Mashindiko Adventure
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2019)
- Tour Types:
- Budget camping tours with set start dates and a fixed itinerary (clients assist with camp chores)
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $150 to $250 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
US
Email Claudine | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Family vacation with Serengeti safari booking
For the first time i communicated with Bernard my agent i had a very good impression of his communicating skills and professionalism. So i was feeling good about choosing this company. We flew to Arusha and the driver Andrew was there. All drivers, guides, cooks and porters are nice and friendly. The 6 days safari plus 2 days of hiking on the kilimanjaro were pleasant and such a unique experience. Africa is wild and you have to expect the unexpected. The animals were safe in the parks where we camped on the national parks. The food was good and no one got sick. The landscape is beautiful. We highly recommend this company. Thanks to everyone who work for Serengeti safari booking.
SE
Email C. Ataker | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
An complete safari experience
Fitted me well because I want to travel and see a lot without spending a fortune. As soon as I showed interest in this safari package, the internet booking turned into a personal service by the contact person Bernard. He was always available to answer my questions clearly and quickly and helped until I left Arusha. Got a dream experience with a budget package. We got the details of the program in writing and everything matched what was on it. We saw all and had fun, thanks to our experienced driver as well as the chef who always prepared good food.
BR
Email Fabricio | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Look elsewhere for your safari needs.
Do NOT recommend - Book your safari elsewhere
I've recently completed a 5-day safari with guide Richard from Mashindiko Adventure and I cannot recommend them. While the landscapes and wildlife in Tanzania were incredible, the logistical and behavioral issues with the staff made the experience stressful and, at times, genuinely frightening.
The Good
The safari itself was a memorable experience, and the natural beauty of the region was stunning. Great animal sightings, including leopards. The guide explained a lot of things, but we needed to ask most of the time since he was not proactive. We had no car issues besides the refrigerator, which was broken.
The Bad
The problems began almost immediately and escalated significantly toward the end of the trip.
Inadequate Itinerary & Guide: Guide kept trying to make changes to the safari plan without talking to us. On the 4th day, what was advertised as a full-day tour in Ngorongoro Crater was cut short to a half-day (we left at midday when the plan stated we should have stayed in the crater until 3pm). When we contacted the operator to complain, they said that this was the guide's fault for rushing, which felt like an unsatisfactory explanation for a service we paid for and no compensation was provided or suggested.
Space: The car was very packed and we had almost no space to move as we had a full car of 6 tourists + guide + cook. On top of the 8 passengers and their bags, we had to carry all camping and food gear inside the car, which makes it very packed and uncomfortable. Not having an auxiliary car also meant loosing game drive time to pack the car on camping days.
Food Issues: The quantity of food provided was consistently insufficient. My dietary restriction of no fish was ignored, and the protein portions were too small for our group of six (or eight during lunch). On the last day, we were told there was no more meat, which is unacceptable given the price paid and the fact that staff had been in town earlier that day. The car refrigerator was broken, so most of the time no cold drinks. Also, no wine was provided, despite the prospect saying that there would be.
Hostile Staff & Safety Concerns: The most disturbing events revolved around the staff's behavior. On the final day, the cook uncomfortably demanded a tip, physically blocking our departure until we paid him. Later, the driver became extremely angry when he learned we would not be tipping due to the poor service. He stopped the car on the highway, screamed, drove erratically, and attempted to drop us off at an unapproved location with a different driver. His refusal to contact our operator and his aggressive tone made us fear for our safety. At some point we even thought he was scheming some kind of kidnap and we had to involve gas station security to ensure we were not being put in a dangerous position. Thankfully at the end we met our airport transfer that was able to finally get in touch with our office and take us away safely.
Conclusion
The unprofessional and hostile behavior of the staff, particularly the guide, was a major concern. The experience turned from a safari into a frightening ordeal, and it is a situation no traveler should ever have to face. My group and I were left feeling unsafe and neglected by the company.
