CN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was a very professional, reliable and thoughtful team.
Under their guidance, we saw the wild animals we expected to see, and got many surprises. They executed the plan we had together very well.
NO
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent tour
We had an excellent tour to Masai Mara and Nakuru with our driver and guide, Daniel. We saw the Big 5.
CA
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our first excellent 12 day safari in Kenya and Tanzania
We arranged our first ever safari with Robert at Blends of Africa. We received 8 quotes from other safari companies and although some were bigger companies we followed our instincts and went with Blends and we did not regret it. Blends of Africa is a small company so we were a bit hesitant to book with them at first as we were worried about the itinerary, our payments, the security, the experience etc. It turned out that we didn’t need to worry as Robert and his team did an exemplary job. Robert responded promptly to all queries and provided us with different options so that we could build a custom-made safari that would work best for the 2 of us. Robert provided a detailed listing of all the costs and charges and made any modifications as we requested. He was prompt, professional and open to hearing any concerns. The company did everything it had promised in the original planning and the pricing was fair. Even throughout the safari, Robert checked in to ensure everything was going smoothly.
In the 12 days we visited 3 national parks in Kenya, Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli. For this segment, Alfred (Fred) was our guide and he was excellent and did his best to spot all the wildlife he could for us. In the first 24 hours, we saw 4 of the big 5 including the rare black rhinos in Masai Mara. We saw a large family of cheetahs and many lions in different environments. As well, we saw many of the endangered Rothchild’s giraffes and white rhinos. Alfred was knowledgeable and his driving skills were superb given the difficult road conditions.
Next, we crossed the border into Tanzania for the last 7 days where we met our guide, Hassan. We visited Central Serengeti, Southern Serengeti, Ndutu Region, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara and Lake Tarangire. Hassan was an excellent guide. He was professional, very knowledgeable and kind. On top of that, he had excellent driving skills. He was always prepared to go every day at the time set and always had the jeep looking clean and professional. His keen eyes helped us spot things we would have never noticed on our own including a leopard, the recent carcass hanging in a tree ready for the leopard to come back to feast on, an attempted takedown by a group of Massai herding dogs on a baby gazelle and several lions climbing trees, just to name a few. It was amazing. Hassan’s knowledge of different bird species also was especially enlightening. He had a small selection of books he referred to if it was a species he was unsure of.
All in all, these drivers get the jeeps in and out of places you wouldn’t think possible. On the dodgiest of roads, we felt extremely safe in their capable hands. They are knowledgeable and professional and kind human beings. My spouse really enjoys photography and would often make requests for the drivers to stop or move forward or back a few feet so he could get a better composition. Both drivers accommodated his request to perfection and there were hundreds of these requests.
Thanks to the team at Blends of Africa we ended up having an excellent adventure. We ended up seeing all of the Big 5 and all the Ugly 5 as well as hundreds of other wildlife and birds etc. We got to understand the history and the ecosystem of these fabulous Kenyan and Tanzanian parks. And the people, they are phenomenal and some of our experiences at the lodges were superb. The crew at the Drunken Elephant in Masai Mara and the crew at the Osinon Camp in Central Serengeti, were especially amazing. Thank you. To our new found African friends, Mike and I say “Assante sana”.
TN
Must go
A very interesting and must do tour. Very knowledgeable and generous host. The treat the client in kindest manner and make sure that no one returns disappointed.
Always recommended.
CA
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent safari
We were on a 12 day safari through Kenya and Tanzania in Jan/Feb 2025. Although our trip was planned and arranged by Robert at Blends of Africa in Kenya (excellent company), Mama Savana took care of the Tanzanian side of our safari. Our guide for Tanzania was Hassan and he was an excellent guide and a superb driver. With Hassan, we visited Central Serengeti, Southern Serengeti, Ndutu Region, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara National Park and Lake Tarangire National Park. Hassan was professional, very knowledgeable and kind. He was always prepared to go every day at the time set and always had the jeep looking clean and professional. His keen eyes helped us spot things we would have never noticed on our own including a leopard, the recent carcass hanging in a tree ready for the leopard to come back to feast on, an attempted takedown by a group of Massai herding dogs on a baby gazelle and several lions climbing trees, just to name a few. It was amazing. Hassan’s knowledge of different bird species also was especially enlightening. He had a small selection of books he referred to if it was a species he was unsure of.
We had some rain and muddy road with horrendous driving conditions for a couple of days. These drivers get the jeeps in and out of places you wouldn’t think possible. On the dodgiest of roads, we felt extremely safe in their capable hands. My spouse really enjoys photography and would often make requests for the drivers to stop or move forward or back a few feet so he could get a better composition. Hassan accommodated his request to perfection and there were hundreds of these requests.
All in all, I would recommend Hassan as a driver for any of our safari needs. Thank you Hassan.
