Full Package Adventures

Terrible company. I Don't know how they can have 5 Stars. The Worst Safari Company.

I don’t understand how this company can have 5 stars. Unfortunately, our experience was not good, and we would not hire them again.

During the planning phase, Judith was very kind and accommodating. She put together our itinerary, accepted changes, and answered our questions. However, once the trip began, the experience changed completely.

I want to distinguish between Acram, our Spanish-speaking guide, and the safari driver, as our opinion of the two is entirely different.

- The driver’s attitude:

From the second day on, he began to show annoyance regarding the tips we left at the accommodations. He gave us a lecture in the vehicle about how much we should be tipping him and the hotel staff—a conversation that felt like a demand and made us very uncomfortable.

We have never had an issue with leaving tips, and we made sure to distribute them among the various staff members who assisted us. What bothered us was the way he demanded them; his attitude made it clear that he was primarily focused on money.

Throughout the entire safari, he never sat at the table with us—unlike other drivers, who would share those moments with their guests. We aren’t sure if it was personal, but while other groups’ guides or drivers would sit with their tourists, we were always left on our own because he never wanted to join us for meals. Furthermore, right from the start, he instructed us not to speak to him and to direct all our questions to Acram instead. His behavior was arrogant and unpleasant, and it left us feeling as though we had no real support or companionship.

- Safari schedules and duration:

While we observed other groups heading out around 6:30 AM and returning near 6:00 PM, we typically didn’t leave until 8:30 AM and would return around 4:00 PM.
WE WERE ALWAYS THE LAST ONES TO LEAVE. For the last two days, we asked to head out at 7:00 AM to make the most of the experience, but the driver kept asking us repeatedly if we were sure we wanted to leave that early. We were always the last ones to depart, and he constantly looked sleepy.

- The vehicle and the snacks

The van was old, and the snacks promised in the itinerary turned out to be nothing more than cookies and popcorn—leftovers from the packed meals provided to other tourists at the accommodations we visited. In other words, the snacks given to guests at their lodgings were simply left in the van for the next group of tourists. 🫠

On the final day, while we were on our way to the airport, another van broke down, leaving us stranded in the middle of Arusha.

- Transfer to Zanzibar:

When it was time to head to the airport for our flight to Zanzibar, the driver asked us what time our plane was leaving. We had to contact the company ourselves to confirm the departure time—something that should have been handled by them. Very unpleasant.

- Judith

She was very attentive during the planning phase, but once the trip began, she practically disappeared. She never checked in to see how the experience was going or if we needed any assistance. It felt as though the support ended the moment the payment was made.

The highlight of our experience: Acram

We want to give a special mention to Acram, our Spanish-speaking guide. He was kind and incredibly knowledgeable about the animals and the environment. Thanks to him, we were able to learn so much more and truly enjoy the places we visited.

ALSO, ON THE LAST DAY, THE VAN CAUGHT FIRE—WITH US INSIDE! WE HAD TO START SCREAMING JUST TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE.

Conclusion

The experience fell far short of our expectations, particularly due to the driver’s attitude, the scheduling, the duration of the outings, and the condition of the vehicle.

We paid a significant amount and expected a level of service to match. It is not about an unwillingness to tip or a desire for unnecessary luxuries; rather, it is about being treated with respect, having good organization, and being able to fully enjoy the experience. We felt a great deal of contempt from the driver toward us.

We would not book with Full Package Adventures again, nor would we recommend them. Given the price we paid, we expected much more—especially in terms of how we were treated. The only real highlight was the work of Acram, our guide. I cannot write any more, as anything else I might add would not be positive.

(automatic translation from Spanish)