35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The tour was excellent
Excellent communication and knowledge by the tour team
BB
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
More than we expected with an excellent guide and efficient organisation
Right from our enquiry to booking Amos was attentive and efficient. He brought our guide Ninah to meet us and brief us in what we needed to know. The safari days were exceptional thanks to Ninahs outstanding knowledge and experience with animals. We highly recommend this company as excellent value for money. The accommodation and food were great
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best value for money and very accomodating!!!
Kiliholidays Tours & Safaris were always responsive to all my emails and questions, and got back to me very quickly. They provided a detailed itinerary of our safari and they come as advertised, as well as being flexible to meet our needs. I reached out to 10 different safari operators and Kiliholidays gave us a price in a 5-star luxury accommodation (the best hotel we've ever stayed at!!!) at a price that was cheaper than others in budget camping accommodation. I would highly recommend Kiliholidays and I will only use them when booking a Tanzanian safari in the future!
RU
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Beware of cheaters! 'Hello, Tanzania!' are cheaters! In particular Mwajabu. Safari was terrible
It's a pity to write it but for the next travellers I must do it, to prevent the situations that we were involved and to be ready what to expect from those swindlers like Ms Mwajabu and their company 'Hello, Tanzania'
1. We were the first day in Africa. Mwajabu came to grab the cash for the safari. We were warned that to TZ we need to take just 2006 year released banknotes or above. Of course, we all checked our cash before. It was 2006 or above. We gave money to Mwajabu. After a couple of hours she came to the hotel and told us that 12(!) 100$ banknotes that we gave her were old and 'she is in trouble". We were confused because we hadn't expected that they are going to cheat us, because some of our friends who worked in the other firm Altezza Tours reccomended the company as their partners. But Mwajabu didn't care about this. All of us were really alarmed and concerned, we didn't know what to expect but we knew for sure that we had given proper banknotes. After we told her about the police and cancellation of safari she said that it would be 'a lesson to her ' and her friend on Zanzibar will help her to change old money. Isn't it funny? All of us, especially girls were a bit suppressed, ' cause it was the first day in Africa for us all and we were dreaming about gorgeous safari. But instead of good thoughts about upcoming safari we had to prove that 'we are not camels' to that woman.
2. Next day. The driver came on 5 a m. The car was small for us 6. and really old. But they actually offered to go 8 persons.. how? The capacity with driver is maximum 8! So we arrived to the lodge in Selous GR at around 10 am, guys from the lodges showed us our tents. Girls were in shock! Tents were tiny for 1 person not even for his big bag! On the pictures they'd sent us the tents were normal big for 2 persons that you can even stand there. We will see such normal tents in Ngorongoro in few weeks later, they were just really comfortable. So certainly we refused to live in such conditions. On the program Mwajabu sent us in advance were absolutely different normal 2 persons tents. What could we do in the middle of Africa? We asked them to give us another accommodation. They charged us more 360$ for us 6 for the wooden hut for 2 and another wooden non condicioned even non fenned hut for 4! 360$ more! Once we lived in Portugal for 350$ for a month in a big flat in the city centre! That's their cheat #2.
3. We've spent about an hour of our game drive time to arrange all the things with accommodation. And now cheat #3: they stated that we can choose that today we go for a half day game drive and tomorrow for the half day. But better not to go today and just go to boat safari on 16.30 pm and tomro for the full day game drive. But stop! In the program it was claimed that on day1 we arrive at 10, having our fast lunch and departing for the WHOLE DAY safari, not even for a half. And there was some logic in it: so why would we have to depart from the hotel at 5am and arrive to the lodge (in Selous) at 10am and just start the boat safari at 4.30pm&?! It's ridiculous! We said that 'no, we going to go now for the whole day and tomro for the whole day' as it was written in the program that Ms Mwajabu sent me via email in advance. But can you imagine our guide Msafiri showed us printed program with the new schedule! Cheaters were ready for any turn! :) But of course i found in my smart phone the real program and showed it for the guide. For the long time he was talking on the phone and finally agreed on what we had insisted. Like Mwajabu did when she failed with her trick with banknotes. So we've spent a lot of time and nerves again. Why they did like that? We found out later that the entrance fee costs for a 24 hours visit to the park 70$/person. So they tried to convince us to go just for a one day game drive to save 420$ and put them into their pockets. Of course everything including park fees we've paid in advance.
4. The safari was ok. But not impressed. You know, 50% of success depends on the guide. The guide - Msafiri was not very communicative. His English was ok, but we haven't been catching not any word because of the strong accent. He was not very friendly, and he was wearing not a neat clothes as other safari guides did, not like a hint for uniform, just like a local guy from the village. Probably not a big deal but It's also very important for the whole impression about the company.