PT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A great safari with a wonderful driver/guide and cook
We just got back from a 4 day safari with Roko Safaris and we had a great time. Kadogo was an excellent and safe driver and animal spotter and got us to the best spots at the right time. He recognised all animal behaviour and when some lions woke up in the afternoon he could forecast a hunt. By staying in place and moving along with the lions we experienced a pride of lions hunt and kill a buffalo in the Ngorongoro crater. Incredible to see (not for the faint-hearted). He took us on extensive game drives, working endless hours and very hard. I am a guide myself so I could see how much extra work he put in for us. He even set up and broke down the camp after all the driving. Our cook William cooked some delicious evening meals for us and made sure we had an extensive breakfast in the morning and cooked food for our lunch boxes. Both were very nice and pure persons. All the things promised in the itinerary were fulfilled without hassle, our budget taken into account, and we even got a bonus cultural morning walk on the morning of departure and well after the safari finished. We highly recommend Roko Safaris to anybody who likes an excellent safari with great people.
ES
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An In-Depth and Constructive Critique
We recently embarked on a 42-day trip through Africa in July and August 2024, booked via African Overland Tours and operated on the ground by Nomad. The total cost for two people was approximately EUR 14,000 (USD 450 per day), which we believed would guarantee a professional and enriching experience. Regrettably, it turned out to be our most disappointing travel venture to date. As two seasoned travelers who have lived in multiple countries and are generally quite flexible, our expectations were reasonable but were met with numerous shortcomings. We share our experience below so that future travelers are adequately informed, and in the hope that these companies will address these issues.
1. Excessive Idle Time and Limited Activities
• Only 3% of the trip dedicated to actual activities: During the first ten days (240 total hours), merely 8 hours were devoted to any form of organized activity (e.g., a 4-hour safari, two 1-hour village walks, a 2-hour coffee plantation visit, and 30 minutes at the Baobab Valley).
• The remaining 97% of our time was spent either in the truck (8–15 hours daily) or at budget lodges with nothing planned or suggested.
2. Uncomfortable and Inadequate Transportation
• Long, exhausting drives: While the first hour of scenery can be interesting, enduring 8–15 hours in a cramped truck becomes unbearable.
• Poorly maintained truck features: The microphone did not function, the seats were extremely tight for anyone taller than 175 cm (5’9”), and the filtered-water mechanism was outdated (offering no reliable source of mineral water).
• Meals in transit: Be prepared to have breakfast and lunch inside the moving truck. Given the rough roads riddled with bumps, it is almost inevitable that you will spill coffee, juice, or food on yourself.
• Unsuitable for a wide age range: In our particular group, travelers ranged from about 15 to 75 years old. The long hours and uncomfortable seating were especially challenging for older individuals and for younger travelers unaccustomed to such conditions.
3. Lack of Proper Guidance
• No professional guide provided: Despite the substantial tour cost, we only had a driver and a cook. While both individuals worked hard, they lacked the expertise or training to properly inform, organize, or address customer concerns.
• Minimal information about destinations: We received only the most basic daily details (“Tomorrow we drive to X, then stay at Y”) with no in-depth coverage of cultural, historical, logistical, or natural aspects. There was an absolute lack of information about the surrounding environment, local geology, fauna, or ecosystems—knowledge that would have greatly enriched our experience.
• Poor problem-solving: Complaints or suggestions were largely dismissed. Even when our concerns were constructive and proposed potential solutions, we were told that “complaints will disturb the peace of the crew, the clients, and the company.” There was little to no communication from Nomad’s management during the trip.
4. Substandard Accommodations and Extra Costs
• Budget lodges: Approximately 90% of the lodges were in the USD 30–60 range, often lacking hot water (and sometimes water entirely). Only about 3 out of 35 accommodations could be considered “good.”
• Additional fees: While visiting major attractions (e.g., National Parks or optional tours in Zanzibar), we were frequently charged extra (e.g., USD 350 for a game drive in Tanzania, and numerous other add-ons). Basic drinks, including water at lodges, were also billed separately.
• No meaningful stops en route: Travel breaks were typically confined to fuel stations or malls—no scenic or culturally significant stops were made without special request, and even then, requests were often ignored.
5. Overreliance on Guests’ Labor
• Expediting meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were rushed to about 30 minutes, leaving no opportunity for a relaxed, enjoyable break.
• Unpaid assistance: Guests were expected to handle tasks such as arranging tables, chairs, helping with cooking, and cleaning dishes, presumably to cut staffing costs.
6. Poor Communication and Organizational Gaps
• No document checks: There was no verification that all travelers had correct documentation, nor was there assistance or advice concerning border crossings.
• No room assignments: Upon arrival at accommodations, rooms were distributed randomly without prior arrangement. Travelers had to negotiate among themselves for room type.
