Destiny Explorers

An incredible safari experience, but serious organizational issues behind the scenes

I feel obligated to share this experience to ensure transparency for future travelers.

I am giving this experience 3 stars, mainly because our guide was truly excellent and because the safari experience itself is absolutely a once in a lifetime must do.

I chose Destiny Explorer in order to support a local safari operator, despite having read prior reviews mentioning concerns about vehicle condition and maintenance.

Six months after paying our deposit, Issa informed us that our first night at Africa Safari Arusha was no longer available and had to be changed. This information was incorrect. I personally contacted the hotel and confirmed that availability existed, including shortly before our arrival. Instead, we were relocated to Parrot Hotel, which was in extremely poor condition. The property was very run down, many things were broken or poorly repaired, and the air conditioning leaked directly onto our suitcase overnight. We were also the only guests at the hotel, which felt uncomfortable.

Upon arrival, a representative of the company demanded an additional 600 USD, explaining that a calculation error had been made after the deposit. While the mistake was indeed theirs, Issa refused to accept payment by credit card and offered no alternative solutions. I was told to withdraw cash from an ATM. Due to withdrawal limits, I had to make multiple transactions in local currency and exchange it to USD, resulting in additional fees and exchange losses of approximately 75 USD. This was handled in a very unprofessional manner.

The safari vehicle itself was old and poorly maintained, with over 150,000 km on the odometer and smaller windows than standard safari vehicles. Compared to other groups we encountered, our vehicle was clearly inferior, which raised concerns from the beginning.

Unfortunately, on day five, the vehicle broke down. We lost the entire afternoon of day five and all of day six. During this time, we received little to no clear information and were moved between locations by individuals we did not know. On the evening of day six, around 8:00 pm, we still did not know whether our final day at Ngorongoro would take place. This caused significant stress and uncertainty.

We had been previously assured that in the event of a breakdown, a replacement vehicle would be provided. That did not happen. Although a replacement part was eventually flown in and our guide rejoined us during the night, the situation was handled in a disorganized and amateur manner.

I later requested a partial prorated refund for the lost safari time on the afternoon of day five and the entirety of day six. To this day, I have received no response.

If you choose this operator, be aware that in the event of mechanical issues, you may be left without support or clear communication. Based on our experience, I cannot recommend this company.