he never does. He once told me he sent it but the money did not arrive in my account.
Altogether, I am very upset at Bramwel, William, and at Meru Treks. The trek I went on was a big disappointment. William pushed me off onto a bad operator, and then tried to charge me extra for items that should have been included. While he has agreed to pay me $382, he has not refunded my money.
I strongly agree with all the other negative reviews posted on SafariBookings. I recommend you stay away from Bramwel Tours, William Amon, and Meru Treks. I have emailed the Tanzania Tourism Board to recommend that they take away Bramwel's license.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
My first time on a Safari and my family and I had a wonderful experience with sana Safaris.
We all had a good time. The tour met my expectation. The staff at the Mara Sopa was wonderful and very friendly and I hope they continue their good work. That is a place I would visit again. The food was awesome and the food presentation was good. The tour driver was knowledgeable and communicated very well. Such an awesome tour guide. Wonderful experience.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic Experience
My wife and I have nothing but praise for James and his team. They did absolutely everything that they could to make our time in Kenya memorable and comfortable. Excluding travel time, we were with the team for 14 days and we enjoyed every day! The accommodations that they booked for us were top-notch; clean, comfortable with good food and service. Our drivers (Dan & John) were more like friends that we had known for years than tour guides that we had just met. We cannot thank them enough for their willingness to do everything that they could to ensure that we saw and did everything that we wished to.
Our group from Canada was divided into two vehicles while on the "game drives" in the Masai Mara preserve and both drivers (John and Evans) did phenomenal work to make sure that we saw all the animals on our wish lists (the two leopards were particularly spectacular) and they were very knowledgeable.
I would like to list all the sights that they made available to us but it's too long...highlights only: Bike ride through Hell's Gate National Park, two nights and boat ride on Lake Naivasha, hike at the Menengai Crater, visit to Ol Pejeta Animal Conservancy and, of course, game drives in the Masai Mara.
Many thanks to James, Joan, Evans, Dan and John!
I've reviewed a lot of places on TripAdvisor and have never given a 5-star rating for anything; this trip was deserving.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Mmilo tours was very accommodating, professional and fun! The whole Safari experience was amazing
everything went smoothly and the itinerary was followed perfectly
ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience
The safari experience was unbelievable. Stephen made the communication really easy from the beginning and even after the trip he was helping us all the time.
I would recommend this company to everyone heading to Africa.
Thanks a lot agsin for the good service
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Chimpanzees - Up close and personal
My trip to Gombe National Park was a dream come true and even then, exceeded my expectations. A longtime fan of Jane Goodall's work, I was overjoyed to be in the very park where she and many others worked and lived with the Chimpanzee community. The luxury tented camp at the park is just that - a luxury with running water, toilet and shower as well as a full bed and couch all on a raised platform right off Lake Tanganyika's beach. My park guide was very knowledgeable about the Chimpanzees but also about other local fauna and flora, including traditionally used and medicinal plants that abound in Gombe forest. Two well-experienced chimp trackers worked over radio to locate the troops for viewing and I was lucky enough to spend time with two separate chimp families. One curious chimp came quite close! The experience of Gombe is unforgettable and well worth the trip.
BE
Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Kruger National Park by HHM
A large natural park, with rich wildlife, excellent infrastructure
BE
Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great safari for starters
Pilanesberg is a great game reserve option if you are in Johannesburg and a limited time for a safari (1-3 days), with rich variety of wildlife. In a 5-6h tour, we spotted giraffes, elephants, wildebeests, antelopes, zebras, boars, ostriches and jackals.
Although relatively small, Pilanesberg is in a transition area, so the landscape, vegetation and wildlife quickly changes from one part to another of the park.
I only visited the park, in a 1-day trip from Johannesburg, arriving early morning and leaving by late afternoon, it was a still an enjoyable experience, though a weekend would be certainly better. It is possible to visit the park with a private car and a guide, roads were excellent.
The tour with the park truck is probably a better option to view the wildlife - just be aware that there are limited rides (especially during the low season).
US
Review about Kafue National Park by David
I visited Kafue National park during the green season. I loved the remote feel of the park, but it would have been a more satisfying experience later in the dry season. The birding was very good, though, and made up for the absence of animals.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Tanzania by Katie
Accommodating and friendly locals, amazing sights, easy flights and tour booking.