SafariBook Evolution
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2013)
- Member Of:
- Kenya Professional Safari Guide Assoication
- Tour Types:
- Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $100 to $400 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email coxyjr | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Rude and disinterested tour-guide - don't book with SafariBook Evolution
Myself and my husband have recently returned from a 3 day safari with SafariBook Evolution in Kenya through the Masai Mara to finish off our 4 months spent travelling in Africa. Having spent a lot of time looking on TripAdvisor prior to selecting our company we decided choose SafariBook Evolution due to their cheap prices and despite their occasional dubious reviews however unfortunately this was a bad decision! Our trip was extremely disappointing and we would advise spending a few more dollars and going with a more trust-worthy company.
Our guide was disinterested, extremely rude and spoke limited English. He didn’t talk to the group and spoke about us rudely to other tour company guides. He needed to be pushed to go into the park and was reluctant to do so, cutting our time inside the park short on all occasions.
With regards to the campsite; it was a tented site however was extremely basic; the tents had holes in them, the zips didn’t work, the mosquito nets were dirty and holed, there was limited hot water and no wi-fi despite this being promised.
Alongside this, and probably our most alarming concern was that our guide had a complete disregard of park rules. He frequently drove off the park tracks, towards animals often causing them to run away in fear much to our surprise. This is obviously wholly inappropriate, not only for the obvious harm it causes animals but also for the future conservation of the park and its tracks.
We have been in back and forth emails with the owner Steve however this has been a fruitless task. We would strongly advise spending a few more dollars and going with a company that is much more trust-worthy. Don’t book with Safaribook Evolution!
RU
Email Maria | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Must choose another company
I had 4 days safary (lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro).
"Pole-pole" you'll heard all the time (means slowly). Did you thought you'll start at 8:30 just because they told it? No way, pole-pole, you'll have to wait till 10 o'clock. Do you think the way from Arusha to Lake Manyara just 1,5 hours? Pole-pole and akuna matata (means no problem) 4 hours way.
In Tanzania they calls cooker "Stomach engineer", but they got stomach user. First, it's really small size of food (1 egg for breakfast isn't enought for me), second they prepare everything with bouillon cube. Soup with bouillon cubes, rice with cubes, potato with cubes. Remember, cooker and driver will eat first, the rest for you. "I'm so hungry" told driver after I saw him eating meat (by the way, there was no meat for us).
Better pay 100$ for better company. You don't go to Tanzania every day.
Email WorldTravell3r | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Terrible choice to sub-contract the Tanzania portion of our Trip
We recently went on a Safari (Kenya and Tanzania) with SafariBookEvolution. These guys can handle Kenyan safari alright, but they were not forthcoming about the fact that they don't run the Tanzanian safari themselves, and it was nothing short of a disaster as they sub-contract to Jackpot safaris (who basically give you dangerous cars, careless guides and put your lives in danger. See below the list of issues we faced. I wouldn't recommend them and can't say much for Safaribook Evolution as they but us in a very terrible situation.
Kenyan Safari issues
1) no power at destiny Eco camp for 2 days
2) no hot water at destiny Eco camp for 2 days, although we were promised.
Tanzanian Safari issues
Safety - We put our families in danger. Don't risk it!
1) Car's door kept opening right in the middle of game drives and on the highways endangering our families.
2) The car's open top literally fell on us which could have killed all of us. Thankfully we were sitting at that time.
3) Car broke down in the middle of forest. And the driver had least concern for our safety. A speeding vehicle nearly crashed on our car.
4) We were lost in the jungle of for four hours with the driver George not having a clue about where we were. He didn't even have the mobile number of the Kati Kati camp.
Value for Money - Zero
5) We paid a lot for the Kati Kati camp's luxury tent, but stayed there just for 8 hours in Kati Kati camp without enjoying any part of the stay. Thanks to George who got us lost in the jungle.
6) Car was small and cramped in Tz for 3 days. When we complained about this, George said he couldn't drive the other car so we ended up using the same cramped car for one more day which eventually broke down.
7) The guide/driver was very rude and arrogant, not well informed(like he didn't have the phone number of the Kati Kati camp when we were lost in the jungle.
8) The tents given to us at the flamingo hotel were so small. We had to pay $200 extra to get the rooms. Andrew (Jackpot Safari) threatened to cancel the whole safari even though he saw we had 2 small kids.
9) No binoculars for the Tz safari, although we were promised that we will be given one.
10) The itinerary was changed mid way, only one day at the Tarangire national park as opposed to two days.
11) the Tz driver has a total lack of interest with the safari, with us having to push him to go on game drives. For example we spent only 2 hours at the Lake Manyara game drive. Then we had to call the managers to get him to take us to another game drive.
12) The Tz driver only drove us around the main gate most of the time. We had to constantly push him to drive a little bit further. As soon as he shows us one thing, he will be satisfied, but we were not as we have paid a lot of money.
13) The last two days were completely useless, especially Tarangire was a complete waste of time. We didn't see anything partly because of the itinerary change. George, the Tz driver, lied to us that Tarangire will take 3 hours to reach when it took only an hour and a half.
