HU
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable safari experience, but with some serious disappointments
We booked a 5-day safari in Tanzania with Porcupine Expeditions, but ended up being assigned to another company, Meru Slopes. This wouldn't necessarily have been a problem, but on a safari, your experience depends enormously on your guide and the people you share the jeep with.
During the first half of our first day, we had an absolutely wonderful guide named Thomas. He was knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about his job. He told us so much about the wildlife, the parks, and even the Swahili language. He was also an excellent driver. Unfortunately, halfway through the day, we were told that we had to switch vehicles and would spend the rest of our safari with another guide.
Our new driver, Robert from Meru Slopes, was a completely different experience. On the first day, his driving was so rough that I felt extremely sick by the end of it. He also provided very little information about the animals or the parks. He answered our questions when asked, but rarely volunteered any interesting facts or explanations.
On the second day, we politely asked him to drive a little more carefully, as the constant bumps and sudden movements were becoming unbearable. He seemed offended and replied that he had been a guide and driver for 15 years and was already driving carefully. In my opinion, 15 years of experience should mean knowing when to slow down for sharp turns and enormous potholes. To be fair, he did drive somewhat more carefully after our conversation.
Another issue was the group itself. We were six people sharing one jeep, which felt quite crowded. Unfortunately, we didn't get along particularly well with the other passengers, and their behaviour often made the experience less enjoyable. Of course, this is very subjective and not something the company can entirely control, but it highlights how important group composition can be on a multi-day safari.
There were also two things that really bothered us beyond the organisation of the trip.
The first was the behaviour of some safari drivers around wildlife. Whenever an animal was spotted and guides informed each other over the radio, sometimes 10–15 vehicles would gather around it. We even saw drivers approaching animals to within about a metre, clearly disturbing them. In my opinion, this is neither responsible nor ethical wildlife tourism. Seeing wild animals should never come at the expense of their well-being.
The second was the waste management at our campsite in the Serengeti. We carefully collected our rubbish in the designated bins, only to discover that the waste was being dumped into a pit behind one of the buildings. Seeing a marabou stork sadly picking through the rubbish was heartbreaking. Is it really impossible to organise proper waste collection in one of the world's most famous national parks? This was extremely disappointing.
And finally, on our last day, Robert approached us to complain that we hadn't given him enough of a tip and clearly expected us to give him more. I found this incredibly rude and unprofessional. Tipping is voluntary, and directly confronting guests because you expected more is simply unacceptable.
Having said all that, the safari itself was still an incredible experience. Watching wild animals in their natural habitat was absolutely magical, and camping in the middle of the Serengeti, listening to the sounds of wildlife throughout the night, is something we will never forget.
Overall, I would recommend Porcupine Expeditions. They were extremely kind and thoughtful, picking us up from the airport, seeing us off at the end of our trip, and even getting us a pizza so we could have dinner. They organised the trip well, and I recognise that some of the problems may have been beyond their direct control, especially since we were assigned to another company's guide. However, I do think they should be aware of the experience their customers receive when working with partner operators.
Despite the disappointments, the beauty of Tanzania and the unforgettable moments in the Parks made the trip worthwhile. I would absolutely recommend experiencing a Tanzanian safari, and choosing Porcupine Expeditions.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Professional, friendly and attentive
Aziz came greetings us the day before. Explained all essentials. Safari day started on time and ride was smooth. Park Manyara is a beautiful park, although small, full of wildlife and we had very very good views of animals. Lodging was clean, comfortable and very pleasant staff. The overall experience worth the price!
