DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Not customer-oriented, only interested in own profits
Starting with the positives:
* Our driver exhibited exceptional friendliness and punctuality throughout the journey.
* We were consistently provided with excellent vantage points for capturing wildlife photographs.
* Despite encountering dangerous traffic conditions, our driver drove safely, though it's worth noting the necessity for functional safety belts within the vehicle.
However, handling of unforeseen circumstances by Meektrails Safari, particularly regarding our delayed arrival:
On the downside:
* Meektrails initially suggested omitting a day from our Masai Mara itinerary, a significant disappointment given its prominence in our plans and its associated cost, with no reimbursement offered.
* Contrary to their stated cancellation policy guaranteeing full refunds in such situations, we were informed that refunds were not feasible due to upfront payments for accommodations and entrance fees.
* During the safari we saw that these fees were typically paid upon arrival, contradicting Meektrails' explanation.
* Following considerable negotiation, Meektrails agreed to adjust our itinerary to two full days in Masai Mara, yet failed to compensate for the activities and accommodations we skipped.
* Additionally, the promised sightseeing activity in Nairobi on our final day was abruptly canceled without prior notice, leaving us feeling fooled
In conclusion, we recommend you to recognize the potential for abrupt changes in plans during such excursions. However, Meektrails' failure to stick to their refund policy and their apparent attempts to prioritize their interests leave a negative impression. Regrettably, we cannot recommend this agency.
GH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Poor management, lack of flexibility but great guide
Before confirming our tour with Bienvenido Kenya Tours and Safaris, I made sure to ask explicitly if the place we were going to stay at was the one I had mentioned, even sending a link for reference. To our surprise, the camp they confirmed via email had nothing to do with the one I had asked about. They offered us another camp for a much higher price. We suggested splitting the additional costs, but they refused.
I don't think they intended to scam us, but their lack of flexibility and taking responsibility for their mistake left a bad taste. However, the two employees we dealt with remained polite, but it was not their call to make things right. I blame the director/CEO who didn't want to discuss the matter at all or take any final accountability despite recognizing their mistake.
On a positive note, Nico, our guide, was fantastic. He knew a lot, was happy to answer questions, and was just a really nice person to spend time with during those two days.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Lazy, looking for money and poor in service.
I'm very sorry for the people who work for this company, but I can't recommend the company that was responsible for my climbing at all, but I can't recommend the people who work closely with you or accompany you. But you can also find them everywhere else and you can also hire Angelo privately, for example. I can only warmly recommend him and his team, but you've already read that. So if you are interested, I would be happy to put you in touch.😊 But Nelson, who I have corresponded with and who owns this company, was a horror. Zero information and quite long response times. Some answers didn't even arrive after several reminders. The information that followed was also inadequate. For example, I asked him what utensils I needed, since I'm a complete layman. He wrote to me that I didn't have to worry about anything or any utensils. Everything would be there. I don't have to worry. But he didn't say that I had to pay for the missing utensils. I ended up paying an additional $90 and in the end I feel let down. What about people who are on a tighter budget? He also didn't write down what the preparation should look like. The person who does this for the first time, like me, is left alone. Sure, you can read up on the internet, but every company does it differently. There is no sensible information on his website either. I'm very sorry, but I had to get this out of the way, also for the people who might be interested in climbing Mount Kili or doing something similar. I also booked the safari through Nelson and it was also designed to spend as little money as possible. Several groups who had booked different things were put in one car, which is fine in itself. You got to know more people and the stories behind them, but the implementation was horror and the performance didn't live up to the promise or the program. For example, we each had much shorter safari times. You left at just the wrong times. And meals were designed differently and even skipped. And since I have already completed two safaris, I can easily compare. And the comparison is very negative. He also failed to mention that bed and breakfast worth $20 each was included before the respective venture. So I didn't use this service, which is almost fine for me, but I just think paying $40 for the transfers is unfair and not right. I'm very sorry, but in the end it's more important to me that, should you ever do this, you are as informed as possible.
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Nyerere National Park by Alessandro
Just avoid this park (at least in rainy season). I don't know how it is in dry season. No animals, terrible roads , and 7 hours drive from Dar Es Salaam. A proper nightmare.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The tour guy was nice but demanded extra pay.