14) The Tz driver tried to sneak into all the parks without paying for the kids
The list goes on. But there are two big things to keep in mind. First, Safaribook Evolution never informed us that they subcontract the trip in Tanzania, nor did they tell us who it would be doing our trip. In the end they are responsible for our trip and our safetey. Second, was anytime we spoke to Andrew about the problems he was not willing to discuss ways to solve them, but would simply threaten to stop the safari and abandon us in Arusha. This is very unprofessional, especially as we were only asking for what was written in the itineary and to be in a safe vehicle.
Don't use them of Tanzania!!!
ES
Email César Arévalo Lozano | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Good Safari, bad personal treatment
I personally don't recommend this Company to make a safari. I did 4 days safari and they changed my planning because I wanted to do only 3. The person in charge of taking you to the car, get the money and arange everything treated me as if i were only money and he lied to me several times. On the other hand the safari was fine and the driver and the cook were really friendly.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Overall good but some problems
The trip was for five days (manyara, tarangire, ngorogoro and serengeti). We joined a group so in total we were five people paying different prices. from 760- 960$. the drives were excellent but five days is a little too long.
When we arrived in serengeti for camping one sleeping bag was missing.
The car stopped working a few times.
Drivers good and chefs all right but they expect big tips, which we didn't like, Tip should be something you earn or feel like you want to give because you appreciated the service, not because its mandatory... They were angry when i didnt give tip...?
NL
Email Marleen | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Had a great safari!
SafariBook Evolution provided a great service. Steve responded on my emails almost immediately and was very helpful with everything. Since I was a young and single traveler, I asked whether it was possible to join a group with young/single travelers as well. He advised me to leave on a particular date so I'll have a great group to travel with and he was right! The group was awesome and I loved to tour. The driver and cook were great and they were able to tell a lot about the country and the animals. They really loved their job, which made the tour even better!
PL
Email Chris | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good service and experienced guides
We (a couple) had a great 4-day tour in Tanzania (Lake Manyara - Ngoro - Serengheti). I can recommend SBE strongly, in details: great contact with office before and afer the tour, very good and commited guide and chef willing to give you something additional on the trip (for us it was small change in the route for migration watching), everything on time. Accomodation a bit basic, esp. in Serengeti. Good food.
NL
Email Janssen | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great safari
My family and I had a great time in safari, I recommend this company to everyone.
We did 8 days safari to Kenya and Tanzania, the price was reasonable, the accommodation better than we expected and our guides very knowledgable, friendly and wonderful people.
Thank you Safaribook for the memories and for showing us the beauty of Africa.
(automatic translation from Dutch)
DE
Email Ewa Golinska | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing safari experience with SafariBook Evolution!
It took us long hours of research and hundreds of emails exchanged before we have decide for tour operator so I would love to give you my opinion and recommendation for SafariBook Evolution. Hope this will help you out!
Firstly, why have we decided to go on Safari with SafariBook Evolution?
Friendly and prompt communication with Steve (owner), flexibility and willingness to meet our needs and kind of gut feeling ;)
Booking process was very easy and at the end we put a trust in Steve and sent 75% of the payment - we were travelling to Zanzibar before and we did not want to carry that much cash.
My 2 friends and I, we went for 9 days safari with following itinerary: Tanzania starting in Arusha - Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara with walk, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Empakai Crater, Kenya - Amboseli with walk. We had amazing guides, I could not wish for better company, we had a lot of fun and I learnt so much about animal, Masai culture and life of African people. In Tanzania our guide was Godlove Goodluck and in Kenya - Onesmus. We had also cook named Alifa - cooking is really his passion and food was tasty. Much better than in any African restaurant we had been :D
Everything was organized and yeah, sure, things did go sideway, as our car got broken, but what I appreciate is how the things were handled and what Steve did to make sure our trip is untouched (new car was sent, meantime rescue car camet to not lose any game drive etc). And to make it up Steve made us amazing surprise. We were flying out of Nairobi at 6 am so he arranged for us home stay at lovely Kenyan family. We had wonderful last night in Africa with his friends. We could not wish for more. Ah, one more great surprise from Steve! We had budget safari with basic accommodation to keep cost as lower as possible, and is like Steve would know us better, he booked for our last 2 nights amazing lodge with swimming pool and view on Kilimanjaro. After diving and 9 days in the car on bumpy roads this was like a dream!
I can honestly recommend SafariBook Evolution, Steve and his team for organization of your Safari. Steve - thank you so much for amazing experience and providing us great guides, this made all difference.
DK
Email Angie Emera | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very amaizing
Sam was our driver for our 3-day/2-night Maasai Mara tour and he really made the trip for us. He knew where to find the animals (though I think he got help from the radio call :D). Sam is super friendly, helpful, and is always had a smile. We were fortunate to see so many animals, the big 5 too. We stayed at the Mara Sidai Camp, which served us good food and had very comfortable, clean tents and beds with private bathroom. Our Maasai Mara tour was an unforgettable experience and I have Safaribook Evolution to thank for that. I will definitely recommend Safaribook Evolution and Mara Sidai Camp to all my friends.