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4.8/5

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  • 4 star 1
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  • 2 star 0
  • 1 star 1

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DDD   –  
United States US
Visited: February 2025 Reviewed: Feb 17, 2025

Email DDD  |  65+ years of age  |  Experience level: over 5 safaris

The review below is the personal opinion of DDD and not that of SafariBookings.
Bad Experience
1/5

We booked 8 days custom luxury safari. Out of 8 days, one day spent sitting in a hotel room Picnic food was frozen rice, salad without dressing salt or paper, frozen fruit, Chapati with Guacamole that was turning brown. I ate but requested luxury as your stated. Moving forward, initial three days none of the five big one was seen. Other tourists were able to see so they were there. But our driver took us to far remote areas where no other safari drivers cars were going. He never used the radio to communicate with other safari drivers When I questioned and stated him about wasting our precious vacation days, he literally threatened me. Remember Serengeti means endless, large area. They can take you to remote areas where and drop you, no one will ever find you And that is what his threat meant to me. I have copy of the chat to prove it. Horrible and expensive experience. Buyers beware!

Reply from Williamson Adventures
Reply from Williamson Adventures
Posted on Jul 8, 2025

Dear Safari Booking Team,

We genuinely value all our clients’ experiences and remain fully committed to ensuring every guest enjoys a memorable and fulfilling safari with us. However, we would like to provide some important context regarding the concerns these particular clients have raised.

1. Itinerary Changes:
We understand that flexibility is sometimes desired during a safari, but significant changes to the agreed-upon itinerary can affect not only the guest experience but also our logistical planning and operations. The original plan — including 2 nights in Ndutu and 1 night in Central Serengeti — was carefully crafted to maximize wildlife sightings, particularly the migration, which is a highlight for many travelers. Although we accommodated the clients’ last-minute request to spend more nights in Central Serengeti, we did advise that this might reduce their chances of witnessing the migration. Such sudden changes inevitably create operational challenges for our guides and other travelers.
2. Payment Terms:
As stated in the contract, the final payment was due 30 days before the safari start date. Unfortunately, when this payment was not received on time, we were placed in a difficult position — especially since, in the past, we have faced fraudulent situations that resulted in significant losses. Despite this, we allowed the safari to proceed in good faith, hoping to resolve the matter amicably. However, by the third day, we had no choice but to request payment to continue the safari, as these funds are vital for covering operational costs and ensuring the quality of service for all our clients.
3. Food and Lunch Arrangements:
To maximize guests’ time on game drives and avoid missing key wildlife sightings, we normally provide picnic lunch boxes or, where feasible, a hot lunch (sometimes at an extra cost, depending on the accommodation). This arrangement allows travelers to spend more time exploring the park rather than returning to the lodge for meals. In this case, the clients insisted on driving directly to the Serengeti for a hot lunch, which required a 3-hour break in the middle of the day. While we always try to respect our guests’ preferences, this decision significantly impacted the day’s plan and reduced valuable time for game viewing, which is the highlight of any safari.
4. Operational Challenges and Stress:
Our team works diligently to ensure each safari runs smoothly. However, last-minute itinerary changes, payment delays, and deviations from agreed plans create considerable stress for our management, guides, and other clients. We always do our utmost to balance individual preferences with the overall quality of the experience for everyone involved.
We genuinely regret that this experience did not meet the clients’ expectations and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused. At the same time, we hope you can understand the challenges we faced in managing these last-minute changes and requests.

Follow-up and Resolution:
We have already met and discussed this issue with Mart during the Kili Fair, where we thoroughly addressed the complaint and presented evidence supporting our position. We remain committed to resolving this matter professionally and transparently, and we kindly request that you consider removing this review, as it does not fairly represent the circumstances.
We are always open to further discussion if needed. Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

Average User Rating
4.8/5
Rating Breakdown
  • 5 star 42
  • 4 star 1
  • 3 star 0
  • 2 star 0
  • 1 star 1
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