I booked the tour through TripAdvisor, securing it for the listed price of $85 for the 6:30 tour. However, the organizer contacted me via WhatsApp on the evening of the tour, stating he would pick me up at 6:15. Upon arrival, he proceeded to pick up other participants from a different hotel before reaching the park gate. To my surprise, he then requested an additional $45, catching me off guard. Reluctantly, I agreed to pay in cash upon our return to my hotel, complying with the unexpected demand.
To further add to the frustration, we were left waiting for approximately 40 minutes at the park gate, with no communication about the delay. Eventually, the tour commenced. My concern lies in the discrepancy between the advertised price paid online and the unanticipated extra charge in person. This unexpected financial request and lack of transparency about delays were disappointing aspects of an otherwise anticipated experience.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Promised More Than Delivered
It is my opinion that this tour operator has been adversely impacted by Covid and has had some challenges since. The staff was very cordial and well informed and made our Safari experience special however many aspects of the trip were not as represented or not delivered.
TH
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Unprofessional and thoughtless safari operator.
For anyone thinking about using African Chitah for their Tanzanian dream Safari I would think twice. Below are some of the highlights, or I should say "lowlights" from our recent safari in Tanzania.
1) When we arrived at Kilimanjaro Airport there was no one there to meet us. After a half day of flying, to emerge from the airport with luggage in hand and no one there to meet us was most disconcerting. The driver did finally arrive 20 minutes later, but this was 20 minutes of un-necessary anxiety. The driver apologized with the excuse that there was "traffic." While that may have been true, there were literally hundreds of other tour operators at the airport holding placards with their guest's names. Why did these hundreds of other operators manage to arrive on time but not our driver?
2) On the first day or our tour, the driver arrived at our hotel very early. He asked us to finish our breakfast quickly as there were three other groups to pick up. When we arrived at the first pickup the driver asked us to sit in the car while he retrieved the guests. After 20 minutes no one returned. I found the driver waiting in the lobby and asked him what was going on. He told me that these other guests were still eating breakfast. I explained to him that this was not a private tour and we were sitting in a hot car waiting while someone else was casually eating their breakfast. He told us he would go and get the other guests and I returned to the car. Another 10 minutes passed and still no one had returned. I returned to the lobby and found the driver still sitting in the lobby. I then insisted that he come with me and get the other guests which he finally did. If I hadn't been so insistent, who knows how long I would have been sitting in the hot car while the other members of the group tour casually enjoyed breakfast and coffee. And he didn't even apologize for this at all.
3) Twice we were given hotels of noticeably lower quality than what we were promised on our itinerary. If we had been equivalent quality hotels it would not have been an issue. However, when we complained to the company about this they utterly dismissed our complaints. They did not offer to change the hotel to one of similar quality nor did they offer us a refund. While it may not have been the operator's intention, the outcome left us with the feeling that we had been hoodwinked in a "bait and switch" scheme.
4) The vehicle appeared to be noticeably older than those of other companies. We spent 20 minutes having to repair the door as it would not open properly.
Given the above I would normally give "1" star. I have generously given "2" stars due to the quality of our driver Steven. He was knowledgeable and helpful and went above and beyond to make sure that all the guests had an enjoyable safari experience. And perhaps most importantly, he was a skillful driver which cannot be discounted given the challenging and punishing terrain and roads.
US
Our experience with Ruben was disorganized
Ruben is young and well intentioned but promises more than he can deliver. We missed our lunch and the Masai village and had limited time in the Game Reserve due to delays. A couple of jeeps in our group got back after our ship was supposed to have sailed but luckily the ship was delayed and they made it.
PT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Tour operator with unreliable equipment and trust issues
Having booked a family safari trip, we were provided with a malfunctioning vehicle. Indeed, the first thing we did after being picked up at the hotel in Arusha was to go to the mechanic to fix the gear....a full morning lost...shameful and not professional at all to be greeted with a non-conforming car...
Afterwards, when accessing Manyara Park, we were informed that the entrance was blocked due to severe rain. This is understandable. What is not acceptable is that Rupia kept the USD300 of the ticket entrance and, until today, did not return the money....shameful and again not professional...
I definitely not recommend Rupia and, in particular, found that Matt did not honour his word.
Bad omens for a tourism business...
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Amboseli National Park by Herman
Two cheetahs were spotted and more than 100 cars surrounded them. They were not even able to chase the springboks they spotted because cars blocked their way. This is very sad.