5. The icing on the cake was that on the last day they sold us lunch boxes for 10$ each! But it really costs less than a dollar: dry old chicken leg, bred with carrot, juice..
So the whole impression was very bad, they were trying to deceive us every time they got a chance. So thank you, Mwajubu for the spoilt safari and first impression about Tanzania. You're not even think for the future, I told you that if we'd love the safari we'd definitely go with your company fot the northern curcuit. And thanks God we found another great company with honest and pleasant people working there who changed our opinion to the country and people. We went back home absolutely satisfied and pleased. Tanzania is amazing!
We have all scans, documents, photos, programs, witnesses to prove my words. So, guys, be aware of that company and Ms Mwajabu. Actually we can even bring an action for the court, because they rendered their service not loke it was claimed in the contract and forced us to pay more money cheating us with accommodation.
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our experience with Shinzelle was simply AMAZING!!! We will remember this for the rest of our lives!
Everything exceeded our expectations. From the beginning when we booked with Dani, she was extremely helpful and Brandon was a wealth of knowledge. We fell in love with their passion for Kruger immediately. It was everything we dreamed of and more!!
KR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
the best safari
we did 3 days masaimara. we enjoyed the tour so much. the accomodation, guide(robert), animals..... unforgettable
RU
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great balance between price and quality!
It was amazing! It's really hard to find a good service for a proper amount of money. Rhino Explorers are just young company but they provided really good safari! They were very polite. They provided 2 nights in Arusha as a gratis, the hotel was perfect! Peter - the guide - was polite, neat, calm, responsible, with a good sense of humor and fluent English, he has a lot of knowledges about nature and animals and everything about local life. We did the best for that amount of money! The safari car was really spacious and comfortable. One little comment that lunches could be better. But in common, I will definitely reccomend their team! Daniel - safari manager and Peter - the advanced guide and a professional driver. Thank you guys!
CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Extraordinary , well organised , good price, experienced guide and laugh all the way
Actually I'm working in Kenya and hope to take this chance to bring my parents, aunty and little cousin for a safari trip before Chinese New year. Honestly speaking, before i chose this agency, i compared with other 3. Now i can say it's definite a right and the best choice.
We have 5 days safari : 2.5 days in Masai , 1 day in Nakuru ( specially for the Rhinos and birds), 1 days Naivash Lake and hell's gate (boat ride that allows us to close to the hippos and the lake birds like pelicans,egrets, kingfishers, fish eagles etc)
In Masai, we saw almost all animals we expected to see, Karanja and Steve are very experienced that they know very well how to follow the tracks to find animals. We saw a few time lions, one female is hiding in a bush eating the prey, a poor warthog.... In Nakuru, two males lions are sharing a baby giraffe... It's cruel but it's the reality of NATURE.
Because it's a private tour, so our time is very flexible. We tried a local meat bbq on the way from Nakuru to Naivasha thanks to Steve recommend. In Naivasha (it's a city also famous for the flowers exported to Holland ) i mentioned i would like to add a flower farming visit, they tried their best to make it come true.
Karanja and Steve are humorous that we got along very well. They even gave us a surprise sunset drink on a hill of Masai Mara, and Karanja is also a professional photographer who took us lots of beautiful photos and sent to me.
Besides , the accommodation is so good, not only the tented camp and hotel but also the good foods. By the way i should also remind of taking care of the belongings in the hotels. I'm sorry we've lost a few dollars and shillings when we left my bag in the room during my dinner. I think no matter where we go, should pay attention on that.
Anyway, my family is so happy for this trip and left them an unforgettable and good impression of Kenya.
As Steve said "there is a Kenya bug, once it bites you, you will miss Kenya and want to back every year" I think my family is missing Kenya already.
Today is Chinese New Year, hope it's a year full of happiness, health and of course new adventures.
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Experience!
Josphat was great from the start, he gave us all the information we needed and ensured we had an amazing time in Masai Mara. Uncle Joe our guide ensured we got to see the Big 5! The stay at Ashnil Mara Camp and Ilkeliani Camp were fantastic. Highly recommend everyone book a tour with Solaris! Great Team!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great safari
The 4 day tent safari that I went on was totally up to standards for myself , the guide was very informative and helpful in everyway , the cook / chef prepared food that was the best to my standards as well ! Completely satisfied with Meru Slopes tours , would recommend to anyone , the price was completely satisfying .
Waylon from Montana