• Erratic time management: Stop durations were inconsistent—if the driver/cook said “30 minutes,” it could easily turn into 40, 50, or 70 minutes, leaving everyone waiting without clear instructions or schedules.
7. Dismissive Customer Support
• Slow or no response: Both Nomad and African Overland Tours were unresponsive when issues were raised during the trip. Post-booking, African Overland Tours took over a week to reply to emails and generally offered no meaningful solutions.
• Lack of empathy and poor phone assistance: The telephone representative we spoke with interrupted us constantly, showed no empathy, and placed blame on us instead of assuming any responsibility. Their main suggestion was that if we were unhappy, we could leave the trip at any point. Ultimately, we did leave three days before the tour ended—and unsurprisingly, no refund was offered for the unused hotel nights.
• No compensation or accountability: Even in cases where promised accommodations were unavailable (forcing guests to camp instead of using rooms they paid for), there was neither an apology nor a financial adjustment.
8. African Overland Tours: Marketing Over Substance
• High-pressure sales tactics: The African Overland Tours team appears to be primarily focused on marketing and selling the product as quickly as possible. Clients are encouraged to make fast decisions under the pretense that spaces may run out otherwise.
• High commissions: They add a significant markup over the price charged by the actual operating company—Nomad in our case—yet contribute no additional value or support once the sale is finalized. Essentially, they operate as a middleman who could just as easily be selling a car as organizing a trip.
9. Final Observations
• National Parks and city visits: Africa’s wildlife and cultural experiences are undeniably astonishing. However, these highlights owe nothing to the tour operators, who merely facilitated transport to these locations.
• No guided urban explorations: For major cities like Dar es Salaam and Nairobi, we had to organize our own tours. Most participants, unaware of what these cities had to offer, stayed at the lodge and missed out on wonderful experiences.
10. Conclusion
Given the high cost, one would expect at least a professional guide, better accommodations, and a more efficient itinerary. Instead, we encountered disorganization, lack of communication, and a general sense that the primary goal was to reduce expenses rather than deliver a memorable journey.
Recommendation: We strongly advise looking into other agencies. In our view, it would be difficult to find a more poorly organized operation than what we experienced with African Overland Tours and Nomad. For the sake of future travelers, we hope this review prompts these companies to improve their standards and offer the quality of service that travelers deserve when exploring such a magnificent continent.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best holiday yet
One of the greatest experiences of my life so far. Very well organised tour. Rasta man was the best guide - insightful, kind, and always happy. The chef catered to my dietary needs and I was never hungry. Would recommend this tour to anyone
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A thorough, thoughtful, and responsive tour operator that made our experience one-of-a-kind.
Shaun with the Socioolite Group was incredible and made sure everything was lined up. He’s very responsive while on tours and if anything does happen, he’s there to make sure and handle it for you with the guides, venues, hotels, etc. He’ll work well within your budget and does a great job accommodating to your preferences to create a custom experience. Whether taking a safari, planning a dinner and getting a reservation to a tough spot, a day trip for excursions, winelands, etc - he leaves no stone unturned to make sure you have the best experience. We used him for our honeymoon and would recommend him if you’re looking to plan and navigate any and all kinds of travel in South Africa.
PT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Safari Experience!!!
Wonderful experience, would absolutely recommend anyone else to book their Safari through Suricata. Our tour guide, Damian, was amazing and went above and beyond for us to view the big five. He was a pleasure to spend time with and always had the entire trip under control arranged all the pick ups and food really well. 5 star guide, Mnyama mkali!!
The Safari itself was absolutely amazing, 5 stars: saw leopards, hundreds of elephants, lions cubs, 3 male lions, hundreds of hippopotamus, thousands of zebra and gnus, buffalos, multiple antílopes, and even elands and a rhino. The views, sunsets and wildlife were absolutely stunning and breadth taking. Highly highly recommend this experience in Tanzania. Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater are an absolute must. Recommend the tented lodges for a cheaper midrange option, super comfortable and a great experience overall. All nights were welcomed by some animal visitors wondering around the tents adding to the overall experience.
As for Suricata safari and planing, worked great. The company was incredibly responsive over email (contacting through Kuria), before and during the Safari to arrange all accommodations. Made everything easy. Airport pick ups and drop offs went smoothly. And payments were preferred through a Tanzanian version of PayPal (Pesapal) for the 25% downpayment, and then paying by cash. If you do not want to pay by cash upon arrival that is not a problem. Also worked just fine to make the remaining payment through the same PesaPal link, however make sure to have internet to access the sites when you arrive. Also highly convenient. A nice extra was that Suricata was able to arrange small daily expeditions for the remainder of my stay (2 extra nights before my flight out), and that was a time well spent. Overall, 5 stars review, would book through them again in the future!
To the entire Suricata Team: Thank you for this wonderful experience! Asante sana, hadi wakati ujao!
