CH
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tanzania at it’s best
Genes Adventures help us organise a Safari trip in Nothern Tanzania and the climb of Mt Kilimanjaro.
The planing was done taking in account all our wish and constraints (we are a family of 5 with children). the reality exceeded all our expectations:
- full service during all the trip
- Great guides, both during the safari and for the climb
- we had a spare day and Genes helped us with a program « a la carte » (2 persons did one additional safari, the others stayed in town for craft sightseeing)
- we went all five on top of the Kilimanjaro with a warm and friendly crew
Great vacation, we will remember Tanzania. We warmly recommend Genes and his team.
CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Marvelous trip,very professional
The tour guide is very professional, he can always find the animals at the first time ,and always give you the best view of the animals,it’s an interesting experience,we see a lot of animals and even the leopard,I am much appreciated for him .I highly recommend this operator
CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
very good
good guide,Steve!He bring us to a good place see the animals, he always find a good location and always the first.We felt very happy.I will recommend my friend choose this agency and this guide:Steve.Thanks a lot.
IR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Perfect and professional
Managed professionally , our hotel was little far from train station but they came to pickup us on time , staff (Guides, driver ….) are very helpful.
Highly recommend.
ES
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Efficient, well planed, friendly and confortable.
The safari experience has been great. Alex is a really good driver and very funny. We enjoyed the safari so much with him.
Excellent organization from Paul and Jane!
Regarding the accommodation, they were very well chosen, all of them were amazing.
We finished the safari very happy , everything was great overall!
AE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Completely disorganised
I booked a 4 day safari through Mariam from Sipolio for 28/7 to 31/7. Everything went well during the booking process where I had to pay the money.
Then this is what happened:
• I was sent a contact for a driver who was supposed to pick us up at the airport. It was the wrong contact and someone else picked us up.
• Sideways tours sent a small 4 door car to pick up a family of 4? Why wasn’t a larger vehicle sent? The driver had to order a second car to take the rest of the luggage.
• When we met the safari driver it wasn’t the driver mentioned in the email
• When I asked the driver to check our bags there were only 3 bags in the safari car. The driver of the second car from the airport drove away with our 4th bag! He didn’t even get out of his car to check before he left.
• The safari driver wasn’t told which hotels we were going to and we had to tell him
• It wasn’t clear to him even if more people were coming on the trip with us. We waited and then he was told there would be another 2 people. He was then told there would be another person.
• He wasn’t told which hotels they were going to either.
• When we arrived at our hotel at 3pm in the afternoon, it was deserted and had obviously closed for many months. How could you book us into a hotel that was closed?????
• I called Mariam several times, but she never answered the phone. I emailed her but she didn’t answer the email. She only responded the next day at 7pm!!!!!!
• I then tried to call Sideways Tours who were responsible for the driver. Our "customer service manager" contact didnt answer the phone. I spoke to another who was very unhelpful and told me how it wasn’t the problem of Sideways Tours and there was nothing she could do. When I said I wanted to speak to the manager, she said he wasn’t available. He was “at home”. She refused to contact him or let me speak to him. Even better, then she hung up the phone.
• I was sent an email saying “Our transport manager is called Eric who is available on WhatsApp on +254717723305.” Why do you even bother sending this message if he is not available? Why do you write “Customer Success” in your emails?
• Our driver made several calls and eventually spoke to a lady called Susan from Mamu Tours who started to help us. She said that Sipolio is a sister company of Mamu Tours.
• She eventually found one small room for us in another hotel. We really appreciate that due to the urgency of the situation, but we booked 1 double and 1 twin room!
• I have to mention here that the driver did a great job solving all the problems throughout the trip and without him it would have been a mess.
You can make your own decision about whether you use this company.......
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Peter number 1! Very reliable, competent and he did his best every day to find the animals.
The agency is very reliable, precise and they know how to organize the best experience!
Just be sure to ask for the jeep, otherwise they give you the van 4x4 which is still a great experience but a bit different from the jeep.
DE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional
Tiyani is a very nice and punctual driver. Her was attentive along the way and made sure we arrived the Lodge on the expected timeline.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Tirano was very nice and punctual
The drive with Tiyani was very safe, he was nice and on time!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful experience every step of the way
Wonderful planning, the lodges and camps were exceptional. Even the camps lacking some of the luxuries you're accustomed to, they made it such a fun and memorable experience. They were some of my favorite nights. Our guide Jonathon was amazing and made sure we enjoyed our time on safari. We saw all of the big 5. He really worked extra hard to ensure we made the most of our time.
We ended with a few nights in Zanzibar and they were magical as well. This was a great value for the money and it was our kids (7 and 11) favorite vacation.
